Spirit Hound

"Brother Xiu, it wasn't that I was deliberately trying to drive down the price. Look at these Mountain-Piercing Hounds—they're all wrinkled up, their eyes can barely open, and they have no spirit at all. I'm even worried they won't survive. Three Low-Grade Spirit Stones, no more."

Zhou Changwang repeatedly waved his hands.

"They were only born half a month ago. This is perfectly normal. As long as you feed them more white-fleeced sheep's milk, they'll perk up right away. Besides, not opening their eyes has its advantages too. When the time comes, if you're the first person they see, won't they be even closer to you? ...For the sake of how familiar we are, eight Low-Grade Spirit Stones."

Brother Xiu argued back, looking as though Zhou Changwang had struck gold.

The two went back and forth, haggling without end.

In the end, their mouths had both gone dry from talking.

Only then did Zhou Changwang take away one of the slightly sturdier black Mountain-Piercing Hounds for five Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

He then spent five Spirit Fragments on some white-fleeced sheep's milk, ten Spirit Fragments on a new spirit hoe, and another thirty Spirit Fragments on two grass-cutting sickles. The Spirit Grain Rice was about to ripen, yet he still lacked any handy tools. The sickles themselves were forged from spirit materials, making them just right...

After one round of shopping, another Spirit Stone had gone into someone else's pocket.

"The Spirit Grain Rice should ripen in another two days.

Thinking back on this period, it had truly been bitter.

Getting up before dawn and working until dark every day, bending at the waist and hunching my back... this old body of mine probably won't be able to keep going after a few more years."

Sitting on the ridge between the fields, Old Xu looked at the heavy ears of Spirit Rice growing in his own spirit field. Every grain was plump and full, weighing the Spirit Grain stalks down until they bent at the waist. Though his mouth complained, the joy in his heart was impossible to hide.

"Indeed. I'd thought those few mu of spirit fields of mine were finished.

I was utterly despairing back then.

Fortunately, Brother Changwang stepped in, allowing my Spirit Grain Rice to grow and bear fruit smoothly.

Now, it was nearly time for the harvest as well."

Xu Zhong, who was resting nearby, could not help speaking up too.

The five plots of spirit field under his care were growing fairly well now. Though some Spirit Grain had withered, while other stalks had been affected by insect damage and their growth stunted, resulting in an inevitable reduction in yield, they had at least all borne fruit. After the harvest, once the rent owed to the Spirit Plant Hall was deducted, he would likely still have some surplus left.

That alone had already left him incomparably satisfied and pleasantly surprised.

"But speaking of it, Changwang really has some skill.

Look, he'd even started raising a Spirit Hound.

It had only been a few days, yet the little fellow had grown a whole circle larger. And yesterday, it really caught a Spirit Mouse.

I reckon it'll become a little expert at catching mice from now on."

As the two chatted, their gazes could not help but turn enviously toward Zhou Changwang, who was meditating to recover his spiritual power. Beside him, a tiny black Spirit Hound stood guard with its ears pricked, as though it was helping protect him during his cultivation.

If either of them approached, the Spirit Hound would probably roar and drive them away.

Seeing this, they grew even more envious.

Yet although they envied him, neither had ever considered buying a Spirit Hound.

The truth was, they could afford to buy one, but not raise one. It simply was not worth it.

"My spiritual power has fully recovered, and my cultivation has risen a little as well."

Zhou Changwang slowly opened his eyes, then immediately looked toward his Attribute Panel.

At this point, five days had already passed since he bought the Spirit Hound.

Over those five days, he had eaten Spirit Rice without interruption every day. At night, he swallowed a spirit pill to cultivate, and from time to time even used Mind-Awakening Talismans to restore his mind before cultivating... His cultivation could be said to be growing by the day.

Now, he was not far from breaking through to the next realm.

Name: Zhou Changwang

Lifespan: 17/75

Cultivation: Qi Refining Second Layer (98/100)

Cultivation Method: Five Elements Formula (Proficient 194/200)

Skills: Spirit Rain Art (Minor Mastery 42/400), Cleansing Art (Beginner 75/100), Growth Technique (Minor Mastery 23/400), Geng Metal Finger (Minor Mastery 124/400), Soothing Art (Beginner 49/100), Fireball Art (Beginner 25/100)

...

"My cultivation has already reached the peak of the Second Layer of the Qi Refining Realm. With two more points, I'll be able to break through.

At the shortest, one day; at the longest, two days.

Even my Five Elements Formula is about to reach full proficiency and advance into the Minor Mastery stage. By then, the speed at which my cultivation method operates will become faster, and my cultivation efficiency will surely see a marked increase."

Looking at the information on the Attribute Panel, Zhou Changwang felt a wave of satisfaction.

This was cultivation.

Compared to the one or two points of cultivation he had gained each day before, it was truly the difference between clouds and mud.

As for his other spells, they had all improved to varying degrees during this period. The Growth Technique had already been trained to Minor Mastery, while the newly acquired Soothing Art and Fireball Art had both reached the Beginner stage after several days of practice. Their progress was gratifying.

The Geng Metal Finger, on the other hand, had already reached Minor Mastery earlier. Advancing it again required a great deal more proficiency, and with spirit insects decreasing by the day, he had gradually slowed his practice of it.

After all, what he most urgently wanted now was a breakthrough in cultivation.

Because that was the foundation of his survival in the world of immortal cultivation.

Qi Refining, Third Layer—on the outskirts of the market, it might not be enough to guarantee self-preservation, but ordinary people would no longer dare to look down on him.

For instance, those two Innate Realm husband and wife from before—if Zhou Changwang had possessed the immortal arts strength of Qi Refining, Third Layer back then, they would never have dared to make a move so lightly.

As for the Mountain-Piercing Hound Spirit Hound beside him, Zhou Changwang casually cast a Soothing Art on it, then tossed it a small clump of Spirit Rice.

"Awoo!"

The little Spirit Hound excitedly wagged its tiny tail, affectionately rubbing against Zhou Changwang's leg. Only then did it lower its head and eat the clump of Spirit Rice. Seeing that its master had no further reaction, it happily dashed into the spirit field again, leaping up and down as it caught mice and insects...

The Soothing Art was absolutely one of the greatest divine skills for raising spirit beasts.

With a single spell, the Spirit Hound immediately became calm and gained an additional measure of affection for its master.

Zhou Changwang had basically farmed all his skill proficiency on the little Spirit Hound.

That was why it had become so obedient and well-behaved.

As for the little Spirit Hound catching a Spirit Mouse yesterday, he had not deliberately trained it. He could only attribute it to the creature's talent.

For that, Zhou Changwang had rewarded it with a large clump of Spirit Rice. As for that Spirit Mouse, he had also given it to the hound as an extra meal...

And that was precisely why Old Xu and Xu Zhong, though envious, had never considered raising one.

They themselves might not even get to eat Spirit Rice at every meal, yet they were supposed to provide it for a Spirit Hound?

They were not that extravagant.

Night fell.

Zhou Changwang sat cross-legged, continuously circulating the Five Elements Formula.

One cycle, two cycles, three cycles...

As his cultivation method circulated without pause, the spiritual power within his body slowly increased as well.

Cultivation +1

Cultivation +1

Suddenly, Zhou Changwang felt a swelling sensation arise within his dantian.

It was like a balloon expanding to its limit.

Second Layer of the Qi Refining Realm (100/100)

Zhou Changwang's mind stirred. Knowing that he had reached the limit of the Second Layer of the Qi Refining Realm, he hurriedly steadied his mind and continued circulating his cultivation method.

One breath, two breaths, three breaths...