Chapter 274: The Special Power of Spiritual Power
After nightfall, the yang energy between heaven and earth dropped to its lowest point, and yin energy began to spread out.
Zhang Ruochen stopped his cultivation to prevent yin energy from seeping into his meridians and affecting the power of the "Sun Pulse Sword Wave."
Zhang Ruochen took out the purple beast-taming crystal from his storage ring and placed it on the ground.
The purple light cast a dreamlike hue over the night sky, even the nearby pool of water condensed a layer of purple radiance.
Zhang Ruochen called over Kong Xuan, who was comprehending sword intent, and gestured for her to sit down. He asked, "How is your comprehension going?"
Kong Xuan carefully sat down on the ground, crossing her long, slender legs, placing her hands on her knees, holding her round chest and slender waist straight.
Behind her, a pair of seven-colored wings shimmered under the purple crystal's glow, emitting specks of light like a rain of seven-colored radiance enveloping her delicate body.
Kong Xuan's voice was soft and melodious, crisp and pleasant to the ear. She said, "Reporting to master, this servant has comprehended some sword intent, but to reach the initial stage of sword following the heart, it will still take some time."
"No rush."
Zhang Ruochen pointed to the purple beast-taming crystal and said, "Do you know what this is?"
"This servant does not know," Kong Xuan said.
"This is a beast-taming crystal, extremely precious. Through it, a martial artist can influence the mind of a barbarian beast, thereby controlling it to help in attacking cities and killing enemies."
Zhang Ruochen continued, "It also has another use: it can test a martial artist's spiritual power. Place your palm on the crystal, empty your mind as much as possible, and try to sense the energy within the crystal."
Following Zhang Ruochen's instructions, Kong Xuan rolled up her sleeves, revealing her snow-white jade-like arm, and extended a soft, boneless jade hand, gently placing it on the surface of the purple crystal.
Her eyes slowly closed, forming two charming lines with her fine, neat eyelashes.
It must be said, as a Peacock Half-Human, Kong Xuan indeed possessed a unique beauty, with delicate features, smooth skin, and a graceful figure—truly a captivating enchantress.
Of course, Zhang Ruochen did not pay attention to her beauty; instead, he stared at the purple crystal, watching as lines appeared on its surface, and nodded slightly.
After a while, Kong Xuan opened her eyes, withdrew her hand, and asked, "Master, what is my spiritual power level?"
"Fourteenth level," Zhang Ruochen said.
"Is that low?" Kong Xuan asked nervously.
Zhang Ruochen shook his head and said, "Generally speaking, the older a person is, the higher their spiritual power. Of course, if one does not specifically cultivate spiritual power, no matter how high it is, it will not exceed the fifteenth level. For a normal person, upon reaching adulthood, their spiritual power should be around the tenth level. Reaching the twelfth level can already be considered a genius. Reaching the fourteenth level is quite remarkable."
"Don't get too complacent. Those truly heaven-defying individuals in spiritual power can even reach the tenth level at birth; by age ten, they can reach the twentieth level; by adulthood, they can reach the thirtieth level."
Of course, the heaven-defying existence Zhang Ruochen mentioned was something that might not appear even once in ten thousand years.
He said that to prevent Kong Xuan from becoming too arrogant and self-satisfied.
Zhang Ruochen also placed his palm on the purple crystal to test his own spiritual power level.
"Whoosh!"
The light of the purple crystal grew stronger and stronger, illuminating the entire cultivation mansion.
Fortunately, the cultivation mansion was equipped with formations; otherwise, it would have alerted other students.
"Master's spiritual power is truly formidable!"
Kong Xuan sat to the side in shock, watching Zhang Ruochen, who sat like a divine being, her beautiful starry eyes showing a look of infatuation.
The light gradually faded, and Zhang Ruochen withdrew his hand.
"Master, what level did your spiritual power reach?" Kong Xuan asked.
"Thirty-sixth level."
Zhang Ruochen did not hide it from Kong Xuan.
"Master is that kind of spiritual power genius from the legends, right?" Kong Xuan exclaimed in awe.
"Something like that."
Zhang Ruochen smiled and said, "The further spiritual power goes, the harder it is to improve. At my current spiritual power level, even raising it by one level is very difficult."
"If I could reach the fortieth level, the power of spiritual power would begin to manifest. With just a single glance, I could control a Heavenly Extreme Realm martial artist, turning them into a puppet."
"Moreover, reaching the fortieth level of spiritual power grants some miraculous abilities, such as: Opening the Heavenly Eye, Judging Life and Death, Summoning Wind and Thunder, and Observing the Stars."
"What is meant by 'Opening the Heavenly Eye' is condensing a unique spiritual power eye at the center of the brow, allowing one to see mineral veins a hundred zhang deep underground; to see the fortune on a person; to see hidden formation inscriptions; and to see ghosts wandering between the realms of yin and yang."
"'Judging Life and Death' means that with just one look at a person, one can see how many years of life they have left and predict the day they will die. Of course, unnatural deaths are excluded."
"'Summoning Wind and Thunder' means using spiritual power to call forth wind and rain, lightning and thunder. The First Central Empire has established departments like the Thunder Department, Rain Department, Wind Department, and Yin-Yang Department. The envoys of the Thunder Department are called 'Thunder Masters' by commoners. The envoys of the Rain Department are called 'Rain Masters.' The envoys of the Wind Department are called 'Wind Masters.' Their main responsibility is to regulate the climate of the Kunlun Realm and manage the order of some mysterious matters unknown to ordinary martial artists. Of course, their own strength is also quite formidable."
Kong Xuan was astonished and asked, "Their spiritual power has all reached the fortieth level?"
