Eternal Life: Hundredfold Rewards-Chapter 33 - 32: Gathering Essence Pill, Advancement Speed

Chapter 33: Chapter 32: Gathering Essence Pill, Advancement Speed
Half a month later, Wind Moon Sect, inner sect.
Among the mountains surrounding Wind Moon Lake, at a cliffside on an Inner Sect Spirit Peak, there was a Tier One Upper Grade Cave Mansion.
Although the Cave Mansion looked generally simple and rough, all the essential amenities were present, providing sufficient support for common cultivation.
In a stone chamber, Qi Chuan sat cross-legged on the bed, assuming a cultivation posture, as strands of spiritual qi separated from the void and flowed like mist through his nostrils and pores into his body.
The speed of this spiritual qi flow was incomparable to when Qi Chuan cultivated on his own independent peak in Red Maple Valley back then, clearly showcasing the effect brought by the Tier One Upper Grade Cave Mansion.
In this entire Cave Mansion, and even the entire Spirit Peak, only the spiritual qi concentration of this stone chamber reached the Tier One Upper Grade level.
Most other places only had Tier One Lower Grade.
Even so, it still lived up to the name of Tier One Upper Grade Cave Mansion.
"Hoo..."
A moment later, Qi Chuan opened his eyes and exhaled a white qi sword from his mouth.
[You operate the Evergreen Technique, absorb spiritual qi, refine medicinal power, and convert it into your own mana, triggering an eightfold critical strike, gaining eight times the harvest, slightly increasing your total mana.]
As Qi Chuan opened his eyes, a familiar line of text appeared before him.
Gazing at the text, Qi Chuan smiled faintly, then closed his eyes to sense his body’s dantian with spiritual sense, feeling the total amount of mana within.
"Hmm, not bad, this hour of cultivation has increased my total mana more significantly compared to before. It seems this Gathering Essence Pill is indeed much better than the family’s Spirit Tempering Pill."
Qi Chuan slightly nodded with opened eyes.
Since moving into this Tier One Upper Grade Cave Mansion half a month ago, Qi Chuan spent a few days familiarizing himself with the inner sect surroundings.
Then, he went to the Pill Pavilion of the Wind Moon Sect’s inner sect, exchanged five suitable Gathering Essence Pills for Qi Refining Middle Stage, and cultivated in this Tier One Upper Grade Cave Mansion using the Gathering Essence Pill.
Compared to the Qi Family’s Spirit Tempering Pill, this Gathering Essence Pill was much more expensive, costing ten Lower Grade Spirit Stones for one. Exchanging five left Qi Chuan with only about twenty Lower Grade Spirit Stones in his possession.
And the Qi Family’s Spirit Tempering Pill costs only five Lower Grade Spirit Stones, making it nearly twice as expensive.
However, the Gathering Essence Pill benefits in cultivation speed increase, one-third faster than the Spirit Tempering Pill.
This considerably one-third increase is astonishing; if Wind Moon Sect were to open for sale, many cultivation clans outside would be willing to exchange many spirit stones for a single Gathering Essence Pill.
Unfortunately, the Gathering Essence Pill is only exchangeable within Wind Moon Sect’s inner sect and has a certain limit, preventing this possibility.
However, if there were indeed inner sect disciples willing to slow their own cultivation, save some Gathering Essence Pills, and sell them outside, it wouldn’t be impossible, yet few would do this.
"At this rate of mana increase, perhaps in another year and a half, I can advance to Qi Refining Fifth Layer?"
Qi Chuan measured his cultivation speed.
After advancing to Qi Refining Middle Stage, progressing from Qi Layer 4 to Qi Layer 6, there are no bottlenecks; once the mana total meets the standard, one can advance.
With the dense spiritual qi in this Tier One Upper Grade Cave Mansion and the assistance of the Gathering Essence Pill, Qi Chuan’s cultivation speed, which should slow after advancing to the middle stage, instead may accelerate to break through sooner than expected.
A year and a half, even calculating from initially entering the Qi Fourth Layer and adding the previous months, totals less than two years.
To progress from initially entering Qi Fourth Layer to advancing to Qi Fifth Layer in less than two years?
This cultivation speed, when spread, would astonish many.
"At this rate of advancement, reaching Qi Refining Late Stage before thirty shouldn’t be a problem; even without joining True Inheritance, I can stay in the inner sect until fifty."
"Of course, this is the worst-case scenario; perhaps before thirty, I’ll pass the True Inheritance selection and become a True Disciple?"
Qi Chuan thought.
