The so-called Returning Pill does not literally mean cultivating a ’pill’.
Returning signifies a cycle of endless repetition. Pill signifies perfection and flawlessness.
This is the true essence of the Returning Pill; in the end, it is about refining magical power and nurturing the soul.
Then, the Golden Finger Interface flickered and refreshed once again:
[7 Skills (Second Rank): Returning Pill First Turn (10,000,000)]
[Status: Upgradable (0\10,000,000).]
Upon seeing that ten million points, Zhang Chen was stunned: "After the Returning Pill, you give me a Returning Pill First Turn? Are you kidding me?"
If there was a Returning Pill Nine Turns, the experience points would be in the billions; what a massive amount of experience that would be! It would be enough for Zhang Chen to upgrade his skills extensively.
But there’s no choice; Qi Cultivation Technique is the fundamental technique, crucial for future development, so Zhang Chen can’t not cultivate it, right?
Even knowing it’s a pitfall, Zhang Chen has to jump in.
However, after cultivating to this realm, Zhang Chen also sensed subtle mysteries. Each time he completed a Returning Pill Turn, his magical power underwent some inexplicable change, seemingly imbued with some mysterious power of law and gaining some mystical attributes, but exactly what changed, Zhang Chen couldn’t discern.
Moreover, each time after a Returning Pill Turn, Zhang Chen’s speed in devouring the Power of Incense increased by a tenth. By the time he reached the perfection of the Returning Pill Nine Turns, Zhang Chen’s devouring speed was almost doubled.
Previously, Zhang Chen’s speed in devouring the Power of Incense was two million per day and night. After breaking through to the Jade Liquid and Returning Pill, the devouring speed reached four million. Now, after the Returning Pill Nine Turns, his devouring speed has reached almost eight million per day and night.
With the Returning Pill Nine Turns reaching perfection, Zhang Chen looked at the Golden Finger Interface:
[7 Skills (Second Rank): Returning Pill Nine Turns (Perfection)]
After closing the Golden Finger Interface, Zhang Chen checked his magical power and found it carrying a trace of Golden Light, shimmering with a golden hue, seemingly flowing with a hint of immortality.
"Although the Returning Pill Nine Turns is just one realm, after a transformation, the increase in my magical power to my Divine Techniques has reached fivefold. The increase in the Devouring Technique is particularly significant for me. It’s completely a ’sharpening the axe won’t delay cutting firewood’ situation. Although the points needed for upgrading the Fundamental Technique are enormous, my speed of accumulating points through devouring has also increased. Considering both aspects, I’ve still gained!" Zhang Chen felt delighted with the Returning Pill Nine Turns and sat by the furnace enjoying the fire.
"Right now, without the next step cultivation technique of Qi Cultivation Technique, the focus is to concentrate on the Mountain-moving Technique. If I can cultivate the Mountain-moving Technique to the perfection of first stage, cultivating 12,000 runes, I could move 12,000 pounds of objects." Zhang Chen shifted his attention to the Mountain-moving Technique.
However, there’s a bottleneck with the Mountain-moving Technique as well. To achieve the perfection of the first stage, ’Initial Entry,’ requires accumulating 500 years of magical power.
Zhang Chen pondered the Mountain-moving Technique and looked at his own magical power, yet he wasn’t sure how many years his magical power accounted for, as he had worked it all up through the Golden Finger without any concept of measurement.
"First cultivate the Mountain-moving Technique; worry about insufficient magical power later!" Zhang Chen didn’t concern himself with so many details and kept working hard, unconcerned about whether his magical power would be enough. When it’s not, deal with it then.
With thoughts swirling in his mind, Zhang Chen stealthily descended underground, arriving in front of the Incense Wall, and the next moment, an orifice in his palm extended, piercing the Incense Wall.
An hour later, Zhang Chen stopped the devouring action, frowning silently at the now dim Incense Wall.
After absorbing for an hour, the Incense Wall was much dimmer, now less than a tenth of its original brightness.
"The speed of collecting Incense Faith in Huangli Temple can no longer keep up with my devouring speed." Zhang Chen had to stop, returning to the surface to wait for the recovery of Incense Faith.
"At this rate, continuing to devour eventually will cause a big problem. Devouring eight million points daily, Huangli Temple’s incense is insufficient long-term, and one day it’ll be noticed by the higher-ups of Yellow Heaven Dao." Zhang Chen was already preparing for the eventuality that although his devouring speed had increased, he also had to be mindful of Yellow Heaven Dao’s reactions to avoid drawing attention.
