Inside the thatched hut.
Xiao Huohuo sensed the spiritual energy within his body.
Nine spiritual energies surged back and forth within him, nourishing his qi and blood.
The feeling of fullness filled him with wild delight:
"Spirit Absorption into Body, Ninth Spiritual Energy!"
He clenched his fists, immensely excited:
"Though I haven't reached the level of my master, who absorbed ten spiritual energies."
"Under my master's guidance, I've still broken through to the Ninth Spiritual Energy."
"I'm already no weaker than an ordinary genius!"
"At least I haven't disgraced my master!"
[ Ding, congratulations, Host. Disciple Xiao Huohuo has broken through to Nine Qi Absorptions. ] [ Ding, tenfold return in progress. ] [ Ding, congratulations, Host. Host's current cultivation realm: Qi Refining Fourth Level. ]
The cold electronic voice faded away.
A Blue Light Screen suddenly popped up before his eyes.
Chu Feng, who had been reclining in the Tiger Skin Wooden Chair, straightened his body.
At that moment, a spiritual energy appeared from somewhere within his body and surged forth.
A terrifying aura entered his body. His figure was enveloped in a burst of red light, and even the wooden chair beneath him was rocked left and right by the force of that aura.
It seemed his body had gradually grown accustomed to this infusion. After less than the time it took to drink half a cup of tea, the influx of spiritual energy came to a stop.
After calming the spiritual energy within him, Chu Feng returned to his senses from his surprise and delight:
"That youngster Xiao Huohuo broke through again!"
He immediately closed his eyes and carefully sensed himself.
At that moment, both the quality and quantity of the spiritual energy within his body were ten times stronger than when he had been at Qi Refining Third Level!
He had truly stepped into the realm of Qi Refining Fourth Level!
In many of the novels he had read in his Previous life, Qi Refining Fourth Level was a relatively important watershed.
It was the most important sign of entering the Qi Refining Mid-stage.
In many novels, reaching Qi Refining Fourth Level already allowed one to achieve Sword Flight and cast quite a few simple spells. It was the realm where one truly began to display the bearing of an immortal cultivator.
With that thought, Chu Feng turned his gaze to a withered branch on the ground.
A trace of red light rose from his fingertip. Chu Feng said softly:
"Rise!"
A gentle breeze stirred, and the withered branch truly floated up as he had willed it to.
This was the might of Spiritual Energy Projection!
Chu Feng curiously experimented several times before finally stopping.
From branches as small as twigs to stones weighing around thirty jin, he could lift them with ease.
He could even make his own body hover briefly by manipulating spiritual energy.
Unfortunately, he did not yet have a flying sword, and he had no idea whether he could now achieve cool Sword Flight.
After all, which old bookworm had never fantasized about riding a sword through the skies and roaming the ends of the earth?
Aside from these things, breaking through to the fourth level revealed quite a few other benefits.
Under the tempering of spiritual energy at this level, Chu Feng's body had also grown somewhat tougher than before. Even his skin had become smoother, glowing with a lustrous sheen resembling immortal aura.
In this state, he did look somewhat more like the transcendent immortal described in books.
After sitting back down in his chair, Chu Feng lazily basked in the sunlight again.
Even though he had now reached the fourth level of body cultivation, he had never planned to cultivate.
Every trace of spiritual energy in his body had come from his Silly Disciple's cultivation and the system's tenfold return.
Chu Feng sighed:
"It seems Xiao Huohuo is far more formidable than I imagined."
More than a month ago, when Xiao Huohuo had broken through to Five Spiritual Energies, he had already stepped into the Qi Refining realm.
After breaking through again and again, Xiao Huohuo's stubborn pursuit of absorbing more spiritual energy into his body had also caused Chu Feng to make no progress for a long time.
This had left Chu Feng anxious, yet unable to bring himself to say anything.
After all, he had been the one to deceive Xiao Huohuo, telling him that the more spiritual energies he absorbed, the more powerful he would become.
It was tantamount to lifting a rock only to drop it on his own foot!
But judging by the situation, Xiao Huohuo had now broken through to the Ninth Spiritual Energy.
Xiao Huohuo's talent was even higher than he had imagined.
The wooden hut opened, and Xiao Huohuo walked out, refreshed as he stretched lazily.
His joints crackled as he extended his limbs.
A wave of comfort coursed through Xiao Huohuo's entire body. He felt an unprecedented, powerful force permeating every inch of him.
This strength was more than a little mightier than that of a Third-rate martial artist.
And this was before he had truly stepped onto the Path of Qi Refining.
If he truly entered the Path of Cultivation, it was difficult to imagine how terrifying he would become.
His gaze grew resolute. Squinting slightly at the dazzling sunlight, he said:
"Just wait. Three months from now, I'll wash away every last humiliation."
Then his gaze fell upon Chu Feng, who was resting on the Tiger Skin Coat ahead of him. His nostrils flared faintly.
Cultivation...
If he had not encountered his master.
He would still be struggling bitterly in the martial path, facing his fiancée without the slightest hope.
Back then, when he had entered this Forbidden Forest with the storybook, he had never intended to leave alive.
Rather than continue living in humiliation after the tournament, he would rather disappear here forever and preserve Dongli City's dignity.
Now, all his Qi Refining abilities and all his hope had been given to him by his master.
His master had not only taught him the supreme path, but, knowing that his talent was mediocre, had constantly thought of all kinds of ways to improve his strength and help him establish a solid foundation.
It could be said that his master had completely transformed him. He was practically his reborn parent!
He was truly blessed beyond three lifetimes to have encountered such a good master.
Xiao Huohuo lowered his head and pondered for a while:
"My master treats me so well. I should properly thank him, too."
"The Ceremony of Apprenticeship I carried on me before is absolutely unworthy of presenting now."
Although he understood that everything he could afford was no different from weeds in his master's eyes,
his master's kindness weighed heavier than a mountain. Even if his master looked down on it, he still had to find a way to bring out the best thing he could and repay him.
"Now that I've absorbed nine spiritual energies, it's the perfect time to return home and bring out a generous Ceremony of Apprenticeship."
"That's right. My master once said that cultivation requires balancing work and rest."
With that thought, Xiao Huohuo immediately stepped forward, knelt, and saluted.
"Master!"
Chu Feng glanced at him:
"Mm, not bad. You've reached Nine Spiritual Energies."
"To reach this level with your physical constitution, you've already reached the absolute limit."
"You've done very well. Next, you can start considering entering the Qi Refining Stage."
Although absorbing spiritual energy into the body was better with more spiritual energy, everything still had its limits.
Xiao Huohuo had spent nearly a month breaking through to the Ninth Spiritual Energy.
That showed he had reached his limit. If he continued cultivating beyond this point, not only might he achieve nothing, he could even suffer a backlash.
Hearing Chu Feng's words, Xiao Huohuo nodded seriously:
"Huohuo will heed your teachings, Master."
Seeing Chu Feng nod, he continued:
"Master, this disciple has already been away from home for more than two months. I'm worried that my parents are anxious, so I'd like to return home for a visit."
"Master, would you return with Huohuo?"
"That way, Huohuo can serve you better."
Before you continue