Chapter 112: S-Rank

Listening to Li Yang, Li Yuan looked toward the Pillar of Spirit.

This method of training spiritual force was indeed unique.

Previously, when Li Yuan was in Jiangcheng City, he had never heard of it at all.

After all, unlike physical strength, which can be seen and touched, spiritual force is not easy to improve.

"Spiritual force is extremely important."

"You should have a deep understanding of this," Li Yang said. "The stronger your spiritual force, the better your control over your body, and the easier it is to cultivate techniques."

Li Yuan nodded slightly; his own techniques were able to improve so quickly.

Aside from talent and comprehension, the rapid improvement of his spiritual force was the most important reason—there was no other.

With powerful spiritual force, one's perception, calculation, and comprehension abilities would constantly improve.

To a certain extent, this was equivalent to improving one's comprehension.

"But it is also difficult to improve spiritual force," Li Yang explained to Li Yuan. "The first way is through physical gestation—flesh and blood nourishing the spirit. The stronger the body, the stronger the spirit it naturally gestates."

"For instance, Level 19 martial artists have spiritual force at least at the Level 17 or 18 standard."

"The second way is to use treasures to nourish it, from the most common spirit-nourishing agents to precious Spirit-Nourishing Springs, and even some heavenly treasures, such as Nine-Leaf Soul-Nourishing Grass, Sweet Soul Marrow Crystals, and so on," Li Yang said. "It's just that low-level medicines have mediocre effects while costing a lot, and heavenly treasures with good effects are not only expensive but also priceless and hard to find."

Li Yuan was lost in thought.

Sweet Soul Marrow Crystals? It sounded somewhat similar to Star Marrow Crystals; at least the names both used "Marrow Crystal."

As for spirit-nourishing agents? Li Yuan had heard his uncle, Li Zhangzhou, mention them.

If one used the basic ones, it cost 30,000 Blue Star coins per dose.

If it were a First-Rank spirit-nourishing agent, it cost 100,000 Blue Star coins per dose. One needed at least three bottles a month, costing several million Blue Star coins a year, and one had to use them consistently for several years to have any real help in stepping into the Source Martial Artist realm.

"The third way is the Mind Method," Li Yang continued. "Spiritual force is hard to train because, in essence, the spirit is illusory, making it difficult to exert pressure on one's spiritual consciousness."

"If there is an peerless powerhouse who has surpassed the Flying Heaven level, or some Flying Heaven martial artists who are skilled in this path, who are willing to leave a small spiritual imprint in their mind to constantly pressure their spirit, it can also have a tempering effect," Li Yang smiled. "However, it is very difficult to leave a spiritual imprint without hurting a weak martial artist; it takes nearly half a day each time."

"As time passes, the imprint left behind will gradually dissipate, lasting at most two or three months."

"One must persist in leaving imprints over the long term."

"Unless it is a close relative or a highly regarded personal disciple, who would be willing to expend so much effort for those top-tier powerhouses?" Li Yang shook his head.

Li Yuan couldn't help but nod.

So, in human civilization, there was such a method of spiritual cultivation—the Mind Method?

Unfortunately, the requirements were too high, so it was destined not to be widely spread.

"Of course."

"Legend has it that there is something even more powerful than the Mind Method, called the Contemplation Method," Li Yang smiled. "It is news that came from some extremely powerful alien civilizations, but it has never been verified. I have only heard of it; I don't know the specifics."

Li Yuan remained calm on the surface, but his heart was already surging with waves.

Contemplation Method?

The "Great Sun Starry Sky Scripture" he was cultivating seemed to be a Contemplation Method.

It was just that the cultivation requirements were too harsh.

Li Yuan had tried cultivating it solely based on the incantations and found it useless.

One had to focus their spirit on the "Great Sun Jade Platform" within the Mind Palace to enter the state of contemplation, which also extinguished Li Yuan's thought of teaching it to his family.

"The Pillar of Spirit at our Kunlun Martial Arts University."

"You can understand it as a weakened, large-scale version of the 'Mind Method.' Although the effect is not as good as a specialized Mind Method, as long as you are within the range of the Pillar of Spirit's fluctuations, you can be tempered."

"It can provide long-term supply to all students in the school, saving a huge amount of manpower and resources," Li Yang said quite proudly. "In the entire Blue Star, only Starfire University and Kunlun Martial Arts University have a Pillar of Spirit."

"Even Starry Sky University and Black Stone University don't have one," Li Yang said.

"Amazing," Li Yuan said sincerely.

Cultivation resources would eventually be exhausted.

But a treasure like the Pillar of Spirit could be passed down through generations. No wonder it was called the number one treasure of Kunlun Martial Arts University; it was the true foundation of their heritage.

"Alright, you should have basically adapted by now after so long," Li Yang said. "Continue forward and try to see which area you can reach now."

"It is divided into nine areas in total; the ninth area has the strongest pressure, and the first area is the weakest."

"Yes," Li Yuan nodded.

Resisting the spiritual pressure, he began to walk step by step toward the direction of the Pillar of Spirit.

According to the warning lines on the ground, although it was only a short fifty meters, it was divided into nine areas.

