The lingering resonance of the spiritual root breakthrough had not completely dissipated, and Chen Sheng was feeling the profound sensation brought by the Five Elements Celestial Grade Spiritual Root.
His meridians throughout his body felt as if they were being washed by a clear spring; with each breath, he could draw the Five Elements Spiritual Qi from the heavens and earth, transforming it into pure spiritual power upon merging within, circulating with a faint golden rune glow.
But at that moment, a trace of strange agitation suddenly arose from the depths of his dantian, interrupting his realization.
With a quickened mind, Chen Sheng immediately introspected his dantian, only to see the red-gold Sword Pill still floating in the center, its surface adorned with interwoven "sword patterns" and "pill patterns" that shimmered, yet lacking the former perfection and weight.
The spirit light at the edge of the Sword Pill was slightly dim, like a candle flame about to extinguish, exuding an indescribable hunger with each rotation, akin to a parched riverbed yearning for the nourishment of rain.
This sensation was not due to a scarcity of spiritual power but rather a deeper deficiency in the foundational essence, like a pottery jar filled with water whose capacity was suddenly expanded, making the original volume appear inadequate.
"Is this... the Sword Pill 'hungering'?"
A moment of realization flashed through Chen Sheng's mind, followed by a silent chuckle.
During his previous two spiritual root enhancements, he had experienced similar situations, though not as pronounced.
The Sword Pill had always gradually replenished the foundation lacking due to the spiritual root enhancement in subsequent cultivation, but this was the first time he so clearly felt this "hunger"!
Chen Sheng carefully sensed the state of the Sword Pill; the patterns on its surface were no longer as tight as before, seeming to breathe unconsciously, trying to absorb more power from the surrounding spiritual Qi, yet never satisfied.
"Indeed, this transformation is immensely significant!"
Cultivators with different spiritual root qualifications, even when practicing the same cultivation technique, have vastly different foundational essences.
The gap among high, middle, and low spiritual roots isn't substantial, but once entering the realms of Earth Grade and Celestial Grade, the disparity becomes glaringly evident.
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Cultivators with Earth Grade Spiritual Roots can directly achieve Foundation Establishment without the need for a Foundation Establishment Pill and, when impacting the Golden Core, can leverage the solidification power inherent in the spiritual root to initially Condense Dragon and Tiger, reducing the difficulty by ten to twenty percent.
With Celestial Grade Spiritual Roots, forming a Golden Core is as simple as eating and drinking!
Even when later impacting the Nascent Soul, the inherent foundation of the spiritual root can help the cultivator successfully surpass the first layer of the "Pill Shattering Tribulation," an effect more beneficial than most Nascent Soul Spiritual Objects.
In the past, Chen Sheng had achieved Golden Core Perfection with an Earth Grade Spiritual Root, at which time the Sword Pill's foundation was sufficient to support it.
But now, with the leap of the spiritual root to Celestial Grade, and even a rare Five Elements Celestial Grade, the requirements for the foundation have significantly increased.
The previously perfect Golden Core, in the face of the Celestial Grade Spiritual Root, has become insufficient, revealing a clear deficiency in foundation.
"This is both unexpected and within reason."
Chen Sheng smiled slightly, devoid of any anxiety in his eyes; he had experienced numerous cultivation bottlenecks and had long honed a calm disposition.
Spiritual root breakthrough is an immense opportunity; a lack of foundation is merely a small test brought by the opportunity, which can be gradually filled in sequence.
With a movement of his mind, two luminous Jade Bottles flew out from the Storage Ring, their stoppers automatically falling off, and two smooth "Essence Storage Pills" floated out.
These were the Tier Three High Grade Elixirs he used in daily cultivation, with a faint golden sheen on the surface, a delicate and pure aroma, and mild, easily refined spiritual power, ideal for supplementing the foundation.
Chen Sheng inhaled, and the two "Essence Storage Pills" transformed into two strands of golden light, entering his mouth; upon reaching his throat, they dissolved instantly into two surging streams of spiritual power, like two golden brooks, sliding into his meridians.
He immediately initiated the refining technique, his fingertips glowing with a faint golden light, guiding the spiritual power through Circulation, transforming into pure mana converging towards the dantian.
The moment the mana surged into the dantian, the "hunger" of the Sword Pill intensified abruptly, and the gaps on its surface absorbed the mana frantically, like dry land welcoming rain.
The red-gold Sword Pill's rotation speed suddenly accelerated, the spirit light around it surged, and the mana was devoured little by little, gradually brightening the previously dim edges.
Chen Sheng did not pause, continuing to urge the spell to direct the stored mana from other meridians within his body towards the dantian as well.
Under his control, these mana strands transformed into countless fine golden threads, sprinkling onto the Sword Pill like spring rain, beginning to replenish that foundation.
...
As time passed, another seven years flowed swiftly by.
With Chen Sheng refining massive resources into tremendous mana and pouring it into the Sword Pill, that sense of hunger gradually subsided.
The patterns on the Sword Pill's surface began to tighten once again, with each pattern nourished by spiritual power, radiating an even more brilliant glow than before.
Within the original red-gold hue, a faint five-colored halo gradually melded, interweaving on the Sword Pill's surface, like draping a robe of multicolored clouds.
On this day, when the last trace of mana was absorbed by the Sword Pill, it trembled fiercely, erupting with dazzling golden light, engulfing the entire dantian in its glow.
Chen Sheng could clearly feel that although the Sword Pill's size hadn't increased, it had become more condensed and substantial, with its contained mana growing by about a third.
Moreover, the patterns on the Sword Pill's surface were seamless and continuous, with the circulating spiritual power carrying the rhythmic symbiosis of the Five Elements.
Every rotation could stir the Five Elements Spiritual Qi of the universe, forming an invisible vortex, slowly revolving around the Sword Pill.
"Finally replenished that foundation."
Chen Sheng slowly opened his eyes, exhaling a mouthful of turbid air, which carried a faint five-colored spiritual light, dispersing into the air.
He felt the perfectly weighty Sword Pill within his dantian, and his heart was filled with contentment.