Compressing and purifying spirit power can greatly enhance its 'quality' and 'quantity' – this not only dramatically increases the power of Spirit Abilitys but also significantly reduces spirit power consumption!
Zi Ruyi felt this deeply. She used to hesitate for a long time before using her fifth spirit ring, because once unleashed, it would instantly drain at least a third of her spirit power, truly a case of 'a big move for a moment of thrill, a spirit power crematorium'.
But according to the Soul Power Compression Method her husband transmitted into her mind, a single complete compression and purification could make one level of spirit power's total amount and purity reach the level of two previous levels! And as the number of compressions increased, the effect could stack, potentially allowing one level of spirit power to rival the foundation of five previous levels!
What did this mean? It meant she could now boldly use her fifth spirit ring ten times in a row, no longer needing to meticulously calculate spirit power consumption!
Her husband was truly amazing! To be able to create such a heaven-defying method! Her gaze towards Yu Qing was filled with endless adoration.
At the same time, Yu Qing also passed the Soul Power Compression Method to Duan Xin.
Over the next few days, The Two Women dedicated all their energy to the great task of Soul Power Purification and Compression. The process was not easy, like compacting loose sea sand into solid concrete, requiring immense patience and precise control.
It wasn't until the sixth day that the spirit power in their bodies completely shed its ethereal state, becoming incredibly solid, even more condensed than before cultivating the Soul Power Compression Method by more than double!
The cost was a 'plummet' in spirit power level – Zi Ruyi's spirit power level dropped from 60 to 56. But Yu Qing could confidently guarantee that the current 56-level her could easily defeat her former 60-level self!
At night, the three once again completed the 'twice in three days' Dual Cultivation ritual. After refining the Yin-Yang Power and evolving their Spirits, The Two Women skillfully compressed and purified the newly acquired, slightly ethereal spirit power again. After completing the entire process, they not only didn't feel tired but felt refreshed, with their spirit power full and solid.
"How do you feel?" Yu Qing asked with a smile, looking at the radiant Two Women.
"Indeed, twice in three days is the best rhythm!" Duan Xin exclaimed, her beautiful eyes swirling, her gaze unconsciously fixed on Yu Qing. "Husband, your Dual Cultivation method is truly miraculous!"
She paused, a blush rising on her face, and quietly added, "It's just... Husband, you're too amazing, and it lasts a bit too long, we're a little overwhelmed..."
Yu Qing's combat prowess in that regard was indeed astonishing. Even with 'twice in three days', each session lasted for half an hour (one hour). While the ultimate pleasure was intoxicating, prolonged duration truly made it difficult for them to cope, occasionally even giving them the illusion that their 'brains were about to be scrambled'.
The Two Women had even secretly discussed whether to proactively find a concubine for their husband, to share this 'sweet burden'... As for why Yu Qing 'controlled time' and 'controlled quantity', well, of course, it was for sustainable development, and... to pave the way for recruiting new Dao Companions in the future!
"Xiner, Ruyi, we've now figured out the rhythm of the Dual Cultivation method. What are your plans next?" Yu Qing skillfully changed the subject. If it weren't to thoroughly understand the system's Dual Cultivation mechanism, he wouldn't have stayed cooped up in a small inn for over ten days.
Duan Xin slapped her forehead. "Oh no! I forgot about the important matter! I came here to hunt for my fifth spirit ring!"
The Two Women exchanged glances, both feeling a bit helpless. They had been so engrossed in Dual Cultivation and consolidating their cultivation that they almost forgot the most important thing.
"Xiner, do you have any specific requirements for your fifth spirit ring?" Yu Qing inquired.
"A ten-thousand-year fire attribute Spirit Beast, preferably a sub-dragon species, as that would have the highest compatibility with my Crimson Flame Dragon Lizard Spirit!" Duan Xin immediately stated her ideal target.
Yu Qing stroked his chin, recalling his half-year of observations deep within the Star Dou Great Forest. Soon, the image of a powerful Spirit Beast surfaced in his mind – it perfectly fit the requirements, but... "Xiner, I do have a suitable target here." Yu Qing spoke cautiously. "It's a pure dragon species Spirit Beast, fire attribute, its name should be Crimson-Eyed Burst Dragon. However... its age is a bit high."
"Really? How old exactly?" Duan Xin's eyes lit up, eagerly pressing for more.
"Based on my observations, it has at least twenty thousand years of cultivation." Yu Qing truthfully replied.
"Tw-twenty thousand years?!" Duan Xin's excitement instantly collapsed into horror. "Husband, that age is too high! And it's a top-tier dragon-type Spirit Beast! I'm only at the Spirit King realm, I can't absorb it at all! Are you sending me to my death?" Her voice trembled.
Yu Qing saw that although she was scared, her favorability displayed by the system hadn't dropped at all, so he knew there was a chance. He chuckled softly, his tone encouraging: "Xiner, do you want to give it a try?"
"H-how do I try?"
"The Medicinal Cuisine I've been giving you and the medicated baths you've been taking these past few days aren't ordinary tonics." Yu Qing began to reveal the secret. "According to my estimation, they have increased the maximum spirit ring absorption limit your body can withstand by at least eight thousand years beyond its original foundation!"
