Breaking the Gates

In the early morning.

Fang Yuan came to the newly reclaimed Crimson Jade Rice fields and sprinkled the seeds of Jade Spiritual Grass one by one.

"This Jade Grass has low requirements for its growing environment, and it can also consolidate Earth Qi and fertilize the soil. Planting it next to the Crimson Jade Rice fields is truly complementary!"

Planting Spiritual Plants is a complex process. Fang Yuan was fully focused, and only after a little over half an hour did he raise his head and wipe the fine sweat from his face.

"Phew... The few acres of Crimson Jade Rice fields that have been newly opened are already at the limit of this plantation. If production is to be further expanded, the fertility of the entire Secluded Valley will be insufficient... and it will be too easy to be discovered!"

He was a bit helpless. "In the future, I'm afraid I'll have to move the Spiritual Plants!"

As for the location? Naturally, it would be Qingfeng Spiritual Land.

Given its concealment, even the Martial Ancestor would not be able to detect it without delving deep, but there was still the trouble of the Red-eyed White Bird flock.

Fang Yuan had already decided that once he found a way to solve it, he would definitely move all the secrets of the Secluded Valley there.

After all, unlike his Master, the Heart-Questioning Hermit.

He had been a bit too conspicuous recently, too high-profile, which made him very easily attract prying eyes.

"However, this Red Jade Spirit Rice is enough for me and the Flower Fox Ferret to enjoy every meal. In the future, we can eat spirit rice as our staple food!"

Fang Yuan stroked the head of the Flower Fox Ferret beside him, a smile appearing on his lips.

Even within the Gui Ling Sect, the spiritual land was not solely decided by Sect Master Shi Yutong. The needs of various factions had to be balanced, and there was even external sales. Even though the direct disciples of the Sect Master had a certain quota, it would definitely not be much.

Fang Yuan estimated that he would either eat it once a week or treat it as Spirit Pills and Elixirs to be consumed when breaking through a bottleneck. How could he be as extravagant as he was?

Even the Crimson Jade Rice he had consumed before might have been several times, even tens of times, that of Lin Leyue!

Even the entire Gui Ling Sect did not have such a lavish way of using it, piling up most of the Crimson Jade Rice on one person.

Even Shi Yutong could not imagine it, only thinking that Fang Yuan was lucky and had eaten some rare heavenly treasure.

However, even Spirit Pills were not natural things and were even more precious. How could eating spirit rice every meal be as beneficial to the human body?

It was precisely because of this that Fang Yuan's Martial Dao foundation was so strong and terrifying. His Essence Yuan and Qi Yuan increased significantly, like a rocket.

"If it were an ordinary person, the benefits of breaking through would probably be far less than mine..."

Fang Yuan also discovered his current strength. His data-like attributes would probably far surpass those of ordinary cultivators of the same level.

"Of course, after the sixth gate, the Harm Gate, where Internal Breath condenses into internal energy, it will be different. Unless the supply of Red Jade Spirit Rice is maintained or even increased, this advantage will eventually be caught up by others!"

This was bad news, meaning the gradual loss of a certain advantage. But Fang Yuan looked at the ridges in front of him, a brilliant smile appearing on his face.

Was it that difficult to eat Red Jade Spirit Rice every day?

He not only had Crimson Jade Rice, but even the more precious Heart-Questioning Spirit Tea, which he could drink whenever he wanted.

"A person's Essence, Qi, and Spirit are the three flowers on the crown, the most important... Among these, Essence Yuan has form and substance, Qi Yuan relies on Essence Yuan and can be traced, only Spirit Yuan is the most ethereal!"

"But once Spirit Yuan improves, the effects in all aspects are extremely significant!"

This trip out, as well as several fights, had made Fang Yuan aware of the marvelous uses of Spirit Yuan.

Even if it couldn't be directly converted into combat power, anticipating the enemy's moves and estimating the outcome was incredibly advantageous.

