Volume 5 Chapter 52
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Volume 5 Chapter 52: Progress (Part 3)
Although Xu Qingfan has various ideas for improving the "Wind of Desolation," truly mastering either the "Wind of the Holy Spirit" or the "Wind of Destruction" requires a long period of experimentation and gradual exploration.
The "Wind of the Holy Spirit" is relatively straightforward, as it can be performed using the original methods of the "Wind of Desolation" without incorporating "Withered qi." However, the much more powerful "Wind of Destruction" is far from simple, requiring careful experiments to determine how much "Withered qi" should be mixed into the "Wind of the Holy Spirit" and when it should be incorporated.
Without practice, an idea remains just an idea.
Xu Qingfan is not someone who only daydreams. After making his decision, he sat quietly for a while to calm his weary mind and then began to explore in his heart the operation and execution methods of the "Wind of Life and Death."
Before meditating, Xu Qingfan deliberately glanced at Little Black, who was absorbing the death energy within the strange skull in front of him, only to find that Little Black looked the same as he had two years ago, still suspended in mid-air. Guided by the "Death Spirit Pearl," the skull continuously released a vast amount of death energy, with the surrounding black death energy churning nonstop, while Little Black ceaselessly absorbed it within the black mist, as if the death energy in the skull was endless and Little Black could never be satisfied.
If Xu Qingfan were to remain in seclusion for these twelve years while Little Black constantly absorbs the death energy, what will Little Black ultimately become?
Xu Qingfan gently shook his head and stopped thinking, finally closing his eyes slowly.
As Xu Qingfan meditated, the "Flourish Qi," "Withered qi," and "Phoenix Spirit Qi" within him began to circulate under his thoughts. Gradually, a breeze appeared around him, swirling constantly around Xu Qingfan. Although the wind grew stronger over several days, becoming a gale that lifted him off the ground while he sat cross-legged, it seemed strangely intelligent, imbued with a divine aura, glowing with a soft white light.
Under the radiance of this white light, Xu Qingfan’s face in the wind appeared even more solemn.
The gale surrounding Xu Qingfan was, in fact, part of the "Wind of Life and Death," known as the "Wind of the Holy Spirit."
Xu Qingfan, through this wind, didn’t know how much time had passed — whether it was days or seasons changing. He repeatedly tried to merge the "Withered qi" into the "Wind of the Holy Spirit," without success, causing the wind to become chaotic and nearly dissipate. Thus, he proceeded with even greater caution.
At last, after a long period of exploration, Xu Qingfan gradually mastered the proportions and timing of merging "Flourish Qi," "Withered qi," and "Phoenix Spirit Qi" when using the "Wind of Destruction," yet he remained uncertain.
"Whether it succeeds or fails, I’ll try."
With this thought, Xu Qingfan began to slowly merge the three Spirit Qi according to the method he had developed. Suddenly, the gale surrounding him, glowing slightly white, became uncontrollable with black light flickering within it. The "Wind of Destruction" took shape, but the wind extended beyond the initial three-foot radius, sweeping everything in the room. Despite Xu Qingfan’s efforts to control it, the wind grew stronger, threatening to destroy the entire room. In a panic, Xu Qingfan poured all his strength into directing the wind towards the ground.
"Boom…"
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At this moment, outside Xu Qingfan’s secluded room, Ting’er was explaining to Zhang Ningmei some doubts about her cultivation journey, while nearby, Bai Yu was practicing the martial arts passed down in Xu Family Village. With his body being refined by the Metal and Earth Spirit Qi, each punch and kick carried the weight of earth and the sharpness of metal, creating a fierce and powerful display.
Meanwhile, Little Green was lazily lying at a distance, occasionally glancing at Ting’er, who was speaking softly with Zhang Ningmei, and then at Bai Yu, who was energetically practicing and shouting.
At this point, it had been three years since Xu Qingfan went into seclusion. With the help of many spiritual herbs given by Xu Qingfan, Bai Yu had reached the initial stage of Inedia, while Zhang Ningmei’s cultivation reached the peak of the Qi Refining Stage. Although their remarkable progress was assisted by Xu Qingfan’s herbs, their hard work could not be overlooked.
