Chapter Twenty-Four: Rapid Progress!

Ahead, on a patch of ground no more than a meter wide, countless intricate patterns converged, each one emitting a faint glow. Endless vital energy gathered at this center, circulating ceaselessly around it. Above these patterns, a small piece of pure white stone hovered quietly in midair, slowly rotating as if at its own leisure.

The stone was scarcely larger than a segment of a finger bone, yet under Luo Tian’s divine sight, the energy contained within it was staggering—truly oceanic, inexhaustible would not be an overstatement.

So much vital energy!

Luo Tian’s eyes burned with longing. In terms of sheer density, this place far surpassed Ziyang Mountain and even the inner sanctum of the Divine Sun Sect. Not to mention the sheer abundance—the vital energy swirling outside the patterned circle was as thick as heavy mist.

Should I find a way to take that stone?

That was Luo Tian’s first thought.

But after a moment’s consideration, he abandoned the idea. With so much vital energy gathered around it, any attempt to forcibly move the stone would surely unleash a torrent of power he could not possibly withstand.

Still, the vital energy outside the patterns alone was more than sufficient. Even if someone had set up this place through miraculous means, taking a mere trace of it should not cause any real harm, right?

Luo Tian pondered this and decided there was little to worry about. He took out the basic Qi Condensation Technique he had casually picked from the Scripture Pavilion and began his cultivation.

This technique was a common, lower-grade human-level cultivation method, not difficult to grasp. Luo Tian quickly understood its principles with a simple glance and began to practice as instructed.

The immense vital energy around him, as if summoned, surged into his body all at once, flooding along the four major visible meridians. It was like a river breaking through its banks.

A free gift was unlikely to be anything advanced. Luo Tian had never planned to rely on such a basic method forever—his plan was to make do for now and exchange for a better one once he’d earned enough contribution points.

But recalling the price of a middle-grade human-level cultivation method troubled him. The day he’d glanced through the Scripture Pavilion, he’d seen they ranged from one to two thousand points—a sum as astronomical as the price of a mid-grade treasure, utterly unattainable for an outer disciple.

He truly could not fathom the Divine Sun Sect’s logic.

Luo Tian had already fully opened all his meridians during his Body Tempering stage, making it effortless to begin cultivation. Unlike other outer disciples, who had to painstakingly channel the faintest trickles of vital energy to gradually open their hidden meridians, Luo Tian breezed through the arduous foundation-laying of the Qi Condensation stage.

As he guided the vital energy into his body along the prescribed meridians, refining it, Luo Tian marveled at his swift progress.

Cultivation speed hinged on several factors.

The density of external vital energy, the breadth and resilience of one’s own meridians, and the quality of the cultivation method.

If the vital energy was dense, one could absorb more in a given period. If the meridians were wide, they could transport more energy at once. The sturdier the meridians, the more cycles of energy could be endured each day. A superior method allowed for greater absorption at every moment.

Each aspect presented its own challenge, yet they were all tightly interwoven.

Endless pale white energy flowed into Luo Tian’s body, transformed by his meridians into crimson vital energy. With such a vast reservoir to draw from, the red energy within him surged without end.

Previously, with the help of that red fruit, Luo Tian had already mastered the Tiger and Ape forms of the Nine Beast Fist, further strengthening his meridians. After twelve full cycles, his meridians finally began to tingle with a faint ache.

But by then, his dantian was already more than half filled with crimson energy.

A breakthrough was imminent!

Luo Tian was overjoyed, but with his meridians beginning to strain, it was wise to pause.

He stood, stretched his limbs, and made a surprising discovery.

Half a day had passed, yet he felt no hunger at all.

Surveying himself and then the dense vital energy in the air, Luo Tian mused. Eating and drinking was simply a way to replenish energy. In such a place, even breathing could substitute for food—how could ordinary fare compare?

He did have fasting pills in his storage pouch, small and easy to carry—one would suffice for a day’s sustenance. But now, he realized nothing could match the pure, potent energy he was absorbing here.

With no other spirit beasts to observe, Luo Tian spent his time practicing the Tiger and Ape forms, resting as needed and deepening his understanding of his cultivation.

During this time, he noticed something else: as his body-tempering secret arts progressed, his meridians’ recovery rate also improved. Normally, a cultivator could only perform a set number of energy cycles each day, but after two or three more hours of training, Luo Tian’s meridians had already recovered.

Physical improvement was secondary—the real benefit was the overwhelming density of vital energy. Continuous cultivation brought one’s body and energy ever closer together, so it was only natural for meridian recovery to accelerate as well.

A full day passed, and Luo Tian broke through to the second transformation of the Qi Condensation stage—the Orange Qi Realm.

So fast!

He was elated. In this environment, he felt neither tired nor hungry; his need for external things was reduced to a minimum. The vital energy was so thick that even the most difficult step of condensing energy—compressing it—became effortless, as natural as eating or drinking.

It seemed that with a mere thought, the energy compressed itself.

Progress in the Qi Condensation stage lay in making one’s vital energy ever denser and more viscous, increasing its quality. When the energy drawn in was already so pure, this step was simplicity itself.

All Luo Tian needed to do was cultivate, cultivate, and cultivate some more.

Three days later, he reached the third transformation.

By the ninth day since being separated from the Gale Squad, Luo Tian had just reached the fourth transformation of the Qi Condensation stage.

He could not stop himself!

Vital energy swirled around Luo Tian, his confidence soaring—indeed, he was born to be extraordinary!

Though this place was undoubtedly a cultivation paradise, Luo Tian understood the wisdom of moderation. What if he cultivated too long and something went wrong? He would regret it for life.

Besides, nine days had nearly passed. If he delayed any longer, he might not complete the tasks he had accepted.

He was grateful that he had originally picked only a few simple tasks—otherwise, he’d be in real trouble now.

But before he set out, there was one more matter to address.

Standing at the cave entrance, golden light flickered in Luo Tian’s eyes, his gaze deep and searching.

Was that black iron giant ape still out there?