Spirit-Gathering Tower, Three Years, Peak Qi Refinement, Zhuge Xingchuan

Wang Mengde's gaze swept over Xue Linglong.

Today, the Cat Demon's complexion was even rosier than yesterday, and she was full of vitality, like a flower nourished by rain, delicate and beautiful.

The effects of the Luan-Phoenix Harmony Formula were indeed remarkable.

Wang Mengde asked, "Is everything packed?"

Xue Linglong nodded obediently. "Master, everything is ready."

Wang Mengde nodded inwardly, took out a neatly folded robe and a completely black wooden mask from his Storage Bag, and handed them over.

"These are the robes and mask I just bought. Go and change into them quickly."

Xue Linglong took the robe and mask and glanced down at them.

The robe was a light blue, low-grade robe, made of soft fabric and embroidered with simple defensive spirit patterns. Although its grade was not high, it was lightweight and comfortable.

The mask is an ordinary Law Artifact with a smooth surface, capable of blocking the detection of low-level cultivators' Spirit Eye Technique and other Law Technique.

She raised her head, glanced at Wang Mengde, a hint of shyness in her golden vertical pupils, softly responded, and turned to walk into the inner room.

A moment later, Xue Linglong came out from the inner room.

The light blue robe she wore fit her perfectly, making her figure appear slender and tall.

The black mask was worn on her face, its edges conforming to the shape of her face.

Wang Mengde looked him up and down, then nodded in satisfaction.

"Change your cat ears and golden vertical pupils back for now, and come with me."

He turned and walked out of the attic. Xue Linglong quickly put away her cat ears and golden vertical pupils and obediently followed behind.

The two walked through the long corridor of Drunken Immortal Tower and out the main gate.

With a thought, Wang Mengde sent a gray longsword flying out of his Storage Bag, which hovered a foot in front of him.

He leaped onto the Flying Sword, stood steadily on its surface, and looked back at Xue Linglong.

Xue Linglong hesitated for a moment, then lightly leaped up and landed behind Wang Mengde, her hands unconsciously grabbing the hem of his clothes.

Wang Mengde channeled his spiritual power, and his Flying Sword hummed as it soared into the sky.

The wind whistled in my ears, and the clouds churned beneath my feet.

Xue Linglong clung to Wang Mengde's sleeve, looking around curiously. She rarely left Drunken Immortal Island and was quite unfamiliar with everything outside.

Curious.

Soon, the outline of Jade Wave Island came into view.

Wang Mengde led Xue Linglong to the attic where entry and exit registration was conducted.

After obtaining a permanent Jade-Slip Key for Xue Linglong, they went to the Island Management Office.

The staff also uploaded Wang Mengde's rental information to Xue Linglong's Identity Jade Slip Key.

The two entered the Light Barrier and walked along the bluestone street towards the Jiazi District.

Turning into a quiet alley, lined with bamboo, the environment was serene and tranquil.

At the end of the alley was a small courtyard with a wooden sign hanging above the gate that read "No. 53, Area A".

Xue Linglong stood in front of the courtyard gate, looking left and right with great curiosity.

The protective Light Barrier over the courtyard is light blue, like a thin eggshell, enveloping the entire courtyard.

The Light Barrier was covered with densely packed spiritual patterns, which shimmered with spiritual light and emitted faint fluctuations of spiritual power.

With a thought, Wang Mengde controlled the core array plate, and a crack silently appeared in the Light Barrier above the courtyard gate. He pushed the door open and went inside.

Xue Linglong followed behind him into the courtyard, curiously looking around.

The courtyard wasn't large, but its layout was very orderly.

The ground was paved with bluestone, clean and tidy.

Directly opposite the courtyard gate is a two-story main house with green bricks and blue tiles, and upturned eaves. Although not luxurious, it exudes a simple and elegant charm.

There is a side room on each side of the main building. The side room on the left is slightly larger and its window faces east, while the side room on the right is slightly smaller and its window faces west.

Between the main house and the side rooms is a small courtyard of more than 60 square meters. In the courtyard grows a Spirit Jujube Tree with a canopy like an umbrella and lush branches and leaves. Under the tree is a stone table and two stone benches.