The vast majority of students stayed in the first three areas, and even so, each one of them was in great pain.

"Tap~"

"Tap~" Li Yuan walked step by step into the deeper areas. He walked very slowly, able to clearly feel the invisible spiritual pressure originating from the Pillar of Spirit.

It was as if heavy hammers were striking him, the power becoming increasingly stronger.

"Although Li Yuan's physical fitness is weak, he should be able to reach the third area," Dean Li thought to himself.

He was a Level 29 Source Martial Artist and could vaguely sense the strength of Li Yuan's spiritual force.

Very quickly.

Li Yuan stepped into the second area, very easily. Before Li Yang could react much, Li Yuan had already quickly stepped into the third area.

Still without a change in expression!

He continued to advance toward the fourth area.

"The fourth area?" A trace of surprise flashed in Li Yang's eyes. "Normally, one needs Level 19 spiritual force to step into this area."

"Li Yuan, can he do it?"

Ten seconds later, Li Yuan, bearing immense spiritual pressure, stepped into the fourth area.

And then!

He continued to advance toward the fifth area. This scene not only surprised Li Yang but also caught the attention of many students who were tempering their "spiritual force" at the Pillar of Spirit.

"The fifth area? Who is he?"

"The fifth area is already the requirement for a Source Martial Artist!"

"I sense his blood and Qi aura; it seems very weak. Is his spiritual force that monstrous?" some senior students wondered.

They did not have Li Yuan's Mind Palace and could not accurately judge others' life layers.

But as martial artists' bodies and spirits improved, their perception became sharp, and they could vaguely judge quite a bit.

"Him? I saw him in the V-chat group yesterday. He seems to be a freshman named Li Yuan."

"I remember now, he broke Senior Jin's enrollment record."

"Li Yuan?"

"It should be him; Dean Li Yang accompanied him here." Many students began to whisper.

In fact, quite a few people opened their smart wristbands to record the video.

These students were secretly shocked.

High-level techniques could be explained by comprehension, but without improving physical fitness, it was usually very difficult for spiritual force to improve rapidly.

Not far away.

"The fifth area." Li Yuan was already struggling a bit, his expression revealing a trace of pain.

That's right!

If it were purely based on spiritual force strength, it would be difficult for Li Yuan to stay in the fourth area.

However, just like with the same body, the stronger the technique, the more terrifying the strength displayed.

Spiritual force was similar; if the spiritual force level was the same, but the willpower differed, the performance would be completely different.

It was like one person eating all kinds of heavenly treasures, with both body and spiritual force at Level 19.

Another person reached Level 19 through arduous cultivation.

The data for both looked the same, but if they faced terrifying torture, could the time they persisted be the same?

Willpower was equivalent to the "technique" of spiritual force.

Li Yuan, cultivating the "Great Sun Starry Sky Scripture" day and night, through hellish scorching and tempering time and again, had long since tempered his willpower to an extremely high level.

Naturally, he could condense his spiritual force to a terrifying degree.

One step.

Another step. Finally, Li Yuan stood steadily at the end of the fifth area, his facial expression even slightly distorted.

The terrifying pain brought by the powerful spiritual pressure made Li Yuan's entire head buzz.

"A freshman?"

"He has already rushed to the fifth area and is still standing steadily, which means he still has spare energy."

"So monstrous? His techniques are strong, and his spiritual force is also this terrifying?"

"The fifth area, doesn't that mean his spirit can rival a Source Martial Artist?" This scene shocked the other students.

"Source Martial Artist level?" Light also flickered in Li Yang's eyes. "Is it willpower?"

"No wonder he could endure the Body-Washing Spirit Marrow three times a month."

"This willpower is truly one of a kind," Li Yang sighed inwardly. "Many high-level Source Martial Artists probably don't have willpower better than this."

Among Source Martial Artists, Level 20-22 are often called Junior Source Martial Artists.

Level 23-25 are called Intermediate Source Martial Artists.

!.

Level 26-28 are called Senior Source Martial Artists.

A Level 29 Source Martial Artist is a Top-Tier Source Martial Artist.

... Five minutes later.

Li Yuan stepped back from the fifth area to the first area step by step.

His aura and expression returned to calm, and he returned to Li Yang's side.

"Teacher, this student is incompetent and could only reach the fifth area," Li Yuan said honestly. "I couldn't reach the ninth area."

Incompetent?

The ninth area?

Li Yang's mouth twitched, and he couldn't help but say, "Alright, stop bragging. I only reached the ninth area after becoming a Level 29 Source Martial Artist... You are still so young; you are already very excellent."

"Teacher could only reach the ninth area?" Li Yuan was surprised.

"This Pillar of Spirit usually requires martial artists above Level 13 to attempt; otherwise, it is very easy to suffer excessive spiritual damage and hurt the spirit," Li Yang said. "But it is provided for high-level Source Martial Artists to temper their spirit."

"For a top-tier Source Martial Artist like me, the effect is very small."

"As for Flying Heaven martial artists, it is completely useless," Li Yang said.

Li Yuan couldn't help but nod; so that was it.

That made sense.

Martial arts universities are essentially training bases for martial artists, and the Pillar of Spirit is indeed very suitable.

