It would take only half a year for this cultivation method to reach perfection.
Of course, this did not mean he could break through to the ninth layer of Qi Refining in just half a year. Like spells, cultivation methods have realms. The higher the realm, the more control one has over spiritual power and the more fully one's meridians are developed.
A perfected cultivation method could greatly compensate for Wang Yu’s poor aptitude, using technique and experience to make up for the lack of spiritual energy absorption.
In essence, it was just another way to accelerate cultivation.
Generally, complete cultivation methods come with corresponding spells, secret arts, and even complementary pill recipes and artifact blueprints.
The Blood-Burning Technique had only one secret art: the “Lifespan Burn Secret Art.” This art worked in tandem with the technique and enhanced comprehension. For Wang Yu, there were no prerequisites to use it.
Both idle slots operated simultaneously, allowing him to refine one strand of spiritual energy per day. In at most ten days, he could break through to the second layer of Qi Refining. Judging from this, his main body needed to begin practicing the Lifespan Burn Secret Art immediately to conceal the abnormality.
According to plan, Wang Yu had to burn ten years of lifespan in a very short time. Only then would the rapid depletion of essence cause noticeable changes in his physical appearance.
He was too young. A slow burn wouldn’t work. He had to burn it all at once.
Comforting himself in his heart, Wang Yu gritted his teeth, formed the Lifespan Burn Seal, and activated the Blood-Burning Technique with full force.
A faint red mist steamed from his pores, completely enveloping him. The scent of blood filled the stone chamber. His body felt waves of stabbing pain, but it was still within the range of what he could endure.
Strictly speaking, this was his first real attempt to cultivate using his main body with Wasted Spiritual Roots.
Though he had tried yesterday, he failed at the very first step, sensing spiritual energy—and had only achieved the threshold of entry thanks to the idle slots.
But this time, burning lifespan felt completely different.
There seemed to be specks of five-colored spiritual light in the air. The blood-colored mist generated by burning lifespan acted like a net, capturing all the spiritual energy within a ten-foot radius and slowly absorbing it into his body.
The circulation route of the Blood-Burning Technique’s major cycle was now tinged with red. After breaking through the first layer of Qi Refining, Wang Yu gained the ability of internal vision, a very strange perceptive ability.
Those blood-colored lights were formed from his burned lifespan. They greatly enhanced the efficiency of refining spiritual energy. Even if most of the energy escaped due to his poor aptitude, a small portion was completely captured by Wang Yu.
Before long.
A new strand of blood-red spiritual energy formed within his dantian. This was the hallmark of practicing the Blood-Burning Technique’s secret art. It was clearly distinct from the first, normal strand of spiritual energy.
The two did not merge.
This blood-ignited spiritual energy, when used in spellcasting, would display a unique bloody visual effect. When spiritual energy surged and one engaged in a clash of realm pressure, it would be especially apparent. It was also a mark Wang Yu left as proof.
As if to say: “I burned my lifespan to cultivate. If you dare question me, then you’re the one in the wrong.”
When he awakened from the cultivation state, Wang Yu subconsciously touched his face. Amidst his shoulder-length hair was a clearly visible strand of white—painfully striking.
“One year of life for a single strand of spiritual energy…”
This terrifying cost made his expression even worse. According to the booklet, Qi Refining Layer One required only one strand of spiritual energy. Layer Two needed ten strands. Layer Three required a full hundred.
If he continued at the current rate, even burning his body to a husk would only barely get him to the third layer of Qi Refining. That was perfectly in line with the aptitude of someone with Wasted Spiritual Roots.
“Sigh…”
“With spiritual roots this bad, even the effectiveness of a fast-track demonic technique is weakened? Damn it.”
A violent energy welled up in his heart. Wang Yu knew this was due to burning his lifespan too quickly. Although he had absorbed a great deal of spiritual energy, it was difficult to fully refine.
He should have reduced the amount of lifespan burned at once to avoid waste, but what he wanted was precisely the rapid loss of lifespan and the resulting changes in his appearance.
This would make it seem as though he had burned even more lifespan.
Afterward, Wang Yu did not continue practicing the Blood-Burning Technique. Burning too much lifespan in a single day could cause a steep decline in bodily functions.
Even if one could live to one hundred and fifty years, burning thirty years at once could risk sudden death.
This was a condition that might occur when the body fell into rapid imbalance. Since childhood, Wang Yu had studied the Marvelous Scroll of Qi and Medicine and as such had a deep understanding of such risks. He would never act recklessly.
Now that he had accumulated two strands of spiritual power, Wang Yu attempted to use the cultivation level granted by the idle slot to refine spiritual sand. This technique was not some profound art but more like an instinct of cultivators.
Refining spiritual sand required a medium. Qi Refining cultivators had not yet reached the stage of solidifying their spiritual power, so the usual medium was depleted spirit stones, ground into powder or fragments.
There was a pouch delivered on the first day, containing about one liang in quantity.
Roughly the size of a medium egg, the contents were wrapped in cloth. Wang Yu separated half of it and used up his cultivation to infuse it.
In the end, he obtained two qian of spiritual sand.
One liang equals ten qian. A single strand of spiritual power only produced two qian of sand. This meant that a Spirit Slave must refine at least five strands of spiritual power every month to meet the basic one-liang requirement.
For cultivators with Three Spiritual Roots or Dual Spiritual Roots, this was not difficult. But for those with Mixed Roots or Wasted Spiritual Roots, it was as hard as ascending the heavens.
This meant they had to burn their lifespan to meet even the basic quota. And if they accepted the stewards’ bribes, they would need to contribute an additional four qian of spiritual sand on top of that.
If they wanted to increase their cultivation, they would have to burn even more lifespan.
Everywhere they turned, their lifespan was being shaved away. But the value they produced only increased, until they ultimately died.
“Brilliant method.”
Weighing the spiritual sand in his hand, Wang Yu had no better options now. He laid down and went to sleep.
The two idle slots felt like “avatars” of himself, cultivating nonstop in a place he could not see. They trained around the clock, without pause.
This allowed him to complete up to 96 cultivation cycles each day. Even so, he could only refine a single strand of pure spiritual power.
Wasted Spiritual Roots. Terrifying.
The next day, Wang Yu skipped the early morning lecture. He fully immersed himself in cultivation, repeating yesterday’s routine step by step.
In this way, by the fifth day, he had saved up a full liang of spiritual sand. He specifically tested it with blood-burning spiritual power. Spiritual power refined through burning lifespan, once left to sit for a while, would lose Wang Yu’s personal aura.
The blood-tinged glow would fade, and it would turn into pure spiritual sand.
This meant he had no need to worry about flaws being discovered in the sand. Apart from Steward Duan, the other two stewards also passed him notes. It was clear they were backed by even more powerful figures.
Currently, the three stewards who had revealed themselves were all Foundation Establishment core disciples from Cold Blood Peak. The difference in status between them and Wang Yu was like mud and gold. The only thing to do was to stay obedient.
On the twelfth day of arriving at the Blood Reversal Sect.
Wang Yu sat cross-legged in his stone hut. A surge of energy burst from his body. Dense blood-burning spiritual power rose like steam around him, suddenly reaching a new level.
“Qi Refining Stage Two.”
Wang Yu clenched his fists, a thoughtful look in his eyes. Although cultivation advancement mainly increased spiritual power, the changes in his physical body were not to be underestimated.