C6 Cultivation

The night was as silent as still water.

Deep within a cave nestled in a valley untouched by moonlight, Ling Yunfan, clad in simple black attire, sat cross-legged on the ground. The firelight from behind cast a massive shadow that soared ceaselessly around him. In the flickering light, the shadow could find no refuge, revealing its full form—an enlarged version of the silver dragon-phoenix tattoo on Ling Yunfan's right hand.

As he immersed himself in cultivation, Ling Yunfan had noticed that each time he ingested the medicinal soup crafted from spiritual herbs, a colossal phoenix shadow would emerge behind him. Far from causing trouble, the shadow actually accelerated the absorption of Cosmic Spiritual Energy within his body.

This very phenomenon had propelled Ling Yunfan, after three days of intense cultivation, to break through to Body Refining Level Five—a feat that surpassed his wildest expectations. His strength had surged to an impressive 2,300 pounds. Yet such a dramatic increase came at a cost: he had to engage the first level of the God Devil Exterminating Spell to hasten his cultivation pace. Simultaneously, he needed to unleash his Bloodline Power continuously to sustain the phoenix's shadow, which in turn increased his spiritual energy consumption tenfold.

Where other Martial Cultivators might have succumbed to such severe mental drain and collapsed in exhaustion, Ling Yunfan disregarded the toll it took on him. He relentlessly tapped into his Bloodline Power, maintaining the phoenix shadow's presence to assist in his cultivation and enhance the absorption of the herbal concoction's potency into his system.

Ling Yunfan's desperate efforts were fueled by a rare opportunity granted by the heavens—a breakthrough in his cultivation level, the possession of the enigmatic and formidable Divine Devil Bloodline, and the acquisition of the God Devil Exterminating Spell, a technique in perfect harmony with his bloodline. This marked a pivotal juncture in his life, one he was determined to grasp. Only by doing so could he hope to defeat the celestial prodigy, Lee Xueer, in two years' time.

On the Celestial Roar Continent, power reigned supreme. Regardless of one's location, only the mighty were revered, capable of commanding the elements and pursuing their desires unimpeded. Ling Yunfan's recent brush with death, his fall from the cliff, had catalyzed a profound transformation within him, akin to a metamorphosis that heralded a new beginning.

For a long while, a luminous glow of milky-white brilliance formed in the darkness of the night, enveloping Ling Yunfan in his meditative state with eyes closed. This spectacle was the result of Cosmic Spiritual Energy accumulating in one place.

When a martial artist cultivates at an exceptionally rapid pace, the dantian within their body emits a unique suction, drawing in the Cosmic Spiritual Energy from the surroundings. As the energy's concentration heightens, it manifests as a milky-white radiance, preparing the martial artist for an imminent breakthrough to a higher level of cultivation. Clearly, Ling Yunfan was experiencing this very state.

At that moment, Ling Yunfan's chest rose and fell gently, his breath rhythmic and steady. With the prolonged absorption of Cosmic Spiritual Energy, the milky-white light around him grew increasingly intense, and subtle air currents began to stir within his dantian.

...

After an extensive period, within the cave, Ling Yunfan, with his eyes tightly shut, had assimilated all the Cosmic Spiritual Energy around him. Inside his dantian, a mass of air currents was coalescing into a distinct form. With a slight flutter of his eyelashes, his dark eyes snapped open, revealing a glint of excitement and a hint of fatigue that was hard to detect.

Breathing out the stale air from his lungs, Ling Yunfan, invigorated, flexed his limbs a few times, then, with a look of astonishment, he clenched his right fist and murmured to himself, "I can sense the spiritual force within me now. Is this what Body Refining Level Six feels like? Truly wondrous. My strength must have increased significantly. This sensation is incredibly satisfying. It appears that the Divine Devil Bloodline requires copious amounts of spirit medicine and considerable mental exertion to achieve such rapid cultivation progress. With enough spirit medicine, I should be able to advance to Body Refining Level Eight within a month."

