No wonder it’s a divine beast that has existed since time immemorial, easily opening up an independent space. From what it said, does that mean that time here is almost at a standstill compared to the outside world?

Chapter 3: A Hundred Days of Bitter Cultivation

But now the small cave heaven has been sealed for several days, and who knows how worried his family must be.

Time is tight and cannot be wasted.

He cast aside all distracting thoughts and began to focus on the spindle-shaped jade crystal. Something wondrous happened—the spindle-shaped jade crystal transformed into a mass of ethereal essence and burrowed into his sea of consciousness. Instead of obscure and difficult text, there were vivid illusions of people, appearing scene by scene in his mind like memories.

Such a mysterious and unheard-of method of inheritance was truly astonishing. Divine technique, divine technique—could this really be a divine-grade cultivation method? But thinking about it, that made sense. The Light God Clan gathered all their elite, spent countless time forging it, and poured all their hopes of turning the tide into this divine art—how could it be anything ordinary?

Mark Brooks’s mind was clear, calm as still water.

Time passed quietly; he didn’t know how long had gone by. Only then did he open his dark eyes, a flash of understanding passing through them.

Light, as it’s called, is the origin of all life, all-encompassing, embracing all rivers, and also represents hope and the future. Yet this divine technique was not the divine-grade method he had imagined; instead, it was a method without any grade at all.

Its greatest feature was that it could fuse with any cultivation method, enhancing the quality of that method.

Currently, the 《Qingmu Technique》 that Mark Brooks practiced was a lower mortal-grade wood-type cultivation method—the most basic kind. It cultivated slowly, produced mixed and impure energy, and was of low quality. But its advantage was that it was easy to get started with, making it suitable for someone like Mark Brooks, who had no resources.

According to the meaning of the divine technique, it could also fuse with stronger methods and improve itself. Perhaps one day in the future, it could truly embrace all rivers and become a genuine divine-grade method, even surpassing the level of divine arts.

In his sea of consciousness, the incantations of the Great Light Divine Technique circulated, replaying over and over like a revolving lantern. His pores closed, his mind gradually focused, and wisps of gray energy began to form imperceptibly, quietly filling his sea of consciousness.

Time ticked by bit by bit.

When thirsty or hungry, he would eat or drink a little, then continue cultivating.

With all distractions cast aside, Mark Brooks completely forgot the passage of time.

He didn’t know how long had passed when a surge of intense, cool sensation washed through his meridians and blood vessels like a flood, as if a spiritual spring was cleansing his body—utterly refreshing.

With powerful and unwavering determination, Mark Brooks cultivated day and night without rest. Having stepped through the threshold, he naturally succeeded in mastering the first layer of the Great Light Divine Technique, completely transforming the Qingmu Technique and fusing it into the Light Divine Technique.

Mark Brooks discovered that the original Qingmu energy, after being refined and circulated, condensed into white mist, mixed within the green wood energy, almost undetectable.

When circulating it, the total amount of energy had decreased by a full thirty percent, making his energy sea feel somewhat empty.

But instead of being alarmed, Mark Brooks was delighted, because the energy refined by the divine technique had been purged of impurities, becoming exceptionally pure—far beyond what ordinary energy could compare to.

On the surface, his cultivation was still at the initial stage of Spirit Disciple. However, fundamentally, he had undergone a complete transformation. His once pale and thin face now had a hint of radiance, and his previously frail body appeared upright and strong.

The Black Tortoise had not yet opened the space, so it seemed a hundred days had not yet passed. He had fallen behind others for many years and had to seize this opportunity to catch up.

Gritting his teeth, Mark Brooks suppressed his longing for his family and took this chance to cultivate diligently. In this world, strength is the true foundation for survival.

Mark Brooks opened a jade box, and a slightly bitter spiritual aroma wafted out. This century-old wild ginseng was a spiritual herb that could be eaten directly.

He gathered his energy and cut off a small piece, swallowing it. A surge of pure heat spread rapidly from his lower abdomen throughout his body. The medicinal power was fierce, making Mark Brooks’s blood surge and his meridians ache.

Mark Brooks formed hand seals and began refining the medicinal power.

With each small circulation, his blood and energy grew more vigorous.

When he finally finished, he felt his body full of energy, his spiritual energy flowing smoothly and roundly. Clearly, this was a sign of a great increase in cultivation, which made him so excited that he let out a long howl, tears welling in his eyes as he punched the air a few times. His cultivation was finally improving and was no longer being devoured by the cocoon of light.

...

Adjusting his mindset, Mark Brooks lay on a large rock with his hands behind his head, thinking to himself that there should still be some time before the hundred days were up. Now that his energy and blood were abundant, he should make good use of the time to practice his martial techniques.

Over the years, he hadn’t spent much effort on martial techniques, only cultivating the first move of Evergreen to the level of “just scratching the surface.” In addition, there was a widely practiced set of Vajra Fist, used to strengthen the body. But he had practiced it only sporadically, just to toughen his muscles and bones.

Improving the level of spiritual energy cultivation was certainly important, but practicing martial techniques was equally essential. Mastery of exquisite martial techniques could often bring the power of spiritual energy to its fullest.

Holding his breath and focusing, Mark Brooks cast aside all distractions and began to assume a stance, methodically practicing a set of martial techniques.

《Vajra Fist》—Lower Mortal-Grade Martial Technique.