The subsequent matches were highly artistic. Cultivators showcased skills such as fire manipulation, lightning from their palms, aerial dances, and energy projections from their fingertips, each move possessing immense destructive power.
There were also defensive techniques, power enhancements, wind-riding for acceleration, and a plethora of auxiliary skills.
In contrast, Gourmet Hunters possessed greater raw strength and focused on direct combat with ferocious beasts, requiring durable and sharp equipment.
Cultivators excelled in various techniques, employing complex combat styles, emphasizing interpersonal duels, and extensively utilizing auxiliary items. Even combining the knowledge of Gang Tu and Jia Quan wouldn't yield such a diverse array of tactics.
Furthermore, cultivators relied heavily on equipment and weapons; losing a spiritual artifact would halve their combat effectiveness.
Gourmet Hunters, on the other hand, relied more on their physical conditioning, with equipment providing only limited enhancements. Both approaches had their merits.
Zhang Wei speculated that in actual combat, a Level 1 Gourmet Hunter would be equivalent to a cultivator at the third or fourth level of Qi Refining. At this stage, cultivators had very few effective means.
Their true qi was insufficient, and their incantations were slow.
Gourmet Cells, however, could directly grant significant combat power.
As the levels increased, the gap between them narrowed considerably. A Level 20 Gourmet Hunter, capable of withstanding thousands of tons of force, would struggle to defeat a Foundation Establishment cultivator with their myriad of diverse techniques.
Moreover, the Foundation Establishment stage was divided into early, middle, and late phases, with substantial differences between them.
Zhan Hua apologized to Zhang Wei, saying, "Actually... to treat the elder, the Tianmen Sect has sold everything it could. Although we wanted to showcase our abilities, we lack suitable weaponry."
Zhang Wei chuckled softly.
Zhang Wei understood his meaning.
"Don't worry, without your help, my life would have been forfeit. I have not forgotten your kindness."
Zhan Hua sheepishly replied, "That's not what I meant... Heh heh."
Zhang Wei then asked, "I am very interested in your sect's cultivation methods. Could you explain them to me?"
Zhan Hua was taken aback.
The cultivation techniques of each sect were closely guarded secrets. If obtained by enemies, they could be exploited to target the weaknesses of the sect's methods.
However, if Zhang Wei requested it...
"Certainly, please accompany me to the Scripture Repository, and I will explain them to you one by one."
Cultivation was a subject that every traverser found fascinating, and these methods were quite mysterious.
According to Zhan Hua's explanation, cultivation involved perceiving the boundless spiritual energy in the world and absorbing it into the body. In areas rich with spiritual energy, this process would be twice as effective.
However, absorbing spiritual energy also required innate talent, seemingly a unique organ. Only one in a hundred possessed this talent.
The quality of this talent determined how far one could progress in the future.
Within the body, a sea of qi was opened to store spiritual energy, gradually transforming the body. The spiritual energy would be tempered and compressed within the body; the greater the compression, the more potent the power.
This was what cultivators called purification.
It was somewhat akin to the spell power concept in online games.
The total amount that could be stored determined how many spells could be cast, similar to mana.
As one's level increased, the cap for spell power and mana would progressively rise, and cultivation techniques could also play a role in this.
Furthermore, as the body was transformed, it needed to be constantly nourished by spiritual energy. Eventually, one would cease to eat, only consuming water or foods containing spiritual energy.
"Ceasing to eat..."
"What a dehumanizing thing that must be."
But Zhang Wei then considered that Gourmet Hunters were essentially also ceasing to eat ordinary food.
As Gourmet Cells upgraded, the daily nutritional requirements became immense. Ordinary food could no longer provide sufficient nutrition, forcing them to seek out higher-grade, more delicious, and more nutritious food.
Otherwise, prolonged starvation would inevitably lead to a decline in strength and physical condition.
"Fundamentally, it's just a difference in energy source."
"One transforms the body to survive on spiritual energy, while the other transforms the body to survive on vast amounts of food."
"Both require immense energy."
However, Zhang Wei had tested that Gourmet Cells could devour spiritual energy. What about a body modified by spiritual energy?
But Gourmet Cells originated from a god of the Big Bang, or ancient Gluttony Demons, the embodiment of desire.
When these ancient Gluttony Demons died, they survived and reproduced in cellular form, much like the Gluttony Demons of the main cast, who were extremely powerful beings from ancient times.
If a spiritual energy body could not fully digest Gourmet Cells and instead allowed them to parasitize within, it would gain immense power but also harbor another will.
This, while common in the Gourmet world, would be fatal to a cultivator.
Gourmet Cells were the embodiment of desire, and cultivation was about satisfying desires.
Cultivation for a cultivator was about abstaining from desires to reach a state of transcendence.
The two were fundamentally in conflict.
Within the Scripture Repository, Zhang Wei stated, "I have understood your cultivation methods. I do indeed possess some items that are quite valuable, but I am unsure if the valuable items from my world would be beneficial to you."
Valuable items from the upper realm?
Zhan Hua was immensely excited and readily agreed, "No problem at all! Please, do let us try!"
Try...
Very well!
Gathering everyone once more, Zhang Wei summoned the cook. This fellow had tasted Zhang Wei's delicacies and his physical condition had greatly improved, making him suitable for research.
The method for verifying Gourmet Cells was blood analysis.
For cultivators, it involved taking their pulse and examining them.
"The Gourmet Cells have been successfully parasitized and are of extremely high grade... The cell strength is between 25 and 30."
Zhan Hua then stated, "K... Based on his true qi intensity, he has reached the peak of the first level of Qi Refining... but..."
"But what?"
"But for some reason, his total true qi is ten times the normal amount. With such a quantity of true qi, releasing five or six low-consumption spells would be entirely sufficient. Yet, complete spells are clearly the mark of the second level of Qi Refining!"
Zhan Hua continued, "Why is there this phenomenon: true qi intensity at the first level, but true qi quantity at the third level?"
Although the Tianmen Sect was one of the orthodox Xuanmen sects, their total true qi was superior to that of minor sects, but it should not exhibit such an absurd discrepancy!
Could it be due to the spiritual medicine from the heavenly elder?
Not only could it greatly enhance physical condition but also increase the storage capacity of true qi, achieving an astonishing tenfold effect?
Zhan Hua exclaimed in joy, "Elder, this spiritual medicine is truly effective!"
Despite his eagerness, Zhan Hua managed to restrain himself from openly asking for it, adopting an attitude of receiving it as a gift.
Zhang Wei replied, "What spiritual medicine? It's merely delicious food."
"Yes, food!" Zhan Hua agreed.
"Are you sure you need it?"
Zhan Hua beamed, "If the elder were to bestow a little, it would be most wonderful!"
Shao Ying, standing nearby, asked puzzled, "But Sect Leader Ancestor, didn't you tell us to try and abstain from worldly things as much as possible and achieve辟谷 (Bìgǔ - abstaining from grain/food) as soon as possible?"
Zhan Hua slapped him and yelled, "Nonsense! How can you imagine the divine objects of the upper realm, and how can you refer to them as common things?"