Time drifted by, and Li Qing's days of seclusion at Qinghua Pond quietly slipped away. In the blink of an eye, several more months had passed.
During this time, he had constantly cultivated Qi Refining. He had never stopped taking Peiyuan Pills, nearly reaching the frequency of taking one every two days.
Unfortunately, the improvement in his cultivation was far from satisfactory. After taking too many pills, adverse effects akin to drug resistance would inevitably arise.
The spiritual power a single Peiyuan Pill could improve now was far inferior to the effect of the first Peiyuan Pill he had taken upon entering the Seventh Layer of Qi Refining.
Of course, this might also have been related to his cultivation. He was now at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, and the Essence Augmentation Secret Art had achieved minor success, reaching its third layer. The depth and richness of his spiritual power already surpassed that of many Qi Refining tenth-layer cultivators at the great perfection realm.
With a sturdier foundation, the added increment naturally appeared somewhat negligible.
Li Qing slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of turbid air, his expression exceptionally calm.
"The cave dwelling's lease is almost up. Counting on my fingers, it's time to leave as well."
After speaking, Li Qing subconsciously released his divine sense and swept it across the inside and outside of the cave dwelling.
Rice Bucket was still snoring away in the hidden chamber. Ever since its transformation in the Eternal Night World, that dumb brute had become even sleepier, often sleeping for four or five days at a stretch once it lay down.
If not for its thunderous snores proving it was still alive, Li Qing would have suspected that the fellow might simply sleep itself to death.
Outside the cave dwelling,