Translator: CinderTL
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In the apartment.
The frequency of the investigations had decreased.
He had been back for three days, without any disturbances.
Li Chunjun sat cross-legged on a soft mat, quietly sensing any subtle changes in the surroundings.
The wind's touch on his skin.
The warmth emanating from his body.
The chill's encroachment upon himself.
Everything, everything, was clear and vivid.
This level of perception was unparalleled.
But after a long while, Li Chunjun stopped.
"Vital energy."
He spoke these two words.
Heaven and earth's vital energy!
Whether one is a Qi cultivation practitioner, a body refining practitioner, or even a sword practitioner who takes a different path, they all revolve around a crucial point.
Drawing energy into the body.
Qi practitioners sense the spiritual energy of heaven and earth through their spiritual roots to cross this barrier.
Body refining practitioners need to use special formations to guide the vital energy back into their bodies, forcing it in through their innate state to achieve a harmonious connection between heaven and man, and then forcibly draw energy into the body.
Innate!
When a martial artist rotates their inner energy through the small circulations in the body, they can open the bridge to the vast outer world and achieve the mysterious state of heaven and man unity.
This step is the innate stage.
Right now...
He was able to sense subtle external changes.
This mystery was not below that of the innate state.
In fact, the two states could be said to differ: one was a return from acquired to innate, while he...
Seemed like a true innate being.
In that "complete" state, it seemed as if he inherently possessed all the mysteries of an innate life form, and so had already achieved this step long ago.
Yet even after reaching the innate state, he still could not forcibly draw energy into his body to refine his physique.
Li Chunjun recalled the contents of the Martial Dao Innate True Explanation.
Using immortal formations to guide the vital energy back into the body, refining the physique, and stepping into the path of body cultivation.
"Immortal formations."
Li Chunjun muttered.
Even when a martial artist reaches the innate stage, to complete the transformation from a martial artist to a practitioner, they still require the assistance of immortal formations.
This assistance...
Requires an immortal spiritual gathering formation to compress and concentrate the vital energy of heaven and earth, helping the innate martial artist take the most crucial step.
Alternatively, he could acquire rare heavenly treasures containing abundant energy, using medicinal baths to achieve the same result.
Everything begins with difficulty.
Once this step is taken, he could continue cultivating on his own.
It's just that, with immortal formations and heavenly treasures, the effects would be better.
However...
Compared to the immortal spiritual gathering formation, treasures that can help an innate martial artist complete their transformation into a practitioner are undeniably far rarer.
"The process of an innate martial artist drawing heaven and earth's vital energy into the body is fraught with dangers. It could be described as life-threatening. Unless one has immortal pills to protect them, they would be in grave danger."
This was described in the Body Cultivation Foundation Art manual.
For ordinary innate practitioners, even if they have the opportunity to use the spiritual gathering formation, only about 10-20% would successfully transform.
Those who fail might explode and die.
Thus, even a sect like the Chiyang Sword Sect, which has special pills to cultivate Integration Realm Martial Artists, still cannot increase the number of body cultivators.
Body cultivation is tough enough; how much more so for sword cultivators.
"Sword cultivators refine their swords with the vital energy of heaven and earth, but the essence of the sword still comes from the cultivator's own body. The stronger the body, the more essence it can produce, resulting in a stronger sword and one that can hold more vital energy for refinement, forging a stronger sword energy."
In a way, the essence sword replaces the cultivator's spiritual root and bears the vital energy of heaven and earth for refining.
Vital energy, essence, sword energy.
Vital energy, spiritual roots, magical power.
When compared this way, it's no wonder sword cultivators, refining sword energy, can rival Qi cultivators who nurture magical power.
Though their transformations are less complex than Qi cultivators' spells, in terms of combat prowess, sword cultivators far exceed them.
"The difficulty of cultivation is too great. Essence is the foundation of life. Using vital energy to refine the invisible sword energy made from essence, any mistake could harm the cultivator. Minor injuries could cause regression, while severe losses of essence could lead to death."
Li Chunjun chose this path because he had an innate advantage no one else had.
His life essence was much more substantial than that of other practitioners.
It was easy for him to condense sword energy from essence.
On top of that...
With every increase in his life level, he could fully restore any essence lost during the sword energy refinement process.
This advantage was truly exceptional!
He was the very embodiment of the innate sword cultivator's sacred body!
"Theoretically, I should first refine my body with the power of heaven and earth, strengthening my physique and essence, and only then begin gathering sword energy and walk the path of sword cultivation. However, I cannot access immortal formations or heavenly treasures right now. I am stuck at the stage of drawing vital energy into the body..."
Li Chunjun thought about the meaning of formations and heavenly treasures.
These external objects were to assist him in drawing energy into his body for the first time.
It was like a sudden leap from 0 to 1.
But if his understanding of the innate state were deep enough, perhaps he could complete this step without external assistance, just like Qi cultivators who possess spiritual roots.
Just as he had previously speculated.
If level 11 doesn't work, then level 12. If 12 doesn't work, then 13, 14!
He would eventually break through.
The only difference was the time it would take.
...
"Time."
The next day, Li Chunjun opened his eyes.
He silently repeated this word.
This was the conclusion he had come to after reflecting on his situation the night before.
He needed time.
Could he wait?
No!
He couldn't wait!
What did time mean to him?
Li Chunjun got up and washed his face.
Half an hour later, he was ready.
According to the information from Huang Shang, Jin Zhiya was awaiting the second assessment.
Once she passed, she would become a formal disciple of the Chiyang Sword Sect.
At that time, if he killed Jin Zhiya, he would have to face the entire Chiyang Sword Sect's pursuit.
The entire Chiyang Sword Sect?
That was an exaggeration. At most, a few law enforcement disciples would come after him.
But...
He would never sit idly by!
In the end, either the law enforcement disciples would die, or he would.
He would never allow himself to die on the path to immortality!
Therefore, the law enforcement disciples had to die.
As more and more law enforcement disciples became casualties at his hands, facing the entire Chiyang Sword Sect's pursuit would no longer be an empty threat!
It would circle back to the starting point.
Either he would die, or the Chiyang Sword Sect would perish.
And he would do whatever it took to survive!
Therefore, to avoid a vicious cycle and unnecessary death,
It would be best to kill Jin Zhiya before she became a formal disciple of the Chiyang Sword Sect.
This would be for the good of the Chiyang Sword Sect.
TL/N: Damn, I love that confidence…
"Let's visit the Chiyang Sword Sect!"
Li Chunjun said in a deep voice.
He began to prepare his supplies.
Half an hour later, he packed everything into a long hiking bag and slung it over his shoulder.
He put on a hat, sunglasses, and a mask, then left the apartment.
As he descended the stairs, he headed toward the roadside, intending to take a taxi straight to the Chiyang Sword Sect.
However, when passing by a small shop converted from a newsstand, he stopped.
His gaze fell on the wanted posters hanging on the wall.
There were dozens of faces.
His face wasn't among them, but it reminded him that he was still under a nationwide wanted order.
He had been hiding and traveling only during the night to avoid detection.
But now, to take the regular route, traveling across thousands of miles...
It was almost impossible not to be discovered.
Unless he walked.
(End of the Chapter)
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