After half a month, Li Ling discovered that spiritual energy was different from the martial arts true qi he had cultivated before, but it could do the same things as martial arts true qi. Moreover, spiritual energy was much purer and more active than true qi in the early stages of cultivation.
However, this does not mean that spiritual energy is superior to martial arts true energy. The two are essentially the same. When martial arts advance to the Golden Core realm and true energy transforms into magic power, the two are already the same. Only spiritual energy is superior to martial arts true energy at the starting point.
However, all paths lead to the same destination. Regardless of the method of cultivation, they are merely tools for pursuing the Great Way. It's like driving a car and taking a ferry; although the methods are different, they both lead to the same goal.
Li Ling pointed his fingers into a sword shape, aiming at an ancient tree in the distance. He channeled his spiritual power into his body as if it were true qi. With a 'whoosh', a sword qi shot out from his fingertips, and with a 'thud', a hole appeared in the ancient tree.
Li Ling glanced at the hole that pierced through the ancient tree that took three people to encircle, and after assessing the spiritual energy he had consumed, he knew that its power was much greater than that of true qi.
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Chapter 322: Senior Brother 'Qi Hao'
At this moment, a streak of light, like a rainbow, flew towards Li Ling's direction from afar.
A glint flashed in Li Ling's eyes... Flying on a sword! Completely free from Lin Xin's gravity, soaring freely through the sky...
After obtaining his natal magic weapon, the Qiankun Sword, Li Ling's physical body in the real world was able to fly by using his mental power to control the sword. However, his sword flight was fundamentally different from the sword flight in this world.
My own method of flying on a sword is more like controlling the sword with my spirit, while this world controls the sword with qi.
The requirements for flying on a sword are too demanding. Mental strength is a reward from the system, while controlling a sword with qi can be learned through cultivation.
Thinking of the freedom he felt when he flew with Ziyun on his sword in the real world, Li Ling became even more eager to cultivate the Taiji Xuanqing Dao.
At the same time, he thought of the Great Brahma Prajna that Zhang Fan now knew... and even the book. He was determined to get his hands on these teachings in the future.
The one who arrived on his sword was Cangsong. He landed directly beside Li Ling and asked, "A-Ling, how has your cultivation been lately?"
Li Ling bowed and said, "Reporting to Master, this disciple has completed the first level of the Taiji Xuanqing Dao."
"Alright, let me see!" Cangsong said, placing his hand on Li Ling's wrist. After a moment, he asked with slight curiosity, "A-Ling, how many cycles did you circulate the earth's spiritual energy into your body just now?"
Li Ling replied, "One hundred and eight weeks!"
A hint of surprise appeared in Cangsong's eyes. He said, "A-Ling, you are exceptionally talented. Your progress in cultivation is far faster than that of ordinary people. I went to great lengths to take you under my wing, believing you to be a peerless genius comparable to Ancestor Qingye. You have indeed not disappointed me."
"If an ordinary person were to cultivate the first level of the Taiji Xuanqing Dao, they would achieve success in three to five months and be able to circulate it for three to five cycles; after a year, they would be able to circulate it for thirty-six cycles and generate spiritual power within their body."
“But you completed a year’s worth of hard work in just half a month, and you even did it for 108 weeks. This is absolutely unprecedented in our Qingyun Sect.”
"Moreover, I just discovered that although your spiritual energy is not as pure as mine, it surpasses that of many beginners by a great margin. I'm afraid I've underestimated your talent!"
Li Ling wasn't actually too excited about this result. His body had fused with the bloodline of the Ancestral Witch Zhu Rong from his split soul, and had also absorbed the energy brought by the split soul, strengthening and transforming his body. It would be strange if he didn't show such a performance.
Cangsong looked at Li Ling with great joy, thinking to himself that he had really found a treasure this time. After calming down his excitement, he continued, "A-Ling, now that you have mastered the first level of Taiji Xuanqing Dao, I will pass on the incantation and mental method of the second level of Taiji Xuanqing Dao to you."
