Chapter Twenty: The Tiger Form Reaches the Divine

In a single training session, Li Qi had unexpectedly gained thirty-seven points of proficiency. At this moment, the progress of his Tiger-Slaying Eighteen Blades on the interface had reached 239/300. It would take only sixty-one more points to reach level four and achieve a minor mastery of the blade.

That was not all. On the interface, the column representing Li Qi’s cultivation realm had jumped to 99%, an increase of 4% in one go. This was undoubtedly a massive leap.

Normally, this progress should grow bit by bit alongside one’s blade mastery, reaching exactly 100% at the moment of minor mastery. Yet, right now, this progress had clearly outpaced his blade technique. However, Li Qi understood that blade mastery was merely a tool for enhancing one's realm; the realm itself was the foundation, and the two were not strictly equivalent. There were geniuses who did not need to enter the realm through martial arts at all, yet still broke through simply by meditating and reciting sutras.

"My blade mastery is currently lacking only in its inscription within the spiritual realm; it still needs a bit more refinement. By seizing the opportunity of altering my root of life, I have stimulated my body's potential, which has greatly propelled the growth of my life essence. In the next few days, my three primary essences—spirit, energy, and essence—should enter a brief period of rapid growth!"

Li Qi sat down where he was, sensing his own state, such thoughts surfacing in his mind. With the activation of his "Mind Root" and the manifestation of the effect "Unaware of Being a Guest in Dreams," his ability to perceive and control himself had undergone a qualitative leap. Li Qi did not know what kind of control and perception those who had already entered the realm possessed, but based on his current sensations, his perception was certainly superior to those in the entry-level stage, even that of seasoned practitioners.

Because of this, Li Qi realized that the "Root of Life" was not necessarily most powerful simply by stacking attributes. If he could gather six special roots similar in effect to "Unaware of Being a Guest in Dreams," he would truly be invincible. Even now, the value of that effect was, in reality, more potent than the other five root effects combined. It was just that this effect lacked obvious visual impact, devoid of the pure beauty of numerical values. After all, if one were to analyze it closely, the description "Glimpse of Truth" already held a touch of conceptual power.

"Beyond this, my Tiger Form seems ready to be achieved ahead of schedule!"

Li Qi sensed his own body and slowly exerted force. Although he was sitting cross-legged, his bones and muscles began to vibrate, ripple, and squirm with his spine as the center. Following the shifts in his intent, his body assumed a strange posture, as if a tiger spirit that had cultivated into human form was about to revert to its original state in this secluded place.

*Crackle, pop!*

Accompanied by the sound of vibrating tendons and bones, Li Qi naturally settled into a pose. He sprawled onto the ground, his entire person seemingly transforming into a crouching tiger. Even his breathing changed, emitting a purring sound, like a sleeping tiger.

"Forging the Form through the Blade" was a pursuit meant only for after entering the realm. Yet, for Li Qi, due to his synergy with the blade technique and the bonuses brought by the alteration of his root, it had begun prematurely. This was undoubtedly a good thing. When practitioners enter the realm, their life essence undergoes a transformation—a sublimation of the whole. That Li Qi could master the Tiger Form before entering the realm meant he would surely receive an extra baptism compared to others.

He spent over an hour in that prone, sleeping state. During this process, his skin turned crimson, yet he felt no heat; instead, he felt a warm current surging and flowing within his body, refining his flesh, bones, and marrow, as if his entire being were evolving.

More than an hour later, Li Qi stood up naturally, carrying an aura reminiscent of a spirit creature assuming human shape.

Log: You have touched the Divine Treasury and stimulated your body's potential. The Tiger-Slaying Eighteen Blades has activated its trait ahead of schedule: Tiger Form!

Log: The Tiger Form is Pure Yang. True Form is Pure Yang, suppressing evil and punishing malice. The Tiger Form connects to the divine, washing and refining the innate essence!

Log: Your Innate Coefficient has increased by 0.1. For the coming period, you will nourish your innate essence. With a balanced diet, your body will undergo a secondary growth spurt, and your Innate Coefficient will continue to rise until it reaches a total bonus of 0.2!

Log: Influenced by the Tiger Form trait, during the process of nourishing your innate essence, your six-dimensional attributes—Essence, Qi, and Spirit—will gain significant growth. Your mind, will, and wisdom will be nourished by the Tiger Form, gaining slight growth!

Log: You have achieved the True Form and partially broken the shackles of life. For the next period (the duration of nourishing the innate essence), the growth rate of your three primary essences will receive an 80% additional boost!

Log: You have achieved the Tiger Form, and your synergy with the Tiger-Slaying Eighteen Blades has greatly increased, improving both training results and actual combat effectiveness!

Log: You...

As Li Qi woke, the panel began to scroll frantically for the first time, displaying all the changes that had occurred in such a short time.

"Nourishing the innate, raising the innate coefficient... So it is true that mastering the True Form can indeed nourish the innate. Those people online who claim it doesn't are either practicing an impure form or are simply too old..."

"Furthermore, there is likely a difference between mastering it before entering the realm versus after, as the life form of one who has entered the realm is far more stable."

"Otherwise, if everyone who mastered it could gain nearly 0.3, it would be impossible for anyone to claim that 'Forging the Form' is ineffective..."

Li Qi’s mind was sharp, and he deduced the truth directly from the information on the log. This was partly due to his own keen intelligence and partly due to the effect of "Glimpse of Truth." This Root of Life was working at every moment.

"Many people's Innate Coefficient doesn't even reach 1, yet I’ve gained 0.1, with another 0.2 on the way. Once the nourishment is complete, even taking 1 as the base, it's equivalent to a 30% all-around enhancement of one's source..."

"Now *this* is cheating. What kind of miserable life was I living before?!"

A stiff smile appeared on Li Qi's face. It wasn't that his composure was lacking, but in just this one morning, he had first stacked 46% neural reflex speed, and now he had mastered the Tiger Form and was nourishing his innate essence. Furthermore, the "greatly increased" practical combat effect meant that with the same attributes and similar blade mastery, he would be far more ferocious than others—as if his skills were tailor-made for him.

"If the version of me from last night met the current me, I’d probably be finished within three strikes. Of course, that’s assuming I were wearing protective gear. Without it, aiming for a vital point, it would likely be a one-hit kill..."

Li Qi estimated, then suddenly swung his wooden blade. It emitted a humming sound like metal, though less crisp.

"Indeed, in the multiverse, which powerhouse *doesn't* cheat? My perspective was just too narrow before!"