Chapter 8 – Spiritual Power and Mana

“So, when a Cultivation Method advances, will characteristics manifest? But why doesn’t Paper Folding have any… Is it because the level is too low?”

While pondering, Mu Lin browsed through the Paper Crafting Scripture inheritance engraved in his mind.

Then, he discovered that after reaching the proficient stage, the cultivation method for Mindscape – Sky Burial City had also undergone slight changes.

Since it had already been stabilized, Mu Lin no longer needed to visualize a sword. What he had to do now was visualize other objects.

He needed to visualize eight more objects and solidify them in his mind before his Mindscape – Sky Burial City would advance to the third realm, Expert.

“Nine objects in total, including the sword form. I need to think carefully about what to solidify…”

Mu Lin’s visualization was not useless. From now on, his Paper Folding spells would require the cooperation of visualized objects. Therefore, his current visualizations would determine the power and specific forms of his future spells, which made Mu Lin consider his choices carefully.

After much thought, Mu Lin finally decided to visualize a bow and arrow, a long saber, a spear, armor, a shield, chains, a coffin, and a house.

Among these, the bow and arrow were intended to provide long-range attacks for the paper figures.

The long saber, spear, and longsword were to serve as close-combat weapons for the paper figures.

Armor and shields were for the paper figures’ defense.

Chains and coffins were means to restrain enemies.

Finally, the house could serve as defense, a place for Mu Lin to live, or even transform into a prison to confine others.

After making his decision, Mu Lin immediately began visualizing. For his first visualization, he chose the long saber.

The saber was similar to the sword, so Mu Lin easily succeeded in visualizing it.

Then, a second time, a third time, a fourth time, a fifth time, a seventh time, a thirteenth time… With his eyes closed, Mu Lin continuously constructed the long saber from nothing in his mind, then let it dissipate before constructing it again.

Perhaps practice makes perfect, or maybe his mental strength had increased slightly after his Mindscape – Sky Burial City entered the second realm. In the end, during a single complete meditation session, Mu Lin managed to endure and complete the construction of the long saber, solidifying it in his mind.

[Mindscape – Sky Burial City, 2nd Realm Proficient (101/800), Characteristics: Stabilized (Currently stabilized: Longsword, Long Saber)]

“Hiss…”

The prolonged visualization gave Mu Lin another headache, but at this moment, his mood was mostly one of excitement.

“A single complete meditation session can stabilize one object. I can meditate twice during the day… and once more at night, making three times total. Stabilizing three objects a day means I can advance my Mindscape – Sky Burial City to the third realm in two to three days.”

The speed was unexpectedly fast, and Mu Lin knew very well that all of this was thanks to the Proficiency Panel.

Without the “progress +1 per cultivation session,” he would never have been able to solidify specific objects in his Sea of Consciousness in such a short time.

“Looking at it this way, I no longer need to worry about Mindscape – Sky Burial City…”

After resting for the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Mu Lin’s spirit recovered slightly. Seeing this, he didn’t delay and began folding paper again.

“Rustle, rustle, rustle…”

In his nimble hands, one exquisite paper figure after another came into existence from nothing.

Soon, Mu Lin’s table was piled high with small paper figures.

Even though paper figures were more complex, practice makes perfect. By noon, Mu Lin had still managed to grind his Paper Folding skill to [3rd Realm Expert (180/360)].

“In the afternoon, this cultivation method will advance to the fourth realm. I wonder what the fourth realm holds.”

While pondering, Mu Lin made his way toward the cafeteria.

After a moment of hesitation, he exchanged one spirit stone for fragmented spirit crystals and bought a bowl of rice.

At the same time, he held a faint hope…

“Perhaps I won’t need to purchase fish oil paste or sandalwood to sense spiritual energy—maybe just eating the rice will be enough.”

Mu Lin’s idea was sound, but in the end, it failed.

After consuming the spirit rice meal, a warm current indeed arose within his body. However, the spiritual energy he could sense remained confined to his interior; he could perceive nothing from the outside world.

Yet, just as one path seems blocked, another opens unexpectedly.

While Mu Lin had not yet succeeded in sensing spiritual energy, the progress of his Blackwater Profound Serpent Mortal Shedding Art increased by several points.

Although he hadn’t sensed it, after eating the spirit rice meal, spiritual energy had accumulated within him. As a result, Mu Lin could now circulate the Blackwater Profound Serpent Mortal Shedding Art, and once he did, the method appeared on his proficiency panel.

【Blackwater Profound Serpent Mortal Shedding Art, 1st Realm Entry (3/100)】

“What a pity. The spiritual energy in the spirit rice meal is ultimately too sparse—it only allows me to cultivate three times, and I still need to sense spiritual energy first.”

With a sigh, Mu Lin went to a shop within the Dao Palace and used one spirit stone to buy a bottle of fish oil paste.

Returning to the classroom, his spirit now restored, he first cultivated his Mindscape – Sky Burial City for the duration of one incense stick.

After fixing the spear in his sea of consciousness, he rested for another incense stick’s time before taking out the fish oil paste and applying it to the center of his forehead, between his eyebrows.

“Hiss…”

The specially prepared fish oil paste was extremely cold. Applying it to his brow, Mu Lin shuddered instantly, and his weary mind, fatigued from excessive meditation, recovered somewhat.

This reaction also gave Mu Lin pause.

“This fish oil paste has the ability to restore mental energy. Once I’ve opened my sensing, I could buy some more… but never mind, I don’t have the money.”

After sighing, Mu Lin focused his attention on perceiving spiritual energy.

Then, he discovered that the fish oil paste was indeed effective. Applied to his brow, it acted like an opening, connecting him to the heavens and earth, allowing him to glimpse the truth of the external world through his forehead.

He sensed it—indescribable specks of light drifting throughout the world.

Instinctively, Mu Lin drew some of these specks into his body and found that it was indeed possible.

With his will, a portion of the specks truly entered his body, merging with his being.

However, he also realized that the range he could absorb from was limited. More critically, over ninety-eight percent of the specks that entered his body would drift out again, with only a small fraction remaining within.

Even then, these specks did not yet belong to Mu Lin. If he lost focus for even a moment, they would depart from his body.

Only when Mu Lin circulated his cultivation method, guiding the specks to flow within him and imbuing them with his will and aura during the process, would these specks transform from unclaimed entities into mana uniquely his own.

“So, spiritual energy is unclaimed, while mana is spiritual energy tainted with personal aura and imprinted with an individual’s mark?”

While contemplating, Mu Lin continued to circulate his cultivation method.

During the process of circulation, Mu Lin made another discovery: the spiritual energy from the natural world, after circulating in his body in a specific manner, not only became imprinted with his unique mark but also underwent a transformation in its nature.

Mu Lin even formed a speculation.

“The path of spiritual energy circulation determines the attributes of mana… Moreover, certain specific cultivation methods require absorbing particular types of energy particles. For instance, my Taiyin Life-Nurturing Scripture can only absorb spiritual energy imbued with moonlight essence. However, the mana cultivated this way will also possess unique effects.”

“Additionally, spiritual materials can alter the attributes of mana… The Blackwater Profound Serpent Mortal Shedding Art I am currently cultivating cannot produce the distinctive Black Mist Magical Power through mere circulation alone. Only by consuming Blackwater Profound Serpent Essence Blood can ordinary mana be transformed into Black Mist Magical Power…”

(End of Chapter)