Late Qi Refining, Maximizing Yield

In the end, Han Su finished loosening the soil.

Though he rested several times along the way, he still persevered to the end.

Xu Changqing did not give him extra spirit rice just because he was unwell.

Whatever they had agreed on before was what he got.

Neither soft-hearted nor soft-handed.

People had to be a little more realistic.

With the loosening of this acre of Grade-Two Spirit Field complete, all that remained was to wait for the beginning of spring.

Why choose the day spring began?

Once spring arrived, all things began to grow.

The spiritual qi between heaven and earth would erupt once.

This was called a [Spiritual Qi Tide].

And this day was of vital importance to all disciples with Wood Spirit Roots.

By then, with the spirit plants they had planted, they could absorb even more wood spiritual qi.

Xu Changqing had also prepared to break through to Late Qi Refining on the day spring began.

Day by day, spring warmed the earth and flowers bloomed.

The wind was no longer bleak and cold.

Everything returned to how it had been.

As the time came to the predawn hours of the "First Day of Spring."

Before dawn had even broken, Xu Changqing was already standing on the ridge between the fields.

He then took the spring seedlings he had received from his small storage pouch.

But this time, rather than holding his usual spirit tool, the hoe, and bending down to plant them—

He wrapped the seedlings in wisps of spiritual power, then flung them out.

The instant they touched the ground, he relied on the powerful effect of [Wood-Spirit Entanglement Art (Third Layer)].

He controlled all the spirit plants within a ten-zhang radius, making them burrow into the turned black soil.

This was the benefit brought by raising one's cultivation realm and spell level.

However, he left a small patch empty, without planting any spring seedlings there.

Instead, he planted the [Four-Leaf Clover] seeds he had bought from Zhang Su.

Xu Changqing wanted to see just how much profit these ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones could bring him.

As time continued to pass, the east began to pale with the color of a fish's belly.

The faint golden light was like an umbrella slowly opening.

As the sky grew brighter and brighter.

The free spiritual qi between heaven and earth abruptly doubled at an astonishing pace.

"Finally, it's here." Xu Changqing hurriedly sat cross-legged on the field ridge.

The moment the sun rose completely and the entire world was reborn.

Even denser heavenly and earthly spiritual qi, like an invisible tide.

As though by prior agreement, suddenly erupted.

At once, the spring seedlings in the Spirit Fields began growing at a rate visible to the naked eye.

Even some of the Four-Leaf Clover seeds began to sprout.

They drew vast amounts of wood spiritual qi toward the Spirit Fields and greedily absorbed it.

And Xu Changqing, enveloped in an ocean of wood spiritual qi, was even more exhilarated.

He took out the remaining Grade-One Spirit Rice Wine.

Without hesitation, he poured it into his mouth.

Then he circulated the Evergreen Formula.

At once, cultivation speed +50%.

For one hour, spiritual qi absorption speed +20%.

With the blessing of such terrifying dual effects.

Before long, his spiritual power changed from seven strands to eight.

And it showed no sign of stopping.

Instead, it continued to flourish, eventually becoming nine strands.

This meant he was only one step away from Late Qi Refining.

"I don't want to stay in Middle Qi Refining for even another moment. Break for me!" Xu Changqing let out a low roar.

After all, the higher his realm, the greater his sense of security.

Endless wood spiritual qi surged into his body under the pull of his Wood Spirit Root.

At that moment, he seemed to hear the sound of rushing water.

Under such frenzied impact, the spiritual power within his body began to change.

At first, it kept darting about as though trying to flee.

But as the spiritual qi within his body grew more abundant, the space available grew narrower and narrower.

With nowhere left to run, the nine strands of spiritual power had no choice but to entwine with one another.

And as the space continued to compress.

Unable to resist, they could only begin to merge together.

No one knew how much time passed before Xu Changqing suddenly drew in a deep breath.

Then dense white mist surged from his nose and mouth.

With a soft pop, the nine strands of spiritual power within him completely fused.

They became one thick strand.

Then all the remaining spiritual qi in his body converged toward that strand of spiritual power.

Its surface became increasingly crystalline.

