Upon logging into the game, Lu Qingfeng glanced at the attribute list.
The attributes in the game were similar to those in reality, except for a higher cultivation level.
Over these eight years, Lu Qingfeng had completely set aside talismans.
As the saying goes, mastering one is better than being mediocre at ten!
Alchemy, talismans, and artifact refining, each of these fields is vast and profound, and cultivators could spend their entire lives without mastering them. Despite having ample time, Lu Qingfeng couldn't afford to dabble superficially.
Otherwise, time would be wasted, ultimately achieving nothing!
Among the three major skills, Alchemy was indispensable.
With the root bones of the Lu siblings, progress would be nearly impossible without the aid of elixir pills. Seeking elixirs externally has many restrictions, and suitable elixir pills may not always be found.
Thus, Alchemy was a compulsory course.
Talismans and artifact refining were both means of combat and self-defense.
Previously, Lu Qingfeng delved into talismans because he lacked sufficient resources for artifact refining deep in the mountains. Thus, he studied talisman arts as a temporary measure for self-protection.
Now having settled in Miao Yin City, he could gather various resources through the city.
Talisman study could be temporarily set aside to focus exclusively on artifact refining!
Compared to soul-bound and magic artifacts, talismans were ultimately consumables. Besides, as Lu Qingfeng's strength increased, his ability to master talismans couldn't keep up.
For instance, although Lu Qingfeng was currently at the Fourth Level of Fetal Breathing Realm, his actual combat strength was enough to contend with the True Qi Realm.
However, he could only refine low-level talismans, adequate against early and mid-stage Fetal Breathing cultivators, but somewhat lacking against late-stage Fetal Breathing cultivators.
This was quite ineffective.
Better to refine artifacts.
Even the lowest first-rank artifacts could enhance and add bonuses to Lu Qingfeng at this moment.
And by mastering a few types of artifacts, he could fully arm himself!
Clearly a more appropriate option than talismans.
Also, the grade of talismans drawn was closely related to one's cultivation level. It focused on completing in one go. With Lu Qingfeng's limited Inner Breath, he could only draw up to intermediate-level talismans, solely posing threats to late-stage Fetal Breathing Realm.
Relying on quantity to win would truly be a waste of time.
From the very start of this life, Lu Qingfeng abandoned talismans. In terms of Alchemy, he emphasized mastering recipes beneficial for cultivation.
Such as intermediate Elixir Golden Marrow Pills, advanced Elixirs Qi Union Pill, and Qi Movement Powder.
The former was suitable for late-stage Fetal Breathing Realm consumption, increasing Inner Breath. The latter could elevate True Qi, greatly aiding the bottleneck from Inner Breath Realm to True Qi Realm.
Lu Qingfeng continuously practiced these three types of elixirs, and with the help of Wang Tao and Yue Ran, two top-level Alchemy Apprentices, and even consulting Mu Yuanyi, a First-rank Alchemist, he mastered them proficiently in just a few years.
He could also begin refining by gathering herbs in reality.
His other energies were then devoted to artifact refining and cultivation.
The life of a mortal is brief!
If Lu Qingfeng remained in the Fetal Breathing Realm, his lifespan would be capped at 68 years. After that, reincarnation required sixteen years, and initial cultivation and accumulation would also waste time.
Thus, Lu Qingfeng decided that while mastering skills in this life, he should also give equal attention to cultivation.
After eight years, he had reached the Ninth Layer of the Fetal Breathing Realm.
Even so, that was after consuming quite a number of Experience Values to enhance the Elixir Recipes and the methods for refining with the Red Flame Pill Furnace; otherwise, he would probably have already broken through to the True Qi Realm.
In the Yuan Yi Guild, there were numerous experts.
Among the Great Cultivators in the Foundation Establishment Stage, originally there were Three Venerables. Over these eight years, one more was promoted, and another one was recruited, making it five major Foundation Establishment members holding positions.
The number of experts in the True Qi Realm is even in the hundreds!
Given Lu Qingfeng's identity in the Yuan Yi Guild, if he had any doubts about cultivation and sought advice, rarely would anyone refuse.
