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"It's done!"
Dai Chengfeng's heart surged with joy, but he didn't stop there. Instead, he began guiding the soul power and Geng Metal Qi to slowly descend through his body.
After all, there was still one final step—completing a full cycle of circulation.
Only by allowing the soul power and Geng Metal Qi to complete a full circuit within his body could he truly claim success in creating this technique.
With this in mind, Dai Chengfeng began directing the two energies to flow from the top of his head down the front of his body, passing through his spleen and stomach…
Under the heightened awareness of the Microcosmic state, he could clearly sense the acquired energy in his spleen and stomach swirling around like lively fish, mingling with the two energies.
From midnight to the early hours of dawn, nearly two full hours passed.
During this time, Dai Chengfeng ensured that the innate and acquired energies were thoroughly integrated, dispersing the fused energy throughout his internal organs.
Each organ he reached felt noticeably nourished and tempered.
His heart beat more powerfully, his lungs breathed more smoothly, and his kidneys brimmed with vitality…
Finally, as the first rays of purple sunlight rose outside the carriage, Dai Chengfeng once again felt obstruction between the lower Tailbone pass and the middle Kidney Spine pass.
However, this time, the situation was slightly different from before.
Perhaps because he now possessed traces of self-cultivated innate energy, the lower Tailbone and middle Kidney Spine passes, though the energy flowed extremely slowly, did not completely close off.
Still, Dai Chengfeng decided not to continue.
After all, he had been cultivating for nearly an entire day and night. He understood the principle that rushing would only lead to failure.
"Whew~"
Dai Chengfeng exhaled a long breath of impure air, slowly drawing the faint traces of the two energies back into his dantian.
Thus, the cycle was complete.
Dai Chengfeng opened his eyes, golden light flashing momentarily in his tiger-like eyes before vanishing. The excitement in his gaze was unmistakable.
"My first soul skill, Geng Metal Qi!"
A small wisp of Geng Metal Qi rose from his fingertip, flickering like a tiny flame.
It was clear at a glance that this Geng Metal Qi was vastly different from before!
Its sharpness was unmistakable, as if it could slice through space itself.
"Perhaps calling you Innate Geng Metal Qi would be more fitting!"
Dai Chengfeng smiled, eager to test the power of this Innate Geng Metal Qi. He turned his attention to a nearby lump of raw iron wrapped around a small table.
He raised his hand slightly and moved it toward the iron experimentally.
But the next moment—
"Hiss!"
Dai Chengfeng let out a soft gasp, his face filled with disbelief. "This… is this the power of Innate Geng Metal Qi?"
Before his fingertip even touched the raw iron, the metal was already sliced deeply as if by an invisible blade.
"This intensity—it's increased far more than just twofold!"
After all, while his previous Geng Metal Qi could easily cut through raw iron, it required direct contact.
But now—
This wisp of Innate Geng Metal Qi could effortlessly slice through the iron with just its residual aura.
Its sharpness was beyond imagination!
A slight smile crept across Dai Chengfeng's lips, one he couldn't suppress.
"And this is just a single wisp!"
For a moment, Dai Chengfeng could hardly imagine—
When he transformed all his Geng Metal Qi into its innate form, how powerful would his first soul skill become?
That so-called White Tiger Guardian Barrier? It would crumble at the slightest touch!
A surge of pride welled up in Dai Chengfeng's heart.
"Laughing aloud as I stride out the door—I am no ordinary man!"
"Father!"
"The next time I return to Star Luo City, I shall ascend to rule under the name of the White Emperor!"
And most importantly—
The gains from this cultivation session weren't limited to that single wisp of innate Geng Metal Qi.
He had also created a groundbreaking technique in the world of Douluo Continent—one that allowed soul power to return from acquired to innate, shattering the fundamental understanding of this world.
Moreover, he could use soul power to activate the upper Jade Pillow pass, entering the Microcosmic state.
Consider this: Tang San's Purple Extreme Demon Eye had four levels of progression—first: Overview; second: Microcosmic Awareness; third: Mustard Seed; fourth: Boundless.
