This significant shift immediately captured Leo's attention.
Immediately, Leo connected the transformation to the mysterious sword crystal in his Dantian without any hesitation. Leo couldn't think of any other reason for the unexplained alteration to have occurred other than that.
Despite the excruciating pain he endured, Leo had some understanding of how the sword crystal affected his body. It had never occurred to him that the sword qi emanating from the sword crystal might cleanse all of his meridians, even though he was cognizant of its continual flow.
Leo wasn't mentally sluggish; he was just too unbelievable. How talented a person is is directly related to how easily their meridians flow. In what ways is it possible for a person's skill to be so malleable?
Before, Leo's skill was neither good nor terrible; it just wasn't settled. The meridians on his body, however, have suddenly become crystal obvious. During this time, Leo's abilities soared beyond his wildest expectations, reaching new heights.
He was incredibly fortunate to have this type of luck bestowed upon him. Simply put, Leo was on the verge of passing out from joy. At this same moment, he realized that this enigmatic sword crystal had really been of great assistance to him.
When weighed against that advantage, the fact that Leo's injuries had entirely healed hardly merited attention.
Leo calmed his racing thoughts and kept moving the cultivation method around his body, directing the soul energy into his meridians with an iron fist. The soul energy entered his body continually as he circulated it, changing and perfecting his physicality.
The enormous circulation cycle was finally finished after some time had passed. Typically, a fantastic circulation cycle is difficult to accomplish due to the obstructed meridians. At least a tenfold increase in efficiency had been achieved. That was a demonstration of skill!
All of a sudden, growing had become so easy. Leo saw some amelioration following a highly effective circulatory cycle. It seemed like he was in a dream. It seemed unimaginable to him that he would one day possess such extraordinary skill until he obtained the sword crystal.
At first, Leo thought cultivating was a blast, but then he saw a major improvement. He would not, of course, squander any time.
His meridians' speed of cleansing affected how quickly his body absorbed soul power, and vice versa. Leo normally needed to expend almost 50% of his soul energy to cleanse his meridians while circulating it, but today he didn't even require that much.
At last, he could fortify his body with all the soul energy he had acquired. Leo was already deeply absorbed in his development and had achieved a remarkable ethereal condition as he breathed in and out continuously, finishing one magnificent circulatory cycle after another!
The ethereal state, sometimes called "no paths, no thoughts," was a cultivation condition that one may stumble onto without actively seeking it out.
While in the ethereal condition, one's whole being was absorbed in the practice of cultivation to the point that they forgot who they were.
Under this type of cultivation, which solely relied on the body's circulation mechanism, a martial artist's cultivation pace would increase by more than several times compared to normal. The ethereal condition, more significantly, greatly facilitated passage to other dimensions.
Like a conduit formed as water flows, one can reach the ethereal condition while breaking through to a new dimension.
The loss of sense of one's physical environment, however, made this sort of condition exceedingly hazardous. If danger existed, one's existence would actually be precariously predicted.
Thankfully, it appeared like there were no creatures in this area. Leo, who was in a transcendental condition, was unaffected by anything. Leo remained in his ethereal condition for a considerable amount of time. This particular session of cultivation began at night and continued until dawn on the following day. Leo had a sense of completeness throughout his body when he emerged from the ethereal condition.
As he rose and stretched, Leo's bones emitted a sharp 'pipa' sound. Leo had an overwhelming desire to smash a big tree behind him, his muscles tensing up to meet the challenge. A punch struck the tree hard. Just a muted rumble could be heard. After Leo withdrew his hand, the enormous tree shook, and a distinct fist-shaped imprint—half an inch deep—was visible on the tree's trunk.
A grin spread across Leo's face as he beheld this first impression. His previous limit for leaving a fist imprint was around a third of an inch until yesterday. All of a sudden, he could reach over half an inch today.
During the course of the night, he appeared to have progressed through the second stage of body refinement and into the third level.
The differences among the ten stages of body refinement were minimal. Its primary function was to gauge a martial artist's power and the body's domain.
A fist strength of 200 jin was a prerequisite for the first level of body refinement. At the second level, you required 500 jin strength to refine your body. The third degree of bodily refinement costs 900 jin. Increasing amounts of strength were needed at each stage.
Even though Leo didn't use a strength measuring apparatus to measure the precise force, he could feel it right now—his strength was surely higher than 900 jin—because one punch could leave a half-inch fist print!
His strength had previously been limited to around 700 jin. He could only be described as moderately strict when he was working on his physique at the second level. He gained one degree of strength in just one night. The sheer volume of sound from this level of velocity was terrifying.
This was an unintended consequence of Leo's peak brilliance and his inadvertent ascension into a heightened state of consciousness.
Leo was ecstatic since he had been unexpectedly promoted to the third level of body-refinement and could now enhance his body's talents. His fears would have been palpable when someone had previously mentioned that he would join the Zephyr Blade Sect as an outside disciple, but now they are entirely gone.
Level 3 body refining wasn't quite up to the standards of the Zephyr Blade Sect, but Leo had a whole extra week to prepare.
In one night, he might ascend to the third level and move from body-refining to level two. Then, he was certain that he could achieve the fourth level of body refining within the following ten days, regardless of how slow the promotion pace was.
Body refining is at stage four at sixteen years old. The Zephyr Blade Sect would see that coming from a mile away.
With confidence, Leo threw off a series of basic punches. It was essential to exercise while cultivating in addition to absorbing soul energy.
Additionally, Leo had already carefully considered the matter beforehand. He has no intention of going back to Stellaria City at this time. Harold Whitaker and Franklin were also interested in taking part in the evaluation by the Zephyr Blade Sect. Therefore, they would still be in Stellaria City, and it was quite probable that those two would discover him if he went back there.
Harold Whitaker's body refining fourth level servants were far stronger than him, even though he had previously been upgraded to body refining third level. Even if Harold Whitaker managed to catch him again, Leo couldn't promise that he would have the same luck.
Despite the barren landscape, he was safe from any huge animals that might harm him. It was not bad to cultivate here either. For sustenance, he may go fruit picking or trap little creatures.
Upon reaching the fourth level of body refinement and acquiring adequate self-defense skills, Leo could safely return during the day without fearing Harold Whitaker.
Leo sat down cross-legged once again, plotting his next move. Every opportunity to fortify himself had to be seized.
However, Leo's hearing abruptly picked up noises that were barely audible at this same time.
'Why would somebody haphazardly go into such a wilderness?' Instantly, Leo was wary and dared not continue to cultivate. He jumped to his feet, spotted a tree broad enough to conceal two people, and dove under its branches.
The approaching bodies were drawing closer to Leo as he concealed them. Leo began to hear voices around him. First thing in the morning, the field was dead silent. Leo had perfect audibility for the individuals speaking.