Qi Refining Level 5

After leaving the tree hollow, Qin Huaian looked around the area. No danger could be seen in this stretch of forest.

"Fatty, let's test the effects of Skystride Hundred Transformations around here."

"Alright!"

The two began using Skystride Hundred Transformations in the area. After several rounds, Qin Huaian felt that when he used Skystride Hundred Transformations, his speed had already surpassed that of using a first-tier Divine Movement Talisman.

Wang Baole's speed had increased by more than three times, roughly comparable to using a first-tier Divine Movement Talisman. He had basically reached the proficient level.

"Brother Qin, your comprehension is incredible. You've already cultivated this technique to its very limit in just three days!" Wang Baole had also learned that Qin Huaian could increase his speed up to five times its original rate.

Qin Huaian accepted Wang Baole's praise without changing expression. The mirror body was part of himself too—astonishing comprehension would become one of his labels from now on!

"Fatty, train hard. The more you use this technique, the more proficient you'll become, and the faster you'll get. If you use it often, you'll reach its limit too," Qin Huaian encouraged.

Was Wang Baole really that talented? He was nearly catching up to half of Qin Huaian's cheat.

"Come on, Fatty. Help me dig a pit and bury that senior."

The two quickly dug a pit the length of a person. Qin Huaian placed the cultivator's bones inside, then heaped up a small mound of earth over them.

"Thank you for your legacy, Senior. May you rest in peace."

That cultivator's belongings had indeed been of enormous help to them. Leaving aside valuables such as spirit stones and the storage pouch, just the map and the Skystride Hundred Transformations technique alone had greatly improved their ability to survive.

"Fatty, now that we don't lack spirit stones for cultivation, I've decided to cultivate here for a while and raise our cultivation before heading out. The Million Mountains are too dangerous. Our cultivation is too low right now—we might not be able to make it out safely."

"Alright, Brother Qin. I earned quite a few spirit stones at the Red Copper Vein. I've barely ever used spirit stones for cultivation before."

Thus, the two returned to the tree hollow and began meditating in cultivation.

Time passed unnoticed in cultivation.

On the twentieth day, a burst of spiritual energy fluctuations suddenly arose, and the surrounding spiritual energy gathered toward Wang Baole. Half an incense stick later, Wang Baole opened his eyes, his face brimming with excitement.

"Fatty, you broke through to the third level of Qi Refining? You just turned eighteen, and you've only cultivated for two years, right?"

"Mm, I broke through. Cultivating with spirit stones really is much faster!"

"But in these twenty days, I've used up nearly two hundred spirit stones. They're being consumed too quickly," Wang Baole added gloomily.

"It's fine, Fatty. With your aptitude, getting into a sect definitely won't be a problem. Once you enter a sect, you'll have a great deal of resources supplied to you," Qin Huaian comforted him.

The original owner had only just reached the first level of Qi Refining after two years, while this little fatty was already at the third level. The original owner's talent had truly been utter trash. Qin Huaian sighed again.

"Brother Qin, have you ever taken part in a sect selection?"

"No. During the years I spent at Cloudfield Market, no sect ever held a large-scale recruitment of disciples."

"Brother Qin, if there's a sect selection, you'll definitely be chosen. You're only twenty-two and already at the middle stage of Qi Refining. I heard that going from the early stage to the middle stage of Qi Refining is a hurdle—many people get stuck at the third level for years and still can't cross it."

"We'll find out when there's a sect selection. Fatty, let's cultivate for a while longer."

More than ten days passed. Qin Huaian felt an obstacle in his dantian break through, and it rapidly expanded by more than double. Spiritual energy from the outside world flooded madly into his dantian, and he finally broke through to the fifth level of Qi Refining.

By then, Qin Huaian's mid-grade spirit stones had been completely used up. He had originally possessed eight, and with the dozen or so left behind by that cultivator, Qin Huaian had consumed more than twenty mid-grade spirit stones in a month—nearly one a day.

Now that he had entered the fifth level of Qi Refining, the rate at which he absorbed spirit stones would only grow faster. He had fewer than 2,500 low-grade spirit stones left now. He needed to make money.

What? Cultivate by absorbing spiritual energy when there were no spirit stones left? Once you got used to spending money to power-level, would you still be willing to slowly grind minor monsters for experience?

Sensing Qin Huaian's movement, Wang Baole also stopped cultivating. His eyes widened as he asked, "Brother Qin, you broke through to the fifth level of Qi Refining?"

"I was fortunate enough to break through," Qin Huaian said calmly.

"Brother Qin, you really are a genius! My great-grandfather cultivated his entire life and only reached the sixth level of Qi Refining. You're already at the fifth level now—you'll soon reach the cultivation he had back then," Wang Baole said worshipfully.

Even with Qin Huaian's thick skin, he was too embarrassed to let Wang Baole continue.

"Alright, Fatty. Get ready. We're heading toward Cloudfield Market."

"Alright!" Little Fatty Wang Baole instinctively turned around to pack, only to suddenly realize there was nothing to prepare.

He turned back, about to ask Qin Huaian something, only to discover that Qin Huaian had already jumped down from the tree hollow and was heading into the distance.

"Brother Qin, wait for me!" Wang Baole also leaped down from the tree hollow and ran after Qin Huaian.

The two used Skystride Hundred Transformations and followed the route marked on the map.

At their current speed, they should be able to leave the Million Mountains in roughly two days.

By the time the sky began to darken, they had already covered nearly half the route on the map. As he continued using Skystride Hundred Transformations, Wang Baole's grasp of the technique deepened. After a day, his speed had increased considerably as well.

"Fatty, there's a cave ahead. We'll spend the night there. Traveling through the Million Mountains at night is too dangerous."

The two found a cave. After concealing its entrance, they took turns keeping watch and resting.

Nothing happened through the night. At first light the next morning, the two got up and resumed their journey.

Near noon, a tiger's roar suddenly rang out. Qin Huaian's heart tightened, and he immediately stopped. Then he saw a late first-tier Saber-Toothed Tiger staring at them from far ahead.

"Brother Qin, do we fight or run?" Wang Baole asked quietly.

"Of course we run!" Qin Huaian glared at Wang Baole.

"Oh, oh. I thought you wanted to kill it and gather materials."

"After all, you killed a late first-tier Mountain-Pushing Beast when you were at the fourth level of Qi Refining, and now you're already at the fifth level," Wang Baole said weakly.

Qin Huaian was instantly speechless. "Can a pig compare to a tiger? Run!"

The two turned and fled, looking back as they ran, only to find that the Saber-Toothed Tiger was not chasing them. It was likely patrolling its territory; seeing these two weaklings voluntarily leave its domain, it could not even be bothered to pursue them.

The two made a wide detour, circling for dozens of li, and reckoned they had left the Saber-Toothed Tiger's territory. They returned to their original direction of travel and raced toward the outskirts of the Million Mountains.

By the time the sun slanted westward, they finally ran out of the Million Mountains. Looking at the boundless plains stretching before them, both let out long breaths. They had finally made it out.

"Fatty, according to the map, there's a city of the Qi Kingdom nearby. Let's stay there for the night."