Chapter 25: Qi Sea

"The Yuanyang Spiritual Root is also very popular among the Heavenly Spiritual Roots. After all, our school is full of celibate boys. The Yuanyang Spiritual Root can refine the 'primordial yang essence' from a celibate body into magical power, significantly boosting one's cultivation."

Zhao Tianxing said proudly, "Especially this Yuanyang Spiritual Root at our high school has been passed down for nearly twenty years. It has been used by generations of seniors, imbued with the primordial yang essence of thousands of students, which adds to its mystical properties."

Zhang Yu frowned upon hearing this, finding the Yuanyang Spiritual Root rather unsavory. Also...

"Aren't we all sterilized? Can we still use this celibate spiritual root?"

"It's the Yuanyang Spiritual Root," Zhao Tianxing clarified. "Sterilization surgery only temporarily removes certain organs. However, the primordial yang essence in our bodies still continuously flows from our kidneys; it just doesn't stimulate our emotions and minds anymore. Otherwise, how could those who undergo restoration surgery after graduation regain their 'roots'?"

As Zhang Yu walked, he continued to ask, "Among the Heavenly Spiritual Roots at school, are there any that significantly help in boosting magical power?"

Zhao Tianxing's heart stirred upon hearing this. Recalling Zhang Yu's recent actions, he thought about how dedicated Zhang Yu had been to improving his magical power lately. "Is he preparing for the Magic Competition?"

Zhao Tianxing pondered for a moment, then said, "There are many spiritual roots that can assist in power enhancement. The best one at our school is probably the Qi Sea Spiritual Root. It's quite expensive, but since yours is a free reward this time, the price doesn't matter..."

The Qi Sea Spiritual Root, nicknamed "Wall Penetrator," boasts a significant advantage in its immense coverage. It can also penetrate through various walls, buildings, and even earth, allowing for widespread collection of spiritual energy and greatly improving the efficiency of magical power refinement.

After listening to Zhao Tianxing's introduction, Zhang Yu had already decided to try out this Heavenly Spiritual Root.

Arriving at the Spiritual Root Rental Office next to the meditation room, Zhang Yu didn't immediately state his purpose. Instead, he picked up a brochure from the desk and began to read it. The attendant, a female teacher with a baby face, was standing nearby.

Noticing Zhang Yu's actions, she seized the opportunity to ask, "Student, are you a member here? Are there any spiritual roots you're familiar with?"

Without looking up, Zhang Yu replied, "No, I'm not, and no."

The attendant quickly offered, "We currently have a promotion: top up 10,000 and get 1,000 free for new members. Would you like to try it, student?"

Zhang Yu said, "I'm here for the Heavenly Spiritual Root rental, a reward for my 0% distraction rate. I'm only interested in the reward; you don't need to try to sell me anything else."

The attendant smiled helplessly and stepped back, saying, "Alright then, student, let me know if you need anything." Listening to his words, she silently labeled Zhang Yu as "stingy" and lost interest in pushing sales.

Zhang Yu, however, didn't care what she thought. He simply lowered his head, quickly scanned the brochure, and found that its contents were similar to what Zhao Tianxing had told him. So, he told the attendant, "I'd like to rent the Qi Sea Spiritual Root."

She replied, "Please scan your student ID."

Zhang Yu took out his student ID card and handed it to her. This Songyang High School student ID card served as proof of his high school student status, an important credential allowing him to legally cultivate immortals and enjoy various services related to immortal cultivation.

Shortly after, the attendant in the office brought a jade box to him. "The Qi Sea Spiritual Root is inside," she said. "Later, go to Meditation Room No. 2, open the jade box, and consume the spiritual root. Your rental period is one hour. The time starts when you enter the meditation room. If you exceed by even one minute, it will be charged as a full hour, so please keep an eye on the time when you leave..."

After reiterating the details, the rental attendant urged Zhang Yu to go inside quickly.

