Chapter 729 Sect War 1 Draco and Eva settled down to cultivate after messing around for a bit. They first worked on their newly acquiered Cultivation Methods.
The Holy Demon Record and Supremacy Theory gave Draco and Eva great physical strength and a special form of energy. Draco in the form of Demonic Qi, and Eva in the form of Heavenly Qi.
Just like Draco, Eva could theoretically spam any of her Heavenly Eye Inheritance techniques when she reached Blood Pulsations of the Supremacy Theory, yet it also had the same drawbacks, meaning she would be forced to recultivate that realm if she did.
The Bone Cleansing Realm just upped their power without adding much, and when they broke through Flesh Hardening, the same occurred. With the amount of resources and pills Draco prepared, it took them less than a week to reach the peak of Flesh Hardening, which was level 10.
If it wasn't for the floor limiting them, they would have entered Qi Condensation straightaway and gain the ability to store Qi in their Dantian, then cast bloodline techniques using Qi instead of Bloodline Energy.
It went without saying that Qi Condensation was the milestone Draco and Eva were most looking forward to achieving. However, the Holy Demonic Record and Supremacy Theory, once again, did not work like the Dragon Ascension Chant or the Phoenix Rebirth Mantra.
The former used the heart as Dantian to store Qi, and Qi was transferred out to every part of the body using not meridians, but blood vessels. This did not burden their blood vessels as the Cultivation Method tempered their bodies crazily just for this purpose.
After reaching Flesh Hardening level 10 for the body techniques, they then worked on the mind and soul techniques which was being done through the Pure/Vile Angel Tactics. These Cultivation Methods focused on absorbing Qi to merge with the body in the same way as the Dragon and Phoenix related method as well as the body Cultivation Methods.
I.e, for the first 5 realms, it did the same thing as the other two. However, like the Holy Demonic Record and the Supremacy Theory, it branched out once one transitioned into the Mortal Stage.
Here, the brain was used a Dantian, rather than the heart or the abdomen. Qi was gathered and stored in the brain, fortifying it and enhancing all mental aspects of the cultivator/angel in question.
Since most (corrupted) angels used psychic attacks, this boosted their control and prowess, while also yielding smaller effects like increased spirit sense, a danger sense and some level of precognition.
Qi was moved through the nerves and synapses, which were also fortified by the Cultivation Method for this purpose. Draco and Eva took it to Flesh Hardening level 10 as well, just on the cusp of reaching Qi Condensation.
Once done with the two supplementary techniques, they focused on their main ones. Still stuck at Blood Pulsation level 1 of Dragon Ascension Chant and the Phoenix Rebirth Mantra, they had some work to do.
Unlike before, they did not use pills to help themselves cultivate, rather relying solely on 9th grade Qi Stones like before. The sect had ample amounts of them, and after giving their masters Immortal Stones, as well as Draco's crafted pills, the two Young Ancestors were given enough to drown in.
Like voracious whales, their Martial Spirits manifested and began sucking in the Qi from the stones, converting it to Dragon/Phoenix Qi and merging it with their hosts' bodies.
As usual, the rate was 50% to the Martial Spirit for fortification, 30% to lining the abdomen Dantian and strengthening it and 20% actually doing what the cultivation realm was about, which was tempering the blood.
You might have expertly noticed that only this time did the Martial Spirits manifested, but when using the other two Cultivation Methods, they didn't. A clever fellow would already be able to guess why, which was the source of their methods.
There was no doubt that if they used a localized method for Demonic/Godly/Angelic cultivation, they would have gotten ones that somewhat fit their Martial Spirits.
However, they doubted they could have access to such things in the Martial Spirit World's Houtian Continent, so Draco and Eva chose to be pragmatic and get pinnacle Cultivation Methods that could be used in any system.
So, unlike the Dragon Ascension Method and Phoenix Rebirth Chant that had been designed in this world and built using its rules, the other four methods simply adapted themselves to this world's system of cultivation directly.
After a period of 4 weeks, Draco and Eva broke through to Bone Cleansing level 1. Here, they welcomed another set of refinement through the orbs of origin essence, this time amounting to 8,000 of them, which increased technique power by 80% and reduced costs by 80%.
Coupled with previous realms, that made for a gross total of 150% cumulatively. Now, in the Bone Cleansing Realm, they began cultivating once more, arduously splitting their work in the various streams that their methods demanded.
It took 5 weeks to hit Flesh Hardening level 1, wherein they enjoyed another round of refinement with 16,000 gobs of Origin Essence straight from the source.
This meant another 160% reduction in power consumption with the same amount as a power boost. Overall, it now stood at 310% cumulatively.
6 weeks later, Draco and Eva reached the peak of Flesh Hardening level 10, ready to breakthrough at the slightest provocation. Knowing they had completed all their tasks for the floor, they chose to end it immediately.
「Congratulations on completing: Tower of Babylon Thirty-Sixth Floor
Time elapsed: 2,523:24:39
Objectives complete: All
Assessment: EX+
Reward:
40,000 Score Points
1 Treasure Selection Reward - Peak Silver Grade」
Without further ado, Draco and Eva entered the next floor.
