Qi Refining Level 6

Spring passed, and spring returned.

Another year began with spring; carrying hope in his heart, he embraced the spring sunshine.

In the cultivation room.

Shen Xuan, who was sitting cross-legged, suddenly opened his eyes, delight surging in his heart.

"Qi Refining Level 6!"

After three years, his Cultivation Realm had advanced once more.

"As expected of a B-grade Residence. With the Spirit Gathering Array as well, cultivation really is fast!"

Shen Xuan sighed.

A Tier 1 High-grade Dao Field already had abundant spiritual energy, and the Spirit Gathering Array could constantly replenish it. Cultivating here was far faster than in an ordinary Mid Qi Refining Stage residence!

After his Water Spirit Root reached 22 points, breaking through a minor bottleneck had come naturally, with little difficulty.

It had taken only three years to break through to Qi Refining Level 6.

It had gone even more smoothly than he had imagined.

As his talent improved, his physical body had grown much stronger than before.

By now, his main cultivation technique, [Divine Treasure Canghai Technique], was close to Minor Mastery.

Pure, blue-green spiritual power took its source from his dantian, flowing through his heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys like a vast sea, endlessly replenishing itself.

The circulation of his spiritual power grew faster and faster, while the aura in his dantian surged like a deep abyssal sea.

His five senses had become far sharper. Everything in the world seemed more vivid.

Even without using his talent, he could clearly sense the slightest changes within ten zhang around him.

[Insight Technique]!

His Spiritual Sense expanded to thirty zhang!

Comparable to Qi Refining Perfection!

Within thirty zhang, everything in the world seemed to slow down, like a slow-motion scene in a movie.

The light rain pattering on the window lattice, dust motes drifting through the air, insects crawling across the room, tiny stains on his robe...

All the traces that had once escaped the naked eye appeared before Shen Xuan in an instant.

Not only that, but Shen Xuan's mind had clearly grown stronger.

His Spiritual Sense captured all kinds of information and relayed it to his Sea of Consciousness, where he processed and absorbed it all in an instant.

"Now I finally have a little power to protect myself!"

Shen Xuan slowly ended his cultivation and let out a long breath.

Even now, he had never fought anyone. He had no idea what his true strength was.

Still, judging by the cultivation texts he had read, he should have the strength of a Qi Refining Level 9 cultivator.

In water, he would be comparable to Qi Refining Perfection.

Then there was his Lifespan.

Lifespan: 68/135

Breaking through a single minor bottleneck had added three years to his Lifespan.

The Lifespan he gained exceeded the time he spent cultivating. If things kept going like this, wouldn't I become [immortal]?

It was merely a joke he told himself.

As his Cultivation Realm rose, the time required for cultivation would grow longer and longer.

And the effects of [Life Extension] would worsen with age.

Regardless, he had successfully reached Qi Refining Level 6 today. It was only right to celebrate!

In the inner residence.

Ding Yuyao, who was meditating and cultivating the Jade Maiden True Scripture, let out a shriek.

A massive figure pounced on her like a gust of wind, knocking her onto the soft bed!

Skipping the foreplay, a familiar flurry of movements soon drew soft gasps from her lips.

Afterward.

Ding Yuyao woke up.

Her husband was sixty-eight years old!

This made no sense!

Had she gotten weaker?

Impossible!

She had cultivated the [Jade Maiden True Scripture] for eight years and achieved Great Mastery. She was already comparable to a first-rate expert!

Her husband had gotten stronger!

Ding Yuyao was full of doubts.

Could it be that cultivators really could grow younger as they lived, returning to the vigor of childhood?

At that moment, Shen Xuan was at the bottom of Longze River.

On the Water-Splitting Emei Dagger, the four Ice Divine Dragons formed by the [Water Condensation Edge Shaping Art] radiated a terrifying, heart-chilling aura of destruction.

"Go!"

At Shen Xuan's shout, the four Ice Divine Dragons shot forward. The impact of their tremendous power churned and roiled the surrounding waters.

Their killing range in the river reached twelve zhang.

That was a two-tenths increase from before.

It also meant that his spiritual power had increased by two-tenths.

A single minor bottleneck had increased his spiritual power by two-tenths, bringing it close to the limit for a Qi Refining Cultivator.

