He put down the book, sat cross-legged, and began to completely empty his mind, just as the book instructed.

...This step was not difficult for Qin Fang, because it was almost the same as entering the Mental Pile state.

The difficult part was what came next.

...Imagine a single point in the void and focus all of one’s Spirit upon it, turning the illusory into the real!

As if a true spiritual point actually existed.

Qin Fang began his attempt.

But it wasn’t that easy. If his mind wandered even for a moment, the ’point’ would fail to form.

Fortunately, Qin Fang had a foundation in the Mental Pile. After his focus scattered a few times, he gradually entered the proper state.

It was as if the entire World had vanished.

He felt as if he were in a world of absolute darkness, where the only thing he could perceive was his ’self’.

That was Seeing God.

Then, he performed Contemplation, visualizing a point forming above the head of this ’God’. All his thoughts, ideas, Spirit, and will converged upon that point.

This process was slow and arduous.

But with his foundation in Seeing God and Mental Pile, it eventually, slowly, began to coalesce...

Time trickled by. The process remained slow and arduous.

But just as Qin Fang realized all his thoughts had converged on a single point...

He clearly felt a cool sensation emerge between his brows!

...That was the cool sensation that had suddenly appeared in his mind after he reached Huajin!

Before, that cool sensation had permeated his entire brain, roaming freely.

’But now, it’s all gathered into a single point between my brows?’

This sudden discovery scattered Qin Fang’s focus for a moment, and he was instantly ejected from that wondrous Realm.

He subconsciously opened his eyes.

"That cool sensation... Could it be... materialized Spirit?"

His eyes shone brightly.

Then he immediately realized how right he had been not to force a breakthrough!

’...This is just the first stage, and I can barely even complete it... It seems I’m still a long way from the Iron Will required for a breakthrough.’

The Iron Will mentioned in the Secret Manual was clearly a tangible, practical Realm!

...And not just a vague reference to someone being determined or something...

Qin Fang was alarmed. After regulating his breathing for a moment to calm his mind, he continued his Contemplation.

Gradually, he returned to the same Realm as before.

The process was slightly faster than the first time... but not by much.

Slowly, he felt the cool sensation in his head gather once more, condensing into a single point between his brows. It was a piercingly cool sensation, yet it made his entire brain feel exceptionally clear.

With his previous experience, this time Qin Fang maintained a state of mind as tranquil as an Ancient Well and continued his Contemplation of the ’point’. Gradually, above the head of the figure within the Seeing God Realm, the coalescing point grew more and more solid, eventually forming the faint shape of a grain of ’sand’...

And at the very instant the ’sand’ appeared,

Text appeared on Qin Fang’s panel.

’Profound Nether Realm-Breaking Awl (Spirit) (Contemplation) (entry-level) 1/500’

Time trickled by. Qin Fang was completely absorbed, maintaining a state of perfect focus.

But he could only maintain this state for a short while before it became unsustainable.

A flood of chaotic thoughts began to surface uncontrollably, forcing him out of that state.

He snapped his eyes open, feeling his breath coming in short gasps.

And when he used his Perception again... more than half of the cool sensation in his head was gone?

’...Of course. The process of condensing the ’sand’ consumes a huge amount of Spiritual Power!’

Qin Fang recalled the description in the Secret Manual.

He couldn’t help but gently rub his brow. For the first time, his mind felt exhausted...

...This feeling was like working a high-intensity mental job for ten-odd hours, the kind of exhaustion that comes from racking your brains.

It felt like his whole brain was made of paste; even his thoughts moved with extreme sluggishness!

Qin Fang grimaced and subconsciously looked up at the sky.

And then he was stunned...

’Is that... the fish-belly white of dawn on the horizon?’

’...How long was I meditating?’

He looked completely stunned.

’I remember when I first started... the sky had just turned dark, hadn’t it?!’

’...A whole night passed just like that?’

Qin Fang realized just how complex and daunting this Contemplation Method was!

’To think I was so engrossed I didn’t even notice time passing!’

’...As expected of something that touches upon the Extraordinary... Just one Meditation session lasted an entire night...’

Qin Fang was secretly alarmed.

But after a moment, he let out a soft sigh, got up, and walked toward the shelter...

’...No good. My mind is too tired. I have to get some sleep first.’

Fortunately, this shelter was safe enough.

...The only one who might have come looking, Chen Shanhe, had already been taken care of.

He could sleep and cultivate in peace.

Lying in bed, Qin Fang was exhausted, but for a while, he couldn’t fall asleep.

Thinking about his gains from yesterday and today, he felt a surge of excitement.

’Extraordinary... Divine Techniques...’

Although in truth, Martial Arts was already plenty Extraordinary. He could now unleash a staggering amount of force with a mere shrug, something that had already far surpassed his previous understanding.

But now, an even more profound and mystical World was slowly unfurling before him...

’Just what other wonders does this World hold?’

A light flashed in his eyes. Only after a long while did he finally sink into a deep sleep...

「When Qin Fang woke again, it was already afternoon.」

He woke feeling completely refreshed!

’It seemed the Spiritual Power in my mind hadn’t decreased. In fact, had it... increased a little?’

’Spiritual Power... needs to be exercised too!’

’When it regenerates after being depleted, it actually comes back more plentiful than before?’

Qin Fang’s eyes glinted.

...This was clearly good news.

After getting out of bed, Qin Fang went straight to the Old Ox Back and plaited a new rope... The rope he’d used to lure the bees had frozen and shattered.