(T/N: The wiki has the states at: 'Survey', 'Detailed', 'Mustard Seed' and 'Boundless'. The first two are honestly very simplified and lack a lot of the nuance of the original meaning.)
Tang San had to painstakingly begin his cultivation from the first level, Overview.
In contrast, Dai Chengfeng's technique allowed him to bypass the Overview stage entirely, instantly entering the second level of Microcosmic Awareness. From these details alone, it was evident how immense the potential of this technique was.
And yet, Microcosmic Awareness wasn't even Dai Chengfeng's limit.
Even the fourth level, Boundless, likely wasn't either.
"This is truly an unexpected bonus!" Dai Chengfeng chuckled.
When he created this technique, Dai Chengfeng had only intended to allow his soul power and Geng Metal Qi to return from acquired to innate. He never imagined he'd gain such additional benefits.
"Still, since it's a technique, it needs a name…"
Dai Chengfeng stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Since this technique allows one's soul power to return from acquired to innate, why not call it the Innate Technique?"
"Short, simple, and easy to understand."
Dai Chengfeng nodded slightly, no longer dwelling on the name.
"The only regret this time is that my White Tiger martial soul hasn't changed at all…"
But Dai Chengfeng wasn't discouraged.
After all, he currently possessed only a single wisp of Innate Geng Metal Qi—a pitifully small amount.
It was only natural that his White Tiger martial soul hadn't changed.
He believed that as long as he continued to cultivate more Innate Geng Metal Qi, one day his White Tiger martial soul would shed its mortal shell and reveal the majesty of a true primordial spirit.
What about the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon?
A mere mongrel dragon dares to overshadow one of the Four Sacred Beasts, the White Tiger?!
Lost in thought—
Dai Chengfeng stepped down from the carriage.
"Uncle, do we have anything to eat?"
After all, Dai Chengfeng was still just a lowly 13th-level Soul Master. He couldn't abstain from food, and after cultivating for an entire day and night, he was famished.
Zhu Fan had been waiting outside the carriage the entire time.
Seeing that Dai Chengfeng had finally finished cultivating and wanted to eat, Zhu Fan quickly nodded. "Yes, yes, I prepared enough dry rations for nine days… Hmm?"
As Zhu Fan spoke, he suddenly let out a soft sound of surprise.
He noticed that Prince Chengfeng seemed somehow different from his memories.
Though his face was still youthful—
There was an indescribable aura of dignity and sanctity surrounding him, as if he were enveloped in an invisible radiance.
For a fleeting moment, Zhu Fan even felt his Martial Spirit, the Ghostly Shadow Cat, tremble with fear uncontrollably!
Zhu Fan's eyes widened as he stared intently at Dai Chengfeng, trying to discern any abnormalities.
But in the blink of an eye, the aura vanished without a trace, and his Martial Spirit returned to normal.
"What is it, Uncle?"
At this point, Dai Chengfeng noticed Zhu Fan's odd expression and asked curiously.
Zhu Fan forced a laugh. "N-nothing. It's probably just fatigue causing hallucinations."
He muttered inwardly, "A six-year-old child changing? Let alone making my Martial Spirit feel fear? Impossible."
"It must be because I'm too tense."
Zhu Fan shook off the thought and quickly retrieved the dry rations he had prepared from his spatial ring, handing them to Dai Chengfeng.
Dai Chengfeng accepted the food and began eating, asking between bites, "Uncle, how long will it take us to reach Wu'an City?"
Zhu Fan also took out a portion of the rations and began eating as he replied, "Chengfeng, our carriage isn't great, and His Majesty gave us the worst horse available."
"So I estimate it'll take two months to get there."
Pausing, Zhu Fan cautiously suggested, "Actually, Chengfeng, His Majesty intentionally gave us a poor horse because he doesn't want us to go too far."
"If you're willing to apologize to His Majesty, we can return to Star Luo City."
"What do you think?"
Dai Chengfeng simply smiled and shook his head.
Return?
How could he possibly go back now!
He was planning to absorb the killing intent from the battlefield in Wu'an City to nourish his White Tiger martial soul…
After finishing an entire portion of the rations, Dai Chengfeng hopped back onto the carriage.
"Uncle, let's get moving."
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