The four brocade pouches inside the unzipped package were no longer Storage Artifacts with worlds hidden within, but ordinary fabric. Still, their patterns were exquisite, their materials extraordinary, and each one had the name of one of the four master and disciple pair from the Gujian Sect embroidered on it. Clearly, they had been specially prepared to "show each of them a little appreciation"!
"Presented to Fellow Daoist Wu Mingjin..."
Wu Ming took his own pouch first. It felt light in his hand...and when he opened it, he found that it really did contain something light: a Chi Yu.
Gu Bai's eyes widened in surprise as he explained, "That's the Liu Family's Guest Token... Only a direct-line heir can receive one, and it's meant to be given to the close friend they trust most."
"Damn... What is this, some otherworldly roseonly?!" Wu Ming suddenly found the Chi Yu rather hot to the touch and felt deeply put off.
Gu Bai smiled. "Anyone holding a Chi Yu is treated as an Outer Court Elder of the Liu Family, with a standing no lower than that of the two who just handled the formalities. On Liu Family land, it'll grant you all kinds of conveniences. It's a practical gift."
Wu Ming clicked his tongue, then carefully put the Chi Yu away.
At the same time, Zheng Lingxi could no longer contain her curiosity. She bounced over to her pouch, carefully admiring its patterns and inscription before quietly reading them aloud.
"For the discerning eye of Fellow Daoist Zheng Lingxi."
Then she untied the cord. Her eyes lit up, and she let out an incredulous cry of delight. A refreshing fragrance of grass and trees wafted from the pouch.
Gu Bai turned his gaze over as well. Seeing what was inside, he exclaimed in astonishment, "Spirit-Gathering Grass?"
The so-called Spirit-Gathering Grass looked utterly unremarkable, yet it could pierce the deepest reaches of the earth and steadily gather spiritual power from the ley lines as it grew. Even in remote borderlands starved of ley-line energy, it could nurture spiritual vitality. It was extremely valuable.
Though the pouch held only a single grass seed, if it were planted on Yan Mountain and carefully tended, then once the spirit grass matured, it could create a Spirit Field out of nothing.
Zheng Lingxi was naturally close to nature and loved growing things. She regarded it as a priceless treasure and was so delighted that she danced in place, light and graceful.
By now, the sincerity of Third Young Master Liu and Zhang Miao was beyond doubt. They had clearly not only spent money but put a great deal of thought into choosing gifts that suited each recipient.
Curious, Wu Ming turned to the pouch inscribed "To the Sect Leader True Person."
What could possibly suit Master?
Gu Bai was curious too. He crooked a finger, undoing the cord... Inside, ten short sticks, crimson wrapped in gold, were tied with silver thread and stacked in neat rows.
The old man's expression changed at once. His pupils contracted violently, his eyes reddened, and every trace of weariness and age vanished. His stooped back straightened in an instant as he leaned forward... like a fierce tiger bursting from its den.
At the same time, Wu Ming quietly got to his feet and went over to Zheng Lingxi, who was still dancing and humming. He took the girl's small, swaying hand, and, under her surprised and delighted gaze, danced along with her...while perfectly blocking her entire view.
Gu Bai stared in shock, then understood. He nodded gratefully, swept out his daoist robe sleeve, and tucked the bundle of gold-threaded Little Red Sticks into it... From then on, no one else would ever know of this forbidden item!
Not long afterward, Wu Ming and Zheng Lingxi finished their dance, breathless, and took their seats. The three master and disciples all happened to forget the pouches they had just opened. Gu Bai coughed and smiled. "There's still Ying'er's pouch. We'll wait for her to come back and let her open it herself... Third Young Master Liu and that Zhang Family girl have certainly gone to a lot of trouble. I wonder what thoughtful gift they chose for Ying'er?"
"Height-increasing shoes?" Wu Ming asked.
"..." Gu Bai went stiff all over. He didn't dare answer and simply pretended he hadn't heard.
