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Chapter 57: Chapter 57: Qi Refining Seventh Layer
Li Quanqing followed the old man into the secret door, where a stone staircase stretched steeply downward, its narrow path leading into the unknown.
Although there were neither oil lamps nor night pearls to light the way, cultivators could infuse their eyes with mana to see in the dark naturally.
The further they descended, the more richly saturated the air became with Water Element Essence Qi, with spiritual mists swirling about, refreshing one’s entire being.
After an indeterminate descent, a soft azure light began to bloom in the darkness.
A grand pool appeared before them, filled with ocean-blue liquid that glistened with a mysterious glow, its surface smooth as a mirror.
At the center of the pool, a water-blue lotus larger than a grinding stone unfurled its petals, appearing dreamy and illusory.
"Jump in. The cultivation technique is within the Inheritance Pool," said the Fourth Elder, appearing completely unfazed.
Li Quanqing hesitated, "Elder, should I take off my clothes?"
"There’s no need, as no one before you has done so."
Li Quanqing: ...
Curious, he stepped into the pool, the azure liquid thick and jelly-like to the touch.
The blue spiritual liquid seemed alive, clinging to his calves, seeping through the pores and into Li Quanqing’s flesh and meridians.
Upon closer inspection, countless symbols and characters could be seen solidifying in the deepest part of the liquid, expounding ancient scriptures.
The Azure Sea Tide Generation Skill!
Li Quanqing decided to sit cross-legged in the pool, allowing the Clan’s Secret Technique to penetrate his mind by itself. The vast and unfathomable scriptures caused his temples to throb.
Beyond the basic textual inheritance, the area covered by the blue liquid was subtly changing his constitution.
Hidden acupoints were being opened, and tiny veins were getting cleared—none of these were recorded in the scriptures.
Even if others obtained the Azure Sea Tide Generation Skill, they would find cultivation difficult without the baptism of the spiritual liquid, hardly able to make any progress.
This was the crucial part of the inheritance.
Several hours later, Li Quanqing’s bones and meridians were illuminated by a layer of radiant blue light, giving his skin a jade-like sheen.
Once his body fully absorbed this energy, he would be able to officially switch to cultivating this technique.
"This kid is truly compatible with the Azure Sea Tide Generation Skill," observed the Fourth Elder, looking at what now seemed a pool of clear water, clicking his tongue in wonder.
It was a rare sight to see someone absorbing the energy of the Azure Sea Liquid so thoroughly.
Li Quanqing opened his eyes, a water-blue sheen flowing within his deep pupils, an odd yet fascinating sight.
Moving his body, he felt clear-headed as though freed from shackles, his affinity for Water Spiritual Energy having greatly increased.
"What is this liquid, could it actually enhance my Water Spirit Root?" he thought to himself, unable to contain his excitement.
Curious, he looked towards the center of the pool at the crystal-like blue lotus and asked, "Elder, what is this?"
"A Low Grade defensive magic, the Water Lotus Barrier."
"It could be considered an advanced version of the Water Element Shield, creating lotuses at every step."
The old man spoke with a smile, "Would you like to learn it? Spend all your Family contribution points, and you can just afford it."
Li Quanqing, having no other use for his contribution points, waved his hand generously, "Let’s exchange!"
"Then sit on it and accept the inheritance."
The Fourth Elder raised his chin and took out the Array Plate to activate the Inheritance Array. The entire crystalline lotus shone, emitting a sound like crashing waves.
Another set of scriptures flowed into his mind—an exhilarating experience of acquiring knowledge without the need to study.
It was simply too wonderful.
Overwhelmed with all that was inherited, Li Quanqing, his head heavy and drowsy, returned to the fish pond and slept for several days and nights.
The sunlight was brilliant, the weather clear and sunny.
Moo moo~
A group of Green Jade Carps swam circles around the reef, repeatedly ramming their foreheads against the protective array, their bellies rumbling with hunger.
Li Quanqing rubbed his temple, finally having completely digested that immense amount of knowledge.
