Breakthrough

Su Yu did not mention the matter of the Body Refining Technique to anyone, including the Lineage higher-ups. Perhaps if he did, he could obtain better and more resources from the Lineage, but alongside those resources, the responsibilities and affairs resting on his shoulders would increase as well.

The danger would multiply even more. That was extremely unfavorable for a rookie cultivator who had only just stepped onto the path of immortality.

Don't forget.

Besides the Su Family of cultivators, Jiang City also had the Lin Family.

The Lin Family and the Su Family had never seen eye to eye.

In those old cultivation games, someone had once calculated the odds of game characters ultimately becoming immortals by taking either the flamboyant genius route or the cautious, low-profile route.

The ratio between the former and the latter was roughly one to nine.

In other words, the number of people who made it to the end through high-profile cultivation was only one-ninth that of those who kept their heads down.

Compared to gaining a small amount of cultivation resources from the Lineage, Su Yu would rather cultivate quietly and slowly grind out proficiency.

Until he raised his strength, he would never leave the Lineage.

Three months after returning from the Cloud Sword Sect, Su Qingyi, who lived not far next door, broke through to Qi Refining Stage Two.

After treating Su Yu to a meal and boasting for a while, Su Qingyi chose to head to one of the Su Family's Medicine Fields to study under a master as a medicine apprentice, learning how to plant spirit herbs and distinguish their medicinal properties.

This was the first step toward becoming an alchemy apprentice.

At Qi Refining Stage Two, one could receive a monthly allowance of two Low-grade Spirit Stones and fifty jin of Spirit Rice from the Lineage.

On top of that, working as a medicine apprentice in the Medicine Fields earned another two Low-grade Spirit Stones each month.

Those resources were quite considerable.

At least, compared to Su Yu's.

"A Medium-grade Spirit Root really cultivates fast." Su Yu sighed inwardly. Three months to break through to Qi Refining Stage Two.

That rate of improvement could rival even a High-grade Spirit Root.

After finishing the fine wine Su Qingyi had left behind, Su Yu gently shook his head and settled down to continue cultivating.

The most important thing every day was cultivating the Wutong Greenwood Art.

Although this Wood attribute cultivation technique did not possess strong spiritual power and cultivated slowly, it was peaceful and robust. It could heal injuries and even extend one's lifespan.

Upon reaching the ninth level and achieving great mastery, one could extend one's life by at least twenty years while still in the Qi Refining Realm.

Those twenty extra years of life were quite alluring to many people, so there were plenty of Su Family members who cultivated the Wutong Greenwood Art.

Moreover, the Su Family's rise to prominence had much to do with the Wutong Greenwood Art.

At present, the Su Family mainly relied on its business of cultivating spirit herbs, and the spiritual power of the Wutong Greenwood Art greatly aided their growth.

Cultivating the Wutong Greenwood Art for four hours each day was his limit.

Afterward, he practiced the Wood Vine Technique and Spirit Nurturing Art, both of which were merely beginner spells.

The Wood Vine Technique was mainly used to trap enemies, while the Spirit Nurturing Art was mainly used to cultivate spirit herbs.

Increasing their proficiency was not difficult. Over the past few months, the proficiency of both spells had nearly reached one hundred percent completion.

"I'll need to find another spell to cultivate." Su Yu thought to himself.

But there was no rush.

At another clan trade fair, Su Yu brought Lin Dong along to browse the stalls.

At the trade fair, Su Yu found a Wood attribute spell that suited his tastes: the Spirit Spear Art.

Its price was not high, requiring only one Low-grade Spirit Stone.

This spell could use spiritual power to condense a battle spear and pierce the air to slay enemies. Paired with the Wood Vine Technique, it could produce remarkable results.

Although Su Yu was not flush with Spirit Stones, he still traded for this spell.

"Let's go back."

With this month's Low-grade Spirit Stone gone, there was naturally no need to look at the remaining stalls. Su Yu returned to his courtyard and practiced the Spirit Spear Art in peace.

The strength of the Spirit Spear Art depended entirely on one's own spiritual power. The more spiritual power one poured into it, the stronger the battle spear one condensed would be.

