Within the room, Xiao Yan gazed at the space where ripples had appeared earlier, his face awash with a mixture of shock and delight. In that instant he entered his cultivation state, he distinctly felt the presence of the world’s spiritual energy! Spiritual energy is an extremely mysterious form of power. It does not possess the potency of dou qi, but it is a great nourishment for the soul. However, like primordial chaos, it is incredibly difficult to sense. In ancient times, alchemists possessed some special soul techniques which allowed them to detect and absorb this spiritual energy. But in this era, those so-called mystical soul techniques have long since vanished, and few alchemists know how to sense and absorb spiritual energy. Xiao Yan had tried countless methods to sense the spiritual energy, but apart from the two occasions when he entered that strange state, all attempts were futile, leaving him quite helpless. Spiritual energy was simply too luxurious a commodity for the contemporary alchemist. His delighted expression gradually faded as Xiao Yan suppressed the turmoil in his heart. He then slowly sank into deep concentration, continuously reciting a mantra he had obtained from the spirit-nourishing powder. After about half an hour, with his eyes still closed, the calm within the room was once again disrupted by a faint ripple. This time, Xiao Yan did not look flustered. In his perception, wisps of extremely fine, almost chaotic, air currents suddenly appeared in the void filled with natural energy. These air currents were hidden deep, masked by the dense energy, and Xiao Yan would not have detected them without the aid of the mantra. “So these are threads of spiritual energy…” Xiao Yan observed the extremely faint currents, and after a moment, comprehension dawned on him. The spiritual energy was very faint and fragile; even if it was drawn into the body, it could easily be shattered by the surrounding energies. No wonder few people could sense the spiritual energy. Feeling the presence of the spiritual energy under normal cultivation state, Xiao Yan was pleased. If he could successfully absorb the spiritual energy, his soul would eventually advance to the so-called spiritual realm, and his alchemy skills would definitely reach the level of an eighth-grade master!
A seventh-grader is just a grandmaster, whereas an eighth-grader is recognized as a supreme master! A mere one-tier difference, yet it embodies the vast gap between them. If Xiao Yan could smoothly reach the level of an eighth-grade alchemist, even Dou Zun-level powerhouses would show him respect. With this identity, Xiao Yan knew that even if he visited the ancient family of Xun’er, he would be treated with high regard. After all, an eighth-grade alchemist is a rare existence throughout the entire continent of Dou Qi. For an eighth-grade pill, some Dou Zun-level experts would gladly serve as your subordinates. There’s no doubt about it! The thought of the privileges and benefits associated with becoming an eighth-grade alchemist filled Xiao Yan with a burning ambition. He quickly focused his mind, only to suddenly realize something: he had no method to absorb the spiritual energy! The nameless mantra provided him the ability to sense the spiritual energy, but not a way to absorb it! Unlike natural energy, spiritual energy is extremely fragile and can dissipate with the slightest pressure. Without a special method to extract it from the myriad energies, absorption is impossible. Xiao Yan was left dumbfounded, feeling the urge to cry but unable to shed tears. Finally sensing the spiritual energy, only to find out he couldn’t absorb it, was like finding a treasure vault filled with gold, only to realize it was heavily locked, and you could only look at it, not take any.
“Ah, this mantra should have more parts. The part I know is just a small portion…” After a while, Xiao Yan finally came back to his senses, shaking his head with a bitter smile.
He sighed, pondering for a moment, and then gritted his teeth fiercely. It’s hard to start anything, but he refused to believe that he couldn’t solve the problem of absorbing the spiritual energy. Since he lacked a proper method, he decided to use the most straightforward way: engulfing and absorbing! Having made up his mind, Xiao Yan re-entered the cultivation state, opening his mouth to forcefully draw in a blend of natural energy containing some traces of spiritual energy. As soon as the energy entered his body, before he could control it, the thread of fragile spiritual energy was crushed like a porcelain vase, dissipating into nothingness.
The first failure didn’t surprise Xiao Yan. If he had succeeded on the first try, that would have been truly strange. After refining the absorbed natural energy into dou qi and integrating it, Xiao Yan inhaled another burst. This time, as the natural energy entered, he swiftly separated the thread of spiritual energy, carefully extracting it, fiber by fiber, like peeling silk from a cocoon. This task demanded precise control, and even with his skill, he failed nearly twenty times before finally managing to extract a thread of spiritual energy smaller than a fingertip. Gazing at the faint trace of spiritual energy he had spent nearly an hour isolating, Xiao Yan heaved a relieved sigh. Fortunately, the nameless mantra allowed him to sense the spiritual energy’s location; otherwise, this delicate method would be utterly unworkable. Even so, the process was highly time-consuming. Yet, Xiao Yan understood that with practice, efficiency would improve. While it might never match a proper method, it would suffice to make his soul’s spiritual energy richer, reaching the spiritual realm and becoming an eighth-grade alchemist a matter of time. Carefully controlling the tiny thread of spiritual energy, Xiao Yan slowly guided it upward and into his forehead. As the thread of spiritual energy seeped into his forehead, Xiao Yan immediately felt a faint coolness in his mind, filling him with joy. He knew that this meant his soul was growing with spiritual energy. Clearly, though clumsy, his method had some effect. At least it was better than having no result at all. “Without a proper method to cultivate soul techniques, it’s indeed difficult…” Once the thread of spiritual energy merged with his soul, Xiao Yan couldn’t help but let out a wry chuckle. Removing just that single thread had taken an entire hour—certainly an unbalanced cost-to-benefit ratio. Yet, having no other option, he comforted himself: even a minuscule gain is better than none. If other high-ranking seventh-grade alchemists knew he could absorb even a small thread of spiritual energy, they’d be insanely jealous. Comforting himself, Xiao Yan sighed and refocused his mind. He continued the arduous work of isolating the spiritual energy. An entire night passed as Xiao Yan trained tirelessly. When the first rays of morning light spilled into the room, Xiao Yan, who had been sitting cross-legged on the bed, slowly opened his eyes, his dark pupils lively. After a night of effort, Xiao Yan successfully absorbed eight threads of spiritual energy. This was the result of increased proficiency and reduced time. With eight threads of spiritual energy, his soul was becoming increasingly enriched. Instead of feeling fatigued, he felt refreshingly clear, comparable to the state after a night of cultivation. Letting out a long breath, Xiao Yan leaped off the bed. Though he wasn’t entirely satisfied with a night’s worth of results, he was content. Though this couldn’t compare to what he achieved in his meditative state, the sustainability was reassuring. By continuing to absorb spiritual energy, becoming an eighth-grade alchemist was just a matter of time. Adjusting his robe, Xiao Yan stepped out of the room, fresh and energized. In the courtyard, he saw Ye Chong, Little Healer Immortal, and others already standing there. When the door opened, Ye Chong looked up, relieved to see Xiao Yan in good spirits. Smiling at the group, Xiao Yan knew Ye Chong was tense. Today was the crucial evaluation by the five major families, a determining day for the fate of the Ye clan. All this burden rested on Xiao Yan’s shoulders, and the fate of every Ye clansperson was in his hands. “Sir Xiao Yan, are you prepared?” Ye Chong asked, bowing deeply. He was well aware that today was a decisive day for the Ye clan. Seeing Ye Chong’s aged face, Xiao Yan nodded, took a deep breath, and led the way. His cheerful laugh slightly eased Ye Chong’s tension. “Let’s go. Today, let’s see what these so-called five major families are capable of!”
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