Zhang Ruochen nodded and said, "Yes."
Kong Xuan then asked, "And what does 'Observing the Stars' mean?"
Zhang Ruochen smiled and said, "'Observing the Stars' is somewhat mysterious. It is said to be related to the starry sky above us."
"According to the ancient sages, the starry sky above corresponds to the situation on the ground. By observing the changes in stars, celestial bodies, and constellations, one can interpret the changes in all things in the human world, and even predict major events to come."
"Really?" Kong Xuan said.
Zhang Ruochen shook his head and said, "My spiritual power has not yet reached the fortieth level, so I cannot yet understand the thinking of those ancient sages. I cannot see through the star patterns, so naturally, I cannot practice 'Observing the Stars.' How do you expect me to answer?"
Kong Xuan said, "Being able to open the heavenly eye, judge life and death, summon wind and thunder, and even observe the stars—spiritual power at the fortieth level is already so powerful. What about reaching the fiftieth level?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "If spiritual power reaches the fiftieth level, one can become a saint. Once a saint, one can live for three hundred and sixty years, several times the lifespan of an ordinary person."
"Alright, I've told you all this to emphasize the importance of spiritual power. The higher your spiritual power, the more it helps you comprehend sword intent and practice martial techniques. Moreover, to break through to the Heavenly Extreme Realm, your spiritual power must also reach the twentieth level."
Zhang Ruochen also wished he could cultivate his spiritual power to the fortieth level sooner, but it was too difficult, and rushing wouldn't help.
Zhang Ruochen put away the beast-taming crystal, took out a white bone over ten meters long, and placed it in front of Kong Xuan.
That white bone was rich with flame energy, crystal clear, like a jagged blood jade pillar, exuding a powerful barbarian beast aura.
"This is the spine of a fourth-level barbarian beast, the Fire Cloud Wolf. Do you know what it can be used for?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Kong Xuan shook her head.
Zhang Ruochen smiled and said, "The spine of a fourth-level barbarian beast contains marrow essence, also called 'spiritual marrow.' Long-term consumption can enhance a martial artist's spiritual power."
Then, Zhang Ruochen took out a half-meter-tall jar and two bronze wine cups, placing them on the ground.
"Whoosh!"
He formed his five fingers into a palm blade and slashed down, neatly cutting the over-ten-meter-long white bone in half.
Zhang Ruochen poured out the spiritual marrow contained in the white bone into the jar.
All the spiritual marrow was emptied, filling the jar halfway.
He poured two cups of spiritual marrow from the jar, handing one to Kong Xuan and keeping the other for himself.
The Fire Cloud Wolf was originally a flame-attribute barbarian beast, so the spiritual marrow nurtured in its spine naturally carried a flame attribute.
The spiritual marrow in the cup appeared fiery red, like burning flames.
Just holding the cup, one could feel a scorching power.
Kong Xuan only brought it to her lips and took a gentle sip, feeling as if she had swallowed a mouthful of fire. Her whole body grew hot, and the meridians inside her body felt like they were burning.
Zhang Ruochen raised his cup and drank all the spiritual marrow in one gulp. Moments later, he had refined it.
Then, Zhang Ruochen drank two more cups in succession.
Kong Xuan endured the burning sensation inside her body and drank all the spiritual marrow in her cup.
Her body felt like it had turned into a furnace. All the true qi and blood in her body boiled, her spirit became extremely excited, and her originally fair and crystal-clear jade skin took on a faint red glow. Her body felt as if it were being torn apart.
"Hmm..."
Just as she was about to be unable to bear it, Zhang Ruochen placed one hand on her back and began to help her refine the power of the spiritual marrow.
Half an hour later, the red glow on Kong Xuan's body gradually receded into her body.
Zhang Ruochen led Kong Xuan into the cultivation chamber, took out the Half-Saint Sacred Intent Diagram, and hung it on the stone wall. He said, "After consuming the spiritual marrow, comprehending the Half-Saint Sacred Intent Diagram will allow your spiritual power to progress at the fastest speed."
Under Zhang Ruochen's guidance, Kong Xuan quickly entered a meditative state, and her spiritual power entered the world of the Sacred Intent Diagram.
At the same time, Zhang Ruochen also sat cross-legged beneath the Half-Saint Sacred Intent Diagram and began to cultivate.
The next day, as the sun rose.
Yang energy returned to the earth.
Zhang Ruochen put away the Half-Saint Sacred Intent Diagram and began to continue cultivating the "Sun Pulse Sword Wave."
Kong Xuan sat cross-legged beneath the stone wall, beginning to comprehend sword intent.
After a night of spiritual power cultivation, her spirit was unprecedentedly full, her face radiant, her sharpness overwhelming, and even her skin was full of charming luster.
Thus, Zhang Ruochen cultivated the "Sun Pulse Sword Wave" during the day and comprehended the Half-Saint Sacred Intent Diagram at night. Seven days passed in this manner.
Seven days later.
It was noon, and the scorching sun blazed like fire.
"Sun Pulse Sword Wave!"
Zhang Ruochen formed a finger technique, his thumb becoming scorching hot, sword intent merging perfectly with true qi.
Centered on Zhang Ruochen's finger, a translucent energy circle with a diameter of ten zhang formed.
The energy circle rapidly contracted, condensing at the tip of his finger.
He pointed out.
"Swish!"
A fiery red sword wave shot out from Zhang Ruochen's left thumb, emitting a sharp sound, forming a powerful sword path that flew dozens of zhang and struck the wall.
"Boom!"
The sword wave pierced through the wall, leaving a huge circular hole two meters in diameter.
The stone walls around the hole had almost completely melted, dripping down drops of lava. When the lava cooled, it formed a mirror-like surface.