Chapter 22: Spiritual Power

"You've already delayed several days," Ye Jingyu said coldly. "Hurry up and get up, we're going to proceed with the third step of Martial Enlightenment, dragon force control." Then, twisting her slender waist, she turned and walked out of Lanling's room.

The third step of Martial Enlightenment is also the last step, dragon force control.

Once dragon force control is completed, one must enter into real combat martial arts practice.

"After completing the second step, dragon force activation, you can activate dragon force at any time and place, but the moment it's activated, it surges into the limbs and dissipates without a trace," Ye Jingyu said. "The third step, dragon force control, is about using spiritual power to concentrate the dragon force at a single point and then explode it through the body's meridians in a burst at a certain spot. For example, when you fight with a sword, you need to release the dragon force in the hand holding the sword. When you sprint, you stimulate the dragon force in your legs. When you want to lock onto an enemy with your mind, you channel the spiritual dragon force to your brain."

Lanling understood that when a force disperses, no matter how strong it is, it's useless. But when it concentrates at a single point, even if it's weak, it becomes invincible.

Just like how a needle can easily pierce through a person's body with just an ounce of force.

Lanling asked, "How do we know when dragon force control is complete?"

"Dragon force control is endless," Ye Jingyu said. "A martial artist spends their entire life controlling dragon force. In the beginning, one can only control and utilize a fraction of the dragon force. As one's cultivation level increases, gradually one can control fifty percent, seventy percent, eighty percent of the dragon force."

Lanling understood that it wasn't just the level of dragon force that mattered, but also the utilization rate of the dragon force.

Ye Jingyu continued, "The completion mark of the third step of enlightenment is using spiritual power to control the dragon force, circulating it through the entire body's meridians, and finally returning it to the heart, completing a cycle. This indicates the completion of the third step of Martial Enlightenment."

Lanling asked, "So, how long does it generally take to complete the third step of Martial Enlightenment?"

"Among the three steps of Enlightenment, the third step is the most crucial and the most difficult!" Ye Jingyu replied. "Even those with the highest talent need about two months. It's hard to lock onto and concentrate the intricately spreading dragon force with spiritual power when it circulates throughout the body, as it constantly dissipates."

Following that, Ye Jingyu gave Lanling a disdainful glance and said, "Of course, you are a freak of nature, I have no idea how long you will need."

Lanling said, "I've found that spiritual talent seems to be very important, it's used in every aspect."

"You're stating the obvious," Ye Jingyu replied. "Among the five major talents, spiritual talent is the absolute core. A martial artist with high spiritual talent can become a top expert even if the other four talents are lower. Conversely, if the spiritual talent is low, the achievements in one's lifetime are extremely limited even with high levels in the other talents."

The essence of martial arts in this world is the spiritual control of dragon force, transforming it into the body's own strength.

"Follow me…" Ye Jingyu led Lanling into a quiet chamber and then sat down cross-legged.

Lanling sat down cross-legged, quickly lowering his gaze and trying not to look around.

Ye Jingyu explained, "For the third step of enlightenment, there are no secret incantations. You use the second step of dragon force activation to bring forth a surge of dragon force and then use the first step of dragon force induction to internally observe this force. Next, use your spiritual power to capture as much dragon force as possible and condense these scattered dragon energies together. Begin to control it, moving from the heart to the Middle Dantian, and then to the Lower Dantian."

At this point, Ye Jingyu paused.

Lanling asked, "And then what?"

Ye Jingyu replied, "This is the most crucial step. The Lower Dantian is where the body's meridians converge. Whether you want to channel dragon force to your hands, feet, or brain, it must pass through the Lower Dantian. Just moving the dragon force from the heart to the Lower Dantian can take over a month. Of course, for you, a freak of nature, I don't know how long it will take. Once you complete this step, let me know, and we'll continue with the latter part of dragon force control."

While explaining, Ye Jingyu pointed at her own heart area and then moved her finger to the Middle Dantian on her chest, continuing down to the Lower Dantian area.

Closing his eyes, Lanling practiced the Reversing Moon Secret in Water; soon, he became completely calm, his entire being focused intently on one point.

Once a person enters a state of deep concentration, their spiritual power instantly withdraws, revealing not even the slightest leakage. Ye Jingyu easily picked up on this state and then said, "Next, activate the dragon force using the second step of enlightenment."

With a shift of his consciousness, Lanling saw the Demon Star Energy appear in his Spiritual Illusion, and a dim light began to shine in the completely dark Illusion Realm.

The light of the Demon Star had truly become very weak.

"Release the energy," Lanling commanded in his mind.

The Demon Star contracted for a moment, and suddenly a myriad of energy rays burst forth.

"Quickly use your spiritual power to catch as much as you can," Jingyu said.

Lanling immediately released his spiritual power to capture the thousands of strands of energy rays.

However, the energy dissipated too quickly; before Lanling could capture it, the energy had entirely vanished.

"Master, if it's just to complete the third step of enlightenment, you only need to command with your consciousness, and I can directly move this energy to the Dantian, then circulate it through the body and return it to the heart," Demon Star said. "With this, you can complete the third step of enlightenment in less than a quarter of an hour."

Doing so would probably shock Jingyu to the core once again.

"Do I need to do this?" Lanling asked. He was genuinely inquiring, not being rhetorical.

He had been familiar with the ways of the world since childhood and wasn't the least bit hypocritical. Deceit and trickery, as long as they were useful, did not bother him, nor did they bring much moral pressure.

Demon Star suggested, "I advise you to complete the third step of enlightenment based on your own talent."

"Why?" Lanling asked.

"I can provide you with powerful energy, but there's one thing I cannot do for you, and that's cultivating spiritual power. Therefore, you must cultivate spiritual power on your own," Demon Star explained.

Spiritual power is the core of martial arts, yet its esteemed status derives from the need to control Dragon Force using the mind. Lanling, with a mere thought, could instantly command the Demon Star energy to perform any attack with nearly a hundred percent energy efficiency—spiritual power seemed not that important.

Lanling voiced his reasoning, "If I don't need to use spiritual power to control energy, why should I cultivate it?"

"The power of the spirit isn't only about controlling Dragon Force. Locking onto enemies, sensing the environment, and so on all require strong spiritual power. Even in the highest-level battles, it is a battle of spiritual power," Demon Star explained.

Lanling was taken aback. He had already held spiritual power in high regard, yet he had underestimated its importance. No wonder spiritual power is the absolute core of martial arts.

"Then, how is my spiritual talent?" Lanling asked.

"If the full value of spiritual talent is one hundred, then you should be at seventy-five," Demon Star replied.

"Is that number high?" Lanling asked.

"High, one in a thousand," Demon Star answered. "But... it's still not the pinnacle of the world."

Lanling felt a pang of disappointment. After all, spiritual power was too important, and he had only scored seventy-five.

One in a thousand might sound impressive, but the environment he was in required him to be one in ten thousand, or even higher.

"Master need not be disheartened, for not only can I devour Bloodline Dragon Force, I can also devour spiritual power. Thus, should you wish, and should you hunt enough prey, you can possess immensely powerful spiritual power, even surpassing the great sages of the Dragon God Temple," Demon Star said.

Lanling was astonished; the Demon Star was so against the natural order, capable of devouring not only power but also spiritual power. He truly wondered if the Demon Star itself was a black hole.

Lanling couldn't help but ask, "What prey has the highest spiritual power?"

"Of course, it's the high-level spiritual experts among humans, especially those magicians," Demon Star replied.

Lanling thought of the Nine Spirits Magician who had changed his face for him and then shuddered, shaking his head.

Killing people to devour their spiritual power? It was simply too evil.