Wang Mengde turned around, took out a translucent white Jade Slip from his Storage Bag, and handed it to Xue Linglong.

"This is the Jade-Slip Key; please keep it safe."

Xue Linglong took the Jade Slip with both hands and carefully put it into her Storage Bag.

Wang Mengde pointed to the main house and two side rooms. "Choose a bedroom yourself."

Xue Linglong carefully put the Jade-Slip Key into her Storage Bag, then turned and walked towards the main house.

The way she walks is like an elegant kitten, with light steps, her feet landing first on the balls of her feet, then her toes, making no sound.

Her waist was supple, and the hem of her skirt swayed gently with her steps, like a white lotus flower swaying in the wind.

He seemed slightly unnatural, walking slower and more cautiously than usual, and occasionally frowning slightly.

She circled around the doors of several rooms, peering inside, before finally returning to the door of the easternmost side room. Turning around, she said in a soft, sweet voice, "Master, I like this one where the sun shines."

Wang Mengde glanced at the side room. The window faced east, so it had the best natural light; the first rays of morning sunlight would shine directly into the room, illuminating the entire space.

"OK."

Xue Linglong smiled faintly, turned and went into the room, took her things out of her Storage Bag and tidied them up briefly.

A moment later, she came out, carrying a soft bamboo Soft Chair.

The Soft Chair was small, with an adjustable backrest and a soft animal hide covering the seat.

She moved the Soft Chair to the center of the courtyard, found the sunniest spot, and turned to look at Wang Mengde, her voice soft and slightly coquettish. "Master, I'm starting my cultivation now."

As she spoke, she lay down and lazily basked in the sun.

The sunlight shone on her, turning her pale blue robes golden.

Her ears had transformed into cat ears, shimmering slightly in the sunlight, and her tail peeked out from under her skirt, curled at her sides, and swayed gently.

She closed her eyes, a faint smile playing on her lips, like a kitten dozing in the sunlight, quiet and comfortable.

Wang Mengde stood aside, watching her, and suddenly noticed something interesting.

The Cat Demon's breathing became even and long, while the spiritual energy within its body slowly circulated, following the cycle of the Luan-Phoenix Harmony Formula, circle after circle.

She could actually cultivate the Luan-Phoenix Harmony Formula while sleeping.

He withdrew his gaze and took out a black Jade Slip from his Storage Bag.

The Jade Slip was inscribed with the four small characters "Extreme Yin Body-Tempering Technique," the handwriting ancient and simple, with a faint spiritual light flowing through it.

This is the black Jade Slip among the relics of Alchemist Xuan Yun. It contains a body-tempering Cultivation Method that uses yin energy to temper the physical body. Women who practice this technique can quickly accumulate Yin-Nature Power within their bodies.

He walked to the Soft Chair, handed the Jade Slip to Xue Linglong, and said calmly, "Cultivating this body cultivation Cultivation Method can accumulate..."

The Yin-Nature Power within the accumulated spiritual energy.

Xue Linglong opened her eyes, looked at the black Jade Slip, then at Wang Mengde, her cat ears drooping slightly, her golden vertical pupils filled with reluctance.

With a pained expression, she asked pitifully, "Master, is it alright if I don't have to practice?"

Body training is said to be very strenuous, requiring repeated pounding of the body and soaking in various medicinal baths, which is said to be extremely painful.

Wang Mengde said, "This Extreme Yin Body-Tempering Technique is different from other body tempering Cultivation Method. It doesn't hurt. You can cultivate by meditating at night and absorbing the Yin energy of heaven and earth. I'll buy you some spiritual fruits containing Yin energy later to help you cultivate."

Xue Linglong's cat ears drooped, and her tail unconsciously drooped down. She looked like a flower that had been hit by frost, listless. She took the Jade Slip and said in a soft, sweet voice, "Oh."

Her voice was as soft as a spider's silk in the wind, carrying a hint of grievance, a hint of helplessness, and a hint of resigned submission.

Wang Mengde found her appearance somewhat amusing; this Cat Demon seemed rather lazy.

Wang Mengde took out a silvery-white Demon Fish from his Storage Bag. The fish was about two feet long, with fine scales that shimmered with a faint silver light in the sunlight.

This is a level six Red-Eyed Dragonfish with delicious flesh.

