BOOM, BOOM, BOOM...

Zhang Chi’s prediction was correct. In less than an hour, a series of massive booms echoed from within the mine.

He could also clearly feel the surrounding temperature suddenly rise.

The surrounding rock walls began to tremble slightly, with small stones falling from time to time.

"You crawlers are courting death!"

At the same time, he heard a cold shout.

Based on his judgment, the commotion must have come from the direction of the Snake Mine Tunnel.

Fortunately, everything quickly returned to calm.

PHEW!

After a long while, knowing the person must have left, he finally relaxed completely, his tense body slackening.

For them to act against those strange snakes so quickly, they clearly had a way to track the leg shackles.

Thankfully, he had already removed his shackles.

In the next moment, Zhang Chi’s taut nerves truly unwound.

’It’s not my fault. I just want to live, and live a little longer. You’re the ones who forced my hand!’ Zhang Chi murmured, thinking back on the indirect slaughter he had caused.

Then, a wave of exhaustion washed over him, and he quickly fell into a deep sleep.

He finally woke up after a long time, feeling refreshed and fully recovered.

He left the Poisonous Miasma Mine Tunnel and took a quiet look around the mines, only to find that the Mining Slaves were already back at work.

Apparently, it was already the next day.

He also went to the mine tunnel where the strange snakes had been and found that the rock walls were, as expected, scorched black, and the air was still scorching hot.

As for the strange snakes, not a single one was to be seen.

’Was that a Fire Element Technique? It’s too powerful. It seems if I want to escape, I’ll have to work even harder!’

Zhang Chi grew vigilant.

He then left the scene, moved the large rock with the Cultivation Technique inscribed on it to the area outside the miasma-filled tunnel, and began to study it.

By the deep of night on the third day, he had finally and thoroughly comprehended the first layer of the Cultivation Technique.

At the same time, he also discovered that the Jade Pendant in his mind had already returned to a pale red color.

’Good. The Jade Pendant’s recovery speed is indeed faster after its upgrade. I don’t need to deliberately deactivate it anymore.’

Zhang Chi was overjoyed.

He immediately sat cross-legged on the ground, took a deep breath to calm his stray thoughts, and began to attempt Cultivation.

Seven days passed in the blink of an eye.

Zhang Chi worked hard every day.

When he was tired, he would rest for a while. When hungry, he would eat some meat patties, and when thirsty, he would drink some water.

"Focus the mind, guard the one, let the Fire Spirit enter the body..."

At this moment, as he attempted Cultivation again, he finally achieved a noticeable result.

BOOM!

He silently recited the Cultivation Technique’s incantation in his mind. The small amount of Spiritual Power in his body immediately began to circulate, finally forming a complete Circulation within his Meridians.

The Spiritual Power in his Qi Sea, which previously had no distinct quality, was instantly refined. It became smaller in quantity but much stronger, its color turning a blood-like red.

The surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi immediately surged toward him, joining the Circulating flow.

More and more Spiritual Power was continuously generated and assimilated into his Qi Sea through Refinement.

At the same time, however, he suddenly felt the Spiritual Power was too scorching hot. His emotions became extremely agitated, and he felt the urge to scream, and even to wreak havoc and kill.

Because of this, the Spiritual Power’s Circulation was on the verge of breaking, and completely without warning.

This would have inevitably led to injury.

Fortunately, at the critical moment, the Jade Pendant in his mind flashed faintly.

The distracting thoughts in his mind instantly dissipated, and he successfully stabilized his Cultivation rhythm.

’Yes!’

A moment later, Zhang Chi opened his eyes, his face full of joy.

It had been ten days in total since he obtained this Cultivation Technique, and he had finally reached the Entry Level.

And this was a Cultivation Technique that was supposedly easy to begin.

If he had chosen the Cyan Wood Technique before, he might not have succeeded even in a month.

Moreover, just as his roommates had said, it was indeed easy to suffer a cultivation deviation with this Demon Technique.