If it were of great benefit to Flying Heaven martial artists, it would easily cause trouble.

"Come out with me first," Li Yang said, turning and walking out.

The two walked out of the Zhu Que Building all the way to the square outside, which was empty.

"Do you feel the flaws of the Pillar of Spirit?" Li Yang asked as they walked.

"It consumes too much spirit?" Li Yuan was lost in thought.

Just a moment ago, he felt a little spiritual fatigue.

"Correct," Li Yang nodded. "It's like exercising; if you train too hard once, your whole body will be sore for several days."

"A First-Rank martial artist, if they stay for two hours at once, it will take at least three to five days to recover, and during that time, spiritual lethargy will affect normal cultivation," Li Yang said. "Therefore, it must be combined with spirit-nourishing agents."

"To accelerate the recovery of spiritual force."

"Even so, most students only go to the Pillar of Spirit to cultivate once a week," Li Yang said.

Li Yuan suddenly realized; no wonder there were so few students at the Pillar of Spirit just now.

"However."

"As a member of the S-level special training contract, the school will provide you with a dose of Spirit-Nourishing Spring every month," Li Yang said. "Each dose, if sold outside, is worth at least one million Blue Star coins."

"Its efficacy is much stronger than a First-Rank spirit-nourishing agent, and the side effects are smaller."

"Spirit-Nourishing Spring?" Li Yuan was secretly shocked; he had only heard of it on the internet.

Calculating it, just this one cultivation resource was worth over ten million Blue Star coins a year.

Truly extravagant!

After hesitating for only three seconds, Li Yuan said directly, "Teacher, can this be exchanged for other cultivation resources? I don't really need it."

"For example, something to assist with physical cultivation."

"You don't need it?" It was Li Yang's turn to be stunned.

"Teacher, my spiritual force talent is high enough; the Pillar of Spirit is of little help to me," Li Yuan said. "What is most important for me right now is to improve my physical fitness."

Spirit-Nourishing Spring?

In terms of effect, it definitely couldn't keep up with the recovery of spirit and body state from the Contemplation Method.

It was purely a waste.

"The school has already prepared a dose of 'High Source Spirit Spring' for your physical cultivation every month."

"The effect is equivalent to five or six Source Force Essence Pills, and the value is equivalent to the Spirit-Nourishing Spring, but it puts less load on the body," Li Yang frowned. "However, if it's exchanged for two doses of High Source Spirit Spring, are you going to take one every half month? I'm afraid your body won't be able to bear it."

He knew what Li Yuan said made sense.

Given the spiritual force talent and willpower Li Yuan had shown, he basically didn't need many external objects unless they were heavenly treasures.

"High Source Spirit Spring?" Li Yuan thought to himself; he had seen it in the "Mall" of the Starfire Martial Hall before.

But he couldn't bear to buy it at all.

It was too expensive!

Thinking carefully, Kunlun Martial Arts University had indeed prepared a lot of cultivation resources for him.

Seeing Li Yuan lost in thought.

"There is one way you can try," Li Yang suddenly said.

"Teacher, please speak," Li Yuan said, looking up immediately.

"Use the Body-Washing Spirit Marrow more times—four times, or even five times," Li Yang stared at Li Yuan and said slowly. "However, you have already used the Body-Washing Spirit Marrow, so you should be clear."

"It is essentially scraping bones to heal poison; it is a major cleansing of all parts of the body, washing away various impurities."

"Using it continuously in a short period, the pain is increasingly exaggerated," Li Yang sighed. "You could persist through three times a month; at your age, it is already quite incredible."

Li Yuan was stunned; Body-Washing Spirit Marrow, use it four times a month?

Five times?

After a long silence, just when Li Yang thought Li Yuan was going to give up.

Li Yuan suddenly said, "Teacher, I want to try!"

For some reason.

After saying this, Li Yuan felt a hot, spicy reaction subconsciously in his lower body...

After discussing with Li Yang for a long time, Li Yuan finally learned the truth about the "Extreme Cultivation Method" that Teacher Fan Jin had sent him.

But in the end, Li Yuan still persuaded Li Yang.

Two doses of High Source Spirit Spring every month.

Temporarily for one month.

If Li Yuan couldn't persist after one month, it would be changed back to a cultivation plan of one dose of Spirit-Nourishing Spring and one dose of High Source Spirit Spring per month.

At night, Li Yuan returned to his villa area.

He entered the virtual network, the Kunlun Space.

"According to Teacher Li's guidance."

"Besides normal physical cultivation and tempering spiritual force, if I want my techniques to improve rapidly, I still have to learn more Second-Rank spear techniques," Li Yuan clicked on the light screen. "Refer to more opinions from predecessors."

Martial Arts Knowledge Network.

This is a network connecting all martial arts universities globally, where every university student can log in to study, free of charge, a certain number of martial arts secret manuals.

Very quickly, Li Yuan saw his permissions as an S-rank student.

"Can study 50 Tier-Two secret manuals for free, including skill manuals, Yuan Force manuals, spiritual application manuals..."

"Can study 3 Tier-Three secret manuals for free."

(End of chapter)