Du Yuanhe's Shock

"Azure Spirit Technique!"

"Azure Spirit Technique!"

Han Yuan cast a Yellow Grade Low-Rank Spell he had learned before at the Great Banyan Tree.

Every ten seconds, a green light shot from Han Yuan's fingertip and shone upon the Great Banyan Tree.

Each time the Great Banyan Tree received the nourishment of the Azure Spirit Technique, it sent out a delighted thought.

Han Yuan discovered in surprise that using the Azure Spirit Technique allowed him to better bring out the effects of his transformed cultivation art. If the effect of pure spiritual power was 1, then the Azure Spirit Technique's boost was 4.

The Azure Spirit Technique could more rapidly promote the growth of spirit trees and the gathering of their spirituality.

He had a feeling that the transformation of his cultivation art had partly originated from the Azure Spirit Technique as well!

This discovery brought sudden enlightenment to Han Yuan. The transformation of his cultivation art had not sprung from nowhere; it came from integrating the cultivation knowledge he had learned over the past two years.

It included not only the Azure Spirit Technique, but even the Spirit Rain Technique.

It could be said that the current "Ancient Wood Nourishing Spirit Art" was already completely unrecognizable. It had become a cultivation art suited only to him, one that perfectly matched him.

After his cultivation art transformed, reflecting upon the Azure Spirit Technique in turn gave him the smooth, effortless feeling of a fish taking to water.

The Azure Spirit Technique, which he had studied for days without even reaching Entry Level, reached the proficient level after only a few attempts!

He waited expectantly for a while, but the dice that should have appeared did not appear.

Nor did the words Random Buff Multiplier appear before him.

"Strange? Nothing?"

Han Yuan was puzzled. He could clearly feel that his Azure Spirit Technique had risen by a level.

Yet the Random Buff Multiplier had not appeared.

After pondering briefly, he cast the Azure Spirit Technique again.

Only this time, he changed the target of the spell to himself!

A phantom dice indeed appeared.

Random Buff Multiplier: 3

Azure Spirit Technique growth promotion effect *300%

A blue-green light fell over his body, making his scalp itch slightly. He rubbed his head and immediately discovered that his hair had grown a little longer.

"This... turned into a hair-growth spell!"

Han Yuan did not know whether to laugh or cry. At the same time, he confirmed something: only effects applied to himself could gain a buff multiplier.

He had suspected this before, so it was not much of a pity.

The best use for my Golden Finger is on items that permanently improve my abilities. If I ever get Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures that improve aptitude, I'll soar straight into the sky!

After indulging in that wishful thinking for a moment, Han Yuan withdrew his thoughts and calmly continued practicing the Azure Spirit Technique.

Don't ask. The answer was simply that he had plenty of spiritual power.

"Estate Master, Estate Master, I found where the spirit grain is stored!"

Chang Chun ran over excitedly, carrying a bag in his hand.

Han Yuan's eyes lit up. "What spirit rice?"

Chang Chun came up to him, placed the small bag on the table, and spread it open for Han Yuan to inspect.

"This is Yellow-grade High-rank spirit rice—Yellow Millet Rice. The name comes from the saying, 'a dream of yellow millet.' Long-term consumption can not only increase cultivation speed and strengthen one's physique, but most importantly, it can nourish the Sea of Consciousness and raise the limit of one's Spiritual Sense!" Chang Chun said excitedly. "That's the limit of Spiritual Sense! If my Spiritual Sense can improve, my Talisman Crafting Technique will definitely break through its bottleneck."

Han Yuan rubbed his chin. Yellow Millet Rice truly was not bad.

"Is there much of it?" he asked.

"Not much." Chang Chun shook his head regretfully. "Most of the warehouses over there were empty. I only found some in a small storage room. It won't last long."

Seeing that the spirit rice was still in its husks, Han Yuan asked, "Can it be planted?"

Chang Chun froze, then nodded. "It can be planted, but Yellow Millet Rice is not easy to grow. Does the Estate Master intend to recruit Spirit Planters?"

"No need. I'll grow it myself!" Han Yuan said with a smile.

Chang Chun was bewildered at first, then utterly astonished. The Estate Master was a Spirit Planter?

"I'll give it a try. Whether I can successfully grow it is another matter," Han Yuan added.

"Oh." Chang Chun came to a realization. It seemed planting was the Estate Master's way of relaxing.

"Then I'll go get more spirit rice," Chang Chun immediately said.

"Mm, no need for too much."

"Understood!"

Three days later.

Du Yuanhe rode a blue sword to the skies above Cangming Cave Mansion.

Looking down, he happened to see a familiar figure bent over in a Spirit Field, planting something.

Du Yuanhe's eye twitched. "This brat is actually planting things? I thought those pills and the Cultivation Room would be enough to make him give up the idea. Who would have thought this brat really is... missing a screw!"

He descended and knocked on the array barrier.

Sensing his token vibrate, Han Yuan looked up and saw the old man staring at him.

"Uh, Master? Were you just passing by?"

Han Yuan hurriedly opened the array.

Du Yuanhe landed, glanced at the Spirit Fields where ninety-nine mu of land had already been planted, and helplessly covered his forehead. "Have you been farming these past few days?"

Han Yuan quickly said, "I cultivate diligently every day. I feel like I'm about to break through these days!"