Just now, he had nearly fallen for its trap.

Thankfully, the Jade Pendant had not let him down.

He checked his condition again and found that after reaching the Entry Level of the technique, his strength in all aspects had once again clearly improved.

After calming down, he began to ponder.

’Qi Cultivation is divided into the Tenth Layer. According to Old Xu and the others, for a typical Pseudo Grade Spirit Root cultivating a Low Grade Cultivation Technique—not considering factors like Elixirs, the physical body, or the Divine Soul—it takes at least two years to break through from the first layer to the second, provided there is enough Spiritual Qi.’

’A Low Grade Spirit Root cuts that time in half, and a Middle Grade cuts it in half again, meaning half a year.’

’Fortunately, it’s impossible for a normal Cultivator to use an entire mine as their personal Spiritual Vein for Cultivation like I can.’

’Therefore, my breakthrough time should be halved again, to just three months.’

’If I also condense the Blood Flame, two months might be enough.’

’That speed can even rival an Upper Grade Spirit Root.’

’Of course, that’s just in theory.’

’After all, Cultivators with an Upper Grade Spirit Root are usually groomed as key disciples by major powers.’

’The Cultivation Techniques they practice are certainly better, and their Cultivation locations won’t be poor either.’

’Plus, they have seniors to guide them; they might break through in a month at most.’

’As for Top Grade and Celestial Grade Spirit Roots, there’s no need to even mention them.’

’It’s fine. My situation is already pretty good!’

But Zhang Chi wasn’t discouraged.

Immortal Cultivation wasn’t something that could be achieved overnight.

While being fast in the Early Stage has many benefits, it doesn’t mean one can stay in the lead forever.

Perseverance is what’s most important.

After all, as one’s Cultivation level increases, the amount of Spiritual Power that needs to be refined and accumulated also increases.

Even for geniuses, the speed of improvement will slow down.

For example, the time to advance from the Qi Cultivation Second Layer to the Third Layer is, in theory, at least double the time it takes to break through from the first to the Second Layer.

And when advancing from the Qi Cultivation Third Layer to the fourth, those with poor Spirit Roots and bad Cultivation Techniques will also encounter a Cultivation Barrier.

Of course, Zhang Chi actually had another advantage.

He could use Elixirs without having to worry about Pill Poison. His speed would soar.

But the prerequisite was escaping the mining camp.

Additionally, improving his physical body and Divine Soul would also increase his Cultivation speed.

BOOM!

After resting for a while, Zhang Chi decisively began to condense the Blood Flame.

Under the Secret Technique’s influence, a portion of his Essence Blood suddenly began to boil and burn, quickly gathering into a thumb-sized, blood-colored flame.

As soon as this Blood Flame formed, it began to travel rapidly along the Cultivation Technique path he had just established.

Wherever the Blood Flame passed, his Meridians shattered inch by inch, only to quickly recover.

Finally, the Blood Flame fell into his Qi Sea. The Qi Sea also shattered and re-formed, becoming much larger than before.

During this process, he immediately felt an unprecedented weakness and pain.

It was as if he could die from the pain at any moment, as if even his Divine Soul was being torn apart.

But he remained conscious through it all.

For one, he was mentally prepared; having lived two lives, his willpower was decent.

For another, although he was in agony, the actual negative damage from the pain was absorbed by the Jade Pendant.

After gritting his teeth and enduring for a moment, the Blood Flame finally stopped, beginning to rotate slowly in the center of his Qi Sea.

However, before Zhang Chi could feel any joy, all sorts of illusions flooded his mind—all the joys, sorrows, and regrets from his past and present life came rushing in.

In an instant, Zhang Chi was about to lose control of his mind.

The Spiritual Power in his body, especially the Blood Flame, also showed signs of going berserk.

If it truly went berserk, Zhang Chi’s soul would shatter and dissipate in an instant.

And this was the true danger of this Cultivation Technique, also known as the invasion of a Heart Demon!