Time moved into the night.
Zhang Jing sat cross-legged on the bed, his eyes tightly shut.
Thanks to the spiritual beast meat, waves of warmth permeated his blood, circulating throughout his body.
In this process,
Zhang Jing's mind, which had become somewhat weakened due to continuous cultivation, seemed to have regained its vigor, once again becoming robust.
He activated the Dharma seeds.
A familiar illusory mind's eye suddenly appeared, gradually opening.
On the Jade Talisman,
The skill proficiency of the pure Yuan breathing visualization method began to rapidly increase. Countless new insights merged into a raging torrent, rushing straight towards Zhang Jing.
One breath, two breaths... seven breaths!
The time he spent in mind's eye cultivation had easily surpassed the previous one, but Zhang Jing did not feel the usual weakness and fatigue.
At this very moment, his body was radiating waves of warmth from deep within, continuously replenishing the consumed mental energy.
Nine breaths!
Ten breaths!
Eventually,
The time of the mind's eye stopped at fourteen breaths!
Zhang Jing even felt that fourteen breaths was not his limit.
However, if he continued to force it further, it could damage his mind and the loss would outweigh the gain.
His gaze shifted.
In front of him, the illusory Jade Talisman quietly appeared, the skill information of the pure Yuan breathing visualization method flashed and vanished.
[Pure Yuan Breathing Visualization Method·Uninitiated (13/50)]
"With the help of the spiritual beast meat, has the skill proficiency of the visualization method actually increased by 9 points this time?"
Zhang Jing was slightly startled.
He anticipated this result a little.
However, he did not expect to see such a significant difference between having the supplement of spiritual beast meat and not having it.
In this way, if he has a continuous supply of spiritual beast meat, he would need at most five days to reach the introductory level of the visualization method.
Now is the second day.
He has just met the requirement for a Grade-B evaluation!
"The higher the evaluation level, the more the Dao Institute values you. The four of you have the potential to obtain a Grade-B evaluation and perhaps can get into the inner courtyard in the future, you must seize the opportunity, you can't slack off."
Today, Coach Wang's words to Ji Bochang and the others in the lecture hall again echoed in Zhang Jing's ears.
His words were very straightforward.
Clearly, the difference between a Grade-B evaluation and a Grade-C evaluation is far more than just obtaining middle-grade inheritance and low-grade inheritance.
More importantly, it is a potential entrance into the inner courtyard!
"So I have to strive for a Grade-B evaluation," Zhang Jing said word by word, "The issue with spiritual beast meat must be resolved as soon as possible."
He did not want to miss such an opportunity.
But—
How could he get spiritual beast meat?
Wait!
Could he possibly ... go to Ji Bochang every day and thick-facedly scrounge some spiritual beast meat? At worst, he can double pay him back later.
Just that Brother Ji may not agree as the matter also concerns his future...
Should he open a credit at the Spirit Food Hall?
It doesn't seem like there's a preceding case.
Zhang Jing felt a bit apprehensive in his heart, but for a time he couldn't think of any better ideas, he just had to give it a try.
With various thoughts surging,
Zhang Jing had completely lost his sleepiness at this point.
"Oh right, I forgot something last night....I remember now, the Obscure Serpent's Vacuum Taoism Rhyme!"
Patting his head, Zhang Jing immediately reacted.
These past few days, he had focused all his attention on the visualization method and didn't have any spare time, naturally, he did not think about the Obscure Serpent's Vacuum Taoism Rhyme.
With nothing else to do, why not try?
A thought arose in Zhang Jing's mind.
This so-called 'Obscure Serpent's Vacuum Taoism Rhyme' was something he comprehended from the cultivating Dao Institute's immortals using the Mind's Eye Dharma Seeds.
Presumably, it should be related to cultivation.
He was somewhat excited.
After a long while, Zhang Jing finally calmed down.
He closed his eyes, his consciousness slowly sinking into the depths of his mind, repeatedly recalling the special atmosphere he perceived at that time.
Attempting to draw out that hint of Taoism Rhyme.
Time slowly passed by.
The room was terrifyingly quiet, the usual buzzing of insects had completely disappeared, as if terrified by a certain chilling presence.
Gradually, Zhang Jing began to feel a heavy and cold sensation creeping into his consciousness.