When they appeared, they noticed that they were no longer in their abode, but were riding on an airship with hundreds of cultivators behind them. Not only were these cultivators armed and malicious, but the number of airships numbered more than 5,000.
The floor's details came just in time to alleviate the tension.
「The Thirty-Seventh Floor – Divine Quest
Description: You are in the World of Martial Spirits! Here, children at the age of ten undergo an awakening ceremony to unlock their hidden Martial Spirits and embark upon the path of Martial Arts!
It's time for war. A third rate sect on the continent has been wantonly capturing men, women, and children to refine them into tormented spirits for their sect's treasure, the Nine-Nine Evil Spirit Flag.
You are to achieve two of three targets;
1. Destroy 25% of the Sect's army using your own forces.
2. Destroy 25% of the Sect's property using your own forces.
3. Reach the Qi Condensation Realm.
Limitation 1: Magic does not exist in this world, only Qi and Martial Arts!
Limitation 2: You may retreat from the floor at any time, but upon re-entry, you would have to resume from the exact situation you were in at the time.
Limitation 3: You cannot use any class based skills or abilities, as well as your equipment.
Limitation 4: This world is ruthless, dog eat dog in the truest sense. There will be no mercy or pity.
Provision 1: You retain your power from outside, but only in terms of stats and only after you awaken Martial Spirits.
Provision 2: You may freely use any healing items and consumables in your Inventory.
Provision 3: You can use any and all of your Tradeskills at will.
Rewards: Score Points, 1 Silver-Tier Reward Selection.」
Draco and Eva shared a look in silence for a long while. Was this Tower… no, was this floor asking them to commit a genocide?
Draco and Eva were naturally speechless. On the list of talents they had, genocide was likely number 1. Not even their skills or bloodlines came close to their talent for mass slaughter.
Draco turned and saw the Second Elder. "Elder, please brief us on the full details of this Sect."
The Second Elder stepped forth and nodded. "Young Ancestor, here are the details. The Sect we are going to eradicate is called the Scarlet Night Sect, an evil sect that uses the souls of mortal men, women, and children to cultivate their hidden treasure, the Nine-Nine Evil Spirit Flag."
"We came to learn of their atrocious acts through the testimony of a traitor in the sect who could no longer stand such actions and injustices. Of course, that's what we say on the surface, but the fellow only ratted them out because they refined his own family from the village he came from without knowing." The Second Elder added with a strange smile.
Draco and Eva shook their heads. This was likely the most direct manifestation of karma. Your wanton actions inadvertently created a situation where your sect was about to face demise.
"The sect is located near the southern end of the Houtian Continent, and we're only 3 days away. Once the battle begins, we shall listen to the commands of the Young Ancestors if you have any, but for the most part we will be led by the sect's commander, Guo Shi."
The Second Elder said this as he gestured to a strong looking middle aged man in ornate armor who wielded a halberd with ease. When he saw that Draco and Eva were looking at him, he immediately got on one knee respectfully.
"Guo Shi greets the Young Ancestors!"
Draco and Eva bade him to rise and liked his aura. This was a fine person to lead an army and his mind alone shone with hundreds of advanced battle tactics that impressed Eva who perused through them.
When she forwarded some to Draco, he realized that this fellow was definitely a professional, so he spoke directly.
"We have no orders that precede Commander Guo Shi's. Treat anything he says as if it came from our mouths instead, and treat it with the highest priority." Draco stated with a smile.
Guo Shi was shocked, having expected that the the Evil Duo would undermine him. In fact, this whole war was quickly put together to give the budding youths a chance to see a sect war and lead it, as they would be the future pillars of the sect.
For them to revoke their authority and give it to him, made him feel endless gratitude and responsibility to not let them down. As such, he roared to the sky.
"I, Guo Shi, will not let the Young Ancestors down!"
Draco and Eva nodded with satisfaction. Still though, rather than worry about letting them down, he would do well to not get in their way. After all, its was not every day they got a chance to do what they did best.
Seeing as there was some time until the arrival, Draco and Eva decided to breakthrough to Qi Condensation so that they could better affect their plan.
They sat cross-legged right there, manifesting their Grade 13 Martial Spirits. The moment the two apparitions appeared, they roared/shrieked. All those on the flying ship felt woozy, some directly fainting while others felt suppressed.
This kind of suppression bothered no one. In fact, it made the sect members more fervent and excited, for this was what the Dragon and Phoenix Ancestor should be like!
Draco and Eva placed Qi Stones around their persons as their Martial Spirits sucked them in, fortifying their Flesh Hardening level 10 and bringing levels 1-10 to a full circle of conclusion.
It took them only about 3 hours to saturate and complete this, breaking through to Qi Condensation early-stage At this time, their Martial Spirits began the usual refinement, spending the next entire day spitting out gobs of Origin Essence like machine guns.
32,000 gobs of Origin Essence hit Draco and Eva, reducing Serpent God and Goddess of Light Inheritance costs by 320% and increasing their power by the same amount.
Now, their cumulative total was 630%, which was impressive.
Draco and Eva used the last day to rapidly absorb as much Qi as they could, which was drastically different from when they were in the lower 5 realms.
It only took a few hours to reach Qi Condensation peak stage, and it had to do with their monstrous talent and the effects of their Cultivation Methods specifically.