"Eh, some of the Green Jade Carps have actually reached maturity?"
After feeding them, Li Quanqing stroked their heads and plucked off six white shining light groups.
[Harvested a Green Jade Carp at Qi Refining Early Stage, reward one large Spiritual Energy Group!]*4
[Harvested a Green Jade Carp at Qi Refining Early Stage, reward one Middle Grade Green Carp Sword!]*2
The vast spiritual energy within his body rampaged uncontrollably, and Li Quanqing seized this opportunity to choose a new cultivation technique to convert to.
"Azure Sea Tide Generation Skill!"
The young man took the proper stance, with all five hearts pointing to the sky, and commenced circulating the new meridian cycle. He thoroughly refined and absorbed all the mana developed from the "Golden Water Technique."
This was not a simple process, as it required the removal of the original mana’s aura, comparable to bone marrow cleansing.
Li Quanqing spent an entire month, and finally succeeded in converting his cultivation technique.
Azure-colored mana flowed through his meridians before finally converging at his dantian like hundreds of rivers flowing into the sea.
Although the mana was purely of the water attribute, a cultivator with Five Spirit Roots had the ability to wield all Five Elements Magic using the mutual generation among the five elements.
It’s just that the power varied in strength.
During this time, another eighteen Green Jade Carps matured, rewarding 8 Spiritual Energy Groups, 4 Green Carp Swords, and 3 Experience Groups each for Water Element Shield and Water Dragon Technique.
Assisted by the abundant spiritual energy, Li Quanqing’s cultivation finally peaked at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer, and he sensed that substantial bottleneck.
One knows best about one’s own circumstances; his Spirit Root was not outstanding, his talents limited, to break through to the Qi Refining Late Stage on his own.
He might need several years to polish and grind at this bottleneck.
Fortunately, he was an exceptional hanger-on.
After waiting for another half month to accumulate enough Spiritual Energy Groups, Li Quanqing took out a Tonghua Pill and swallowed it.
The elixir melted in his mouth, and the bitter-tasting liquid plunged directly into the dantian. Following the mana routes, it permeated his meridians and circulated throughout his body.
Green and blue elixir gases escaped from his seven apertures but did not dissipate, faintly forming the illusion of a towering phoenix tree, complete with foliage, enveloping his entire being.
Li Quanqing could clearly feel that under the assistance of the elixir, that invisible barrier was slowly thinning.
Thousands of spiritual medicines were refined into a pill – the effect it created was indeed marvelously profound and beyond words.
Li Quanqing decisively waited until the bottleneck had been whittled down to its utmost, then instantly crushed the light groups, drawing in massive amounts of spiritual energy and mana to initiate the breakthrough!
The fragrance of the medicine mixed with heaven and earth essence qi turned into a dense fog, almost entirely shrouding him, like a thick cocoon.
Moo moo~
Ao Qing poked his head above the water’s surface and hurriedly beckoned to his companions to scramble for the escaping medicinal power and spiritual energy.
Delicious food this way, come quickly!
Not only the Green Jade Carps but also the Azure Water Pythons, Copper-armored Crabs, Bright Moon Shells, and other Spiritual Beasts vigorously competed, covering the entire pond in their scramble, instinctively chasing the benefits.
Li Quanqing had laid down an array for protection early on and was unconcerned about the outside world, focusing solely on wielding his mana to strike at the bottleneck.
Pop! Pop!! Pop!!!
Time passed unknowingly, and finally, with a sudden burst of effort, he broke through.
The new cultivation technique’s route for mana circulation emerged in his mind, almost instinctively, as he directed his mana to surge through his meridians.
The spiritual energy of heaven and earth was refined in abundance, with no need to worry about the sufficiency of mana.
The air of might around Li Quanqing surged as he quickly surpassed the pinnacle of the Qi Refining Sixth Level and stepped confidently into a new realm.
Qi Refining Late Stage!
The position of Island Master was now within sight!
