Chu Lingguang had managed to form a Qi Vortex in his abdomen by relying on several Breathing Techniques.

As for Xia Tianzhong and the other two, the cultivation resources they’d had since childhood were far more abundant than Chu Lingguang’s. Whether it was their foundational training or the nourishing meats they ate, Chu Lingguang simply couldn’t compare.

Even if they hadn’t cultivated an Inner Power Heart Method before, at their age, a Qi Vortex could still form in their abdomens through sheer accumulation over the years.

It was worth noting that although Sima Army and Jin Huang had not formed a Qi Vortex in their abdomens, they already had the rudiments of a Sea of Consciousness. They just couldn’t control it or enter it at will like Chu Lingguang could.

This showed just how significant the advantages of Noble Family Disciples and Noble and Royal Descendants were.

It was truly a stroke of luck that Chu Lingguang could stand among them.

"On the path of Martial Arts, only by cultivating an Inner Power Heart Method and successfully Opening the Dantian and Qi Sea can one be considered to have truly stepped onto the path of cultivation."

"Some of you have relied on Breathing Techniques to form a Qi Vortex in your abdomen and mistakenly believe that to be the Dantian Qi Sea. In reality, that is merely scratching the surface. The true Qi Sea Dantian not only involves forming a Qi Vortex in the abdomen, but also gaining the ability to store more power and even evolve that power."

"An Abdominal Vortex is only the initial form of the Dantian Qi Sea. Aside from simply strengthening your Dragon Elephant and Qi Blood Power, it has no other function."

"To make the power in your abdomen useful, you must learn to use an Inner Power Heart Method to expand that Qi Vortex, helping you open up a vast and boundless Dantian!"

A Trial Ground instructor explained to the crowd.

"After you begin cultivating the Zhenyuan Technique, your first step is to condense a Qi Vortex in your abdomen and sustain it. For those who have already reached this stage, you must make your Qi Vortex capable of evolution. This evolution means it can operate autonomously or, under the control of your consciousness, continuously absorb external power without any dissipation. When you achieve this, you will have formed the rudiment of a Dantian. Only then are you considered to have truly reached the Entry Level of the Qi Sea Realm."

"Now, follow the instructions of the Zhenyuan Technique, clear your minds of all distracting thoughts, and cultivate with me."

"First, absorb external power into your body. After it is refined by your Qi Blood and Dragon Elephant, retain the final strand of pure power in your abdomen as instructed by the Cultivation Technique."

After his detailed explanation, the instructor led everyone in cultivating the Zhenyuan Technique. He was keenly observant and spoke with a continuous stream of wisdom, often sharing profound insights and experiences.

Following the instructor’s reminders, Chu Lingguang cleared his mind of distracting thoughts and, following the Zhenyuan Technique’s Heart Method, began trying to evolve the Qi Vortex in his abdomen.

This process was not so easy.

Even for the likes of Xia Tianzhong, it was not something that could be accomplished overnight.

Leaving the Learning Palace, Chu Lingguang had made some gains, but not many.

He checked his panel information.

Favors: 531

Mixed Element Skill (0-10000)

Primordial Bloodline (8001-12000)

Wind-Chasing Step (0-6000)

Broken Water Blade (0-1000)

Zhenyuan Technique (0-7000)

(Remaining Lifespan: 120 years)

His biggest gain this time was, with the guidance of the Learning Palace instructor, getting the Zhenyuan Technique recorded on his panel. As for the 531 Favor Points, he had earned them by helping another group of students ask Yun Hong and the goatee-bearded elder for advice.

Unfortunately, he had been demoted from Heavenly Talent to A-grade Talent for a period, so he couldn’t enjoy the privilege of consulting Yun Hong and the others anytime he wanted. As a result, he hadn’t accumulated many Favor Points. In fact, some of them were earned by guiding others on how to awaken their True Dragon Power.

But now, having unlocked the fourth layer of his Dharma Aspect and having long since condensed a Qi Vortex in his abdomen, he was once again a student with Heavenly Talent. As long as his talent didn’t drop over the next forty days, he could earn another wave of Favor Points.

So, he spent all five hundred-plus Favor Points on the Zhenyuan Technique.

The panel information changed.

Favors: None

Zhenyuan Technique (531-7000)

(Remaining Lifespan: 123 years)

’My lifespan finally increased.’

Chu Lingguang was thrilled. His lifespan hadn’t increased at all since he cultivated the Day and Night Breathing Technique to Perfection. He had wondered if it would only change once he started cultivating an Inner Power Heart Method, and it turned out to be true. Although it only increased by three years, he could at least see signs of it breaking through its previous limit.

Seeing the value increase, Chu Lingguang quietly circulated the Zhenyuan Technique’s Heart Method again. His comprehension was improving, aided by the stats and his recently developed keen perception. This perception had already allowed him to successfully locate his Sea of Consciousness and enter it at will.

Soon, a warm current formed in his abdomen. Under Introspection, Chu Lingguang could not only see the Abdominal Vortex spinning and absorbing power like a whirlpool, but he could also clearly feel it slowly strengthening. He had successfully laid his Dantian Foundation and truly stepped into the Qi Sea Realm!

(Monthly tickets and recommendation votes—I’m begging you, please send them my way!)