Chapter 9

Shang Xia can now only pin his hopes on the cultivation technique practiced by the original owner, the Primordial Force, and the integration of the two prerequisite martial arts, the Primordial Palm and the Thunderbolt Palm.

The key to the qualitative change in the integration of these two martial arts seems to lie in the bolt of lightning that accompanied Shang Xia’s穿越.

The lightning refining blood is an uncontrollable anomaly, but Shang Xia can control the circulation of the primordial energy within his body and promote the integration of the two prerequisite martial arts.

Heaven does not save those who do not save themselves!

Shang Xia does not want to give up the chance to live again, and he is also proving his efforts to this world.

It turns out that Shang Xia’s efforts seem to be paying off.

While striving to circulate the primordial energy within his body, Shang Xia has also completed the familiarization and full control of his physical body.

As the refined blood and qi, tempered by the lightning, gradually integrate into the circulating primordial energy, the integration of the two martial arts seems to have begun a qualitative change.

In the consciousness space, the success rate on the Four Directions Stele continues to rise, and it immediately exceeds the 65% upper limit, reaching 70%!

At this point, the primordial energy circulation routes of the two martial arts that Shang Xia was simultaneously operating began to overlap, and a new primordial energy circulation route seemed to be opening up.

The success rate on the Four Directions Stele jumped again, reaching 75%.

At this moment, the "Backup Secret Techniques" section on the back of the Four Directions Stele finally changed. The originally special notation "Lightning Refining Blood in Progress" instantly became "Lightning Refining Blood Completed."

At the same time, the characters on the left side of the stele also changed, and the success rate jumped again from 75% to 80%!

The integration of the two martial arts continued under Shang Xia’s continuous supply of primordial energy, and new circulation routes kept opening up.

Whenever Shang Xia felt his primordial energy was about to run out, a thread of lightning power would seep in from within his body and then be invested into the opening of new circulation routes.

The effects of the Clear Spirit Powder and Snow Condensation Liquid seemed to have already worn off, and the intense pain that had previously subsided returned, tearing through his body. Shang Xia could only grit his teeth and endure.

The success rate on the Four Directions Stele no longer changed, seemingly reaching its peak at 80%. The rest would depend on Shang Xia’s will and a bit of luck.

Shang Xia, who had been given a second chance at life, had an unprecedentedly strong desire to survive. Even under the intense pain that surged through his body, he still stubbornly circulated the primordial energy within him. Luck seemed to favor those who face challenges head-on.

When the circulation routes of the two martial arts finally merged and formed a new primordial energy circulation route, Shang Xia extended his hand and pressed it against a nearby rock. A flash of electricity appeared in his palm, followed by a crisp "snap." With a "crackling" sound, the rock crumbled into evenly sized pieces.

At about this time, the commotion caused by the lightning strike at Shang Xia’s seclusion place finally drew attention, and the sounds of people breaking through the air were heading his way.

Shang Xia stood up, tidied his clothes, kicked the pile of crushed stones on the ground, and with a serene smile, slowly walked out of the damaged seclusion place...

...

"It seems it doesn’t need to be weakened too much!"

Shang Xia analyzed the "improved" version of the cultivation method provided by the Four Directions Stele under the shade of a tree.

He found that even if the "Primordial Thunderbolt Hand" was cultivated successfully according to this method, its power would likely be far inferior to his own.

The reason is simple: Shang Xia’s true completion of the blood and qi refinement relied on the lightning that struck him, not the greatly weakened residual lightning power extracted from extraordinary materials like the heart of a lightning-struck tree.

The inherent difference between these two is immeasurable!

If one truly wants to match Shang Xia’s power in this divine ability, the method is simple: get struck by lightning.

Of course, the prerequisite is that you survive!

However, this also made Shang Xia realize that, apart from the dangers and low success rate of cultivating the "Primordial Thunderbolt Hand," the key to this version lies in the "Lightning Refining Blood Technique" listed in the backup secret techniques section.

This was a secret technique Shang Xia had never encountered before, but the moment his consciousness touched the Four Directions Stele, all the information about this technique was imprinted in his mind.

"Should I hide this secret technique?"

A mischievous smile appeared on Shang Xia’s face as he pretended to be asleep.

Divine Ability: Primordial Thunderbolt Hand

Prerequisite Cultivation Technique: Primordial Force

Prerequisite Martial Arts: Primordial Palm, Thunderbolt Palm

Necessary Medium: Heart of a 300-year-old lightning-struck tree, peach wood being the best

Auxiliary Medium: Thunderbird feathers, Thunderbolt Stone, etc.

Backup Medicines: Life-restoring healing medicines

Essential Secret Technique: Lightning Refining Blood Technique

Success Rate: 50%-70%

Shang Xia had been studying the Four Directions Stele in his soul consciousness for several days, leading to more discoveries.

Apart from initially assessing the success rate of the divine ability cultivation based on the original owner’s preparations, the Four Directions Stele also had the function of improving the original preparations.

