Chapter 874: Spirit Qi (2/2, begging for monthly votes)

To call it the Origin of Life isn't quite accurate.

Because Fang Yue, only after reaching Cloud-rank and gaining an entirely new sensory upgrade, had discovered a brand-new 'Qi' in the air.

Only by absorbing and utilizing this Qi, refining and converting it into one's own power, is it called the Origin of Life.

This brand-new 'Qi' is different from the 【Yuan Qi】 absorbed during ordinary cultivation.

Not only is it extremely thin, it is also incredibly hidden — without reaching the current level, it would be absolutely impossible to detect.

This special clump of Qi seemed to be absorbing the surrounding 【Yuan Qi】; whenever the surrounding 【Yuan Qi】 grew thin, it would swell a little, become more visible, and be easier for him to catch.

And for 【Yuan Qi】 to recover, it required more time to slowly regenerate.

Looking at it this way, this thing was like a superior predator — a parasite.

By plundering the power of its inferior, 【Yuan Qi】, it strengthened itself.

Then, the Cloud-rank martial artist would absorb this power and obtain even greater strength.

"It seems this is the… Spirit Qi that Lord Han mentioned in his inheritance!"

The greatest difference between Cloud-rank martial artists and those below Human-rank is the ability to absorb and utilize Spirit Qi to continue cultivating.

And Rain-rank is when one has already cultivated Spirit Qi to the point of remolding the body, forging it into a 【Spirit Body】 — a being brimming with vast Origin of Life.

Looking at it this way, Spirit Qi seems to be a superior substitute for 【Yuan Qi】.

But for the current Fang Yue, at most he could barely sense extremely thin Spirit Qi; how to absorb it, how to use Spirit Qi to cultivate — he was still completely clueless.

If it were anyone else, even if they barely managed to break through to Cloud-rank, they would suffer from lacking a cultivation method and a cultivation direction, unable to use Spirit Qi to cultivate, and would wander in confusion, wasting their entire lives, unable to reach a higher level.

But Fang Yue was different — he had Lord Han's inheritance; the road ahead was wide open, only waiting for time to cultivate.

Besides, although Fang Yue had just broken through to Cloud-rank and only just made contact with the Origin of Life, he felt a strange sense of familiarity.

As if he had encountered this Spirit Qi before.

After carefully sensing it, Fang Yue realized the reason for his special familiarity with Spirit Qi was that this thing shared a similar feeling with part of the eerie power of the 【Eerie Spirit Root】, as if they were two similar existences arriving at the same destination by different paths.

"Eerie power… Spirit Qi power… is there some connection between them?"

Fang Yue's brow furrowed slightly.

Martial artists rely on absorbing 【Yuan Qi】 to cultivate inner force; only after reaching Cloud-rank can they come into contact with 【Spirit Qi】.

And 【Spirit Qi】 shares a similar aura with eerie power, as if they were equal, opposing counterparts.

In other words, 【Spirit Power】 = 【Eerie Power】.

And 【Yuan Qi】 is like an inferior substitute for 【Spirit Qi】, inherently a step below.

Could it be… that the reason humans are far weaker than the eerie is because from the very start they cultivated inner force based on Yuan Qi?

And that's why they can't beat those eerie beings who absorb eerie power innately?

【Of course not! The eerie are innately powerful — it has nothing to do with eerie power or Spirit Qi!】

Hm?

Parchment, you know about this?

【Although I don't know what nonsense this idiot of yours is thinking, undoubtedly, even at the Rain-rank level, Rain-rank eerie beings are still stronger than Rain-rank humans! The same goes for Immortal-Demon rank! Apart from freaks like you and the old witch, under normal circumstances, the eerie come out on top!】

Then what exactly is this similar feeling between eerie power and Spirit Power…

【Idiot! That's because the power itself is the same! Eerie power is inherently a higher-tier power, and Spirit power is likewise a higher-tier power. All those times you've used the Eerie Spirit Root's power count as many experiences using higher-tier power.

