Chapter 41: Meditation

Li Pin sat on the sofa and watched the scenery outside the window of the hotel room. However, his eyes weren't focused.

"Astral Cultivators...."

No matter how people complimented Astral Cultivators online and on television, nothing portrayed their might better than meeting one in person. That horrific disruption it brings to the will, and the fearful suppression it had on the qi and blood... it was as if every cell in his body was screaming to him not to go up against this superior lifeform.

"No wonder Fang Lingjue told me that martial artists couldn't be compared to Astral Cultivators. They can easily reach 100 points of qi and blood, using overwhelming speed and power against martial artists. Core Formation and Aura Force martial artists wouldn't stand a chance," Li Pin muttered.

Only Spirit Force Martial Saints who had condensed their martial will and had strong mental spirit could suppress their atoms' will and thereby put up a fight against Astral Cultivators. However, even so, they still wouldn't dare to fight an Astral Cultivator head-on.

At most, Martial Saints could interfere while one Astral Cultivator was up against another Astral Cultivator. Core Formation and Aura Force martial artists would be suppressed to the point where they wouldn't dare to move a muscle.

The only ones who could truly meet an Astral Cultivator head-on... without any exception, would be the existences who had brought their Martial Saint phase to an extreme, reaching a state of flawless perfection as they stand at the apex of the martial world. These are the ones who had the rights to participate in the King of the Century Competition and contend for the supreme title in the martial world.

"However, there seemed to be another way to achieve Martial Saint... and that is to take a risk and refine qi into Spirit..."

Li Pin recalled the short piece of information he read in the book he received from the Five Elements Sect.

Martial Saints who had tempered their mental spirit to an extreme could choose to ignite themselves and refine qi into Spirit. In that moment, their mental spirit would scale to an extreme. The Martial Saints would then be forced to meditate on the Astral God and step into the Astral Cultivator domain.

This step was extremely dangerous, just like a moth flying to flame. The odds were one out of ten.

If one failed, their qi and blood would be completely burned out, their soul would scatter, and their body would be destroyed. However, if they succeed, they could bathe in starlight and quickly replenish their depleted qi and blood, going from dying to thriving.

Additionally, they had gone through the path of achieving Force, to Core Formation, Aura Force, and eventually Spirit Force. With these experiences, even though Astral Cultivators would need to circulate far more qi and blood compared to martial artists, their growth rate in the future would become extremely fast.

Those who sycophantly flatter Astral Cultivators were usually Core Formation and Aura Force martial artists. Martial Saints rarely engage in such behavior, and Astral Cultivators would give Martial Saints sufficient respect.

Even though the chances were slim, nobody knew for certain if the Martial Saint they had encountered could refine qi into Spirit, forcefully meditating on the Astral God and soaring to great heights.

There are forty-nine paths of destined fate and one path that is the inscrutable twist of fate. Becoming a Martial Saint is the only hope for people who aren't gifted to become Astral Cultivators.

In addition, once Martial Saints succeed in meditating on the Astral God, their strength would soar by leaps and bounds. Very soon, they'd be able to become true experts even amongst Astral Cultivators. This is also the reason why martial arts can prosper and the entire country strongly pushes for levels of competitions to promote martial arts.

Li Pin calmed himself down as his thoughts roamed.

Martial Saint. Refining qi into Spirit. Mental spirit.

An astral map appeared in his head. It looked similar to the solar system. Amid the solar system, the starlight surrounded a blurred and indistinct figure. He closed his eyes and quietly meditated, wanting to see the figure more clearly.

He wanted to become one with the starlight.

He attempted for an hour ... and failed.

He seemed to be missing something, a key factor, that would allow him to establish some sort of connection with the figure that stood in the starlight. It was like the two existed in two completely different dimensions altogether.

𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

It was as if a person was looking at a toy on the computer. All that was missing was a 3D printer to bring it to life in the real world.

"Gift."

