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Chapter 456: Essence Condensation! (Part 1)
Chapter 456: Essence Condensation! (Part 1)
Locking Pearl Curtain
Upper Method Condensation Technique!
Originating from the Falling Cloud Sect, this cultivation technique is extremely challenging and accompanied by unimaginable pain.
Luo Chen had obtained this technique nearly thirty years ago.
Day and night, he immersed himself in studying, never letting go of the book.
Every word had been etched deep into his mind.
Each sentence was repeatedly pondered and verified by him.
Additionally, he had acquired secret cultivation insights through trade with the Falling Cloud Sect, using them as supplementary guidance.
Furthermore, he had even spent a vast amount of resources to assist Chu Kui in cultivating this technique, allowing him to take the lead and practice it in advance.
It could be said that Luo Chen valued this secret technique far more than the other three secret methods he possessed.
Even the Calming the Wind technique was merely considered an auxiliary method by him.
The Dark Essence Pills in his storage bag were also just backup resources for Essence Condensation.
Only the Upper Method had the highest chance of success in Essence Condensation!
Chu Kui's near success in Essence Condensation was a testament to this.
It should be noted that Chu Kui had only cultivated Locking Pearl Curtain to a minor level of proficiency.
The true essence of Locking Pearl Curtain was not the condensation of thirty-six Spirit Pearls, but three hundred and sixty-five, achieving the number of stars in the celestial sphere!
Now, Chu Kui had already verified the feasibility of this technique.
Luo Chen's preparation had reached its peak, and it was time for him to begin cultivation.
The first step was to separate and differentiate his Soul Spirit.
Luo Chen closed his eyes, and his consciousness delved deep into the recesses of his mind.
There, in the depths of his consciousness, was a golden ocean, gently rippling.
This was the Sea of Consciousness!
Deep within it, a green light orb stood motionless, emitting a steady glow.
Once it entered the Sea of Consciousness, it became a surging wave.
Separated from the physical body, it became Spirit Perception.
As Luo Chen's Spirit Perception returned to the Sea of Consciousness, vast waves surged towards the light orb.
Upon reaching the orb, they gradually came to a halt.
Luo Chen stared at his Soul Spirit, as if examining a piece of meat, searching for the right incision.
After a long while, Luo Chen's heart stirred, and he used the method of Locking Pearl Curtain, transforming his Spirit Perception into a knife, and gently sliced towards a corner of the orb.
"Ugh..."
A muffled groan escaped from Luo Chen's mouth.
Painful! But it was bearable.
However, Luo Chen realized that his knife was not sharp enough.
The process of cutting the main Soul Spirit was especially slow.
It felt like cutting meat with a dull blade.
Continuous muffled groans escaped from Luo Chen's mouth, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
Eventually, his voice became almost a low growl.
Despite this, Luo Chen did not stop the action.
If he couldn't complete this step, not only would Essence Condensation be impossible, but even condensing the Spirit Pearls would be unattainable.
Amidst the pain of cutting his own Soul Spirit with a dull blade, Luo Chen's will was as firm as steel, and his Spirit Perception was like a knife, unwaveringly slicing through a corner of the orb.
One day, two days...
In a daze, it seemed as if many, many years had passed.
But when Luo Chen opened his eyes, he clearly knew that only nine days had gone by.
"Huff... huff..."
In the cultivation room, Luo Chen panted heavily.
His entire body was drenched, as if he had just been pulled out of the water.
For a cultivator, this was an unimaginable situation.
After the I Ching Bone Marrow Cleansing, the physical body of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator was already comparable to a Body Tempering small success stage.
Moreover, Luo Chen's physique was not merely at the small success stage of Body Tempering, but rather at the advanced stage, comparable to the third-stage physique of ancient feral beasts!
At this level, control over the body had reached its pinnacle, and it was not easy for him to sweat.
This also gave an idea of the intensity of the pain.
However, the result was delightful.
As Luo Chen sensed the lone green strand wandering in his Sea of Consciousness, he felt a sense of relief.
"Chu Kui failed seven times in his first attempt to cut the main soul, and only succeeded on the eighth try."
"As for me, although it took a bit longer, I succeeded on my first try!"
"It's truly a cause for celebration!"
According to Luo Chen's speculation, this gap was likely due to his overall qualities being superior to Chu Kui's.
