Clear Skies

Half a day later, in the Spirit Spring secret chamber, Shen Changchuan sat cross-legged on a boulder, weighing the white jade token engraved with the character "Elephant" in his hand, his brows slightly furrowed.

Elephant. What could it mean? Was it some kind of token of identity? And who on earth had hidden it in that dark cavern?

Recalling the details of the discovery, Shen Changchuan fell into deep contemplation. He had noticed some traces worth noting. That stalk of Biyuan Water Grass did not seem to have grown there naturally; it had been transplanted by someone. Someone had moved it deep into the dark cavern and even set up a small concealment formation outside to hide everything within. However, due to a lack of maintenance over the years, the formation outside the cavern had failed, eventually attracting the Crocodile Demon.

Shen Changchuan's mind had already reconstructed the sequence of events. Although he had not witnessed what transpired with his own eyes, his perfected Spirit Eye Technique allowed him to see more details in the surrounding traces. By deducing and integrating those details, the reality was likely not far from what he had imagined.

Those traces were probably left about twenty years ago. Perhaps that dark cavern at the bottom of the river was the handiwork of the previous master of Dawan Village twenty years ago? Shen Changchuan speculated to himself. He couldn't help but think this way. Twenty years ago, the previous ruler of Dawan Village had been reported for secretly murdering a member of a branch family of the Shen Clan, leading the Shen Clan to send men from afar to execute him on the spot. Dawan Village had changed hands ever since. The age of the traces in the riverbed cavern matched the time Dawan Village changed ownership.

So, that stalk of Biyuan Water Grass was the legacy of that previous minor cultivation family? But what is this token? Shen Changchuan looked at the white jade token in his hand again, his expression growing even more puzzled. He vaguely felt that for the person who had hidden the treasure in the cavern back then, this token was perhaps even more precious than the Biyuan Water Grass! It was even possible that the Biyuan Water Grass itself was merely a cover for the token!

Shen Changchuan pondered for a moment. He fixed his gaze on the token in his hand and activated his Spirit Eye Technique. He then saw more unusual details: this token seemed to be forged from an unknown material rather than genuine white jade. Moreover, wisps of spiritual energy in the air seemed to be gathering under the influence of the token! It possessed a subtle spirit-gathering effect itself! It was truly miraculous.

However, after observing it for a long time, Shen Changchuan could not discern anything else.

Forget it. It's meaningless to sit here and guess. Unless I drag the relevant people over to question them, there's no way to figure anything out from a single token.

A moment later, Shen Changchuan shook his head, then cast the thought to the back of his mind.

"Perhaps I can inquire about that minor cultivation family, the previous owners of Dawan Village, to see if I can find any clues."

"As for now, I'll let it be."

"I should refine the Jade Essence Water Grass first; there is no time to waste."

With this thought in mind, Shen Changchuan put away the token.

He then sat cross-legged upon the boulder, beginning to meditate and calm his mind to adjust his state.

Half a day later, Shen Changchuan felt that he had returned to his peak condition.

It was time to consume the Jade Essence Water Grass!

Shen Changchuan did not delay any longer; he took the jade box containing the Jade Essence Water Grass from his side and opened it.

The Jade Essence Water Grass, which looked like emerald-green glazed glass, shimmered with a hazy cyan light.

As the box opened, a surge of vibrant spiritual energy escaped, and the entire spiritual spring chamber instantly became clear and natural, with spiritual charm lingering in the surroundings and the air turning crisp and fresh!

Yet, at this moment, a flicker of heartache crossed Shen Changchuan's mind.

To be honest, whether he sold this Jade Essence Water Grass to a prominent cultivation clan or refined it into pills, the benefits would far exceed the method of consuming it directly like this.

But there was no help for it; without the corresponding strength, wealth that exceeded one's capacity to bear would only be a source of disaster.

It was better to secure the gains.

Without a shred of hesitation, Shen Changchuan swallowed the Jade Essence Water Grass.

The moment it entered his mouth, the Jade Essence Water Grass seemed to melt into a cool liquid, a sensation as if the power of life were exploding within his mouth, like the trembling of a cold, clear spring!

Shen Changchuan swallowed it in one gulp.

Immediately, as that liquid, brimming with vibrant spiritual charm, entered his dantian, a massive force of vitality radiated from his dantian, spreading along his meridians in all directions.

A uniquely strange sensation welled up; at that moment, Shen Changchuan felt as if he were immersed in a warm liquid, returning to the feeling of being wrapped in the primordial energy of the womb at the time of his birth!

His body and soul were being washed clean, bit by bit, by a certain cool power.

His body gradually became translucent.

His soul was also being nourished and strengthened little by little.

Shen Changchuan immersed himself in the process of refining the medicinal power of the Jade Essence Water Grass.

Time slipped away quietly, and in the blink of an eye, another half-month passed.

During these two weeks, not much had changed in the outside world.

The rainy season had not yet ended; the sky remained overcast, and the torrential rain that had persisted for over a month had still not ceased. The curtain of rain covering the sky shrouded the entire horizon, leaving the whole world trapped in an incredibly damp environment.

In Dawan Village, Han Qinhu and Han Dayong had rapidly recovered from their injuries with the aid of those few ginseng rootlets, their strength having advanced a step further in the process.

The funeral rites for the few who had perished in the battle against the Crocodile Demon had all been concluded.

The houses within the village that had been destroyed by the fighting were also rebuilt one by one.

Beyond that, there were no other major events.

