Chapter 152: Current Strength
The ability to control Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy is related to the size of a Martial Artist's own Small World.
The larger the Small World, the greater the range of control and the stronger the intensity.
Any Martial Artist, just after breaking through to the Mysterious Profundity Realm, has a Small World that is twice the size of their Qi Spring.
After that, the Qi Spring size is fixed and never changes.
However, the Small World will expand as the Martial Artist's Cultivation rises.
Consequently, as a Martial Artist's Cultivation increases, the larger the Small World becomes, and the stronger their future capabilities.
Xiao Yi had just made a breakthrough and was not in a hurry to leave.
Instead, he continued to return to the cave to diligently practice and stabilize his Cultivation.
Several days later, he left the cave again.
By then, his Cultivation had completely stabilized, and the previously depleted Qi Spring inside his body had filled by one-tenth.
This proved that his Cultivation was now at the Mysterious Profundity First Layer.
Once the Qi Spring was completely filled, he would be at the Mysterious Profundity Ninth Layer.
Of course, he was well aware that given the vastness of his Qi Spring, filling it was a rather challenging task.
With the dimensions being three thousand three hundred and thirty-three zhang in length, width, and height, this was not a matter of simple addition, but of multiplication.
Compared to other Martial Artists whose Qi Springs were merely two hundred or three hundred zhang, his was more than a hundred times larger.
One could only imagine how terrifyingly large this Qi Spring was.
Filling it would not be achieved overnight.
If he practiced normally, while other Martial Artists might have reached Mysterious Profundity Ninth Layer, he would still be struggling to break through to the Mysterious Profundity Second Layer.
However, he was not worried about this.
The True Qi inside the Qi Spring was too vast for a Martial Artist's body to bear all at once.
That's why a Small World is created within the body, to store this True Qi in the Qi Spring.
Normally, a Martial Artist could at most release about half of the True Qi in their Qi Spring at one time.
Only those with a Taoist Body could break this limitation.
A Taoist Body is the most suitable body for cultivation.
A Taoist Body has greater affinity and a smoother flow of True Qi within the body, far outstripping ordinary Martial Artists.
For example, an Innate Taoist Body could release seventieths of the True Qi in the Qi Spring at once.
Do not underestimate this mere twenty percent extra.
This is the capital for Innate Taoist Body Martial Artists to fight across levels.
Of course, releasing so much True Qi at once usually happens when a Martial Artist employs a special move.
For instance, both having Qi Springs of two hundred zhang and being fully filled.
An ordinary Martial Artist could instantly mobilize one hundred zhang of True Qi to employ a powerful Earth Rank Martial Technique.
Meanwhile, a Martial Artist with an Innate Taoist Body could instantly mobilize one hundred and forty zhang of True Qi for the same purpose.
The power of the two is obviously different.
Xiao Yi had tested himself, and with his powerful physical form, aided by his Ice and Fire Dao Body,
he could release one hundred percent of the True Qi in his Qi Spring at once.
Now he was only at Mysterious Profundity First Layer, with the Qi Spring filled to one-tenth.
The True Qi in the Qi Spring, both three thousand three hundred and thirty-three zhang in length and width, reached only a height of three hundred and thirty-three zhang.
He could release all of this True Qi in an instant.
Those super geniuses, with Qi Springs of two hundred zhang, even if they reached Mysterious Profundity Ninth Layer with their Qi Springs completely filled; in terms of strength, they still fell far short of him, who was currently only at Mysterious Profundity First Layer.
As long as he had sufficient strength, it didn't matter if Cultivation took a bit longer.
This was Xiao Yi's plan and his confidence.
Furthermore, he also had the Asura Battle Body.
Tens of thousands of bottles of Demon Beast Essence Blood, he had yet to consume.
Returning to the cave, he sat down cross-legged and immediately began to consume them.
The Demon Beast Essence Blood he now had on hand was swapped by the 16 Demon Hunting Teams.
As for the previous ones, he had already consumed them all.
Four thousand two hundred bottles of Fourth Level Blood Essence; thirty thousand two hundred bottles of Third-level Essence Blood.
In fact, the effect of Third-level Demon Beast Essence Blood was already minimal.
However, a change in quantity can lead to a change in quality.
After consuming over thirty thousand bottles of Third-level Demon Beast Essence Blood, his Physical Strength had increased from Seventh Layer of Mysterious Profundity to Mysterious Profundity Ninth Layer.
From the remaining three thousand two hundred bottles of Fourth-level Essence Blood, he consumed one thousand five hundred bottles.
His Physical Strength had reached Half-step Breaking Profound.
He did not consume the remaining one thousand seven hundred bottles.
Because, if he continued to cultivate the Asura Battle Body, it would break through to the Second Layer, reaching the Third Layer.
Between layers, there was a Great Realm.
The necessary strength would increase exponentially.
The one thousand seven hundred bottles were still not enough to breakthrough to the Third Layer, so he temporarily did not consume them.
According to the records left by the book from Bloodthirsty Profound Monarch.
The Third Layer provided a qualitative leap in strength.
This is also why the strength required for a breakthrough is extremely tremendous.
Xiao Yi shook his head, already having a rough plan for future cultivation in his heart.
With a whoosh, he left the cave and rose into the sky.
"Condense," Xiao Yi shouted loudly.
