Practicing Qi on the Mountain Top

The sky was tinged with a trace of fish-belly white, and from the distant sea of clouds streamed brilliant golden rays.

On the mountaintop of Sunlit Cloud Peak, small groups of Outer Disciples had already gathered.

It was dawn. During this period, Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy was relatively mild and easier to refine than at any other hour of the day, which was why so many Outer Disciples came here.

Moreover, at the nodes of the spirit vein running through the mountain range, sunflowers with golden blossoms and green stalks grew in abundance.

It was said that at the juncture of day and night, a wisp of the Morning Sun Purple Qi recorded in the Classics would be born in the eastern sky. Taking it could nourish the soul, cleanse the body, and consolidate one's foundation.

Yet the Morning Sun Purple Qi was exceedingly precious and notoriously difficult to gather. Originally, only cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage Purple Mansion Realm, whose Spiritual Sense had been further condensed, were capable of sensing and collecting it.

Thus, the Azure Cloud Sect's cultivators continuously improved spirit plants, then combined them with feng shui and laid down formations. As long as disciples cultivated atop the mountain within the designated time, the formation could be activated to condense the purple qi of the morning glow.

The condensed purple qi of the morning glow would continuously flow into the mountain range, where it merged with the spirit jade ore buried beneath the mountain.

After being nurtured for a sufficient length of time, it could produce the Purple Sun Warm Jade of legend, which could help one break through the soul pass among the Three Passes of Foundation Establishment, or assist a Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivator in making a breakthrough.

After learning this mountain's Real Identity, Lin Chen could not help but feel somewhat astonished.

According to the intelligence he had gathered, the birth of Purple Sun Warm Jade required not only an exceptionally special location, but also over a hundred years of nurturing to produce even a single piece.

Yet through various methods, the sect had actually shortened its gestation period to a mere twenty years.

This was practically turning a resource that was almost nonrenewable to Qi Refining Stage Cultivators into a renewable resource obtainable every twenty years.

Lin Chen had to admit that the present Cultivation World was indeed a society of intrigue and the Law of the Jungle, but from another perspective, it was also a civilization with highly sophisticated control over and efficient use of spiritual energy!

In their utilization and mastery of the world's spiritual energy, cultivators were in no way inferior to humanity's exploration and application of matter in his previous life!

"Cultivators' thinking and research regarding the use of spiritual energy cannot be underestimated either. But the reason science is science is that it can encompass all things. I can incorporate their experience into my Science Cultivation and further refine my own system..."

Seeing that the time had come, Lin Chen gathered his thoughts and began to meditate and refine qi.

The cultivators on the mountaintop also spread out, sitting cross-legged one after another as they circulated their qi and cultivated. Inside the area, it was utterly quiet; not a single person spoke an unnecessary word.

After all, those capable of rising early every day possessed sufficiently firm will and determination. Naturally, they would not waste such precious time.

The world envied cultivators for the carefree elegance of riding swords through heaven and earth, coming and going beneath the blue sky—but how many knew the hardship of arduous cultivation behind it, unchanging as a single day for ten years?

In the blink of an eye, two hours passed. Only when the sun grew ever larger and Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy became increasingly active did the meditating disciples gradually begin to finish their cultivation.

Lin Chen slowly opened his eyes, then gradually stood up, preparing to leave.

Selling those improved tricks this time was ultimately too rash. Though I obtained a great deal of Cultivation Resources and ensured my own safety, word still leaked out. By now, Cloud Arrival Market's higher-ups have likely noticed me...

So I cannot return to Cloud Arrival Market for at least a year, and I must also cut off the talisman supply there. Although I never exposed my Real Identity or left behind any trace that could be followed, it is better to be cautious.

Lin Chen pondered as he walked.

And those improved tricks must absolutely not be brought out again before I advance to the Foundation Establishment Realm. At the same time, Spirit Bullet Technique should remain my primary means of fighting openly. After all, those tricks already exist in the Scripture Repository; I merely use them more flexibly, so they should not draw too much covetous attention...

No man is a sage; who can be without fault?

Even adding both lives together, Lin Chen was not yet forty years old. Without God's-eye view, how could he observe and grasp every last detail? All he could do was prepare for failure, preserve his life, and draw lessons from it—that was all.

"Junior Brother!"

All of a sudden, a seductive voice came from behind him. Lin Chen stopped in his tracks, his expression stiffening as well.

Hmm?! Why am I running into this woman again?!

After hesitating for a moment, Lin Chen nevertheless turned around. He saw a Female Cultivator dressed in court robes, smiling sweetly and moving with captivating grace, approaching from afar with an attendant, swaying with every step.

