Chapter 260 - 186: Could He Really Be a Genius?

"If there’s anything else, just say it."

"Grandfather, I have a question about my cultivation I’d like your guidance on."

"Oh?" Song Xianming raised his eyebrows. Ever since breaking through to the Foundation Establishment realm, Song Changsheng had rarely encountered problems with his cultivation. This was the first time he’d come to him for guidance.

Song Changsheng said, looking a little embarrassed, "It’s about Little Divine Techniques. Before I went to Luoxia City, I learned the Mountain-Flipping Seal from the Scripture Pavilion, but I still haven’t even managed to grasp the basics. I was hoping for your guidance, Grandfather."

"You’re quite ambitious, my boy. You just broke through to the Foundation Establishment realm and you’re already trying to cultivate Little Divine Techniques. Back in my day, I didn’t even consider it until I’d reached Foundation Establishment Great Perfection.

Do you know the difference between a Foundation Establishment Cultivator and a Purple Mansion Cultivator?"

’Differences? There are far too many to count.’

Song Changsheng thought for a moment and said, "After breaking through to the Purple Mansion realm, the Spiritual Power in one’s body is converted into Mana, the Middle Dantian is opened, a Purple Mansion is forged, and one’s very level of existence takes a great leap forward."

"Correct. Little Divine Techniques are one of the signature abilities of Purple Mansion Cultivators. Cultivating them has one prerequisite: Mana. Without Mana as a medium, they can neither be cultivated nor cast.

You gain Mana upon breaking through to the Purple Mansion realm. But for Foundation Establishment Cultivators like us, Mana seems almost unattainable. It’s a type of power completely different from Spiritual Power.

The reason you’ve been unable to even get started is because you don’t possess any Mana."

Realization dawned on Song Changsheng. ’No wonder I couldn’t make any headway. It’s because of Mana.’ He quickly asked, "Then how does one cultivate Mana?"

"There is no fixed method for cultivating Mana. I only managed to cultivate a sliver of it myself by a stroke of luck, so I can’t offer you much help. However, I can let you feel it."

Song Xianming held his hand out in front of Song Changsheng. A moment later, a Qi Vortex appeared in his palm, emitting a heart-stopping aura.

"This is Mana. Back then, I only managed to cultivate a single sliver of it. Later, when I failed to break through to the Purple Mansion realm, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I can now freely convert the Spiritual Power in my Dantian into Mana. Feel the difference between the two carefully."

’He can already convert it into Mana at will? No wonder I feel so much pressure from Grandfather.’ Song Changsheng was inwardly astounded. He felt that Song Xianming had already entered another realm entirely—one above Foundation Establishment, yet below Purple Mansion.

Calming himself, Song Changsheng began to carefully sense the difference between Mana and Spiritual Power. But soon, his expression grew strange. ’Why does this feel so familiar?’

He frowned in thought for a moment when suddenly, a flash of insight struck him. He remembered—this aura was very similar to that of Primordial Qi.

’It’s very similar, but there are still some differences. Primordial Qi seems to be on a much higher level.’

’That’s it. All these years, I’ve been cultivating by absorbing Sun Essence and Moon Radiance, but only a portion of it was ever digested and converted into Spiritual Power. The rest was stored in my Dantian, forming Primordial Qi.’

’Could it be that Primordial Qi *is* Mana? Or maybe a special form of it?’

The more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.

’Should I... give it a try?’

The moment the idea appeared, it spread like wildfire.

Song Changsheng immediately tried to mobilize the Primordial Qi stored in his Dantian. The substance accumulated with painstaking slowness; it took him about ten years to form a single mass.

He had used up one mass to upgrade his Spirit-Slaying Gourd, and in the years since, he had barely managed to accumulate another.

He carefully separated a sliver from the mass and enveloped it in his Spiritual Power. This was his first time attempting such a thing, and the process was surprisingly smooth.

"Grandfather, look."

Song Xianming looked over and saw a faint Qi Vortex condensing at Song Changsheng’s fingertip. It was very similar to the one in his own palm, only a bit murky and gray.

With just a single glance, his eyes went wide. He lost his composure and stammered, "Mana?"

