Dao Foundation Contract

[Qi Refiner Class Advancement Requirements]

①: Find a spiritual land and settle there stably (completed)

②: Learn an orthodox Qi cultivation method and cultivate it to the proficient level (completed)

③: Refine the first wisp of mana within your body (completed)

[All your class advancement requirements have been met. Congratulations, you have successfully advanced to the primary class—Qi Refiner!]

Bzzzt—!

The instant the system notification faded, a peculiar, clear ripple abruptly erupted from the depths of his sea of consciousness. Like a warm current, it flowed through his limbs, bones, meridians, and soul, carrying out a gentle yet thorough cleansing of his Dao Foundation from head to toe.

This cleansing did not greatly improve Jiang Xuan's direct combat strength. A Qi Refiner was, after all, merely the most basic primary combat class. At present, he was only an apprentice who had just entered the gate, naturally incapable of shaking the foundation of his existing cultivation.

But from the very beginning, Jiang Xuan had not coveted that negligible increase in strength from advancing his class. What he truly wanted were the class passives and exclusive class abilities unlocked upon advancement.

And the three class skills newly refreshed on the system panel brought an unmistakable look of satisfaction to Jiang Xuan's face.

[Ding, you have successfully advanced to the primary class: Qi Refiner]

[Your physical attributes and soul quality have been slightly enhanced. Mana has successfully been nurtured within your body (effect stacked)]

[You have obtained the class passives: Refining Essence into Qi, Qi Perception]

[You have obtained the exclusive class ability: Dao Foundation Contract]

There was no need to elaborate on the effects of Refining Essence into Qi. Its essence was to transform a cultivator's own blood and vitality into mana. The spiritual energy of this world was abundant, so cultivators like Jiang Xuan had no need to forcibly convert their blood and vitality through direct depletion. They only needed to draw the world's spiritual energy into their bodies through breathing exercises, then taint and refine it with their own blood and vitality before turning it to their own use.

"It would count as a divine skill in a land utterly devoid of spiritual energy, but I probably won't set foot in a place like that."

Jiang Xuan shook his head slightly, then turned his gaze to the second class passive—Qi Perception.

As its name implied, it was an extraordinary perception of the various kinds of "qi" between heaven and earth.

Used outwardly, it allowed him to precisely discern the density and distribution of spiritual energy in the world, and even trace the paths of such unusual qi as killing intent, gang qi, blood qi, yin qi, and yang qi.

Used inwardly, it would allow his control over his own spiritual energy and mana to become increasingly smooth and effortless, as natural as moving an arm or finger.

"Enhancing spiritual energy perception and control is fairly practical too."

Though these two passive abilities were certainly good, they were still far inferior to the benefits Clearheart Mirror and Heart: Sincerity had brought Jiang Xuan.

He had long been mentally prepared for that—Clear-Heart Sword Disciple was a Purple Precious Grade class, while a Qi Refiner apprentice could only be rated Blue Rare. Their grades and potential had never been on the same level.

Fortunately, Qi Refiners also possessed a trump card that truly struck at Jiang Xuan's needs.

The Dao Foundation Contract was the core objective of his advancement this time.

As everyone knew, the myriad Dao arts in the cultivation world had all been created by those who came before.

And since they had been created by predecessors, those methods would inevitably be best suited to the root bones and Dao Paths of their creators.

Moreover, just as no two leaves in the world were exactly alike, neither were any two people. Later cultivators like Jiang Xuan differed from their forebears in root bone, comprehension, and Dao heart. When cultivating these borrowed Dao arts, some sense of separation and incompatibility was unavoidable.

This incompatibility meant that when cultivators practiced the methods of ancient sages, at best their progress would be sluggish; at worst, they would be unable to even enter the gate. If they cultivated by force, they even risked qi deviation and the collapse of their Dao Foundation.

The Dao Foundation Contract, however, could solve this problem at its root.

Using a cultivator's source Dao Foundation as the vessel of contract and the imprint of the divine soul as its sole credential, it established an exclusive Dao contract for cultivated methods, sword arts, and spells. It deeply bound external Dao arts to one's own Dao Path, allowing them to grow on the same frequency and completely erasing the barrier between the method and oneself.

Put simply, it could transform any cultivation method or spell into a personal life-bound art, one wholly of the same origin as one's own foundation.

With long-term cultivation, the art could even completely meld into one's innate talent. Like a divine dragon born able to command wind and summon rain, or a spiritual tree able to carry out photosynthesis, it would become utterly natural and require no outside aid.

"A very powerful ability, but it has limits. Because my rank is insufficient, I can currently establish an exclusive Dao contract with only one cultivation method."

At that thought, Jiang Xuan looked at the two core methods he cultivated and fell into a difficult choice.

"Should I choose the One Qi Sword Art, or the Nine-Breath Qi-Absorption Method?"

The benefits of choosing the One Qi Sword Art were obvious. After establishing the Dao contract, the method would become completely compatible with him, and the difficulty of cultivation would plummet severalfold. The fusion of the Five-Organ Origin Qi, which was as difficult as ascending to heaven for others, would be within easy reach for him.

Not to mention that the One Qi Sword Art could also synergize with Clear-Heart Sword Disciple.

"But the Nine-Breath Qi-Absorption Method isn't weak either."

His exchanges with Dong Hao over the past few days had already allowed Jiang Xuan to grasp the subsequent potential of this Divine Firmament Sect entry-level cultivation method.

Just as the One Qi Sword Art would undergo a qualitative transformation upon reaching mastery in the Third Realm, the Nine-Breath Qi-Absorption Method would likewise undergo a rebirth-like metamorphosis in the Third Realm.

At that time, he would gain a core ability called [Cosmic Cycle Circulation].

This core trait would allow his mana to continuously complete its Cosmic Cycle Circulation within his body, as naturally as breathing.

And that meant that from then on, whether sitting, lying down, walking, awake, or asleep, he would be cultivating.

Furthermore, mana constantly flowing through his meridians was equivalent to keeping his physical body under mana reinforcement at all times. When facing an enemy, there would be no need to activate mana from his dantian; it could be unleashed directly from his meridians at his fingertips, making his attacks several times faster. This unceasing mana cycle also served as a permanent line of defense, capable of automatically resisting outside intrusions.

Once cultivated to great completion, the Cosmic Cycle Circulation of the Nine-Breath Qi-Absorption Method could even interact with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. At that point, he would possess a mana shield that operated at all times, automatically absorbing worldly spiritual energy to replenish itself.

"As expected of a top great sect. The entry-level cultivation method passed down by the Divine Firmament Sect may not be exceptional in offensive power, but its ability to preserve one's life and its cultivation stability are simply maxed out."

After weighing the pros and cons, Jiang Xuan ultimately made his decision—the Nine-Breath Qi-Absorption Method.

"My first priority in cultivating the Dao has never been to compete fiercely with others. It is to preserve myself and seek a long life. The One Qi Sword Art can certainly enhance my killing power, but the Nine-Breath Qi-Absorption Method can tangibly raise my chances of surviving."

"Bzzzt!"

The instant his decision settled, the complete Daoist outline, cultivation secrets, and qi-circulation routes of the Nine-Breath Qi-Absorption Method abruptly surged forth from Jiang Xuan's mind.

"One breath settles the mystery; attain the utmost emptiness, guard profound stillness, let ten thousand thoughts return to one and vanish..."

"...Four breaths cleanse the turbid; when things flourish, they grow old; when the turbid departs and the clear remains, return to an infant's true state..."

"...Eight breaths unite with Heaven; man follows Earth, Earth follows Heaven, breath follows nature, revolving together with the Dao..."