Zhao Tianxing, who was standing nearby, said, "Alright, Zhang Yu, you go ahead. I have to leave now."

Zhang Yu nodded to him. "Thanks."

Watching Zhang Yu turn and leave, Zhao Tianxing kept replaying Zhang Yu's expression and tone in his mind, thinking, "Our relationship must have gotten closer this time, right?"

Meanwhile, inside Meditation Room No. 2.

It was a room about twenty square meters in size, with a meditation cushion placed in the center. The walls were covered with soundproof material, adorned with numerous twisted talismans of varying sizes. These talismans were said to accelerate the gathering of spiritual energy, having a certain effect on improving the efficiency of energy absorption.

However, Zhang Yu only had one hour for cultivation from the moment he stepped into the room. He didn't have time to concern himself with the room's decor; instead, he sat directly on the cushion and opened the jade box.

Inside the palm-sized jade box was a delicate, translucent crystal, shimmering with a faint blue light. The crystal floated in the center of the jade box, continuously surrounded by wisps of smoke-like blue light particles. This was the spiritual root he had rented, the Heavenly Spiritual Root known as the Qi Sea Spiritual Root.

Zhang Yu carefully picked up the Qi Sea Spiritual Root. The moment he brought it to his mouth, he felt a coolness in his throat as the Heavenly Spiritual Root, like a mass of ice water, plunged into his body, sinking straight to his lower abdomen and settling into his lower Dantian.

As soon as the Qi Sea Spiritual Root entered his Dantian, it seemed to take root, extending crystal-like tendrils that embedded themselves into the surrounding magical power. Zhang Yu understood that, according to the user manual and the attendant's instructions, the Heavenly Spiritual Root had now been successfully planted in his Dantian. From now on, he only needed to cultivate as usual, and the Heavenly Spiritual Root would naturally take effect.

Thinking this, Zhang Yu took a deep breath and immediately began to activate the Universal Qi Gathering Method.

*Boom!* A tremendous roar seemed to erupt in his mind. Zhang Yu felt spiritual energy surge from all directions, pouring into the Heavenly Spiritual Root within his body.

"Double?"

"Triple?"

"Too fast... it's still increasing!"

Feeling more and more spiritual energy flooding into his body, Zhang Yu quickly composed himself and fully activated his Level 6 Universal Qi Gathering Method. As the magical power circulation throughout his body accelerated, wisps of spiritual energy were refined into magical power. His Dantian, which had felt somewhat bloated due to the surging spiritual energy, returned to normal.

But as if sensing Zhang Yu's speed of magical power refinement, the Qi Sea Spiritual Root in his Dantian contracted and expanded, once again increasing its spiritual energy absorption rate. This time, not only did spiritual energy surge from around Zhang Yu, but even the spiritual energy outside the room was drawn in. The corridor... outside the window... the sky... even underground...

The Qi Sea Spiritual Root, in response to Zhang Yu's efficiency in refining magical power, gradually increased its range of spiritual energy absorption, finally settling at a radius of 50 meters. He felt a massive torrent of spiritual energy, like a great river, continuously pouring into his body, then being guided into the magical power circulation throughout his entire being, and finally being refined into his own magical power, bit by bit. At this moment, Zhang Yu felt a surge of exhilaration as his magical power rapidly increased.

"So this is the true efficiency of the Level 6 Universal Qi Gathering Method?"

At this point, Zhang Yu finally understood that, on ordinary days, when he absorbed spiritual energy and refined magical power, he was far from unleashing the true power of the Level 6 Universal Qi Gathering Method. Only now, with the aid of the Qi Sea Spiritual Root, could he truly maximize the efficiency of the Universal Qi Gathering Method in refining magical power. Daring not to waste a single second, Zhang Yu wholeheartedly focused on absorbing spiritual energy and refining magical power.

Meanwhile, in the Spiritual Root Rental Office, the attendant who had just served Zhang Yu looked at her computer screen and exclaimed in surprise, "Hmm? The spiritual energy concentration has dropped?"

