A year of time passed in a flash like a white horse galloping past a crevice.
During this year, Han Feng almost never stepped out, and the stone door of his cave dwelling remained tightly shut at all times.
It was as though he was isolated from the world.
Outside the Canglan Cave of Qingjiang Peak.
"It has been a year, and Elder Brother Han actually hasn't come out even once..."
A young girl wearing a pale yellow silk dress was standing in front of the cave dwelling, somewhat boredly kicking a small stone at her feet.
She was none other than Xiao Yue.
The passage of a year allowed her face, which had previously still held a hint of childishness, to blossom completely.
Her figure also grew increasingly graceful, and she was already a budding beauty with the initial airs of charm.
After waiting outside the cave dwelling for several hours, seeing that the stone door still showed no movement, she finally could not hold back.
Xiao Yue took out a Sound Transmission Talisman from her Storage Bag, spoke a few words in a low voice, and casually tossed it. The Sound Transmission Talisman then transformed into a streak of fire and adhered to the stone door.
"Elder Brother Han, Yueyue is looking for you for something..."
The moment the Sound Transmission Talisman adhered to it, the tightly shut stone door let out a rumbling sound and slowly opened.
Han Feng walked out from the cave dwelling.
"Elder Brother Han, your cultivation is simply too diligent. You truly are a model for all of us disciples to learn from!"
The moment Xiao Yue saw Han Feng, she immediately crowded over happily, her pair of bright, limpid eyes filled with unmasked adoration.
Not seeing him for a year, this lass had grown quite a bit taller.
"You transmitted a voice message earlier saying you had something the matter. What is it?" Han Feng asked.
"Elder Brother Han, cultivation also needs a balance of tension and relaxation. You've been in seclusion for a whole year, so you must feel very stuffy, right? Won't you accompany me to stroll around the market?"
Xiao Yue pulled on Han Feng's sleeve, gently shaking it with a hint of spoiled coquetry.
"Mn."
Han Feng pondered slightly, then nodded and agreed.
He indeed also wanted to go take a look at the market.
His medicinal pills had already been consumed completely.
Even the two bottles that Zhou Qingning had given him back then had been exhausted in day-after-day bitter cultivation.
Of course, the gains of this year were also enormous.
For an ordinary cultivator to switch to a higher-tier cultivation method and wish to cultivate the method to the corresponding level, it would require at least two or three years of grinding effort.
As for Han Feng, he had merely used the span of a year to not only thoroughly stabilize his cultivation in the early Foundation Establishment Stage, but he had even cultivated the Mysterious Sky Longevity Art to the fourth layer.
Naturally, a good deal of Attribute Points had been consumed in the process.
After cultivating the Mysterious Sky Longevity Art, Han Feng could clearly feel that his vigor was becoming increasingly abundant, and his fleshly body strength was also growing with each passing day.
Added to that was the foundation laid by the Elephant Armor Skill he had cultivated during his mortal period.
The attacks of ordinary Qi Refining cultivators probably could not even break through his fleshly body defense.
As for the Qi Refining Stage divine ability "Azure Spirit Shield" and Foundation Establishment Stage divine ability "Myriad Wood Cage" that came attached to the cultivation method, he had also initially mastered them.
He was merely troubled by not having extra Attribute Points to add toward perfection, so their might was still very limited.
Right now, Han Feng had also gotten a preliminary grasp of the fifth-layer cultivation method.
He only needed to wait for the Attribute Points to accumulate sufficiently, and he would be able to directly perform Attribute Addition, pushing his cultivation to the middle Foundation Establishment Stage in one stroke.
"Elder Brother Han, then let's go right now!"
Seeing Han Feng agree readily, Xiao Yue appeared extremely happy.
"No rush, let's head to the Thousand Moon Hall first. I have a year's worth of spiritual stipend that I haven't collected yet."
Han Feng chuckled.
According to sect rules, Foundation Establishment Cultivators could collect a considerable amount of spirit stones and medicinal pills as a stipend every month.
"Elder Brother Han, if you don't have enough spirit stones, I can give you some. I have plenty of spirit stones."
Xiao Yue spoke very earnestly, and as she said this, she was about to fish for spirit stones from her own Storage Bag.
"No need, I have enough."
Han Feng shook his head in refusal.
He who eats another's food grows soft-mouthed, and he who takes another's things grows short-handed.
Moreover, this lass Xiao Yue was a bit too enthusiastic toward him, and he always felt she harbored ill intentions.
Mostly likely, she was after his body.
The two of them flew using their magical tools, and very soon they arrived at the plaza outside the Thousand Moon Hall.
Inside the Thousand Moon Hall, two locations were set up for collecting spiritual stipends.
One was prepared for Qi Refining disciples, while the other was the exclusive hall for Foundation Establishment Cultivators.
Han Feng naturally walked straight toward the Foundation Establishment Hall.
"Martial Uncle Han!"
"This disciple pays respects to Martial Uncle Han!"
Along the way, quite a few Qi Refining disciples saw Han Feng and successively stopped in their tracks to bow respectfully.
Immortal cultivation sects were this realistic.
Perhaps a year ago, everyone was still addressing each other as fellow apprentice brothers.
Yet from the very moment Han Feng succeeded in Foundation Establishment, his seniority directly rose by a generation.
Xiao Yue followed by Han Feng's side, and whenever any disciple bowed to Han Feng, she would unconsciously straighten her back, feeling a reflected glory.
On the few occasions when delicate-featured female cultivators lingered for a moment longer while bowing to Han Feng, Xiao Yue would unassumingly press closer to Han Feng's side, as if proclaiming a certain sovereignty.
Just as they were about to reach the Foundation Establishment Hall, they happened to pass by the Qi Refining Hall side.
At this moment, three cultivators were gathered right there, two females and one male.
"Miss, that is Han Feng!"
Among them, a young man wearing the attire of the Yan Family lowered his voice and spoke to the female beside him.
This person was named Yan Yu, the young girl beside him was his younger sister Yan Ling, and the person they were clustering around was a peerless beauty wearing white palace-style garments with an otherworldly temperament.
A direct-line bloodline of the Yan Family, Yan Ruyan.
Just like Han Feng, she possessed Heavenly Spiritual Root aptitude.
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