All at once.
Roar—
A savage roar, resonating with the desolation of the wilderness, exploded without warning in Zhang Jing's mind.
Following that, he heard a series of sounds by his ear, like the clashing and grinding of metal.
This sound, growing gradually from weak to strong, was filled with chillness.
At a certain moment, Zhang Jing felt as if he had transformed into a black flood dragon.
Well, a flood dragon, in a manner of speaking.
Sharp teeth like swords and daggers filled his mouth, a whisker torn on one side, no horns on his head, no limbs beneath his body. Less than one-tenth of his slender, agile body was revealed, its surface covered with black, glittering scales that flickered with a cold light.
The black flood dragon opened its eyes, a cruel glint flashing therein.
Then instinct kicked in and its mouth gaped open.
In an instant, threads of spiritual energy gathered in Zhang Jing's stone chamber, and then, like rivers flowing into the sea, they entered the gaping maw of the black flood dragon.
"So this is what nature's spiritual energy is like?"
Zhang Jing, currently embodying the black flood dragon, could only exclaim in astonishment before once again concentrating whole-heartedly on the monumental task of absorbing the spiritual energy of nature.
I inhale!
I inhale again!
The spiritual energy wasn't plentiful, but it was ceaseless.
After passing through the black flood dragon, the spiritual energy became extremely pure and directly merged into Zhang Jing's body.
Moreover, unlike the warm current produced by consuming the flesh of spiritual beasts, at this moment, Zhang Jing only felt as if he were soaking in a hot spring, every corner of his body rejoicing.
His vitality slowly enhanced, the beating of his heart grew stronger.
The depleted mind was gradually rejuvenating.
Until...
Dawn arrived.
Zhang Jing opened his eyes, confused.
From last night when he started luring the shadow flood dragon to ingest the Taoism Rhyme, an entire night had passed.
However, in Zhang Jing's perception, it only felt like the time it took to drink half a cup of tea.
The enormous disparity between this perception and reality left Zhang Jing almost disoriented.
It took him a long time to recover.
Everyone says that time is lost in cultivation, it seems to be true.
Zhang Jing took a deep breath, followed by uncontrollable excitement.
He could feel an unbelievable vitality within his body, an effect surpassing that of consuming the flesh of Spiritual Beasts by a large margin.
His condition had changed drastically overnight.
With the assistance of the shadow flood dragon ingesting Taoism Rhyme, he would be able to master the Visualization Method in five days at most, and three or four days at least.
Getting the Grade-B evaluation was just a matter of time.
Invigorating!
An indescribable exhilaration filled Zhang Jing's heart.
He vaguely felt that the shadow flood dragon ingesting the Taoism Rhyme was limited by his physical body. At present, he could only absorb Spiritual Energy and aid in cultivation. Its true terror would only be revealed after stepping onto the Immortal Way.
Most importantly, this was just the remnants of Taoism Rhyme.
Zhang Jing couldn't imagine just how powerful the Immortal from Dao Institute he met last time was.
Snapping back to reality.
"However," Zhang Jing looked at his hand and gave a wry smile, "I haven't even mastered Immortal Way Visualization yet, and I can already sense and absorb nature's spiritual energy for my own!"
"It seems that before learning to walk, I've learned to run."
But he quickly thought of those Grade-A talents.
The more he thought about it, the more abnormal it felt.
Even though Zhang Jing had the Jade Talisman to enhance cultivation, the shadow flood dragon ingesting the Taoism Rhyme for absorption of spiritual energy and the accelerator of Dharma Seeds for his spiritual eye, he still couldn't master the Visualization Method in three days.
"Alas, the Path of Longevity is long indeed."
Pushing his pride to one side, Zhang Jing once again immersed himself in cultivation.
...
...
Two days later.
[Pure Yuan Breathing Visualization · Not yet mastered (37/50)]
A satisfied expression surfaced on Zhang Jing's face as the progress of Visualization Method's cultivation was faster than expected.
"Just need to go all out and I'll be able to master the Visualization Method by tomorrow. Hmm, actually one day before the deadline for Grade-B evaluation."
"Such is the talent of me."
"Right, I should not be late for the lecture today."
Upon saying those words, Zhang Jing quickly made his way towards the Lecture Hall.