Shen Xuan swam back from an Underground River beneath Longze River to the Spirit Pool, climbed ashore, and let the water on his body evaporate.

"Now that I've reached Qi Refining Level 6, I can use the Spirit Gathering Array for twice as long. Four shichen a day will cost two spirit stones. I'm still earning spirit stones too slowly..."

If Zhao Chunsheng heard that, his jaw would hit the floor.

Shen Xuan earned a net profit of eighty to ninety spirit stones a month making [Spring Return Talismans].

That was over a thousand spirit stones a year—three times what an ordinary Late Qi Refining Stage Attendant made!

Yet Shen Xuan still thought it was too slow!

Using the Spirit Gathering Array for twice as long meant spending sixty spirit stones a month!

He also needed spirit stones to purchase Monster Beast Essence Blood.

And he had to prepare to buy a Tier 1 High-grade Magic Artifact after reaching the Late Qi Refining Stage.

Recently, he had attended four or five auctions organized by the Ding Family.

He now had a clear idea of the prices of various Cultivation Spirit Items.

A somewhat decent Tier 1 High-grade Magic Artifact cost at least five hundred spirit stones.

A Defensive Magic Tool or flying sword Magic Artifact could cost as much as a thousand.

He couldn't still be using a Mid-grade Magic Artifact after breaking through to the Late Qi Refining Stage.

It wasn't just a matter of appearances.

It had a real effect on a cultivator's combat ability.

When cultivators of the same rank fought, the power of their Magic Artifacts was often what decided the victor.

A Qi Refining Level 7 cultivator with a high-quality Magic Artifact could completely crush a Qi Refining Level 9 cultivator.

"Perhaps I should practice my combat skills?"

Shen Xuan mused.

He had almost no real combat experience.

That was his weak point.

No matter how high his Cultivation Realm was, it would be pointless if he couldn't bring his strength to bear in a real fight.

"Should I join Zhao Chunsheng's team and hunt Monster Beasts to gain experience?"

Shen Xuan considered the matter seriously.

He believed his strength was far greater than Zhao Chunsheng's.

Zhao Chunsheng had made it through these past few years unscathed.

Surely Shen Xuan wasn't any worse than him.

"Better to be cautious and stick to the riverside as much as possible."

As long as he was near Longze River and had water nearby, Shen Xuan was confident he could get away.

His [Water Control] talent let him move through river water at fifty meters per second!

The [Water Condensation Edge Shaping Art] was ten times more powerful in river water than in the hands of cultivators of the same rank!

Back home.

Shen Xuan asked Zhao Chunsheng about the Monster Hunting Team.

"Monster hunters are mostly cultivators who know one another well. Each has their own strengths, and they look out for one another while hunting together..."

Zhao Chunsheng told him everything, explaining in detail how Monster Hunting Teams were formed and sharing the common practices.

Shen Xuan asked thoughtfully, "Are there any rules between teammates?"

"Don't worry. They're all good friends who've known each other for years. Besides, we've all sworn a Heavenly Dao Oath to weather the storm together."

Zhao Chunsheng looked at him expectantly. "Talisman Master Shen, are you thinking of joining our Monster Hunting Team?"

Shen Xuan answered seriously, "Fellow Daoist Zhao, you know what I'm like. I've cultivated for fifty years and never fought anyone. One should always prepare for a rainy day. I want to gain some combat experience."

"And earn some spirit stones on the side, to buy Water Attribute Monster Beast Essence Blood."

Zhao Chunsheng was an old hand at Monster Hunting.

And he had a family to support.

Cultivators with families were more dependable.

"No problem! Talisman Master Shen is already famous throughout the Market! If you're willing to join, they'll be more than happy to have you!"

Zhao Chunsheng said with a smile.

With Shen Xuan joining, his influence within the Monster Hunting Team would grow.

Shen Xuan didn't agree right away. Instead, he asked about the team members.

At present, Zhao Chunsheng's Monster Hunting Team had only six members.

Besides Zhao Chunsheng, there were two Late Qi Refining Stage cultivators and three Mid Qi Refining Stage cultivators.

They were partners of many years, reliable in character and of like minds.

All were cautious Monster Hunters, unwilling to take excessive risks.

"Invite them over when you have time. We'll meet and discuss things together!"

"No problem!"

Zhao Chunsheng readily agreed.