As he spoke, with a thought, nine transcendent spirit rings once again rose from beneath his feet, exuding a heart-palpitating pressure. He pointed to the pitch-black fifth spirit ring: "Do you know the age of your husband's fifth spirit ring?"
The Two Women's gazes were once again firmly captivated by the dreamlike spirit ring configuration, their eyes filled with longing.
Zi Ruyi pondered, then tentatively guessed, "I guess... at least thirty thousand years? Or... forty thousand years?"
Yu Qing shook his head, throwing out a number that left them dumbfounded: "My fifth spirit ring is fifty thousand years old."
"Fifty thousand years?!" The Two Women exclaimed in unison. If not for the numerous shocks Yu Qing had already given them, they might have literally jumped up.
"And the reason I could absorb this fifty-thousand-year spirit ring by skipping ranks was due to the Medicinal Cuisine and medicated baths I uniquely researched, which greatly enhanced my physical strength and mental endurance." Yu Qing continued, "The most crucial main ingredient among them was ten-thousand-year whale resin."
"Te-ten-thousand-year whale resin?" Zi Ruyi's face turned red again, her voice becoming stammering. "Isn't that... that's what some nobles use to... to enhance pleasure..."
"That's just one of its side effects." Yu Qing interrupted her with a smile. "The core function of whale resin is to strengthen the foundation and fortify the physique, fundamentally increasing the maximum spirit ring absorption limit for a Spirit Master! Especially whale resin over ten thousand years, its effects are even more astonishing."
He looked at The Two Women: "In the Medicinal Cuisine I gave you, I added a fifty-thousand-year whale resin, specially processed and combined with dozens of other foundational strengthening herbs, to maximize its effect. So, with your current physical foundation, absorbing a twenty-thousand-year spirit ring is not impossible."
The Two Women stared blankly at their handsome husband, who was speaking eloquently before them, feeling as if his whole body was glowing. Knowledgeable, immensely powerful, and so devoted to them... How could such a husband not make them utterly devoted?
Immense happiness and trust dispelled her fear. Duan Xin took a deep breath, her eyes becoming incredibly firm: "Husband! My fifth spirit ring will be this Crimson-Eyed Burst Dragon! I believe in you!"
Yu Qing grinned, full of confidence: "Xiner, rest assured, with your husband here, I will ensure you safely absorb this spirit ring!"
Hearing such a guarantee, Duan Xin was incredibly excited, already looking forward to the power she would possess with a twenty-thousand-year spirit ring.
"Then shall we depart now?" Zi Ruyi was also a little impatient.
Yu Qing, however, shook his head: "No rush. Xiner, first take out the eighty-thousand-year right leg spirit bone I gave you earlier."
"Absorb it now?" Duan Xin was somewhat surprised.
"Yes." Yu Qing's expression grew serious. "I will use my unique method to assist you in absorbing the Spirit Bone. During the process, I will guide the spirit power within your body for a special kind of tempering. You must not resist; completely relax and leave it to me."
"Oh, okay!" Although Duan Xin didn't fully understand, she had absolute trust in her husband. She carefully took out the dark Spirit Bone, which emitted a scorching aura, from her storage spirit tool.
Next, Yu Qing had Duan Xin sit cross-legged, clear her mind, and begin absorbing the Spirit Bone's energy. At the same time, he gently placed one hand on Duan Xin's back, and vast yet gentle spirit power slowly infused, precisely guiding the enormous energy from the eighty-thousand-year Spirit Bone within her body.
Whenever the Spirit Bone's energy was absorbed by Duan Xin's body, Yu Qing immediately mobilized it to circulate according to a profound route, starting from the skin's surface, penetrating the blood, flushing the meridians, and finally delving deep into the bones, conducting a comprehensive tempering!
This was precisely one of Yu Qing's core trump cards – the Thousand Refinements Method!
Using spirit power as a hammer and the body as iron, a thousand refinements lead to a complete transformation! Each complete tempering could bring about a qualitative leap in physical strength!
However, this method consumed an enormous amount of spirit power. All the spirit power of a Spirit King was only enough to support one complete body tempering. Therefore, Yu Qing needed this eighty-thousand-year Spirit Bone as a continuous source of energy – the vast spirit power it contained was enough to support Duan Xin in completing ten full temperings of the Thousand Refinements Method!
One tempering could increase a Spirit King's physical endurance limit by at least five hundred years of spirit ring age. Completing ten times, her physical strength would directly rival a Spirit Emperor! If she could complete a hundred temperings, she could even give a Spirit Emperor the physique of a Spirit Saint!
Yu Qing himself, relying on this self-created Thousand Refinements Method, completed a staggering three thousand temperings during his Spirit Saint period, thus possessing a terrifying physique comparable to a Titled Douluo, laying the most solid foundation for him to absorb spirit rings beyond his rank.
Now, in order for his Dao Companion to go further, he unhesitatingly brought out this most important trump card.
Xiner, Ruyi... I will make you, too, stand at the pinnacle of this continent! Yu Qing's eyes gleamed with determined yet gentle light.