He handed the Demon Fish to Xue Linglong, his tone gentle. "Make fish for us later."

Xue Linglong's eyes lit up immediately.

The grievances and helplessness that had been there vanished instantly in those golden, vertical pupils, replaced by a pure and undisguised joy.

Her eyes curved into crescents, her pupils slightly dilated, like two small suns that had been lit up, sparkling with excitement.

Her cat ears perked up and trembled slightly, and even her tail unconsciously curled up and swayed gently behind her.

She nodded gracefully, her voice soft and sweet. "Yes, Master."

The voice was light and cheerful, full of joy.

This little glutton.

Looking at her greedy expression, Wang Mengde's lips curled up slightly, and he said, "You focus on your cultivation; I'm going to cultivate at the Spirit-Gathering Tower."

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He is unable to continue refining spirit fruits and pills for a short period of time, and the intense heat within his spiritual power has completely dissipated. If he wants to quickly increase his spiritual power in a short time, the Spirit-Gathering Tower is a good choice.

Xue Linglong nodded, sat up from the Soft Chair, and replied earnestly, "I'll cultivate for a little while, and then I'll do..."

Fish."

There was a hint of urgency in her voice, as if she couldn't wait to start cultivating so she could complete the mission as soon as possible and become that fish.

Looking at her expression, Wang Mengde found it somewhat amusing, but remained outwardly calm, simply saying, "You can eat the fish first; save my portion for your Storage Bag."

Xue Linglong nodded slowly, her cat ears nodding as well, her voice soft and sweet. "Yes, Master."

Wang Mengde turned and walked out of the courtyard, the Light Barrier surrounding him closing in.

He walked along the cobblestone path out of the Jiazi area and arrived at the central area of Jade Wave Island.

The Spirit-Gathering Tower is a giant tower about a hundred feet tall, made entirely of white Spirit Stone. The tower is octagonal, and each level is inlaid with densely packed spirit pattern arrays, which shimmer with spiritual light, illuminating the entire tower.

A huge spiritual pearl floats atop the tower, slowly rotating and emitting a soft white light, like a small sun hanging above the tower, enveloping an area of hundreds of feet in a rich Spiritual Qi.

Standing at the foot of the tower, with each breath, one can feel the Spiritual Qi warmth flowing into their lungs, several times more concentrated than the outside world.

At the entrance of the Spirit-Gathering Tower, cultivators come and go from time to time.

The cultivators coming and going are mainly in the Qi Refinement Realm.

Wang Mengde also saw a cultivator in the Foundation Establishment Early Stage, but the other party did not walk directly, but flew straight to the ninth floor of the Spirit-Gathering Tower.

Wang Mengde strode towards the gate of the Spirit-Gathering Tower.

Enter the first floor of the Spirit-Gathering Tower.

The lobby on the first floor was very spacious, with a dome several meters high and fist-sized moonstones embedded in the four walls, emitting a soft white light that illuminated the entire lobby as bright as day.

In the center of the hall was a round counter, behind which sat a young cultivator at the Eighth Layer of Qi Refinement Refining. He had a handsome face, wore a gray robe, and was holding a book in his hands, writing something with his head down.

To the left of the lobby is a spiral staircase leading upstairs.

Wang Mengde walked to the counter, and the cultivator looked up, a professional smile on his face, and politely asked, "Fellow Daoist, how should I address you? Are you going to enter the tower to cultivate?"

Wang Mengdao said, "Zhuge Xingchuan, you can just call me Fellow Daoist Zhuge."

Zhuge Xingchuan is the name he gave to his current identity.

Wang Mengde asked, "How much does the Spirit-Gathering Tower cost?"

The young cultivator explained with a smile, "The Spirit-Gathering Tower has nine levels. The higher you go, the denser the Spiritual Qi becomes, and the more expensive it is."

"The spiritual energy concentration of the first layer is twenty times that of the Second-Tier Spirit Island Jade Wave Island, and is equivalent to ten Low-Grade Spirit Stone per day."

The second level is thirty times the amount, and one day you can earn fifty Low-Grade Spirit Stone.

Three layers, fifty times the amount; one day, one hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stone.

The fourth level is eighty times the amount, and one day's earnings are two hundred and sixty Low-Grade Spirit Stone.

