Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer

Qin Huaian entered the cultivation chamber, sat cross-legged on the meditation cushion, and circulated the Major Accomplishment-level Yi Wood True Formula. Its spiritual energy absorption speed had already far surpassed the Perfection-level Azure Splendor Art—by roughly three times.

The spiritual energy he absorbed circulated through his entire body, battering against the barrier to the seventh layer of Qi Refining. Qin Huaian was delighted to discover that the barrier seemed to be showing signs of loosening.

Qin Huaian and his mirror body circulated their techniques together. Under the repeated impacts of spiritual energy, the barrier to the seventh layer of Qi Refining was gradually ground away.

Qin Huaian immersed himself completely in cultivation and lost all track of time. He did not know how long had passed when, suddenly, spiritual energy broke through the boundary. His dantian rapidly expanded, and a vast amount of spiritual energy poured into it. He had finally broken through to the seventh layer of Qi Refining.

An hour later, Qin Huaian stopped cultivating. His seventh-layer realm had stabilized.

By then, the sky outside had begun to brighten faintly. An entire afternoon and night had somehow passed. Time truly slipped away without notice when cultivating.

The spiritual energy of the seventh layer of Qi Refining far surpassed that of the sixth. If the current Qin Huaian encountered those bandits from before, he could kill them all in just a few moves.

He opened his status panel:

Cultivation: Qi Refining (Seventh Layer 1/100)

Divine Sense Internal Vision (Late Stage 45/100)

Techniques: Yi Wood True Formula (Major Accomplishment, optimizable)

Spirit Tempering Formula (Entry Level 1/100, can be deduced)

Fireball Technique (Perfection)

Spirit Eye Technique (Major Accomplishment, optimizable)

Skystride Hundred Transformations (Major Accomplishment, optimizable)

Swordsmanship Fundamentals (Proficient 11/100, can be deduced)

Skills: First-Tier Alchemist (Qi Recovery Pill: Minor Accomplishment 30/100, can be deduced; Breakthrough Essence Pill: Entry Level 1/100, can be deduced;)

As his cultivation realm increased, his divine sense had also grown much stronger, reaching the late stage of Internal Vision. Its progress had already reached 45 points; after cultivating for a while longer, he should be able to reach the Perception stage while still in the Qi Refining realm.

His Swordsmanship Fundamentals had also improved slightly due to his sparring with Lin Qingxuan during this period. But it had to be said that if he relied on himself alone, who knew what year or month it would be before he reached Minor Accomplishment.

His Qi Recovery Pill refining had improved considerably as well. After all, he had already refined several hundred batches of Qi Recovery Pills.

Next, he needed to raise his Swordsmanship Fundamentals. Sword cultivators possessed formidable offensive power. If his swordsmanship reached a profound realm, killing enemies above his level should be no difficult matter.

"Deduce Swordsmanship Fundamentals."

[Consume 3,560 spirit stones. The mirror body can deduce Swordsmanship Fundamentals to the Minor Accomplishment level, requiring 7 days; consume 7,120 spirit stones to halve the time required.]

"Consume 3,560 spirit stones to deduce it."

Hmm, not bad. If he had cultivated some progress himself, the cost of deduction would decrease.

Seeing that the eastern sky had already turned pale, he figured Lin Qingxuan would soon come over to practice swordsmanship again.

Hmm? What was going on? He had actually grown used to her coming every morning to practice swordsmanship. The power of habit was truly frightening—less than ten days had passed, after all.

When the first dawn light appeared in the east.

Knock! Knock! Knock! The knocking came right on schedule.

Qin Huaian opened the door, and Lin Qingxuan, dressed in a pale green gown, walked in. "Senior Brother Qin, why did you open the door so quickly today~?"

Qin Huaian did not answer. Smiling, he took out his flying sword. "Junior Sister Lin, let's begin."

"Senior Brother Qin, we won't practice today. I brought you something good." Lin Qingxuan gave a mysterious smile.

"Look what this is." As she spoke, she took a food box from her storage pouch.

"Oh?" Qin Huaian asked doubtfully.

Lin Qingxuan opened the food box and took out several exquisite dishes, along with a plump steamed fish, placing them on the stone table. Then she brought out two bowls of rice.

"Senior Brother Qin, I see you cultivating every day. You do not even have cooking utensils here, so you must be living off fasting pills. I specially made you breakfast. Come, taste my cooking."

Qin Huaian froze. Indeed, ever since arriving at the Yellow Mountain Sword Sect, he had not eaten a proper meal.

When he entered the Yellow Mountain Sword Sect, he was already at the sixth layer of Qi Refining. His own cultivation could already satisfy most of his body's energy requirements, so his need for food had become very small. He only needed to take fasting pills occasionally. Unlike low-level cultivators, who had to rely on three daily meals or fasting pills to sustain their bodies.