Despite his joy at growing stronger, Ling Yunfan was far from content. He was aware that even reaching Body Refining Level Nine was merely scratching the surface of the martial path. To truly embark on this journey, one must attain the Essence Gathering Stage. Only then does one truly begin the martial journey. And the real masters? They are the ones who can soar through the skies, navigating the heavens with unparalleled freedom and ease.

"Hah!"

Approaching a towering black iron tree, Ling Yunfan let out a thunderous shout and unleashed a punch.

"Bang! Bang!"

The force of his fist shattered the massive tree into several pieces, and the resulting gust from his strike toppled several trees behind it.

"Such incredible strength! Who would have thought that a mere punch could wield such might? That blow, without even my full power, inflicted such damage on an adult black iron tree, comparable in defense to a Body Refining Level Seven. It must have been the force of around four thousand five hundred kilograms. If I were to strike with all my might, the destruction would be even greater. Now, should I encounter that Bloodthirsty Purple Pattern Snake again, I could easily slay it. At this point, I could even stand my ground against a Body Refining Level Seven martial artist—not necessarily to win, but certainly to fight!" Ling Yunfan surveyed the havoc before him and murmured with a hint of satisfaction.

Once, Ling Yunfan couldn't even handle the most basic Body Refining Level Three Mirror opponents and was scorned by many. Almost anyone could bully him. But now, he had undergone a complete transformation. Not only did he possess formidable combat prowess, but he also had the powerful and enigmatic God Devil Exterminating Spell and the Divine Devil Bloodline at his disposal.

With these techniques and the strength of his bloodline, Ling Yunfan had the power to leap across two minor realms. He had rapidly advanced from Body Refining Level Three to Level Six, a feat that truly marked him as a prodigy. Even Lee Xueer might find herself outmatched by him.

"I've trained enough here; it's time to head back. Otherwise, Father and Ms. Ling Hong will surely worry. I'll rest here briefly before making the climb back up the mountain." As the thrill faded, a wave of exhaustion swept over Ling Yunfan, and he couldn't help but feel a bit sheepish about his weary state.

Deciding on his next move, Ling Yunfan made his way back to the cave that had served as his sanctuary.

Despite the hardships and monotony of the past seven years, for Ling Yunfan, who had endured seven years of oppression, this was merely a minor inconvenience.

For seven long years, Ling Yunfan endured bullying and ridicule, which ingrained in him the critical importance of strength on the Celestial Roar Continent.

Yet, the fruits of his labor, hard-earned through tedium and toil, were immensely gratifying.

The God Devil Exterminating Spell, though unranked as a cultivation technique, was exceptionally attuned to the Divine Devil Bloodline. This synergy allowed its practitioner to safely consume spirit medicine, disregarding the volatile spiritual force and potency within, without fear of the unstable foundation often caused by rapid advancement in cultivation. Establishing a solid foundation is notoriously challenging for martial artists, as a shaky base can lead to a decline in strength, failed breakthroughs, and even regression in cultivation levels.

Many, therefore, diligently work on their foundational skills during the Body Refining Stage to pave the way for their future. For some, the journey from the Body Refining Stage to the Essence Gathering Stage can span years, even a decade. However, once one reaches the Essence Gathering Stage, concerns about a weak foundation dissipate, and the pace of cultivation can surge forward.

Before achieving the Essence Gathering Stage, the fastest an ordinary person could hope for is to break through their cultivation level once a month. Anything more ambitious risks an unstable foundation with dire consequences. If such a scenario unfolds, future progress becomes a struggle, potentially leaving one trapped indefinitely within the Essence Gathering Stage—a fate unbearable to any cultivator.

"I will not squander this chance. I must leverage it to perfection and stride toward the enigmatic peak of Martial Dao. Just you wait, Lee Xueer; you'll be nothing more than a stepping stone on my path." Having finished his meager meal, Ling Yunfan set his resolve, closed his eyes, and swiftly surrendered to sleep, his ultimate goal firmly etched in his mind.