Du Yuanhe's teeth ached. With the pills he had given him, of course Han Yuan could cultivate quickly. But that would make his spiritual power too mixed and scattered, requiring a great deal more time later to purify it. He would waste even more time in the end.

Then his Spiritual Sense detected Han Yuan's aura.

Qi Refining Layer 4 Peak. He really was about to break through.

Wait?

Du Yuanhe froze, then said in shock, "When did you reach Qi Refining Layer 4 Peak? Your cultivation speed is wrong!! Doesn't your Qi Refining Layer 4 equal someone else's Qi Refining Fifth Layer Peak?"

"A few days ago, I had some enlightenment. My cultivation art broke through to the Major Accomplishment Realm, so my cultivation speed became a little faster."

Han Yuan sighed inwardly. His realm was still too low. He could not hide his aura at all before Old Man Du. Once he obtained an aura-concealing spell and cultivated it to a profound level, he would no longer have to worry.

Still, he wrapped his Spiritual Sense around his Dantian, concealing the fact that his Dantian had undergone another transformation. Though he had no way to stop Old Man Du from forcibly examining him, since Old Man Du could sense his Spiritual Sense, he ought to have some shame, right?

Du Yuanhe indeed immediately began examining Han Yuan's body. Yet before his examination reached Han Yuan's Dantian, his attention was drawn to the green fluorescence at Han Yuan's liver.

"This, this is..." Du Yuanhe's mouth fell open, his eyes nearly popping out.

Han Yuan cautiously asked, "Master, what's wrong?"

"Wait, you—what is this thing at your liver?" Du Yuanhe's breathing grew heavy.

"When I broke through Qi Refining Layer 4, I suddenly gained some enlightenment. My cultivation art broke through because of it, and then this thing appeared in my liver. It was very small at first, but now it's getting bigger and bigger. I was planning to ask Master what it is and whether it's harmful," Han Yuan said. He truly had intended to ask, so he had not concealed the green fluorescence with his Spiritual Sense.

Du Yuanhe's mouth twitched. He knew that Han Yuan's cultivation art had already been at the "Major Accomplishment Realm" before. Another breakthrough would mean the perfected realm, would it not?

But even a perfected Ancient Wood Nourishing Spirit Art could not produce this thing!

He took a deep breath and looked at Han Yuan as if he were a monster. Then he slowly asked, "Have you heard of Sword Heart Clarity?"

Han Yuan said in surprise, "I've heard of it, I suppose, but I don't know the specifics."

"Those who comprehend Sword Heart Clarity will advance by leaps and bounds in the sword path. They can quickly master all kinds of sword arts and strengthen their power. At the same time, it is equivalent to securing a ticket to the Golden Core Realm," Du Yuanhe said.

"Then mine..." Han Yuan looked at Du Yuanhe expectantly.

"Yours is similar to Sword Heart Clarity, but still somewhat inferior. Your realm should have just reached the level of Wood Heart Communion! As for this physical object, it is the embryonic form of a Wood Spirit Heart.

"A Wood Spirit Heart can usually only be born within precious and ancient spirit trees. It is one of the Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures and possesses many wondrous uses. Most importantly, it can be used to cultivate a second Golden Core!

"I never, ever expected that such a thing could be born directly within your body."

Du Yuanhe's expression turned strange and solemn. "Wood Heart Communion is already incredibly heaven-defying, but more importantly, this Wood Spirit Heart can be stolen. You absolutely must not expose it!"

Han Yuan was somewhat stunned. It was actually this precious?

This was far beyond his expectations. No wonder this thing could cultivate on its own and was equivalent to another Dantian. So that was truly its effect!

Du Yuanhe looked at him with a complicated expression.

This disciple was simply too heaven-defying, far beyond his expectations. A disciple like this should rightfully be sent to the Earth God Sect's Main Peak to become a true disciple. Yet Du Yuanhe had his own selfish motives. Spirit Script Peak had been weak for far too long and had already fallen into a vicious cycle. If Han Yuan rose, he would surely lead Spirit Script Peak to a powerful resurgence, and Du Yuanhe himself would benefit as well.

Therefore, he did not mention it.

After thinking for a moment, he said, "Wait here for a moment!"

Du Yuanhe shot into the sky and flew away on his sword.

Han Yuan scratched his head. What was this old man going to do now?

Less than half a quarter-hour later.

Du Yuanhe hurriedly flew back.

"Take it!" Du Yuanhe handed Han Yuan a Jade Slip.

Han Yuan accepted it curiously, pressed it to his brow, and examined it with his Spiritual Sense. Streams of information entered his mind.

"'Mirage Turtle Breath Concealment,' an Earth Grade Lower Rank Technique. It has the effect of concealing one's aura and hiding one's presence."

Han Yuan stared blankly. "Master, this is an Earth Grade Lower Rank Technique. Didn't you take the wrong one?"

"I didn't. Though this cultivation art is Earth Grade Lower Rank, its Entry Level difficulty is only comparable to a Mysterious Grade Lower Rank technique. For you, reaching Entry Level should be fairly easy. That way, even Foundation Establishment cultivators will not be able to easily examine your condition."

Du Yuanhe said this with complete confidence.

"?"

A question mark slowly appeared over Han Yuan's head. A Mysterious Grade Lower Rank technique isn't difficult for me? Master, have you misunderstood something?