[You have spent ten years comprehending the "Soul-Collecting Technique," but have achieved nothing...]
Ten years, wasted.
Achieved nothing?
Song Yan frowned slightly, glancing at the panel's "[Life Force: 17/3885]", he remained silent momentarily, but he had no intention of stopping nor would he rashly conclude "Since ten years don't work, it seems spending more time on comprehension might be useless."
He could spend half a year waiting for a "Qi Concealment Technique," without moving any of his life force, but when necessary, he wouldn't hesitate to "go all-in."
Before transmigration, he had read some stories, those stories always had some villains or other characters who dilly-dally, having means to enhance their power but not properly doing so, even if they enhanced it, they didn't go all the way to "the peak," just got halfway there and inexplicably stopped, then went out to fool around, only to either die directly or barely survive...
He wouldn't.
Today, he must enhance as much as possible.
Only when potential turns into power would he find peace of mind.
However, recalling the "psychological suggestion" when comprehending the "Inferior Ghost Profound Root" before, Song Yan suggested to himself again "I hope Qi Concealment Technique will develop toward hiding power."
The mutation of Qi Concealment Technique into Soul-Collecting Technique wasn't too satisfying.
If it truly comes to the point of having to counter with Evil Qi, it means the knife is drawn at the map's end.
He needs to hide, needs not to be caught for "dissection," not to be forced into counter-attacking on the "operating table."
[You have spent ten years comprehending the "Soul-Collecting Technique," but have achieved nothing...]
[You have spent fifty years comprehending the "Soul-Collecting Technique," through repeated attempts and efforts, you start to discover a new opportunity you try to grasp, yet it's always in vain. You do not lose heart, continue day by day with attempts.
In the sixteenth year, you suddenly realized what the opportunity was.
The root cause still lies in the Evil Profound. Besides the fierce offensive nature, Evil Qi shows a devouring characteristic when gathered to a certain extent, this characteristic also manifests in the ghost's instinct to attack life. By now, you have spent a full forty years on comprehension.
You start to try regrouping, compressing the divided Evil Qi in the Evil Profound.
This process is very complex, but you won't stop.
In the forty-fifth year, you realize you have reached a crossroads, one side allows the gathered Evil Qi to be released for attack, such magic seems to devour others' Profound Qi, virtually the "Star Absorption Technique" of the Cultivation Realm;
The other side further restrains the gathered Evil Qi, devouring all Profound Qi within the body so that it no longer takes up space but hides in a corner of the body, thus better concealing one's aura, while also allowing for a fierce counter during invasions far surpassing the Soul-Collecting Technique.
You chose the latter.
In the fifty-fifth year, you comprehended the "Condensing Evil and Concealing Profound Technique."
This technique cannot undergo a third mutation, returning the remaining nineteen years]
Song Yan glanced over the panel.
The "Magic" column showed a perfected "Condensing Evil and Concealing Profound Technique."
Clearly, the "Ghost Spirit Root" is worthy of being a special Profound Root, and the lack of success in the first ten-year comprehension was because the difficulty of a second mutation of ordinary magic is far beyond the first one.
However, the Qi Concealment Technique is ultimately a common magic, its potential is limited, after two mutations, the deduction has reached its end.
Feeling the mystical new technique within him: "Condensing Evil and Concealing Profound Technique," Song Yan made a small attempt.
Sure enough, he easily gathered the Evil Qi within his body, then used it to devour all the Profound Qi, condensing it into a point, like a tiny particle hidden in the most inconspicuous corner of his body.
He controlled the Evil point to release a strand of Profound Qi, leaving only one strand of Profound Qi flowing within him.
If any official disciple from Shadow Puppet Peak came to test the servants' cultivation progress, then... he would only see the progress Song Yan wanted him to see.
...
...
The testing crisis half a year later was resolved, Song Yan breathed a sigh of relief.
But he still felt a bit regretful because at the comprehension crossroads, he chose "further restraining the gathered Evil Qi" instead of "releasing attack."
Only children make choices.
He wants everything.
What should he do?
He closed his eyes and contemplated for a long time, discovering it might not be impossible.
