"Drip!"
"Drip!"
In the neat and bright Cave Mansion, threads of Spiritual Qi, like water mist, continued to permeate endlessly.
The concentration of Spiritual Qi here was already comparable to a Tier Two High-Grade Spirit Meridian, enough for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to enhance their cultivation.
"Phew!"
Only such a rich Spiritual Qi could nurture the "Flood Dragon."
On the emerald Jade Pillar, the pattern of the Flood Dragon seemed to come alive, its mouth opening and closing, as if inhaling and exhaling Spiritual Qi. Simultaneously, in the Jade Lamp, drops of silver liquid appeared out of thin air.
A faint Spiritual Light rippled in the Quiet Chamber.
Gu Yuan observed all this keenly.
Seeing the Spiritual Light gradually coalesce, he couldn't help but let out a long sigh.
"After nearly a month, it has finally succeeded!"
Ever since that day when he forced Lan Tianlu to retreat, Gu Yuan had stayed within the Cave Mansion, diligently practicing breathing exercises to gather Mana, while keeping a close watch on the birth of the "Spiritual Flood Dragon Celestial Water."
Fortunately, with the aid of the Second-Grade Array Disc, the Spiritual Flood Dragon Celestial Water finally condensed without any mishaps.
Moreover, Gu Yuan's cultivation had reached the bottleneck of the Qi Refining Fourth Layer, needing only to consume Spirit Water to break through to the Qi Refining Fifth Layer and overcome the Spiritual Sense Pass!
"However, before that, I must temporarily shut down the Array Disc, isolate the Spiritual Qi, and store the Four Spirits Jade Pillar in the Storage Bag."
Looking at the emerald Jade Pillar before him, Gu Yuan muttered to himself.
The Four Spirits Jade Pillar was extremely mysterious, made of Forsaken Jade and infused with Four Spirits Essence Blood, simulating the growth environment of Spirit Water. Because of this, its condensation process, like naturally formed Spirit Water, could not be interrupted.
Once a portion of Spirit Water is taken, the Jade Pillar will immediately activate to produce the next batch of Spirit Water. Once this process begins, it cannot be stopped or moved.
But now, Gu Yuan had no way of finding a spiritual vein capable of producing Foundation Establishment Spirit Water.
Thus, he searched through texts to find a clever method to temporarily seal the Four Spirits Jade Pillar and release it upon finding a suitable Spirit Meridian.
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
With a wave of Gu Yuan's hand, the Array Patterns in the Cave Mansion dimmed, and the Spirit Gathering Array Disc on the ground began to reverse, absorbing all the Spiritual Qi within it.
In just a few breaths, all the Spiritual Qi in the entire Cave Mansion disappeared completely.
It seemed like a world where Spiritual Qi had run dry.
The Four Spirits Jade Pillar immediately dimmed, its glow vanished.
"Now!"
Gu Yuan's heart moved, and his Mana surged forth, extracting the "Spiritual Flood Dragon Celestial Water" from the Jade Lamp.
Due to the complete disappearance of Spiritual Qi, the Four Spirits Jade Pillar appeared like a machine without power, completely still. Gu Yuan took this opportunity to quickly store it in the Storage Bag.
"Buzzing!"
After everything was done, the Array Patterns in the Cave Mansion lit up again, and the Spirit Gathering Array Disc released all the absorbed Spiritual Qi, turning the entire Cave Mansion back into a place shrouded in Spiritual Mist.
"Next, it's time for a breakthrough!"
Gu Yuan closed his eyes, calmed his mind, and after reaching a perfect state, he consumed the Spirit Water.
…
…
"Boom!"
"Roar!"
It felt like thunder roaring in his mind, and a Flood Dragon bellowing in rage as the whole world suddenly brightened for Gu Yuan.
His eyes remained closed, but the world unfolded clearly in his consciousness.
Spiritual Qi, stone walls, Array Patterns, everything in the Cave Mansion appeared vividly detailed, as if observing lines on one's palm, even down to hair-thin crevices.