His body grew increasingly nimble.

At first glance, it no longer seemed like a strand of spiritual power.

But a loach.

With all restraints and obstacles gone, it began swimming through his body.

More and more black impurities seeped from Xu Changqing's pores.

Yet the moment they touched his clothes, they slid off automatically, unable to stain them in the slightest.

So the clothes worn by official disciples had dust-repelling and grime-cleansing effects.

"I finally broke through!" Xu Changqing opened his eyes, spiritual light flickering within them.

He then looked toward his status panel.

[Xu Changqing]

[Male]

[19 years old]

[Wood Spirit Root]

[Late Qi Refining]

(Effect One: Physical Strength Enhanced)

(Effect Two: Vitality Enhanced)

(Effect Three: Constitution Enhanced)

[Evergreen Formula (Fifth Layer)]

[Spirit Rice Wine (Expert)↑]

[Wood-Spirit Entanglement Art (Third Layer)]

[Remaining Lifespan: 43,769 days]

After breaking through, his lifespan had increased by twenty years.

He had only joined the [Spirit Field Core Region] half a year ago, yet he had already reached Late Qi Refining.

Even if he had only just entered this realm, that speed was still extremely fast.

After all, neither Lin An nor Zhao Ziyao and the others had even reached Middle Qi Refining yet.

Of course, with the help of this [Spiritual Qi Tide] between heaven and earth.

The two of them might also break through.

But even so, a massive gap would still separate them.

Xu Changqing's heart stirred, and he deliberately sensed his surroundings.

To his surprise, he discovered that after reaching Late Qi Refining.

His original sensing range of ten zhang had actually doubled.

Reaching twenty zhang.

That was roughly sixty-six meters.

The strength of the single strand of spiritual power in his body was nearly equal to the combined total of his previous nine strands and nine threads.

He could not help circulating [Wood-Spirit Entanglement Art (Third Layer)].

The weeds around him immediately became lively, swaying without end.

Then came several sharp whooshes, as one after another evolved.

In an instant, they became ten thick Black Iron Vines.

Yet this time, it had consumed only one-tenth of his spiritual power.

Even when the Black Iron Vines reached twenty, it had only consumed two-ninths.

This meant that even if there were more than fifty, his spiritual power still would not be exhausted.

Faced with such astonishing results, Xu Changqing's eyes shone frighteningly bright.

Then, with a wave of his hand, all the Black Iron Vines withered away.

He did not rise, instead continuing to cultivate.

After all, the spiritual qi between heaven and earth, especially the wood spiritual qi.

Was simply too abundant.

He could not absorb it all, simply could not absorb it all.

Even if he could not reach the Foundation Establishment Realm, at the very least, he could still increase his spiritual power further.

For a full seven days, he had hardly rested at all.

Other than preparing food for the little yellow dog, he devoted his body and mind entirely to cultivation.

Combined with the cultivation speed of the fifth-layer Evergreen Formula.

And the spiritual qi absorption speed of Expert-grade Spirit Rice Wine.

He finally nurtured his spiritual power into three strands, only then did its growth begin to slow.

"Old Xu, were you waiting for me this early in the morning?" Hu Bugui held a spirit beast camel by the reins in one hand, studying him with a surprised expression.

"More or less." Xu Changqing blinked.

This moved Hu Bugui deeply, and he quickly said, "Next time, I'll come to your place first before going anywhere else."

A crafty gleam flashed through Xu Changqing's eyes. "It's a deal."

As Hu Bugui unloaded the dung, he said, "This batch is very fresh."

Xu Changqing stepped closer to inspect it and found that it truly was.

The dung from last time had been rather dry, with a stale, foul smell.

This batch was not only round and plump, but also moist.

It even carried a faint fragrance of grass and vegetation.

One look was enough to tell it was fresh, completely different from before.

But this time, Xu Changqing was not merely buying spirit beast dung for fertilizer.

He also planned to hire an official disciple with a Water Spirit Root to cast the [Minor Cloud-Rain Art].

He would push the yield of this acre of Grade-Two Spirit Field to its absolute limit, then reap a ruthless harvest!