Chapter 38: Changing Cultivation Path

This gray bead was no different in size from the previous ones.

However, the color it emitted was vastly different. Perhaps it was a special color formed by the mixture of three attributes, no longer representing the specific color of any single attribute.

Inside the gray bead, one could faintly see dense, swarming gray characters moving about.

Cheng Buzheng took a glance and, without hesitation, swallowed it directly.

Instantly.

A hazy gray spiritual light emanated from his soul, transforming into countless dense gray characters that enveloped his tri-colored soul, leaving not a single trace of the original tri-color visible.

Then, an profound mystery was transmitted into his soul; countless cultivation methods and various experiences came rushing in like a flood.

His consciousness entered a world of pure white. Without regard for day or night, he studied and contemplated the profound meanings of the techniques, as if a teacher had broken down the knowledge into fine pieces and was explaining them meticulously.

After an unknown amount of time—perhaps an instant, perhaps ten thousand years, as time had lost all meaning—he finally comprehended this technique to a peak level, comparable to its creator.

Just as he reached this pinnacle of comprehension, Cheng Buzheng abruptly opened his eyes.

He recalled the vast and profound technique in his mind. This tailor-made cultivation method could no longer retain its previous name, as it was no longer a single-attribute technique.

After a moment of thought, Cheng Buzheng decided to name this technique the "Starry Sky Manual."

He did not immediately switch to the new technique; instead, he sank his mind deep...

Master of the Heavenly Jade Disk: Cheng Buzheng Realm: Qi Refinement Level 3 Tier 1 Technique: Low-grade (Exquisite) Starry Sky Manual + Tier 1 Spells: Low-grade (Ultimate) Amethyst Carving +, Low-grade (Ultimate) Earth Escape Technique +, Low-grade (Common) Concealment Technique (Not yet mastered) + Spiritual Power Value: 1

Cheng Buzheng saw that the quality of the "Starry Sky Manual" was merely a Tier 1 low-grade technique, yet its depth and profoundness were incomparable to any mid-grade single-attribute technique.

At this moment, with only one point of Spiritual Power remaining, he could no longer continue deductions. The deduction of the three-attribute technique alone had consumed nine points, leaving him unable to deduce the newly acquired "Concealment Technique."

He did not know how much Spiritual Power it would cost to deduce the Starry Sky Manual to Tier 1 high-grade (Ultimate), but he knew it would certainly be no small amount.

This tailor-made technique was the cornerstone of his grand pursuit of longevity; it could not be allowed to waver in the slightest. No matter the cost, he had to deduce this technique to the Tier 1 high-grade (Ultimate) level.

Fortunately, he had eight "fat sheep" to fleece right now; otherwise, he would be at a loss.

After all.

The Little Jade Disk could not directly absorb raw spiritual stone ores from the rock walls; otherwise, there would be no need for such trouble, and he could simply look for rich mineral veins.

After checking the changes on his panel, Cheng Buzheng did not hesitate. He prepared to switch his cultivation technique. He had originally intended to upgrade the Starry Sky Manual to Tier 1 high-grade (Ultimate) before switching.

However, considering there were still ten days of rest, even if he practiced, without the assistance of medicinal pills or raw spiritual stones, his progress would not be significant. It was better to switch to the Starry Sky Manual now.

Even if he upgraded the Starry Sky Manual to Tier 1 high-grade (Ultimate) later before switching, there would be no penalty, as it would be deduced based on the current Starry Sky Manual, making it part of the same lineage.

When the time came, he would only need to adjust his circulation pathway.

However, the cost of switching between two different techniques varied greatly depending on one's level of cultivation.

Thinking of this, Cheng Buzheng did not delay further. His will descended into the Dantian space, commanding the entire area. Gathering immense pressure, he moved toward the center of his Dantian.

His will, carrying irresistible pressure, crushed down upon the vortex.

The vortex at the center of the Dantian was seen swaying precariously, on the verge of shattering.

Waves of intense, unbearable pain surged from within his Dantian, as if someone were flaying his skin, breaking his bones, and draining his blood.

Cheng Buzheng furrowed his brows deeply and clenched his teeth tightly. Fine beads of sweat continuously seeped from his forehead, and his face turned as pale as paper. Strands of blood trickled from the corners of his mouth, yet his expression remained incredibly resolute.