The fifth floor is 120 times the amount, and one day it yields 380 Low-Grade Spirit Stone.

The sixth floor is 160 times the value, and one day's earnings are 500 Low-Grade Spirit Stone.

The seventh floor is two hundred times more, and one day can earn seven hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stone.

The eighth floor is four hundred times more, and one thousand five hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stone per day.

The ninth floor is a thousand times more, and one day that yields four thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stone.

The young monk finished speaking in one breath, then looked at Wang Mengde with a smile, waiting for him to make a decision.

After hearing this, Wang Mengde was secretly astonished.

This Spirit-Gathering Tower is really expensive; the ninth floor costs four thousand Spirit Stone a day.

Four thousand Spirit Stone are enough to buy a single Azure Spirit Fruit.

However, he can earn more than two thousand Spirit Stone every day by drawing Spirit Shield Talisman, in addition to the more than ten thousand Spirit Stone he had on hand, as well as various Talisman and pills.

"The ninth floor," Wang Mengde said calmly.

The young cultivator was slightly taken aback, then raised his head and carefully examined the middle-aged cultivator in front of him.

Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement of Qi Refining, wore an ordinary robe, and had a mask on his face, making it impossible to discern his true level.

He withdrew his gaze, examined the Jade Slip in front of him, and nodded. "There's just one empty room on the ninth floor. How long do you plan to cultivate, fellow cultivator?"

Wang Mengde thought for a moment and asked, "If I cultivate for several hours, can I use the remaining time for another cultivation session?"

The young cultivator smiled and explained, "That's fine. All the time you've spent is recorded in the Jade Slip. You can continue cultivating next time you come, until it's used up."

Wang Mengde pondered for a moment, then took out forty Medium-Grade Spirit Stone from his Storage Bag.

Forty Medium-Grade Spirit Stone are equivalent to four thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stone at market price.

He pushed the Spirit Stone to the counter and said, "One day for now."

The young cultivator examined the Spirit Stone, put them into his Storage Bag, and then took out two Jade Slip from a hidden compartment under the counter.

It was entirely white, with a faint glow flowing across its surface;

The other one is emerald green, like a tender leaf sealed in jade, exuding vitality.

The young cultivator swiped the green Jade Slip across a nearby Spirit Artifact.

He then handed the two Jade Slip slips to Wang Mengde with both hands and patiently explained, "Room 904 on the ninth floor is empty. This white one is the Jade-Slip Key to open the door, and this green one is the key to activate the Spirit Gathering Formation. You have been given twelve hours of time."

"Your cultivation time will be recorded on the Green Jade Slip, so you can cultivate in any room on the ninth floor next time you come."

He paused, then added, "However, if everyone in the room is occupied, you'll have to wait. Oh, and please return the white Jade Slip when you leave. The Green Jade Slip has some remaining time, so you can take it, but you'll have to leave a deposit of five hundred Spirit Stone."

Wang Mengde took the Jade Slip and then took out five hundred Spirit Stone from his Storage Bag as a deposit.

The young cultivator accepted the Spirit Stone and solemnly reminded him, "Fellow Daoist, there's one more thing to be careful about. Although each room has protective and soundproof/light-blocking spirit arrays, you must not test your Law Technique in the room. If the noise is too loud, it will still affect the fellow Daoists in other rooms, and you will be expelled from the Spirit Spirit-Gathering Tower's spirit array immediately."

Wang Mengde nodded and said, "I understand."

After saying that, he turned and walked towards the spiral staircase on the left side of the hall.

The staircase was made of bluestone, each step polished smooth as a mirror. Runes shimmered when you stepped on it, and there was no sound.

The staircase spirals upwards, with a lamp embedded in the wall at intervals, emitting a soft glow.

Wang Mengde walked up the stairs to the ninth floor.

The corridor on the ninth floor was narrower and much quieter than those on the lower floors.

The walls on both sides of the corridor are inlaid with pale gold spiritual patterns, and as the spiritual light flows, it illuminates the entire corridor in a quiet and mysterious way.

Every few steps there was a door, numbered 901, 902, 903, and so on.

Wang Mengde stopped in front of room 904.

