Cultivation

Beneath Mingxuan Outer Court ran a Third-Order Spirit Vein, and the spirit veins of each peak branched off from the main vein.

Although the spirit vein where disciples like them resided was only first-order, not many disciples were assigned to each peak, so it was sufficient for them to cultivate up to the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining.

Following the method described in the manual, Fang Xiao calmed his mind and entered meditation. For cultivators who had just begun cultivating, entering meditation was a hurdle neither small nor large. Those with good comprehension could manage it in several hours, while those with poor comprehension might take several days.

After half a day, he seemed to have found the feeling and smoothly entered meditation. In the future, as long as he followed that feeling, entering meditation would only become faster and faster.

He then began using his body to sense his surroundings. The spiritual energy around him was abundant, and a portion of it felt particularly active. When he drew it with his will, that spiritual energy began approaching his body.

He did not dare delay in the slightest and immediately circulated his cultivation method to guide that spiritual energy into his body.

A thread of silver-white spiritual energy began circulating through his meridians. After being guided through one full cycle, it flowed into his Dantian.

This was a good start. Next came accumulating spiritual energy. Ten threads made one wisp, and ten wisps made one strand. Generally, once a strand of spiritual power was formed, one would officially step into the Qi Condensation First Layer.

The Soaring Sword Art differed from ordinary cultivation methods. Its higher-level method, the Taibai Soaring Sword Canon, had been created with reference to the Taibai Sword Art. Thus, the spiritual powers cultivated by the two sword arts had highly similar affinities, though their characteristics were entirely different.

The Soaring Sword Art took its meaning from Sword Qi Like Rainbow. It required one to repeatedly temper the condensed spiritual power against itself, producing spiritual power of an extreme speed rarely seen under heaven.

The Taibai Sword Art took its meaning from sword qi like mountains. By weaving and compressing spiritual power, it condensed each wisp of spiritual power into something incomparably sharp and heavy.

The differing methods of refining spiritual power created their distinct styles.

It was not as though no one had considered combining the two. A Heavenly Talent with a Gold attribute Heavenly Spiritual Root had once attempted it, but ultimately gave up because his physical body could not bear such overwhelmingly powerful spiritual power.

Old Man Fan had discovered that Fang Xiao's physique seemed to be the exceedingly rare Innate Sword Body. One of its talents was an exceptionally strong tolerance for Sword Qi.

The cultivation process for the two sword arts would certainly be much slower than that of similar methods, let alone cultivating both at once. It was simply slow upon slow.

What affected cultivation speed was spiritual root aptitude. Although his Gold Spirit Root was a notch inferior to a Heavenly Spiritual Root, the gap was not great. The Cultivation World contained countless heavenly treasures and precious materials; it was not as though there were no treasures or extraordinary techniques that could improve one's spiritual roots. If he encountered the right opportunity, he might not be unable to attain a Heavenly Spiritual Root after birth.

He could complete roughly ten cycles in one hour. Those newly entering cultivation could generally cultivate for at most three hours a day. Any more, and their meridians would be unable to endure it and suffer damage. Not only would they need to purchase medicinal pills for treatment, it would also affect their cultivation progress.

By this calculation, he should be able to step into the Qi Condensation First Layer on the fourth day.

After three hours, he had condensed three wisps of spiritual power. Such visible progress truly delighted him. It seemed that the daily cultivation others found tedious was something he genuinely enjoyed.

He rose to his feet without the slightest fatigue. Instead, he felt full of spirit and vigor.

He temporarily halted his cultivation, tidied his clothes, and headed outside the peak.

In the distance lay plots of divided Spirit Fields, most planted with first-order Green Jade Corn. Although consuming spirit rice was not as fast for cultivation as swallowing medicinal pills, it was far cheaper. After planting it, one could become self-sufficient and eat it for the long term. It carried no pill toxins and would not produce drug resistance. If properly developed, it could also generate income in the future.

Fang Xiao had come mainly to find two servants and claim a Spirit Field. After all, he could not yet abstain from food. He could manage his meals himself for a short time, but he could not possibly carve out time every day to prepare food. He needed to solve the problem of eating.

From the Sect Handbook, he had learned that every disciple could receive ten mu of first-order Spirit Fields and a packet of Spirit Seeds. They could be handed over to servants for cultivation, who would naturally also attend to one's daily needs.

The servants were all descendants of former sect disciples who lacked spiritual roots. They earned Spirit Stones by completing the sect's miscellaneous tasks, and once they had saved enough, they would go to the mortal cities under the sect's jurisdiction and live as wealthy men.

Fang Xiao walked straight toward the Hall of Miscellaneous Affairs.

"Greetings, Senior Brother. Outer disciple Fang Xiao has come to claim a Spirit Field."

After entering the Hall of Miscellaneous Affairs, he found that there were pitifully few people inside.

"Junior Brother, there is no need for such formality. I am Zheng Yuan, a steward of the Hall of Miscellaneous Affairs. The sect still has many Spirit Fields under its management. Junior Brother may choose one yourself."