This was the cultivation method with a success rate upper limit of 65% that was later manifested.

Although Shang Xia had already started the forced integration of the Primordial Palm and the Thunderbolt Palm, this cultivation method did not have any effect at the time.

Over the past two days, Shang Xia discovered another function of the Four Directions Stele: after modifying the original cultivation method, it could still provide a success rate assessment.

For example, in the current cultivation method, Shang Xia changed the 500-year-old lightning-struck tree heart to a 300-year-old one.

Extraordinary trees that can produce a tree heart need at least 300 years, which is the minimum threshold for the appearance of a tree heart.

The success rate assessment provided by the Four Directions Stele then increased by 5% at both the upper and lower limits!

This seemed more reliable than the cultivation method the Four Directions Stele had previously improved on its own.

However, Shang Xia knew almost without thinking that the essential difference in the lightning-struck tree heart could directly affect the power of the divine ability.

The divine ability cultivated by the latter would likely be even more ineffective in terms of power.

What if the 500-year-old lightning-struck tree heart was replaced with a 1000-year-old one?

Seeing the success rate assessment drop to a pitiful 20%, Shang Xia couldn’t help but pout.

On a whim, Shang Xia directly erased the 1000-year-old lightning-struck tree heart from the necessary medium section and replaced it with "lightning."

The success rate section first dispersed, then a 0.1% number appeared...

I really have a big life!

...

"This is the complete cultivation method for the 'Primordial Thunderbolt Hand' that you summarized?"

Shang Xi read through the "secret manual" of the "Primordial Thunderbolt Hand" that Shang Xia had summarized, occasionally glancing at him.

"'Lightning Refining Blood Technique'? It seems this is the true key to your ability to cultivate this primordial energy realm divine ability!"

As the actual manager of the Shang family, Shang Xi’s cultivation and knowledge were naturally not weak. With just one glance, he found the key in the secret manual that Shang Xia had filled with many so-called experiences and insights.

Shang Xia ultimately did not hide the "Lightning Refining Blood Technique" because without this secret technique, the so-called "secret manual" he provided would be meaningless.

Moreover, even if others knew the cultivation method for the "Primordial Thunderbolt Hand," they might not necessarily succeed.

Even if they did succeed, it would almost certainly not be as powerful as Shang Xia’s divine ability!

Besides, Shang Xia also wanted to use the complete cultivation method to seek benefits from the family and the Mystic Depth Academy. If he didn’t provide something substantial, would he really think those experts at the Martial Extreme and Martial Realm levels were fools?

"Heh, I just made up a name. In fact, my nephew accidentally drew out a thread of lightning power from the lightning-struck tree and the thunderbird feathers, and that’s how I managed to succeed by chance."

Shang Xia’s ability to talk nonsense came from his homeland.

Shang Xi’s gaze towards Shang Xia became even more satisfied, and he smiled, "No wonder you’re my nephew. Just this one secret technique is enough. As for the other things, there’s no need to report them to the academy."

Impressive!

Shang Xia couldn’t help but give his aunt a mental thumbs up.

Out of humanitarian considerations, although Shang Xia did not hide the existence of the "Lightning Refining Blood Technique," he changed the 500-year-old lightning-struck tree heart in the necessary medium to the minimum threshold of 300 years.

This way, although the power of the divine ability might be greatly reduced, it would indeed increase the success rate of the cultivation, and there was a good chance of saving the lives of more cultivation failures.

These reasons were enough for Shang Xia to provide a weakened version of the cultivation method with a clear conscience.

However, Shang Xi’s approach was clearly even darker, not providing any hints about the necessary or auxiliary media.

According to Shang Xi, things like lightning-struck trees are not secrets and don’t need to be specifically pointed out; they will eventually be known.

The pain-relieving and pain-reducing medicines used during the cultivation process, after experiencing the pain of the divine ability’s qualitative change several times, those who survive will eventually summarize the methods.

"Why should those who come later have it easier when my nephew suffered so much during his cultivation?"

Shang Xi’s reasoning was powerful. Shang Xia said, "This doesn’t seem right," but the satisfaction in his heart betrayed him, and he ultimately had to "submit" to his aunt’s authority.

I’ve tried to persuade, but what can I do when my aunt has the final say in the family now!

Shang Xi closed the "secret manual" in her hand and looked at her nephew with a serious expression, "What do you think the success rate of your cultivation method is?"

Shang Xia thought for a moment and said, "Under ideal conditions, it could have a 40% success rate."

Shang Xia did not provide the success rate assessment from the Four Directions Stele but deliberately gave a lower estimate of 40%, and specifically pointed out that it was under "ideal conditions."

Even so, Shang Xi was full of surprise, "40%? That’s so high? The Mystic Depth Academy will benefit greatly, and we must make them pay a heavy price!"

Shang Xia: "…"

——

Continued to earnestly request the assistance of all fellow practitioners!