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The dormitories at Tian Dou Royal Academy were superb.
Su Wen had his own private room, a full one hundred square meters, which even included a meditation room specifically for cultivation. Of course, under normal circumstances, Su Wen probably wouldn't be cultivating in the meditation room.
After all, it was just a meditation room, not a "mimicry cultivation environment."
"At the very least, until I successfully research a 'visualization method' and can normalize the effect of the mimicry environment—reaching a point where my cultivation efficiency isn't affected by my location—this room is of no use to me."
However, was a visualization method easy to develop?
Previously, Su Wen had been somewhat hesitant.
His plan, back when he was still in New Moon Village, was to obtain a spiritual-attribute ring, use it to stimulate his spiritual power's growth, and simultaneously open his Spirit of Consciousness—all necessary preparations for researching this visualization method.
But now, having obtained his second spirit ring and the "Control" skill, Su Wen felt much more at ease.
"Although the spirit skill's function is 'only' to control the external heaven-and-earth energy, when combined with my extraordinary perception talent, it allows me to develop that talent, extending it from only being able to control my internal bodily state to being able to control my Spirit of Consciousness."
Su Wen's talent was one that could be developed.
His perception of his spirit space was a prime example.
"Spirit skills are meant to be developed."
This was Su Wen's most profound opinion regarding spirit cultivation on the Douluo Continent.
No matter what spirit skill, it actually just provides a Spirit Master with a foundation. Using this foundation as a starting point, one could develop numerous self-created spirit skills, thereby forming their own personal system.
This was the correct way to use spirit skills.
It was not about just foolishly releasing them.
A system formed by the simple combination of nine spirit skills?
The limitations were far too great.
It was better to use a single spirit skill as a core, constructing a combat system that suited oneself. Of course, if the systems developed from all nine skills could be organically combined, using the nine skills as different nodes to develop a combat system unique to the Spirit Master, that was naturally even better.
Take Su Wen's second spirit skill, for example. It was able to leverage the slight affinity for the wind and fire elements that his Book Spirit gained during the spirit ring absorption process, thereby deriving the ability to control those two elements.
In his future spirit ring acquisitions, besides achieving the primary effects he desired, if they could grant his spirit affinity for other elements, he could combine them with his second spirit skill. It was possible he could eventually develop control over all elemental attributes.
...
The next day.
"Uncle Zhan."
"Mm, you look to be in good condition." Xiao Zhan was very satisfied with Su Wen's state.
"First, I need to understand the degree of control you have over those two elemental forces."
The so-called "elemental control" was not, in fact, absolute authority over the corresponding element.
To be precise, it was "mastery."
It was possessing the ability to mobilize and transform the power of that element.
The Heavenly Book materialized, and two spirit rings, one yellow and one purple, rose from his feet, the second ring flashing with purple light.
"My second spirit skill still relies on my spirit as a medium to mobilize the elemental power."
Fwoosh!
Flames began to rise in front of Su Wen. This was the result of his spirit power compelling the external heaven-and-earth energy to transform and ignite as the fire attribute.
"Mm. It's just as Old Bai said. Your fire element control is achieved by using your spiritual power to mobilize the external elemental forces."
Just now, Su Wen had expended both spiritual power and spirit power to cast his skill, inciting a small amount of external heaven-and-earth energy to ignite into flames.
"This method of fire element control has its advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is that you can call upon the external heaven-and-earth energy and convert it into flames. But the disadvantage is also obvious: because it is not fire converted from your own power, it is very difficult to control freely."
As Xiao Zhan pointed out the pros and cons of Su Wen's method, he gave a personal demonstration.
A flame appeared from thin air in his palm.
Su Wen could sense that this was fire converted from Xiao Zhan's own spirit power emerging from his body.
"Flames converted directly from spirit power are much easier to master."
The flame in Xiao Zhan's hand morphed into various shapes. One moment it was a fireball, the next a flaming saber. Finally, the massive flame compressed, condensing to form a single, long, fiery needle!
Su Wen stared at that flame needle and took a sharp breath.
He could feel the explosive elemental fluctuations radiating from it.
If that needle hit a target, it was fully capable of detonating on impact, causing massive secondary damage.
At the same time, he also discovered the most crucial point—Xiao Zhan had not used any spirit rings. He hadn't even released his spirit!
Has his mastery over his spirit already reached such a level?
Su Wen was astounded.
Although he had also envisioned a path to completely "digest" his spirit's power, he had yet to make any real progress.
"Although your fire element control has its advantages, judging by your current mastery of this spirit skill, you are unable to fully utilize the spiritual and spirit power you expend."
You cast the skill, consuming your own power, in exchange for the simple ability to mobilize and elementalize the external energy. But can you maximize that ability during the process?
"You must use the minimum consumption to convert the maximum amount of flames!" Xiao Zhan first set the goal for Su Wen's next period of training. "For the next three months, your task is to continuously cast this spirit skill, constantly improving the amount of fire you can convert while consuming the same amount of spirit power."
"This applies to both the quality and quantity of the flames!" he supplemented.
Quality referred to the flame's temperature and explosive intensity.
Quantity referred to the flame's coverage area.
"Yes!" Su Wen responded.
He did not, however, begin training immediately. Instead, he asked about the technique Xiao Zhan had used earlier to cast skills without using his spirit or rings.
"Haha, you're very observant. That is a technique Old Bai and I developed together. It uses the 'all-encompassing nature' of the book to 'internalize' mastered spirit skills, transforming them into one's own power."
As he said this, Xiao Zhan began his demonstration.
A terrifying, explosive surge of spirit power suddenly erupted from beneath his feet. Flames detonated, generating a horrifying propulsive force that turned him into a streaking afterimage.
Xiao Zhan's entire body was set ablaze with terrifying, explosive flames. The flames converged, coiling around his right fist. Aided by the momentum of his charge, he punched out violently.
Boom!
Twenty meters away, on the trunk of a massive tree that would take two people to encircle, a smoldering, penetrating hole appeared.
Explosive Steps plus Eight Extremities Fist?!
Su Wen sucked in a cold breath.
And another thing... Fire Demon Xiao Zhan, wielder of the Fire Demon Book... is not a mage?
Recalling the complete shift in aura during the demonstration, and then considering Xiao Zhan's direct, frank personality, Su Wen felt a phantom toothache.
It seems...
"It seems Uncle Zhan is not a mage."
No, wait. Considering his methods for controlling fire, he can attack at range. So, he could be called a 'close-combat mage.'
"I just unleashed three of my spirit skills, yet I did not need to release my spirit or my rings, nor could anyone see my spirit rings flash." Xiao Zhan was very satisfied with Su Wen's reaction.
That's right. You should be shocked.
"This is a technique Old Bai and I developed together. However, only I have mastered it. And I was only able to grasp it by relying on the power of my Spirit Avatar."
"Spirit Avatar?"
(End of this chapter)