C26 Spirit Essence Stage

Willow State City – the crown jewel of prosperity within Willow State. The moment the group of youths approached its outskirts, they could sense its grandeur.

The city's walls towered dozens of feet high, resembling a colossal lion in repose, its formidable presence commanding awe at first sight. By contrast, the walls of the cities in Willow State East seemed mere playthings.

"Alright, let's head into the city!" Mentor Yanshan declared.

With that, they mounted their Spirit Rhinos and made for the city's heart. The towering walls hinted at the vastness of the gates, which easily accommodated the several-meter-tall Spirit Rhinos.

Yet, the city gates were guarded by soldiers conducting stringent inspections. Every group seeking entry was meticulously vetted before being allowed inside.

Chen Yi's party, however, faced no such obstacles. As soon as Mentor Yanshan's affiliation with South Wind Academy was disclosed, the gate soldiers waved them through without hesitation – such was the clout of the Academy.

Within the South Wind Empire, both students and mentors of the Academy were accorded the utmost respect and privilege. This coveted status was precisely why legions of youths aspired to join its ranks. It promised not just an enhancement of one's abilities but also a passport to unhindered travel throughout the empire.

If the city walls had been impressive from the outside, the interior of Willow State City was a revelation of opulence. Skyscrapers soared in every direction, with architecture rivaling the splendor of the South Wind Auction House in Wood County City – a common sight here.

Why was Willow State City renowned for its affluence? The architectural marvels spoke for themselves.

Yet, none of this stirred Chen Yi. His first visit to Willow State City was hardly impactful; it paled in comparison to the splendors he had witnessed in his past life. The so-called luxury here was no match for the celestial palaces he once knew. And although this was his inaugural visit to Willow State City, he had previously graced the capital of the South Wind Empire.

Compared to Willow State City, the capital was a bustling metropolis!

Yet the other youths, including the profoundly talented Bei Yu, couldn't hide their wild enthusiasm.

To them, Willow State City was the epitome of urban splendor, the likes of which they had never seen. Their first time stepping into such grandeur, how could their hearts not flutter with excitement?

The thought of their upcoming participation in the academy's entrance exams sent a ripple of excitement through the group.

Mentor Yanshan, observing their eager faces, offered a warm smile and steered his Chasing Rhino in a specific direction within Willow State City.

The South Wind Academy's recruitment exam was traditionally held in Willow State City, a practice that had been established over many years. Consequently, the city boasted a dedicated residential area for mentors and youths traveling from across Willow State to reside.

Led by Mentor Yanshan, Chen Yi and his companions swiftly made their way to the accommodation zone.

Reflecting the vibrancy of Willow State City, the residential area was equally impressive. Over ten buildings stood tall, each one gleaming with opulence.

"Here are your keys. Use the numbers to locate your respective rooms. I'll come to escort you to the exam venue when it's time for the second round of testing. Since the schedule is tight, lateness will be considered a forfeiture. So, for the next few days, I advise you to stay put to avoid missing my arrival. If you're not here when I come, don't expect me to wait for your return!"

After handing out the keys, Mentor Yanshan departed with the other mentors.

The fourteen youths scattered to find their rooms.

Chen Yi located his room in under two minutes, and it seemed the others were close by. Their assigned rooms were all conveniently situated on the same floor, along the same corridor.

The group exchanged brief glances, sparing the small talk, and each entered their own room.

The room was modest, sparsely furnished with just a bed, a desk with chairs, and a calendar on the wall.

"But there's a Spirit Gathering Array here, which is quite impressive!"

Chen Yi was pleased to discover a small Spirit Gathering Array beneath the bed.

The Spirit Gathering Array, true to its name, was a formation designed to rapidly concentrate the spirit energy from the heavens and earth. For Cultivators, spirit energy was the wellspring of their practice. The more concentrated the energy, the more efficient their cultivation. Thus, within the Spirit Gathering Array, a Cultivator's rate of advancement could significantly increase. The extent of this enhancement, however, depended on the quality of the Spirit Gathering Array.

The Spirit Gathering Array comes in various grades, including threefold, fivefold, tenfold, twentyfold, fiftyfold, and a hundredfold, each reflecting the literal multiplication of spirit energy. Even though the one Chen Yi encountered was merely a threefold array, he considered it quite impressive, especially given that Willow State was a relatively small place. Having a Spirit Gathering Array at all was a stroke of good fortune.

"In the next few days, I'll focus on condensing my Qi and forming my Yuan..." Chen Yi mused to himself as he sat cross-legged on his bed, tuning into his body's internal state.

For a cultivator at the peak of the Meditation Stage, the transition to the Spirit Essence Stage by condensing Qi into Yuan is critical. Success means ascending to a new realm, a pivotal moment for any cultivator, typically approached with thorough preparation. Failure can have dire consequences, potentially causing one's realm to regress from Level Ten all the way down to Level Nine or even Level Eight.

