Chapter 450: Consuming Resources

The artifact spirit of the Xuan Kong Shi thought for a moment and gave a rough answer: "You can probably use this Spatial Stone a little over ten times. With your comprehension ability and cultivation speed, you should be able to reach the level of employing spatial power for simple attacks."

"Spatial power?" Ye Liuyun was a little puzzled.

"Things like spatial compression, spatial displacement, and the like!" the spirit gave several examples, getting more specific. "As for slipping into the void, that should be no problem at all."

Hearing this, Ye Liuyun grew even more eager. He immediately decided to refine this Spatial Stone to boost his strength.

The Xuan Kong Shi warned him: "If you do that, you'll lose one source of star‑origin power! In the long run, cultivating this Spatial Stone is the more worthwhile path."

Since entering the Heavenly Gang Realm, Ye Liuyun has been even more eager to quickly raise his power, good enough to reach beyond the outer realms. Especially now that he can go out but his strength is insufficient.

Now the goal is within sight, and even the best resources he is willing to spend. As for resources, they're just meant to be consumed! He'll worry about replenishment later.

So he stopped overthinking, returned into the Xuan Kong Shi, and began refining that Spatial Stone. He had just advanced his realm, so there was no hurry now.

As for spatial power, he hadn't devoted a stretch of time to specifically cultivating it. His progress had not been very fast.

He held the Spatial Stone in one hand, refining and absorbing it, while holding the Wukong Stone in the other, slipping into the void to begin comprehending spatial power.

Ye Liuyun found that while absorbing and refining the Spatial Stone, he could stay in the fourth layer of space for a longer period. If he kept refining, he might remain in the fourth layer indefinitely.

Of course, he wouldn't linger in a single space; he would shuttle among different spaces, allowing him to grasp more.

Gradually, he felt that these spaces, though normally invisible, now posed no difficulty for him to traverse back and forth.

"It seems the power of this Spatial Stone is truly extraordinary. Refining it has even granted me a kind of spatial affinity."

The space that usually repels foreign objects now seemed less hostile to him. The Spatial Stone let him merge into it with ease.

From now on, he not only sensed spatial barriers but also felt subtle fluctuations and the forces within the space. Yet for now he could only perceive faint energies.

However, at present he could easily break through the fourth‑layer spatial barrier and shuttle freely. Moreover, his stay in the fourth layer kept getting longer.

He even tried passing through the fourth layer, directly jumping back to the Qingcheng Branch's Cultivation Room, then returning again. Completing this took only a breath or two. Spatial shuttling is far faster than a Heavenly Gang warrior's aerial flight. To one who understands spatial power, it's like opening a door and stepping through.

Ye Liuyun increasingly felt his decision was correct. At least with this ability, his escape is much faster than others'. Within a certain range, he can go wherever he wishes almost instantly.

The only thing he didn't yet know was whether, without these two stones in hand, he could still traverse such long distances so effortlessly.

He also tried crossing to the neighboring Piao Yun's side. But as long as he didn't wish to manifest, Piao Yun couldn't sense his presence, because they weren't in the same space.

After practicing for a while, he began feeling the power inside the space, attempting to touch it, even using his own movement to sense its ripples.

Until he felt a bit weary of training, he stopped refining the Spatial Stone and exited cultivation mode.

He glanced at the Spatial Stone in his hand, now a bit smaller. Yet his affinity for the various layers of space had grown considerably.

First he stored both the Spatial Stone and the Wukong Stone, then tried to slip into the void without any aid.

As a result he discovered his void‑slipping ability had made great strides. Even without assistance he could easily enter the fourth layer of void and stay for the length of an incense stick. As for the third layer, he could remain there endlessly. The second layer, riddled with spatial storms and black holes, he navigated like a fish in water; even when danger arose he could instantly switch between the second and third layers.

"One more cultivation and I should be able to linger in the fourth space permanently. Then, even if I slip into the void, a Heavenly Gang eighth or ninth‑layer strongman couldn't force me out."

Strongers of the Heavenly Gang Realm can expel a person from the third‑layer space with sheer force. But if he reaches the fourth layer, they won't even detect him, let alone force him to appear.

Though he can now hide for the length of an incense stick, in extreme situations that's still insufficient. A slight slip against a master‑level opponent could be fatal.

In the following time, Ye Liuyun tried the Heavenly Gang second‑layer power, practicing the Bà Tiān Divine Fist.

Now his sixth‑move Bà Tiān Divine Fist, Thunder Fire Overlord, when fully unleashed, consumes one‑fifth of his True Essence and requires the power of two bloodline layers. Yet the effect can blast open the void outright, at least enough to contend with a Heavenly Gang sixth‑layer strongman.

This is because his True Essence, Physical Body and Bloodline Power have all risen significantly. Against ordinary Heavenly Gang second‑ and third‑layer martial cultivators, he can usually finish the fight by the third punch.

Next he practiced the Divine Dragon Claw. The Divine Dragon Claw relies more on his True Essence and Bloodline Power, demanding a larger True Essence consumption, while the Physical Body plays little role.

He now needs to train to channel more True Essence and Physical Body power into the Divine Dragon Claw, even to unleash in one strike the entirety of the True Essence within a core pill and all his Physical Body strength.

Thus his Divine Dragon Claw can be strong or weak; when facing an opponent he can adjust its power to avoid waste or ineffectiveness. He also needs a high‑damage move that releases massive True Essence to intimidate foes.

As for the Bà Tiān Divine Fist, it leverages Bloodline Power, moving mountains with a featherweight. Though it uses little True Essence, its effect isn't weak. The Divine Dragon Claw, however, is purely a shock from the sheer amount of True Essence.

He spent the whole night cycling between consuming and replenishing True Essence, and the Spirit Stone was also heavily used.

Yet he felt that no matter how many resources were spent, it was worth it.

He just needed to think of ways to obtain more Spirit Stones. Although his Spirit Stone reserves are sizable, he isn't the only one using them; others' cultivations also require Spirit Stones for breakthroughs and replenishment.

He decided that tomorrow he would have Piao Yun bring the loot he seized from the major Great Clans of Qingcheng to the merchant guild to exchange for Spirit Stones. After all, he doesn't need most of that loot.

He also has two Spirit Pills; he could try refining higher‑grade pills to supplement True Essence. He can't keep draining Crystal Stones indiscriminately.

He hasn't refined pills for a while. Currently he needs higher‑grade pills, which demand higher‑grade ingredients. He's yet to find suitable Spirit Pills. Now that he has them, he can give it a try.

Moreover, his Nine Dragon River Mountain Cauldron may not yet be able to find an Artifact Refining Master to upgrade it to the Respect Tier. Though he can refine himself, his knowledge is limited; simple work is fine, but upgrading a Spirit‑Grade treasure to the Respect Tier requires rare materials and techniques he isn't confident about.