Wizard: I Have a Cultivation System-Chapter 93 - 87: Qi Eating, The 18-Year-Old’s Wedding
Although she was never completely satisfied with any of the candidates.
She would either find one not intelligent enough or another lacking in resolve.
But she persisted in this task, occasionally taking the time to discuss suitable candidates with Bernard, the butler.
She rarely sought Murphy out for non-official matters. Even when they happened to pass in the hallway, she would only give a slight nod and address him as "Sylvan."
Murphy remained silent on the matter, dedicating most of his time to research in natural science and his cultivation.
Since breaking through to the Qi Refining Realm four years ago during the incident with Ailendra’s invasion, his strength in a single arm had reached a staggering five hundred kilograms, far surpassing the level of an ordinary Knight.
But this was not the most significant change. An ordinary Knight would never have been able to sense the movements of a Wizard like Ailendra.
The most crucial breakthrough was that Murphy could now clearly perceive the various types of "Qi" flowing between heaven and earth. It was precisely this perceptive ability that had allowed him to discover Ailendra’s hidden movements.
If he hadn’t been able to detect the Wizard’s methods, Ailendra would never have mistaken him for someone working for the Mechanical Witch.
Being able to perceive the Heaven and Earth Qi meant that he could attempt to absorb it.
This was a completely different situation from before, when he couldn’t even perceive it, let alone know where to begin trying.
However, the reality was not so smooth. The knowledge contained within the "Initial Glimpse" level of the Breathing and Guiding technique was ultimately too shallow, and figuring out a method to absorb the Heaven and Earth Qi was exceptionally time-consuming.
Murphy often sat in meditation all day, trying to capture the energy flowing in the air, but with little success.
To that end, Murphy continued trying to absorb the Black Light Energy within his body.
Since that incident, the Black Light Energy had tripled in volume, but its effect on the growth of his "Qi" was still unsatisfactory.
The so-called Qi Refining Realm was, in essence, a process of "Qi Eating." By breathing in and guiding various types of Heaven and Earth Qi, the "Qi" within one’s body could achieve continuous growth.
If he couldn’t effectively perform Qi Eating, how was he supposed to rapidly advance his cultivation?
Fortunately, the Knight’s Secret Medicine still provided some benefit to his cultivation, allowing his "Qi" to grow slowly.
Moreover, Murphy had heard that above Knights were Great Knights. Secret Medicines belonging to Great Knights were rumored to exist within the Church Court and among the Great Nobles, but these resources were strictly monopolized. A mere Baron had no qualifications to obtain them.
In reality, the "unsatisfactory" nature of the Black Light Energy simply referred to the slow pace of his cultivation.
At his current rate, he estimated it would take nearly a hundred years to reach Qi Refining Perfection.
Even though his lifespan had extended to one hundred and fifty years after breaking through to the Qi Refining Realm, this meant he might only reach the Perfection stage just before his death.
Since he had never consumed any other type of Heaven and Earth Qi for comparison, Murphy actually had no way of judging whether his current speed was fast or slow.
Murphy had considered trying to seize a Great Knight’s Secret Medicine from the Church Court or a Great Noble. However, considering the risks involved, and the fact that he would steadily receive the reward for the Breathing and Guiding Technique "Slightly Accomplished" in a few more years, he ultimately abandoned the idea.
After all, the incident with Ailendra had been an unexpected boon. Without it, even at Floating Meridian Perfection, it would have taken at least another ten years to accumulate enough "Qi" to break through to the Qi Refining Realm.
From a time perspective, Murphy was already significantly ahead.
As for the Titan’s Blood Crystal, he was in no hurry to use something given to him by a strange Wizard.
...
「Another year passed.」
WHISSH!
On the workbench in his study sat a self-made microscope. The brass tube had already taken shape, but the lens still bore obvious, rough grinding marks.
Murphy condensed a strand of pitch-black light, as fine as a hair, at his fingertip and carefully brought it close to the edge of the lens.
Under his precise control, this strand of Black Light vibrated gently with extremely subtle movements, polishing the surface of the lens like the finest sandpaper.
He would periodically test the changing curvature of the lens and adjust the form and intensity of the Black Light.
As the Black Light moved slowly, the imperfections on the lens’s surface gradually vanished, and it became increasingly smooth.
This was another characteristic of the Qi Refining Realm: the ability to project one’s "Qi" and give it form.
This was a technique that Knights did not possess, and it was another key reason why Ailendra had been so certain he was affiliated with the "Mechanical Witch," mistaking him for a Great Knight.
KNOCK, KNOCK!
A knock came from outside the study door.
Murphy retracted the Black Light and said calmly, "Come in."
Aurora pushed the door open and entered. She wore a small pearl tiara, her long golden hair woven into an elegant bun with a few loose strands framing her ears.
A deep blue velvet long dress outlined her slender figure, its collar adorned with intricate silver thread embroidery.
White silk stockings enveloped her slender calves, and on her feet was a pair of soft deerskin ankle boots.
At eighteen, Aurora was like a Snowball Flower blooming in early spring, so beautiful one couldn’t look away.
Murphy couldn’t help but recall an afternoon thirteen years ago, when his Floating Meridians had only been seventy percent opened.
Aurora had knocked on his door back then, too. The difference was, at that time, she wouldn’t have waited for his permission, instead ordering a Maid to use a key and barge right in.
With a head of fluffy, golden curls and a small woven basket in hand, she would burst in, bouncing and skipping, shouting, "Brother, I’m coming in!"
"Aurora, is something the matter?" Murphy asked, breaking the silence.
"My marriage has been arranged," Aurora said, her voice completely placid. "It will be in ten days, the day after my eighteenth birthday."
Murphy frowned slightly. "No engagement ceremony? Isn’t that a bit improper?"
Aurora shook her head gently. "No. Mother is too old."
A long silence followed.
Sunlight filtered through the stained-glass window, casting colorful patterns of light and shadow between them.
"Sylvan," Aurora finally broke the silence. "Will you attend my wedding?"
Over the years, Murphy had gradually stopped concerning himself with official duties. With the Former Lady Baron’s advanced age, Aurora had taken over managing most of the affairs.
As a result, Murphy was rarely seen at formal occasions.
"Of course, I’ll attend," Murphy replied. "After all, it’s the most important event in your life, Aurora."
"The most important event in my life..." Aurora repeated softly. "Indeed."
She suddenly looked up. "I have official business to attend to."
Without waiting for Murphy’s reply, Aurora immediately turned, her pace quickening. She left in a hurry, not even bothering to close the door behind her.
Murphy stared in the direction she had gone, silent for a long time.
Finally, he walked over and shut the door. He then turned his attention back to the workbench, once again condensing the Black Light at his fingertip.
But this time, halfway through the polishing, the Black Light began to tremble violently. It suddenly shot out of control, sweeping across the microscope.
With a sharp CRACK, the meticulously polished lens, along with the brass tube, was sliced cleanly in two. The cut surface was as smooth as a mirror.