"After you go back, you can cultivate on your own. As your master, I am also responsible for managing the discipline of Qingyun Sect. I can only spare some time each day to guide you. If there is not enough time, you can also ask your senior brother Qi Hao."
"It would take an ordinary person at least five years to complete the cultivation of these two levels of mental techniques. I imagine you have spent no more than three months. After you have mastered the incantation for the second level, I will then teach you the incantation for the third level!"
"Yes, Master, I understand!"
At that moment, Cangsong carefully explained the incantation of the second level of Taiji Xuanqing Dao to Li Ling, and then gave a detailed explanation. By the time he finished teaching, the sky was already dark and the dew was heavy.
Looking up at the expression, Cangsong couldn't help but sigh: "I didn't expect you to be so talented, A-Ling. We've wasted quite a bit of time. Alright, let's go now!"
With that, Cangsong waved his long sleeves, and a beam of azure light enveloped Li Ling. The next moment, the two of them transformed into streaks of light and soared into the sky!
Cangsong moved very fast on his sword. Under the protection of his sword light, Li Ling not only had a stable footing, but he couldn't even feel the wind.
In the blink of an eye, the two arrived at a very large courtyard on Dragon Head Peak.
At this moment, a man in white stepped forward, bowed to the pine tree, and said, "Disciple greets Master."
This person was Qi Hao, the senior disciple of Dragon Head Peak. Because their residences were close by, Li Ling had seen Qi Hao every day for the past few days. However, he could sense that Qi Hao was somewhat averse to him.
Looking at Qi Hao, Li Ling's lips curled slightly. "Are you worried that after my cultivation improves, I'll compete with you for the position of the head of Dragon Head Peak? Hmph, do you really think I value this fleeting power as much as you do?"
"Hmm!" Looking at his other prized disciple, Cangsong smiled with satisfaction and said, "I originally planned to bring your junior brother here directly, so I had you wait here early."
"Who knew your junior brother had already completed the first level of Taiji Xuanqing Dao? So I explained the mental cultivation techniques for the second level to him, which took up a lot of time. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting!"
"Not at all, it's all what a disciple should do..." Qi Hao smiled kindly, about to speak, but his expression turned extremely ugly the next moment.
"Master, what?! Junior brother has already completed the first level of the Taiji Xuanqing Dao mental cultivation method? But I clearly remember that it's only been half a month since you taught me the first level's incantation, right?"
Cangsong didn't notice the unpleasant look on Qi Hao's face. He laughed smugly, "Hahahaha... Otherwise, why do you think I insisted on taking A-Ling under my wing? His talent is so high that I have never seen anything like it in my life."
At this point, Cangsong turned to Li Ling and instructed him, "Ling, your senior brother Qi Hao has been cultivating for many years. If you ever encounter any problems in your cultivation and cannot find your master, you can also come to your senior brother Qi for guidance!"
"Yes, disciple has remembered." Li Ling replied respectfully to Cangsong.
Then he looked at Qi Hao. In fact, Li Ling also admired Qi Hao to some extent.
As the protagonist, Zhang Fan is very popular, and almost every woman with a name in the book has some degree of admiration for him.
Zhang Fan's secret crush, his senior sister Tian Ling'er, who was also his first love, was forcibly married by this senior brother Qi and made the head of Dragon Head Peak as his wife.
The supporting character actually stole the protagonist's woman—that's incredibly impressive!
Li Ling smiled and said, "Senior Brother Qi has taken great care of me these past few days. I thank you very much!"
"Alright, alright, senior brother will certainly not hold anything back!" Qi Hao politely greeted Li Ling, then confirmed with Cang Song, "Master, has Junior Brother Li truly completed the first level of the Taiji Xuanqing Dao mental cultivation method?"
"Of course! Would your master lie to you?" Cangsong smiled and praised, "Your junior brother has already drawn in Qi in just half a month, and the spiritual energy has circulated in his body one hundred and eight times."