Cultivation

The background of this game was a massive Martial World crossover, encompassing the settings of numerous martial arts novels: Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils and The Return of the Condor Heroes from Jin's works, Chu Liuxiang from Gu's works, Twin Dragons of the Great Tang from Huang's works, and more.

Thus, there were countless wonderful animations. Before they were reported and taken down, the most popular heroines alone had eighty-one different animations.

Zhou Liang shook his head and carefully examined the four techniques. After all, this was reality, not a game. There would certainly be differences.

The [Everlasting Spring Technique] had been a level 120 technique in the game. Every level increased inner strength by 3, constitution by 2, endurance by 5, and recovery by 5. Every 12 levels granted one stack of Slowed Appearance Aging, one stack of Constitution Activation, +1 longevity, +5 vitality, and +1 revival. Upon reaching level 120, it granted the Vigorous in Old Age and Vitality Revival statuses. Once the technique was mastered, it also granted the ability to fix one's appearance.

In reality, however, it was a thirteen-layer technique. Its effects remained the same as before, but it had gained three additional layers of effects and become even stronger.

The auxiliary technique of this cultivation method, the [Myriad Poisons Spring Transformation Technique], had also changed from a twelve-layer technique into a cultivation technique with four realms. Once mastered, it could devour all poisons, and the poisons it devoured could be freely formed within the body. Furthermore, every type of poison devoured would create a corresponding status that was added to oneself.

"The [Hundred States of Life Meditation Technique] was entirely functional in the game. Its purpose was to let the protagonist cultivate several internal cultivation methods, but after coming to reality, it has become a Visualization Method," Zhou Liang said as he sensed the technique.

"It can simulate the hundred states of life within my mind. Every time I meditate upon a complete life, my mental strength will greatly increase, and I will naturally be able to use Distracting Mind, Multiple Uses. Each additional life will let me divide my mind one more time. Most importantly, there is absolutely no upper limit." Zhou Liang thought.

He then sat cross-legged on the bed and began cultivating the [Everlasting Spring Technique]. Since this technique had been formed from the star merging into his body, Zhou Liang naturally mastered it with ease. He succeeded on his very first attempt.

In an instant, he sensed the Soul Power within his body. Then, circulating the abundant Soul Power within him, he began cultivating the [Everlasting Spring Technique].

A year passed. In a courtyard, Zhou Liang practiced a simple set of boxing techniques.

Although Zhou Liang was only a six-year-old child, every punch and palm strike carried a fierce force and a powerful sense of strength.

"Hoo!"

After finishing the set of punches, Zhou Liang slowly exhaled, then sensed the gains he had made over the past year.

The [Everlasting Spring Technique] had long since reached the peak of its first layer and had remained completely stagnant afterward.

Over the following period, Zhou Liang focused entirely on cultivating the [Myriad Poisons Spring Transformation Technique]. Not long ago, he had finally cultivated it to completion.

After mastering it, he immediately went to devour a large amount of poison. Unfortunately, they were all mild poisons, and the statuses he gained were extremely weak. Still, through massive accumulation, they had greatly enhanced Zhou Liang's physical strength.

That was why Zhou Liang could perform such powerful punches. His strength far surpassed that of children his age.

"I've completed three lives in the Hundred States of Life. Including myself, I can now use Distracting Mind, Multiple Uses four times. But the fifth life has begun to progress slowly." Zhou Liang shook his head as he spoke.

He then extended his right hand. In an instant, it began to turn red and release waves of heat.

With a bang, he struck the nearby tree trunk, leaving behind a small, scorched yellow handprint.

"Among all these added poisonous statuses, only this Fire Poison can increase my attack power." Zhou Liang clenched his fist, then dispersed the Fire Poison in his hand.

"My [Everlasting Spring Technique] has reached the peak of the first layer, yet there has been no improvement at all this past month. I should have Innate Full Soul Power. If I also have Twin Martial Souls, that would be perfect." Zhou Liang thought for a moment, then shook his head.

"Twin Martial Souls are far too rare. I shouldn't hold out too much hope, or it will affect my mood later."

"Brother Liang! Brother Liang!"

A shout came from outside. A child ran to the entrance of the courtyard and said to Zhou Liang, "Brother Liang, the director told us to gather."

Zhou Liang nodded upon seeing the child. "Come on, let's go gather."

The child nodded and ran toward the gathering place, with Zhou Liang following closely behind.

They soon arrived in a courtyard where more than twenty children stood gathered, while the director stood at the front.

The director of this orphanage was a friend of Lanba Academy's dean. She was a woman in her thirties and also a Soul Master, though no one knew what rank of Soul Master she was.

"Children, in two days, Lanba Academy will come to awaken your Martial Souls. You must all be prepared early, understood?" the director gently told all the children.

"Understood!" the children shouted in unison.

The director nodded and led the children into the house to begin eating that day's dinner.

Sitting at the head of the table and watching all the children, the director sighed inwardly. The children are still too young. They have no idea how important Awakening a Martial Soul is. In two days, every one of them will embark on a different life.

But Zhou Liang should have Soul Power, shouldn't he? After all, his background should not be simple. The female director recalled what had happened six years ago.

Late one night, a man had carried a child before her. After setting down a large bag of money and the child, he said one sentence and vanished in an instant.

"His name is Zhou Liang."

That was all the man had said at the time. Whether he had been Zhou Liang's parent or bodyguard, it all indicated that Zhou Liang's background was not simple.

The female director shook her head and stopped thinking about it, focusing instead on accompanying the children during their meal.

Two days passed quickly. On this day, Lanba Academy was exceptionally lively.

It was not because of enrollment or recruitment, but because for the past two years, Lanba Academy had also been awakening Martial Souls for all commoners at this time.

Although the commoners had initially found it hard to believe that someone would dare compete with Spirit Hall for this work, Spirit Hall had shown no major reaction even after two consecutive years.

However, a conversation among the crowd revealed more information.

"This should be the last time Lanba Academy awakens Martial Souls!"

"The last time? Hasn't Spirit Hall ignored them all along? Why would this be the last time?"

"Spirit Hall ignored Lanba Academy because Lanba Academy's dean has a powerful background, so they could not stop it openly. That is why they used some methods in secret."

"In secret? What methods?"

"The dean has a powerful background, but that does not mean the academy itself does. As long as they pressure the people in the Heaven Dou Empire who oversee the Ministry of Education, someone will naturally handle this matter. Spirit Hall does not need to show itself at all."

"But I'm curious. Why would Lanba Academy's dean do something like this?"

Hearing this, the man cautiously looked around. Then he leaned closer and whispered, "I heard that Lanba Academy's dean has a grudge against Spirit Hall's Pope, so she is doing this to disgust Spirit Hall."