Under the guidance of these True Qi Realm experts and Foundation Establishment Great Cultivators, Lu Qingfeng bypassed countless detours. Coupled with the aid of sufficient Elixir Pills, his cultivation advanced at Divine Speed.
"Normally speaking, without the assistance of Elixir Pills, relying solely on painstaking self-cultivation, a common disciple from a sect with a Root Bone of 4 can complete the Fetal Breathing Realm in about five to eight years. Those with a Root Bone of 3 require around twenty years. With a Root Bone of 2, it's about forty years."
"A Root Bone of 1, theoretically, cannot rely on self-perseverance to break through to the True Qi Realm. They might not even achieve the Fetal Breathing Realm."
This is also why the various Immortal Sects of the Bingling Realm, in their first assessment for recruiting disciples, require a minimum of 4 points of Root Bone.
In Guangyuan County, the requirements of the various sects to recruit disciples are much lower.
For example, the Returning to Truth Sect.
With a Root Bone of 2, if there is hope to ascend to the True Qi Realm within one's lifetime, they can be admitted as servant disciples. Those with a Root Bone of 3 or 4 could even become regular disciples.
However, those with a Root Bone of 1 are similarly not accepted.
But the above discussion on Root Bone is merely in theory.
The world is vast, filled with people of extremely low Root Bone who defy fate and soar to the skies. There are also those with high Root Bone who, due to various accidents and changes, remain stuck in the lower stages without breakthrough.
Moreover, there are Elixir Pills in the world, and various methods to aid cultivation.
These make it possible for even those with a Root Bone of 1, deemed useless, to possibly reach the pinnacle of the Immortal Dao!
"Even geniuses cannot avoid relying on Elixir Pills to alter their fate and accelerate their cultivation rate! For someone with my Root Bone, it is even more necessary to rely on a large number of Elixir Pills to amass cultivation."
"Without a powerful Cultivation Technique, sooner or later one would end up with a hollow foundation. Reaching a certain realm, one would hardly make any progress. It is even common for one's foundation to collapse and cultivation to regress during a breakthrough."
"But the True Sect Level 'Qing Yuan Sword Technique,' as a Sword Cultivation Method, uses sharp Sword Qi to dispel the toxicity of the Elixir Pills, refining Inner Breath and True Qi, without the worry of an unstable foundation!"
Lu Qingfeng chuckled.
A True Sect Level skill is indeed extraordinary.
Cultivators in the world, even the top Immortal Sects, all crave such skills intensely, and the intricacies cannot be fully explained in just a few words.
Taking 'Qing Yuan Sword Technique' for example, not to mention its various characteristics, just the ability to dispel the toxicity of Elixir Pills, allowing Lu Qingfeng to fearlessly rely on Elixir Pills to enhance his cultivation level, is considered top-notch in the world!
The only requirement during cultivation is the need to spend more effort in refining away the Elixir toxicity, which may slightly delay the progress of cultivation and requires enduring the agony of piercing Sword Qi.
However, compared to the benefits, this is hardly worth mentioning!
At this moment, Lu Qingfeng was just one small step away from reaching level 20 of Experience Value. Lu Qingfeng planned to level up to 21, reaching the True Qi Realm!
"The difference between the True Qi Realm and the Fetal Breathing Realm lies in True Qi and Inner Breath. To advance to the True Qi Realm, one must first purify the Inner Breath, compressing it into a strand of Pure True Qi. Then using the True Qi to open up the Lower Dantian, allowing the True Qi to reside within the Dantian, would establish the True Qi Realm."
Lu Qingfeng recalled the guidance from Mu Yuanyi and others, as well as the key points in breaking through to the True Qi Realm.
From his waist storage bag, he took out a bottle of Qi Union Pills.
In the critical juncture of ascending to the True Qi Realm, the Qi Union Pill's effectiveness is second only to top-level elixirs like Qi Condensing Pills and Qi Gathering Pills.
Considering Lu Qingfeng's identity and resources, obtaining the latter two top-level elixirs wasn't difficult. But given the difficulty in refining top-level elixirs and the challenges in sourcing materials in reality, Lu Qingfeng decided to use the Qi Union Pill to break through to the True Qi Realm.
This way, he could save up usable Experience Value for the reality.