Once the village affairs were settled, peace quickly returned amidst the rainy season.

No further accidents occurred; the villagers stayed in their homes, waiting for the long rainy season to pass, just as they always had.

Yet, during this quiet fortnight, unknown to anyone, Shen Changchuan within the secret spirit spring chamber had already undergone a silent transformation.

"The Biyuan Water Grass—it was worth it!"

Inside the secret chamber, Shen Changchuan opened his eyes. A flash of lightning-like brilliance darted through his pupils in the darkness, sharp as needles, piercing the spirit!

Feeling the mana within his body surge by more than thirty percent, and sensing the significantly smoother circulation of that mana through his meridians, a look of immense joy appeared on Shen Changchuan's face.

He had reached the middle stage of the fourth level of Qi Refining!

Indeed, after consuming the Biyuan Water Grass and spending half a month of effort, his strength had improved, and he had attained the middle stage of the fourth level!

But that was not the most important part.

The most crucial aspect was that during the process of refining the Biyuan Water Grass, the extremely pure water-vein essence and spiritual energy within the grass had worked in tandem to cleanse Shen Changchuan's entire body!

This cleansing had expanded and strengthened the meridians within his body while simultaneously helping to purge various impurities, making his physique far more "translucent."

And this meant that in the future, Shen Changchuan's efficiency in absorbing spiritual energy and converting it into mana would be greatly enhanced!

In other words, his aptitude had been improved to a certain degree!

Why was Shen Changchuan so certain of this?

Because after refining the Biyuan Water Grass, not only had his cultivation aptitude improved, but his spirit and soul had also been nourished and elevated to a certain extent!

As of now, Shen Changchuan was able to achieve internal vision through his increased mental strength.

Through this internal vision, he had perceived the process of the changes within his body!

And this was something that could only be achieved once one's mental power reached a certain level!

Under normal circumstances, only cultivators in the late stages of Qi Refining could unlock the ability of internal vision.

But Shen Changchuan had achieved it ahead of time.

He had clearly seen the process of his own body being cleansed and his aptitude being elevated.

"No wonder the Biyuan Water Grass is so astonishingly valuable, with major cultivation clans vying to purchase it at a high price. So, the effects are this potent!"

"Not to mention the strengthening of one's spirit and divine sense, which is beneficial for breaking through to the Out-of-Body realm in the future."

"Even just this improvement in cultivation aptitude is enough to make people flock to it!"

Feeling the much smoother circulation of his Qi, Shen Changchuan could not help but sigh in exclamation.

He could feel it...

His cultivation efficiency had increased by at least one-fifth!

Do not underestimate a one-fifth increase in efficiency; it might seem small, as if it only saved one day of progress for every five days of cultivation.

However, over a long period, it became truly substantial!

For instance, an improvement that originally required twelve months of arduous cultivation now only took about nine and a half months.

For Shen Changchuan, this was undoubtedly a great boon.

I never expected such a massive harvest. I only wonder where this Biyuan Water Grass came from, and whether it has any connection to that white jade token.

Recalling the other white jade token he had obtained alongside the Biyuan Water Grass, Shen Changchuan could not help but fall into deep thought.

It seems that later on, I must dig as much as possible into the situation regarding the small immortal cultivation family that previously owned Dawan Village.

I hope to find some clues.

A heaven-and-earth spiritual treasure like the Biyuan Water Grass clearly could not have been birthed by a minor water vein like the Dawan River.

It must have had some other origin.

And that token inscribed with the character "Xiang" might be related to its provenance.

Hidden within this, there might be another great fortune!

However, after pondering for only a moment, Shen Changchuan withdrew his thoughts.

Chasing down news from twenty years ago was a matter for later; for now, the most important thing was to first stabilize his own cultivation realm.

Shen Changchuan then closed his eyes once more.

He continued to sit in meditation, circulating the Xiangshan Qi-Gathering Technique to stabilize his newly broken-through cultivation realm of the mid-fourth stage of Qi Induction.

At the same time, considering it had only been two or three months since his last breakthrough to the fourth stage of Qi Induction, Shen Changchuan, worried that his cultivation was not sufficiently stable, took out two spirit stones to aid his practice.

These were two of the five spirit stones Shen Shiying had given him as compensation.

Although using spirit stones for cultivation was far too extravagant for Shen Changchuan, who was still in a state of poverty, there was no other way.

Spirit stones were, after all, external objects; by comparison, it was better to stabilize his own cultivation realm as much as possible.

Time flew by in a flash.

Several more days passed, and Shen Changchuan's mid-fourth stage Qi Induction cultivation was thoroughly stabilized.

Shen Changchuan thus ended the arduous seclusion that had lasted for over half a month.

Although the feeling of increased strength was quite good, the continuous, grueling seclusion had left him feeling somewhat weary at heart.

Shen Changchuan decided to end his retreat; he walked out of the spirit spring secret chamber, preparing to go outside and relax for a while.

As Shen Changchuan stepped out of the passageway, he looked up and saw the bright sun shining outside.

The dark clouds that had shrouded the entire sky for over a month, along with the wind and rain that had swept across the world, had completely vanished.

The rainy season had ended, and the sky had cleared!

Shen Changchuan looked up.

Under the golden sunlight, the rice seedlings in the patches of spirit fields nestled within the mountains began to sprout ears.

A gentle breeze swept through, rolling up wave after wave of green, while the occasional melodious chirping of birds echoed across the hills.

With life bursting forth and all things thriving, Shen Changchuan's mood was exceptionally bright.