Currently, his Soul Spirit foundation had already surpassed Chu Kui's, let alone when Chu Kui was merely at the ninth layer of Foundation Establishment and had just started cultivating Locking Pearl Curtain.
Another difficulty was his tolerance for pain.
Since the Qi Condensation stage, he had cultivated Divine Mind Exorcising Evil, progressing from stimulating acupoints with spiritual energy to tempering his body with demonic energy, and even using thunder to temper his body.
It could be said that below the Nascent Soul stage, Luo Chen was confident that he was the best at enduring pain.
Most importantly!
Luo Chen had cultivated Calming the Wind.
After practicing this technique for three years, he had reached a minor level of proficiency.
While Luo Chen was unsure of its other effects, his willpower had undoubtedly increased significantly.
Externally, this was evident in his growing composure when facing Golden Core Masters like Hao Ranzi and Wind Moon Immortal.
Internally, he became even calmer, able to withstand the pain of a dull blade without wavering from his initial resolve.
In a phrase, he remained unmoved even in the face of a collapsing mountain or a sudden storm.
"Moreover, there's one more thing I overlooked."
"When the Divine Mind Exorcising Evil technique reached Grand Completion, it didn't just enhance my Soul Spirit's offensive and defensive capabilities, but also granted me the skill of multitasking."
"This multitasking ability and the differentiation of the Soul Spirit have a certain similarity in their essence!"
Such factors contributed to Luo Chen's "easy" completion of the first step.
If Chu Kui were to personally evaluate it, he would probably use two words to describe it!
Foundation!
Luo Chen's foundation was indeed profound.
Currently, he was merely at the simplest stage of Rich Harvest from Accumulation in cultivating a secret technique.
After completing the first step.
Luo Chen did not rush to proceed to the second step.
Instead, he took two days to rest.
Although he could endure the pain, cutting the main soul did indeed damage his Soul Spirit.
A necessary recovery period was required.
Of course!
During these two days of rest, his basic cultivation did not stop.
Luo Chen had more to do than just cultivate a secret technique.
He also had to push his cultivation to the Grand Completion stage!
It had been three years since he entered the ninth layer of Foundation Establishment.
During these three years, with the assistance of a second-grade superior cave mansion, top-grade blood-replenishing pills, and dust-clearing pills, he maintained a steady cultivation speed.
This cultivation speed would seem incredibly terrifying to outsiders!
However, with Luo Chen's vast foundation, his progress was relatively slow.
In three years, Luo Chen's cultivation progress only increased by four to five points.
Foundation Establishment Stage, 9th Layer: 5/100
This was Luo Chen's current state.
At this rate, it would take him at least fifty to sixty years to reach the pinnacle of his realm.
Wind Moon Immortal's keen and precise insight led her to accurately predict that it would take Luo Chen around fifty years to achieve Core Formation.
However, this assessment overlooked Luo Chen's resource utilization.
A second-rate upper-grade cave mansion?
No! Luo Chen had already rented the third-rate lower-grade cave mansion, Celestial Wave Peak Third Mansion, in advance.
This time, Luo Chen did not rely on array formations to weaken the spirit ground like he had done before. Instead, he directly cultivated in a normal third-rate lower-grade spirit ground, relying on his formidable physique and soul foundation, which was comparable to the early Golden Core stage.
As a result, his cultivation speed skyrocketed once again! It was no longer just eight to nine times faster but a solid tenfold increase! This meant that Luo Chen could shorten the time to reach the pinnacle of the Foundation Establishment stage by tenfold.
Perhaps in just five to six years, he would be able to transcend the final boundary of the Foundation Establishment stage.
After two days of cultivation, Luo Chen confirmed this judgment.
In the cultivation room, Luo Chen awoke from his night of cultivation.
He felt the vast spiritual energy within his body, and in the Ninefold Heaven Qi Sea, the pure spiritual liquid condensed from the spirit clouds continuously dripped down.
It was like a gentle rain.
Luo Chen nodded in satisfaction.
"As long as my body can withstand it, using resources to buy time is always the fastest shortcut!"
Only he could make such a bold statement.
Even a wealthy loose cultivator like Chu Kui would not dare to make such a claim.
Because they simply didn't have that many resources!
A cultivation environment worth a million spirit stones per year was unaffordable, even for Golden Core cultivators, let alone Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Even the disciples of major Golden Core sects wouldn't dare to say such a thing.
