Seventh Qi Refining Layer

Qin Huaian entered the cultivation chamber, sat cross-legged on the cushion, and circulated the mastery-level Yi Wood True Formula. Its spiritual energy absorption speed had already far surpassed the perfected Azure Splendor Art, by roughly threefold.

The spiritual energy he absorbed circulated through his entire body, striking against the barrier to the Seventh Qi Refining Layer. Qin Huaian discovered with delight that the barrier seemed to be showing signs of loosening.

Qin Huaian and his Mirror Body circulated their cultivation techniques together. Under the repeated impacts of spiritual energy, the barrier to the Seventh Qi Refining Layer was gradually worn away.

Qin Huaian cultivated with his whole heart and mind until he lost 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 great amount of spiritual energy poured into it. He had finally broken through to the Seventh Qi Refining Layer.

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

The sky outside had begun to brighten faintly. An entire afternoon and night had somehow passed. Time truly slipped away without notice during cultivation.

The spiritual energy of the Seventh Qi Refining Layer far surpassed that of the Qi Refining Sixth Layer. If Qin Huaian encountered those bandits from last time now, he could kill several of them in just a few moves.

He opened the Data Panel:

Cultivation: Qi Refining (Seventh Layer 1/100)

Divine Sense Internal Vision (Late Stage 45/100)

Cultivation Techniques: Yi Wood True Formula (Mastery, can be optimized)

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

Fireball Technique (Perfected)

Spirit Eye Technique (Mastery, can be optimized)

Skystride Hundred Transformations (Mastery, can be optimized)

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

Skills: First-Rank Alchemist (Qi Recovery Pill: Minor Mastery 30/100, can be deduced; Breakthrough Essence Pill: Beginner 1/100, can be deduced;)

As his cultivation realm rose, his Divine Sense had also strengthened greatly. It had reached the late Internal Vision Stage, and its progress had already reached 45 points. After cultivating for a while longer, he should reach the Perception Stage while still in the Qi Refining Stage.

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

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

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

"Deduce Basic Swordsmanship."

Consume 3,560 Spirit Stones. The Mirror Body can deduce Basic Swordsmanship to the Minor Mastery level. Time required: 7 days; consume 7,120 Spirit Stones to halve the time.

"Consume 3,560 Spirit Stones to deduce it."

Not bad. If he cultivated some progress himself, the consumption during deduction would decrease.

Seeing that the east had already turned pale, Lin Qingxuan would probably come over to practice swordsmanship again soon.

Hm? What was this? He had actually grown accustomed to her coming over every morning to practice swordsmanship. The power of habit was truly frightening; it had not even been ten days.

When the east revealed the first light of dawn.

Knock! Knock! Knock! The sound of knocking arrived as expected.

Qin Huaian opened the door. 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, let's not practice today. I brought you something good." Lin Qingxuan gave a mysterious smile.

"Take a look at what this is." As she spoke, she took a food box from her storage bag.

"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 took 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 relying on Grain-Repelling Pills for meals. I specially made you breakfast. Come, try my cooking."

Qin Huaian was stunned. Indeed, ever since coming to the Yellow Mountain Sword Sect, he had not properly eaten a meal.

When he entered the Yellow Mountain Sword Sect, he had already reached the Qi Refining Sixth Layer. His own cultivation could already meet most of his body's energy needs, so he had very little need for food. He only needed to occasionally take Grain-Repelling Pills. Unlike low-level cultivators, who had to rely on three daily meals or Grain-Repelling Pills to sustain their bodies.

And now that he had reached the Late Qi Refinement Realm, he could completely abstain from food.

But when Lin Qingxuan laid out the dishes and Qin Huaian smelled their fragrance, his appetite was irresistibly stirred.

"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 Grain-Repelling Pills too, I occasionally make some dishes for myself." Lin Qingxuan replied 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 picked up a bowl herself and sat across from him.

"Haha, Junior Sister Lin, then I will not stand on ceremony." Qin Huaian had long been unable to wait. He picked up his chopsticks and launched into eating.

Watching Qin Huaian feast heartily, Lin Qingxuan was also very happy. She began to eat slowly, taking small bites.

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

"This tofu is seasoned wonderfully 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.

He immediately felt somewhat embarrassed. "Junior Sister Lin, your cooking was too delicious. I could not help eating it all. You are not full yet, are you?"

"It is fine. As long as Senior Brother likes it, I will cook for you often in the future," Lin Qingxuan said softly.

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

"Junior Sister Lin, there is no need to trouble yourself so much. Being able to eat it once has already satisfied me."

"Shall we continue practicing swordsmanship?" Qin Huaian asked next.

"Senior Brother, let's not practice for the time being. My Fifth Uncle brought me some pills, and I am preparing to enter seclusion for a while to strike at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer."

"That is good. Cultivation is the foundation," Qin Huaian said. "I am also planning another trip to New Peace City soon."

"Mhm, Senior Brother, be careful on the way," Lin Qingxuan said with slight reluctance.

"Do not worry. I just broke through to the Seventh Qi Refining Layer. Junior Sister, you need to work hard at cultivating too!" Qin Huaian did not hide news of his breakthrough from Lin Qingxuan.

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

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

After chatting a little longer, 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 dozen or so bottles left from before, he left the cave abode area.

East Dawn Plaza, Affairs Hall.

At the mission counter, Qin Huaian handed 155 bottles of Qi Recovery Pills to the disciple on duty. After confirming the count was correct, the disciple recorded 1,240 Sect Contribution Points on his Identity Token. Qin Huaian now had 1,280 Contribution Points in total.

He then went to the trading counter.

The disciple on duty there was still the same cold-faced senior sister from last time.

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

"An Essence-Breaking Herb costs 300 Contribution Points each, and a set of supplementary ingredients costs 100 Contribution Points. Hand over your Identity Token," the senior sister on duty said expressionlessly.

Qin Huaian handed over his Identity Token. After the senior sister on duty operated the formation instrument for a while, she returned the token to Qin Huaian. "Wait here. I will fetch them from the warehouse."

A moment later, the senior sister on duty came over carrying three jade boxes and three packets of Spirit Grass. "Check them."

After Qin Huaian checked them, he 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 are powerful, thirty Contribution Points each. Are you interested, Junior Brother?"

"Alright, Senior Sister. Please get me two." As he spoke, he handed his Identity Token to the senior sister on duty again.

"Alright." After deducting the Contribution Points, the senior sister on duty handed the Ice Spike Talismans to Qin Huaian.

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