[You have spent fifty years re-comprehending the "Soul-Collecting Technique," smoothly arriving at the previous crossroads, this time, you chose the first path.
You tried to release the gathered Evil Qi for attack but found it wasn't easy, since in the construction of this magic, you had completely accustomed to the other path, now it's tantamount to reversing the habit, starting anew.
Fifty years, you felt something yet did not comprehend a new magic]
[You have spent five more years continuously comprehending the "Soul-Collecting Technique." With persistence and effort, over seventy-five years, you finally comprehended another mutation of the "Soul-Collecting Technique."
You comprehended the "Condensing Evil and Swallowing Profound Skill."
Ten more years, you fused the "Condensing Evil and Swallowing Profound Skill" and the "Condensing Evil and Concealing Profound Technique."
You comprehended the "Condensing Evil and Controlling Profound Technique."
This mutation is perfect, no further mutation possible.
Returning remaining time fifteen years]
Song Yan opened his eyes, extending his palm flat.
The divided Evil Qi concentrated in his palm.
If someone were across from him, they would see the boy's palm turning black, resembling... a monster's mouth.
Yet if this mouth wished to break out and fly out to devour people, it seemed impossible.
...
...
Song Yan was very satisfied with the "Condensing Evil and Controlling Profound Technique" from the Qi Concealment Technique.
He glanced at the panel.
[Life Force: 17/3761].
'Perhaps it's good to enhance the "Qi Arrow Technique" first, then the realm.'"
The "Condensing Evil and Controlling Profound Technique" is comprehensive in attack and defense, sinister and hard to guard against, except it cannot be released outward, whereas the "Qi Arrow Technique" is clearly a magic to externally attack using Profound Qi.
This compensates for his shortcomings in a magical battle.
Simultaneously, he wishes to verify some understanding regarding comprehension time on magic.
...
...
[You have spent two years comprehending the "Qi Arrow Technique," when one month remained, you reached completeness. You began to realize that the so-called Qi Arrow Technique is but a simple gathering technique and blockage technique.
But this gathering compared to your "Condensing Evil and Controlling Profound Technique" is far lesser; it merely requires redirecting Profound Qi to fingertips, then forcibly blocking it, thereafter releasing blockage at the instant, the Profound Qi shoots out, likened to a mortal bending bow and shooting arrows.
No, it's akin to mortal archery, its power, range, accuracy are extremely mundane, at the release, it accompanies a noise similar to a bullet leaving the barrel, and significantly consumes Profound Qi. Perhaps its only commendable quality might be stealthiness]
Song Xuan paused slightly.
'Indeed, common refining Profound level magic usually takes two years to perfect, one year to use.'
'And this "Qi Arrow Technique," being the cheapest magic sold in the block of the entire prefecture-level city, truly is "you get what you pay for," if there were no stronger magic, who would want to train this?'
[You have spent five more years continuously comprehending the "Qi Arrow Technique." In daily research, you comprehended the "Killing Arrow Technique." The principle is separating a strand of Evil Qi, mixing it with the Qi Arrow. In this way, it can more easily tear through target Profound Qi defenses, or cause greater damage]
'Indeed, with my inferior Root Bone, refining Profound level magic's first mutation takes about five years.'
'Continue, see if noise can be eliminated, increased range, prioritize eliminating noise.'
[You have spent fifty years comprehending the "Killing Arrow Technique."
By the thirty-third year, you reached a crossroads.
This time, three paths branched.
One was enhanced range, improved accuracy;
One, eliminate noise and reduce consumption;
One increased power;
You chose the second.
In the forty-eighth year, you comprehended the "Evil Needle Technique."
The principle is using Evil Qi to condense Profound Qi into needles, reducing emission quantity, shot caliber, thus lessening sound, since the impact point is smaller, the overall power does not change.
This technique cannot undergo a third mutation, returning remaining two years]
Song Yan:...
He raised a finger, slightly sensing, it's evident, however small the noise, it's still noise, silence is impossible.
Suddenly felt like cursing inexplicably.
This "Qi Arrow Technique," seems an immovable stumbling block.