Pure Cultivation Life

In an instant.

Countless strands of Divine Sense crisscrossed inside Small Disc, condensing into a dense web of lines. They were like the veins of the Purple Crystal Bracelet, but far more numerous and intricate than before.

Cheng Buzheng didn't hesitate. He turned his right hand over, and another Purple Crystal Bracelet, the size of a millstone, floated above his palm.

Compared with the giant object in the air, however, it seemed much more petite.

A thought crossed his mind.

The enormous Purple Crystal Bracelet above the Secret Chamber shot out a beam of purple light, which coiled around the millstone-sized bracelet. Like a big fish swallowing a small fish, it absorbed it into itself in the blink of an eye.

The Purple Crystal Bracelet, which had originally been illusory, grew solid after devouring the millstone-sized bracelet, gleaming with a luster like Gold Jade.

This was precisely what made this Spell so special: half Spell, half Artifact Refining Technique, a technique that drew on the finest aspects of both.

The newly formed illusory Purple Crystal Bracelet could devour fragments of Purple Crystal Bracelets and instantly regain its former combat power. It didn't have to fear being damaged, unlike a Magic Tool, which would have to be replaced with another bought using Spirit Stones if it was damaged.

Although this Special Spell Technique was extremely practical, saved Spirit Stones, and packed a powerful punch, it was incredibly difficult to cultivate. Even after spending a great deal of time on it, there was no guarantee of success.

Even if one was lucky enough to master it, the Spell would no longer be useful after one's cultivation advanced. Its power simply couldn't bring one's full strength to bear.

As a result, this kind of Special Spell Technique had become little more than a white elephant.

So far, he had yet to find anyone who had successfully cultivated this kind of Special Spell Technique.

Then Cheng Buzheng beckoned, and the Purple Crystal Bracelet spinning in the air rapidly shrank in the blink of an eye, landing in his palm no bigger than an infant's fist.

He examined it closely. Small Disc looked as if it had been forged from purple metal, but the Spirit Patterns faintly visible within it were more than ten times as complex as before.

He couldn't test it right away inside the Secret Chamber.

But he knew the Purple Crystal Bracelet's power had increased by at least twofold. Without anything to compare it with, he couldn't say exactly how much stronger it had become.

The Purple Crystal Bracelet had yet to reach its maximum power. If it devoured enough Spirit Materials, only then would it reach its limit, rivaling a Boutique Mid-grade Magic Tool.

Moreover, this technique consumed about as much Magic Power as a normal First-order Low-grade Spell. It was extremely convenient and practical, with excellent value for the cost.

After examining it for a long while, Cheng Buzheng turned his right hand over. The Purple Crystal Bracelet imprinted itself on the back of his right hand, becoming a pattern shaped like Small Disc. In the blink of an eye, it sank beneath his skin and vanished without a trace.

Then his gaze fell on the pile of Spirit Stone Raw Ore in the corner.

By now.

Half of the Spirit Stone Raw Ore had already turned into Waste Stone, while the other half still glimmered with spiritual light.

Cheng Buzheng swept his sleeve, and an irregularly shaped piece of Spirit Stone Raw Ore appeared in his hand.

Then.

He closed his eyes and circulated the Crimson Fire Technique, absorbing the spiritual energy from the irregular piece of Spirit Stone Raw Ore in his grasp.

At once.

A surge of pure spiritual energy flowed into his meridians. He immediately circulated the Crimson Fire Technique he had deduced, and found that its efficiency had indeed increased dramatically—by a full twofold. That was no simple matter of one plus one making two.

Following the new Circulation Route Map, he circulated the energy. Before long, a wisp of refined Spirit Power drifted through his dantian.

In the blink of an eye.

The wisp of refined spiritual energy that had just entered his dantian was dragged toward the vortex at its center by a terrifying pull.

As the vortex spun without pause, a small wisp of red Magic Power fell beneath it, into a Red Cloud Layer that seemed heavy and substantial.

One full cycle came to an end, and he began drawing spiritual energy from the Spirit Stone Raw Ore again.

At once, another surge of pure spiritual energy flowed into his meridians, following the route of the Celestial Cycle once more.

