Floating Immortal Order - Chapter 278: What One Calls Cultivation

Liu Baliang launched several attacks in quick succession, severely injuring a few Sea of Qi stage members of the Zhao Clan.

“Brother Zhang, what exactly is your relationship with the Supreme Spirit Master?” Liu Baliang asked as he tossed their bodies in front of Zhang Duoyu, his gaze carrying a hint of curiosity.

Zhang Duoyu glanced at this member of the Dawndusk Daoist Alliance, who, despite being at the peak of the Dao Foundation stage, referred to him, a Sea of Qi stage cultivator, as “Brother Zhang”. However, he didn’t answer and simply shook his head. With a series of hand seals, the Soul Suppressing Evil Spirit skull appeared out of thin air in a gust of black wind and swept towards these Zhao Clan members.

In just a moment, these severely injured individuals from the Zhao Clan at the Sea of Qi stage lost all signs of life. The black profound light on the Soul Suppressing Evil Spirit skull grew even brighter, emitting an extremely sinister and ominous aura.

When executed by a soul-seeded being, Soul Song manifested very differently compared to when Xu Disheng used it himself. The aura it emitted was even more malevolent, as if some terrifying transformations were occurring within the Soul Suppressing Evil Spirit skull.

Seeing Zhang Duoyu’s solemn face and his disregard towards his question, Liu Baliang couldn’t help but snort coldly and spit out in his heart, “If it wasn’t for the Supreme Spirit Master’s orders to flatten these small forces to fully assist your cultivation, I would have slapped you to death already!”

After a while, Zhang Duoyu finally digested all the absorbed Soul Force, putting away the Soul Suppressing Evil Spirit skull. He cupped his fists in salute to Liu Baliang and said, “I was fully focused on practicing my cultivation method just now and couldn’t speak. Please forgive me.”

Liu Baliang seemed to casually wave his hand, “It’s alright, our task is indeed to assist your cultivation, so there’s no need to be too polite.”

At that moment, more than ten Dao Foundation stage cultivators from the Dawndusk Daoist Alliance rapidly approached, each carrying several heavily injured cultivators on the verge of death, and placed them in front of the two.

One of them, who was apparently the leader, glanced at Zhang Duoyu and moved a bit of profound qi to casually throw two Dao Foundation stage and several Sea of Qi stage cultivators onto the ground in front of him. “Brother Zhang’s cultivation base is growing quite rapidly. In just a few days, you managed to advance from the Cleansed Meridians stage to the Sea of Qi stage.”

Zhang Duoyu managed a weak smile. “It’s all thanks to everyone’s efforts.”

The leading Dao Foundation stage cultivator from the Dawndusk Daoist Alliance laughed and replied, “It’s nothing. We’ve already cleared out seven very small forces in just half a day. Over these few days, we’ve exterminated tens of thousands of ordinary mortals within a thousand miles radius. Supreme Spirit Master had specifically ordered us to fully support your cultivation. This is all within our duties, Brother Zhang, so you needn’t be too polite.”

Another Dao Foundation stage cultivator beside him looked enviously at Zhang Duoyu and said, “Brother Zhang, is this cultivation method passed down from Supreme Spirit Master? In just a few days, you broke through two stages from starting cultivation to the Sea of Qi stage. I’ve never seen such rapid advancement in cultivation base before.”

Zhang Duoyu still seemed dazed as if he was in a dream.

Amid the various gazes of those around him, Zhang Duoyu activated Soul Song once more. The Soul Suppressing Evil Spirit skull appeared, completely erasing the remaining life force of those on the brink of death. It fully absorbed their nearly dissipated souls, turning them into extremely pure Soul Force that continuously expanded Zhang Duoyu’s sea of consciousness. This also transformed into extremely pure profound qi through the Implanting Soul Mantra, rapidly enhancing Zhang Duoyu’s profound qi cultivation base.

Soul Song was merely a method for cultivating Soul Force and couldn’t directly increase one’s profound qi cultivation base. The profound qi cultivation method Zhang Duoyu was currently practicing was the Shangqing Profound Laws given to him by Xu Disheng.

Though Xu Disheng no longer possessed any trace of Shangqing profound qi within him, the spells and cultivation methods he had obtained from the Shangqing Sacred Sect were imprinted in his soul memory. His soul, protected by the violet qi of the Immortal Race, hadn’t lost any memories and had simply manifested into being in the Spirit Race’s Profound Depth Spiritual World.

“Now that all nearby small-scale forces have been cleared, it’s time for us to return and report back,” the leader said, seeing Zhang Duoyu retract the Soul Suppressing Evil Spirit skull and looking around before issuing the command to return.

“Yes, Senior Martial Brother Ke!” The more than ten Dao Foundation stage cultivators from the Dawndusk Daoist Alliance responded respectfully, clearly showing that this individual named Ke Baima commanded some respect.

Ke Baima turned and shifted his gaze toward Zhang Duoyu. With a smile, he said, “Brother Zhang, are you satisfied with your improvement in cultivation this time?”

Zhang Duoyu, still seemingly lost in his own world, barely lifted his head upon hearing this and after a moment of realization, whispered, “Ah… yes, extremely satisfied.”

Being so highly regarded and shown kindness by over ten Dao Foundation stage cultivators made Zhang Duoyu feel honored and frankly a bit overwhelmed.

He had been one of those disciples within the Spirit Sword Sect who went unnoticed, with only average talent and comprehension. Only his master, who had raised him since childhood, treated him with closeness. Even his trip to attend a third-tier spiritual banquet at the Dawn Sunset Daoist Sect had caused quite a stir within the Spirit Blade Sect at that time.

In such a short period, he had experienced the heartbreak stemming from the betrayal of his fiancée Bi Wanting, the humiliation and injuries from a Sea of Qi stage genius, and near death from a Dao Foundation stage rogue cultivator. The combination of these events plunged him into a deep abyss of despair, even generating a rare and precious form of power of darkness within him.

Since being rescued by Supreme Spirit Master, everything that happened seemed like a dream, as if this were another world, which caused him to momentarily feel dazed from time to time.

Over the past few days, under the protection of these Dao Foundation stage cultivators from the Dawndusk Daoist Alliance, he had undergone several rounds of “cultivation” similar to today’s. His initial Cleansed Meridians stage cultivation base had rapidly increased to the current Sea of Qi stage, and the strength of his Soul Force had broken into the Dao Foundation stage. Yet, such astonishing speed of cultivation was built upon desolation and slaughter.

Dozens of Dao Foundation stage cultivators, hundreds of Sea of Qi stage cultivators, and tens of thousands of ordinary mortals from several small-scale forces had their souls turned into nourishment for the Soul Suppressing Evil Spirit skull within Zhang Duoyu, gradually enhancing his Soul Force foundation.

Now, he had accumulated a significant amount of extremely pure Soul Force, but he was unable to absorb it all at once. Despite the rapid cultivation facilitated by the Implanting Soul Mantra, the reformation of his profound laws foundation still required time and couldn’t be achieved in just a few days.

Ke Baima’s smile became even brighter, his tone even carrying a hint of flattery, “Brother Zhang, your cultivation should have reached a temporary plateau for now. If you were satisfied with me and my companions over these past few days, please speak well of us to Supreme Spirit Master upon our return.”

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