A pale golden curtain of light hung in front of the door, its surface covered with countless runes that shimmered with spiritual light, completely isolating the room from the outside world.

He took out the White Jade-Slip Key and infused it with spiritual power, causing a soft white light to shine on the surface of the Jade Slip.

The light curtain rippled slightly, then slowly split open to both sides, revealing the door behind it.

Wang Mengde pushed open the door and stepped inside, the curtain of light silently closing behind him.

The room was small, about ten square meters, square in shape, like a hollowed-out stone chamber.

The walls on all four sides were covered with densely packed runes, layer upon layer, extending from the floor to the ceiling, completely enveloping the entire room.

The runes were pale gold, and as the spiritual light flowed, one could faintly sense a powerful restrictive force surging within the walls, completely isolating the Spiritual Qi and sounds inside and outside the room.

On the wall directly opposite the door, there was a small groove about the size of a palm, the shape and size of which were exactly the same as the green Jade-Slip Key.

The groove is engraved with fine spiritual patterns, which spread outwards and connect with the runes on the wall, forming a giant spider web that links the Spirit Gathering Formation throughout the room.

Wang Mengde closed the door, walked to the wall, took out a green Jade Slip from his Storage Bag, and embedded the Jade Slip into the groove.

With a soft click, the Jade Slip fit perfectly into the groove.

The next moment, the entire room seemed to come alive.

The runes on the wall suddenly lit up, and pale golden light surged out from the runes in all directions, converging into streams of golden light that flowed rapidly along the patterns on the wall.

An extremely dense spiritual energy burst forth from the wall, like a flood bursting its banks, instantly filling the entire room.

Wang Mengde took a deep breath, and the spiritual energy surged into his lungs, warm and pure, almost requiring no refining to directly integrate into his meridians.

He closed his eyes, extended his divine sense, and used his Spirit Eye Technique to scan his surroundings.

It's impossible to see through it from any direction.

Wang Mengde felt relieved and, with a thought, controlled the residual medicinal power of the Bone-Transmuting Pill within his body.

The bones made a slight cracking sound, and the body slowly stretched, returning from 1.7 meters to 1.86 meters.

The Gray Mask was peeled off his face, revealing his originally handsome features.

He sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and began to circulate the Luan-Phoenix Harmony Formula.

The moment he activated his Cultivation Method, the dense spiritual energy in the room seemed to find an outlet, surging wildly towards him.

Spiritual energy surged into his body through his pores, acupoints, mouth, Luan-Phoenix Harmony Formula.

The spiritual energy was gentle and pure, with almost no resistance, like a stream flowing into a river, natural and smooth.

One cycle, two cycles, three cycles----

Wang Mengde repeatedly circulated his Cultivation Method, refining and absorbing every last bit of the spiritual energy flowing into his body, integrating it into his meridians, and channeling it into his Dantian.

[The Luan-Phoenix Harmony Formula +1]

[Spirit Power Cultivation +1]

Wang Mengde suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze sharp and bright.

Cultivating on the ninth level of the Spirit-Gathering Tower, one can increase one point of spiritual power by circulating the energy five times.

It should be noted that even when cultivating directly using Medium-Grade Spirit Stone, it takes thirty cycles of cultivation to increase one's spiritual power by a single point.

In other words, cultivating on the ninth level of the Spirit-Gathering Tower is six times faster than directly refining Medium-Grade Spirit Stone.

He silently did some calculations.

One cycle takes approximately thirteen minutes.

A day has twelve two-hour periods, totaling 1,440 minutes, which can circulate approximately 110 times, increasing spiritual power by 22 points.

Although its cost-effectiveness is far less than that of refining elixirs and spiritual fruits.

However, the advantage of cultivating in the Spirit-Gathering Tower lies in its stability. There is no resistance to medicine, the refined spiritual energy is extremely gentle and pure, the foundation is exceptionally solid, and it allows for continuous cultivation for a long time.

The time saved can be used to draw Talisman to earn money, or to practice Law Technique and improve combat power.

Wang Mengde closed his eyes and continued to circulate the Luan-Phoenix Harmony Formula.

One week.

Two cycles.

Time passed quietly during the cultivation, the runes on the wall glowed silently, and the pale golden light illuminated the entire room, making it warm and peaceful.