Upon hearing Fang Xiao's purpose, the steward disciple named Zheng Yuan opened a map scroll.

"The green areas have already been chosen, while the white areas remain unclaimed. See which location you would like."

"I'll choose this one. There is one more matter—I also need two servants to handle miscellaneous chores."

Fang Xiao pointed to the Spirit Field closest to his residence.

"Easy enough. This is the servants' roster. You may call them over to take a look; if you are satisfied, simply take them with you. Also, here are Green Jade Corn Spirit Seeds. Junior Brother, keep them safe."

Zheng Yuan took out a brush and waved it at the selected Spirit Field on the map. Its color turned green. He put away the brush, then handed Fang Xiao a booklet and a packet of seeds.

"Then many thanks, Senior Brother Zheng."

After meeting several servants, he chose a married couple surnamed Li in their early thirties, mainly to tend the Spirit Field and care for his food, clothing, and daily needs.

Planting spirit rice was not possible for the moment. The farming servants could handle the cultivation, but it still required regular management. When choosing techniques, he had not read the Sect Handbook, so he had not known that the three techniques were meant for planting spirit rice: the Minor Cloud Rain Art to water the Spirit Fields, the Golden Needle Art to remove pests, and the Withered Wood Spirit Dispersion Art to weed.

He would have to find another way to obtain the techniques. Fortunately, ordinary ingredients were supplied without limit, so the matter of food had been resolved. He could now cultivate in peace.

On the way back to his residence, he ran into Zheng Daoxing, who had specifically come looking for him.

It turned out Zheng Daoxing had formed factions and gathered a group of people to spread his ideas.

The idea was to pool their limited resources and first support one person's cultivation. Once that person's cultivation had risen, he would help the others. He had sought out Fang Xiao in the hope that Fang Xiao would join them.

Could this guy be a transmigrator too? If he weren't, he could definitely write a book called I Spread Scam Schemes in the Cultivation World. And people actually believed something this low-grade.

"Not interested." What a joke. This could only fool children, so Fang Xiao rejected him on the spot.

Zheng Daoxing's face instantly darkened, and one of the lackeys behind him immediately stepped forward.

"This is for everyone's good. Don't fail to appreciate kindness."

"Idiot." Fang Xiao kicked him to the ground and left without looking back.

Zheng Daoxing kept staring after him with a vicious gaze. However, wary of Fang Xiao's aptitude and afraid that he might have found someone powerful to back him, he did not make a move.

The sect did not forbid conflict. It only required disputes to be settled on the Dueling Platform, stopping at the proper point. Still, among Qi Refining disciples like them, no one would bother to interfere with minor scuffles.

When he reached his residence, he considered how today had formed a grudge. Yet in the Cultivation World, even conflicts ending only in death were common. He simply needed to act more cautiously in daily life.

Returning to cultivation, he had already reached the limit of what his meridians could endure today, so he could no longer cultivate his method. He merely took out his cultivation method and techniques to study them.

Besides its Qi Refining method, the Soaring Sword Art naturally included offensive techniques. Since he did not yet possess a magical artifact, he could only use the ordinary sword hanging in the room to practice the Twenty-Four Rainbow Piercing Swords recorded within the sword art.

He practiced awkwardly several dozen times. As the sky gradually darkened, he put down the sword and returned indoors.

Sister-in-law Li had already delivered his meal. Although she had discovered that he did not care about such forms of address, the couple still insisted on calling him Immortal Master, and he did not persist in refusing. After dinner, he rested early.

What followed was daily hard cultivation: sword practice, cultivation, sword practice, studying the cultivation method, sword practice...

Until the fourth day, ten wisps of spiritual power in Fang Xiao's Dantian condensed together in a special manner. His first strand of spiritual power was formed, and he officially stepped into the Qi Condensation First Layer.

His joy overflowed from his expression, but when he recalled that his spiritual power would still need to be ground, refined, and compressed over a long period of time—and that his cultivation speed would likely be four or five times slower—his mood immediately plunged to the bottom.

He needed to find a way to increase his cultivation speed. Now that he had joined the Tianlan Sect, cultivation method, sect, spirit vein, and the matters of method, companions, and location were temporarily settled. What remained was wealth.

Sure enough, wherever he went, he had to make money—even after transmigrating.

Having chosen the path of a Sword Cultivator, he would certainly need to forge swords himself in the future. He would also need to learn artifact refinement, but not now.

After all, the poor made talismans, the rich refined pills, artifact refinement impoverished three generations, and formations ruined a lifetime.

Still, since he was a Sword Cultivator, he had to consider whether he should earn money by hunting monsters or through production.

After giving it some thought, he decided to make do with cultivation for a year first. Once he had attained a certain level of cultivation and could take on missions, he would decide then.

Tomorrow, he would first go to the Merit Hall to claim the benefits for Qi Refining disciples. Then he would have resources. Even an ant was meat, no matter how small.

Then he picked up his sword and continued practicing.