Chapter 146: Chapter 54: Fourth Layer Annual Ring Effect

Li Jizhou closed his eyes in contemplation for a moment, then slowly opened them.

“The transition from the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment to the Late Stage mainly involves the accumulation of quality, and that step requires merely an instantaneous burst of magical power and spiritual liquid impact. The effect of a Tier Two advanced Breaking Rank Pill lies in this… But in your situation, I’ve never heard of such a thing!”

“I beg you, senior, to examine me! Regardless of the result, as long as senior assists, I promise you permanent residence on Linglong Island.” Jiang Li’s face was clouded with anxiety as she urgently pleaded.

The only True Core cultivator she could reach out to was Master Wuya from the Five Elders Association, but due to her father’s previous warnings, she wasn’t sure if he would genuinely help her.

However, the character she had learned about Zhang Ruoyu during this time seemed most favorable.

Li Jizhou nodded slightly. Initially, Zhang Ruoyu’s skill level was that of a quasi-Third Tier senior physician, and he was preparing to use this skill to negotiate with the Island Lord’s Mansion, striving for less responsibility and more freedom to reside peacefully on the island.

“Give me your hand!”

“Yes!” Jiang Li hurriedly stepped forward, pulling up her long sleeves, revealing a smooth and jade-like wrist.

The wrist was as white as snow, tender and soft, truly befitting a Water Spirit Root practitioner of water attribute cultivation techniques, with an exceptionally different touch.

“Abundant vitality, stable sea of consciousness, dense magical power, there are no abnormalities…” Li Jizhou checked carefully and found no issues,

Even trying to activate the effect of the first three circles of the annual ring he had comprehended, he still found nothing abnormal.

At this moment, he couldn’t help but think of the effect of his fourth circle of the annual ring.

Five years ago, the fourth circle of the annual ring reached perfection, and its mysterious effect has yet to be clarified.

The first circle of the annual ring was birthed with the miraculous effect of sensing life longevity,

The second circle stored infinite vitality,

The third circle contained the power of concentration.

After forty years of cultivation, theoretically, the fourth circle of the annual ring should be complete, with some miraculous effect, but so far, he hasn’t understood what it is.

“Let’s try it.”

Li Jizhou placed one hand on Jiang Li’s wrist, connecting his mind with the fourth circle of the annual ring.

In an instant,

A vague feeling suddenly arose.

“Does it only take effect when applied to others?” Over the past five years, he had experimented multiple times, all without success, and now, upon contact with another person, finally, there was a reaction.

In a flash, Li Jizhou grasped the source of this feeling.

The fourth circle of the annual ring was replicating Jiang Li’s aura, then storing it within the annual ring.

In the next moment, he decisively cut off the effect of the annual ring.

In his heart, he formed a guess about the characteristics of the fourth circle of the annual ring.

However, it could be confirmed that it had no effect on Jiang Li’s situation.

At this point, Li Jizhou was ready to give up: “I indeed… eh…”

Suddenly, there was a surge of magical power within Jiang Li’s body, which vanished as quickly as it appeared.

“This…”

“Practice now, absorb and refine.” Li Jizhou slightly raised an eyebrow, a situation similar to a record he had seen in Wanshi Studio of Golden Crow Immortal City.

Noticing the change in Li Jizhou’s expression, hope rose in Jiang Li’s heart, and she immediately began cultivating according to Li Jizhou’s instructions.

With the entry of Water Spiritual Qi into her body, and its refinement through the water attribute cultivation technique,

Then… it vanished again in an instant.

Li Jizhou immersed his mind completely, carefully tracing the path of the disappearing water-aligned magical power.

Over and over again.

This continued for several hours before Li Jizhou finally opened his eyes slowly.

“Since when has Isle Master Jiang been unable to accumulate magical power?”

“Ever since I felt the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment was complete ten years ago, I’ve been unable to gather any more magical power, remaining stuck at the Middle Stage.” Jiang Li’s eyes lit up instantly; she had never spoken of this peculiarity that only she could sense, but Li Jizhou had pinpointed it with a single sentence.

“Ten years…” Li Jizhou murmured, pondering silently.

Jiang Li, unable to hold back, asked, “Senior, have you discovered the cause of my issue? I beg you to speak openly.”

Li Jizhou slightly turned his head, looking directly into Jiang Li’s expectant face, and finally shook his head slowly: “Not certain yet.”

In fact, after rigorous verification, Li Jizhou had almost determined Jiang Li’s situation in his heart.

The reason she couldn’t progress to the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment was simply because she couldn’t accumulate magical power; once water-aligned magical power was refined, it would vanish instantly.

Disappearing is not accurate; it should be absorbed by the body, nourishing it, rather than stored in the Dantian.

This situation bore numerous similarities to a record in an ancient book that Li Jizhou had read.

The ancient text documented an innate Ren Water Spirit Body.

In water, Ren is supreme.

An innate Ren Water Spirit Body is the pinnacle of water attributes; cultivating water attribute techniques can reach unsurpassed heights, with various miraculous effects.

However, most of these spirit bodies are incomplete. To truly enjoy the benefits of such a physique, it must first be fully awakened.

Awakening involves nourishing the body with water attribute magical power.

As for how to fully awaken it, the text mentioned several methods. The first is to go with the flow through diligent cultivation, which is impractical because, by that time, there may be little lifespan left.

Nine out of ten Ren Water Spirit Bodies might face such an end, trapped in a stage for life, making no progress, and dying unfulfilled.

The other methods are feasible, and one particularly suits Linglong Island.

But… the Ren Water Spirit Body’s other characteristic left Li Jizhou undecided.

Once the Ren Water Spirit Body is fully awakened, the body will become truly supple like water, representing the pinnacle of Primordial Yin.

At different stages, it exhibits various miraculous effects, and even a Ren Water Spirit Body that retains its Primordial Yin after Core Formation will self-condense a kind of Jadescent Nectar, which has miraculous effects on Nascent Soul.

Blessings and misfortunes coexist,

These miraculous effects also bring endless troubles to the Ren Water Spirit Body.

Most fully awakened Ren Water Spirit Bodies end up as someone else’s wedding gown, or overexploited, meeting miserable ends.

Li Jizhou, now at the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment, has several aces up his sleeve, but barely enough to handle ordinary Fake Pill levels.

He lacks the ability to ensure the Ren Water Spirit Body is free from others’ interference.

He couldn’t even guarantee his chance to obtain its Jadescent Nectar.

Such uncontrollable matters, easily entangled with great consequences, require careful consideration.

“You should go back first; I’ll inform you once I’ve come to a decision!” Li Jizhou ultimately decided to pause for a while.

He needed to consider the pros and cons, assess the risks and benefits, and most importantly, investigate her character; not being family or acquaintance, blind trust wasn’t an option.

“Senior, do you have a solution? I beg for your guidance. If you can resolve my predicament, I’m willing to repay you with everything!” Jiang Li hurriedly said.

Li Jizhou silently shook his head again.

“Then I… will await your good news!”

Seeing Jiang Li off, Li Jizhou contemplated for a moment before deciding to thoroughly understand Jiang Li’s entire background and possible ties.

Putting aside thoughts of the Ren Water Spirit Body, Li Jizhou felt an urgency to experiment with the fourth circle of the annual ring’s characteristics.

He sensed the new attribute of the annual ring might be exactly what he needed.

In the next moment, his mind touched the fourth circle of the annual ring.

The aura of Jiang Li stored in the annual ring surged out instantly.

The obscure sensation enveloped his entire body in an instant,

Thereafter, Li Jizhou opened his eyes in delight.

“So it is! Wonderful!”

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