But it would consume more spiritual power as well.

"For now, this offensive spell is enough for Qi Refining Stage One." Su Yu was very satisfied. If his strength was insufficient, he would never greedily bite off more than he could chew.

Time passed slowly.

The stars shifted and the constellations turned.

Spring departed, autumn arrived.

In the blink of an eye.

A year had passed since Su Yu returned from the Cloud Sword Sect. Throughout that year, aside from cultivation, he spent his days wandering through the Archive Pavilion and the various markets of Jiang City.

From time to time, he went to chat with his Fifth Granduncle, Su Bin, learning many interesting tales of the cultivation world from him.

This old man was rather special within the Lineage. Other than staying in the Archive Pavilion, he would occasionally vanish without a trace, and no one knew where he went.

Yet the other elders of the Lineage, even the Family Head, paid no attention to his whereabouts or his idle ways.

Su Yu had once asked the old man about it, but Su Bin had merely chuckled and told him not to be so curious when he was just a little brat.

On this day, as Su Yu cultivated, a green glow flickered around him and his spiritual power surged.

His cultivation aura finally broke through from Qi Refining Stage One to Qi Refining Stage Two.

After his breakthrough, Su Yu did not hide it. He sought out the Second Elder, displayed his newly advanced cultivation, and received a reward for breaking through to Qi Refining Stage Two.

His monthly allowance doubled, meaning one Low-grade Spirit Stone and thirty jin of Low-grade Spirit Rice.

In addition, from then on, his monthly allowance at Qi Refining Stage Two would be two Low-grade Spirit Stones and fifty jin of Low-grade Spirit Rice.

Taking an entire year to break through from Qi Refining Stage One to Qi Refining Stage Two placed his talent at the very bottom tier.

It would not attract anyone's attention at all.

Even if someone learned that Su Yu had broken through to Qi Refining Stage Two, they would merely shake their heads. Taking a year to break through—what a waste. Then they would turn around and forget Su Yu entirely.

However, while Su Yu's breakthrough was nothing special to others, Lin Dong was delighted. She specially cooked him a delicious meal, and the two held a small celebration in their courtyard.

At another clan trade fair, Su Yu saw quite a lot of Monster Beast Essence Blood being sold at the stalls. There was essence blood from early-stage First Order monster beasts, as well as several drops from mid-stage First Order monster beasts.

"So much Monster Beast Essence Blood? Did a small-scale Beast Tide appear in the Medicine Fields?" Su Yu was astonished inwardly.

He used the one Low-grade Spirit Stone he had saved to buy two drops of mid-stage First Order Monster Beast Essence Blood. After circling the trade fair, he did not see Fifth Elder Su Bin. He had originally wanted to ask him about the matter, but since the man was nowhere to be found, he could only give up and leave.

More than half a year ago, Su Yu's Body Refining Technique had broken through to the second level.

After cultivating for the past half year or so, his Body Refining Technique had already broken through to the third level a month ago.

Returning to his courtyard.

Su Yu concentrated, and lines of words appeared before his eyes.

Name: Su Yu.

Cultivation: Qi Refining Stage Two.

Lifespan: 17/99.

Cultivation Technique: Wutong Greenwood Art (Second Level, Proficiency 1.42%), Crocodile Demon's 108 Forms Body Refining Technique (Third Level, Proficiency 10.67%).

Spells: Wood Vine Technique (Complete), Spirit Nurturing Art (Complete), Spirit Spear Art (Complete).

"With two drops of mid-stage First Order Monster Beast Essence Blood, I'll see whether I can charge toward the fourth level of the Body Refining Technique within two or three months." Su Yu looked at the Proficiency Panel thoughtfully.

And there were spells as well. Once he saved up some Spirit Stones, he could look for more powerful spells suited to him.

Or perhaps he should consider side professions like alchemy or Talisman crafting?

With the Proficiency Panel, not using his spare time to improve a side profession and earn a little spending money would be a monstrous waste.

"Alchemy, artifact refining, Talisman crafting, array formation, and so on—these side professions are all very profitable." Su Yu's eyes gleamed faintly as he pondered.

With money, the speed of his cultivation could increase greatly.