At one time, Bella did what Tyler said without hesitation. Although she wanted to stay and chat, she knew Tyler needed to focus on cultivating. Reluctantly, she left the hut, giving him his privacy.
Tyler sat cross-legged on the bed, placing his hands near his elixir field, palms facing but not touching each other. Closing his eyes, he prayed, "God, grant me your blessing that I may still have a little vital energy." He focused on quieting his mind, preparing for meditation.
A short time went by and suddenly, Tyler felt an itch spread through his energy meridians, like millions of ants crawling inside. Convulsive shudders wracked his body before vital energy surged through him. "At least I can feel it again," he sighed in relief, feeling so lucky, grateful that he could cultivate once more.
As Tyler felt the energy flowing within, he realized he had reached the second level in the energy gathering realm.
Over the last three years,his level has fallen from the ninth to the second level in the Energy Gathering Realm over the last two years. "Can I really regain my original level before they find me?" he wondered, a wry smile forming on his lips.
His three-day coma had made every minute precious, motivating him to get out of bed
Before the coma, Tyler had practiced the Green Formula, a basic refinement method of the Sun Sect that produced masculine energy. He hadn't just memorized it—he understood its spirit.
After that, he began practicing his technique.
As his vital energy coursed through his body, it drew in nature's energy, slowly permeating him through his acupoints. It felt like fresh spring air, reinvigorating him.
As his vital energy filled him, Tyler became relaxed and comfortable and felt as though fresh spring air was reinvorgorating him.
Suddenly, the energy felt overwhelming, as if his meridians would burst. Tyler recognized this as a sign of a breakthrough. Given his past at the ninth level, he thought achieving the next level would be easy. After two hours, his energy meridians had enlarged, fully opening. Yet, the breakthrough didn't come, and the absorption of vital energy slowed dramatically. "Not again," he muttered, realizing he had to refine the absorbed energy before taking in more.
The importance of practicing the Green Formula lay in a steady, gradual approach to build a solid foundation. Tyler's strength returned to normal as he checked his vitals after a brief workout.
With vital energy, he was physically stronger than ordinary people. Even at the second level, he could easily defeat several non-refiners. Jumping up, he shook out his hands and kicked his legs before doing toe touches. Satisfied with his quick recovery, he felt a sudden rush.
His mind opened, gaining a profound awareness of his surroundings. "What's happening?" Tyler thought, feeling everything within a six-hundred-foot radius—from wildlife to disciples passing by—as if he could see them. "Am I hallucinating?" Panic rose as he closed his eyes to test it again. Rushing outside, he compared his sensations with reality and confirmed it was no illusion. "Am I… unleashing a spiritual sense?"
He recalled his mentor's words about the Mysterious Realm, where one possesses a spiritual sense and can perceive their surroundings even with eyes closed. But he was far from reaching that level. "How is this possible? I'm only at the second level," he mused, unsure if it was real or a delusion.
Excitement overwhelmed him as he realized he had gained this ability, like a beggar suddenly facing a feast. He remembered seeing ten large lightning balls devouring eight smaller ones. "Could these represent parts of my soul?" Tyler guessed the original Tyler lost two soul parts, and the larger balls consuming the smaller ones gave him more than the average person. This ability provided a second set of eyes, invaluable in battles and refining.
After the initial joy over his newfound abilities, Tyler felt dissatisfied with his refinement level—still at the second level. "This isn't enough," he thought. Over two days, he practiced the Purple Yang Formula, with Evan bringing meals regularly. Sensing he was close to a breakthrough, he seized the opportunity.
The next evening, the vital energy flowed faster, and his meridians expanded significantly. He could sense even the slightest cracks in his body. Finally, a dull sound marked the doubling of his energy meridians' capacity. The vital energy streamed into all 360 acupoints simultaneously, intoxicating him. "Yes! I've done it!" he thought, running the energy through his body to consolidate his progress. When he opened his eyes, he felt relaxed and confirmed he had reached the third level of the Energy Gathering Realm.
Tyler swelled with confidence. After being unconscious for three days and refining for two days, he realized he hadn't left the hut in five days. Deciding to take a break, he stepped outside into the bright night. The moon shone above, stars filled the sky, and his shadow stretched long on the ground.
Grunt disciples usually shared a house with four people. When Tyler contracted dementia and was sent to live with other grunt disciples, no one wanted to live with him, so he had to live in the abandoned hut. As Tyler passed a house, his spiritual sense enveloped it, and he saw Bella sleeping, snoring, and drooling. An old quilt lay on the floor beside the bed. Bella's sleeping position amused Tyler.
Bella muttered, "Tyler, you finally recovered. I'm so happy," before his snoring deepened. Moved by the memory of Bella caring for him during his illness three years ago, Tyler felt a swell of gratitude. "A friend in need is a friend indeed," he whispered, swearing they would be great buddies forever.
Content with his newfound abilities and progress, Tyler looked up at the stars. "I won't let them find me unprepared," he vowed silently, clenching his fists. The road ahead was daunting, but with his spiritual sense and determination, he felt ready to face whatever came next.