In the Cultivation Realm, the requirements for a cultivator's aptitude are actually very high.
This is manifested externally in the quality of their Spiritual Root.
The so-called quality of Spiritual Root refers to Five Elements Spirit Root, Four-Attribute Spirit Root, Three-Attribute Spirit Root, Dual-Attribute Spirit Root, and Single-Attribute Spirit Root... Even among the same type of Spirit Root, there are differences in strength and weakness. For instance, among the Single-Attribute Spirit Roots, when cultivating the same technique and with the same resources, some advance faster, while others slower.
This involves the efficiency of Spiritual Qi absorption and transformation.
Generally speaking, the cultivation efficiency of the Five Elements Spirit Root is hardly comparable to that of the Four-Attribute Spirit Root.
Unless the conversion rate of the Five Elements Spirit Root is high-grade, and that of the Four-Attribute Spirit Root is low-grade.
Zhou Changwang did not know if his Spiritual Qi absorption conversion rate was high-grade or low-grade.
However, the moment he swallowed the Primordial Qi Pill, he felt that even compared to the legendary Celestial Spirit Root of the Single-Attribute Spirit Root, he was not inferior.
A surging and vast amount of Spiritual Qi exploded within his body.
Then, as he circulated his Five Elements Technique, it was continuously transformed into his unique Spiritual Power.
One breath, two breaths, three breaths...
In just a few dozen breaths, the Spiritual Power that was once depleted due to cultivating techniques became full again, then assimilated more Spiritual Qi, transforming into his Qi Cultivation.
Even the speed of his cultivation technique operation increased.
Like a hot knife through butter, it charged and clashed along the meridians within his body...
Cultivation Level +1
Cultivation Level +1
Cultivation Level +1
…
After just one circulation, Zhou Changwang felt a substantial improvement in his Qi Cultivation.
However, he did not stop cultivating for that reason.
Because the surging Spiritual Qi contained within the Primordial Qi Pill continued to wreak havoc inside him, he had to cultivate and absorb it quickly; otherwise, it would simply be wasted and dissipate.
So.
One circulation, two circulations, three circulations...
After a full five circulations.
Zhou Changwang finally stopped circulating his cultivation technique.
By this time, although extremely mentally exhausted, the excitement in his heart was beyond words.
A feeling of incomparable fulfillment.
He quickly glanced at the Attribute Panel.
Cultivation Level: Qi Refining Second Layer (48/100)
"My cultivation level increased by ten points."
A flash of excitement darted across Zhou Changwang's eyes.
This was equivalent to his ten days' worth of cultivation results.
This was also because, due to inadequate conversion, much Spiritual Qi was dissipated out of his body.
Otherwise, the improvement would have been even greater.
And currently, he still had two Primordial Qi Pills in his hand, along with two Yellow Spirit Pills, which are also spirit pills to aid cultivation.
Plus five Awakening Talismans... Although their effect is not as direct as the spirit pills, they can restore mental energy and extend cultivation time.
"In other words, I should soon be able to break through and reach the Qi Refining Third Layer."
Zhou Changwang was well aware that for an Immortal Cultivator, realm and strength are closely related.
Not only is the Spiritual Power more abundant, but its quality is also significantly different.
...
Early the next morning.
Zhou Changwang cooked Spirit Rice Porridge with Crescent Rice, feeling that its Spiritual Qi was indeed slightly stronger than Linghe Rice, but also limited, however, its taste was indeed better, with a certain glutinous softness.
Then he went out.
...
In the Cultivation Realm, mingling crowds of diverse backgrounds gather, making it essentially a larger martial world.
And in the martial world, there are always brokers who earn by selling information.
The reason Zhou Changwang arrived at the Spirit Field so late yesterday was to seek one of such brokers.
Unfortunately, being an Innate Martial Artist draws too little attention in the Cultivation Realm, so the other party also had no information at the time and needed time to investigate as well.
Therefore, after stepping out, Zhou Changwang headed straight for the independent cultivator marketplace at the northwest corner of the marketplace, and stopped at a stall selling spirit beast cubs.
This stall owner was exactly the broker he found yesterday.
He was said to be a Beast Tamer at the Beast Taming Workshop, who had a wide circle of friends and was well-informed.
"Brother Xiu, may I have a word with you."
At this moment, the other party happened to have no customers, so Zhou Changwang quickly spoke up.
"I've got the information you wanted.
But, you know the rules?"
That Brother Xiu, middle-aged, his eyes quite small yet gleaming with sharpness.
As he spoke, he performed a Sound Insulation Technique.
This way, their conversation was secure from eavesdroppers.
This is a common technique at the independent cultivator marketplace, as item prices here fluctuate greatly, the stall owners gauge customers, hence they guard against people eavesdropping.
"I understand."
Zhou Changwang nodded, handing over a Lower-Grade Spirit Stone.
Even though he had already heard some information from Qian Xiaoyue, since it concerned his father, he naturally needed to know more.
"Over twenty days ago, your father entered Liangyuan Mountain with Zhao Heng's team, in total there were five cultivators, three Innate Martial Artists, and your father was one of the Innates.
However, Zhao Heng returned seven days ago, and with him were two other cultivators and one Innate, albeit all of them injured.
This means two cultivators and two Innate Martial Artists are unaccounted for.
Your father is one of them."
Quickly collecting the Spirit Stone, Brother Xiu didn't hesitate and directly revealed everything, with no concealment.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Changwang fell silent.
If it were somewhere else, he might hold some hope, hoping his father was only seriously injured, now recuperating in the wild...
But Liangyuan Mountain.
It is infamously treacherous around here, teeming with venomous insects and demon beasts; even on the outskirts, one could encounter powerful demon beasts, let alone deeper within, where it's rumored to house Foundation Establishment Great Demons.
Surviving in such a place in the wild is incredibly difficult.
There was once an incident where a Qi Refining Eighth Layer cultivator led a group overnight, only for them to be annihilated in a demon beast night raid.
"Subsequently, I also verified this with the surviving Innate Martial Artist.
Their objective was a Spirit Void Grass deep within Liangyuan Mountain, and after preparing in advance, they achieved this relatively smoothly.
But on their way back, they had bad luck and encountered a Two-headed Wolf, and worse, it was the most troublesome Ice and Fire Two-headed Wolf. At just the first encounter, an Innate Martial Artist was struck by fire and burned to ashes."
At this point, Brother Xiu paused, seeing Zhou Changwang's expression shift slightly, he smirked playfully before continuing, "Rest assured, that person wasn't your father."
Zhou Changwang glanced at him, if not for the disparity in their strengths, he would have liked to use a Geng Metal Finger on his face.
"Then they retreated while fighting, with people getting injured and screaming tragically, eventually scattering and fleeing.
That Martial Artist was lucky, not deemed worthy prey by the Ice and Fire Two-headed Wolf, thus surviving.
He only vaguely saw that your father was with a cultivator, yet the Ice and Fire Two-headed Wolf was pursuing that exact direction..."
With that, Brother Xiu gave Zhou Changwang a casual glance, then canceled the Sound Insulation Technique, returning to his position at the stall.