By the time Shen Hao returned to Room C, the sky had already grown dark.
Shen Hao pushed open the door and entered, then shut it behind him. He eagerly pulled the Low-grade Spirit Stone from his robes and placed it on the table. The Spirit Stone was milky white throughout, its surface glowing with a faint spiritual light. It felt warm and smooth to the touch, and dense spiritual energy flowed ceaselessly from it.
Shen Hao sat cross-legged on the bed, held the Spirit Stone in his palm, took a deep breath, and once more circulated the Ziyang Outer Sect Basic Qi Cultivation Art.
The instant the Qi Cultivation Art began to circulate, the Spirit Stone in his palm seemed to be drawn in and abruptly erupted with spiritual energy several times denser than before. Like a surging stream, that energy swiftly poured through Shen Hao's meridians and into his Sea of Qi.
Shen Hao felt his entire body tremble. Within his Sea of Qi, it was as though tempestuous waves had risen. He hurriedly calmed his mind and guided the spiritual energy as it slowly circulated through his meridians.
The spiritual energy within the Spirit Stone was far purer than the scattered spiritual energy between heaven and earth. As it flowed through his meridians, there was no longer the previous sense of sluggish obstruction. Instead, it was like warm jade nectar, nourishing his meridians. The swelling pain in them vanished completely, replaced by an indescribable comfort.
Shen Hao immersed himself in the pleasure of cultivation, circulating the Qi Cultivation Art again and again. He could clearly feel the spiritual energy within his Sea of Qi growing denser and denser at a visible rate.
Who knew how much time passed before the Spirit Stone in his palm gradually dimmed, its spiritual energy completely absorbed by him. Shen Hao slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of turbid air. He felt strength filling his body, his spirits soaring, and even his vision becoming much clearer.
He looked inward at his Sea of Qi and saw that the spiritual energy within had condensed into a faint cloud of white mist, several times denser than before.
"I never expected a single Low-grade Spirit Stone to work this well," Shen Hao muttered, his face brimming with delight.
He knew that with his current concentration of spiritual energy, he only needed to accumulate for a few more days before he could attempt to break through to the Middle Stage of First Layer of Qi Condensation.
Just then, someone lightly knocked on the door.
"Senior Brother Shen, are you there?" A familiar voice came from outside. It was Zhang Shan.
Shen Hao rose and opened the door. Zhang Shan stood outside with a cloth bundle in his hands and a shy smile on his face. "Senior Brother Shen, thanks to your help today, I was able to complete the task smoothly. These are Pastries my Household made. They are not worth much, but please have a taste."
Shen Hao looked at the cloth bundle in Zhang Shan's hands, warmth stirring in his heart. He knew Zhang Shan's family circumstances were poor. These Pastries had likely been saved through frugality and sacrifice.
"You're too polite, Junior Brother Zhang." Shen Hao accepted the bundle with a smile. "Come in and have a seat."
Zhang Shan did not stand on ceremony and followed Shen Hao inside. Seeing the Spirit Stone on the table, now dim and lusterless, a trace of envy flashed through his eyes. "Senior Brother Shen, have you already begun cultivating with Spirit Stones?"
Shen Hao nodded. "I just received this Spirit Stone today, so I tried absorbing it."
Zhang Shan sighed. "I received a Spirit Stone today as well, but I plan to use it sparingly and only take it out when I encounter a bottleneck in cultivation."
Shen Hao nodded in understanding. To Outer Sect Disciples, Spirit Stones were exceedingly precious resources. Every one of them was hard-won.
The two sat at the table and began chatting. Zhang Shan told Shen Hao that he came from a poor hunter's family. Since childhood, he had followed his father into the mountains to hunt and had forged a body full of strength. The reason he had chosen to come to the Ziyang Sect to cultivate immortality was so that his parents could live better lives.
Shen Hao also briefly spoke of his own background. The more they talked, the more they hit it off, as though they regretted not having met sooner.
"Senior Brother Shen," Zhang Shan suddenly said, "when I saw you picking Qi Condensing Grass today, your movements were extremely practiced. You seem to know a great deal about herbs?"
Shen Hao smiled. "Since childhood, I followed the old physician in the village and learned to recognize some herbs. I only know a little."
Zhang Shan's eyes lit up. "That's wonderful! I know absolutely nothing about herbs. When we work in the Medicine Garden tomorrow, I hope Senior Brother Shen will give me plenty of guidance."
"Gladly," Shen Hao agreed readily.
The two chatted a while longer before Zhang Shan rose to take his leave.
Shen Hao looked at the Pastries on the table, picked one up, and put it into his mouth. The Pastry tasted simple, yet carried a rich fragrance of wheat. As he ate, he thought to himself, The path of cultivation may be difficult, but if I can have a few like-minded friends to support one another, perhaps this road will be easier to walk.
As the night deepened, Shen Hao once more sat cross-legged on the bed and began his Qi cultivation. Though he no longer had the assistance of a Spirit Stone, his cultivation speed was still much faster than before.
Outside the window, moonlight flowed like water, quietly spilling across the earth.
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