A body is surrounded by a thick blue mist. Droplets of clear liquid gathered on the ground, forming a small lake. Different colored lights flashed within the mist. Each one of them contained the trace of Dao—the so-called Dao Rhymes.
These colored lights wrapped about him like a cocoon. The majority of the spiritual qi is concentrated on him. Like a heart, the cocoon fluctuated every now and then. A part of the spiritual qi is absorbed with every turn.
Contrasting the blue mist are the flickers of purple light. It did not mix with spiritual qi. It existed as an entirely different energy. The honkai energy is as such. Its current state made it to be unconvertible to spiritual qi.
It steadily poured onto the body. It caused waves of destruction, attempting to deprive the body of its functions.
The fluctuations of the spiritual qi cocoon responded. It began to pour into the body to repair what was broken. This resulted in the tempering of the body, leading to the increase of the spiritual qi it could hold.
The destructive and restorative forces continued to do their duties.
"A different energy… Ingenious."
The continuous usage of the Second Divine Key wore down even the most special psyche-type MANTIS. Su continued to observe parallel universes and bubble worlds. It brought his body down the road of collapse.
His saving grace is the increasing capabilities of his mind. It eventually leads him to meeting the existence in the higher dimension.
Despite not having any background in immortal cultivation, he managed to gather a ball of spiritual qi on his palm. The liquid spiritual qi did not resist his control. Its nature as a middle grade spiritual qi made it more 'visible' to those with great power; it is no longer as invisible as before.
"Spiritual qi. Had we gone down this path…"
He shook his head.
Su can see the complexities of spiritual qi. It is an entirely different system from the honkai. Developing it will take thousands, if not millions of years. The civilization tied to it is sure to prosper. It is a far cry from Earth's current dire situation.
His gaze shifted to the body surrounded by it.
It is none other than Shi Tian.
Unknown to him, his body cultivation reached the middle stage of Purple Mansion Realm. A thin film of five-colored light gave off an ethereal glow. His body far surpassed his previous self.
Part of the credit belongs to Su.
The moment he brought Shi Tian out of the imaginary space, he was surprised to see the surrounding energies turn into spiritual qi. This continued until Su brought him inside a bubble world.
The [Two Phase Art] did not touch the energy required to sustain the bubble world. Although, it was different on the floating energy outside.
It continued to attract the energy made from the Sea of Quanta. It pierced through the barriers of this bubble world before being turned into spiritual qi.
Shockingly, the existence of spiritual qi enhanced the ether anchor of the bubble world. It turned more solid, allowing it to further withstand the erosion of the Sea of Quanta. It strengthened the "rules" of this world, allowing it to exist longer within the Sea of Quanta.
Since then, this entire bubble world has turned into a paradise on earth. Spiritual veins of first to third grade appeared all over its continental surface area. The closer it is to Shi Tian, the greater the concentration of spiritual qi.
The place where he is situated already has a peak fourth grade spiritual vein. Even now, it is increasing.
It is foreseeable that it would reach the fifth grade in a year at most. It is the practice dojo of Nascent Soul cultivators.
Back then, Shi Tian did not use this attraction function. He is afraid of being seen on Earth. Kiana's mobile spirit vein is enough. The current crisis he faced forced him to use it.
Su did not speak. He recalled the technique passed onto him verbally by Shi Tian.
"Are you ready?"
Shi Tian's voice resounded in his mind.
"Go on."
With the faint connection Su established, Shi Tian passed a small fraction of his mental power. Su's mind is the main force that moved it around his illusory dantians and Spirit Roots.
Akin to a flashlight, they revealed themselves under the influence of Shi Tian's mental power. The meridians came first, followed by the dantians. Finally, the Spirit Roots.
Shi Tian's power dissipated after that one circulation. He could no longer communicate with Su.
"...It worked." He muttered.
One minute later, a soft blue glow appeared on him. He began to take in minimal amounts of spiritual qi.
"...A compelling power." He muttered. "Its existence is intangible to those unawakened by it."
Su focused next on its practical effects.
Although minimal, he could feel his body being repaired. It was recently damaged by his exertion of the Second Divine Key. He bore the burden of the missing key. It sped up his demise. He could have lived for three more years.
Now, Su can only live for a month or two at most. The presence of Jing extended it by a few days. As long as there are spiritual qi, it will attempt to recover his injuries.
"A new future."
The final convincing factor struck him.
He understood the future brought by Shi Tian.
*****
The next day came.
My sword cultivation and [Blade Mantra] did not break through another level. They continued to become stronger.
The continued strengthening of [Blade Mantra] fed back to my [Thunder-Like Sword]. It then fueled the increase of my qi and mental cultivation.
Relying on the improvements of my sword cultivation, my mental cultivation neared the late stage of Purple Mansion Realm.
The biggest breakthrough came from my qi cultivation.
From the middle to late stage of Foundation Establishment, it takes a year or two with my previous configuration.
Things changed with [Thunder-Like Sword] and [True Form]. Their improvements passively increased my qi cultivation.
Despite not doing anything, I went through the late and peak stage of Foundation Establishment.
Naturally, the Purple Mansion Realm came next. A tribulation is coming.
Worse, I severed my mind from my body. I don't know how I will resolve this.
"Hm…"
I waited until the green leaf appeared in front of me.
"Is this your so-called tribulation?"
Su's voice resounded from it.
"Yeah. It will continue to exist until it runs out of power… or it is directly destroyed."
"I see. Can I interfere with it?"
"Yes…"
I awaited his response.
I don't know the situation of the outside world at this point.
Only now did I realize the dead end I am into. I will be pushed into another corner with the upcoming tribulation.
I don't want to think about the future.
I readied myself.
One minute.
Two minutes.
Three minutes.
"Is this… how it works?"
"What happened?" I asked.
"It's gone. I dealt with it."
As he spoke, I vaguely felt a slight resonance. Qi cultivation is the cultivation of the soul. It has a strong connection with the mind, unlike the body. Despite the "severance", it has a small possibility of re-establishing its link to the mind.
I readied myself for any changes. Whatever that comes next has to be dealt with properly.
Soon, the world in my eyes began to change…