Chapter 60: A Deity-like Cultivation Speed

Although it was decided to return to the Capital City as soon as possible, putting it into practice was not that easy.

Even though they had gotten through the first wave of attacks unscathed, the possibility of a second or third wave returning at any time kept everyone in the manor on high alert every day.

Meanwhile, the eight Golden Body Masters currently in the manor were divided into two groups of four, one responsible for the day and the other for the night.

There were also some people from the Chaos Zone who had been hired for profit helping them on the outside.

There is a saying: a thief can stay a thousand days, but no one can guard against a thief for a thousand days.

Although the previous battle had shaken all of Mei City and made some people fearful of this place, for profit, men die; for food, birds perish. There were still many who did not fear death.

In the following days, almost every day, various groups tried to enter the manor using all sorts of methods, with a pure goal — to assassinate Qin Hao!

Wang Tingjian had killed more than a dozen assassins in just a few days, but he still could not stop this trend.

And yet, the road for their return had still not been completely cleared.

Returning to Great Qin itself was not a problem; they could leave at any time. But whether they could make the journey safely was something everyone here had to consider.

Especially now that almost all their trump cards were known to their opponents, they had to be even more cautious.

In recent days, Ling Yi hardly went out, spending almost all his time cultivating in his room.

The master and disciples in the neighboring courtyard were doing the same.

Qian Luoying was busy cultivating the half of the Five Qi Cultivation Method Ling Yi had given her. In just a few days, she had already seen considerable results.

Based on experience, it would probably take less than a month to successfully clear the first hurdle of Five Qi!

She told Ling Yi the news immediately, and Ling Yi was happy for her, and also for himself.

The stronger Qian Luoying became, the more confident this group would be on their journey back to the capital.

Jiang Yuntong and Mo Yunwu, the two young ones, had also changed quite a bit after undergoing their ordeal.

Especially Jiang Yuntong, who practiced diligently every day. His movements were no longer as flashy as before and began to focus on practicality.

He also deeply remembered Ling Yi’s words —

“Martial arts are like this: when you live in peaceful times, they only become more and more elegant. If you find yourself in chaotic times, their function is reduced to just one — hurting others…”

Whether this world was a peaceful era or a chaotic one, Jiang Yuntong did not know. But the experiences of these days made the young man fully understand that what he had practiced before… really was useless at life-and-death moments!

Although Mo Yunwu still felt nauseous at the smell of meat, she also began to quietly practice with her senior brother.

Thus, time passed in a flash, a week went by.

Yesterday, Ling Yi was summoned by Qin Hao, who said that the diplomatic missions from Great Chu and Zhao Country had arrived in the capital, and they too had to hurry back.

Now, the roads within Qin State were almost cleared.

The Black Tortoise Legion from the north had specially dispatched a special forces team. They would wait for them at the border of the Chaos Zone and escort them all the way back to the capital.

The specific time was set for two days later.

Back in his room, Ling Yi thought about the two batches of Spirit Stones he had not yet received. That was not a big problem; Sister Zhao had only paid a small deposit.

When the time came, he could simply shift the transaction location to Great Qin; it would even be safer.

However, looking at the nearly depleted Spirit Stones in his case, Ling Yi couldn’t help but smile bitterly. Even he felt a bit incredulous.

It seemed he still needed to make one more transaction. The rate at which these Spirit Stones were being consumed was… just amazing.

But the results were also remarkable!

In just a little over a week, his realm advancement… could be called godly speed!

Following his previous pace, progressing from Meridian Unlocking level zero to level fourteen—with sufficient cultivation resources—would have taken about three to five years.

Yes, that was the cultivation speed of a so-called genius who appeared only once every fifty years.

Therefore, if cultivation resources were ample, Ling Yi should have reached the peak of Meridian Unlocking around age twenty-five to twenty-eight, ready to knock on the door of the Golden Body Realm.

For others, that time would need to be doubled at least, or even longer!

For many martial cultivators, reaching the peak of Meridian Unlocking at ages thirty-eight, thirty-nine, or even over forty would be exhilarating.

Golden Body had nine levels, each stronger than the last. But similarly, each level was harder to achieve than the last!

The barrier from the peak of Meridian Unlocking to Golden Body was not difficult to break. As long as one completely opened the fourteen meridians in the body and accumulated enough energy, one could naturally step into the Golden Body level.

But wanting to cultivate to Golden Body ninth level was not that easy!

Golden Body nine levels — even if one cleared one level per year, it would take nine years.

Yet people who could clear one level per year were quite rare!

Refining a Golden Body required not only Spirit Stones, but also a large amount of medicinal agents, pills, Demon Beast blood, and other supplements.

Golden Body needed to be tempered and forged!

Those hidden sects with abundant resources and powerful methods might have fast-track methods for Golden Body.

But in the secular world, there really were no shortcuts.

According to Ling Yi’s original expectation, if he could enter the Golden Body Realm before age thirty-five, he would be quite satisfied.

Then he would strive for Dao Enlightenment around age forty-five.

Among the world’s geniuses, this was about all one could expect.

He had not expected to be mocked by the Demoness, who then, in one night, created on the spot a Cultivation Method suitable for Meridian Unlocking and gave it to him.

Though this method also had no name.

But he had to admit, the Demoness was truly incredible!

This time, she didn’t even ask him to think of a mighty and domineering name.

Clearly, she looked down on this Cultivation Method.

Perhaps in the Demoness’s mind, it couldn’t compare to that Awesome Fist Technique.

