Breakthrough

"Optimize the Azure Splendor Art."

[Consume 4,000 Spirit Stones. The Mirror Body can optimize the Azure Splendor Art to Perfection Grade, taking 48 hours; consume 8,000 Spirit Stones to halve the time.]

"Consume 4,000 Spirit Stones and optimize it to Perfection Grade."

Qin Huaian cultivated with his true body while the Mirror Body deduced the cultivation art.

Four days later, "Optimize the Fireball Technique."

[Consume 1,600 Spirit Stones. The Mirror Body can optimize the Fireball Technique to Perfection Grade, taking 16 hours; consume 3,200 Spirit Stones to halve the time.]

"Consume 1,600 Spirit Stones and optimize it to Perfection Grade."

Another two days later, he opened the Data Panel.

Cultivation: Qi Refining (Second Layer 68/100)

Cultivation Art: Azure Splendor Art (Perfection)

Fireball Technique (Perfection)

Both the Azure Splendor Art and the Fireball Technique had reached Perfection Grade!

At Perfection Grade, the Fireball Technique could condense at most one fireball containing 30% of the spiritual power within his body. Condensing a fireball at maximum power took roughly one breath; condensing one containing 20% of his spiritual power took about half a breath.

Releasing a fireball containing 30% of his spiritual power at once—few cultivators of the same realm could match it!

Unfortunately, he could only use it three times. If he could not finish off an enemy in three shots, he could only flee for his life. It really was not durable!

Still, one breath was a little too long. It was not very practical in battle and could only be used for sneak attacks.

After experiencing the Fireball Technique's power, Qin Huaian and the Mirror Body simultaneously began cultivating while holding Mid-Grade Spirit Stones. Pure spiritual power was rapidly absorbed into their bodies, flowing smoothly and seamlessly as it washed through the meridians and acupoints throughout their bodies before finally gathering in the Dantian.

Time slipped away without notice. Three days later, the spiritual power in his Dantian seemed to break through a barrier, and Qin Huaian reached the Qi Refining Third Layer.

He did not stop, continuing to cultivate. About half a month later, his Dantian was full. As his spiritual power circulated, the Dantian broke through its limit. Its volume expanded several times over, swelling drastically.

The Mid-Grade Spirit Stone in his hand was instantly drained dry. The spiritual energy around him also rapidly gathered and was absorbed into Qin Huaian's body.

Qin Huaian had broken through to the Qi Refining Fourth Layer! His body frantically absorbed the surrounding spiritual energy to fill his swollen Dantian. Qin Huaian knew this was a normal phenomenon just after a breakthrough. He took out several Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, and the spiritual power within them swiftly replenished his expanded Dantian.

After the time it took to burn an incense stick, everything returned to calm. Qin Huaian stopped cultivating and looked inward at his full Dantian, feeling as though his entire body brimmed with strength.

From the Qi Refining Second Layer to the Qi Refining Third Layer, his spiritual power had only increased by around onefold. But compared with the Qi Refining Third Layer, the Qi Refining Fourth Layer had increased his spiritual power by more than fivefold. The Qi Refining Middle Stage completely crushed the Qi Refining Early Stage.

In just one month, he had cultivated from the Qi Refining Second Layer to the Qi Refining Fourth Layer. In Cloudfield Market—even in great sects and great lineages—he should count as a genius, right?!

Of course, aside from being a little costly in Spirit Stones, there was nothing wrong with it.

He opened the Data Panel.

Cultivation: Qi Refining (Fourth Layer 1/100)

Cultivation Art: Azure Splendor Art (Perfection)

Fireball Technique (Perfection)

He checked his remaining Spirit Stones again: 850 Low-Grade Spirit Stones and 9 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones. They really had been used up rather quickly.

Feeling the powerful spiritual power within him, Qin Huaian was somewhat relieved. If not for the Seed Space, even with all these Spirit Stones, he could not possibly have broken through to the Qi Refining Middle Stage so quickly. If aptitude was not enough, then Spirit Stones would make up the difference!

He still had to keep earning Spirit Stones and keep improving. He wondered how things were going at the Red Copper Vein, and whether its output was still as high as it had been some time ago.

Qin Huaian opened the door and stepped outside. The sun had just risen above the treetops.

