Among his peers, with his status, no one would think much of it. He entered smoothly and soon found the fourth level technique of "Guiyuan Gong." After some thought, he also took down the fifth level.

As for the sixth level, those were all kept on the second floor of the library pavilion, which juniors like him could not access. Only clan elders or the clan head were qualified. After all, even his father, currently the strongest in the family, was only at the peak of Martial Artist Seventh Layer Out-of-Body Realm, while most elders were only at the sixth layer.

But this was enough. These two sets would definitely allow him to cultivate for a long time, and his lifespan would also increase significantly.

Bringing them to the table, he quickly copied them down. Only then did Henry Clark jog all the way back to his residence.

The fourth layer of Martial Artist, Spirit Valley Realm, did not require many techniques. It was simply about using the power of spiritual energy to open up the dantian and fill it up.

It sounded easy, but in practice, it was not so simple. An unopened dantian was like a deflated rubber ball, extremely elastic, and spiritual energy was very hard to retain. It required constant tempering to slowly expand it and eventually stabilize it completely.

Take "Xu Family Qi Cultivation Technique" as an example: from the early stage to the peak of Spirit Valley Realm, even with decent talent and diligent cultivation, it would take at least two or three years to complete. For some slower ones, spending seven or eight years was quite normal.

Of course, at this level, there was no need for physical training or stance-holding. Just sitting cross-legged like in novels would suffice.

He opened the cultivation method, memorized it, and with the help of the Longevity Diagram, Henry Clark modified it once again.

Because this involved gathering spiritual energy into the dantian, with more than three hundred meridians involved, it took him a full two hours to finish.

During this time, he even went to have a meal.

Three meals a day were a must; otherwise, lifespan would also decrease...

After eating, he took a nap. When he woke up in the afternoon, it was already around three o'clock. Only then did he start circulating the modified technique in his body.

Pure spiritual energy flowed along his skin into his meridians, like a gentle stream.

Physical constitution enhanced, lifespan: +0.01, +0.01, +0.01...

As his lifespan slowly increased, spiritual energy once again poured into his body like a funnel, madly impacting his dantian, trying to force it open.

Two hours later, Henry Clark sat on the bed, his face blank, eyes full of disbelief.

After an afternoon of cultivation, his dantian had actually stabilized completely and no longer contracted. In other words... he had already reached the peak of the Spirit Valley Realm!

Not only that, but the spiritual energy in his dantian was as vast as the sea, surging wildly, as if he had painstakingly cultivated for over ten years.

Cultivation... was it really this easy?

If this continued, he might reach the fifth layer of Martial Artist by tomorrow...

"Maybe... health-preserving techniques are just easier to master!"

Henry Clark guessed in his heart.

Although the modified technique sounded impressive, it was still a health-preserving type. As Elder Richard had said, its power was only one-tenth of the "Xu Family Qi Cultivation Technique." It was definitely not reliable for combat, but if it could extend his life, that was good enough.

Thinking of this, he calmed down and continued to look at the Longevity Diagram.

Henry Clark: Resident of Xu Family Village, Jiyuan City, son of village chief Thomas Clark.

Cultivation: Peak of Martial Artist Fourth Layer.

Lifespan: 16 years / 16 years. (85 days remaining).

Stolen Opportunity: Qing Emperor Longevity Technique.

An afternoon of cultivation had increased his lifespan by a full fifty days!

Not bad!

"It seems that the higher the level, the more lifespan is gained. If I can break through to the fifth layer, the effect will definitely be even greater..."

After the excitement, Henry Clark opened the secret manual again.

The fifth layer of Martial Artist, Qi Nurturing Realm, also called the "Washing Qi Realm." It's not about a child's mischief, but about washing rice—meaning to remove impurities from spiritual energy, purifying it.

Spiritual energy is a chaotic, unregulated force scattered throughout the world, like wild beasts roaming outside. Even if you force it into your body, it won't obediently serve you. Normally, it needs to be refined, its sharpness worn away.

It's like taming a hawk—if you don't break its wildness, it's almost impossible to command it.

Understanding the principle, he continued to operate the technique.

The dense spiritual energy in his dantian was controlled by him and rammed into the barrier of the Qi Nurturing Realm.

He thought he could break through easily.

Suddenly.

The Longevity Diagram flickered.

Malnutrition, lifespan: -0.1, -1, -2, -5...

Lifespan plummeted.

"Damn..."

His expression changed. Henry Clark hurriedly stopped, breathing rapidly. Just as he was about to stand up, his body suddenly swayed, his vision darkened, and the surging strength from before vanished completely. He felt as weak as if he had just recovered from a serious illness.

Looking in the mirror, he saw his face was sallow and bloodless.

"Malnutrition..."

The "Qing Emperor Longevity Technique" he was cultivating did increase his lifespan, but... his body had been too badly abused by its previous owner. At the Body Tempering Realm, it wasn't obvious, but upon reaching the Spirit Valley Realm, he immediately couldn't keep up!

As the saying goes, "scholars are poor, warriors are rich." For martial artists, besides absorbing spiritual energy, nutritional intake is also very important. Without enough nutrition, how can you ensure abundant physical strength?

He had just lost nearly ten days of lifespan... Henry Clark felt the pain deeply.

Luckily, he had gained some since yesterday afternoon, or else he might already be lying in a coffin...

"Better go find something to eat..."

Struggling, he walked out of the room and headed toward the cafeteria.