Qiong Mountain Stone Village

Two Realms Mountain lay along the border between Shang Commandery and Yangchuan Prefecture. Descending from Thousand Crane Peak, then turning east for thirty li, one would reach Qiong Mountain—Xiang Yang's destination on this journey.

Xiang Yang was still dressed as a bald monk, in a patched robe and cloth shoes, his expression as placid as water. A long wooden casket rested on his back. Each two steps carried him twenty zhang, nearly possessing the might of Shrinking Ground into Inches.

After reaching the Xiantian realm, Xiang Yang had remained in the mountains to further refine his true qi. Unfortunately, he had only absorbed the pure, ethereal qi of frost, clouds, and wind between heaven and earth, strengthening the power of Three Points Returning Energy. His internal cultivation, however, had made no progress; he was still exactly as he had been at the peak of the Houtian realm.

This made him understand all the more why some people delayed entering Xiantian, endlessly tempering themselves in the Houtian realm. This step was a foundation of utmost importance. Take one wrong step, and there would be no turning back.

He could not help but feel fortunate that he had truly cultivated his power to peak perfection in the Houtian realm, leaving behind no regrets.

What truly came from drawing spiritual qi into the body was the cultivation of the spirit. The so-called refining qi to return to the spirit—this qi was the purest spiritual qi of heaven and earth, while the spirit was the intangible essence within the human body.

It was the use of heaven and earth's spiritual qi to replenish one's spirit. The advancement of spiritual cultivation was more than ten times faster than it had been in the Houtian realm.

Xiang Yang even often felt as though another self was