However, yet another circulation passed, and his cultivation still failed to increase.
Zhou Changwang had anticipated this outcome.
After all, the increase in cultivation requires the assistance of Spiritual Qi.
Especially when a cultivator is in the advancement stage, the amount of Spiritual Qi needed is often much greater than usual.
Relying solely on the Spiritual Power converted from the natural operation of his cultivation technique during meditation and training is obviously insufficient to break through the bottleneck from the Qi Refining Second Layer to the Qi Refining Third Layer.
If there were no corresponding auxiliary means, he could only use the water mill technique, constantly accumulating Spiritual Power until it naturally reached a tipping point for a breakthrough.
At present, however.
"Continue cultivating, I'll break through my cultivation today in one go."
Zhou Changwang was excited and eager to break through to reach the Qi Refining Third Layer. He then shouted in a low voice, and with a slight movement of his heart spirit, he operated the Five Elements Technique once again.
While operating the cultivation technique, he grabbed a Lower-Grade Spirit Stone placed aside.
Then, as his cultivation technique operated within his body, the Spiritual Qi inside the Spirit Stone was quickly mobilized, transforming into a raging torrent flowing continuously into his body.
Not enough Spiritual Qi? Supplement with Spirit Stone!
The environment around him was merely the periphery of the Spirit Vein, with insufficient Spiritual Qi. If he absorbed and converted methodically, the time cost would be too long.
A breakthrough requires a single burst of energy.
Though it leads to immense waste.
Yet, concerning cultivation, he's willing to be extravagant.
A massive flow of Spiritual Qi surged like a large river, continuously pouring into his body.
Even though more than half of the Spiritual Qi dissipated back to nature during the absorption and conversion process,
a substantial amount of Spiritual Qi, under the operation of his cultivation technique, transformed into Spiritual Power, flooded into his Dantian, and was quickly compressed and solidified.
Suddenly, Zhou Changwang's hand grasped emptily as the Spiritual Qi within a Lower-Grade Spirit Stone had been exhausted, transforming into powder. He quickly grabbed another Spirit Stone.
He consumed three Lower-Grade Spirit Stones consecutively.
Until it could no longer compress further, reaching a critical limit, Zhou Changwang promptly controlled his Spiritual Power, transforming it into a sharp blade to pierce a particular meridian.
Bang!
The blocked meridian was directly pierced through by this surge of Spiritual Power.
Without any stagnation.
Smoother than expected.
Zhou Changwang's body shook, delight welling in his heart.
He broke through.
At this moment, he finally broke through.
From the Qi Refining Second Layer to the Qi Refining Third Layer.
At this moment, the operation of his Five Elements Technique completed a circulation, returning to the Dantian.
Five Elements Technique +1
Instantly, a large amount of cultivation experience about the Five Elements Technique surged into his mind.
As if at this moment, he had undergone countless operations of the cultivation technique, gaining innumerable insights and experiences regarding it.
"The cultivation realm of the Five Elements Technique has also broken through to Small Success?"
Zhou Changwang was stunned, and a smile appeared on his face.
A double blessing.
He then looked at the attribute panel.
Name: Zhou Changwang
Lifespan: 17/78
Cultivation: Third-Layer Qi Cultivation (1/100)
Cultivation Technique: Five Elements Technique (Small Success 1/400)
Skills: Spirit Rain Skill (Small Success 42/400), Cleaning Technique (Entry Level 69/100), Fertilization Technique (Small Success 23/400), Geng Metal Finger (Small Success 125/400), Calming Technique (Entry Level 57/100), Fireball Technique (Entry Level 25/100)
...
"Indeed.
Not only has my cultivation broken through to the Qi Refining Third Layer,
but even the Five Elements Technique has officially risen to the Small Success stage."
Seeing this, Zhou Changwang felt a surge of joy in his heart.
He was about to close the attribute panel when his body suddenly trembled.
He couldn't help but widen his eyes.
Lifespan!
He discovered his lifespan had increased.
From the original seventy-five, it increased to seventy-eight.
Increased by a full three years.
"Cultivation for immortality, cultivation for longevity.
Whether immortality exists is unknown, but it's certain that it can prolong life."
Zhou Changwang felt joyful and triumphant.
He then began to sense the differences after breaking through to the Qi Refining Third Layer.
First, his Dantian had expanded significantly, and the meridians, pushed and struck by Spiritual Power earlier, became more resilient.
Next, the Spiritual Power within, obviously more condensed than before, allowing the same magic to be cast with such power now has an additional three parts of might.
It's evident.
Zhou Changwang's overall strength has massively increased.
Perhaps the only restraint on him lies in attack and defense methods.
In the realm of attack, he only mastered two attack magic techniques: Geng Metal Finger and Fireball Technique. However, Geng Metal Finger, being an insect-elimination magic, even when reaching Small Success, has only a three-zhang range and is unidirectional, lacking variation.
The Fireball Technique is currently too low level, still at the entry stage, with limited power.
As for defensive means, he had no skills at all.
"This won't do.
To have a sturdy life, one must first ensure survival."
A cultivator without adequate protective means is very dangerous.
Previously, he had no way.
With a shortage of Spirit Stones, it was futile to overthink.
But now, he decided to arm himself first.
Having one or two defensive magic techniques is a necessary choice.
...
The next morning.
Zhou Changwang naturally opened his eyes, only to feel that the surrounding heaven and earth seemed somewhat different from before.
The air was sweeter; with slightest eye movement, one could vaguely see traces of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi drifting around, then under some special pulling force, slowly gathering towards his body.
Then Zhou Changwang suddenly realized.
The Five Elements Technique inside him was operating naturally.
Not controlled by himself, naturally running.
He immersed his heart spirit inside and confirmed it again.
"This is the characteristic of the Five Elements Technique at Small Success level.
No need for deliberate control; it can automatically operate the cultivation technique to restore consumed Spiritual Power inside..."
Zhou Changwang genuinely felt surprised and delighted.
He had long known that once the Five Elements Technique reached Small Success, it would certainly undergo some changes.
But he did not expect this change to be so substantial—it could drive his Five Elements Technique to operate automatically.
Although such unmanaged automatic operation of the cultivation technique is extremely slow, likely running merely one circulation per hour.
However, this is completed unconsciously, requiring no effort, let alone exertion of heart spirit.
It equates to non-stop cultivation at all times.
Over one night, his cultivation technique spontaneously operated five circulations.
Not only did it increase his cultivation technique proficiency by five points, but it also replenished the Spiritual Power within him, which had been somewhat depleted due to the recent breakthrough, making it full again without additional meditation cultivation for recovery.
Knock knock knock!
At this moment, a knock at the door rang out.
Zhou Changwang was surprised.
Who could it be this early?
He thought for a moment, then quickly got up and went to the door.