At that moment, the door to Su Yichen's room next door happened to open as well. Su Yichen emerged carrying a bundle on his back, his right sleeve hanging empty. Qin Huaian stepped forward and asked, "Brother Su, what is this?"

Su Yichen looked at Qin Huaian and sighed. "Brother Qin, I'm returning to the mortal world."

"Brother Su, why? Your right arm...?"

"Some time ago, I formed a team to hunt demon beasts in the Million Mountains and was injured by a Shadow Panther. For some reason, the demon beasts we encountered during this hunt were all exceptionally fierce. Fortunately, my teammates saved me. Otherwise, it would not just have been my right arm—I might have lost my life."

"I am already over thirty, and my cultivation has only just reached the Qi Refining Third Layer. Now that I have lost my right arm, my path of cultivation is basically cut off."

"Rather than struggle to cultivate here, I might as well return and become an immortal master in the mortal world. Besides, I can still inherit the title of prince."

Qin Huaian fell silent. If he had not possessed the Seed Space, he probably would not have fared much better than Su Yichen.

Yellow Mountain Sword Sect and the other nearby sects held centralized recruitment once every ten years. Those with sufficiently outstanding aptitude could be directly chosen by a sect. Those with ordinary aptitude but who could reach the Qi Refining Third Layer before turning thirty could also be accepted by some smaller sects as outer disciples.

Of course, if one possessed talent in alchemy, artifact forging, talismans, formations, or the like, then even with poorer cultivation aptitude, many sects would scramble to recruit them.

Qin Huaian said nothing more. Cultivators came and went in the market, with wave after wave replaced. The lifespan of those at the Qi Refining Stage was not much different from that of mortals. If they could not reach the Foundation Establishment Realm, they would at most turn into a handful of yellow earth after 120 years.

Many cultivators with no hope of Foundation Establishment chose to return to the mortal world, marry, have children, and live lives above other men.

"Then I wish Brother Su a smooth journey!" Qin Huaian said, cupping his fists.

Su Yichen nodded to Qin Huaian, then looked somewhat reluctantly at the small room he had lived in for two years. He closed the door, turned, and walked toward the city outskirts.

Although Qin Huaian had not interacted much with Su Yichen, Su Yichen's departure still cooled the excitement Qin Huaian felt from his breakthrough.

Though he had reached the Qi Refining Middle Stage, he was still a bottom-tier existence in the Cultivation World. All kinds of accidents could happen at any time in the Cultivation World, and cultivation was the foundation of everything. He had to speed up his cultivation.

After bidding Su Yichen farewell, Qin Huaian went to the management office for this street and paid sixty Spirit Stones for half a year's rent.

Near noon, Qin Huaian arrived at the city gate and waited for the flying boat bound for the mine vein.

Perhaps because Yellow Mountain Sword Sect's mine vein was no longer recruiting, there were not many people today. Including himself, only four cultivators boarded the flying boat.

After arriving at the mining area, Qin Huaian headed straight toward his former spot. He wondered whether the few people from the temporary team last time were still there.

When he reached the place where he had mined last time, Qin Huaian saw that several of their small mine tunnels had already been dug through into other tunnels. Yet no one remained there.

Qin Huaian did not care. He took out his pickaxe and was just about to see whether ore could still be mined here.

At that moment, a familiar voice rang out. "Boss, there's a lone one here."

Qin Huaian turned around. Were these not the mine bullies who had robbed the original owner?

Several people walked toward Qin Huaian, their ore baskets already nearly full. Qin Huaian stared at them and smiled.

"Kid, what are you laughing at? Let us brothers see how much ore you've dug!" one lackey shouted.

"Shut up!" At that moment, the burly man shoved the lackey aside.

"Brother, we're just passing through. You carry on with your work." The burly man cupped his fists at Qin Huaian and prepared to leave.

Clearly, because the burly man could not see through Qin Huaian's cultivation, he had no intention of provoking him.

Just as the group was about to turn and leave, Qin Huaian said blandly:

"Did I say you could leave? See if you still recognize this young master."

"I do not know you, sir. Could it be that you intend to forcibly keep us here?" The burly man examined Qin Huaian carefully but did not recognize him. They had robbed so many people—how could they remember every single one?

Original owner, how tragic. You were bullied so badly, yet they did not even recognize you!