The [Sacred Heart Lotus Formation] was a special technique that Ethan created in his 105th life, during which he lived as a mage.
The Path of Magic was a unique method of cultivation because, unlike other paths, mages only use the dantian for storing energy by creating a Mana Core, and the manifestation of their cultivation progress appears around their heart rather than the dantian.
Ethan had used a powerful Mana Core formation technique to create a mana core back then.
In his later years, he modified the technique to better suit himself, but he never got the chance to use it.
The purpose of the technique was to create an energy core of the corresponding energy type.
Ethan did not know if it was possible to create a Qi core, since that is not how cultivation works for any path other than Magic.
Cultivators outside of Magic can only increase their energy reserves by raising their cultivation level.
However, if Ethan could create a Qi core, he could passively increase his Qi reserves with each cultivation level, in addition to the increase in energy reserves that comes naturally with each level.
This was where the [Sacred Heart Lotus Formation] came in.
It was the best energy core creation technique he possessed.
Following the instructions of the technique, Ethan circulated the pool of Qi settled at the base of his dantian that had not been absorbed into the incomplete Domination Seed.
Within seconds, the pool of Qi transformed into a swirling mass.
The mirage shape of a lotus began to manifest in the center of the swirling Qi, and the mirage began to solidify, rapidly absorbing the Qi of the pool.
It continued to do so for the next several hours.
About eighteen hours passed while Ethan simultaneously used the [Boundless Sky Mind Sutra] and the [Sacred Heart Lotus Formation].
Meanwhile, inside his inner world, the white ceiling had completely transformed into a very light blue sky, and the white ground had also turned a slightly bluish white.
In the center of his inner world, beneath the incomplete Domination Seed, a small, lightly blue pool of water had manifested, the size of a large bucket.
On the water, a very small blue lotus grew.
On the outside, faint waves of Qi frequently radiated from his entire figure, and the ring above his head had grown by a couple of centimeters.
Inside his dantian, a light blue Qi core in the shape of a lotus had successfully manifested.
The shapes of energy cores differ from person to person, depending on their type of cultivation, spirituality, soul, and so on.
Ethan's breathing returned to normal as he canceled the two techniques he was using.
With a single, massive wave of energy, the manifestations of the techniques vanished, along with the ring above his head and the light blue energy.
A system prompt then appeared in his field of vision.
[Qi Lotus creation has been completed]
[Your limit of your Qi reserves has significantly increased]
[Your Qi Increased: 7.5 → 8]
[Your Perception Increased: 13 → 15]
"It worked, hehe… it actually worked." Ethan's smile widened.
"Now I'm not limited by my cultivation level to increase my Qi reserves. Well, I still cannot increase my reserves infinitely, but the limit of my Qi is much higher than that of others at the same level."
"Let's just reserve the cultivation chambers for the next few days." Ethan left his cultivation room and paid the person at the reception 2000 gold, reserving the cultivation chambers for four more days before returning to his own.
"I will increase my Qi reserves to the limit for the rest of today and continue my cultivation for the next four days, improving as much as possible before the tournament begins… I wonder what kind of tournament it will be." Ethan sighed and once again began using the [Boundless Sky Mind Sutra].
After a couple of minutes, the ring of Qi manifestation appeared above his head, his mental capabilities slowly improving, while the unused residual Qi settled at the base of his Dantian.
The Qi lotus, as if possessing a mind of its own, began to absorb the Qi rapidly, like a plant drinking water to grow.
He no longer needed to use the [Sacred Heart Lotus Formation] to create a Qi energy core in the form of a lotus, as he had already done so.
The energy lotus created by that technique possessed a special quality: the Qi lotus could absorb energy to grow on its own, as long as it had access to it, until it reached the upper limit of the cultivation level.
The [Boundless Sky Mind Sutra], while expanding his mental capabilities, also directed the residual Qi into the base of his Dantian.
Eight hours passed, and Ethan had already absorbed the maximum amount of energy he could increase his reserves by.