Within ten thousand meters, the Spiritual Energy surged toward him like an avalanche.
Under the absorption of the Ice Phoenix Sword and the Fire Control Beast, two powerful Martial Souls, it instantly transformed into True Qi and was stored in the Qi Spring of his Small World.
Directly absorbing Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy was one of the methods for Mysterious Profundity Realm Warriors to accelerate their Cultivation.
However, the Martial Souls of other warriors weren't of a high rank, so their absorption speed was limited.
Even if it was several hundred meters of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy, it often required a long time to absorb.
This text was acquired from M|V|L0EMPYR.
Thus, even though this method could speed up Cultivation, its effect wasn't too significant.
But Xiao Yi was different; with the absorption rate of the Ice Phoenix Sword, even vast amounts of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy could be absorbed in an instant.
Therefore, this method could exhibit terrifying effects in Xiao Yi's hands.
"Boom"
All the Spiritual Energy within ten thousand meters was absorbed, turning the area into a vacuum of Spiritual Energy.
Spiritual Energy from beyond ten thousand meters would automatically replenish it.
Of course, this replenishment wasn't fast, taking at least several hours.
Xiao Yi didn't wait in the same spot but instead flew to a farther location.
To "plunder" Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy again.
"Boom"
Once again, all the Spiritual Energy was absorbed, creating another ten-thousand-meter vacuum of Spiritual Energy.
Boom... boom... boom..., the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy in the high sky was continuously depleted.
To accelerate his flying speed, Xiao Yi manifested the Purple Flame Fire Wings.
Although the Mysterious Profundity Realm already enabled flight,
with the amplification of the Purple Flame Fire Wings, the flying speed was several times faster.
In no time, Xiao Yi had crossed several cities.
The Spiritual Energy in these cities' high skies was completely absorbed.
Of course, it wasn't a severe matter; the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy would replenish itself from other areas in just a few hours.
Although he had absorbed such a vast range of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy,
the Spiritual Energy was quite sparse and only converted into a modest amount of True Qi.
"Hm?" After a while, Xiao Yi suddenly furrowed his brows.
While crossing several cities, he distinctly felt that the number of warriors in the cities was much fewer than usual.
"What's going on?" Xiao Yi's face showed confusion.
Half an hour later, he flew to the headquarters of the Gale Demon Hunting Team and stopped.
He had intended to discuss the future trade with Ning Hao.
But the scene before him was utterly unexpected.
The vast Gale Demon Hunting Team, with over a thousand members, was now almost deserted, with only a handful of gatekeepers left.
When Xiao Yi landed, several Demon Hunters came forward to greet him.
"Master Yi Xiao, why are you still here?" the Demon Hunters asked with puzzlement.
"Shouldn't I be here?" Xiao Yi asked with a frown.
"Ah, no, please don't be angry, Master Yi Xiao," the Demon Hunters hurriedly apologized upon seeing Xiao Yi frown.
"What's going on? Where are the others? Why only a few of you?" Xiao Yi asked.
"Ah, Master Yi Xiao, don't you know?" the faces of the Demon Hunters grew even more puzzled.
"Do I need to ask you if I knew?" Xiao Yi said irritably.
The few looked at Xiao Yi doubtfully and replied, "Three days ago, a Beast Tide erupted unexpectedly, and demon beasts attacked the city, all warriors went to defend."
"A Beast Tide?" Xiao Yi's brow furrowed.
Every few years, the Eighteen Cities of East Desolate would face demon beast attacks.
Great numbers of demon beasts, numbering in the hundreds of thousands, would pour out of the Demon Beast Forest.
Every time, the local warriors would suffer heavy casualties before driving these demon beasts back into the forest.
The marks on those massive city walls were left by countless confrontations between Human Martial Artists and demon beasts over the years.
The few continued, "Every Beast Tide over countless years occurred at around the same time."
"But this time, it came without warning, with overwhelming force, and Green Light City nearly fell."
"The lords of the Eighteen Cities immediately mobilized soldiers to defend."
"The Demon Hunting Hall urgently summoned Demon Hunters from the Eighteen Cities for rapid reinforcements."
"Our Gale Demon Hunting Team, over ninety percent of the Demon Hunters went."
"So that's how it is," Xiao Yi nodded.
The few asked puzzledly, "Master Yi Xiao, where have you been these days? It's such a big event, and you didn't know about it."
"Ah." Xiao Yi did not explain.
The few wore worried expressions and said, "We heard that the situation in Green Light City is very bleak."
"This Beast Tide, in terms of the number and strength of demon beasts, far surpasses the past. Our Demon Hunters and warriors were caught unprepared and suffered heavy losses."
"I also heard that a group of disciples from the Sky-splitting Sword Sect happened to be training there, and now they are trapped, their fate unknown."
"Sky-splitting Sword Sect's disciples?" Xiao Yi was startled.
"Yes," the few answered, "It seems to be led by the chief of the Inner Hall, Ye Ming, and some Inner Sect Disciples."
"One of them was a famous Demon Hunter from our Eighteen Cities of East Desolate, Lei Zhan."
"Another was also a well-known Demon Hunter in this region, named Lin Jin."
"I don't know about the others."
"Lin Jin?" Xiao Yi's expression changed, and his figure instantly disappeared from the spot.