"The Mountain-moving Technique requires the cultivation of 12,000 glyphs, each needing a thousand points, totaling roughly twelve million points. Working up to the perfection of ’Initial Entry’ for Mountain-moving Technique in Huangli Temple is not hard, but the Power of Incense within Huangli Temple is insufficient for my needs!" Zhang Chen stood in the courtyard, feeling somewhat troubled.
His devouring speed had increased, but there wasn’t enough available for him to devour, was there?
Moreover, the elders in Huangli Temple aren’t fools. With such a significant gap in the Power of Incense, once it becomes unsustainable, someone is bound to investigate. Therefore, Zhang Chen didn’t dare to be too aggressive in harvesting.
"Seems I need to find a new source; one Daoist Temple like Huangli Temple isn’t enough for my needs." An idea sparked within Zhang Chen’s mind as he thought of a solution:
"There are plenty of Daoist Temples in the Northern Land under Yellow Heaven Dao; if I take a bit from each, wouldn’t that solve the problem?"
"I’m truly a little genius." Zhang Chen thought to himself joyfully, just about to work on improving his Mountain-moving Technique, when a streak of light flashed in the courtyard, indicating Wu Changming had arrived.
Wu Changming, at that moment, looked spirited, his eyes full of joy: "Kid, you’ve made a big accomplishment."
"Could Master have entered the First Heaven of the Spiritual World?" Seeing Wu Changming’s ecstatic expression, Zhang Chen had a guess and pretended to ask curiously.
Upon hearing Zhang Chen’s words, Wu Changming patted his shoulder: "Kid, thanks to your tip, I, the Old Ancestor, absorbed the power from the Immortal Realm outside the spatial passage, and indeed, with the help of Immortal Realm’s power, broke through the mental barrier and entered the legendary Spiritual World."
Wu Changming’s voice was filled with pride, his whole being full of vigor and in a very good mood.
He had every reason to be proud, for throughout history, only those who could enter the legendary Spiritual World’s First Heaven had been figures of ancestral master caliber, who established their own schools and sects.
Zhang Chen watched the gleeful Wu Changming with a strange feeling as he wondered what thoughts Wu Changming would have if he knew that the First Heaven of the Spiritual World he mentally entered was the same place that the physical body could enter, not realizing the difference.
As for Wu Changming not discerning the difference between the Spiritual World and the ’Immortal Realm,’ Zhang Chen wasn’t surprised. After all, the Spiritual World is vast and boundless, even if humans entered through a spatial passage, their flesh and blood wouldn’t be capable of exploring much of it.
Do you know Ailao Mountain? How far can ordinary people explore it, let alone a desolate world?
It was normal for Wu Changming not to perceive the difference as the odds of his mental avatar encountering those who entered the Spiritual World from a spatial passage were nearly zero.
Wu Changming looked at Zhang Chen, his voice filled with joy: "Today calls for a celebration; we should drink ourselves silly."
With that, Wu Changming ordered disciples to bring wine, intending to drink heartily with Zhang Chen.
Having no choice, Zhang Chen had to postpone his cultivation plans to drink with Wu Changming.
After three rounds of drinks, Wu Changming, slightly tipsy, patted Zhang Chen’s shoulder and said: "Kid, don’t be discouraged. So what if the Star God position is gone? It’s no big deal. Your Master, now that my spirit has entered the Spiritual World, can draw upon the mysterious energy within to strengthen myself and harvest potent medicines from within for cultivation. In less than ten years, my Yin Spirit Technique will be able to bear witness to the Yang God. Let me tell you, the mysterious power of the Spiritual World greatly benefits the soul, offering incredible advantages for soul cultivation. As long as you follow me to cultivate, with the Giant Peach and Ginseng Fruit and other great medicines I gathered from the Spiritual World, I can guarantee that one pill will send you straight to the heavens."
"Divine Spirit may be nice, but it’s restricted by domains and lacks freedom. And with the Great Virtuous Master holding the God Sealing Technique, all Divine Spirits are restrained by the Great Virtuous Master. What’s good about being a Divine Spirit? Yin Spirit Technique is the true path to enlightenment." Wu Changming, somewhat drunk, was venting his discontent with resentment in his voice.