Although the Ten Thousand Year Crimson Pearl Vine had been plucked, it still appeared crystal clear, showing no signs of withering.
Ming Qi understood that this was the magic of this world's rare treasures. A miraculous elixir like the Ten Thousand Year Crimson Pearl Vine, after thousands of years, has been able to absorb nutrients from the heavens and earth, allowing it to grow even without being rooted in the earth.
This Ten Thousand Year Crimson Pearl Vine was acquired by Meng Ling at the cost of her own flesh. Holding it in his hands, Ming Qi's heart churned for a long time.
Meng Ling's demonic nature had awakened, sometimes good, sometimes evil. How could Ming Qi not understand the pain and torment this brought?
Ming Qi had only one thought in mind: to devote all his energy to the Xiantian Realm. Then, even if it meant traveling to the ends of the earth, he would help Meng Ling re-condense her flesh and suppress her demonic nature.
After carefully observing the Crimson Pearl Vine, Ming Qi did not immediately refine and consume it, but instead began to quietly adjust his mind.
His body wasn't in peak condition yet, and he needed to adjust. Only when his entire body was in flawless, flawless condition could he possibly gather his energy and reach the Xiantian realm.
Ming Qi's memories of acquired cultivation and the knowledge of advancing to the Xiantian realm were quite detailed. He had meticulously reviewed this information countless times before. From comprehending the Five Elements of Heaven and Earth, absorbing the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth, integrating and blending it, and finally achieving a cohesive and condensed state, the entire process was now thoroughly memorized.
Ming Qi knew his talent was limited. If it weren't for that miraculous incident, which had suddenly revealed a vast amount of knowledge about cultivation, he would likely never have known in his lifetime that there was a true path to becoming a god in this vast world.
Was it a dream, an illusion? Ming Qi couldn't figure it out, but those memories and knowledge were incredibly real.
He had pondered many things, ultimately connecting that miraculous incident to the woman in white who had recurred in his dreams.
In Tianshui Village, he had even confirmed from Qin Luo the existence of the woman in white, further solidifying his belief that his miraculous encounter was inextricably linked to the mysterious woman in white.
He believed that as long as he continued on his path to immortality, he would eventually meet that person!
Sitting quietly, Ming Qi quickly entered a state of mind.
Time passed slowly. In this desolate, uninhabited area, it was perfectly normal for years to pass without a single human presence.
After an unknown amount of time, Ming Qi finally opened his eyes, awakened by the cold wind.
Even a cultivator of the Ninth Stage of the Acquired Realm, with a formidable physique, could not avoid physical and mental fatigue after prolonged meditation. When he finally opened his eyes, he found it was still dark, but unlike before, snowflakes were drifting from the sky.
It had suddenly snowed heavily without him noticing!
A thin layer of snow had already covered Ming Qi's body.
He stood up, shook off the snow, and channeled the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to warm his meridians and nourish his blood vessels. In a short while, the cold was completely dispelled.
He immediately focused his mind into the ring to observe Meng Ling's condition. Seeing that Meng Ling, though weak, was in a peaceful sleep, Ming Qi retracted his mind with confidence.
When meditating, the body's functions slow down considerably. Of course, with Ming Qi's current strength, he couldn't control them at will. So, upon waking, an intense hunger overwhelmed him.
Luckily, he had brought with him some dry food, fresh water, and some strong liquor.
After finishing his food and settling everything, Ming Qi sat down again.
This time, he carefully took out the crimson pearl vine. A determined look flashed in his eyes, and he mobilized the spiritual energy within him, transforming it into a thin stream and wrapping around it.
Although post-natal cultivators lacked Yuanli to manipulate, they could mobilize the accumulated spiritual energy within their bodies and similarly complete the refining process, though this process was much slower than refining innate Yuanli.
Ming Qi knew that refining the crimson pearl vine into a medicinal elixir would be more effective, but he didn't have the conditions for it at the moment. Using the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to slowly refine it was better than simply swallowing it.
However, Ming Qi was cautious. During the refining process, he only took half of the crimson pearl vine, leaving the other half behind.
The thousand-year-old crimson pearl vine is immensely beneficial to innate cultivators. At this point, Ming Qi was only advancing from post-natal to innate, so he didn't need so much. Excess would not only be difficult to absorb, but could also bring unnecessary risks.
The spiritual energy wrapped around the crimson pearl vine, instantly emitting a jade-like glow.
At the same time, Ming Qi calmly began to circulate the long-accumulated spiritual energy within his body, carefully following a method he had already memorized.
After several hours, the spiritual energy within Ming Qi's body began to flow freely, and the refining process of the crimson pearl vine finally took effect.
With the naked eye, a thin golden needle-like spiritual energy band was visible, slowly drawn by Ming Qi's own spiritual energy and brought to his mouth.
Refine, devour, fuse.