It was precisely for this reason that he had come to value Heart-Questioning Spirit Tea even more.

After a period of labor, Fang Yuan specifically changed into a clean set of clothes, washed away the dirt, and then began to brew tea.

With the experience from last time, his movements were more skilled and natural this time, and he had even made improvements.

The first change was the water.

There has always been a saying that mountain water is the best for brewing tea, river water is second, and well water is third.

Previously, Fang Yuan had always used the mountain spring water produced in the Secluded Valley to brew tea. It was sweet and pure, and the water quality was excellent. But after going to Qingfeng Spiritual Land, he immediately discovered a better water source.

What he used this time was the Spirit Spring Water he had casually collected when replenishing the spiritual fertilizer.

This water source came from a spiritual land, so it was naturally even better than high-quality mountain spring water; it was top-notch!

Good water still needed good tea sets.

However, what Fang Yuan used was a treasure found by the Heart-Questioning Hermit in the past, and it was also extremely precious.

Coupled with the extraordinary nature of the Spirit Tea itself, and the addition of Fang Yuan's own Sitting-Forgetting Tea Ceremony...

After the final brewing, the Flower Fox Ferret's eyes were immediately captivated.

"Please!"

Fang Yuan waved his right hand and placed the teacup in front of the Flower Fox Ferret.

"Giggle!"

The Flower Fox Ferret clasped its little paws together in a bow, then sat down cross-legged. Holding the teacup with its paws, it very cherishly extended its little tongue and licked it, its face full of satisfaction.

Even Fang Yuan, who already knew the extraordinary nature of the Spirit Tea, felt a jolt in his heart at this expression.

"The way of Sitting-Forgetting, the first step is sincerity of heart. After sincerity, one can achieve pure thoughts, free from worries and afflictions, without beginning or end..."

He silently recited a few lines of scripture in his heart. The light in his eyes flickered, and they instantly became crystal clear. This was a sign that the杂念 (miscellaneous thoughts) in his mind had been purified.

Immediately, he took a sip from the teacup.

"Mmm..."

As the Spirit Tea entered his belly, an even more intense sensation than before washed over him like a raging tide.

Fang Yuan's expression was dazed, unsure of where he was.

He didn't know how much time had passed. The pot of Spirit Tea was finished without him realizing it, and two streams of tears had appeared on Fang Yuan's cheeks.

"I used to think 'one flower, one world; one grass, one paradise' was just a myth, but now... one tea, one life?"

Fang Yuan wiped away the tear streaks and fell into a long silence.

Just now, while savoring the tea, he felt as if he had relived his entire life. His entire Sea of Consciousness felt like it had undergone a 'Shedding of the Fetus and Changing of the Bones.'

It was simple for the physical body to undergo Shedding of the Fetus and Changing of the Bones, but how difficult was it for the spirit?

Yet, the Heart-Questioning Spirit Tea could do it!

After a long while, he looked at his status:

"Name: Fang Yuan

Essence: 2.7 Qi: 2.6 Spirit: 2.0 Age: 18 Cultivation: Martial Dao Fifth Gate Skills: Black Sand Palm [Level 5], Eagle Claw Iron Cloth Shirt [Level 5] Specialties: Medical Skill [Level 2], Planting Skill [Level 3]"

"Hiss..."

Fang Yuan gasped. "My Spirit Yuan increased by a third all at once. Is it the effect of the Spirit Tea? No... perhaps it's because of the previous enlightenment?"

Just now, influenced by the perfect Heart-Questioning Tea and the Sitting-Forgetting Tea Ceremony, he had entered a peculiar state, as if he had relived his life.

This state must be extremely rare and precious. One moment of enlightenment had increased his Spirit Yuan by a full 0.5!

"I'm afraid even rare heavenly treasures couldn't provide such a benefit, right?"

