Chapter 54 Entering the Arena Pavilion

The Introduction to Spiritual Forces records the fundamental knowledge regarding spiritual power.

"Refine the spirit through the physical body, nurture the soul through the spirit, and subsequently command the form with the soul. Thus one may harmoniously master all techniques and cultivate without deviation..."

After studying it once, Qin Liang gained a deeper understanding of spiritual power, as if a long-sealed door within his heart had swung open, revealing distant, towering mountains in the distance.

The proficiency of one's spiritual talent is closely intertwined with the practitioner's innate spirituality. Hence, during the eighth spiritual refinement, there is the maxim of "nurturing the soul through the spirit."

The deeper the degree of spiritual refinement, the higher the probability of "nurturing" spiritual power. Its strength is directly tied to individual willpower, while the depth of spiritual refinement depends entirely on how much spirituality the physical body can endure.

Therefore, the essence, the vital energy, and the spirit are intimately connected, mutually reinforcing one another.

When it comes to physical constitution and the depth of spiritual refinement, Qin Liang possesses a profoundly solid foundation.

With thousands of Dao roots gathered within his body, reinforced by the Heaven-Desolate Cauldron and an ultra-heaven-tier cultivation technique, let alone the depth of spiritual refinement, even the spiritual essence used for refinement was a thousandfold more abundant and purer than that of others.

Such innate talent and foundation are rarely matched by anyone, which is yet another reason for his formidable spiritual power.

The Introduction to Spiritual Forces also details the various applications of spiritual power.

Aside from inscribing spiritual patterns along the paths of artifacts, alchemy, formations, and talismans, as well as assisting in the control of flames, it can also release spiritual coercion to aid in combat.

Weaker spiritual coercion can interfere with enemies on a spiritual level.

Powerful coercion can even materialize directly, subsequently attacking or suppressing the physical form of the adversary.

"Splendid!" Qin Liang could not help but slap the table in admiration, never expecting that spiritual power would possess such boundless and wondrous utilities.

The volume of the Introduction to Spiritual Forces was thin, and he quickly finished reading it, then picked up another book.

The Soul-Nurturing Art is a high-tier Yellow-rank mental cultivation technique, divided into two stages: the condensation of the soul and the nurturing of the soul. When cultivated to the realm of great accomplishment, it allows one's spiritual power to rise in tandem with breakthroughs in cultivation realms.

With Qin Liang's current first-stage great accomplishment in spiritual boundaries, he was fully qualified to begin practicing it.

Thinking is doing!

Qin Liang sat cross-legged, his gaze fixed on his nose and his heart resting in tranquility, adjusting his state to the absolute peak before commencing the cultivation of the mental technique.

A mysterious cyan-colored spiritual radiance blossomed, enveloping his entire body until he shone like a being made of light.

As he circulated the cultivation technique, the spiritual radiance actually began to flicker, as if a horned serpent were lurking within the light, winding around Qin Liang's body. Its movement was unhurried, allowing his mind to sink into profound serenity.

As the "spiritual serpent" slithered along, Qin Liang perceived that his spiritual power was indeed growing slowly.

Throughout this process, his control over his spiritual power became increasingly delicate and effortless, forming a sharp contrast to his previous generalized releases.

Time flowed like sand between fingertips, and in the blink of an eye, the eve of the family tournament arrived.

Opening his eyes, he found his vision flashing with spiritual radiance and sharp brilliance, unable to conceal his overflowing joy.

"The first stage of soul condensation has reached minor completion, and my perception has also been enhanced."

Qin Liang unexpectedly discovered that his perceptual range had expanded to over a hundred meters. It seemed this cultivation session had yielded immense benefits.

If others were to learn that he had begun practicing mental cultivation techniques as early as his sixth spiritual refinement, their jaws would surely drop in utter shock. Such peerless talent would likely cause even the proud progeny of the capital to feel inferior.

"Master Mo still has three days left to live. I will give him a bit more time to gather the medicinal herbs before I proceed with alchemy."

Qin Liang pondered, reflecting that alchemy did not take long anyway.

The sensation of soul condensation brought him immense comfort. He had originally wished to continue practicing, but alas, he was still only at the sixth spiritual refinement, and the limited spirituality within his body could no longer give birth to additional spiritual power unless he advanced his refinement further.

He tossed a second-grade medicinal herb into the Heaven-Desolate Cauldron to simmer, and a moment later, he obtained a drop of pure spiritual essence liquid. Swallowing it down, he hoped to initiate the seventh spiritual refinement.

Regrettably, the outcome left him disappointed.

"Could it be that a single second-grade medicinal herb is still insufficient to push me to the next refinement?" Qin Liang smiled bitterly.

