Chapter 78: Resonance

After waking, Tie Li meditated and cultivated as usual, restoring his spiritual power.

This time the recovery speed was a bit faster than last, and after recovering Tie Li returned to the Qiaoshi Di of Baidi.

He set out to verify what the previous perception actually was.

Was it an illusion caused by an overwhelming mental burden, or a genuine hint of affinity with the Thunder Attribute Plant-type Soul Beast?

With the experience of earlier attempts, Tie Li's control over the Thunder and Lightning frequency he emitted became smoother.

He could soon align the Thunder and Lightning frequencies; in that instant an affinity between the Thunder and Lightning attributes resurfaced.

Though only a trace, it truly existed.

He continued to cultivate here to increase the affinity; when it reaches a certain level, he can try entering the Outer Perimeter for cultivation.

The affinity, in a sense, is the goodwill the Thunder Attribute Plant-type Soul Beast emits toward him; entering the Outer Perimeter for cultivation will no longer provoke random attacks from them.

Moreover, as the affinity rises, they will treat him as a companion and offer protection.

But now the affinity is only a trace, not worth risking entry into the Outer Perimeter.

With this trace of affinity, even the mental pressure deep in Baidi lessened a bit.

This time he cultivated here for a full twelve days, feeling the mental burden reach its limit before he rose to end his meditation.

After restoring his mental state, Tie Li will continue to come to this place.

Through the endless cycle, Tie Li persisted for a full three months.

Each time he lasted longer, and the speed of restoring spiritual power gradually increased.

During these three months his Soul Power Level rose from Level 34 to Level 35.

As long as he keeps cultivating here, he could break through to Forty Level within two years.

At that time his age would be just over twenty.

A twenty‑year‑old Fourth Ring Soul Ancestor has a bright future ahead.

"Now I can try entering the Outer Perimeter for cultivation."

When the affinity reaches a certain level, the sense of danger from the Thunder Attribute Plant-type Soul Beast disappears, replaced by a more wonderful feeling that you can be certain they won't harm you arbitrarily.

The instant he stepped into the Outer Perimeter, surrounding vines spread to both sides, clearing a space as if welcoming Tie Li's arrival.

Tie Li chose a suitable spot.

The moment he sat cross‑legged on the ground to begin meditation, Tie Li felt an illusion that he had become part of the Thunder Attribute Plant-type Soul Beast.

His body involuntarily emitted Thunder and Lightning, resonating with the surrounding Thunder and Lightning, no longer just a simple frequency.

A "zzzz" electric arc streamed outside Tie Li's body; the intertwining of purple arcs and blue‑white Thunder and Lightning not only refined the Thunder and Lightning attribute but also forged his physique.

Perhaps having foreseen this outcome, Tie Li left all his metal inner armor and other gear outside, even not bringing his storage ring inside.

The rise in affinity greatly reduced the mental pressure.

But cultivating here, Tie Li only lasted one day.

It was a considerable burden on both physique and soul power; refining the Thunder and Lightning attribute also improves soul power quality, making its consumption inevitable, not to mention the physical forging process.

One day was already Tie Li's limit.

"Huff huff"

Panting heavily, Tie Li walked out of the Outer Perimeter and collapsed onto a large stone.

Normal cultivation proceeds gradually; over‑cultivation causes bodily injury, which is not worth the risk.

When the body reaches its limit, it naturally needs to rest, which also protects the body.

He took out the pre‑prepared Soul Beast jerky, chewed it, and swallowed it.

For the current Tie Li, the consumption of spiritual power can only recover slowly on its own, but the physical depletion can be replenished by eating.

Nighttime in the wild is usually very dangerous, but here in Baidi it's different; in Tie Li's eyes it can be described as completely safe.

This is the gathering place of Thunder Attribute Plant-type Soul Beast; any Soul Beast that approaches here will instinctively feel fear.

Tie Li had stayed here so long that, aside from the initial fire spirit beast, he truly saw no other Soul Beast daring to enter; even the surrounding several‑li radius was almost devoid of Soul Beasts.

After resting on the large stone for a night, the recovered Tie Li felt the flow of soul power within and the strengthening of his physique; the improvement was very evident.

Just like yesterday, he continued into the Outer Perimeter.

For the following period, Tie Li stayed at the gathering place, not even returning to his dwelling.

This process of clearly feeling oneself grow stronger is immersive.

The initial boost was striking, but later the effect waned day by day, as if reaching some limit.

Similar to a Soul Master absorbing Soul Rings, the limit of the First Soul Ring is over four hundred years, the Second Soul Ring over seven hundred years; for a normal Soul Master, this is the absorption limit.

At this moment, Tie Li felt a similar sensation: the refined Thunder and Lightning attribute had reached the limit of his martial soul, whose constraints capped his soul power and physique at this Soul Power Level, yet a soul bone within Tie Li meant his physique and soul power already surpassed the martial soul's limits.

If he kept cultivating here, the amplification would still occur but very slowly; the only advantage is that the simulated environment would speed up meditation.

If the Thunder Python Inner Core could, like last time, release a special soul power to trigger a minor transformation of the martial soul, he could advance further, but Tie Li lacks a means to make the Thunder Python Inner Core emit such a special soul power.

Another method is to evolve the martial soul to a higher tier.

To evolve the martial soul, aside from absorbing Soul Rings formed by super Soul Beasts, only the Immortal Herb of the Ice‑Fire Dual‑Polarity Spring remains, but that is too difficult for him now.

Even if he could cross the poison array laid by the Poison Douluo cloth and enter the Ice‑Fire Dual‑Polarity Spring, does he know how to harvest it? On Dou Luo Da Lu, aside from Ju Douluo and Tang San, perhaps only Yang Wudi knows how to harvest it.

When scheming for the Immortal Herb, Tie Li certainly prioritizes his own safety; if conditions are sufficient, he certainly wouldn't miss this once‑in‑a‑lifetime chance.

The conditions for martial soul evolution are extremely difficult; comparatively, strengthening the physique is much simpler.

Tie Li first thought of whale glue; at present its externally discovered use is as a tonic, and its effect on enhancing physique has not yet been identified, making its price more acceptable.

However, long‑term consumption of a single spirit material leads to tolerance, diminishing its effect.

Thus, Tie Li plans to buy high‑age whale glue, preferably over three thousand years old.

Fikesi City may not have the whale glue he needs; if not, he must set out for Han Hai City.

Tie Li isn't in a hurry to leave; his Soul Power Level has reached the limit of Level 35, just one final step away from breaking through to Level 36.

More chapters later!

(End of chapter)