"The Five Elements Instruction? Another discovery!"
What Wang Zhiwen said took Lu Li by surprise.
He had not expected the nation's capabilities to be so formidable. Version 2.0 of the Five Elements Instruction already counted as intermediate-level.
Yet they had made further progress in just over half a year.
If they made another breakthrough...
"Wouldn't that put it on par with the Advanced Five Elements Instruction?!"
Lu Li was utterly astonished.
What other cultivator did not spend decades, or even a century, seeking sudden enlightenment?
Yet for him... why was it like riding a rocket?
On the other end of the jade pendant, Wang Zhiwen had already had someone prepare a brand-new 3D holographic player.
"Comrade Little Lu, hurry and take the player over and turn it on!"
"Using multiple quantum computers, we spent over half a year building vast numbers of models to simulate cultivation."
"We ran millions of simulations."
"After repeated comparisons and studies, we finally found areas we could optimize and improve."
Wang Zhiwen's voice came through the jade pendant.
It carried excitement he could barely contain.
With practiced ease, Lu Li took the player from the jade pendant's light and started playback.
Hum!
A life-sized, pale blue hologram instantly appeared before Lu Li.
A complete diagram of the human body's meridians slowly rotated, several key junctions highlighted in red.
"We used supercomputing to simulate over three million cycles of Spiritual Power circulation."
"We discovered clear losses at several meridian junctions in the original cultivation method, including the Triple Burner Meridian and the Yin Liver Meridian."
The image changed in time with the explanation.
The minute differences in Spiritual Power fluctuations between two sections of meridians were clearly visible.
"After repeated verification, we adjusted the frequency of the Spiritual Power's flow."
"We changed the originally uniform circulation to a rhythm of three fast, one slow. Like this..."
The projection demonstrated the optimized flow of Spiritual Power.
The slight sluggishness and losses vanished completely, and the entire cycle became as smooth as drifting clouds and flowing water.
"This change alone increased the model's cultivation efficiency by 115%!"
Watching the cultivation method circulate smoothly in the projection, Lu Li was profoundly shaken.
These top researchers from his motherland had used the most rigorous scientific methods to optimize this basic cultivation method to near perfection.
"Phew... can the efficiency increase that much in actual cultivation too...?"
"That... we'll only know after you test it yourself, Comrade Little Lu."
"But regardless, the same advice still stands. Please be sure to look after yourself and stay safe."
Wang Zhiwen cautioned Lu Li.
Then he carefully went over the precautions for the improved cultivation method once more.
Lu Li listened with the utmost attention.
Once the communication ended, he immediately sat cross-legged, unable to wait.
He began trying it out, following the cultivation route displayed by the 3D holographic player.
Hum!
As Lu Li mobilized his Spiritual Power,
he began cultivating step by step according to the projection.
Billowing Spiritual Qi stirred within the cave abode.
It surged wildly into his body.
In mere moments, Lu Li's presence changed.
The steady spiritual glow that usually accompanied his cultivation actually began to fade.
It was no longer conspicuous, yet lingered around him like a lingering resonance.
Above his head, a tiny vortex of Spiritual Qi even appeared, churning wildly.
"This... what an incredible absorption rate!"
"This probably... already counts as the Advanced Five Elements Instruction!"
Feeling the effects of version 3.0 of the Five Elements Instruction, Lu Li was shaken to his core.
His eyes snapped open.
"According to the records and miscellaneous accounts in the Scripture Repository... advanced comprehension manifests as spiritual resonance arising on its own, with unusual phenomena beginning to appear!"
"This... this... isn't this the same as directly comprehending the Advanced Five Elements Instruction?!"
Amid his delight, Lu Li actually showed signs of a breakthrough.
He felt his Dantian swelling to the brim.
Startled, he immediately closed his eyes and resumed cultivating.
He also took out two bottles of Azure Gold Spirit Liquid and poured them out one after another.
Hum!
The next second,
Spiritual Qi surged, and manifestations rose.
Until...
Crack!
A crisp sound rang out from within his body, echoing throughout the cave abode.
Lu Li's presence abruptly soared.
"Qi Refining Fifth Layer!"
"I did it!"
"It's only been a few days... just a few days..."
"So fast!"
Feeling the Law Power within his Dantian, Lu Li opened his eyes in delighted surprise.
Even now, he could hardly believe he had broken through to the Qi Refining Fifth Layer so effortlessly.
Back in the servant quarters, although he had deliberately suppressed his cultivation, it had still taken him several months to break through.
Now, advancing from the Qi Refining Fourth Layer to the Qi Refining Fifth Layer had taken only a few days!
"The Advanced Five Elements Instruction really is extraordinary..."
"With this cultivation method... even without external aids, I could reach the Qi Refining Ninth Layer within a few years!"
"For someone with Five Spirit Roots, this is simply overpowered!"
Lu Li took a deep breath, suppressing his shock.
Just as he was about to savor the wonders of the Advanced Five Elements Instruction some more,
Knock, knock, knock!
A series of crisp knocks suddenly rang out, interrupting him.
"Hm?"
Lu Li frowned slightly. He knew few people in the outer sect. Who would visit at this hour?
To be cautious, he swiftly put the holographic player and spirit liquid bottles into his Storage Bag and steadied his presence.
Only after making sure everything was in order did he rise and open the stone door.
Whoosh!
The stone door opened, revealing a dashing figure in white enchanted robes.
Ye Chenfeng, who already had a warm smile on his face, instantly stiffened the moment he saw Lu Li.
Their eyes met, and both froze.
Unmistakable astonishment flashed through Ye Chenfeng's eyes.
"You... it's you?!"
Ye Chenfeng's voice trembled, as though he could not believe his eyes.
Just moments ago, he had been flying past on his sword.
He had been planning to return to his cave abode to pack, then head out overnight on a mission.
Suddenly, he had sensed fluctuations in the Spiritual Qi below, and Elder Jian within his Dantian had abruptly spoken.
He had said something about Spiritual Qi gathering into a vortex and spiritual resonance arising on its own...
Someone had likely mastered an advanced cultivation method.
He had told him to pay a visit.
He had also said that such talent was rarely seen in the outer sect.
Only then had Ye Chenfeng lowered his sword light and come to knock.
Yet never in his wildest dreams had he expected... the person opening the door to be Lu Li, whom Elder Jian had once deemed "utterly unremarkable"!
"Junior... Junior Brother Lu..."
"This is... your cave abode?"
The moment he said it, Ye Chenfeng knew he had uttered a pointless question.
He had knocked, and Lu Li had opened the door.
Whose cave abode could it be, if not Lu Li's?
"Senior Brother Ye?"
"Did... you need something?"
Recognizing his visitor, Lu Li grew wary.
He remembered the Battle Command Department's analytical report very clearly.
It was also late at night. No matter how he looked at it, Ye Chenfeng's unannounced visit felt wrong.
Besides, he and Ye Chenfeng had barely exchanged more than a few words in the servant quarters.
They only knew each other's names... naturally, he was on his guard.
Still reeling, Ye Chenfeng also knew he seemed rather abrupt.
He was just thinking of offering an explanation when he suddenly sensed the presence Lu Li had yet to fully rein in, and his pupils sharply contracted.
"Your cultivation... the Qi Refining Fifth Layer?!"