Although their sects might provide them with suitable weak third-tier spirit grounds, their bodies couldn't handle it! Tao Wan had already reached the 9th layer of Foundation Establishment and had been a disciple for a long time.
But it was only twelve years ago that she barely achieved the Golden Core realm.
Burdensome tasks? Poor talent?
No, it was simply because they dared not cultivate in a third-tier spirit ground for an extended period.
In summary, it all came down to one word: foundation!
Luo Chen's massive foundation, both internal and external, allowed him to act so recklessly and unleash his potential at the 9th layer of Foundation Establishment.
After confirming his current cultivation speed, Luo Chen also gained more confidence in the future.
The next step was to proceed with the second part of Locking Pearl Curtain.
...
A month later, Luo Chen's attention was carefully focused on the green spirit pearl in his Qi Sea.
It resembled one of the most common pills he had ever seen.
However, on the surface, it was a liquid that continuously flowed and circulated.
This unique sight was dazzling.
Suddenly, a drop of spiritual liquid was about to fall from the green spirit pearl.
Luo Chen remained calm and composed.
A strand of green silk, like a swimming fish, shot out from the pearl and caught the falling droplet.
The first spirit pearl was complete!
"According to the records, after a cultivator advances to the Golden Core stage, their spiritual energy transforms into magical energy. The fundamental difference between the two is that magical energy is spiritual energy imbued with the soul spirit, making it more powerful and easier to control."
"When a cultivator forms a Golden Core, it becomes a condensed mass of countless magical energies. This is the origin of the saying, 'Swallow a Golden Core, and your destiny is in your hands.'"
"Now it seems that my spirit pearl indeed possesses some characteristics of magical energy."
"If I use this to absorb all the spiritual energy in my Qi Sea and allow it to continuously expand and compress, I should be able to truly form a Golden Core!"
Countless thoughts flooded his mind, but in the end, Luo Chen suppressed his impulse.
This was just the first spirit pearl! A single spirit pearl didn't have enough attraction to devour all the spiritual energy in his Qi Sea.
"The road ahead is still long!"
Luo Chen sighed.
After a short rest, he turned to another task.
He cultivated Calming the Wind.
The more he practiced this secret technique, the more comfortable he felt.
Even during cultivation, thoughts sprouted like spring bamboo shoots after rain, and various distractions occasionally stirred up waves. But in the end, Luo Chen was always able to calm down.
While he couldn't completely eliminate other thoughts like a sharp sword slicing through emotional bonds, he did achieve a state where all thoughts vanished, and his mind was solely focused on calming the wind.
"Cultivating the Dao is a long and arduous journey. Along the way, there are inner demons, external tribulations, and countless temptations."
"Even though I believe my Dao heart is firm and my foundation is solid, I often fall into delusions and obsessions."
"Even in the face of a mere temptation like Sima Hui Niang's beauty, I couldn't control myself, let alone other emotions like revenge, compassion, and anger."
"I should cultivate Calming the Wind more often. Even if it's not helpful for Core Formation, it's still greatly beneficial for my overall cultivation."
With these few words of self-encouragement, Luo Chen solidified his determination to continue practicing this secret technique.
From then on, his daily routine became stable.
He primarily cultivated Locking Pearl Curtain, supplemented it with Calming the Wind, and never neglected his practice of increasing the spiritual energy within his body.
Time slowly passed by in this arduous cultivation.
...
"It's almost here!"
"It's definitely getting closer!"
In the cultivation room, Luo Chen was exhilarated.
He discovered that the speed at which he cut his main soul and connected the spirit pearls was increasing.
Previously, it took him a month to complete the first and second steps to condense a single spirit pearl.
But as he became more proficient at cutting his soul and connecting the spiritual liquid with soul threads, this time gradually shortened.
Now, he only needed twenty days to condense a spirit pearl.
Furthermore, Luo Chen felt there was still room for significant improvement.
As for the pain of cutting his soul? "I'm getting used to cutting and cutting."
Luo Chen joked, appearing nonchalant.
In reality, it wasn't that easy to get used to. It was just that his willpower was growing stronger, and he was actively ignoring the pain.
"Perhaps I can reach the pinnacle of Foundation Establishment and achieve the ultimate state of Locking Pearl Curtain?"
Luo Chen began to envision the future, filled with beautiful hopes.
...
