However, the Nameless technique cultivated three energy bubbles, subtly forming a delicate balance between the three qi bubbles.
Chu Hao grasped this delicate balance, coupled with his experience as a Heavenly Venerate Realm cultivator, and thus succeeded in cultivating it. If anyone else were to cultivate it, it was highly probable that the outcome would be death due to an inability to balance the energy bubbles.
Chu Hao closed his eyes, his senses looking inward at his body.
At the center, three black spherical forms swirled, like black holes attempting to devour all things. The natural energy guided into them was completely absorbed.
Natural energy was actually very chaotic, which is why techniques were needed to purify the usable energy and draw it into the body, storing it within the energy bubble.
But the Nameless technique was even more domineering; it could absorb anything!
This also caused Chu Hao's cultivation speed to increase at a terrifying rate. Realms that would normally require him to cultivate for several months could now be completed in just a few days.
In this world, the most precious thing is time, for time, once lost, can never be regained. With the Nameless technique, Chu Hao had advanced far ahead of other cultivators in terms of time.
Another factor was the total amount of stored energy. The higher the grade of the cultivation technique, the greater the quantity and quality of energy, and of course, this was of utmost importance.
For instance, when two cultivators clash in battle, the one who depletes their energy first will inevitably suffer defeat.
And concerning the qualitative difference in energy, this can be understood as comparing the energy cultivated by a low-tier technique to that cultivated by a high-tier technique – it is no different from comparing a wooden stick to an iron sword. A wooden stick facing an iron sword has but one fate: to be severed. This is an insurmountable disparity in essence.
The Nameless technique, however, excelled in both quality and quantity.
Chu Hao closed his eyes, once again entering a state of serene cultivation. The three black holes within his body absorbed the pervasive natural energy even more frantically.
After a long while, Chu Hao ceased his cultivation.
"Next is detoxification."
Chu Hao had not forgotten this matter; without resolving this toxin, he would even struggle to venture out during the day.
Chu Hao's method was exceedingly simple. The toxin was absorbing his energy? Then he would absorb the toxin!
"Absorb!"
The three black holes in Chu Hao's body swirled, their suction power erupting like tentacles reaching out, clinging tightly to every fragment of the toxin, absorbing and pulverizing the venom even as it permeated his flesh and bones. In return, it yielded pure energy to Chu Hao.
Nothing was beyond absorption!
Even Chu Hao's previous technique, at the Mortal tier, could only suppress the toxin for later removal. But the Nameless technique regarded the toxin itself as a rich and nourishing supplement. This was the immense disparity that led him to choose the Nameless technique.
The toxin was gradually absorbed, albeit at a slower pace than the absorption of natural energy.
And this toxin seemed to possess sentience; it sensed that it was in peril, and it erupted fiercely, boiling violently.
However, no matter how the toxin struggled, it could not escape the absorption of the three black holes. And the pain, like being cooked alive in boiling oil, could not shake Chu Hao's will.
Night passed, and dawn broke.
Chu Hao felt a sliver of sunlight pierce through the crack in the door, but the agonizing flare-up of the toxin no longer occurred.
Although he had yet to completely eradicate this venom, it was only a matter of time.
The most joyous news was that Chu Hao not only avoided falling from the third stage of the Qi Refining Realm to the second stage, but he had instead surged to the fourth stage of the Qi Refining Realm.
Chu Hao moved his body; his sinews were now as taut as bowstrings, capable of unleashing immense pulling force.
Compared to the first three stages of the Qi Refining Realm, the fourth stage and beyond marked the beginning of energy feedback to the body. For the fourth stage of Qi Refining, it enhanced the sinews, followed by the skin, and finally the bones.
Energy nourished his entire body's sinews, starting from his neck downwards, his body becoming supple and transformed, capable of being as hard as steel and as soft as silk.
The strength and endurance a person could unleash were greatly tied to their sinews. Similarly, if someone's sinews were severed, they would be no different from a cripple.
Chu Hao drew his sword, the blade gleaming with light. The former Chu Hao was originally a swordsman, and Heavenly Venerate Chu Hao was proficient in all things.
Chu Hao unleashed the Chu clan's sword art, the Gale Sword Technique. He continuously unleashed dozens of strikes, each sword as mighty as a raging gale, both swift and powerful, entirely devoid of flashy ornamentation, but purely for taking a life.
"Little brother, since when did you cultivate the Gale Sword Technique to its utmost limit?"
Just after waking, Chu Ling'er was mesmerized by Chu Hao's sword practice.
The Gale Sword Technique was a technique for manipulating the Chu clan's energy. Unlike cultivation techniques used solely for cultivation and energy storage, martial techniques like this sword art focused more on the application of energy, especially in combat. The higher the quality of the technique, the greater its capacity for energy manipulation and explosive power.
And the Gale Sword Technique was a Peerless-grade Mortal-tier technique.
The former Chu Hao had initially taken nearly three years and still could not cultivate the Gale Sword Technique to its peak. But just now, he had displayed a mastery of this sword art that reached its zenith, without a single flaw or weakness.
And in the past, only two individuals in the Chu clan had cultivated the Gale Sword Technique to this level, both being venerable elders. Chu Hao, however, was of the younger generation!