Chapter 168: Lianqi Fourth Layer

The consolidation of Magic Power is more difficult than before.

The Nine-turn Technique's nine dispersals and nine refinements are not only extremely exacting in the refinement of Magic Power, but also demand that Yan Buji's spirit stay highly taut throughout each dispersal‑and‑re‑refinement without a moment of slack, so each cultivation cannot be said to complete the nine dispersals and nine refinements in one go.

But now it is different.

Yan Buji wants to give it a try!

Each time Magic Power surges to its peak, his meridians gradually expand; this expansion is not superficial, but a strengthening of the resilience that bears the intensity of Magic Power.

But this also comes with extremely fierce pain, making Yan Buji break out in a cold sweat, yet he finds it as sweet as honey.

What is the purpose of cultivation?

He wants to satisfy his own desire!

The process of attaining satisfaction is painful; ordinary people would not pour all their effort into a goal they cannot achieve, and even if such people exist, their hardships and efforts are accompanied by equal pain as they grit their teeth and persist for that unattainable goal.

But is persistence always correct?

Thus some will tell you that the direction of your effort is wrong, and when you later realize it you will regret and feel increasing pain.

But cultivation is different.

Even if the direction is wrong, one must still persist!

Right and wrong in the world should not be judged by others' words; if you hear someone say what you do is wrong, then use your own heart to regard the storms you have weathered.

Correctness and error must be discovered by yourself, not told to you by others' words, inheritance, or teachings.

Yan Buji does not know whether attempting to complete the nine dispersals and nine refinements in one go is right or wrong; he simply wants to do it.

Whether pain or failure, he will bear the consequences himself.

In the blink of an eye.

A month passes.

Yan Buji's whole body radiates a heavy Magic Power aura; at this moment the Magic Power churning in his dantian surges like a torrent, wandering through his meridians, and he begins the cultivation of the Fourth Manual!

Just as before, once the fourth manual is mastered, Yan Buji can immediately step into Lianqi Fourth Layer!

To this, Yan Buji is quite confident.

The effect of Magic Power Red Smoke is better than he imagined; although the twenty thousand Spiritual Stones he carries are not many, and the previous Accumulation Device, according to calculations, is also insufficient for his nine dispersals and nine refinements, the very existence of Magic Power Red Smoke actually reduces the loss rate of absorbing Spiritual Stones to the minimum!

This time the spiritual energy absorbed from Spiritual Stones is even more abundant than before!

For the fourth manual Yan Buji chose is the Magic Power Golden Wheel, the most basic metallic technique; after mastering it, a Magic Power Golden Wheel forms inside his body!

Moreover, metallic techniques have higher lethality than fire techniques, so the Magic Power Golden Wheel focuses on cultivating the Magic Power Golden Wheel, and can be summoned for attack against foes!

Although its power may be insufficient, the Magic Power Golden Wheel has a characteristic.

The deeper the Magic Power, the harder the Golden Wheel is to condense; likewise, the more fully formed the Golden Wheel becomes, the sharper and more lethal it is!

As Yan Buji converts wood to metal, massive metallic Magic Power pours into his dantian, raising wave after wave of surging tides!

At the same time, following the cultivation method of the Magic Power Golden Wheel, Yan Buji has already begun attempting to condense his own Golden Wheel.

However, as he expected, after enduring the pain and completing the nine dispersals and nine refinements, his Magic Power intensity is far higher than that of ordinary mid‑stage Lianqi cultivators, even surpassing late‑stage Lianqi Seventh Layer cultivators, so condensing the Golden Wheel is even more difficult than he imagined.

Up to now, he hasn't even managed to condense a prototype of the Golden Wheel.

Yan Buji takes a deep breath, knowing there is no other way at this step. If cultivation techniques could still be cheated with a Golden Foil Pattern, that would be possible, but the inherent attributes of a technique cannot be cheated.

He relies solely on his Spiritual Awareness to push through.

Yan Buji sits cross‑legged on the ground, his hair blown upward by the surging Magic Power, clearly indicating the critical moment has arrived.

The prototype of the Golden Wheel is slowly forged by him; the surging metallic Magic Power is repeatedly drawn into the Golden Wheel, and on the sea of Magic Power in his dantian it seems a brilliant sun rises!

Ding!

A crisp sound rings out, the Golden Wheel emits a resonant clang, indicating that Yan Buji's Magic Power Golden Wheel has been mastered!

In the blink of an eye, the Magic Power in his dantian begins to surge again. The rolling waves of Magic Power rise higher and higher, then cease after a moment.

"It's done, Lianqi Fourth Layer..."

Yan Buji's eyes turn black around the rims, and his whole body starts trembling uncontrollably.

To break through Lianqi Fourth Layer, his Spiritual Awareness nearly withers dry; Yan Buji's eyes roll back and he collapses into unconsciousness.

A few days later.

He covers his head, stands up, and after restoring his spirit feels his body becoming repeatedly relaxed.

The surging Magic Power howls endlessly in his dantian, then in an instant returns to calm, not conflicting with Martial Dao True Origin.

"Although I really want to step into Lianqi Fifth Layer now, I'll wait until the Magic Power stabilizes first."

Yan Buji smiles; although the Nine-turn Technique's assistance prevents a regression after a realm advancement due to unstable Magic Power, he can already sense his Magic Power is overly mighty, and even he needs time to adapt.

And with the achievement of Lianqi Fourth Layer, the Planting Tree Manual and Spiritual Fire Manual have both been elevated to their highest levels.

Although the Planting Tree Manual has no special attributes, it can nevertheless prolong life, so Yan Buji feels his body is much more relaxed because of this.

As for the hallmark of the Spiritual Fire Manual's consummation, the Spiritual Fire flame has already transformed into true Spiritual Fire; although this method is not rare among cultivators, it still greatly aids his refining of Spiritual Material.

The second layer of Heavy Mountain Technique further amplifies his Qi power considerably; as for the newly entered Magic Power Golden Wheel, its manifestation lies in the Golden Wheel above his dantian.

Yan Buji attempts to summon the Golden Wheel; speaking of it, this is the only lethal technique among his foundational Five Elements techniques. Though the Magic Power Golden Wheel in his hand is illusory, its sharp aura seems not much weaker than the Accumulation Device dagger he previously wielded!

"The Accumulation Device is strong because it can be combined and transformed at will, but that requires extremely profound cultivation. Yet if a technique already carries lethal power, it becomes more straightforward."

Yan Buji looks at the Golden Wheel in his hand, and actually wants to test how its lethal power works.

Since it is a Golden Wheel he himself condensed, there is no barrier. However, the technique is too basic, so the Golden Wheel can only extend up to ten meters from his body.

"Aside from its short attack range, there are no other obvious weaknesses. If combined with my Martial Dao Profound Skill, it could even defeat opponents in the later stages of Lianqi. Yet relying on the technique alone is insufficient."

Yan Buji squints, pondering for a moment.

First, let's practice the most basic few techniques.

Yan Buji's choices are Spiritual Shield, Light Body Technique, and Object Control Technique. These simplest techniques are known by every cultivator, but Yan Buji previously truly lacked the aptitude, and simply had no time to ponder.

But now that he has the Golden Foil Pattern, he can comprehend them within just a few days.