Again and again, he continued until every bit of spiritual energy in the Spirit Stone Raw Ore had been absorbed and the ore had turned into Waste Stone.

After an unknown amount of time, he finished absorbing one piece of Spirit Stone Raw Ore, drew another over from the corner, and continued cultivating. He repeated the cycle until not a single piece of Spirit Stone Raw Ore remained in the Secret Chamber.

Cheng Buzheng sat cross-legged on the ground. When he opened his eyes, their black and white stood in sharp contrast. Feeling how much his Magic Power had increased, he couldn't help sighing.

"Now that the Crimson Fire Technique runs more efficiently, I'm going through Spirit Stone Raw Ore too quickly.

I've absorbed all this Spirit Stone Raw Ore in just seven days!

Time to head out and keep looking for the remaining six sheep.

Cultivating with Spirit Stone Raw Ore sure does burn through it fast!

Still, the results are worth it... I won't have to painfully absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth anymore.

At this rate, it won't take a year... before I advance to the Third Level of Qi Refining!"

Then.

He surveyed the Secret Chamber and saw nothing but Waste Stone scattered across the floor.

Cheng Buzheng got to his feet. At a thought, a layer of Yellow Spirit Light flashed over his body. He walked up to the rocky wall and then sank into the stone.

Three zhang underground, a streak of Yellow Spirit Light sped through the rock. Cheng Buzheng swam along happily, like a little fish in a river.

Before long.

Cheng Buzheng reached the Eighth Branch Mine Tunnel. It took him quite a while to make a rough circuit of the many large and small side passages branching off the tunnel.

But he still hadn't run into the guide brother. He didn't lose heart. Instead, he went to the Sixth Branch Mine Tunnel and continued checking the tunnels in order.

However, he didn't go back to inspect the Second Branch Mine Tunnel or the Seventh Branch Mine Tunnel. He already knew where the Spirit Stone Raw Ore was stored, so there was no need to waste time.

The search went smoothly, but it was exhausting. When Cheng Buzheng realized he had found two more Spirit Stone Raw Ore storage spots, he felt all the hard work had been worthwhile.

This time, he didn't rush to collect the ore from the two spots he had stumbled upon. Instead, he continued searching the remaining Branch Mine Tunnels.

It took him a full two days to inspect all six Branch Mine Tunnels.

With the search complete, it was time for the grand harvest.

Three zhang underground in the Spirit Stone Mine Tunnel, a streak of Yellow Spirit Light darted along, occasionally appearing inside a Stone Cave where a sizable amount of Spirit Stone Raw Ore lay.

Half a day later.

Inside the Secret Chamber.

Cheng Buzheng looked at the small pile of Spirit Stone Raw Ore in the corner, his mouth stretching into a grin. He was overjoyed.

He hadn't taken all this Spirit Stone Raw Ore from a single storage spot.

Instead.

He had taken only a little from each one. Unless someone looked closely, they wouldn't notice that any was missing.

He was afraid that if he kept plucking from the same person, someone would soon catch on. Then they would hide the Spirit Stone Raw Ore, and finding it would become a hassle.

Next.

Cheng Buzheng sat cross-legged on the ground, cheerfully drew a piece of Spirit Stone Raw Ore over, and began cultivating.

Over the next month, he mapped out the storage locations of the remaining six Spirit Stone Raw Ore deposits.

Cheng Buzheng had long since prepared for a secluded cultivation retreat, and now he began his Pure Cultivation Life.

Qi Refining Stage cultivators weren't yet capable of going without food, and needed to eat something every few days.

That posed no problem for Cheng Buzheng. The Bigu Pills in the Long-necked Porcelain Bottle he carried were enough to last him until the Mining Mission ended.

Although the Bigu Pills had no taste at all, that was a minor matter. With ample cultivation resources, such little inconveniences were nothing to worry about.

This secluded cultivation continued day after day, simple, monotonous, even dull.

Apart from hauling a basket of Spirit Stone Raw Ore to hand in at the end of each month, his greatest pleasure was visiting the eight storage spots every week to check on them and, while he was at it, skim a little off the top.

He took only a little from each storage spot, just enough for a week of cultivation, then stopped.