After the cultivation method was announced, many unaffiliated Spirit Leaders and stronger Spirit Masters declared their intent to join Spirit Hall. Spirit Hall first conducted strict identity checks on those people, then issued conditions: only those who had served for three years or made major contributions could receive the corresponding cultivation method.
The outside world was in uproar. For Wu Ling, the most obvious effect was that he could clearly feel the number of scouts investigating him increase.
When the idea of publicizing his name as the developer had first been raised, Wu Ling had refused. Unfortunately, he could not withstand the persuasion of Lucius Cross and Bibi Dong.
In their eyes, Wu Ling had become a Spirit Elite at ten years old. With his own cultivation methods and potions, he could almost certainly take power around the age of thirty. Promotion before that was necessary, even if it began twenty years early.
When Wu Ling argued that the tallest tree in the forest would be destroyed by the wind, Lucius Cross blocked him completely with another saying: it is cool beneath a great tree. He even promised Wu Ling three personal interventions. Wu Ling felt he would probably never use that promise in his life, but with things said to that extent, refusing would have meant not giving Lucius face. He could only agree.
After Wu Ling agreed, the residences of all the Grand Elders became places he often visited. If this were a game, Wu Ling had opened a new map.
Inside Spirit City, thanks to Mind's Eye, Wu Ling could easily detect the spies watching him. Other than feeling slightly annoyed, he did not suffer any real trouble.
A few days after the cultivation method was publicized, Wu Ling sat in his courtyard drinking tea after breakfast. Early autumn had brought a slight chill to the morning air.
"Rose, how has the research been going lately?"
Rose sat in the chair across from him, eating dessert and swinging her little feet. After swallowing, she scooped up another spoonful and spoke while eating.
"The biggest research result should still be the cultivation method. Main Body, the exclusive method you wanted already has a direction. But rather than calling it a cultivation method, it is closer to a physical modification. I prefer to call it a Spirit Power Circuit."
"Spirit Power Circuit?" When Wu Ling heard the phrase, he immediately thought of Type-Moon's Magic Circuits.
"That's right, Main Body. Magic Circuits inspired me."
"A Magic Circuit is a pseudo-nervous system, an organ that cannot be observed by modern medicine. One of its functions is converting life force into magical energy for use. In Type-Moon, the life force inside the human body is also called the Lesser Source."
"But in Medea's Age of Gods, magi did not need to consume their own life force. Some did not even have Magic Circuits and could still use Magecraft, because they used the Greater Source, meaning the life force of the world, or the planet."
"As the Age of Gods receded, the planet's life force weakened. That represented the decline of the Greater Source. In Eastern terms, it was the Age of Dharma Decline."
"Magi who could not use the Greater Source had no choice but to use Magic Circuits to consume their own Lesser Source and cast Magecraft."
"In Soul Land, Spirit Masters cultivate by absorbing the world's Spirit Power, but when they use abilities, they can only use their own Spirit Power. In Type-Moon terms, it is like using the Greater Source to recover your own magical energy, but only using the Lesser Source when activating techniques. It is an unnecessarily roundabout method."
"So based on the concept of Magic Circuits, I developed Spirit Power Circuits. They can connect your body to the world. Put simply, you will cultivate and absorb Spirit Power at every moment. In other words, idle cultivation and an infinite blue bar."
Idle cultivation. Infinite blue bar.
Listening to Rose's concept, Wu Ling could not suppress his shock at all. He had originally just thrown out a harmless three and casually asked about progress. Rose had answered by slamming four twos onto the table.
Seeing Wu Ling's surprise, Rose continued her explanation.
"Of course, when I say infinite blue bar, I do not mean truly infinite output. Your body's tolerance still has limits."
"For example, Main Body, your Spirit Power is like a bucket of water, and the faucet on that bucket is the amount of Spirit Power you can release at once. A Titled Sage's Spirit Power is like a reservoir, and the reservoir's floodgate is their output. Infinite blue bar means connecting that faucet to the sea. The supply is inexhaustible, but the amount that comes out at once is still limited by the faucet."
"As for idle cultivation speed, it is about half your normal cultivation efficiency. Its advantage is that it runs anytime and anywhere, and it does not interfere with other cultivation methods, potions, or your own active cultivation."
"According to my calculations, once Spirit Power Circuits are constructed in your body, it will probably take you less than a year to reach Spirit Meister. Even later, with repeated modifications and additions, plus cultivation from several clones, I guarantee you can reach Titled Sage within ten years."
Rose became excited as she spoke, but when Wu Ling heard such rapid cultivation speed, a hint of worry appeared on his face.
Then he said something that would make countless Spirit Masters who had stopped advancing grind their teeth with hatred.
"Rose, is that not too fast? A foundation is something that should be kept steady."
Rose smiled proudly at Wu Ling's concern.
"I already thought of that worry, Main Body. That is why I prepared another Spirit Power Circuit. It can continuously compress your Spirit Power to improve its quality and stabilize your foundation."
"Of course, you do not need to worry about compression causing the protagonist to catch up. According to my projections, even after compressing your Spirit Power, as long as you keep absorbing Spirit Rings above your level, advancing one major rank every two years or so will still be very easy. With that efficiency, how could Tang San possibly catch you?"
With an excited heart and trembling hands, Wu Ling took a light sip of tea. The half-cold green tea cooled his mind somewhat.
"About how long until it is complete?"
Rose pressed her dessert spoon against her soft pink lips and calculated briefly.
"A little over half a year, more or less."
Wu Ling nodded heavily. "Even if I can idle-cultivate by then, I still cannot slack in my own cultivation."
"I have been a little busy lately. After getting my third Spirit Ring, there was Oscar, the Continental Tournament, the cultivation methods, and the Grand Elders. I have not truly thrown myself into cultivation."
"But now that I think about it, I did not actually do much. Oscar agreed as soon as I went. At the tournament, I only watched for a bit. The cultivation methods were finished in a day a few days ago."
"As expected, this matter and that matter are the most troublesome things. Staying home and cultivating is better. Decided. This time, I am not going out until I reach level forty."
After saying that, Wu Ling called a servant over to clear the tea table. Then he stood, stretched, and drew in a deep breath of cool air.
"Rose, keep researching. As for Ember and Azure, let us begin, brothers."