Qi Refining, Third Layer

However, after another full cycle, his cultivation still had not increased.

Zhou Changwang had long expected this.

After all, an increase in cultivation required spiritual energy as support.

Especially when a cultivator was at the stage of advancement, the spiritual energy required was often far greater than usual.

Relying solely on the spiritual power converted through naturally circulating his cultivation technique while meditating was clearly insufficient to break through the bottleneck and advance from the Second Layer of the Qi Refining Realm to Qi Refining, Third Layer.

Without corresponding supplementary methods, he could only use the water-grinding method, continuously accumulating spiritual power until it reached a certain point and broke through naturally.

But now—

"Continue cultivating. Today, I'll strike while the iron is hot and break through my cultivation."

Zhou Changwang's heart surged. Wanting to break through as soon as possible and reach Qi Refining, Third Layer, he gave a low shout. With a thought, he once more circulated the Five Elements Formula.

At the same time, he reached out and grabbed a Low-Grade Spirit Stone resting beside him.

Then, as the technique circulated within him, the spiritual energy inside the Spirit Stone was swiftly drawn forth, transforming into surging river waves that poured ceaselessly into his body.

If spiritual energy was lacking, make up for it with Spirit Stones!

He was only at the outskirts of the Spirit Vein, where spiritual energy was far from abundant. If he absorbed and converted it step by step, it would take far too long.

A breakthrough had to be accomplished in one burst of momentum.

Though doing this would result in tremendous waste.

When cultivation was at stake, however, he naturally did not begrudge indulging in extravagance.

A vast tide of spiritual energy surged forth, becoming a rolling river that continuously flooded into his body.

Although more than half of the spiritual energy dissipated during the process of absorption and conversion, returning to heaven and earth.

A great deal of it was still transformed into spiritual power under the circulation of his technique, pouring into his dantian before being swiftly compressed and tempered.

Suddenly, Zhou Changwang's hand went empty. The spiritual energy within one Low-Grade Spirit Stone had already been exhausted, reducing it to powder. He hurriedly grabbed another Spirit Stone and clenched it in his hand.

He used up three Low-Grade Spirit Stones in succession.

Until it could no longer be compressed, until it reached a certain limit, Zhou Changwang hurriedly controlled the spiritual power, shaping it into a sharp blade and charging it toward a particular meridian.

Boom!

That blocked meridian was pierced straight through by the surge of spiritual power.

There was not the slightest stagnation.

It went smoothly beyond imagination.

Zhou Changwang's body trembled, and delight rose in his heart.

He had broken through.

At this moment, he had finally broken through.

From the Second Layer of the Qi Refining Realm to Qi Refining, Third Layer.

At that very moment, his Five Elements Formula happened to complete a full cycle and return to his dantian.

Five Elements Formula +1

Then, in an instant, a vast amount of cultivation experience related to the Five Elements Formula emerged in his mind.

It was as though, in that instant, he had circulated the technique hundreds or thousands of times, gaining countless insights and understandings into the Five Elements Formula.

"The cultivation realm of the Five Elements Formula has also broken through to Minor Mastery?"

Zhou Changwang froze, then could not help smiling.

Double happiness at the door.

Then he looked toward the Attribute Panel.

Name: Zhou Changwang

Lifespan: 17/78

Cultivation: Qi Refining Third Layer (1/100)

Technique: Five Elements Formula (Minor Mastery 1/400)

Skills: Spirit Rain Art (Minor Mastery 42/400), Cleansing Art (Initiation 69/100), Growth Technique (Minor Mastery 23/400), Geng Metal Finger (Minor Mastery 125/400), Soothing Art (Initiation 57/100), Fireball Art (Initiation 25/100)

...

"Sure enough.

Not only has my cultivation broken through, reaching Qi Refining, Third Layer.

Even the Five Elements Formula has officially risen to the Minor Mastery stage."

Seeing this, Zhou Changwang was overjoyed.

Just as he was about to close the Attribute Panel, his body suddenly shook.

His eyes widened involuntarily.

Lifespan!

He discovered that his lifespan had increased as well.

From the original seventy-five to seventy-eight.

A full increase of three years.

"Cultivating immortality, cultivating immortality.

Whether one can truly attain Changsheng remains unknown, but extending one's years and increasing one's lifespan is certain."

Zhou Changwang was filled with joy, his spirits soaring.

Then he began to sense the differences after breaking through to Qi Refining, Third Layer.

First, his dantian had grown much larger. His meridians, after being squeezed and battered by spiritual power earlier, had also become somewhat tougher.

Then there was the spiritual power within his body. It was clearly more condensed than before. When casting the same spell with such spiritual power, its might could increase by another thirty percent.

It was obvious.

Zhou Changwang's overall strength had improved enormously.

Perhaps the only thing holding him back was his offensive and defensive methods.

In terms of offense, he only possessed two attacking spells: Geng Metal Finger and Fireball Art. Yet Geng Metal Finger was, after all, an insect-extermination spell. Even at Minor Mastery, its casting range was only three zhang, and its direction was singular, lacking variation.

As for Fireball Art, its level was currently too low. It had only reached Initiation, and its power was limited.

As for defensive methods, he had none whatsoever.

"This won't do.

If you want a hard life, you must first know how to preserve your life."

A cultivator without a certain degree of self-protection was in great danger.

Previously, he had no solution.

Spirit Stones were scarce, so no matter how much he thought about it, it was useless.

But now, he decided to arm himself first.

One or two defensive spells were a necessary choice.

Early the next morning.

Zhou Changwang naturally opened his eyes, only to feel that the world around him seemed slightly different from before.

The air was sweeter. As his eyes shifted, he could vaguely see wisps of heaven-and-earth spiritual energy drifting around him, then slowly gathering into his body under the pull of some special force.

Then Zhou Changwang suddenly came to his senses.

The Five Elements Formula within his body was circulating on its own.

It was operating naturally, entirely beyond his control.

He immersed his consciousness within his body and confirmed it once more.

"This is the characteristic of the Minor Mastery Five Elements Formula.

There is no need for deliberate control. It can automatically circulate the cultivation technique and automatically restore the spiritual power consumed within the body..."

Zhou Changwang truly felt both surprise and delight.

He had long known that the Five Elements Formula would certainly change after reaching Minor Mastery.

But he had never expected that change to be so great—it could drive the Five Elements Formula to circulate automatically.

Although this uncontrolled automatic circulation was incomparably slow, and after an hour, it would likely only barely complete one full cycle.

It was accomplished unconsciously, however, requiring no effort from him and consuming none of his mental energy.

It was equivalent to cultivating at every moment.

Over the course of one night, his technique had automatically completed five full cycles.

Not only had this increased his technique proficiency by five points, it had also replenished the spiritual power in his body, which had seemed somewhat depleted after his recent breakthrough. It became full once more, and there was no need for him to meditate separately to recover.

Knock, knock, knock!

Just then, a burst of knocking sounded at the door.

Zhou Changwang's heart jolted.

Who could it be so early?

After thinking for a moment, he still quickly rose and walked to the door.