Even without the help of Lord Han's inheritance, with the advanced experience you already possess, you could absolutely become familiar with Spirit Qi very quickly, and then proceed to cultivate rapidly.】

【Compared to all this nonsense, don't you think there's something more important to do?】

Fang Yue was stunned for a moment, then immediately understood. His expression darkened as he said, "You're right. I really need to hurry back to Extreme Ice Sect, explain the situation to Wei Ba, and then discuss what to do next."

【No no no! Not that kind of thing!!】

【You're going to anger this Zhi Zhi to death!】

【That more important thing is to praise me, praise this Zhi Zhi! Praise me hard, praise me with all your might! Do you know how much this Zhi Zhi contributed to this battle? You don't! All you know about is your stupid Spirit Qi!】

【Hmph!!】

Apparently feeling that a single 'Hmph!' was insufficient to express its current mood, Parchment immediately conjured up more text in Fang Yue's mind.

【Hmph hmph hmph hmph hmph hmph!!】

Fang Yue: …

"Alright, alright, Zhi Zhi is the strongest, Lord Parchment is number one under heaven."

Fang Yue uttered this sentence in a flat, mechanical tone devoid of any emotion.

Even so, Parchment was so happy it was about to fly — in Fang Yue's mind it kept appearing, burying its head in the blanket, rolling around on the bed, wriggling back and forth like a maggot with joy.

【Hoo hoo hoo! Well said! This Lord Parchment is just that amazing! Just that powerful! Hoo hoo hoo!!】

【You praise so well, praise so well! Fang Yue, more, more praise — this Lord Parchment commands you, praise me!!】

…That's about enough, isn't it? You want a few more lines?

Fang Yue ignored it and opened the status panel.

"Name: Yese Liming."

"Realm: Early Cloud-rank."

"Eerie Realm: Late Calamity-rank 【0%】."

"Spirit Root: Eerie Spirit Root."

"Status: Eerie Curse 【Black Rain】, —."

"HP: 60000/60000."

"Inner Force: 40000/40000."

"Eerie Value: 40000/40000."

"Control Power: 79980 【Base: 80000】 【Status/Modifier: -20】."

"Force Reduction: 79980 【Base: 80000】 【Status/Boost: -20】."

"Comprehension: 125. 【Special Attribute】"

"Talent: Breath of Night 【Human-level Superior】."

"Strange Talent: Still World, Strange Ring."

"Rain-level: Frozen Heart Method 【Second Layer】, Glazed Ice Step 【First Layer】, Empty Ice Sword Art 【First Layer】."

"Human-level Martial Art: Analysis Pupil 【Human-level Inferior】."

"Innate Martial Art: Innate Qi Shield 【Human-level High】, Aura 【Human-level High】, Shadow-Treading Step 【Xiantian Third-Rate】, Dark Moon Blade Technique 【Xiantian Third-Rate】, Night Flow Mental Method 【Xiantian Third-Rate】, Tree-Coiling Heart Method 【Xiantian Third-Rate】."

"Acquired Martial Art: …."

"Lifespan: 232 years, 2 months."

The first thing Fang Yue saw was a two-hundred-year lifespan, and an astonishing 125-point Comprehension!

"Wuhu, taking off!!"

Fang Yue's heart surged with excitement.

As for the other attributes, because his Heart Method and Martial Arts hadn't come up yet, they were actually a bit lacking.

But this was only temporary. As long as he had Comprehension, and Lord Han's inheritance, pulling the other attributes up to Cloud-level was only a matter of time.

Just as Fang Yue's heart was stirred with excitement, at the location of his heart, he suddenly felt a tearing, violent, wrenching pain.

With a sharp hiss of inhaled breath, Fang Yue thudded down on one knee, eyes wide, breathing rapid, gasping in great gulps.

The pain, growing more and more intense!

"This familiar feeling is… parchment transformation! The side effects of this start from the heart!"

A panicked, terrified feeling welled up in his heart.

(End of this chapter)