But for Chen Yi, who had been reborn, there was no need for elaborate preparations. He could begin as soon as he felt ready. His previous delay was due to the recruitment exams at South Wind Academy, but now, with time on his hands, he was set to proceed.

To him, the process of condensing Qi into Yuan posed little challenge. Nonetheless, advancing to the Spirit Essence Stage was crucial. Certain cultivation techniques from his past life would become accessible at this juncture, and the disparity between cultivators who had mastered a technique and those who had not was stark.

Entering the Spirit Essence Stage would catapult his strength to new heights—a qualitative leap forward. Upcoming exams and the ultimate assessment at the academy would surely draw out young prodigies, some of whom might have already attained the Spirit Essence Stage, underscoring the significance of this advancement. The Blood Holy Bead was his ace in the hole, entangled with complexities he preferred not to unravel lightly. Besides, he had to admit, he was reluctant to squander any blood unnecessarily.

Every time he utilized the Blood Holy Bead, it would deplete a portion of his energy, necessitating a replenishment with Spirit Beast Blood. Despite securing a supply of Spirit Beast Blood during his final transaction with the South Wind Auction House—apart from the items he left for his family—the quantity he had was not particularly large. Moreover, the Blood Holy Bead required a fresh infusion of blood every seven days. Naturally, it was wise to conserve as much as possible.

This was a lesson Chen Yi had learned from his past life about the use of the Blood Holy Bead.

With a steady supply of blood, the Blood Holy Bead was a miraculous artifact. Without it, the bead was no better than a worthless trinket. This wasn't hyperbole; the Blood Holy Bead truly was a treasure that depended heavily on blood!

Thus, Chen Yi always made sure to have an ample supply of blood on hand.

...

As time swiftly passed, three days had come and gone.

"Sssss..."

With a slightly grating sound, a white aura enveloped Chen Yi, and a powerful presence filled the room.

He had achieved the Spirit Essence Stage!

Unsurprisingly, after three days of diligent effort, Chen Yi had flawlessly transformed his Qi into Yuan. The aura now surrounding him was the ultimate testament to his success.

This aura, known as Essence Qi, was a hallmark of a Spirit Essence Stage Cultivator!

Cultivators at this stage were distinguished by two key indicators: Essence Qi and Yuan Qi.

The process of transforming Qi into Yuan typically produced Yuan Qi. However, this didn't mean Yuan Qi was superior to Essence Qi. Quite the opposite, Essence Qi was significantly more potent than Yuan Qi. Put simply, Essence Qi was an advanced form of Yuan Qi. Typically, only cultivators who had reached the pinnacle of the Spirit Essence Stage could manifest Essence Qi. Yet, there were those with exceptional gifts who could generate Essence Qi at the initial phase of their Qi transformation and Yuan formation.

Such cultivators were often far more powerful than their peers at the same level.

Chen Yi was a prime example of this category.

Yet, it was to be expected. Reborn into this life, he possessed an intimate understanding of Essence Qi. For most, condensing Essence Qi directly was a formidable challenge, but for him, it was a walk in the park!

"Ah, the feeling of nostalgia!"

As he watched the Essence Qi swirl around his palm, Chen Yi exhaled softly.

In his past life, he had surpassed the use of Essence Qi, reaching heights where it was no longer relevant. The more powerful one becomes, the more techniques become available. Essence Qi was incredibly useful from the Spirit Essence Stage up to the Crystal Stage, but beyond that, it lost its luster.

Thus, once he had advanced beyond the Crystal Stage in his previous existence, Chen Yi seldom relied on Essence Qi.

Feeling its presence once more brought a sense of longing.

"Time to start practicing the Fire Spell!"

Having attained the Spirit Essence Stage, his next endeavor was to master a cultivation technique. Memories flitted through his mind until he pinpointed the perfect one.

The Fire Spell, a Spirit Rank technique within the Advanced category, was not only practical but also well-suited to his current level—a technique he had practiced in his former life.

Some might wonder why, with a wealth of techniques in his memory, Chen Yi needed to acquire two Advanced rank techniques from the South Wind Auction for Chen Shanheng. Why not simply write them himself?

The answer is straightforward.

Cultivation techniques are enigmatic, not merely a matter of transcription. They require an infusion of spirit to truly come alive. In his past life, Chen Yi had the prowess to do so with ease. However, reborn, he had yet to reach that level of mastery.

What's more, the techniques in his mind were mostly beyond the scope of the Blue Cloud Realm—far too advanced for its cultivators.

Additionally, one might ask why Chen Yi would need to practice these techniques again if he had already mastered them in his past life.

This is just empty talk.

Having practiced cultivation in a past life doesn't guarantee the same in this one. You can't employ cultivation techniques without your body having mastered them first.

However, his rebirth certainly came with its perks. With the memories of his previous life, he didn't have to pore over the basics like a beginner; he could grasp them immediately. The task at hand was simply to get his body up to speed. To put it plainly, what might take others months or even years to master, he could achieve in just a day or two.

...