Afterward, over half a pot of leftover tea, Gu Bai began guiding his two disciples in their cultivation. First, he taught Wu Ming the introductory incantation and cultivation method for the Spirit-Melting Qi-Transformation Art. Then he taught Zheng Lingxi a few key techniques for growing Spirit-Gathering Grass.
By three in the afternoon, the old man's voice had grown hoarse. Wu Ming saw that once his excitement had worn off, fatigue was clearly catching up with his master. He gathered the cups, teapot, and dishes with Zheng Lingxi, then took his leave.
The old man was reluctant, but could only bid them farewell.
As a Nascent Soul Cultivator whose Dao Foundation had been damaged, he naturally exhaled a rather toxic, crippled aura whenever he breathed out during cultivation. So when spending time with his disciples, he generally had to seal off his circulation of energy, all but entering a state of suspended animation.
And after repeatedly pushing himself past his limits lately, he truly couldn't hold on any longer.
"But... it's still not enough."
A wistful murmur drifted through the Lonely Abode.
The next several days passed without incident.
Sect Leader Gu Bai formally entered seclusion to regulate his breath and recover from his injuries. Zheng Lingxi was busy tending her newly planted spirit grass, digging channels and drawing formations. She worked day and night, and was practically in seclusion herself.
As for Wu Ming, he experienced the first retreat of his life.
After returning from the Sect Leader Temple to Xianyun Abode, he first went about his usual routine of systematically grinding through his script.
Qi Refining in the morning, body tempering in the afternoon, reading at night, just as always.
By the fourth day, Wu Ming had naturally woven the introductory formulas of the Spirit-Melting Qi-Transformation Art into his daily routine. At four in the morning on the fifth day, he suddenly felt the Mystic Spirit Qi within him stir faintly. His blood and Mana were just like winter giving way to spring, the old yielding to the new, all things returning to life.
Now!
Wu Ming took a translucent red pill from the porcelain bottle and gently placed it in his mouth, resting it on the tip of his tongue. Then he wrapped it in Spring Encounter Mana and held it motionless.
The pill contained the spiritual energy a Golden Core True Person had accumulated over a hundred days of breathing exercises. If he actually swallowed it, mighty Wu Ming would burst into Wu Ming sauce on the spot.
The Spirit-Melting Qi-Transformation Art wasn't exactly a safe and steady cultivation method. It was popular only in Yuzhou in the southwest, and there was a reason for that.
But as long as he followed the correct method, this tightrope walk of a cultivation practice was the one best suited to Wu Ming right now.
Recalling the formula his master had carefully taught him that day, Wu Ming cautiously wielded his Mystic Spirit Qi with his divine sense, then used the Mystic Spirit Qi to establish a circuit throughout his body. His Mana began to circulate from within to without, then from without to within. Every cycle passed lightly over the Red Cloud Essence-Condensing Pill, shaving off an almost imperceptible wisp of its medicinal power.
The medicinal power flowed along his meridians, rising into his Spirit Court and sinking into his dantian... In an instant, within his Inner Landscape, Wu Ming felt as though he were facing a towering mountain. Its mere presence exerted immense pressure. If the rocks ever crumbled and boulders came crashing down, the mayfly at the foot of the mountain would be buried without a grave.
That was how immense and terrifying a Golden Core-grade superior pill could be to a youth who had practiced Qi Refining for barely a month.
Yet at the foot of the mountain, Wu Ming silently swung the still-untutored hoe in his hands, digging away at the rock bit by bit. He felt neither panic nor awe, as if he were simply doing something as natural as breathing.
The circuit flowed on, spiritual breath unbroken... He didn't know how much time passed before a spark of spiritual insight stirred in his heart, making him open his eyes without thinking.
Outside the window, a gentle ray of dawn happened to shine into his eyes. Like snow melting in spring, a warm vitality spread through his body from head to toe, flowing in an endless trickle.
His Spring Encounter Mana had become so abundant it was almost unbelievable, pure and rich, as nimble as it was responsive. Compared to before he had melted spirit into qi, its strength had nearly doubled. He was now a genuine third-stage Qi Refiner!
