"8 points of Primordial Energy means this level-up added 4 points to my energy limit. Level 1 to 2 added 1 point, level 2 to 3 added 2 points, level 3 to 4 added 4 points. Following this pattern, would level 4 to 5 add 8 points, and level 5 to 6 add 16 points..."
Chen Guan couldn't believe it. If this pattern held true, just how powerful would his Primordial Energy become?
Even top-tier supreme Secret Techniques only had a growth rate of 2.0, adding 2 points of Primordial Energy per level. From level 1 to 10, they'd only gain 18 points total. Adding the initial 1 point, a supreme growth rate would max out at 19 points at level 10.
But if this pattern continued, The First Secret Technique would provide 1+1+2+4+8+16+32+64+128+256 - a staggering total of 512 points of Primordial Energy.
Not even counting the hidden attribute boosts to strength, speed, and physical constitution during level-ups, just this energy limit enhancement alone would make him invincible among peers.
Ordinary cultivators had to meticulously calculate their Primordial Energy expenditure when using Secret Skills. Techniques like Blood Palm that didn't consume too much energy could only be used periodically without special supporting Secret Techniques, as energy regeneration couldn't keep up with the consumption.
As for high-consumption Secret Skills that drained all one's energy or even required overdrafting - after a single use, most cultivators would be left completely weakened.
But with this much Primordial Energy at his disposal, Chen Guan could spam any Secret Skill without worrying about depletion, treating ultimate techniques as basic attacks. This single advantage alone would make him invincible.
"It can't really be this powerful, can it?" Chen Guan's heart pounded violently as his thoughts raced further.
What could opponents possibly do when he could spam ultimate techniques they reserved for life-or-death situations right in their faces?
"In my entire life, I've never needed basic attacks." Chen Guan imagined himself bombarding enemies with endless Secret Skills, then delivering this line as they lay dying. The mental image was utterly satisfying.
Now he just wanted to confirm whether The First Secret Technique truly had this terrifying effect. He immediately resumed cultivation, absorbing heaven and earth's Primordial Energy day and night.
However, leveling up became even slower this time. After staying in the hotel for over half a month, Chen Guan finally reached level 5.
Though it took considerable time, Chen Guan deemed it all worthwhile - this level-up indeed added 8 points as predicted, bringing his total Primordial Energy limit to 16.
"Even if this effect only applies during First Awakening, it's already ridiculously overpowered." Chen Guan dared not imagine whether this would continue during Second Awakening. This Secret Technique clearly grew exponentially stronger - if the pattern held during Second Awakening, the thought alone gave him goosebumps.
Chen Guan wanted to continue cultivating, but his funds were running low. Just accommodation and meals had nearly depleted his savings these past weeks.
"The First Secret Technique is incredibly powerful, but the Primordial Energy required for leveling is enormous. Relying solely on absorbing environmental energy makes progress painfully slow. I need to find alternative methods for rapid energy accumulation." Chen Guan suspected there must be other ways for The First Secret Technique to absorb energy. Otherwise, while manageable in early stages, later levels might require decades of energy absorption - the higher his level, the harder it would become, possibly exceeding his natural lifespan.
"I wonder if The First Secret Technique can absorb scattered Primordial Energy from slain Mystical Spirits like the Stealth Kill Art. That would significantly speed things up." Chen Guan decided to test this theory.
Checking out, Chen Guan left Samsara City for a nearby gorge called White Cloud Ravine. Cultivators guarded the area, having built protective walls along the only access route. Entry required payment for hunting Mystical Spirits.
Spending his last coins on admission, Chen Guan entered White Cloud Ravine.
In the distance, Evil Cute Rabbits hopped across the grassy valley, untouched by hunters.
Far fewer cultivators were present here compared to free hunting zones where even wandering ghosts and lonely spirits had multiple competitors.
Chen Guan ignored the rabbits, avoiding their territory as he followed an upstream creek.
Besides Evil Cute Rabbits, White Cloud Ravine housed another Mystical Spirit called the Profound Yin Ghost, around level 6. These ghosts possessed the "Profound Yin Art" Secret Technique, with some additionally knowing "Triple Yin Claw" and "Seven Mysteries Steps" Secret Skills.
Having previously declined Ji Nanhong's "Ghost God Steps," Chen Guan currently lacked movement techniques. He hoped to get lucky finding "Seven Mysteries Steps" here. Failing that, obtaining "Profound Yin Art" or "Triple Yin Claw" could be traded or sold for it.
En route to the gorge's depths, Chen Guan encountered other cultivators - mostly low-level newcomers weaker than himself.
Fortunately, Mystical Spirits were plentiful here, eliminating competition as everyone hunted separately.
These creatures seemed inexhaustible - even if an area was completely cleared, identical spirits would reappear there over time.
Except for certain unique variants, most Mystical Spirits couldn't be permanently eradicated.
According to scholarly knowledge, Mystical Spirits didn't reproduce naturally. Ordinary spirits lacked reproductive functions, suggesting some specialized spawning system - though their reproduction mystery remained unsolved. Thɪs chapter is updatᴇd by novel✦fire.net
Reaching the Profound Yin Cave in the gorge's depths, Chen Guan saw several peddlers at the entrance selling cave products - Profound Yin Shoes, Profound Yin Armor and other treasures, Secret Technique cores for Profound Yin Art, Triple Yin Palm, and Seven Mysteries Steps, plus daily necessities like food, drinks, and headlamps.
"First time in Profound Yin Cave, young man? Buy some Profound Yin Shoes for speed and Profound Yin Armor for protection. Those Profound Yin Ghosts are treacherous - you'll need defenses against ambushes." The vendors energetically solicited new customers.
These weren't ordinary cultivators but licensed merchants paying fees to operate stalls here, profiting from cave visitors.
Chen Guan would've loved to buy a Seven Mysteries Steps core immediately, but his empty pockets prevented it.
As he prepared to enter the cave without distraction, an unusual core at one stall caught his eye.
"Boss, is that a Profound Nether Yin Fire Palm core?" Chen Guan asked, staring intently.
Beyond ordinary Profound Yin Ghosts, the cave rarely spawned level 10 Profound Yin Ghost Mothers, who possessed the rare-grade Secret Skill "Profound Nether Yin Fire Palm."
Despite being only rare-grade, this palm technique's destructive power surpassed both its peers and even supreme-grade skills of equivalent levels.