Chapter 50: Taking Stock

In the evening, Jiang Yan began taking stock of the gifts left by Ma Shan and the others that afternoon.

First was Ma Shan, who had brought five bottles of Spirit Gathering Liquid.

The Spirit Gathering Liquid was entirely blue in color, an essential medicine for Martial Artists above the Innate Realm to absorb Qi. It could generally increase a Martial Artist’s Qi absorption speed by about 50%.

However, it had its limitations—the higher the Realm, the weaker its medicinal effects. But for a Martial Artist like Jiang Yan, who was at the Middle Stage of the Innate Realm, it was still quite precious.

Next was Lin Yuanshan, who was very straightforward. He gave Jiang Yan a bank card without mentioning how much was inside.

The most generous was undoubtedly Shen Donglin. After all, he represented the attitude of the Southeast Province, so the gifts he presented couldn’t be too shabby.

Just a single Spatial Ring, though only one cubic meter in size, was already an extremely precious treasure for Jiang Yan at this stage.

Spatial Rings were priceless and hard to come by, as only those with Spatial Talent could create them. Due to the scarcity of individuals with Spatial Talent, the number of Spatial Rings was extremely limited.

In any case, Jiang Yan had never heard of anyone selling a Spatial Ring.

Some things were so precious that they were “gifted” rather than “sold.”

They were gifts, not commodities.

Inside the Spatial Ring were ten bottles of Spirit Gathering Liquid, a Martial Artist privilege upgrade card, and a Hengdao.

The saber’s hilt was pitch black, its Aura restrained, with a dark and subdued tone. The blade itself had no messy colors, only a simple silver-white hue that showcased the saber’s original appearance. The tip of the blade gleamed faintly with a cold light, giving off an aloof and unwelcoming impression.

At the base of the hilt, two small characters were engraved:

【Resonant Engraving】

Jiang Yan took the saber out, and it felt heavy in his hand.

He was surprised, as it had been a long time since a saber had given him such a sense of weightiness.

Take the Hengdao he had bought for a million earlier, for example. At first, it felt decent, but upon closer inspection, it seemed light and gave a flimsy sensation when swung.

This 【Resonant Engraving】 was different. He didn’t know what Materials the blade was made of, but holding it in his hand, he could clearly feel the sense of power it contained.

Yes, a sense of power—as if even lying quietly in a corner, it could give the illusion of pressing down on someone, making it hard to breathe.

Undoubtedly, an excellent saber!

Jiang Yan praised it a few times, holding it in his hand and unable to put it down. He marveled at the generosity of the Southeast Province, which had not only gifted him a Spatial Ring but also such a fine saber.

The problem of his weapon’s quality not keeping up with his rapid growth in strength was perfectly resolved.

In fact, gifting the saber was no coincidence.

When Jiang Yan began to stand out in the examination hall, those in high positions had already started paying attention to him.

Since Jiang Yan was using the standardized alloy saber provided for the College Entrance Exam, every time he wielded it, it gave the impression that his strength was limited by the saber.

Those in high positions were all shrewd individuals. Since Jiang Yan already had the potential to compete for the top position in the exam, why not go with the flow and prepare a good saber for him?

Truly intelligent people understood the relationship between investment and returns.

Jiang Yan’s future was limitless!

This saber had been commissioned to the most renowned master in the Southeast Province for forging as soon as Jiang Yan secured first place in the first two rounds. It was only successfully completed last night.

Looking at the fifteen bottles of Spirit Gathering Liquid arranged on the table, Jiang Yan murmured softly, “I wonder how effective these will be.”

He gulped down a bottle of Spirit Gathering Liquid and began sitting on the bed to absorb Qi.

The Geng Metal Primordial Qi in his Dantian grew restless, far more active than usual, as if injected with adrenaline.

“It works.”

[System Log Updated]

“You consumed a bottle of Spirit Gathering Liquid, your Qi Gathering speed increased.”

“You consumed a bottle of Spirit Gathering Liquid, your refining efficiency of Spirit Gathering Liquid slightly improved.”

