Spirit Essence Realm Seventh Level, Mid Stage

Unexpected,

Yet also only to be expected.

Reality and novels still differed to some extent. Even if relations between people were poor, at most they would grow old and die without ever associating with each other. Those who mocked and provoked others the moment they met were always in the minority.

Still,

Perhaps everyone who came here was a shrewd old hand,

Or perhaps Zhang Qingyuan's earlier display of potential had already been enough to earn respect,

In any case,

The gathering's atmosphere was fairly harmonious.

Everyone was simply strengthening their ties,

Or perhaps,

It was because Zhang Qingyuan was not the Protagonist, so such a perfect chance for a face-slapping scene never occurred.

At this,

Zhang Qingyuan could not help grumbling inwardly.

"Come, come. The road of cultivation is not easy. As fellow sect members, we should support one another more in the future."

Zhao Yuanyang raised his wine cup,

And spoke to the fellow sect members from the Separate Courtyard attending the gathering.

The disciples present

All raised their cups in response.

Some were enthusiastic, some indifferent, and some introverted and reluctant to speak. Their reactions varied greatly.

In truth,

This was merely a gathering Zhao Yuanyang had organized to build connections, seeing that another Outer Sect Grand Competition was approaching. There was not much purpose behind it.

Its function

Was roughly to establish contact, expand these Connections after entering the Inner Sect and stepping into the true Cultivation World, and make it easier to exchange what they needed.

For instance, if someone was refining some Magic Tool and could not find the materials, he could ask fellow sect members or seek an introduction to an Artifact Refiner. An extra connection always made problems easier to solve.

Or if one day they discovered some Cave Abode Ruins,

And could not swallow it alone, they could invite a few acquainted fellow sect members to explore it together.

At the very least, that was more trustworthy than forming a party with unfamiliar Rogue Cultivators from the Outside world.

If their personalities suited each other,

They could try to deepen their friendship and become good friends.

Conversely,

They could each go their own way, remaining unfamiliar with one another, merely nodding acquaintances who knew of each other's existence.

That was precisely Zhang Qingyuan's thinking,

Which was why he had decided to accept Zhao Yuanyang's Invitation.

And this gathering

Did not disappoint Zhang Qingyuan.

What had originally been only superficial acquaintanceships with these fellow sect members had, after one gathering, at least become enough for them to recognize each other's names.

At this Lake Pavilion gathering, aside from building ties with most of the other Genius Disciples from the Separate Courtyard, the various kinds of Spirit food at the banquet also made Zhang Qingyuan feel the trip had been well worthwhile.

Zhao Yuanyang truly deserved to be called the son of a great Lineage.

Not only was he courteous and refined in dealing with others,

He was also filthy rich.

The Spirit Wine displayed at the gathering alone was, as Zhang Qingyuan knew, the most expensive famous wine at the Fragrance Pavilion in the Outer Sect Marketplace. One jar cost at least ten Spirit Stones.

After drinking only one cup, his stomach felt warm, and Spiritual Power spread toward his limbs.

The Spiritual Power in his Meridians swelled.

At the same time,

The various spirit fruits arranged upon the table were also extremely valuable.

There might not have been any meat dishes or the like,

But Zhang Qingyuan estimated that the expense of this gathering alone had to exceed One Hundred Spirit Stones!

A rich tycoon,

A truly enormous tycoon!

He did not know whether it was Zhao Yuanyang's private savings or whether his Lineage had funded this effort to win people over.

Faced with such a rich tycoon,

Zhang Qingyuan naturally did not hold back.

Such an opportunity

Was the first Zhang Qingyuan had encountered in three years.

By the end of the meal,

Spirit fruits and Spirit Wine worth at least a dozen or so Spirit Stones had entered his stomach.

Moreover,

Compared to cultivating with Spirit Stones alone, Spirit food such as these spirit fruits was even more effective for cultivation, replenishing all kinds of components the body required.

This caused Zhang Qingyuan's impression of Zhao Yuanyang

To improve by quite a bit as well.

One gathering

Passed without much incident,

And everyone returned satisfied.

