Chapter 5
C5 – There Were Few Imitators
The analyses and deductions made by experts and scholars clearly intimidated the public, deterring them from attempting to replicate Jiang Que’s actions. Only a handful of daring individuals delved into the video of Jiang Que creating the Chaos Spell, endeavoring to perceive the Qi Sea and Spiritual Energy.
Some, after an hour or two of fruitless attempts to detect the Qi Sea and Spiritual Energy, decided to abandon the effort. Others persisted for over ten hours before finally sensing their existence, only to give up as well. This only confirmed the experts’ and scholars’ conclusions: the skill was exceedingly difficult to master, lacked prospects, and was fraught with danger. Consequently, the prudent ones chose to walk away.
However, there were a few who, within two hours, managed to sense the Qi Sea and Spiritual Energy. Among them, some gave up, while others, like Tong Hai, persisted in their study of the Chaos Spell. Remarkably, Tong Hai required only an hour and ten minutes to successfully connect with the Qi Sea, a mere ten minutes longer than Jiang Que had needed. This suggested that Tong Hai’s innate talent was nearly on par with that of the founder himself.
Tong Hai had pondered the experts’ warnings of a bleak future and inherent risks. Yet, the undeniable fact remained: Jiang Que had enhanced his physical condition by 20% in a single month. With a physique already twice as robust as Jiang Que’s, Tong Hai reasoned that even if he couldn’t achieve a 20% improvement, a 10% boost was still within reach. As for the risks involved, he was willing to overlook them.
As a basketball player who couldn’t secure a spot even as a substitute on a weak C-level team, Tong Hai faced his own set of challenges. Sports competitions were now segregated into genetic and non-genetic categories, distinguishing between athletes who had taken genetic medicine and those who had not. The former category was more popular, with any event featuring genetically enhanced athletes guaranteed to be a spectacle. The latter category, while more traditional, still attracted a significant audience.
Tong Hai was among the non-genetically enhanced basketball players. His contract was set to expire this year, and the team had already made it clear that they would not be offering him a renewal during the off-season. This meant that if he couldn’t make a significant impact this season, he would be facing unemployment.
If he could boost his physical fitness by 10%, it would be tremendously beneficial for him.
He dreamed of becoming a basketball star and was ready to face the unpredictable risks that experts and scholars had predicted.
Jiang Que possessed the most exceptional cultivation talent within the Human Race, yet he surpassed him by just over ten minutes.
Undoubtedly, Tong Hai’s aptitude for cultivation placed him at the pinnacle of the Human Race’s pyramid.
The Chaos Spell’s cultivation method was complex and challenging to comprehend, but Tong Hai, with his innate talent, gradually deciphered and mastered it through persistent effort.
In less than half a day, Tong Hai managed to control a thread of Spirit Power in his Qi Sea and began cultivating using the Chaos Spell’s method.
Time flew by, and four or five days passed in a flash.
Despite a lack of imitators, the viewership in live stream room number ten still skyrocketed to between twenty and thirty million.
This surge was due, in part, to Jiang Que’s extended cultivation sessions, as he had not yet emerged from the cave.
Everyone was eager to find out when the experts’ predicted ceiling for physical fitness improvements would be reached and when the associated risks would materialize.
Inside the cave, Jiang Que’s body gave a slight shudder.
Energy Condensation Stage Level 5!
In about half a month, he had ascended four minor realms, breaking through to Energy Condensation Stage Level 5.
The Spirit Power within his Qi Sea had grown exponentially, at least several hundred times more potent than at Energy Condensation Stage Level 1.
Thanks to the sustenance provided by Spiritual Energy, his physical condition had improved by roughly 10% since reaching Energy Condensation Stage Level 3.
Altogether, over the past half month, his physical fitness had not only avoided decline but had actually increased by 30%.
To the audience, this feat was nothing short of astonishing.
Jiang Que had been in a constant state of hunger, without exercise or the aid of any devices.
Yet, he had managed to enhance his physical fitness by 30% in just half a month. Even if he had reached his peak and was on the verge of experiencing side effects, it was still an incredible achievement.
What no one realized was that Jiang Que had never been concerned with his physical fitness improvements.
His real gain over the past half month was the breakthrough from Energy Condensation Stage Level 1 to Energy Condensation Stage Level 5.
The purity and abundance of Jiang Que’s Spirit Power had experienced a significant enhancement.
His physical condition had improved as well, but this was merely a side benefit of his cultivation practice.
In comparison to the true advantages, this improvement was just a minor detail.
If Jiang Que truly wished to enhance his physical fitness, he wouldn’t even need to devise a cultivation method specifically for strengthening his body.
All he would have to do is forgo advancing his realm and concentrate on channeling the Spiritual Energy from the environment to nourish his body, which would instantly boost his physical condition.
He hadn’t chosen this path, clearly because the benefits of advancing his realm were far greater.
He rose to his feet and stretched, loosening his muscles and joints.
Glancing at the corner, he noticed the seven wild fruits.
He picked one up and quickly ate it.
He intended to leave the cave, not to gather more wild fruits, but to collect a type of fruit known as the Thorn Fruit.
The body’s previous owner’s memories indicated that the Thorn Fruit’s tip was incredibly sharp. Despite being less than half a centimeter thick, it was as hard as steel and could be used as a throwing dart.
Now an Energy Condensation Stage Level 5 martial artist, Jiang Que felt confident that he could defend himself against even the most formidable ferocious beasts.
The catch was that he needed an attack-oriented cultivation method.
While he could greatly enhance his strength by infusing his arms with Spirit Power, it was an inefficient use of his abilities.
Despite his high level, lacking an attack-oriented cultivation method was like having plenty of ammunition but no gun—he couldn’t fully utilize his capabilities.
Without any weapons, he planned to gather a collection of Thorn Fruits and develop a set of techniques for using them as concealed weapons.
Moreover, given his current realm, ranged attacks offered greater safety than melee combat.
Should he encounter an unexpected situation, he would be able to make a quick getaway.
Jiang Que stepped out of the moist, shadowy cave.
“He’s finally emerged.”
“He’s so unpredictable. He used to be so frugal, never leaving the cave. Now, with only six wild fruits left, which would have lasted him well over half a month at his usual rate of consumption, he’s suddenly decided to venture out?”
“Could it be that his body has already maxed out its potential, and any further cultivation is simply a waste of time?”
“That’s highly likely!”
“I’m glad I trusted the expert’s analysis and didn’t copy his cultivation method. Even though it could boost my physical condition by 30%, the risks are too high. It’s not worth the gamble.”
“I just hope he doesn’t encounter any danger outside. After all, we still don’t know if there are any side effects from this cultivation method.”
“Still, if his body has indeed reached its peak and there are no side effects, then the benefits of this cultivation method are quite impressive.”
Jiang Que, who had always stayed inside the cave, suddenly decided to leave, causing viewers in the live stream to grow anxious.
They quickly pulled up maps to scout for any ferocious beasts in the vicinity.
Much to their relief, there were no signs of dangerous creatures along Jiang Que’s route for foraging wild fruits.