Li Pin concentrated and sensed the changes in his body.

He wanted to search for the gains he had received from the hour of meditating on the Astral God.

However, even after exerting his gift to its limits to observe every cell meticulously, and even going diving deeper to see through the organic matter's molecular structure, he still couldn't "see" any difference. The only thing he could detect was that his energy was a little better. It was as if he had closed his eyes and rested to recover his spirit.

Spirit?

The Martial Will of Martial Saints, under certain circumstances, belonged to some kind of highly condensed Mental Spirit. They ignite themselves to refine qi into Spirit, striving for utmost refinement. In that moment, their lives blossom, and their mental senses are stimulated to an extreme, thereby allowing them to forcibly meditate on the Astral God.

Using a method similar to using mental spirit to interfere with matter, the starlight gets refined into the body and one would then become an Astral Cultivator. Hence, if his mental spirit was strong enough, he need not burn himself out to refine starlight....

"Entering Dao through martial arts," uttered Li Pin slowly.

This path seemed arduous, there barely appeared to be any chance for success. However, martial arts cultivation in itself meant going against the natural order, and, on this path, what was impossible had been repeatedly turned into possibilities! If he could walk this path toward the peak and uncover the mysteries of the human body, wouldn't he have achieved his lifelong goal?

Li Pin wore a sincere smile on his face. "This world... keeps on giving me surprises."

He closed his eyes and continued to meditate.

This time, he was no longer fixated on "seeing" the Astral God. Instead, through meditation, he searched for a more efficient way to grow his mental spirit.

***

At night, the members of the Five Elements Sect came together for a small gathering.

Cao Tianyou pulled Li Pin to sit by his side and explained what had happened that afternoon, and Li Pin expressed his understanding.

He understood that he wasn't the star of the show and couldn't ask for everyone to revolve around him.

A supporting character must know his place. Even an Aura Force Grandmaster had to put up a front with Zhu Di and Shang Feng, let alone Li Pin, who was merely a Core Formation martial artist.

With Zhao Yuan, Qi Dongyuan, and Cao Tianyou's efforts to engage him, the atmosphere was cheery and harmonious.

In the midst of it, Cao Tianyou seemed to be reminded of something and mentioned, "You don't have to be too persistent to rank in the top ten in this season of the Jiang Province Martial Competition. Just take it as a learning opportunity."

"

Hmmmm?

" Li Pin glanced at him. " I remember that the last ten or more seasons of the Jiang Province Martial Competition had a maximum of twenty-six Core Formation martial artists and a minimum of eight?"

"I heard a rumor that has yet to be confirmed, but given its widespread nature, there must be some truth to it," Cao Tianyou continued. "The Solar Vermilion Sect is one of the top martial arts faction in Jiang Province. They are certainly in the top three in terms of scale. They were originally just on par with us, Zanglong City's Five Elements Sect. They led elites to expand the market in the capital while keeping their main strength there as well.

"This season, however, their management seems to be thinking of something different. Their Martial Saints sent out their disciples to attend the competitions. Some of these genius martial artists are outrageously strong! Of which, one of them is the same age as you, but has already attained Aura Force."

"A twenty-two-year-old who had achieved Aura Force?" Li Pin asked.

"That's right." Cao Tianyou nodded. "The Solar Vermilion Sect felt that the pressure in the capital was too strong and chose to bring back their elites to attend the Jiang Province Martial Competition.... Hence this season of the Jiang Province Martial Competition will be very competitive."

He paused for a moment, then continued, " You would've stood a chance if you had been in the Core Formation realm for three to five years, but you have recently formed Core... so, I hope you..."

"I'll do what I can," Li Pin said.

Cao Tianyou smiled, nodding. "Well then, I am reassured to hear that."

The meal continued till about nine plus in the evening until everyone went back.

Li Pin got back to his room.

However, the moment he opened the door, he paused.

He instantly activated the Core Force in his body.

There was someone inside!