Chapter 51: First Floor

Humans possess three Dantians. At first glance, it would seem perfectly reasonable to dedicate one cultivation method to each, dividing resources equally.

However, in reality, cultivating multiple methods simultaneously is exceedingly difficult.

This is because the three Dantians are not unrelated or completely independent. They are all part of the cultivator's body, and they influence each other.

For example, if one Dantain cultivates an ice-based art, the other two Dantians will also be greatly affected, subtly shifting in that direction.

If, at this time, the other two Dantians are cultivating different arts, it's akin to pulling the body in three different directions. Sooner or later, it will tear apart. This often manifests as interference and conflict between magical power, vital essence, or spiritual will, even resulting in backlash and Qi deviation.

How can one judge the quality of a cultivation method?

It's simple.

Assess how many Dantians the method trains, to what extent it trains them, and how efficient the cultivation is.

Inferior methods often only focus on one Dantain, completely neglecting the others, and often leave behind side effects.

Ordinary methods primarily cultivate one Dantain but have no harmful drawbacks.

Slightly superior methods cultivate one Dantain while providing some care for the other two.

Excellent and outstanding methods primarily cultivate one Dantain while significantly considering another, or addressing both other Dantians to some degree.

Exceptional methods, also known as the supreme techniques of great sects, focus on cultivating two Dantians while tending to the last one.

This is purely considering the cultivation method itself.

The actual situation can involve other factors and is extremely complex!

For example, the demonic cultivator Han Ming cultivates two methods.

One is the Nine Revolutions Soul-Devouring Art, which primarily cultivates her Middle and Upper Dantians.

She also cultivates the Immortal Corpse Genesis Grand Art, which cultivates the Lower Dantain.

Ordinary cultivators cannot emulate her approach of cultivating two methods simultaneously. It would cause the zombified parts of the body to interfere with the Nine Revolutions Soul-Devouring Art's power, leading to reduced efficiency at best and Qi deviation at worst.

Han Ming can do this entirely due to her inferior natural talent—Yin Corpse Qi.

Cultivators all possess spiritual roots, but not all cultivators possess natural talent.

The influence of natural talent involves countless aspects and permeates the cultivator's entire cultivation career, significantly affecting Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and Refinement of Emptiness stages.

Although Ning Zhuo only obtained the first three layers of the methods, he is a living library, so he has discerning eyes.

He is certain that these three methods are extremely outstanding.

"A cultivator can cultivate these three methods simultaneously, and the resulting essence, Qi, and spirit can coexist harmoniously!"

"The key is that this harmonious coexistence does not depend on natural talent. As long as one has basic spiritual roots and cultivation eligibility, one can cultivate them."

"This is definitely a top-tier method!"

The excitement in Ning Zhuo's heart even moistened his eyes slightly.

"Mother, as you said, I obtained the Qi Refining methods of the Magma Immortal Palace."

"The real methods are even more outstanding than you imagined, practically perfect."

"I will cultivate all of them."

His mother's last words had long been etched deeply in the young man's heart. His mother's expectations had become a mission, a responsibility, challenging Ning Zhuo's unwillingness to be ordinary and defiance of his fate!

…

Meng Chong is also taking on a challenge.

To improve his abilities, he specifically designed a training hall.

After activating the Mad Dash Lightning Bolt, he continuously weaves through the obstacle-filled training hall.

Bang, bang, bang…

The sounds of him colliding with obstacles are incessant, echoing in the hall.

"I can do it!"

"I definitely can do it."

Meng Chong occasionally stops, panting and sweating profusely. But his eyes are shining brightly, and he refuses to relax for even a moment.

Soon, he resumes his special training.

…

The Zhou Family.

"I did it, A-Shen." Zhou Zhu emerged from the As-You-Wish Spiritual Tide Formation. He is now at the peak of the third layer of Qi Refining.

Zhou Zeshen nodded, "Da-Zhu, you really are something!"

Zhou Zhu: "If there hadn't been interruptions, I would have cultivated even faster. Meng Chong wasn't bothered by assassins; he must have cultivated even faster than I did."

"Of the four great families of Immortal City, only the Ning Family hasn't been attacked."

Zhou Zeshen shook his head, "Are you trying to say that the Ning Family is behind it? Even if there's no evidence, I don't think it's necessarily true."

"If the Ning Family were truly worried about falling behind, they wouldn't have taken their time selecting people to change their cultivation."

"In the end, the Ning Family is still in last place, and the City Lord's Manor still maintains its first place advantage. Personally, I think the latter is more likely!"

"That makes sense." Zhou Zhu nodded. Just as he was about to speak, his eyes suddenly rolled back.

Thud.

He fell to the ground, unconscious.

Zhou Zeshen was shocked, "Da-Zhu, what's wrong?"

"His soul!"

"Where's your soul?"

"Someone, someone!"

"Enemy attack, another enemy attack!!"

With Zhou Zeshen's warning, the entire Zhou Family was alarmed and thrown into chaos.

Magma Immortal Palace, main hall.

Dragon-Turtle Fire Spirit cowered, enduring the lashes.

Room Number One.

Zhou Zhu fumbled for a long time before finally remembering to circulate the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art and draw over the mechanical parts.

He took too long.

He was about to reach the door when his spiritual power was exhausted, and the puppet body fell powerlessly to the ground.

Failure.

The returning Zhou Zhu brought back first-hand valuable intelligence.

That night, the Zhou Family's high-level members were sleepless.

Zhou Zeshen dispersed his cultivation overnight.

…

Ning Zhuo ate and drank heartily, his stomach visibly bulging.

He closed his eyes, stood up straight, and secretly circulated the method—Demonic Blood Tendon Art!

His vital essence was strengthened, blood Qi circulated faster, permeating into the tendons, causing them to thicken at a visible speed.

Essence Refining, First Layer!

Soon, Ning Zhuo felt hungry.

…

The Zheng Family.

"Oh?" Zheng Jian, during a break, heard some information, "Zhou Zhu of the Zhou Family was attacked again?"

"Therefore, to prevent accidents, more people will be dispatched around the Refinement Room recently, under strict protection," the servant reported.

Zheng Jian frowned, inexplicably feeling that there was something fishy about this information.

"Never mind, I'm already at the second layer of Qi Refining. I'll work harder and reach the peak of the third layer." Zheng Jian continued to cultivate diligently.

He sat cross-legged on a prayer mat, continuously accumulating magical power, with several hook-shaped magical artifacts hovering and circling around him.

…

Ning Zhuo also sat on a prayer mat, with an incense stick burning in front of him.

This was calming incense, to help him cultivate the Mirror Platform Spiritual Sense Art.

This method could increase his spirit sea, deepening the foundation of his spiritual sea.

After one incense stick burned, the divine thought in Ning Zhuo's Upper Dantain increased by more than six hundred units, an astonishing efficiency.

"I ate a lot of Golden Silk Jade Dew Cakes before, so I already had a strong foundation. This time, relying on the Mirror Platform Spiritual Sense Art, I'm gradually developing it, making my spiritual sea cultivation improve quite significantly."

With a hint of joy, Ning Zhuo stopped resting and continued to cultivate diligently.

Spirit Refining, First Layer!

After reaching the first layer, in the Upper Dantain, divine thoughts gathered to form a spiritual mirror.

Through this spiritual mirror, Ning Zhuo could communicate with spiritual beings in Heaven and Earth.

The more intelligent a life is, the more spiritual it is.

Humans are the spirit of all things.

"The spirit of the Magma Immortal Palace is also a spiritual being. Can I communicate with it?" Ning Zhuo thought.