Chapter 206: Chapter 183 Cooperation for Mutual Benefit
[Northern Dipper??]: To begin with, taking the stars as the repository for the Dao, one can draw a strand of Big Dipper star power to temper one's inner strength, discarding the dross and selecting the essence, what remains is the True Qi.
When Tao Yu saw the result of his Deification process, he was utterly astonished.
Although at this time he had only the first strand of Big Dipper inner strength, the completion of Skill Deification still made him feel the qualitative change in that sliver of inner strength.
It had become more profound, more refined!
The inner strength that was initially refined through the Big Dipper had already far exceeded the mixed inner strength of Cheng Lixue.
But now, that strand of inner strength had undergone compression once again!
Tao Yu felt that the second Deification of the Basic Breathing Method had drawn in a strand of Free Energy filled with starlight, distinct from the rest.
Even though it was daytime, and he was clearly indoors, by the high-level perspective of the second Deification of the Meditation Technique, Tao Yu could vaguely sense the starlight emitted by the seven dim celestial bodies in the infinite void.
Difficult to harness, yet stubbornly, they surged into his body, tempering that already extremely pure strand of inner strength, transforming it into an even more durable form, becoming True Qi!
"Is this what Cultivation feels like..."
Tao Yu was a bit dazed.
Although calling it Cultivation might be an exaggeration, it had indeed caused a qualitative change in his inner strength!
[Northern Dipper], a top-grade Daoist Internal Cultivation Method, had revealed its miraculous side!
"Accelerate for me!"
Now that the Skill had appeared, Tao Yu didn't skimp on the use of his Yuan Force.
With the enhancement from Yuan Force, the dim starlight that was indiscernible before, suddenly sparkled and the Big Dipper star power was drawn into his body at ten, a hundred times the usual rate!
"As expected of a high-tier product that costs five thousand to Deify, the expense for Yuan Force acceleration is frighteningly high, but it's worth it."
After a brief test, Tao Yu opened his eyes in excitement, looked at his arm, and saw that it was fine!
Before Deification, [Northern Dipper] used oneself as the repository, and the birth of inner strength mainly relied on one's own energy.
Surely, one would need to eat like a Titan to satisfy that kind of accelerated demand.
But now, after Deification, at least during training, he could greatly make use of the high-level Big Dipper star power!
Although there was still a burden on the body, the degree was smaller compared to the Breathing Technique or even the Meditation Technique, and with his current vast accumulation of Qi-Blood, he wouldn't need to eat while training.
Just a large meal after finishing should suffice.
With that being the case, what's there to hesitate about?
"A hundredfold Acceleration for an hour would cost about a thousand Yuan Force, but at least I don't need to eat extra now, and before my meridians are fully saturated and begin expanding, it's all within the prime window for True Qi improvement!"
This hundred thousand Yuan Force I have was saved up for Acceleration—inject it into me thoroughly!
During prime window, a hundredfold Acceleration is definitely worth it!
Once the prime window passes, or when there's not much Yuan Force left, then I can go back to tenfold Acceleration to improve cost-effectiveness, as long as I ensure there's always Yuan Force available to maintain Acceleration!
...
"Slow down, no one is competing with you."
Huang Rong, seeing the disarray of a full table and the server urging the kitchen to speed up—as the three large pots could hardly keep up with his disciple's eating speed—felt a chill in his heart.
He really did take a demon as a disciple...
Cheng Lixue and Zhang Hao beside him swallowed hard, unable to believe that a person's stomach could hold so much.
While Tao Yu stuffed half a roast chicken into his mouth, crunching and swallowing bones in a few bites, and wiped the grease from his lips, he began to speak,
"Master, I've already briefly explained to you about Pioneers, and we Pioneers who mingle in the Abyss have the ability to use Yuan Force for Acceleration. I got carried away with the new Internal Cultivation Methods and accelerated a bit too quickly just now."
Tao Yu was always the amiable sort, happy to return good intentions twofold, and equally keen on returning malice in kind.
Although Huang Rong took him as a disciple for his talent and taught him the Nine Yin True Scripture as well as offering long-winded explanations, it inspired Tao Yu to repay kindness with kindness.
Being naturally inclined to treat Chosen Ones and some key plot characters with sincerity, using candor as his ultimate move.
Thus, he naturally shared some information about the Abyss with Huang Rong.
"I see, we accumulate inner strength during daily cultivation through our regular diet, since you've Accelerated, you'll need more replenishment. But to consume so much at once, your earlier consumption must have been terrifying, and your physical strength exceeds my initial estimates..."
Huang Rong got the point immediately, his face showing surprise.
"You've already experienced it, Master. I took one of your Empty Sky Palm Strikes without dying; I'm as sturdy as an ox."
