Chapter 403

Chapter 403: The Essence of Mining?

However, the appearance of this name still made Ji Yang feel a bit uneasy.

If he remembered correctly, the breathing technique was usually used by Sensing stage cultivators to sense and absorb spiritual energy from the heavens and earth, which was the first step in cultivation.

But now that he was already in the Late Spirit Transformation stage, didn’t this breathing technique come a bit too late?

It was like he had already achieved immortality, and then the system suddenly issued a task for him to teach a lesson to a Qi Refinement stage senior brother who had bullied him.

Ji Yang patiently sorted through the newly acquired breathing technique in his mind.

As he organized his thoughts, his expression shifted from unease to astonishment, then joy.

This was indeed a breathing technique, but it was not meant for Sensing stage cultivators to absorb spiritual energy; rather, it was for high-level cultivators to sense the essence of the Way.

Upon realizing the true purpose of the Xuantian Breathing Technique, Ji Yang’s heart surged with excitement.

This was not just a breathing technique; this was a method for achieving immortality!

Although he already had corresponding techniques for achieving immortality, if he couldn’t comprehend the essence of the Way, he wouldn’t be able to break through to the Unity with the Dao stage.

Now that he had this Xuantian Breathing Technique, he didn’t have to worry about understanding the essence of the Way.

According to the introduction of this breathing technique, after mastering it, Ji Yang would be able to sense the heavens and earth at any time and condense the essence of the Way.

Though he didn’t know how effective it would be, just this one effect was enough to make other cultivators scramble for it.

Now, with cultivators from the Major Sects gathered in the Ancient Realm of Yuan Kong, wasn’t it all for the essence of the Way?

Not only the Void Refinement stage cultivator, but even those in the Unity with the Dao stage and higher levels had a corresponding need for their own essence of the Way. If they encountered a similar essence of the Way, they could make significant progress in their cultivation, but those cultivators couldn’t enter the secret realm.

With this breathing technique in hand, Ji Yang found that the Ancient Realm of Yuan Kong no longer attracted him as strongly as before.

He no longer needed to exhaust himself searching for the essence of the Way; he could simply cultivate silently to comprehend it.

He never expected such good fortune could happen to him.

Ji Yang smiled, feeling that the future was full of promise!

Then Ji Yang put away the Mine Spirit he had in hand, preparing to test the Xuantian Breathing Technique and see its actual effects.

Ji Yang sat cross-legged on the ground, closed his eyes slightly, and silently operated the Xuantian Breathing Technique in his mind.

As the breathing technique began to work, the mine instantly fell silent, the surroundings void of sound, with Ji Yang sitting still like a mountain.

After a stick of incense, Ji Yang opened his eyes slightly, as if he had gained some insight.

After a cup of tea, Ji Yang showed a contemplative expression and nodded slightly.

After a quarter of an hour, Ji Yang’s brow furrowed, his expression puzzled.

After an hour, Ji Yang suddenly stood up, cursing,

"Damn it, what is this?"

After standing up, Ji Yang rubbed his fingers, carefully examining the breathing technique in his mind again.

Clearly, he had followed the instructions, but after an hour, he had not comprehended anything.

Could it be that he lacked talent?

But he was still considered to possess Heaven’s Jealousy, and he had made considerable achievements in techniques; logically, there should be no major issues with practicing this breathing technique.

In an instant, Ji Yang fell into confusion.

He knew that this seemingly bountiful technique could not be as simple as it was described.

After thinking for a long time without a solution, Ji Yang decided to stop pondering. The breathing technique was still in his mind, and he could study it at any time, so there was no need to rush.

Moreover, instead of relying on this breathing technique, it would be better to mine first and accumulate some cultivation points.

He remembered that there was still plenty of high-quality secret silver ore yet to be mined ahead.

Thinking this way, Ji Yang took out his iron pick and walked through the mine tunnel back to the empty area he had not yet explored.

Once Ji Yang returned, the secret silver mine came into view.

The Red Fire Ants that had originally filled the nests had long since scattered, revealing the high-quality secret silver ore around him, with shimmering silver glimmers on the stone walls and overhead.

The secret silver ore that the Red Fire Ants had moved before was clearly brought in from other areas of the mine.

By leaving so much high-quality secret silver ore in the nest untouched and seeking resources from afar, Ji Yang could only say that the queen ant understood resource distribution, but now it had benefited him.

Since the queen ant was reluctant to use it, he would!

Ji Yang picked up the iron pick and walked toward the nearest secret silver ore.

Cultivation +1

In the instant he mined it so easily, Ji Yang gained another cultivation point.

This was far easier than before.

Cultivation +1

Cultivation +1

…

As he absorbed more Blue Light Points, Ji Yang’s mining speed increased rapidly.

However, when Ji Yang moved to a new mining spot and looked down at the exposed secret silver ore, preparing to swing his iron pick, he suddenly hesitated.

It seemed that this strike with the pick would not be perfect; the tip would touch the edge of the secret silver ore, causing it to break.

If he started at a 45-degree angle from above and tilted 15 degrees to the southeast while applying slight force, would that create a more perfect result?

As the thought formed in his mind, he moved his body accordingly.

Ji Yang followed the idea that suddenly emerged in his mind and swung the iron pick toward the secret silver ore below.

"Clang."

With a crisp sound, a complete piece of secret silver ore broke free from the stone wall.

Ji Yang’s strike was just right, even avoiding digging up excess dirt.

Looking at the intact secret silver ore beneath him, Ji Yang froze in surprise, not even collecting the Blue Light Points he had just mined, but standing there in a daze.

That wonderful feeling from before was faintly present, and Ji Yang murmured,

"Is this the essence of the Way?"

Although it was a question, Ji Yang spoke with a tone of certainty.

The rapid operation of the Xuantian Breathing Technique in his body confirmed this point.

It turned out that the breathing technique wasn’t useless; he had simply approached it incorrectly.

As long as he mined, he could comprehend the essence of the Way?

Wasn’t this a beautiful situation of achieving two benefits with one action?

Ji Yang thought that perhaps it wasn’t just mining; he could probably apply this during other activities as well!

However, as that peculiar feeling faded, Ji Yang looked at another piece of unmined secret silver ore, and he had already lost that sensation.

Ji Yang shook his head. Now when he swung the iron pick, no matter how he mined, he couldn’t achieve that earlier perfection—expending minimal effort while obtaining the most perfect ore.

Although he couldn’t replicate that feeling, Ji Yang had gained new insights, and the next time he mined, he would surely save even more effort while finding a better angle.

Having discovered the proper use of the Xuantian Breathing Technique, Ji Yang felt very happy.

But then he froze again.

What exactly had he comprehended? The essence of mining?

No! He was being too narrow-minded. If this essence of the Way were fully condensed, it would definitely not be limited to just mining.

Moreover, he had only grasped a hint of it; he hadn’t even entered into it truly.

But it was fine; this essence of mining felt quite intuitive to him.

Ji Yang believed that as long as he could keep mining, he would undoubtedly achieve great mastery over the essence of mining!