The Qingling Jade Liquid entered his body, transforming into an incredibly pure energy that surged into his mind.
After a bout of intense pain, Xu Ping’an felt himself become much clearer all at once.
His mind seemed to become lighter and more agile.
"The Qingling Jade Liquid really can enhance soul power," Xu Ping’an said with a smile.
According to the memories of his past life, soul power could only have an external effect after it condensed.
Once the soul power was released externally, it could be used as a form of powerful combat power.
A Seventh Rank expert wishing to break through to the Eighth Rank faces the greatest hurdle of solidifying their soul power.
However, solidifying soul power also requires a lengthy enhancement process.
Generally, soul power is elevated with a person’s cultivation, age, and experience.
However, this kind of enhancement is usually extremely slow.
Unless one is like Xu Ping’an, nurturing themselves with heaven-sent treasures.
Before the solidification of the soul, there are five stages, respectively: Insight, Perception, Minute Entry, Dual Focus, and Mind as Clear as a Mirror.
Xu Ping’an’s soul power has not even reached the level of Insight.
Of course, it’s quite difficult for anyone below Sixth Rank to attain the Realm of Insight.
But just now, after Xu Ping’an consumed a drop of Qingling Jade Liquid, he had already begun breaking through towards Insight.
"About ten drops of Qingling Jade Liquid should be enough to bring my soul power to the initial stage of Insight," Xu Ping’an said with a laugh.
The next moment, without hesitation, he began to take the Qingling Jade Liquid drop by drop.
His soul power was still very weak, basically unable to withstand huge amounts of energy, which is why he felt such intense pain when he consumed the first drop.
Now, upon taking the second drop, the pain had already lessened a lot.
By the time he reached the third drop, there was no pain at all.
The fourth drop, the fifth drop, began to feel immensely refreshing.
The absorption of the Qingling Jade Liquid was basically very quick, almost one drop per breath.
So ten drops later, Xu Ping’an had not taken much time at all.
"Buzz!"
His mind suddenly hummed, and his entire being felt much more refreshed all at once.
"I’ve reached the initial stage of Insight."
Xu Ping’an was thrilled in his heart.
Immediately focusing on his eyes, the next moment, he found everything around him seemed to slow down a lot.
Many things, after just one glance, he could instantly remember.
His understanding of combat techniques also improved significantly.
"Once my soul power reaches the peak of Insight, I should be able to predict the trajectory of others’ attacks during combat," Xu Ping’an said with a smile.
This was just the stage of Insight. If he could reach the stage of Perception, within a ten-meter radius, even the slightest movement could be sensed by him without using his eyes.
At that time, his whole body could be used for perception, an ability different from the external release of soul power, but also capable of some initial level of perception.
As for Minute Entry, that was essentially a huge enhancement of the senses, making it difficult for the details within a hundred meter radius to escape your perceptions.
That’s why Xu Ping’an was so interested in the improvement of soul power.
"What is this guy doing? What did he just eat?" Li Yuanba asked, puzzled.
Li Tianqi, Xie Yuanwu, and Li Changyun all shook their heads.
"That is Qingling Jade Liquid, a heaven-sent treasure that can enhance soul power. It’s said that a single drop is comparable to a thousand low-grade spirit stones," Duan Tianyu said with complexity.
He had once seen this item in a book; it was extremely rare and precious.
"How much?" Li Tianqi’s eyes widened in disbelief.
The others also felt like they had misheard.
"A single drop is worth a thousand low-grade spirit stones? Could it be a mistake?" Li Changyun exclaimed in shock.
"Isn’t that more valuable than spiritual marrow? A drop of spiritual marrow is worth ten low-grade spirit stones. He just consumed ten drops at once, isn’t that directly consuming ten thousand low-grade spirit stones, each worth a hundred thousand gold coins? How many gold coins would that be?" Li Tianqi was overwhelmingly shocked.
"10 billion gold coins!"
Li Yuanba and Li Changyun also inhaled sharply in surprise.
"Is this guy really so wealthy and bold?"
"To actually consume such an expensive treasure all at once?"
"Does their entire Li Family even have this much wealth?"
"Soul Power? Isn’t Soul Power only cultivated after reaching the Seventh Rank?" Xie Yuanwu exclaimed in shock.
"Normally, yes, but it’s said that cultivating it in advance also has its benefits," Duan Tianyu responded.
The gazes everyone directed at Xu Ping’an suddenly became complex.
No wonder this fellow is so monstrous; it turns out he uses heaven-defying items for cultivation.
At the Ninth Layer of the Sea-Splitting Realm, he’s capable of slaying a peak Third Rank Second Layer.
This simply cannot be explained by common sense.
"Soul Power is no longer absorbing; it looks like it will take some time before it can continue. Next, I should study this Shield Technique," Xu Ping’an whispered to himself.
After absorbing ten drops, his Soul Power had reached a saturation point and could not be improved further.
Since he could not absorb any more, Xu Ping’an naturally would not waste it carelessly.
After all, the Qingling Jade Liquid is a treasure of astronomical value.
Shield Technique!
Named Xuanwu Earth-Shaking Shield, a Superior Grade Fourth Rank Shield Technique, it is also one of the few basic combat techniques from Xu Ping’an’s past life memories.
Interestingly, this Shield Technique is also related to Xuanwu.
The main emphasis of this technique is not defense, but attack.
There are four moves in total.
The first move: Unloading Force
The second move: Borrowing Force
The third move: Bursting Force
The fourth move: Explosive Force
The names of the four moves are very simple, but the fact that Xu Ping’an from his past life remembered them indicates their extraordinary combat power.
The first move, Unloading Force, is actually quite simple: it involves using the shield to dispel the opponent’s incoming force.
The second move, Borrowing Force, is about converting the opponent’s incoming force into one’s own force.
The third move, Bursting Force, is an eruption of power, allowing force to burst forth like a landslide.
As for the fourth move, Explosive Force, that is about digging deep into one’s own full strength on top of the burst, to unleash an attack that is several times more powerful than one’s usual full force.
These four moves are simple in their execution; the key lies in their application in real combat.
Xu Ping’an took out his shield and swung it around a few times, quickly becoming proficient with the movements.
It must be said, after the enhancement of his Soul Power, he learned things even faster.
He could clearly identify his own shortcomings and promptly correct them.
However, to really master the Shield Technique, real combat is necessary.
"Li Yuanba, I’m quite interested in the Body Refinement of the Tyrant Heavenly Sect; would you care for a spar? Don’t worry, I won’t use a sword, just my shield," said Xu Ping’an with a smile.
"Use a shield?" Li Yuanba looked surprised.
Xu Ping’an’s cultivation was a whole rank lower than his, and it was also a major milestone.
Without a sword, how could Xu Ping’an possibly be his match?
But he was also very interested in Xu Ping’an’s strength, so he immediately agreed, "Good, since my younger sister is undergoing her inheritance, I have some free time. I’ll spar with Brother Xu."
Having said that, Li Yuanba stepped forward.
He equipped a pair of Meteorite Iron gauntlets.
Since Li Yuanba’s attacks were with his fists, his fighting style was extremely direct.
"Brother Li, please enlighten me," Xu Ping’an said with delight upon seeing Li Yuanba’s agreement.
The others also showed curious expressions.
They were equally interested in this sparring match.