This was enough to show that a cultivation technique was a foundation; switching techniques was not an easy task. It required enduring pain that most could not withstand and would result in a significant loss of vitality, with the cost varying according to one's cultivation level.

Although Cheng Buzheng had to endure intense pain, a major loss of vitality was nearly impossible. After all, he was only in the early stages of Qi Refinement, and his cultivation was low. Moreover, he had already comprehended the Starry Sky Manual to a peak level.

At most, he would only suffer minor injuries, which was also one of the reasons he was switching now; the higher the cultivation, the greater the cost.

A short while later.

A loud bang echoed within the Dantian space, and the vortex at the center completely collapsed.

The red mana clouds floating below seemed to have been blasted apart, as countless strands of red mana drifted away.

Before long.

Countless strands of red mana drifted freely throughout the entire Dantian space.

Previously, Cheng Buzheng could mobilize his mana instantly; now, he needed to gradually integrate it before he could use it, which undoubtedly greatly reduced his efficiency.

At this moment, however, he did not care in the slightest.

He began to circulate according to the pathway of the Starry Sky Manual. Strands of spiritual energy, visible to the naked eye, gathered around him, were absorbed into his body, flowed into his meridians, and circulated along the pathway.

Upon completing one full cycle, a strand of refined gray spiritual energy drifted into the Dantian space.

A strand of divine sense, of equal size, separated from his sea of consciousness and descended into the center of the Dantian space.

Under the command of his will, a strand of gray spiritual energy and a strand of divine sense began to entwine within the Dantian space.

Before long.

The strand of gray spiritual energy and the strand of divine sense gradually began to contend with one another.

At the center of the Dantian, the two met and spiraled together.

Having experienced this once before, he did not hold back. His will commanded the entire space, sweeping with immense pressure toward the two colliding elements.

Under the omnipresent pressure, the two gradually formed a gray vortex.

A vortex only a single strand in size accelerated continuously, spinning wildly, as the fusion of their essences began to manifest.

Strands of gray mana, shimmering with a metallic luster, hovered beneath the gray vortex.

As the suction of the gray vortex gradually increased, it slowly began to absorb the surrounding red mana strands.

As the gray vortex devoured the red mana strands, it grew slightly larger, and its suction grew stronger.

As time passed, it went from only being able to absorb the surrounding red mana strands to possessing a terrifying suction that could sweep up all the red mana strands within the entire Dantian space.

Yet, the vortex emitting the hazy gray spiritual light was much smaller than before, and the hazy mana cloud was also a size smaller.

Seeing this, Cheng Buzheng flicked a strand of hazy gray mana from his fingertip. That strand of hazy gray mana sliced through the air, leaving a small ripple in its wake, and shot straight toward the earthen wall not far away.

The hazy gray strand fell like heavy iron into water, sinking continuously. In the blink of an eye, that strand of hazy gray mana had pierced through the range of his divine sense.

Compared to the hazy gray mana, a red mana strand of the same size was not just a step behind; the gap was simply too obvious.

In comparison, there was a massive difference in both mana intensity and mana purity.

Mana intensity represented the attacking power of the mana, while purity represented its endurance.

When breaking through realms, under equal conditions, the higher the mana intensity and purity, the easier it was to advance.

Although Cheng Buzheng could not say he knew everything about the various aspects of the Qi Refinement stage, he possessed a general understanding.

Having completed the transition.

He did not stop practicing; instead, he continued to cultivate to consolidate his foundation and simultaneously nourish the minor injuries caused by the transition.

As he circulated the Starry Sky Manual, the surrounding spiritual energy slowly gathered toward him. Waves of spiritual energy surged into his meridians, circulating along the pathway.

To his delight, the spiritual energy he was now absorbing was no inferior to that of a dual-attribute root, yet his circulation efficiency was roughly the same as before.

Upon the completion of one full cycle, he discovered that the amount of refined mana was slightly less than before. This was the drawback of increasing mana intensity and purity.

"Fortunately... the amount of mana refined per cycle is only slightly less, so it's not a big problem. I just wonder what the situation will be with the techniques I deduce later. I hope it's not too different!"

Cheng Buzheng said with some concern.

Every matter has two sides; where there are drawbacks, there are benefits.

Moreover, his difficulty in cultivating and breaking through was already much easier than others.

Cheng Buzheng suppressed his stray thoughts, focused his mind, slightly closed his eyes, and continued to circulate the Starry Sky Manual to consolidate his foundation.