As the Cultivation Technique operated once, Shen Wang’s Spiritual Essence condensed slightly.
Especially the Water Attribute Spiritual Essence, becoming more majestic and grand during the operation.
If the previous Water Attribute Spiritual Essence was a stream, now it was about to become a great river.
The other Spiritual Essences also grew more enduring and tenacious, their power dense and resilient, with only the Fire Attribute Spiritual Essence relatively affected, resembling magma rather than flames in status.
Overall, this Cultivation Technique greatly enhanced his capabilities.
After running the Qi Cultivation several times, he turned to cultivate his Spiritual Power.
Before this, the Luo God Visualization Method only helped him concentrate his Spiritual Power, not directly cultivate it.
But the Refining Spirit Chapter allowed direct cultivation of the spirit.
With the operation of the Black Emperor Refining Spirit Chapter, his already quite thick Spiritual Power condensed together, fully utilized, gradually transforming into a humanoid spiritual entity.
This humanoid spiritual entity was his own self, entirely white, becoming clearer continuously.
The path of the Refining Spirit Chapter differs from Qi Cultivation, requiring the fusion of soul and Spiritual Power to first condense the spiritual body of the self and continually strengthen it, potentially growing into a Primordial Spirit in the future.
Currently, it was merely a prototype, with no spiritual-level Divine Techniques yet, only making the Spiritual Sense more powerful.
In a sense, this was exactly what Shen Wang lacked at the moment.
After all, whether it was Qi Cultivation or Body Refinement, he had a certain level of attainment, with only the spiritual aspect lacking systematic practice.
As for the Body Refining Technique, it mainly coordinated with the Qi Cultivation method, refining the body with Spiritual Essence, forming a complementary set.
In fact, the most remarkable aspect of this Cultivation Technique was that Body Refinement, Refining Spirit, and Qi Cultivation formed an integral whole, all functioning within the framework of the Cultivation Technique, not operating separately.
Thus far, no Cultivation Technique that Shen Wang encountered could achieve this, illustrating the high level of the Black Emperor Scripture. To his current knowledge, this Cultivation Technique was nearly perfect.
After familiarizing himself with it, Shen Wang quickly achieved the synchronization of the three practices, operating the complete Emperor Scripture Qi Cultivation Chapter in its entirety.
The Essence, Qi, and Spirit officially grew simultaneously, leaving no flaws.
After just a few days of cultivation, Shen Wang’s foundation considerably deepened.
His spirit condensed, his physical form radiant with treasure-like luster, and his Spiritual Essence deep and vast as an ocean.
He evidently grew significantly stronger!
The benefits brought by the Cultivation Technique made him itch to test it.
He was eager to find someone to test its power, validating what he had learned.
After some contemplation, Shen Wang decided to stop hiding and began searching for a target to engage with.
At this moment, the outside competition had not yet ended but had already reached its final stage.
"Most people are gathered over there, the perfect time to act."
Shen Wang’s eyes lit up; it seemed today was the final, and even the Village Chief of Black Water Stronghold, Gong Yu, was spectating there.
In the other areas, the defense was bound to be weak.
After observing the situation, he initially wasn’t planning to look closely, but suddenly discovered someone unexpected, causing his pupils to contract.
Shen Wang wondered, quickly moving to the northwest wall to observe further.
Currently, aside from the sentries nearby, over a hundred people were gathered there, with Advanced Grandmasters sparring in the arena, mostly older individuals.
These included old members of Black Water Stronghold who had improved over the year, and some new faces who recently joined the stronghold.
Among them was a young man whose sight caused Shen Wang’s pupils to contract and face to darken.
"Why has he appeared here?"
To Shen Wang’s shock, the individual he focused on was Li Yuanning, left behind by the Black Death Blade King during their exploration of the Ancient Cave Mansion!
The other man no longer donned his former scholar attire, looking drastically changed.
His long hair was cut short, robes turned to short sleeves, arms visibly muscular, carrying a long blade on his back, exuding an eerie swordsman demeanor.
Shen Wang frowned, "It seems the Black Death Blade King successfully possessed Li Yuanning, but what is this guy doing here? Is he targeting me, or simply seeking power and resources?"
Perhaps sensing the gaze, or maybe casually, Li Yuanning glanced at the ancestral residence where Shen Wang was, with a meaningful air.
Then, it was his turn to step into the arena.
On the stage, as the blade flashed and a rumbling sound erupted, the Sword Qi resembled a fierce tiger descending a mountain, with Heaven-piercing Evil Qi.
The opponent, seized by a terrifying Evil Qi, reacted sluggishly and was immediately knocked into the air.
"Li Yuanning wins and advances to the next round!"
The deputy head hosting the competition glanced at Li Yuanning favorably, announcing the result.
Gong Yu also looked at him more, nodding slightly.
"Tsk, this newcomer is genuinely fierce."
"The Saber Technique is too sinister, I doubt anyone below a Grandmaster can take it."
"Probably no one can. After all, he’s already a Ninth Grade Grandmaster, likely capable of competing with Grandmasters."
"He will at least make the top three this time, entering as one of the top seven leaders from the start, truly fierce."
The surrounding people talked with trepidation, expressing envy and jealousy.
Shen Wang withdrew his gaze, absorbed in thought.
"These fellows are selecting new leaders, Li Yuanning seems to aim for a high position in Black Water Stronghold, akin to the Black Death Blade King’s unconventional path."
Shen Wang murmured, "But, if he’s indeed here for me, he’s come to the wrong place."
The current Shen Wang was not afraid of the Black Death Blade King, at least not the post-possession King not yet a Grandmaster.
He was only somewhat wary of his poison, yet having studied the Poison Canon, he should be safe with caution.
If the other didn’t see reason, he wouldn’t mind delivering a fatal blow.
Continuing to observe the crowd for a moment, he found no others accompanying Li Yuanning.
He was unsure if those were dead or under the Black Death Blade King’s control.
Shen Wang thought of Chen Xian, Li Jian’an, and others, who were also not without strength. Chen Xian, as a Ninth Grade Grandmaster, had a considerable chance to advance to Grandmaster.
"Who cares, even if Chen Xian is fully controlled by the Black Death Blade King, reduced to a puppet, they pose little threat to me now."
Shen Wang simply made a mental note of this matter and turned his attention elsewhere.
Outside the ancestral residence, every position was watched, preventing him from escaping.
The guards worked in squads of three, with ten forming a larger team, spread across various positions. Some were stationed, while others patrolled.
The squads consisted of Postnatal Martial Artists, each group of three led by an Innate Grandmaster. Beyond this, there were rotating and non-realm-reliant Innate Grandmasters.
The entire ancestral residence wasn’t big, so twenty people sufficed to guard all positions, and even if Shen Wang revealed himself, others could shout for reinforcements, surrounding Shen Wang within a few breaths at most.
This whole year, Shen Wang had never shown himself, the others taking it as fear, patrolling seemingly as a formality, not very tense, even chatting casually.
"Damn, today’s supposed to decide the three new leaders, and we won’t even get to see it."
"Stop complaining. Even if we saw it, what of it? We little guys would still be looked down upon if we went to suck up."