In all directions, the world seemed within Gu Yuan's control.
He sat cross-legged on a meditation mat, yet all information within eighteen feet flooded to him like a tide.
"Is this Spiritual Sense?"
A strange sensation welled up in his heart, prompting Gu Yuan to exclaim in fascination.
Whereas before, a cultivator might be ambushed or attacked from the shadows, having Spiritual Sense now meant he would almost never fall for crude traps.
This was a small leap in cultivation.
"Especially for me!"
Gu Yuan felt the turbulent Spirit Sense tinged with malice and couldn't help but chuckle.
He felt like a Flood Dragon, freely soaring through the intangible world.
"Bang!"
With a thought, the Flood Dragon's tail swung, cracking the stone walls of the Cave Mansion, as if struck by a heavy object.
Ordinary Spiritual Sense could only explore, almost incapable of harming others, but Gu Yuan was different. His Spirit Sense was like an Evil Flood Dragon, flamboyant and overbearing, not only able to affect reality but also penetrate the opponent's Sea of Consciousness during magical combat to seize the advantage.
Just his Spiritual Sense alone equaled a Top-Grade Dharma Artifact!
Having first obtained Spiritual Sense, Gu Yuan indulged in its novelty for a long while before reluctantly retracting it only when his Sea of Consciousness had dried up and his Spiritual Flood Dragon grew tired.
"With Spiritual Sense, I've surpassed ordinary Daoist School disciples, and even Noble Family disciples might not rival me!"
Gu Yuan began to mentally compare.
The Spiritual Sense Pass, the first threshold in cultivation!
The better one breaks through it, the greater the rewards.
If faced with Lan Tianlu in magical combat now, Gu Yuan's Spirit Sense wave could prevent Lan Tianlu from even casting a Dharma Seal, defeating him directly.
Even if Lan Tianlu also broke through to the Qi Refining Fifth Layer, without Top-Grade Spirit Water, he would naturally be three points weaker than Gu Yuan.
With Spiritual Sense, Gu Yuan finally compensated for previous shortcomings in the Cyan Wood Sect, now comparable to students of Cyan Peak Daoist School.
"However, mere Spiritual Sense is not enough; I still need more trump cards to have confidence for future conflicts."
"If I count the time, the accumulation of Stone Liquid should be almost complete, but how should I use it?"
After the breakthrough, Gu Yuan was not complacent but examined himself, seeking more security.
And his greatest reliance and confidence naturally lay in the Stone Liquid.
It could be said his Daoist School identity and Spiritual Sense breakthrough were both thanks to the Stone Liquid.
So, his first thought went to the Stone Liquid.
"In my current situation, the Stone Liquid should reveal two directions."
"First, naturally, is the opportunity to become an apprentice. Once this succeeds, conflicts will greatly reduce, and if fortunate enough to enter the Golden Core Sect, then everything will be worry-free, allowing for stable cultivation."
"Second, it involves Dharma Seals, Dharma Artifacts, and spiritual materials. With the Spiritual Flood Dragon Celestial Water, this matter aligns with the opportunity and may show something."
These are two entirely different directions of chance: one seeks power, the other seeks self.
For now, Gu Yuan can only choose one to explore.
This put him in a bit of a dilemma.
"Forget it, a person without dreams is no different from a salted fish."
"Previously, choosing the Cave Mansion was because the opportunity could not be missed, but now relying on the Daoist School's rules, I should have a period of stability, so why not take a gamble?"
After pondering, Gu Yuan finally made up his mind!
Explore the opportunity to become an apprentice!
If fortunate enough to enter the Golden Core Sect, it would be coincidental good fortune!
This was for the sake of the bigger picture, certainly not just seeking an easy life!
"Hope it doesn't disappoint me!"
Taking a deep breath, Gu Yuan took out the grayish-green stone bottle and dripped the Stone Liquid into his eyes.