[Your Qi Increased: 8 → 15]
[Your Perception Increased: 15 → 18]
His perception stat also hit its limit; he could not increase his perception attribute any further unless he reached the next cultivation level.
The same applied to his Qi reserves.
Just because he had methods to improve his physical attributes outside of cultivation did not mean he could continue improving them without limits.
Once he reached the Seed of Domination (Level 4), he could only use his other methods to increase his physical attributes again, but only up to the new limit.
"My perception and Qi reserves have hit their limit," Ethan muttered as he felt the energy swirling inside him.
"I should be able to unseal my connection with Kagetsu once I reach the next cultivation level," he said.
Ethan began circulating the [Unending Apotheosis Technique], continuously drawing in the surrounding energy and feeding it into the incomplete Domination Seed, slowly bringing it closer to perfection.
He cultivated without pause for the next thirty-six hours.
Thanks to his physical training, his energy absorption rate had increased slightly, allowing him to reach the next cultivation level within that time.
[Your Cultivation level has increased]
[You have reached the Realm: Domination Seed Creation (Level: 4)]
[Your Strength Increased: 14.2 → 15.5]
[Your Dexterity Increased: 16.5 → 17.8]
[Your Stamina Increased: 17.5 → 18.8]
[Your Perception Increased: 18 → 19]
[Your Vitality Increased: 14.5 → 15.6]
[Your Qi Reserves Increased: 15 → 17.5]
[Your System Level Increased: Level 15 → Level 16]
[Your Life Span Increased: 83 Years → 86 Years]
Ethan only opened his eyes after he had completely broken through to the next level.
"Hmm, still not enough. I need more energy," Ethan muttered as he began circulating the [Boundless Sky Mind Sutra].
The manifestation of the Ring Qi appeared above his head, and the surrounding energy continued to push and force his mind to expand its perception capabilities.
Meanwhile, the unused residual energy gathered at the base of his dantian, where the Qi Lotus, like a plant absorbing water to grow, began rapidly absorbing the Qi to strengthen itself.
Inside his inner world, the water beneath the light blue lotus representing his Qi core began to expand, as more and more water seemed to manifest out of nowhere.
The Incomplete Domination Seed released faint waves of energy, as if looking down upon the growing waters below.
This was only the beginning.
Soon, the small body of water would transform into a boundless ocean, the tiny Qi lotus would grow vast and magnificent, and the incomplete Domination Seed would evolve into a towering tree, its branches reaching the heavens and its roots plunging deep into the hells below.
The next 12 hours passed just like that. Ethan's Qi reserves increased once more, and his Perception attribute also rose, though not as much as before.
[Your Perception Increased: 19 → 21]
[Your Vitality Increased: 15.6 → 16]
[Your Qi Reserves Increased: 17.5 → 20]
[Your Life Span Increased: 86 Years → 87 Years]
"This should be enough." Ethan could feel the Qi in his body.
It was not much, but it was enough for him to unseal Kagetsu, the Dancing Library, and might even allow him to unlock that mysterious ability he possessed.
"Time to unseal Kagetsu and the Dancing Library." Ethan closed his eyes, and his consciousness entered his inner world.
He reappeared right in his white space, which was no longer just white space.
"Interesting..." Ethan muttered, looking at the Qi lotus and the small water body it was growing on.
The incomplete Domination Seed was levitating above the water, and the white ceiling was turning a bluish-white.
After observing them for a couple of minutes, he walked toward the three items floating, bound by chains.
"First is the Dancing Library." He stood in front of the wooden door with no handle or keyhole and began to concentrate.
A key made of Qi manifested in his hand, and at the same time, a keyhole and handle appeared on the wooden door.
Inserting the key with a twist of his fingers, the door unlocked.
Grabbing the handle, he pushed it open, and in the next second, the entire wooden door transformed into a ball of light that shot toward Ethan before merging with him.
"Next, my sweet Kagetsu." Ethan stood before the ball of shadowy black light, which was bound by chains. He placed his palm over it and began to concentrate.
Within a few seconds, the chains disappeared, and the ball of shadowy black light merged with him.