The school's rented meditation rooms were not just for quietness; the spirit-gathering talismans arranged within them could control the concentration of spiritual energy, thereby enhancing cultivation effects. The attendant carefully observed the monitoring parameters and found that Meditation Room No. 2 was exhibiting a significant spiritual energy gathering phenomenon, drawing in a large amount of surrounding spiritual energy, which led to a decrease in spiritual energy concentration in the adjacent rooms.

"Meditation Room No. 2... I remember that's where the freshman was, right? Such a high level of spiritual energy absorption, and a freshman can achieve it?"

The attendant became increasingly surprised. In her memory, only sophomore students at the very least could make the Qi Sea Spiritual Root perform with such effectiveness. "Zhang Yu?" Recalling the student's registered name and class, the attendant silently noted it down, overturning her earlier "stingy" label for him. "So powerful as a freshman, this student must have spent a lot of money on cultivation."

While activating more spirit-gathering talismans to restore the spiritual energy concentration, the attendant thought to herself, "I'll get his contact information later. If he can open a platinum membership here, I won't have to worry about my sales targets for the next few months." She decided not to tell anyone, focusing solely on developing this promising client herself.

An hour passed in the blink of an eye. Zhang Yu was engrossed in the pleasure of the surging spiritual energy. His magical power had unknowingly increased from 9.4 to 9.5; clearly, this one hour was equivalent to half a day of his usual arduous cultivation.

Just then, a female voice came through the room's intercom. "Student Zhang Yu, your hour is almost up. Would you like to extend your session?"

For some reason, Zhang Yu felt the attendant's voice had become much gentler. Feeling the immense satisfaction of the spiritual energy surging and the Universal Qi Gathering Method operating at full power, Zhang Yu couldn't help but ask, "How much does it cost to extend?"

The attendant quickly replied, "The rental price for the Qi Sea Spiritual Root is 5,000 yuan per hour. However, we have a special promotion today: new users who top up 100,000 yuan in one go will not only get 10,000 yuan extra but also an 8.8% discount on rental fees."

Zhang Yu sighed helplessly to himself, slowly stopping his cultivation. "I have other things to do today, so I won't be extending the session."

When returning the spiritual root, Zhang Yu increasingly noticed the attendant's politeness, and he happened to have some questions he wanted to ask. So, Zhang Yu reluctantly glanced at the Qi Sea Spiritual Root being put back into the jade box and asked, "How much would this spiritual root cost if I wanted to buy it?"

The attendant's eyes lit up, and she smiled, "The Qi Sea Spiritual Root costs sixty million."

Zhang Yu gasped inwardly, but maintained a calm expression as he exclaimed, "That expensive?"

The attendant chuckled, "Indeed. We actually don't recommend buying it. Renting is far more cost-effective than purchasing, especially since acquiring a Heavenly Spiritual Root in the early Qi Refinement stage is quite luxurious. Most cultivators only consider buying a spiritual root after they've been admitted to university."

Zhang Yu nodded slightly. He knew that the final hurdle for cultivators in the Qi Refinement stage to advance to the Foundation Establishment stage was to implant their own spiritual root, which was indeed something only university students typically needed to consider. However, whether one implants a Heavenly Spiritual Root, an Earthly Spiritual Root, or a Human Spiritual Root entirely depended on the cultivator's financial capabilities. As for the even higher-grade Divine Spiritual Roots and Immortal Spiritual Roots, those could only be re-implanted after joining a special department or becoming a disciple of a major sect.

"Good Heavenly Spiritual Roots are truly... damn expensive." Zhang Yu cast a deep glance at the put-away spiritual root, thinking to himself that one day he would buy a spiritual root of his own.

Before he left, the attendant proactively exchanged contact information with him, and only then did Zhang Yu learn her name was Wei Xin. Wei Xin then quietly changed Zhang Yu's contact note to "Zhang Yu (Platinum Member Prospect)."