Now that he had reached the late stage of Qi Refining, he could fast completely.

But when Lin Qingxuan laid out the dishes and Qin Huaian smelled their aroma, his appetite was instantly aroused.

"Junior Sister Lin, did you make all of this?" Qin Huaian put away his flying sword and sat down at the stone table.

"Yes. Although I often eat fasting pills too, I sometimes cook a few dishes for myself." Lin Qingxuan answered with a smile.

"This spirit rice was grown by my family. It is very fragrant, Senior Brother. Try it." Lin Qingxuan placed a bowl of rice and a pair of chopsticks before Qin Huaian, then took a bowl for herself and sat opposite him.

"Haha, Junior Sister Lin, then I won't stand on ceremony." Qin Huaian had long been unable to wait. He picked up his chopsticks and entered full-on eating mode.

Watching Qin Huaian devour the food with gusto, Lin Qingxuan was also very happy. She began eating slowly, taking small bites.

"Mmm, Junior Sister Lin, this fish is so fresh and tender."

"This tofu is full of flavor too!"

Qin Huaian praised the food as he ate. Before long, the entire table of dishes had been swept clean, with most of it ending up in Qin Huaian's stomach.

After letting out a satisfied burp, Qin Huaian suddenly noticed that Lin Qingxuan had only taken a few bites from her bowl of rice.

Feeling a little embarrassed, he said, "Junior Sister Lin, what you made was so delicious that I couldn't help eating it all. You're not full yet, are you?"

"It's fine. As long as Senior Brother likes it, I'll cook for you often from now on," Lin Qingxuan said softly.

Qin Huaian suddenly shuddered. Something was wrong with this atmosphere!

"Junior Sister Lin, there's no need to go to so much trouble. Being able to eat it once already leaves me more than satisfied."

"Are we still continuing our sword practice?" Qin Huaian quickly asked.

"Senior Brother, let's not practice for the time being. My Fifth Uncle brought me some pills recently, and I'm planning to enter seclusion for a while to break through to the sixth level of Qi Refinement."

"That's fine. Cultivation is the foundation of everything," Qin Huaian said. "I'm also planning to make another trip to New Peace City soon."

"Mhm. Senior Brother, be careful on the road," Lin Qingxuan said, somewhat reluctant to part with him.

"Don't worry. I've just broken through to the seventh level of Qi Refinement. Junior Sister, you need to work hard at your cultivation too!" Qin Huaian did not hide news of his breakthrough from Lin Qingxuan.

"Ah! Senior Brother broke through? That's wonderful!" Lin Qingxuan said, clenching her little fists, as though she were happy for Qin Huaian and also cheering herself on.

I need Father to prepare the Breakthrough Essence Pill for me quickly. I can't let Senior Brother Qin pull too far ahead of me! Lin Qingxuan thought secretly.

After chatting for a few more moments, Lin Qingxuan returned to her own cave abode. Qin Huaian did not linger either. Carrying the 145 bottles of Qi Recovery Pills he had recently refined, along with the more than ten bottles left over from before, he left the cave abode district.

East Dawn Plaza, Affairs Hall.

At the mission counter, Qin Huaian handed 155 bottles of Qi Recovery Pills to the disciple on duty. After the count was confirmed correct, the duty disciple recorded 1,240 sect contribution points on his identity token. Qin Huaian now had a total of 1,280 contribution points.

He then went to the trading counter.

The same cold-faced Senior Sister from last time was still on duty at the trading counter.

"Senior Sister, I'd like to buy three Breakthrough Essence Herbs and three sets of supplementary ingredients for refining Breakthrough Essence Pills."

"One Breakthrough Essence Herb costs 300 contribution points, and one set of supplementary ingredients costs 100. Hand over your identity token," the duty Senior Sister said expressionlessly.

Qin Huaian handed over his identity token. After operating the formation device for a moment, the duty Senior Sister returned it to him. "Wait here. I'll fetch them from the warehouse."

A moment later, the duty Senior Sister came over carrying three jade boxes and three bundles of spirit herbs. "Check them."

After checking them, Qin Huaian asked, "Senior Sister, do you have any recommended first-rank high-grade talismans?"

"A batch of first-rank high-grade Ice Spike Talismans just arrived. They're very powerful—30 contribution points each. Are you interested, Junior Brother?"

"All right, Senior Sister. Please get me two." As he spoke, he handed his identity token to the duty Senior Sister again.

"All right." After deducting the contribution points, the duty Senior Sister gave Qin Huaian the Ice Spike Talismans.

Qin Huaian put away his identity token and the items he had purchased, then headed toward the sect gate.