After returning to his residence,

Zhang Qingyuan began refining the spirit fruits and Spirit Wine he had consumed.

Vast Spiritual Power

Surged forth from the Dantian in his abdomen like a clear spring. As it circulated through the Meridians Inside the Body, it was carried to every part of his limbs, forming a complete heavenly cycle.

Under the effects of this spirit feast,

The bottleneck Zhang Qingyuan had long reached at the peak of the early Spirit Essence Realm Seventh Level, and which had vaguely been about to break through after his great battle with Yao Ping,

Burst open with a roar!

Splash!!!

Mighty Spirit Essence raced through the Meridians Inside the Body,

And the Spirit Essence within him

Became a full thirty percent more abundant!

Spirit Essence Realm Seventh Level, Mid Stage,

Achieved!

Having completed a breakthrough in a minor realm, Zhang Qingyuan did not leave immediately. Instead, he sat cross-legged on his Cushion and continued refining the remaining Spiritual Power contained in the spirit fruits and Spirit Wine Inside the Body, stabilizing his realm.

Three days later,

When Zhang Qingyuan emerged from his residence,

His Aura had already stabilized.

Not only had it stabilized,

He had even advanced somewhat further within the Spirit Essence Realm Seventh Level, Mid Stage, climbing another stretch toward the late Seventh Level!

His strength

Had taken another small step forward.

It was fortunate that Zhao Yuanyang had been so generous, spending lavishly to invite them to the gathering. That expenditure of over One Hundred Spirit Stones was at least worth the price of a top-grade mid-tier Magic Tool.

But it had been money well spent.

"I didn't expect that in just over three months, my cultivation would break through from the early Seventh Level to the mid stage. Even before those geniuses with excellent Cultivation Aptitude, that speed should count as pretty good, right?"

As he examined his own strength,

Compared with three months ago, when he had yet to break through to the Spirit Essence Realm Seventh Level, it had undergone an earth-shaking transformation.

A faint smile appeared on Zhang Qingyuan's face.

Therein,

Luck had played its part,

But it was also inseparable from his own hard work.

Afterward,

He stretched his Tendons and Bones.

He had completed a breakthrough in a minor realm.

Zhang Qingyuan had no intention of continuing to remain in his residence and cultivate.

Instead, he felt like going out for a walk.

Since the mission to hunt Spirit Devouring Rats in Azure Mountain Town that day, more than two months had passed.

All the earnings from that mission

Had gone toward buying the Magic Tool Silver Shadow, with the remainder supplying his own cultivation.

The few jin of Spirit Grain Harvest seized from the Spirit Devouring Rat nest

Had long since been used up.

During This period of time,

The Cultivation Resources Zhang Qingyuan used, such as Spirit Calming Incense, still depended on the benefits the sect provided to Outer Sect Disciples like them.

Fortunately, Zhang Qingyuan's position had already risen to the second row,

So the benefits he received had increased severalfold.

Ten sticks of Spirit Calming Incense and three Qi-Guiding Pills each month.

These benefits issued by the sect

Could barely sustain Zhang Qingyuan's cultivation, but if he wanted to Increase Again by a minor stage before the impending Outer Sect Grand Competition, or even break through to the Eighth Layer of Spirit Essence Realm, he would need more additional resources to support his cultivation.

Therefore,

Zhang Qingyuan planned to go out and take on some missions,

Accumulate some Contribution Points first.

"On the path of cultivation, effort is important, but resources are just as important!"

"If I had resources like those from that banquet to cultivate with every day, then before the Outer Sect Grand Competition, I could even reach Spirit Essence Realm Eighth Level or above!"

Outer Sect Grand Competition.

Thinking of that upcoming battle of Elimination, harsh enough to be called cruel, Zhang Qingyuan's joy at breaking through a minor realm faded considerably.

"My cultivation recently has caused the proficiency on the Proficiency Panel to grow much more slowly. I must have reached a bottleneck. It is just the right time to accept some farther-reaching missions and relax outside while I'm at it."

Gathering his thoughts,

He instructed Hu Junshan to keep watch over the residence,

Then Zhang Qingyuan activated Cloud Smoke Steps and sped toward the External Affairs Hall.