Tao Yu grinned and laughed.
"Oh? I thought it was some kind of demonized ability of yours, but it turned out to be all normal cultivation methods?"
Huang Yaoshi then realized he had made a mistake. The opponent's strange method of dissolving internal strength from a distance was quite surprising to him.
However, he was a proud man, and as a master, he was too proud to lower his face and ask his disciple for the details of the technique. He had always assumed it was the result of that demonized ability.
"The power of your Empty Sky Palm Strike was so strong before, Master, that I almost used all my energy in defense, and my reaction to you was more of passive recoil. How about you feel it again, just a little?"
Tao Yu tentatively asked.
"Alright, come on, I'll control my strength."
Huang Yaoshi stretched out his palm, and Tao Yu, knowing his capability, also reached out to touch his palm.
He then felt that after his vigor was input, it was like facing wave after wave of surging seas, quickly losing momentum.
Even so, a red spot appeared on Huang Yaoshi's palm.
"What a tyrannical ability, its destructive power is even above inner strength, but it seems to lack accumulation and becomes weak subsequently, and it lacks versatility."
Huang Yaoshi admired, looking at his own palm. He had actually heard Tao Yu mention it once before, but because of the demonization during that exchange, he had made some misjudgments. This time he really felt the intricacies of that kind of vigor.
"Indeed, my disciple strength in this area is already not weak, but I still can't accumulate it for long. I usually aim for a one-hit kill, and I also have a special Swallowing Essence Skill when eating."
"Seems like vigor consumes more of the Qi-Blood, indeed requiring special replenishment. Otherwise, even without the acceleration you mentioned with Yuan Force, the body will suffer."
Huang Yaoshi nodded his head. Inner strength values longevity and is more about preserving health; the older it gets, the more valuable it becomes.
On the contrary, once Qi-Blood begins to wane, strength will also plummet rapidly.
"If Master wishes to learn, I can teach you. It's possible that my meridians are so resilient because I've practiced this method."
Tao Yu was not one to hoard his treasures, causing Cheng Lixue and Zhang Hao beside him to be very tempted.
"I will pass, I'm old and my Qi-Blood is already declining. I can't withstand such strain."
Huang Yaoshi may not have any memorable unique skills, but he is arguably the most learned of his time.
He could already see the strengths and weaknesses of this ability, which was not suitable for someone of his advanced age.
His character speaks for itself, having not learned the Nine Yin True Scripture for so many years, he could naturally let go of martial arts that focused on vigor.
"However, in this eventful time, if possible, I hope you can pass on this method."
Huang Yaoshi chose his words carefully, not intending to force Tao Yu to do anything.
Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself. He himself disliked moral coercion. When he was wrongfully accused of killing the Jiangnan Five Freaks, he admitted it on the spot - It was I who killed them!
So, he also did not force Tao Yu to do anything.
And Tao Yu immediately understood what he meant.
The reason he made this journey across the sea was simply because, based on his own understanding, he believed the rumors about the Giants were true!
If the situation deteriorated to this point, then any action that could enhance the combat effectiveness of their side was acceptable.
For the moment, it seemed that vigor and inner strength complemented each other. In terms of killing enemies and head-on confrontations, vigor also had its own characteristics.
"Of course, there's no problem. My older martial sister and her husband are in Xiangyang. I can first pass it on to them. If they think someone is trustworthy, then they can also teach according to their own needs. Just for entry-level, this is much simpler than inner strength..."
Having said this, Tao Yu stuffed the remaining half of the chicken into his mouth, and then a new round of food was brought out from the kitchen.
"That would be good..."
Huang Yaoshi smiled faintly, the dark circles under his eyes seeming to fade a bit.
He was naturally not fond of noise, and he found his home too noisy even after the birth of his daughter Guo Fu, which prompted him to leave.
Guo Jing and Huang Rong only met Yang Guo when they came out looking for him.
But times had changed, and the formidable steppe armies that once made the court bow their heads in defeat were now in hasty retreat. Yet it still seemed insufficient to stop the southward advance of those Titans.
His son-in-law, with his stubborn nature, would definitively insist on defending this place to his last breath.
However, just then, a gentle voice came from the entrance of the tavern,
"Father, you came without saying a word to us. If it wasn't for a Beggar's Sect disciple's report, I would have had no idea you were here~"
A beautiful woman with enchanting looks and a graceful figure walked in through the door.
She wore a light purple silk robe with a few patches placed inconspicuously on it, a golden hoop secured her hair, and gold bracelets adorned her wrists.
Just in terms of appearance, she was on a par with Cheng Lixue, but she exuded an elegant nobility beyond Cheng Lixue's simplicity, dazzlingly beautiful...