"Is this really Mana?" Song Changsheng was stunned. He had only been doing it on a whim.

"How did you do it?" Song Xianming asked in astonishment. Cultivating Mana at the Mid-stage Foundation Establishment realm... It was simply unheard of!

"Er..." Song Changsheng was at a loss for words. He couldn’t very well say it was the "waste" left over from his daily cultivation, could he?

After a brief internal struggle, he said hesitantly, "It... just now, it just sort of... condensed."

Song Xianming stared at him as if he’d seen a ghost. ’What do you mean, it "just sort of condensed"?’ he thought. ’Could he really be a once-in-a-millennium genius?’

Though he had his doubts, the Mana was undeniably real, albeit a little different.

He reached out and tapped it with a finger. The murky Qi vortex instantly sank into his body. After sensing it carefully, his expression changed dramatically, and he looked at Song Changsheng with a new, scrutinizing gaze.

Song Changsheng felt his skin crawl under that gaze. ’Is something wrong?’

After a moment, Song Xianming’s gaze returned to normal. He said gravely, "Sheng’Er, everyone has their own fortuitous encounters and secrets. I won’t press you for them. But this Mana of yours is... strange. Before you break through to the Purple Mansion realm, you must remember not to use it casually. Do you understand?"

Seeing his grandfather’s grave expression, Song Changsheng realized the gravity of the situation. He nodded solemnly. "I won’t use it unless it’s a matter of life and death."

"That is for the best."

Song Changsheng wanted to ask more, but seeing the look on Song Xianming’s face, he tactfully decided against it. Instead, he changed the subject. "Qingxing is only a hair’s breadth from reaching Qi Refining Great Perfection. He’s always wanted to visit the Celestial Sword Sect, so I’ve decided to take them on a trip there myself."

"The Celestial Sword Sect?" Song Xianming’s brow furrowed. Under normal circumstances, it would be fine, but with the two sects at a critical juncture in their war, he was worried.

"Qingxing’s talent for the Sword Dao is extraordinary; he has the makings of a Sword Immortal. Our clan has plenty of Sword Dao scriptures, but we have no master of the Sword Dao to guide him. I’m afraid it will affect his future achievements.

We should have made this trip long ago, but I haven’t been able to get away. Now that you’re out of seclusion, it’s the perfect opportunity for me to take him."

Song Changsheng had always taken Song Qingxing’s cultivation to heart. However, he wasn’t a Sword Cultivator himself, so the guidance he could offer was limited. He had a nagging feeling that he absolutely had to take him on this trip, or he would regret it one day.

Song Xianming pondered this for a moment before finally nodding. "Very well. Take him, then. But you must be careful on the road."

"I understand."

"When do you plan to leave?"

Song Changsheng thought for a moment. "The sooner we go, the sooner we’ll be back. We’ll set out in the next few days."

"Good. Before you leave, go to the Clan Treasure Vault and take a Tier Three Talisman. Things are not peaceful in that direction right now."

"Thank you for the gift, Grandfather!"

Song Xianming said no more, simply waving his hand to dismiss him.

Song Changsheng walked to the door, then suddenly paused. He had just remembered someone—a woman who had asked him to deliver a message to his grandfather.

’Even though I already promised that senior,’ he thought, ’I’m still hesitant. This is a critical time for Grandfather, and I’m afraid that bringing this up will affect him.’

’That’s why I’d been deliberately avoiding any mention of my experiences in Luoxia City during our conversation, let alone anything about that senior.’

"What is it? Is there something else?"

Seeing Song Changsheng lingering at the door, Song Xianming asked gently.

Startled from his thoughts, Song Changsheng shook his head. "It’s nothing. I was just lost in thought for a moment. I’ll take my leave now."

Watching Song Changsheng’s retreating back, Song Xianming let out a deep sigh. He took the Jade Pendant from his waist and rubbed it gently with his finger, the smooth, warm touch causing him to become lost in thought.

After a long while, an aged voice echoed in the empty hall. "It’s better that he didn’t ask... Yes, much better..."

Song Changsheng didn’t hear the sigh his grandfather let out after he left. Upon exiting the hall, he headed straight for the Clan Treasure Vault...