She wore light purple court robes that perfectly outlined her figure. Before, peaks gathered; behind, waves raged. Her hips were round as a full moon, lifted like a curved bow. Tall and slender, she swayed gracefully as she walked, yet her bearing remained poised and grand—possessing both a natural, bone-deep allure and an open, dignified elegance.

"So it's Senior Sister Mengyun. I didn't expect to see you here as well. What a coincidence." Lin Chen immediately put on a smile.

"Yes, what a coincidence indeed. Perhaps this is the fate between us?" Xu Mengyun covered her mouth with a light laugh, her beautiful eyes constantly roaming over Lin Chen's body until his whole body felt uncomfortable.

Fate? You are an Inner Disciple—what are you doing at a place where Outer Disciples cultivate? Who are you trying to fool with that excuse?! Lin Chen's mouth twitched.

Ever since he had run into Xu Mengyun three years ago while bathing in a stream after cultivation, this Senior Sister had approached him under the guise of caring for her Junior Brother, touching him all over and arranging an "accidental encounter" every so often.

Still, it was not that she lacked decorum. After crossing over, Lin Chen might not have been as handsome as Pan An, but his temperament possessed an indescribable, breathtaking charm.

His brows resembled crescent moons, his eyes shone like stars, and his features were delicate and bright. Though he did not possess the face of an unparalleled beauty, his entire bearing carried an indescribable otherworldliness. Simply standing there, he was like a jade tree among fragrant orchids; when he smiled, it was like a Bright Moon falling into one's embrace.

Especially when standing amid the faint light of dawn, one glance at him made people seem to see, in dreams returning at midnight, the young man from next door in their youth—smiling and chatting with them, sunny and radiant in temperament, his gaze clear and pure.

It was precisely this unique youthful air that left countless senior and junior sisters unable to stop themselves. He had no shortage of pursuers, but Lin Chen had always been solitary and cool-faced. Coupled with his exceptionally refined temperament, many Female Cultivators harbored thoughts about him, yet very few truly dared to act; they could only indulge in fantasies through certain special means.

Mm, I suddenly realize this might be a business opportunity...

For Some Reason, Lin Chen suddenly Thought Of this possibility. What had happened when he collected his miscellaneous assignment last time had inspired him: sometimes, earning Spirit Stones did not necessarily require skill. One could also rely on beauty...

People were willing to buy celebrity photo books in my previous life. I'm more handsome than celebrities from my previous life, so there's no reason no one would pay for it. At worst, I can wear a little less...

Lin Chen's thoughts spread further and further. Scientific research in any world required resources, and he could only obtain them himself. That was exceedingly difficult, so as far as he was concerned, as long as he could earn Spirit Stones, a little pride meant nothing.

Just as people said online in his previous life: if someone gave you a million and asked you to streak, would you do it?

What a joke. Others might hesitate, but for Lin Chen, hesitating for even one extra second would be disrespecting money!

Just as Lin Chen's thoughts ran wild, Xu Mengyun beside him gave a light laugh. "Junior Brother, do you still remember the transaction between us?"

A transaction?

Lin Chen swiftly came back to his senses. His gaze sharpened, and he asked with a hint of urgency, "Could it be that Senior Sister has gotten hold of it..."

Afterward, he looked around and, once he had made sure no one was nearby, deliberately lowered his voice and asked, "News about [Mid-grade Spirit Stone]s and [Hundred Year Jade Marrow]?"

[Mid-grade Spirit Stone]s circulated only among Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivators. Qi Refining Stage disciples like them were not qualified to exchange for them. Though the sect did not explicitly forbid disciples from obtaining Mid-grade Spirit Stones, getting their hands on them was no easy matter.

It was like the things that circulated among the wealthy in his previous life—without assets or connections, those outside the circle could scarcely obtain them.

[Hundred Year Jade Marrow] was even more precious, as it could save the life of a cultivator who failed in their attempt to reach the Foundation Establishment Realm, even preventing damage to their foundation.

Both of these were extremely important to Lin Chen at present. The former concerned his verification of the Third Law of Spiritual Energy—the Spiritual Energy Level—while the latter involved his research into, and breakthrough experiments for, the Foundation Establishment Realm.

Even with his current standing, acquiring these two items would not be simple. He could only seek the help of an external force.

"Of course. Your Senior Sister is very well-informed," Xu Mengyun said with a radiant smile.

She then took out a jade box, leaned close to Lin Chen's ear, and whispered softly, "The information on Mid-grade Spirit Stones and Hundred Year Jade Marrow is all in this box. I've done Junior Brother quite a big favor, so how does Junior Brother plan to repay me?"