Each step was imperative, and Ming Qi was always cautious. He had carefully considered the entire process, and now, as he truly practiced it, although it was his first time, he felt no unfamiliarity.
The spiritual energy imbued with the aura of the elixir continuously flowed into Ming Qi's body. As the aura absorbed the elixir, Ming Qi felt an unprecedented tingling sensation throughout his body. It was pleasurable, with a slight tingling sensation, like the strange feeling of a wound healing.
As he felt the changes in his body, Ming Qi could also clearly sense the changes in his soul and consciousness.
One of the magical properties of the crimson pearl vine is its ability to nourish the soul, continuously providing energy to repair it when damaged. The transition from the acquired to the innate is a process of pushing the body's functions to their limits, then breaking through them to achieve greater heights—a classic example of destruction followed by construction.
During this process, the soul and consciousness will inevitably suffer damage, but with the miraculous assistance of the crimson pearl vine, the potential threats during the advancement are minimized.
The elixir's power, absorbed into his body, began to take effect. Ming Qi felt as if countless insects were crawling all over his body, itching unbearably, the heart-wrenching sensation nearly making him jump.
However, before he could adjust to this sudden change, his entire head suddenly buzzed, as if struck by a sledgehammer, excruciatingly painful.
The threat of advancement hadn't yet arrived; the crimson pearl vine's potential-stimulating power arrived first.
Amidst the unbearable, excruciating itch, countless tiny cracking sounds gradually emerged, followed by a piercing pain piercing every bone in his body.
It wasn't just an unbearable itch, but both itching and pain simultaneously!
Beyond the physical torment, Ming Qi was also enduring the torment of his swollen spirit.
The medicinal power of this crimson pearl vine was truly immense!
Ming Qi had never imagined that just half a crimson pearl vine, and only a tiny amount absorbed, could unleash such potent medicinal power. He couldn't imagine if he could withstand it if he completely absorbed and refined half the vine.
I must withstand it!
As soon as doubts arose, Ming Qi immediately dismissed them. He had to withstand it, otherwise who would save Meng Ling?
Meng Ling's serious injury this time was entirely because of him. Failure was not an option for him.
Gritting his teeth, Ming Qi continued his refining process without interruption. Simultaneously, the spiritual energy within his body began to circulate frantically. He could clearly feel the five powerful elemental auras surging, colliding and intersecting, crashing back and forth within his body.
This crucial step, no mistakes are allowed!
Ming Qi screamed inwardly, frantically devouring the endless supply of medicinal power, enduring an unprecedented double torture.
Boom!
With a rumbling sound, a cloud of fire suddenly rose from behind him, transforming into the magnificent wings of the Vermillion Bird.
Swish, swish, swish!
The Water Spirit, Earth Spirit, Gold Spirit, and Wood Spirit all whirled rapidly in an instant, each manifesting in a different form.
The manifestation of spiritual energy was something that would never occur to ordinary cultivators advancing. Because Ming Qi could control heavenly fire, the Vermillion Bird Wings, symbolizing the Fire Spirit, were the first to manifest. Then, under the miraculous medicinal power of the Crimson Pearl Vine, the four other spirits of the Five Elements also emerged.
Of course, there are more elements of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth than these. They manifested first because the Five Elements dominate the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.
At this moment, within Ming Qi's body, there were more than just the Five Elements; numerous spiritual energy elements also began to collide: Blood Spirit, Wind Spirit, Thunder Spirit, Dark Spirit, Poison Spirit, and so on. Each spiritual energy transformed into a stream of energy, circling frantically.
Puff!
Ming Qi opened his mouth and spewed out a cloud of filth. It looked black, and its origin was indescribable.
After expelling the filth, Ming Qi felt a little better, and the speed of refining and circulating it increased even more.
At the same time, black impurities began to continuously flow out of Ming Qi's millions of pores, forming thousands of thin black threads that slowly flowed down his body.
Turning on the potential of his body and eliminating impurities, the medicinal power of the Crimson Pearl Vine was fully exerted.
Ming Qi had lost all worldly concerns. Besides the constant pursuit of advancement, his only remaining thought was success!
The heavy snow had ceased countless times, and the sky shifted from darkness to day and back again.
With the bitter cold wind and heavy snow, it was impossible for anyone to enter the remote and vast stone forest at this time. This perfectly gave Ming Qi the opportunity to advance with peace of mind.
The Ten Thousand Years Crimson Pearl Vine would be a highly sought-after treasure outside, a rare and precious elixir that would make countless innate masters envious. If discovered, murder would be the only option.
Puff! Puff!
Ming Qi continuously expelled large mouthfuls of filthy impurities, and the dazzling spiritual energy surrounding him grew even more brilliant. The power of the Five Elements Spirits was fully unleashed, and after Ming Qi's continuous operation and integration, it had reached a perfect state.
Next came the final step!
Ming Qi silently recited in his heart, mobilizing his whole body for the final sprint!