Humans had three Dantians. At first glance, it looked entirely workable to assign a different cultivation method to each Dantian, distributing them evenly.
However, in reality, dual cultivation was extremely difficult.
Because the three Dantians were not unconnected, completely independent parts. They were all parts of the cultivator's body and influenced each other.
For example, if one Dantian cultivated an ice technique, the other two Dantians would also undergo dramatic changes, subtly shifting in that direction.
If, at this time, the other two Dantians cultivated different techniques, it would be like pulling the body in three directions, eventually causing a rupture. This often manifested externally as Mana, essence blood, or Divine Soul interfering with each other, conflicting, or even backfiring, leading to cultivation deviation.
How could one judge the merit of a cultivation method?
It was quite simple.
One just had to see how many Dantians the method honed and to what extent, and the efficiency of the cultivation.
Inferior methods often only cultivated one Dantian while neglecting the rest, and even had side effects.
Average methods primarily cultivated one Dantian with no drawbacks.
Better methods cultivated one Dantian while slightly benefitting the other two.
Excellent methods primarily cultivated one Dantian while significantly benefitting another, or giving some benefit to both others.
Exceptional methods, typically the cornerstone techniques of super sects, mainly cultivated two Dantians while also benefiting the third.
This purely considered the cultivation methods.
The real situation involved other factors and was extremely complex!
Take for example, Demon Cultivator Han Ming, who cultivated two methods.
One was the Nine Revolutions Soul Devouring Secret, primarily cultivating her middle and upper Dantians.
She dual-cultivated the Immortal Zombie Transformation Technique, cultivating the lower Dantian.
Ordinary cultivators could not emulate her. Dual cultivating would cause interference between the zombified body parts and the Mana from the Nine Revolutions Soul Devouring Secret, at best halving the efficiency, and at worst leading to cultivation deviation.
Han Ming managed this solely because of her low-grade talent, the Yin Corpse Qi.
All cultivators had spirit roots, but not all had innate talent.
Talent's influence covered countless aspects, affecting a cultivator's entire cultivation career. It had a significant impact on the stages of Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and even Cultivating the Void.
Although Ning Zhuo only obtained the first three layers of cultivation methods, he was like a walking library, and his insights were still sharp.
He confirmed these three cultivation methods were exceptionally outstanding.
"A cultivator could train in all three of these techniques simultaneously, harmoniously cultivating essence, energy, and spirit!"
"The key was that this harmonious co-existence did not rely on innate talent. As long as one had basic spirit roots and the qualifications for cultivation, anyone could cultivate these techniques."
"This was absolutely top-tier cultivation methods!"
Ning Zhuo's excitement brought a slight wetness to his eyes.
"Mother, as you said, I have obtained the Qi Refinement methods of the Magma Fairy Palace."
"The true methods are even better than you imagined, practically perfect."
"I will train in all of them."
His mother's dying wish had long been etched into the young man's heart. Her expectations had transformed into a mission, a heavy responsibility, driving Ning Zhuo to strive beyond mediocrity and challenge his fate!
...
Meanwhile, Meng Chong was also challenging himself.
To hone his abilities, he specifically designed a training hall.
After activating Frenzied Rushing Thunder, he constantly shuttled through the obstacle-filled training hall.
Boom! Boom! Boom...
The sounds of him colliding with obstacles were endless, echoing through the hall.
"I can do it!"
"I absolutely can do it."
Sometimes, Meng Chong paused, panting heavily, drenched in sweat. Yet his eyes shone brightly, refusing to relax even for a moment.
Quickly, he resumed his special training.
...
Zhou Family.
"I did it, A'shen." Zhou Zhu stepped out of the Gathering and Dispersing As Desired Spirit Tide Array, now at the peak of Qi Refinement layer three.
Zhou Zeshen nodded: "Big Zhu, well done!"
Zhou Zhu: "If there had been no interruptions, I would have succeeded even faster. Meng Chong was not disturbed by the assassins, he must have succeeded even earlier."
"Among the four major powers in Immortal City, only the Ning Family did not suffer any attacks."
Zhou Zeshen shook his head: "Do you mean to say it was the Ning Family? Putting aside the lack of evidence, I don't think so."
"If the Ning Family were really nervous, worrying about falling behind, they wouldn't leisurely select and change cultivation methods."
"Judging by the results, the Ning Family was still the last, while the City Lord's Mansion maintained the lead. Personally, I believe the latter is more plausible!"
"That makes sense." Zhou Zhu nodded, just about to speak when his eyes suddenly rolled back.
Thump.
He collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
Zhou Zeshen was horrified: "Big Zhu, what's wrong with you?"
"Your soul!"
"Where's your soul?"
"Someone! Someone come!"
"Enemy attack, another enemy attack!!"
With Zhou Zeshen's alarm, the entire Zhou Family was thrown into chaos and panic.
Magma Fairy Palace, main hall.
The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit shrank back, enduring lashes.
Room Number One.
Zhou Zhu fumbled around for a long time before thinking of using the Five Elements Qi Regulation Art to summon the mechanism parts.
He had spent too much time.
As he neared the first door, his spiritual power was depleted, and his puppet body collapsed weakly.
Failure.
The returning Zhou Zhu brought back precious firsthand information.
That night, the upper echelons of the Zhou Family stayed awake.
Zhou Zeshen dissipated his power through the night.
...
Ning Zhuo ate and drank heartily, his stomach visibly bulging.
He closed his eyes, stood upright, and silently activated the Demon-infused Bloodline Technique!
His essence blood grew stronger, his blood Qi accelerated, and the essence blood flowed, seeping into his tendons and membranes, visibly thickening them.
Layer one of Essence Refinement!
Soon, Ning Zhuo felt hunger again.
...
Zheng Family.
"Oh?" Zheng Jian, during a break, received a piece of intelligence, "Zhou Family's Zhou Zhu was attacked again?"
"Therefore, to prevent mishaps, the surroundings of the Artifact Refining Room will be more heavily guarded." The attendant reported.
Zheng Jian frowned, feeling there was something fishy about this intelligence.
"No matter, I'm now at the second layer of Qi Refinement. I'll push harder to reach the peak of layer three." Zheng Jian continued his strenuous cultivation.
He sat cross-legged on a mat, continually accumulating Mana, with several hook-shaped magic artifacts orbiting and flying around him.
...
Ning Zhuo also sat cross-legged on a mat, with incense burning in front of him.
This was Tranquility Incense, aiding him in cultivating the Mirror Stand Spirit Communication Technique.
This technique could increase his divine reserves and deepen his Divine Sea's foundation.
As the incense stick burned out, Ning Zhuo's Divine Sense in his upper Dantian increased by over six hundred units, an astounding efficiency.
"Having consumed a large amount of Golden Silk Jade Dew Cake before, I had a robust foundation. This time, relying on the Mirror Stand Spirit Communication Technique, I gradually developed it, significantly boosting my divine reserves."
With a faint joy, Ning Zhuo stopped resting and resumed his arduous cultivation.
Layer one of Spirit Refining!
Upon reaching layer one, in his upper Dantian, the Divine Sense gathered, forming a Spirit Mirror.
Through this Spirit Mirror, Ning Zhuo could communicate with sentient beings in nature.
The wiser the being, the more sentient it was.
Humans were the most sentient beings.
"The Palace Spirit of the Magma Fairy Palace is also a sentient being, can I communicate with it?" Ning Zhuo wondered.