But just this nameless Cultivation Method, conceived on the spot, made Ling Yi truly understand what cultivation was.

In a little over a week, he had opened seven meridians!

He had stepped into the mid-stage of Meridian Unlocking!

And there was absolutely no instability in his foundation that rapid advancement might cause.

In other words, this improvised Meridian Unlocking Cultivation Method from the Demoness had allowed him to cover, in one week, a distance that would normally take one and a half to two and a half years!

Although he had indeed been very diligent these days, working day and night.

But this speed made him feel particularly incredible and a little smug. Then he was lectured —

“You should know that among the three stages — Technique Training, Pressure Point Strike, and Meridian Unlocking — only Technique Training, which builds the foundation, has some technical substance.”

“The later Pressure Point Strike and Meridian Unlocking purely rely on energy to blast through the body’s barriers and blockages. That’s not difficult at all; you could give a dog a pancake and it could do it.”

Ling Yi: “…”

“So as long as the method is right and the energy is sufficient, leaping from Pressure Point Strike and Meridian Unlocking into Golden Body overnight isn’t any miracle either. What are you so proud about?”

Ling Yi just took that last sentence as the Demoness bragging.

Leaping from Pressure Point Strike and Meridian Unlocking overnight?

You try leaping and show me?

Teasing aside, Ling Yi still admired the Demoness greatly, and he was very satisfied with his own improvement speed.

But the cost was also outrageously high. The case of Spirit Stones worth a billion was now almost depleted.

Even though most of it was absorbed by the Demoness, this was her rightful share.

“Now we face a problem. The Spirit Stones in the case can last at most one or two more days. After that, we’ll be cut off. But I don’t want to give up our cultivation opportunities during the journey back.”

Ling Yi discussed with the Demoness, “I didn’t dare to think I could cultivate this fast before, but now, I want to achieve higher improvement before returning to the capital. Even if I can open just one more meridian, it would be good.”

“What’s so hard about that? Just make one more transaction!” The Demoness said righteously, “Didn’t we already pay? Tell them to come here and deliver. Take your big sister along; anyone who dares to stir trouble, kill them.”

Ling Yi: “…”

He could see now that the Demoness truly did not take this dangerous Chaos Zone very seriously.

But that was fine. One more transaction would not only ensure they wouldn’t lack Spirit Stones on the way back, but also solve their “food supply” after returning to the capital.

Having decided, Ling Yi went next door to find Qian Luoying.

“Sister, I’ll have to trouble you to accompany me out again later. But we won’t go far, just outside the gate.”

“Sure, what are we doing out this time?” Qian Luoying nodded without hesitation.

“Another Spirit Stone transaction.” Ling Yi did not hide it.

“Another transaction? Didn’t you just get a large amount of Spirit Stones?” Qian Luoying looked at Ling Yi strangely. “Those should last you a few years, right?”

A few years?

Under normal circumstances, they probably wouldn’t even last a few years!

But with the big eater Demoness around, a few years was impossible; a few days at most.

“They’re almost gone.” Ling Yi thought about it and told the truth.

This really wasn’t easy to hide. After all, he couldn’t stuff the case with bricks later and pretend they were Spirit Stones, right?

Though he could use that to fool others.

“Almost gone? How is that possible? That whole case—you couldn’t eat them that fast. Huh?”

Qian Luoying frowned, looking at Ling Yi, then suddenly asked in surprise, “Fully release your energy field. Let me sense it…”

Ling Yi instantly activated his energy field, and a powerful wave of energy burst forth.

“You… you’re at least at level six or seven now?” Qian Luoying stared at Ling Yi in astonishment. “A few days ago you were still…”

“Yeah, seems a bit fast, huh…” Ling Yi thought so too.

“…”

Qian Luoying couldn’t believe it. She carefully sensed again; it was indeed Meridian Unlocking level six or seven.

Now she was completely speechless, looking at Ling Yi as if he were a monster.

“Before, I only thought you were mysterious. After interacting with you, I found you to be a very bright young man—clever, excellent, a comfortable person to be with…” Qian Luoying looked at Ling Yi. “But now, I suddenly realize you’ve become even more mysterious…”

Ling Yi asked her, “Sister, how long did the most outstanding genius of your Heaven’s Gate Sect take to go from Meridian Unlocking level zero to level seven?”

Qian Luoying’s gaze turned somewhat odd. “Not talking about the distant past, the closest example would be me. Back then, with ample resources, it took me about a year or so to go from Meridian Unlocking level zero to level seven. My master was very proud at the time, saying there weren’t many in the entire Cultivation World more talented than me. But compared to you, it’s simply…”

“A year or so… that’s really impressive!” Ling Yi instinctively praised.

Then he saw Qian Luoying’s strange look and remembered he did it in just a week…

So this kind of praise probably sounded more like mockery.

He chuckled awkwardly. “You know, my Cultivation Method is powerful.”

Qian Luoying was stunned for a moment, then nodded in sudden realization. “I forgot about that. Indeed… indeed…”

This explanation probably wouldn’t convince others, but Qian Luoying had personal experience.

“Powerful it may be, but the consumption of Spirit Stones is simply shocking! Even in a top-tier sect, no one could sustain such a consumption rate.”

Coming back to her senses, Qian Luoying sighed with emotion.

Ling Yi was quite open-minded about this. Use resources when you have them; if not, then don’t.

What did consuming some Spirit Stones matter? Being able to defeat enemies was enough.