This medicinal herb merely deepened his sixth spiritual refinement, leaving him still quite far from the seventh. Unless he acquired another second-grade herb.

"It seems that after practicing the mental cultivation technique, the prerequisites for spiritual refinement have also increased."

Helpless, Qin Liang resumed circulating his technique to condense his soul.

Having deepened his sixth refinement, he was able to condense a bit more spiritual power. Although the progress was marginal, he did not halt his practice.

As the night passed, the day of the family tournament finally dawned.

Stepping out of his courtyard, Qin Liang joined Jiang Chang and other young juniors, led by the senior figures toward the Jiang family’s arena pavilion.

Amidst the crowd, Qin Liang spotted Li Hongcai, his expression remaining entirely unchanged.

He had long since seen through the situation; that aunt and nephew were cut from the same cloth. Li Qiuwei was never going to truly let Li Hongcai be driven out of the Jiang family. Their original agreement had undoubtedly been voided, but Qin Liang did not dwell on it.

After all, Qin Liang was currently living under another's roof, and until he truly matured, he could not afford to act too recklessly.

"Hmph!"

Li Hongcai sneered, making a distant throat-slitting gesture toward Qin Liang.

Because of Qin Liang, he had lost the cold poison nurtured over many years; if he could not eliminate Qin Liang, he would find no peace in sleep or meals.

Qin Liang merely glanced at him indifferently and looked away, treating him as though he were a fool.

Discovering that the other party completely ignored him, Li Hongcai instantly grew even more enraged. Clenching his fists tightly, the murderous intent in his eyes intensified: "Qin Liang, just you wait."

"Little Liang, why do I feel like your strength has improved once again?"

Jiang Long approached, sensing the surging spirituality within Qin Liang's body, and could not hide his astonishment.

"After two days of secluded cultivation, I've made modest progress," Qin Liang replied with a smile, exchanging greetings with his close brothers.

"You brat, being overly modest again, aren't you?" Feng Yi laughed, gesturing toward him.

He knew how formidable Qin Liang was. Every time the youth claimed modest progress, the result unfailingly brought pleasant surprises.

Jiang Yutong's expression appeared somewhat unnatural, her lips parting as if she had something to say.

As the second young miss of the Jiang family and of legitimate birth, she should have been the center of attention within the clan. Yet ever since the rejection of the marriage proposal, every encounter with Qin Liang brought an inexplicable awkwardness, filling her heart with deep reluctance and resentment.

Ultimately, she still mustered the courage and said to Qin Liang, "I will never lose to you."

To this, Qin Liang merely offered a faint smile, his inner composure entirely unruffled.

The rejection of the marriage was entirely understandable; after all, it had been her own choice. Moreover, Qin Liang already held Jiang Xuehan in his heart, and those past events were dismissed by him as mere childish folly.

The Jiang family's arena pavilion was quite towering, boasting a total of five stories, each level reaching a full dozen meters in height.

The arena pavilion rose halfway up the rear mountain, standing imposingly there and striking awe into the hearts of the Jiang family members arriving at the scene. It felt as though they were facing a terrifying behemoth, causing their heartbeats to quicken involuntarily.

"This tournament will proceed as usual: ascending the arena pavilion."

A relevant clan elder stepped onto an elevated platform and announced the rules in a resonant voice: "The difference is that those who have not reached the sixth spiritual refinement are barred from participating. The one who reaches the summit in the shortest time shall emerge victorious and claim a second-grade medicinal herb as a reward."

"A second-grade medicinal herb? Goodness, the family is truly bleeding resources this time," someone exclaimed in surprise.

However, juniors like Jiang Chang, who had yet to attain the sixth spiritual refinement, all sighed, realizing they were once again fated to miss out on the medicinal herb.

This tournament was held to select geniuses to represent the Jiang family in external competition. Those below the sixth spiritual refinement had no business participating, for it was common knowledge that the geniuses dispatched by the Wang and Feng families would undoubtedly be formidable.

"You may enter the pavilion in an orderly fashion once you are prepared. If you cannot endure further, simply shout out that you wish to withdraw."

As the elder's voice faded, several disciples rushed eagerly into the arena pavilion.

The interior space of the arena pavilion was quite expansive, lined with numerous combat chambers. Many people, filled with excitement, quickly selected a combat chamber to begin their challenges, striving to clear the first floor as rapidly as possible.

As soon as Qin Liang stepped into a combat chamber, he beheld a humanoid battle puppet completely shrouded in spiritual radiance, wielding a long saber. Without a trace of emotion, it slashed toward him, whipping up a harsh whistle of displaced air.

Qin Liang was taken aback: "It's starting just like that?"