<Little Cangshan Essence-Refining Qi-Transformation Art>

Night, a corner of the mining district's residential area.

"You mean that when you fought him, you were defeated in less than a single exchange—and even my talismans could only restrain him for a brief moment?"

A cold voice rang through the room. Lou Fan and the vice president were currently kneeling on one knee. Before them stood a woman with her hands behind her back, facing the moon. Though she was questioning them, there was little anger in her voice, as if she were merely seeking to understand what had happened.

"Reporting to the president, that is indeed what happened," Lou Fan answered. Then he gazed ahead with dazzled, infatuated eyes.

Four others stood to his left and right, all looking at the white-clad figure with expressions of yearning.

The president seemed long accustomed to such strange gazes. She turned coolly, revealing a classic oval face of exquisite beauty.

Her willow brows rose slightly. She seemed to be contemplating the events of the night. Only after a long while did she say, "I understand. Leave this matter to me."

Meanwhile, on the other side of the residential area, at Xu Yuan's residence.

After drawing water and taking a bath for the first time in ages, Xu Yuan changed into a clean set of clothes. He sat on his bed, flipping through the immortal cultivation method he had exchanged for, the <Little Cangshan Essence-Refining Qi-Transformation Art>.

As an introductory technique, its contents were not particularly complicated. Moreover, the Innate Martial Bones trait seemed to have further enhanced Xu Yuan's comprehension. Thus, in just two hours, he had committed the contents of this immortal art to memory.

Seeing that it was already late, he did not choose to cultivate just then. Instead, he lay flat and slowly closed his eyes.

Pressed against the bed, Xu Yuan could now feel even more clearly the increasingly powerful beat of his heart, as well as the astonishing energy contained throughout his body after the trait's enhancement.

After nearly a year of struggling and scraping by in the mining district, for the first time, he felt with absolute certainty that there was hope for his immortal path.

The next day, inside the mine, Xu Yuan returned to the spot he knew best. Using the same old method, he continuously searched for ores hidden within the rock walls with his detection pickaxe.

As for why he did not return to the deeper tunnels—first, he was not sure whether those skeletal remains had gone back; second, after the Evil-Warding Iron Talisman had displayed its might last time, its glow had dimmed, only recovering slightly by this morning.

After all, it was not an immortal treasure. Though the iron talisman was mysterious, it had its limits.

There was another reason as well: he had gone too deep last time, allowing cold energy to invade his body. Though Innate Martial Bones were not afraid of it, they still needed some time to digest it.

Four hours later, Xu Yuan had mined roughly the amount eight people could produce in a day. He did not continue, instead carrying his basket out of the mine entrance.

"Not bad."

The supervisor nodded delightedly, apparently quite satisfied with such a beast of burden.

As for why Xu Yuan could mine so much, he merely assumed that Xu Yuan had found a mineral-rich area and had plenty of brute strength.

Xu Yuan did not keep the contribution points he earned. Instead, he exchanged them for two large slabs of dried meat.

In the past, he would only exchange for one of these when he truly could not endure any longer. But now, for the sake of cultivation, he planned to maintain a supply of meat from now on.

Back in his home, Xu Yuan looked at the dried meat in his hand. As expected, a line of small text appeared.

text
[Item: Dried Meat]

[Condition: Improperly stored, slightly spoiled]

[Current Trait: None]

[Traits That Can Be Added: 0/1]

[Selectable Traits: Preserved (White): After special treatment, this piece of dried meat is extremely resistant to decay. Under suitable conditions, it can last for thousands of years. Cost: Two taels of gold

Meticulously Crafted (White): Premium beast meat, carefully selected and prepared using special techniques. Not only is it highly nutritious, it can also accelerate the generation of qi and blood. Cost: Five taels of gold.]

"Confirm."

Xu Yuan silently recited the word in his heart. With a flash of white light, the dried meat received its trait. As expected, a white trait could not bring any fundamental change to the meat. Xu Yuan tried taking a large bite. It was still salty, fishy, and dry, like chewing on a piece of rotten wood.

However, as he swallowed the dried meat, a warm current far stronger than the one from hard flatbread suddenly surged out of his stomach. Then, with a rumble, Xu Yuan felt the flow of his qi and blood speed up considerably once more.

Knowing this was the dried meat's effect, he did not dare delay. He immediately assumed the first posture of the <Little Cangshan Essence-Refining Qi-Transformation Art>.

The complete technique contained thirty-six movements and four visualization diagrams. According to its description, only by completing them all in one breath, with the qi and blood throughout the body flowing as one, could one seize that mysterious and unfathomable opportunity to transform the qi and blood within the body into spiritual energy.

He swiftly completed the first movement. As Xu Yuan shifted into the second, however, the point where his right foot exerted force suddenly went wrong. In an instant, his entire momentum plummeted.

His first attempt ended in failure.

Without growing discouraged, he immediately began a second attempt. This time, he only clearly felt himself unable to keep up at the fifth movement. With one hitch, the second attempt failed as well.

On his third attempt, he completed seven movements, but while visualizing, the strength throughout his body suddenly drained away. Failure.

On the fourth attempt, he completed the visualization diagram, but failed to connect the ninth and tenth movements properly. Failure.

On the fifth attempt, he failed to keep up with the flow of qi after the visualization. Failure.

The eighth attempt, failure.

The eleventh attempt, failure.

After who knew how many attempts, Xu Yuan reached out to feel around beside him. At some point, he had chewed through all the dried meat on the table. Looking at the sky again, the sun had long since set. The moon shone amid sparse stars, and a cool breeze drifted past.

His long robe was already soaked through with sweat. At some point, his long hair had come loose from its binding—some of it draped over his back, while some had tangled and hung before his eyes.

Yet during his practice just now, he had not noticed any of it.

Blankly withdrawing his hand, Xu Yuan recalled that his final failure had occurred in the transition between the twenty-first and twenty-second movements. A visualization was woven between them, and he had not completed it properly.

He then opened the <Little Cangshan Essence-Refining Qi-Transformation Art> and looked at the first sentence on its opening page.

[This art is difficult to practice and master. If a beginner can complete the seven movements and one visualization within seven days, and finish learning this art within two months, their aptitude may be deemed acceptable. If not, I shall urge you to switch to another method as soon as possible. Do not let it delay your time.]

"Seven movements and one visualization within seven days—does that mean seven motions and one visualization diagram?"

Xu Yuan put away the manual, an uncontrollable smile suddenly appearing on his face. The entry had still been far too conservative. This was more than merely understanding it faster—at this rate, he would need no more than three days to gain a rudimentary grasp of the Little Cangshan Essence-Refining Qi-Transformation Art.

Judging by this cultivation art alone, such speed would surely count as top-tier aptitude even among those immortal masters of the Hidden Moon Sect.

"If so, perhaps I can ascend to immortality within three months and break free from this cage."

Clenching his fist, Xu Yuan was just about to return to his room and tidy himself up when a knock suddenly sounded outside.

"Is this Xu Yuan's residence? The Seek Immortals Society requests an audience."