Chapter 331: The Technique Not Easily Shared
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Achieving mastery in the Slaughtering Spirit Technique not only increased its killing power but also brought about a noticeable change: the purity of the spiritual essence obtained through slaughtering became somewhat improved.
This was because the execution of the Slaughtering Spirit Technique had become more precise and delicate, allowing for the removal of impurities within the spiritual essence, such as fragments of core soul energy, before absorption.
However, having Chen Fei directly absorb these spiritual essences was still somewhat inefficient. Continuing to feed them to the Qianyuan Sword was still the better choice.
It was estimated that when the Slaughtering Spirit Technique reached the stage of perfection, further reduction of impurities would occur, and at that time, absorption might become feasible. To achieve worry-free absorption, Chen Fei would need to find complementary techniques for the Slaughtering Spirit Technique.
Alternatively, he could search for other techniques and integrate them with the Slaughtering Spirit Technique, much like the Mirror Image Technique of the Godslayer Sword, which eliminated some of the drawbacks of its techniques.
However, refining spiritual essence, especially removing spiritual impurities, was a rare skill, most often related to spiritual cultivation techniques.
Among the available spiritual cultivation techniques, there were only a few that Chen Fei could find on the market, and he had already learned most of them. If he wanted to completely refine the spiritual essence acquired through the Slaughtering Spirit Technique, he might need to enhance the Thousand Threads Technique, which would likely yield results.
Additionally, improvements in the Suppressing Dragon Elephant’s Spirit Suppression aspect would also be beneficial.
However, the difficulty of cultivating the Suppressing Dragon Elephant’s Spirit Suppression aspect was indeed beyond Chen Fei’s expectations. While all his other techniques were making rapid progress, this aspect of the Suppressing Dragon Elephant’s Spirit Suppression was still in the initial stage.
The difficulty in cultivating this technique far exceeded expectations. Although the aspect of Spirit Suppression had not yet reached the level of mastery, every increase in proficiency, compared to when he had just started practicing, resulted in an enhancement of its power.
However, because it had not yet reached the mastery level, Suppressing Dragon Elephant’s Spirit Suppression had not undergone any substantial changes and was still experiencing quantitative improvements.
With Chen Fei’s recent surge in core soul energy, he could feel that the proficiency of the Suppressing Dragon Elephant’s Spirit Suppression was also accelerating. In a short while, he should be able to raise the proficiency level to mastery.
In the courtyard, Chen Fei stood still, extending his right hand forward. A black dot appeared at the tip of his finger. The surrounding plants and flowers slammed onto the ground, pinned down by the sudden emergence of a powerful force field.
This was the sword pearl of the Zhongyuan Sword, but it was fundamentally different from the sword pearls used in the past.
If you were to enlarge this sword pearl, you would find that it contained a miniature sword formation.
With the current state of the Zhongyuan Sword, Chen Fei could cast a total of eighty-one sword pearls, each containing a miniature sword formation. The Zhongyuan Sword in its perfect state not only increased the quantity of sword pearls but also transformed their essence.
Simultaneously, the immense gravitational force contained within the sword formation had also increased by several times.
All of these improvements significantly elevated the power of the Zhongyuan Sword to an astonishing degree. Within the entire Primordial Sword Sect, there was only one person with the same level of mastery in the Zhongyuan Sword technique as Chen Fei, and that was the sect leader, Qu Qingsheng.
A technique that could be cultivated to the later stages of the Aperture Tempering realm was normally only understood by Aperture Tempering realm late-stage cultivators. Without reaching the highest understanding, it was impossible to cultivate to the later stages of the Aperture Tempering realm. This was a causal relationship with very few exceptions.
However, in Chen Fei’s case, there was an exception. Relying on the perfected Zhongyuan Sword, Chen Fei could cultivate all the way to the later stages of the Aperture Tempering realm. Breaking through the barrier from the middle stages to the later stages of the Aperture Tempering realm was almost effortless for him.
It was only when he reached the later stages of the Aperture Tempering realm that he might encounter some obstacles if his core soul energy was not sufficiently robust.
However, this was just a temporary bottleneck, and it was impossible to completely stall his progress. This was the value of an Aperture Tempering realm technique in its perfected state and the additional combat power it provided.
The only differences now between Chen Fei and the mid-stage Aperture Tempering realm were the number of opened acupoints and the inability to synchronize acupoints to form a collective force.
However, the collective force formed by synchronized acupoints was already a strong foundation for the mid-stage and late-stage Aperture Tempering realm, and what remained were the enhancements from techniques and spiritual tools.
“By the time the Soaring Heaven Technique and the Giant Spirit Sword reach perfection in a few months, my entire set of techniques will only consist of the Thousand Threads Technique and the Spirit Suppression of the Suppressing Dragon Elephant technique that can still be cultivated.”
Chen Fei pondered for a moment, his thoughts flashing in his mind. With the incomplete techniques in the Primordial Sword Sect, including the missing Yuan Chen Sword Scripture and the fact that all other techniques in the sect were only complete up to the early Aperture Tempering realm stage, it meant that any advancements beyond that were lost.
“I should focus on increasing the number of acupoints and breaking through to the mid-stage of the Aperture Tempering realm!”
Chen Fei set a clear direction in his mind and returned to his secret chamber.
He decided to continue practicing for a few more days, and then he could claim that his injuries had recovered and proceed to take on missions from the Alchemist Alliance.
The arrival of the Yu Family from the Endless Sea was a significant variable. Currently, the two branches of the Yu Family were not supporting each other, bringing a rare period of peace to the vicinity of the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect. However, if the Yu Family suddenly decided to support one side, it would change everything.