“You began absorbing Qi, your Qi absorption skill slightly improved.”

“You used the ‘Self-Created Breathing Technique’ (unnamed), the breathing technique was slightly refined.”

“You are absorbing Qi, the Geng Metal Primordial Qi you absorb will become purer and more refined.”

[Heaven Rewards Diligence] rewards every child who strives hard.

A night passed, and the medicinal effects within his body had completely dissipated.

Jiang Yan frowned as he looked at the remaining thirteen bottles of Spirit Gathering Liquid on the table.

He had consumed two bottles in just one night, and fully refined and absorbed them—his speed was truly a bit too fast.

“Shen Donglin said ten bottles would last until the start of school, but now it seems doubtful whether they’ll even last a week~”

Jiang Yan sighed helplessly.

Of course, absorbing too quickly wasn’t a bad thing—it precisely proved how powerful his Talent was.

He could clearly feel the Geng Metal Primordial Qi within him growing thicker and stronger. A faint golden aura flowed between his fingers, far more vibrant and active than before.

Having only recently broken through to the Innate Realm, his development of Geng Metal Primordial Qi was minimal. He only knew how to roughly release the Geng Metal Primordial Qi and utilize the Geng Metal Origin Source Qi it produced for combat.

Sharpness and resilience were the fundamental traits of Geng Metal Primordial Qi. Whenever Jiang Yan wielded this power, both his offense and defense would greatly improve.

At the third-rank Innate Realm, the use of [Qi] was still relatively crude. Upon reaching the fourth-rank Inner Astral Realm, one could perfectly mobilize [Qi], forming Astral Qi both inside and outside the body.

Primordial Qi could not be directly used in combat; it was akin to an Origin Source. Astral Qi was essentially the Origin Source Qi produced by Primordial Qi, but it was more systematic and comprehensive than ordinary Origin Source Qi.

Astral Qi would manifest all the attributes possessed by Primordial Qi.

At this stage, most of the abilities of [Qi] could be perfectly utilized, and a Martial Artist’s Combat Power would increase significantly.

The cultivation process for Martial Artists at the third-rank Innate Realm was essentially about exploring, understanding, and strengthening Qi.

There were countless types of Qi between heaven and earth, but Martial Artists could only absorb Qi that shared the same Origin Source as their own Primordial Qi.

Jiang Yan consumed another bottle of Spirit Gathering Liquid, and this time his absorption speed was even faster.

Two hours later, the medicinal effects were nearly depleted, and the Geng Metal Primordial Qi in his Dantian flourished vigorously.

Only four days away from breaking through to the Middle Stage of the Innate Realm, he faintly sensed the threshold of the Late Stage of the Innate Realm. This kind of monstrous cultivation speed was something even a young Peak Martial Saint could not achieve.

After cultivating for just over a month, Jiang Yan had truly surpassed all his peers—not only in Combat Power but also in Realm!

A monster capable of fighting above his level, whose Realm was also higher than yours—tell me, is there any chance of winning?

Entering the Battle Space, Jiang Yan immediately engaged in combat with the Trickster Mage.

In the real world, Jiang Yan struck with heavy fists, but in the Battle Space, he was timid and hesitant.

The Trickster Mage, possessing the [Miracle] Talent, was practically omnipotent. Each time he killed Jiang Yan, it was like an elegant artistic performance, and Jiang Yan’s death served as the perfect finale to the Trickster Mage’s act.

Jiang Yan grew even more excited.

“Exactly, this feeling of dying again and again!”

Only through repeated deaths could he realize just how weak he currently was.

You claim you can fight above your level? Come try it in the Battle Space?

“You triggered a Life and Death Moment, you are immune to this death.”

The Trickster Mage employed one method after another.

“You were crushed to death by a meteor.”

Endless meteors stirred ripples across the sky, while the Trickster Mage strolled calmly through the meteor shower, removed his Bowler Hat, and bowed slightly to the empty “Audience” seats in a final curtain call.