Chapter Sixty-three: The Wall of Spells

The so-called cultivation chamber is not merely a place for meditation and training.

The cultivation chamber was directly divided into two separate compartments.

The innermost one occupied a rather small space, dedicated solely to practicing cultivation techniques. Yet, upon entering, he could clearly sense that the spiritual energy of heaven and earth here was one or two tenths stronger than elsewhere.

One should not underestimate this difference. Over the long term, it meant a tremendous increase in cultivation efficiency for a cultivator.

For instance, Zhou Changwang possessed the Five Elements Spiritual Root. With the help of the Five Elements Technique at the minor completion level, his cultivation efficiency could rival that of a cultivator with four-attribute roots but lower spiritual energy conversion efficiency.

But in such an environment, his cultivation efficiency could be enhanced by another ten or twenty percent.

“With the same amount of spiritual energy, if the conversion efficiency is below thirty percent, it’s considered low; above thirty, but below sixty percent, it’s considered medium... In other words, if I cultivate in this environment, I’d basically be on par with a four-attribute spiritual root cultivator whose conversion efficiency has just reached the medium level.”

Zhou Changwang calculated silently, delighted at the result.

He was originally a Five Elements Spiritual Root cultivator, with a low spiritual energy conversion efficiency. After cultivating, due to the nature of his spiritual root, the total amount of spiritual energy he could absorb was very small—just as he had previously calculated, out of a hundred strands of spiritual energy, only seven or eight could be absorbed by him. Furthermore, after absorption, because of low conversion efficiency, most of this energy would dissipate, and only one or two strands would be truly refined into his own spiritual power.

However, the Five Elements Technique at the minor completion level could forcibly raise his cultivation aptitude to that of a four-attribute spiritual root. This meant that, with the same technique, the total amount of spiritual power he could absorb would be increased to five hundred, or even a thousand strands.

Even if his conversion efficiency remained low, his cultivation speed would still increase five or tenfold accordingly.

Meanwhile, the intensity of spiritual energy in the environment determined how much he could absorb during cultivation.

A spiritual energy density twenty percent higher than elsewhere naturally meant the total amount he could absorb would also increase by twenty percent...

“Perhaps this cultivation chamber was built directly on a spiritual vein node?” Zhou Changwang muttered, a sense of satisfaction welling up within him.

Aside from this cultivation room, the chamber was also divided into another compartment—the spell training room.

As the name implied, it was a place solely for practicing spells.

The spell training room featured a spell wall, crafted from spirit-sealing stone.

Spirit-sealing stone was a special material in the cultivation world, naturally immune to the vast majority of spells. Even the most powerful thunder and lightning spells would have no effect on it, not even causing a ripple.

Unfortunately, the stone itself was not very hard, only comparable to ordinary rock, nor was it malleable. It could not be used to forge magical artifacts, and carrying it would interfere with a cultivator’s spiritual energy flow, making it impossible to use spiritual power or perform spells...

Otherwise, it would surely be the most sought-after material for artifact forging.

As a result, it was used instead for the spell wall in cultivation chambers, perfect for spell training.

After all, most spells were destructive to some degree. Practicing them in the wild was fine, but within a marketplace or settlement, it was inconvenient.

With a spell wall, any spell cast upon it would cause no damage, nor much noise—a perfect choice for spell practice.

“Just this cultivation chamber alone is worth the rent.”

Not to mention the five acres of spiritual fields and a pond...

Zhou Changwang’s heart swelled with delight. He figured that the chamber’s previous owner, that spiritual planter named Chen, had arranged all this for his own cultivation, and the marketplace authorities knew little of its value, letting him stumble upon a bargain.

He then decided to test out the spell wall’s effect.

He quickly took his position and cast Fireball.

Fireball +1

Boom!

Zhou Changwang had long since mastered Fireball to the consummate stage, able to cast it instantly.

With a mere thought, the fireball took form and shot towards the spell wall like a cannonball.

Sizzle!

A faint sound was heard as the fireball struck the wall, vanishing without causing the slightest disturbance.

“As expected. The spell wall is immune to spell attacks and suffers no damage.”

His eyes shone, and he followed up with Metal Finger.

Metal Finger +1

A flash of golden light darted toward the wall.

Again, only a faint tremor was heard.

The Metal Finger, capable of piercing three feet of solid stone and shattering diamond, left not a mark on the wall.

Any spell, upon approaching, would have its structure utterly broken and dispelled by the unique spirit-sealing properties of the stone.

Thus, the spell could not unleash its true might.

“This spell wall really is the ultimate tool for spell training. I wonder how many spirit stones that spiritual planter, Chen, spent to set this up?”

Delighted, Zhou Changwang had no intention of probing further.

He only knew that, for at least the next five years, this spell wall would be his to use at no cost.

...

Three days later.

Zhou Changwang stood in the backyard and cast the Growth Catalyst spell forward.

Specks of spiritual light rained down,

falling upon the three spiritual seedlings.

Yet, though the three seedlings swayed with a vibrant glow, there was no sign of further growth.

They had already reached their limit.

No new branches or leaves would emerge.

Nor was there any sign of flowering or bearing fruit.

In fact, some of their leaves had turned from deep green to yellow, already showing signs of nearing the end of their lives and impending withering.

“It seems I can’t delay any longer. I must make a trip to the Spirit Plant Hall.”

Seeing this, Zhou Changwang furrowed his brow deeply.

He hadn’t been idle these days.

The five acres of spiritual fields were overgrown with weeds.

He couldn’t just leave such valuable land untended.

So, every day he’d busy himself with a spiritual hoe, turning the soil and clearing weeds, working hard from dawn till dusk.

Only at night would he return to the cultivation chamber, to practice spells or cultivate his spiritual power.

Life was fulfilling, if monotonous.

Only today, after observing the state of the three spiritual seedlings, did he realize that growing and nurturing spiritual plants was no easy task.

Relying solely on Spiritual Rain and Growth Catalyst was far from enough to cultivate a special spiritual rice like Thunder Spirit Rice.

He had read much in the Spiritual Farmer’s Notebook, where an old farmer with a century of experience had written that certain special spiritual grains required unique environments and methods to grow successfully.

“So, I must first understand the characteristics of these three spiritual plants before I can truly cultivate Thunder Spirit Rice.”

Zhou Changwang wanted to grow Thunder Spirit Rice, but with these three seedlings never flowering or bearing grain, how could he obtain seeds for further cultivation?

Go back to Chen Yushu again?

He had no wish to take such a risk.