His ear tickled from her breath, and Lin Chen hurriedly coughed. "Goods and information naturally have clearly marked prices. Just name it, Senior Sister—how many Spirit Stones?"

"Oh? Looks like Junior Brother has quite a bit of money?" Xu Mengyun's beautiful eyes shifted as she teased, "Six hundred Spirit Stones."

"Oh, six hundred Spirit Stones..." Lin Chen was just about to take them out when his whole body abruptly froze, his voice rising. "Six hundred Spirit Stones? Senior Sister, are you trying to fleece me?!"

Lin Chen's Gaze instantly became extremely guarded. When it came to Spirit Stones, he was absolutely rational!

"Junior Brother, sometimes information is worth that price. Besides, you're so handsome—do you really think Senior Sister could bear to cheat you?"

"Hmm..." Lin Chen felt that something about those words was strange, yet he could not say what was wrong. He was indeed quite handsome.

Wait, what did whether I'm handsome or not have to do with you cheating me?!

At that thought, Lin Chen's face twitched. Then he said, "Senior Sister, for the sake of our many years of friendship, could you lower the price a little?"

"Junior Brother, how can you say that?!" Xu Mengyun said with a face full of solemnity. "I don't want the feelings between us to be tainted by profit!"

What fucking feelings do I have with you?! Lin Chen's face was covered in black lines. That was just a polite phrase, okay?!

"It seems Senior Sister and I do not have much of a relationship, do we?"

"Since we have no relationship, why should I lower the price?"

"This..." Lin Chen was left speechless.

Lin Chen could feel true qi surging through his body. If they were not within the sect, where it was inconvenient for him to make a move, he would definitely seize this woman and properly educate her with virtue!

"Three hundred Spirit Stones. That's all I have on my body, Senior Sister. Take it or leave it!" Though he said that, Lin Chen put the jade box into his Storage Bag without hesitation.

It was a little unscrupulous, but it was okay. In Lin Chen's eyes, acting shamelessly was the right of handsome men!

"Deal!"

"Fine... hmm?!" The other party agreed so readily that Lin Chen immediately felt as if he had been fleeced.

Could it be that I named too high a price? Should I haggle some more? But I've already said that much—if I haggle again, it'll be a little embarrassing, so...

"Senior Sister, I've been in urgent need of Spirit Stones lately, so I can't take out that much. I can only give two hundred Spirit Stones..."

Face could always be had, but money could not always be had. Lin Chen knew perfectly well which mattered more!

"Of course you can." Xu Mengyun looked at Lin Chen with a smiling face, amusement mingling in her eyes.

Lin Chen froze, then seemed to think of something. Gritting his teeth, he continued, "This... I suddenly remembered that a couple of days ago..."

"Could it be that Junior Brother wants to freeload?" Xu Mengyun interrupted him, propping up her chest with her arms as she teased him.

"Cough!" Even though Lin Chen had thick skin, being exposed to his face still made his old face flush.

"Cough, what are you saying, Senior Sister? It's only that Junior Brother is truly strapped for cash lately... so, Senior Sister, could you perhaps..."

"It's not impossible to give it to you for free." Xu Mengyun smiled softly, then reached one slender jade-like hand toward Lin Chen's waist. "As long as Junior Brother does so tonight..."

With swift eyes and quick hands, Lin Chen stopped that hand. "Senior Sister, Please Behave Yourself! Junior Brother is not that kind of casual person! Besides, these few Spirit Stones of yours... cough! What I mean is, I have principles!"

Lin Chen swiftly took out two portions of Azure Cloud Spirit Leaf from his Storage Bag and handed them over. "This is two hundred Spirit Stones. I hope Senior Sister will keep them safe!"

What a Joke!

Did she think a mere two hundred Spirit Stones could make him sell his body? Impossible!

Xu Mengyun was stunned. Watching Lin Chen hurriedly depart the moment he handed over the Spirit Leaves, she could not help but smile.

"Not that kind of casual person? Your Senior Sister is the sect's information broker. I know all about those romantic books you buy in private... But isn't a handsome boy being lustful in private rather adorable?"

"Miss, I don't understand. Aren't you being a little too accommodating? And the Mid-grade Spirit Stones and that information could have sold for five hundred Spirit Stones—why..."

After Lin Chen had gone far away, the maidservant responsible for attending the Inner Disciples could not help asking.

"He's different from the other disciples in the sect..." Xu Mengyun did not answer her question, instead saying this.

"Uh... Miss means that this Junior Brother Lin has more potential than the others, so you are investing in him in advance?" The maidservant was somewhat baffled.

"No. I mean I don't lack these few Spirit Stones, and this little junior brother is both handsome and refined, so I'm happy to spoil him."