Whether the best or worst, Qi Chuan was much better off than ordinary inner sect disciples.
In Wind Moon Sect’s inner sect, there are many disciples.
Not only are there newly entered cultivation clan disciples like Qi Chuan, but also many veteran disciples.
A few days ago, Qi Chuan went outside for distraction and heard that Wind Moon Sect’s disciple recruitment was thoroughly completed.
They recruited some servant disciples and outer sect disciples, and even inner sect disciples, attracting a few talented ones from loose cultivators who caught Wind Moon Sect’s eye.
edly, one named Li Qingshan, also possessing Upper Third Grade Spirit Root, though started cultivation late, now eighteen, with Qi Refining Fourth Layer cultivation.
Yet, with their inherent spirit roots, presenting an investment opportunity, Wind Moon Sect included them in the inner sect.
With such qualification entering the inner sect and receiving inner sect resources, progressing to Qi Refining Late Stage before thirty is hopeful, with potential to become True Inheritance in the future.
Wind Moon Sect’s history includes some fortunate loose cultivators eventually joining and reaching True Inheritance.
"But ultimately, in the inner sect, regardless of new disciples, veteran disciples, clan disciples, or loose cultivator backgrounds, it’s irrelevant to me however complicated or simple it is."
"All I need is to endeavor to cultivate as usual, then when my cultivation is sufficient and the True Inheritance quota becomes available, try participating."
"If unsuccessful once, then take part in the next selection; there’s always a time for success; overall, True Inheritance isn’t an issue."
Shaking his head slightly, dispelling some thoughts, after calming down, Qi Chuan resumed operating the Evergreen Technique.
[You operate the Evergreen Technique, absorb spiritual qi, refine medicinal power, and convert it into your own mana, triggering a sevenfold critical strike, gaining seven times the harvest, slightly increasing your total mana.]
...
In the blink of an eye, three months passed.
On this day, Qi Chuan walked out of his Tier One Upper Grade Cave Mansion.
After exiting, he picked up his Cave Mansion Token, injected a bit of mana into it, and waved it slightly, causing a light beam to shoot into the Cave Mansion.
Instantly, formation light patterns rose around the Cave Mansion, enveloping the entire Cave Mansion and half of the mountainside.
This is the Cave Mansion’s own protective array, which can even shield spiritual sense; besides Qi Chuan, no one else can intrude.
Although, thanks to Qi Chuan’s current destitute state, the interior of the Cave Mansion hasn’t changed from when he first arrived.
"It’s about time to head out."
Gazing at the activated formation light, Qi Chuan murmured.
Since entering the inner sect of Wind Moon Sect, he immersed himself in cultivation for several months, increasing his mana significantly and advancing within the Qi Refining Fourth Layer.
Furthermore, through occasional practice, his basic Five Elements Magic, including Golden Skin Technique, Earth Wall Technique, and Wood Vine Technique, all reached the Great Success level, unlike before when only Fireball Technique and Water Arrow Technique reached Great Success.
However, with Wind Moon Sect’s inner sect requiring disciples to complete three tasks a year, Qi Chuan had to head out to complete one such task.
Then, Qi Chuan turned to leave his Cave Mansion and proceed to the Task Hall located within the inner sect.
The location of the Task Hall wasn’t far from Qi Chuan’s own Cave Mansion, merely a few mountain peaks away, quickly reachable at Qi Chuan’s current pace.
On the mountain peak, there stood a tall building, the Task Hall, with figures appearing around it, descending from the sky and entering the Task Hall. These were disciples with Flying Magical Artifacts; fewer in number.
Most disciples without Flying Magical Artifacts, just like Qi Chuan, walked there.
Though at Qi Refining cultivation, one can use Floating Technique for brief flight, it’s mana-consuming, so cultivators typically conserve mana and avoid unnecessary use.
In the inner sect, many disciples were scattered; the Task Hall, however, was quite bustling.
Because these inner sect disciples, unlike Qi Chuan, possessing the Hundredfold Critical Strike, needed regular elixir support for cultivation, requiring more resources.
Not only would they complete the three annual sect task requirements, but in pursuit of faster cultivation breakthroughs and enhancing personal strength skills, they would often overextend themselves, take numerous tasks, obtaining resources, enduring hardship.
Even disciples from cultivation clans did similarly, except for individuals like Ye Liang from the Ye Family with great family power and Upper Third Grade Spirit Root, who might receive considerable resource investment.
With a Golden Finger, Qi Chuan typically just completed the three annual tasks, barely sufficient for cultivation.