Previously, Gu Bai had used the Fire Inheritance Book Ash to forcibly raise Wu Ming's Qi Refining technique to nearly the third stage, but he couldn't give Wu Ming enough Mana to sustain it. That was why Wu Ming had relied on cleverness to win during the Four Symbols of Dharma Combat.
But now, Wu Ming was a genuine third-stage Qi Refiner. If he fought Zhang Miao again, a basic attack would be enough...
Normally, with his Spirit Root aptitude, even with a sword to help him, such progress would have been pure fantasy. But now, thanks to a Red Cloud Essence-Condensing Pill and the Spirit-Melting Qi-Transformation Art, that fantasy had come true.
Of the two, the Spirit-Melting Qi-Transformation Art was undoubtedly the more remarkable.
It had not only nearly perfectly sidestepped the deficiencies of Wu Ming's Spirit Root aptitude, but also dovetailed in countless ingenious ways with the Three Pure Ones Orthodox Method, the Spring Encounter Book. After this round of cultivation, Wu Ming's Mana had not only stabilized at the third stage of Qi Refining, but his Inner Landscape's Mystic Spirit Qi had also grown significantly stronger with the help of the pill. His Mana regenerated even more efficiently than before.
Afterward, even without relying on external help, he could replenish his Mana in two days through his Inner Landscape alone... Strictly speaking, that was an even greater improvement than his Mana itself.
Just as he was immersed in his reflections, Wu Ming suddenly felt something gently nudge his back... He spat out the pill and put it away, then twisted around. All he saw were a pair of little black-bean eyes and a damp, long snout.
It was Second Senior Sister Zheng Lingxi's sidekick, Little Wild Boar.
Wu Ming couldn't help smiling. "Senior Sister is really too kind. She even sent me takeout while I was in seclusion..."
"Snort?!" Little Wild Boar was startled at his words and turned to run...but Wu Ming pinched a hand seal, and several vines sprouted from the cracks between the bricks to wrap around its legs.
After reaching the third stage of Qi Refining, he could cast many simple Wood-element spells with a flick of his hand.
"Just kidding. Senior Sister sent you to guard me, didn't she?"
Little Wild Boar nodded uncertainly, then couldn't help yawning.
"Whoa, you kept watch the whole time? You've worked hard." Wu Ming smiled and patted its head, then muttered to himself, "Come to think of it, how long was I immersed this time..."
As he spoke, Wu Ming looked at the Chen Hour Flower by the window. Three round dewdrops lay quietly on the flower soil.
Three days had passed!
It was unexpected, yet still made perfect sense. For a novice Qi Refiner to melt and refine a superior pill of Golden Core rank was an entirely overtaxing cultivation practice. Even clearing the first hurdle was fraught with danger.
According to Gu Bai, even the local talents of Yuzhou usually started out with a pill of their own rank for the first hurdle. Those few with extraordinary gifts who refined pills above their rank often had to enter meditation repeatedly before they could succeed.
But Wu Ming had been struck by inspiration and spontaneously borrowed the cultivation method of Super Saiyan. He had spent several days weaving the Spirit-Melting Qi-Transformation Art into his everyday routine, allowing him to enter meditation successfully on his first try and refine the medicinal power in one go, leaving his Mana brimming with energy. Even Gu Bai hadn't expected him to make such rapid progress.
Yet progress beyond expectations had also brought a period of seclusion beyond expectations. Several days of retreat naturally came with a side effect...
Just as he began to worry, a clear, pleasant voice rang out in his mind.
[Completed the Spirit-Melting Qi-Transformation Art cultivation guide; received 200 Spirit Crystal as creative incentive] [Completed the third-stage Qi Refining cultivation guide; received 200 Spirit Crystal as creative incentive] [Completed the three-day cultivation retreat log; received 150 Spirit Crystal as creative incentive.]
The first two were ordinary rewards, but the third made Wu Ming's eyes light up.
A retreat log, worth 150? Could it be that while I was in seclusion, this system had been automatically calculating my daily incentives?!
What a considerate, people-friendly workload-reduction feature! Now I really could skip through life without a care!
Before you continue