Immortality and Cultivation: Starting with Improved Spirit Rice

Chapter 48 Mid-stage Qi Refining

The red light of the rising sun shone through the bamboo window and onto the clean ground.

Zhao Cheng'an slowly opened his eyes, a gentle blue light flashing in them.

He let out a long sigh of relief, feeling the spiritual energy within his body surging like a great river, spontaneously circulating through the network of meridians.

"Finally, I've made a successful breakthrough."

Zhao Cheng'an's face lit up with joy.

Breaking through from the third level of Qi Refining to the fourth level is a change from the early to the middle stage. Not only does it require refining a new True Spirit, but the three True Spirits obtained previously will also be strengthened. Therefore, the whole process is more difficult than Zhao Cheng'an had expected.

At first, he thought a year would be enough, but unexpectedly, it took a full year and a half.

Fortunately, the final result was not bad.

Zhao Cheng'an let out a long sigh and slowly rose from the futon.

On the desk in front of him lay a thick stack of manuscripts, containing the structures of various runes.

During the year and a half that Zhao Cheng'an spent aside from cultivation, he devoted the remaining time to optimizing the rune module.

The three runes previously used in combat were the Azure Rune, the Object Manipulation Rune, and the Toughness Rune. The Azure Rune, combined with the latter two, allows for the instant casting of Grass Sword Technique and Vine Armor Technique, respectively.

Over the course of more than a year, Zhao Chengan optimized the latter two models using the same approach.

He upgraded the Manipulation Pattern to the Void Pattern.

"Taking light and effortless steps, grasping the formless and invisible. Floating lightly as if riding the wind, ascending to immortality."

Zhao Cheng'an looked at the manuscript and muttered to himself.

The toughening texture is then upgraded to the Kunyuan texture.

"Kun (earth) takes its abundant support, and Yuan (origin) takes its initial foundation. The earth does not contend, yet all things rely on it to stand."

In this way, the three elements are combined. In addition to the original Grass Sword Technique and Vine Armor Technique, Zhao Cheng'an can also instantly release a third technique, the Light Body Technique, through the combination of Lingxu Pattern and Kunyuan Pattern, which greatly enhances his mobility.

If he were to encounter something similar to Black Wind Valley again, Zhao Cheng'an could easily dodge it using his Lightness Technique, and with the defensive power provided by his Vine Armor Technique, even a mid-stage Qi Refining demonic cultivator would find it difficult to injure him.

"Of course, the best approach is to nip any potential danger in the bud."

Zhao Cheng'an thought to himself.

Over the next period of time, Zhao Cheng'an replaced the three runes through meditation.

However, now that he has broken through to the mid-stage of Qi Refining, he has gained an additional True Spirit Rune, and Zhao Cheng'an hasn't yet figured out how to inscribe this rune. Fortunately, there are still about six months until the major exam, which is enough time for Zhao Cheng'an to consolidate his realm and seriously consider this problem.

It was still noon when Zhao Cheng'an finished his seclusion. By the time he finished inscribing the three runes, the sky outside was already turning yellow.

This is because as the runes continue to merge, their structure becomes increasingly complex, making it difficult even for a pioneer like Zhao Cheng'an to inscribe them.

Feeling the surging spiritual energy within his body, Zhao Cheng'an felt a long-awaited sense of relief as the three runes in his dantian, which had been urging him on since he entered the Imperial Academy, were finally removed, and a slight smile appeared on his face.

Crunch!

As the wooden door was pushed open, Zhao Chengan's tall and slender figure emerged from the bamboo building.

Xiao Wu, dressed in shorts, was sharpening a short knife beside the stove fire.

Upon hearing the commotion behind him, Xiao Wu immediately smiled.

"Young master, you've finally come out!"

Xiao Wu patted the dust off his hands and pointed to the table next to him.

"I've already prepared the food and wine, and I've been waiting for this moment to celebrate properly with you, young master!"

Xiao Wu wasn't quite clear on the cultivators' so-called realm divisions, but judging from Zhao Cheng'an's serious attitude before his seclusion and the relaxed smile on his face now, he guessed that Zhao Cheng'an must have benefited greatly, and he was genuinely happy for Zhao Cheng'an.

"Thank you for your hard work, Xiao Wu."

Zhao Chengan sat down with a smile.

After the two had finished dinner, there was a rhythmic knocking at the door.

"Knock knock knock!"

"Please come in," Zhao Cheng'an said loudly.

A pretty girl dressed in gray stood outside the door.

This person was Ling Wei. The two had known each other for almost seven years, but time hadn't left many marks on her. Compared to ordinary humans, her demon bloodline seemed to grant her a much longer lifespan.

Lingwei blinked and sniffed, "It smells so good! I could smell it from outside. Is it a bit late?"

Zhao Cheng'an smiled and pointed to the empty seat next to him, "It's not late, it's just a matter of adding another pair of chopsticks, please sit down."

Lingwei chuckled. The group often ate together and were already very familiar with each other.

However, Lingwei did not sit down, but directly stated her purpose: "Young Master Zhao, I have come here for another matter. The Master has informed you to go to Thousand Ears Valley."

Zhao Cheng'an pondered for a moment, "Is it because of the big exam?"

Lingwei nodded.

"Okay, let's go there now."

Zhao Cheng'an put down his chopsticks and left the bamboo house with Ling Wei, arriving at Qian Sui Valley.

Shen Yanshan and Qi Weizhao are both here.

There was also a huge gray-feathered spirit pigeon on a large rock not far away.

Qi Weizhao was feeding pigeons a large handful of spirit rice.

Upon seeing Zhao Cheng'an, the plump pigeon even cooed twice, as if to greet him.

Shen Yanshan and Qi Weizhao had been keeping an eye on Zhao Chengan's cultivation progress.

At this moment, Shen Yanshan carefully examined Zhao Cheng'an and sensed the restrained yet substantial spiritual energy fluctuations emanating from him, thus guessing that he had successfully broken through.

Although Shen Yanshan was not surprised, he still smiled and nodded.

"Congratulations, Cheng'an, on your successful advancement to the mid-stage of Qi Refining."

Zhao Cheng'an's aptitude wasn't particularly good, and coupled with the barren environment of the low-spirit zone, it was extremely difficult for him to reach this point.

Shen Yanshan was very satisfied with Zhao Chengan's progress, and he could foresee that the most difficult hurdle had been overcome, and the future would surely be smooth sailing.

"Thank you for your guidance, Master. I was just lucky to break through."

Zhao Chengan humbly bowed.

As the two were talking, the remaining people arrived one after another.

Chen Heng walked at the front, her aura more composed than before. Previously, her presence was like a sword drawn from its sheath, sharp and piercing; now, it was like a deep, cold abyss, its brilliance restrained.

Xiang Yunyuan, who was standing to the other side, also walked over. He had broken through to the third level of Qi Refining, and his strength had improved significantly. However, the expression on his face did not look happy; instead, it appeared somewhat heavy.

Next came Sun Fuli and Xu Baiheng.

The two of them chatted and laughed until they saw Shen Yanshan, at which point they stopped laughing and shut their mouths.

Both of them are currently at the second level of Qi Refining, so it's basically hopeless for them to join a second-rate or higher lineage in the major exam six months from now.

They've basically given up and are no longer as anxious as they used to be.