Fang Yuan took a deep breath, feeling the Internal Breath surging madly in his lower abdomen. The Internal Breath belonging to the fifth level of the Eagle Claw Iron Cloth Shirt was like a raging river, flowing back and forth, and was actually starting to impact the bottleneck of the sixth level on its own!

"This is... the most sought-after opportunity for a martial artist... a natural breakthrough?"

Fang Yuan was stunned, then immediately sat cross-legged, ordering the Flower Fox Ferret to guard him, and closed his eyes.

For a martial artist to break through a gate, they always had to forcefully circulate their Internal Breath through acupoints, which was incredibly difficult.

However, there was another situation: when the accumulated energy was sufficiently strong, even overflowing, a natural breakthrough would occur. The Internal Breath would automatically circulate the next stage of the technique, following nature.

The success rate was nearly one hundred percent!

At the same time, within the Gui Ling Sect.

"Senior Sister Leyue, please have some Spiritual Porridge!"

A female disciple carefully carried a wooden tray into the room. On it was a bowl of Red Jade Spirit Rice porridge.

An astonishing fragrance wafted out, causing her to unconsciously sniff.

"The Sect Master knew you were about to break through and specifically saved this from her own share! It's enough for seven days, three meals a day, with Spirit Rice every day."

The female disciple swallowed and added, feeling extremely envious.

"Thank my Master for me. You may go. I am about to enter seclusion. For the next few days, all meals will be sent through the passage. Do not disturb me with any other matters!"

Lin Leyue tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

The sect had set quotas for Spirit Rice. Even Shi Yutong couldn't casually change them.

The fact that her share was sent over upon learning she was about to break through was a great support.

If Fang Yuan, no, the Flower Fox Ferret, were here, they would have scoffed at this Spiritual Porridge.

Too much water was added, and too little Spirit Rice. Of course, the most crucial point was that the appearance and size of the grains were far inferior to the large and plump ones cultivated by Fang Yuan.

But in Lin Leyue's eyes, wasn't Spirit Rice supposed to look like this?

As the Spiritual Porridge entered her belly, a warmth immediately surged, and even her Internal Breath began to stir slightly.

"Let's begin!"

Lin Leyue sealed her senses and began her Martial Dao breakthrough.

The Twelve Gates of Golden Lock and Heavy Tower, each gate is more difficult than the last! This sixth gate, the Harm Gate, is the foremost of the Three Dangerous Gates. Once broken through, a martial artist's Internal Breath will condense, transforming into steel-like internal energy!

Of course, failure would inevitably result in severe injury!

This gate was the true difference between advanced martial artists and ordinary martial artists. Within the Gui Ling Sect, experts at the sixth gate were qualified to serve as elders and suppress a region!

"I have the Spiritual Moon Body, took the Condensing Moon Pill, and even fought Song Zhong before. I have about seventy to eighty percent confidence!"

Lin Leyue clenched her fists, "With the help of the spirit rice, I'll definitely succeed in this breakthrough!"

With that thought, she sat cross-legged, mobilized the potent Internal Breath within her body, and began to assault a tall and majestic gate.

Bang!

The first wave of Internal Breath struck, but the gate remained unmoved, like a colossal mountain.

Lin Leyue paid it no mind. Breaking through the Three Dangerous Gates was never a simple matter, was it? It wouldn't be a true failure until her Internal Breath was completely depleted.

Time passed quickly.

In a daze, Lin Leyue lost track of how much time had passed.

Within her, the once surging Internal Breath was almost completely exhausted, and at the same time, the sixth gate, the Harm Gate, was on the verge of collapse.

The two were locked in a final struggle, waiting for that last straw to tip the scales.

"I can't lose. I still want to see the outside world... I still want to surpass... Fang Yuan!"

As her consciousness wavered, a young figure suddenly appeared before Lin Leyue. He was ordinary, yet seemed more majestic than any mountain, casting a shadow that enveloped her.

"Pfft!"

She abruptly opened her eyes, spitting out a mouthful of blood mist.

The breakthrough failed, and the Harm Gate retaliated!