However, two years later, Luo Chen's aspirations encountered a setback.
Luo Chen's eyes were tightly shut, his body trembling incessantly.
Ripples of spiritual power undulated from his body, unceasing.
His ink-black bamboo-like figure, clad in white, billowed without a breeze, rustling audibly.
"Chu Kui did not deceive me!"
"Thirty-six is the limit!"
Within his Qi Sea, thirty-six spirit pearls spun incessantly.
An overwhelming aura formed, akin to the unique spiritual pressure of a Golden Core Master, suppressing the spiritual liquid within the entire Qi Sea to its limit.
Each pearl frantically spun, attempting to absorb and devour more spiritual power to strengthen itself.
But the consequence of such actions was... the balance was about to be shattered!
"How could this be?"
"According to the secret technique's records, there are thirty-six for minor success, one hundred and eight for intermediate success, and three hundred and sixty-five for major success, and all have been achieved by others."
"Why can I and Chu Kui only cultivate to the minor success stage?"
"This won't do. Either I disperse the spirit pearls voluntarily, or I must attempt Essence Condensation. But if I do that, the former means all my efforts will be in vain, and the latter is still far from reaching the opportunity for Essence Condensation."
Doubts flooded Luo Chen's mind, making him restless.
Just then, the Lanke Black Chess hidden within his body emitted layer upon layer of light, calming Luo Chen down.
This was the wondrous effect of having cultivated the Calming the Wind secret technique to the Mastery level over five years, refining the Lanke Black Chess.
Without consciously activating it, when Luo Chen's thoughts became chaotic, the technique would activate on its own.
The wind and waves gradually subsided.
Even though he still had some chaotic thoughts, Luo Chen had become relatively calm.
A speculation emerged in his mind.
"The Falling Cloud Sect has held something back!"
This speculation did not come out of thin air.
The cultivation insights he obtained from Tian Xingzi mentioned the Golden Core Master Linghu Jie.
He had briefly mentioned the origin of the Locking Pearl Curtain technique.
"The Locking Pearl Curtain technique was obtained by our sect's Patriarch from a secret realm, and it is paired with three techniques and two arts. With this, our Patriarch laid the foundation for the Falling Cloud Sect's heritage. Cultivating this technique is exceptionally painful and difficult. If one also cultivates our sect's other divine soul inheritance technique, it would be optimal..."
That's it!
Three techniques and two arts!
Although he didn't know the specifics, the Locking Pearl Curtain technique indeed required the accompaniment of another divine soul inheritance technique.
"If that's the case, perhaps the minor success stage is the limit we can achieve without the complementary secret technique."
Luo Chen opened his eyes and let out a bitter laugh.
This also explained why the Falling Cloud Sect was so generous in offering the Upper Method Condensation Technique to the loose cultivator on the battlefield.
Without the complementary technique, the minor success stage of the Locking Pearl Curtain technique was, at best, equivalent to a mid-level Essence Condensation technique.
At least, that was his current perception.
These thirty-six spirit pearls, if used for Essence Condensation, would have an effect similar to the spirit whirlpool achieved after mastering the Clear Origin Elixir Technique.
"If it's just like this, I won't give up!"
Luo Chen's face darkened as he searched for a solution.
The idea of Essence Condensation was immediately rejected.
Dispersing one spirit pearl, maintaining a state of thirty-five, then cultivating to the peak of Foundation Establishment, and finally restoring the thirty-six small heavenly cycles to challenge the Core Formation stage—this was worth considering.
"Actually, there's another way. I can disperse all thirty-six spirit pearls, and then continue to cut and link the main soul daily, gathering three hundred and sixty-five threads. Then, when I reach the peak of Foundation Establishment, I'll condense three hundred and sixty-five spirit pearls in one go, challenging the Core Formation stage."
This idea was, without a doubt, extremely bold and risky.
But it did have a sliver of feasibility.
However, the risks were immense.
Just during Essence Condensation, it would be incredibly difficult to gather enough spirit pearls to match the heavenly cycles.
Luo Chen shook his head firmly, suppressing this dangerous thought.
Were there any other options?
Luo Chen racked his brains, drawing upon his extensive knowledge from years of reading, searching for a solution.
"Perhaps I can try dispersing the thirty-six spirit pearls, and then continue to condense and link them daily, practicing the technique to improve my proficiency.
(End of Chapter)
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