On the other hand, Ting’er remained at the early Fake Golden Core stage, with little progress. She had to split her attention to care for both Zhang Ningmei and Bai Yu. Unlike Xu Qingfan, she did not have Spirit Qi sealed within her body to release as she advanced, so after reaching the Condensed Core Stage, Ting’er’s progress slowed down like most cultivators in the cultivation world.
Suddenly, a loud rumbling sound erupted from Xu Qingfan’s room. Despite several barriers around the room, including sound-blocking ones, the sound was so overpowering that it left the three people and one beast with ringing ears.
As the rumbling occurred, the ground shook violently, as if the world was collapsing, leaving Bai Yu, who was practicing martial arts and constantly jumping, unable to stand firmly as he fell to the ground.
The three of them stared in shock towards Xu Qingfan’s room, but strangely, despite the powerful sound and earth-shaking force suggesting a severe explosion, Xu Qingfan’s room remained standing, albeit more rundown from the tremors.
After the shaking subsided, Ting’er’s expression changed dramatically, and she rushed towards Xu Qingfan’s secluded room. Seeing the barrier outside, black flames ignited in her hands, ready to forcibly break through the barrier.
Zhang Ningmei knew Ting’er was worried about Xu Qingfan’s safety after the explosion, but she quickly stepped in front of Ting’er and said urgently, "Elder martial sister Ting’er, calm down. Master will be fine."
Seeing that Ting’er wasn’t listening and continued to rush towards Xu Qingfan’s room, Zhang Ningmei grew more anxious and pointed to the barriers outside Xu Qingfan’s room, saying, "These barriers were set up by Master himself. Since they haven’t disappeared, it means he’s fine. Forcing your way in might disturb him."
Hearing Zhang Ningmei’s words, Ting’er finally calmed down and hesitated, looking at Xu Qingfan’s room as if she was deciding whether to go in and check on him.
In fact, Ting’er understood everything Zhang Ningmei was saying, but her concern clouded her judgment.
In the end, persuaded by Zhang Ningmei, Ting’er did not force her way into Xu Qingfan’s room, but she lost all desire to instruct Zhang Ningmei and Bai Yu in cultivation, instead sitting quietly outside Xu Qingfan’s room, watching it closely, fearing another accident might occur.
She sat there for an entire month until she was sure that nothing else would happen during Xu Qingfan’s seclusion, and only then did she gradually return to normal.
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Meanwhile, Xu Qingfan was inside the damaged room, shaking his head with a wry smile.
In front of him was a deep, unfathomable hole, about ten feet in diameter.
After repeated attempts, "Wind of Destruction" was finally mastered by Xu Qingfan, but he found that, apart from controlling the general direction, he couldn’t manage the finer details at all.
The "Wind of Destruction" is based on the powerful destructive force created by the conflict between "Flourish Qi" and "Withered Qi." Although powerful, it is extremely chaotic, and Xu Qingfan was naive to think he could control it like the "Wind of Desolation."
The benefit is that the power of the "Wind of Destruction" exceeded Xu Qingfan’s expectations, as evidenced by the bottomless pit in front of him.
Based on Xu Qingfan’s assessment, the depth of this pit is at least fifty meters.
It is important to note that the ground beneath Xu Qingfan’s house consists of the hardest rock.
Just now, to prevent the "Wind of Destruction" from causing more havoc, Xu Qingfan quickly redirected its attack towards the ground beneath him, resulting in the dramatic pit before him. Among all the supernatural abilities and other attack methods Xu Qingfan could use, this was the most powerful.
Xu Qingfan studied the pit for a long while, a wry smile playing at his lips as he began to tidy up the house. He felt a lingering fear as well, thinking that if he hadn’t reacted in time when the power of the "Wind of Destruction" fully unleashed, his entire dwelling and his three disciples, except for Ting’er, would have been torn apart by the chaotic wind. Even Ting’er would have been critically injured, needing years to recover.
At this moment, the power of the "Wind of Destruction" was confined to just the space of one room. Although Xu Qingfan’s quick reaction played a role, he couldn’t help but feel it was a lucky escape.