If the Yu Family chose to support the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect, it would be manageable.
But if the Yu Family decided to support the Divine Flame Sect, how would they treat the allies of the Primordial Sword Sect, such as the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect? Would they ignore them or sweep them aside?
Facing two Combined Aperture Tempering realm experts, the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect wouldn’t stand a chance, and the Primordial Sword Sect would be even more helpless!
Therefore, Chen Fei had to make the most of his time to cultivate. Although his strength had improved significantly, it was still not enough. In this chaotic situation, absolute strength was the key to absolute safety.
While the surroundings of the Immortal Cloud City were in turmoil due to the arrival of the Yu Family, Chen Fei continued to follow his own pace of cultivation.
The rapid increase in his core soul energy had a very tangible effect: it accelerated the rate at which Chen Fei could open acupoints.
Without the use of Spirit Snow Pills and Elemental Stones, Chen Fei could open at most one acupoint in a year. However, with his core soul energy far surpassing the early Aperture Tempering realm, even without any elixirs, he could now open an acupoint in just six months.
In a second-order mystic realm like this, where the spiritual energy was abundant, Chen Fei’s cultivation speed could soar even higher.
Of course, compared to the speed of opening one or even two acupoints per month when he used Spirit Snow Pills before, his current pace was still somewhat slower.
Five days later, Chen Fei declared that his injuries had recovered. However, before he could head to the Immortal Cloud City, an unexpected guest arrived in his courtyard.
“Greetings, Master Chen!”
Chi Shuqing smiled warmly as she looked at Chen Fei, her eyes seeming to ripple with a hint of charm.
Graceful as a cloud drifting by, a beauty walking with a leisurely pace, her waist swaying like a willow branch!
Today, Chi Shuqing, compared to her disheveled appearance in the mysterious city, was undoubtedly much more alluring. Despite not wearing any makeup on her face, her presence irresistibly drew people’s attention to her.
“Is your injury better?” Chen Fei asked, somewhat surprised.
After all, only a little over a month had passed since the incident. Chen Fei’s quick recovery was because he hadn’t been injured in the first place. His seemingly severe injuries meant nothing when under the influence of the Suppressing Dragon Elephant.
However, the situation was different for Chi Shuqing. She had first been drained of her essence by Ghost Lady, and then later invaded by the frigid power to the brink of death.
With such injuries, even someone with a much higher cultivation level than Chi Shuqing, like Ren Zhongyang, was still in the process of recuperating. Yet, Chi Shuqing seemed to have recovered faster?
“Thank you, Master Chen, for your concern. I’m ashamed to say that my injuries are far from fully healed,” Chi Shuqing replied with a delicate tone.
Cultivators of the Aperture Tempering realm had a lifespan of two hundred years, and with the support of elemental energy, their appearance wouldn’t show significant aging until nearing their true limit. Female cultivators like Chi Shuqing naturally paid even more attention to their appearance.
Therefore, at this moment, Chi Shuqing’s every gesture and smile exuded a graceful beauty that brightened the surroundings.
“So, Elder Chi, what brings you here today?” Chen Fei inquired, curious.
“I’ve heard that Master Chen is seriously injured, and I have a method that could accelerate our recovery. Would Master Chen be willing to give it a try?” Chi Shuqing lowered her voice.
Chen Fei blinked, wondering if this method was legitimate.
“The method can only be passed on through the ears. Does Master Chen have a quiet place where 1 can explain it in detail?” Chi Shuqing’s voice became as small as a mosquito’s.
Oh, please come this way.”
Chen Fei began to think that he might have misunderstood Chi Shuqing. After all, she was a senior cultivator of the Aperture Tempering realm from the Sunken Water Pavilion, and perhaps she did have some secret healing technique. It could be a way of showing her gratitude for him saving her life earlier.
Chen Fei couldn’t let his suspicion ruin someone’s good intentions.
He led Chi Shuqing into the room, and with a flash of elemental energy, the door closed slowly. Chi Shuqing raised her chin slightly, gazing seductively at Chen Fei as her green robe slipped off.
Chen Fei’s eyes widened slightly. He hadn’t been mistaken; this method really wasn’t very orthodox!
Fifteen minutes later, the spiritual energy around the courtyard suddenly surged. It then swept towards the courtyard, and an array around the courtyard activated, blocking the gazes directed towards this place.
The initial surge of spiritual energy was incredibly powerful, and it continued unabated for an hour before gradually calming down. However, the spiritual energy remained quiet for only a moment before it began to fluctuate again. Though the second time wasn’t as grand as the first, it still rolled hundreds of meters into the courtyard.
This cycle of spiritual energy fluctuations repeated several times throughout the day, and it wasn’t until late in the evening that it finally settled.
Early the next morning, Chi Shuqing walked out of Chen Fei’s courtyard. She had a radiant complexion, full of vitality, and there were no signs of her previous injuries. Her aura had even improved, extending further than before.
Chi Shuqing cast a glance back at Chen Fei’s courtyard, her lips curving into a charming smile. She then transformed into a fleeting shadow and disappeared from the spot, leaving the Primordial Sword Sect.
Inside the secret chamber of his courtyard at that moment, Chen Fei casually wore a robe. He sat cross-legged on the ground, his entire being exuding an aura that was continuously rising, eventually stabilizing at a certain point.
After a brief moment, Chen Fei slowly opened his eyes. A gleam of light seemed to flash in the secret chamber as his robust aura began to gradually converge.
Thirty-three acupoints! Overnight, Chen Fei had opened ten more acupoints, bringing his cultivation level close to the peak of the Aperture Tempering realm early stage..