Condensing Vital Energy

"What is this?" Xu Yuan looked at the roiling medicinal liquid in the wooden barrel, startled by the immense energy contained within.

"This is a medicinal bath from the Body Sect, specially meant to help disciples like you, whose bodies haven't fully developed yet, condense Bloodline Power," Mu Ye explained before instructing Xu Yuan, "Remember, when you absorb the medicinal liquid's power later, don't refine it with Soul Power. Only use Soul Power to guide it. Circulate it through these acupoints according to my instructions and compress the medicinal power into them."

As he spoke, Mu Ye continuously tapped Xu Yuan's body, every acupoint precisely located.

Xu Yuan memorized the acupoints and nodded.

"Zhen Hua told me about your idea of creating a Vital Energy Martial Soul. I agree with his approach, so don't rush."

"You're still young. Although I controlled the dosage for this medicinal bath, there'll probably still be some left over. Once your Bloodline Power has condensed, stop absorbing the medicinal power when you feel you can't take in any more. Don't think about using the excess medicinal power to complete the Qi and Blood Contract in one go," Mu Ye warned.

Xu Yuan scratched his head and gave an embarrassed laugh.

Why did his teacher's words sound so much like something out of a novel?

"Don't worry, Teacher. I'm still very cautious. Besides, I haven't prepared anything for the contract yet, and Martial Uncle already told me I have to try it at his place."

Mu Ye did not believe Xu Yuan's nonsense about being cautious and rolled his eyes.

"As long as you remember that. Don't get impulsive later. Try it at your Martial Uncle's place. Even if there's a problem with your contract, he can correct it afterward. It's an extra safeguard. And as long as you don't act recklessly there, your safety can basically be guaranteed." Mu Ye gave him more reasons, further explaining why Xu Yuan had to carry out the attempt under Zhen Hua's supervision.

"Your Martial Uncle is a Divine Craftsman. He deals with the spirituality of metals all year round, so it wouldn't be wrong to say his understanding of spirits is the deepest on the continent. Soul Spirits are also a type of spirit."

Spirit Forging awakened spirituality, giving metal life. Soul Forging merged with metal, granting it the inheritance of a soul and developing the wisdom of Rare Metals. Heavenly Forging went even further, evolving their level of life.

In truth, from Spirit Forging onward, Rare Metals already possessed traits similar to Soul Spirits, though only at the hundred-year and thousand-year levels. At the Soul Forging stage, they corresponded to ten-thousand-year Soul Spirits, while Heavenly Forging meant raising a Soul Spirit to the hundred-thousand-year level or even higher.

Having forged for years, Zhen Hua's opinion carried tremendous weight in this regard. This was why Zhen Hua himself, Xu Shengqun, and Mu Ye all wanted Xu Yuan to attempt it at Zhen Hua's place.

"Teacher, then why don't we just go to Martial Uncle's place and condense my Bloodline Power there?" Xu Yuan suggested.

They could go there directly, then use the remaining medicinal power to complete the Qi and Blood Contract in one step.

Mu Ye smacked Xu Yuan on the forehead.

"What are you thinking? Do you think your contract can be perfected through theory alone? Once you've condensed your Bloodline Power, adjust the contract yourself according to that Bloodline Power."

Xu Yuan bared his teeth in pain.

What his teacher said did make sense.

He obediently jumped into the wooden barrel and felt the scorching medicinal water drilling wildly into his body.

The skin across his body burned, yet the sensation was strangely comfortable.

The medicinal power seeped into his body through his skin.

"If you don't want to become the muscle-bound man you hate in the future, don't let the medicinal power temper your flesh for too long," Mu Ye's faint voice reached Xu Yuan's mind.

Xu Yuan shuddered.

Muscles were fine, but he did not want a huge dick.

He hurriedly circulated his Soul Power, guiding the medicinal power through his Meridians and into the acupoints one by one in the prescribed sequence.

His blood began to boil.

As the medicinal power merged into his body, Xu Yuan felt as though his blood had been set ablaze. His heart thudded more powerfully with every beat.

The many acupoints Mu Ye had indicated were all located around his chest, centered on his heart. As the medicinal power took effect, Xu Yuan's heart was constantly tempered, and the blood flowing through it began to boil as well.

The circulation of his blood accelerated.

Blood surged through his body, rushing through his veins like mighty rivers.

This felt far better than the weak flow of Soul Power through his Meridians.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Xu Yuan felt the energy in his blood reach its peak.

"Circulate your Soul Power and gather this energy within your blood," Mu Ye's voice came at just the right moment.

At the same time, Mu Ye continuously pointed with his fingers, using his powerful Soul Power to help Xu Yuan compress the energy in his blood.

Boom!

In that instant, Xu Yuan felt as though all the energy in his body had been unified.

At that moment, his entire body felt utterly clear.

Bloodline Power condensed.

That feeling of clarity lasted only an instant, but it still left Xu Yuan shaken, sending a numb chill from his spine to the crown of his head.

Was this Bloodline Cultivation?

While he was still reeling from the shock, Xu Yuan felt a huge force seize the back of his neck and restrain him before abruptly lifting him out.

"I told you not to absorb too much. Why are you still spacing out?" Mu Ye said irritably.

Though he said so, he did not blame him. Clearly, Mu Ye himself understood the shocking sensation that came in the instant Bloodline Power condensed.

It was an indescribable stimulation born from Life Instinct.

Xu Yuan was tossed onto the bed.

He had no other thoughts. He immediately sat cross-legged.

Because while condensing his Bloodline Power, he had also sensed an opportunity for his Soul Power to break through.

It had only been four months since he broke through to Level 18. Back then, after only a month, he had been pushed to Level 19 by his thousand-year Soul Spirit's advancement. Over the following three months, he had long since cultivated to the peak of Level 19.

Soul Power accumulated bit by bit. Even within the same level, Soul Power accumulation was divided into early, middle, and late stages. Of course, only the concept of the peak truly mattered, as it meant one had reached the limit of their current level and was attacking the next one.

Now, stimulated by the condensation of his Bloodline Power, the tiny bottleneck at Level 20 shattered at once.

His Soul Power broke through to Level 20. Xu Yuan restrained the Five Elements Spear Spirit and did not attach a second Soul Ring to his Martial Soul.

With his Bloodline Power condensed, Xu Yuan's physical constitution underwent a qualitative improvement under the tempering of the medicinal power. Coupled with his Soul Power breakthrough, his Spiritual Power also experienced a small burst.

Though he had not tested it, Xu Yuan felt certain it had surpassed three hundred.

Furthermore, his Spiritual Power no longer felt restrained for the time being. Over the next period, it would likely increase very rapidly.

"I wonder if I can break through to the Spirit Sea Realm." Xu Yuan was filled with anticipation.

If he could reach the Spirit Sea Realm quickly, he could fuse a Soul Spirit with the Brain Martial Soul, and his Soul Power cultivation could continue normally.

Most importantly, after the Brain Martial Soul gained a Soul Ring and developed further, it would provide an even greater boost to Xu Yuan's learning ability, easing the pressure of studying the Four Great Auxiliary Occupations.

Xu Yuan was not under much pressure going from Second Grade to Third Grade, but he knew that when all four Sub-Professions faced the Fourth Grade threshold, the pressure would not be small. If he cultivated the Brain Martial Soul before then, he would not need to worry.

Of course, there was another point.

Cultivating the Brain Martial Soul for a while would also make Xu Yuan's further research more convenient, allowing his plan to create the Vital Energy Martial Soul to proceed more smoothly.