Wizard: Starting from the Skill Tree

But the Cyan Sun Qi Manipulation True Art can definitely serve as a reference. After understanding it, one can attempt to cultivate it, experiencing the cultivation systems of different civilizations, which might be beneficial in the future.

Duke repeatedly studied and pondered the contents of the Cyan Sun Qi Manipulation True Art, using his deep wizard knowledge as a reference, engaging in cross-system deconstruction and understanding.

Soon, he discovered some crucial aspects that could be translated and substituted.

First, the driving core, which is energy.

The true art emphasizes the induction and refining of the Lesser Yang Qi or spiritual energy in nature to form True Qi within the body.

By carefully comparing the art’s description of Qi—dynamic, warm, with properties of growth and purification—with his perception of different attribute magic power, Duke made a bold hypothesis.

The so-called spiritual energy might very well be a more active specific attribute of elemental energy in this world or its higher aggregate form.

And True Qi is the pure energy refined, converted, and stored within the body through specific cultivation techniques.

Magic power is formed by wizards through meditation, attracting, transforming, and storing free energy particles from outside, with magic power itself having attribute biases, similarly stored within the body.

In terms of energy nature, though the refining methods and operational concepts for magic power and True Qi differ, the fact that both are internal energies processed by cultivators to cast extraordinary abilities is common.

"Perhaps, I can try to use my own magic power to simulate the characteristics of Lesser Yang True Qi to operate the art’s route." Duke made his first hypothesis.

Next is the spiritual awareness. The true art frequently mentions using the spirit to control Qi, unity of heart and sword, and the thought as the reins.

Duke was almost certain that the spiritual awareness or spirit mentioned here refers to spiritual power.

Whether it’s wizards accurately constructing magic models, or cultivators introspecting meridians and controlling flying swords, all require highly focused and finely controlled spiritual power.

In this aspect, the systematic training and application of spiritual power by wizards may be deeper and more systemized than the descriptions in many basic cultivation techniques.

Duke’s powerful spiritual power is the perfect foundation for him to attempt cultivating the true art.

With these two core conversion ideas, Duke began to proceed with cautious experimentation.

He sat cross-legged directly, entering a deep meditative state, following the guidance of the true art, "Focus on the dantian, visualize the great sun rising in the east, purple energy swirling."

He highly concentrated his spiritual power, converging it in the lower abdomen, while envisioning a cyan sunrise emerging from the darkness, radiating a warm but not scorching glow.

Simultaneously, he began to mobilize his pure magic power, trying to guide this small stream of magic power along a very simplistic Qi circulation route recorded in the true art.

This route is more akin to an ancient concept of life energy circulation, passing through several key body nodes.

After some time of trying, Duke could clearly feel a small, warm energy cluster slowly rotating and coalescing at the location of the lower abdomen’s dantian.

"Is this True Qi? It’s somewhat similar to Fighting Spirit, with a similar energy nature, just more purified, and its energy concentration is almost like magic power."

Duke carefully observed this trace of True Qi, gaining some understanding of the so-called True Qi.

[Cyan Sun Qi Manipulation True Art: LV1 (1/1000)]

After successfully circulating it once, a corresponding branch for the Cyan Sun Qi Manipulation True Art quickly appeared on the skill tree.

This also signified that Duke had successfully grasped the basics.

"LV1 should refer to the first layer. The Qi Refining section has ten layers in total, and after the ten layers is the Foundation Building section..." Duke speculated in his mind.

According to the system of that cultivation civilization, he now counts as an entry-level Qi Refining one-layer cultivator, the weakest layer, with only a trace of True Qi.

"It seems that magic power can indeed act as a substitute for True Qi. Let’s try using magic power instead of True Qi." Duke began to experiment again.

This time, he took up the Cyan Sun Sword again, and carefully guided his magic power through a specific route in his arm, slowly injecting it into the hilt.

The Cyan Sun Sword reacted much more intensely than before, emitting a clear, joyful hum, and the cyan sun characters engraved on the dark silver sword body suddenly illuminated with a gentle cyan halo.

A faint attraction emanated from the sword, actively absorbing the pseudo True Qi delivered by Duke, and providing feedback in a unique sense of extension from the sword body.

Inspired, Duke recalled the fundamental technique of the Cyan Sun Sword Control True Art—using the spirit to control Qi, infusing Qi through the sword spine, and achieving intention at the sword tip.

Maintaining the energy transmission and spiritual link, he concentrated his mind and silently commanded in his heart, "Rise!"

The Cyan Sun Sword left his hand but did not fall, instead, it hovered in the air, a foot in front of him.

The sword tip slightly trembled, with cyan light circulating.

Merely levitating a sword was something many wizards could achieve, simply by controlling it with spiritual power.

However, this was no different from levitating other objects.

This time, Duke was controlling the Cyan Sun Sword using magic techniques, an entirely different sensation. At this moment, the Cyan Sun Sword seemed to truly be activated.

He continued experimenting, directing its motion with his mind: "Forward!"

The Cyan Sun Sword gently floated forward a meter, its trajectory stable.

"Left!"

"Right!"

"Circle!"

Under his mental command, the Cyan Sun Sword, charged with pseudo True Qi and spiritual power, began to make simple and stable movements, changes in direction, and even slow spirals around his body in the air.

Though the speed was not fast, and the movements were slightly stiff, far from achieving the degree of a cyan rainbow penetrating the sun, this undoubtedly proved he had successfully achieved the basic control of the Cyan Sun Sword!

He used magic power and spiritual power to simulate the effects of a cultivator using True Qi and spiritual awareness to control a sword.

...

Three days later.

In the wilderness of the Light God Court, Duke held the Cyan Sun Sword with both hands, the sword tip slanted toward the ground.

He took a deep breath, his spirit immersed in the dantian, mobilizing the vast reserves of magic power within his body with all his strength.

Under his powerful guidance, the pure magic power was no longer confined to the initially simple route, but began to surge along the more complex and domineering Qi storage route recorded in the magic technique.

This route required the instant penetration of several main meridians, forcibly compressing a large amount of energy and converging it into the arms holding the sword, ultimately flowing into the sword body. This was a severe test of energy intensity, control, and body endurance.

According to the records in the magic technique, at least the sixth layer of the Cyan Sun Sword Control True Art was needed to use this move.

The Cyan Sun Sword emitted unprecedented intense vibrations, with its dark silver sword body no longer just flowing with dim light, but radiating increasingly strong cyan brilliance from within.

The cyan sun characters on the sword body shone brightly like stars, and an even more astonishing change occurred.

As massive amounts of magic power continued to be infused, the shape of the Cyan Sun Sword began to expand, lengthen, and widen visibly.