Spirit Hound

"Xiu Ge, it wasn't that I was deliberately lowballing you. Look at these Mountain-Piercing Hounds—they're all wrinkled up, can barely open their eyes, and have no spirit at all. I'm afraid they won't even survive. Three Low-Grade Spirit Stones, no more."

Zhou Changwang repeatedly waved his hands.

"They were only born half a month ago. It's perfectly normal for them to be like this. Feed them more white-fleeced sheep's milk, and they'll perk up right away. Besides, not having opened their eyes has its advantages. When the time comes, if you're the first thing they see, won't they be closer to you? ...For how well we know each other, eight Low-Grade Spirit Stones."

Xiu Ge defended himself, wearing an expression that said Zhou Changwang was getting the better end of the bargain.

The two went back and forth, haggling without end.

In the end, their mouths had 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.

Then he 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 knives. The Spirit Grain Rice would soon ripen, yet he still lacked handy tools. The grass-cutting knives themselves were forged from spirit materials, making them just right...

After a round of purchases, 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 really had been bitter.

Every day, I rose before dawn and returned after dark, bending at the waist with my back bowed. With these old bones of mine, I probably won't be able to keep working in a few more years."

Sitting on the ridge between the fields, Old Xu looked at the heavy ears of Spirit Rice growing in his Spirit Field. Every grain was plump and full, weighing the stalks down until they bowed at the waist. Though he complained aloud, the joy in his heart was impossible to hide.

"Yes. I had thought those few mu of Spirit Fields of mine were finished."

At the time, I had been utterly despairing.

If not for Brother Changwang stepping in, my Spirit Grain Rice would never have grown and borne fruit smoothly.

Now, it was nearly time for the harvest.

Xu Zhong, resting nearby, could not help speaking up as well.

His five plots of Spirit Fields were also growing fairly well now. Though some Spirit Grain had withered and some had been harmed by insect pests, limiting their growth and guaranteeing a reduced yield, they had at least all borne fruit. After the harvest, once the rent for Spirit Plant Hall was deducted, there should still be some profit left over.

That alone had already left him immensely satisfied and delighted.

"But speaking of it, Changwang really is capable.

Look, he's even raising a Spirit Hound now.

It's only been a few days, yet the little fellow has grown a whole circle bigger. Yesterday, it even caught a Spirit Mouse for real. I reckon it'll become a real little expert at catching mice in the future."

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

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

Seeing this, they grew even more envious.

Still, though they envied him, neither had entertained the thought of buying a Spirit Hound.

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

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

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

By then, 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 occasionally used Mind-Awakening Talismans to restore his mind before cultivating further... His cultivation could truly be said to be increasing 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 Technique: Five Elements Formula (Mastery 194/200)

Skills: Spirit Rain Art (Minor Mastery 42/400), Cleansing Art (Initiation 75/100), Growth Technique (Minor Mastery 23/400), Geng Metal Finger (Minor Mastery 124/400), Soothing Art (Initiation 49/100), Fireball Art (Initiation 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 soonest, one day. At the latest, two days.

Even my Five Elements Formula is about to reach Perfection in experience and advance to the Minor Mastery stage.

I estimate that by then, the speed at which I circulate my cultivation method will become faster, and my cultivation efficiency will surely rise significantly."

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

This was cultivation.

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

As for his other spells, all of them had improved to varying degrees during this period. Among them, he had practiced the Growth Technique to Minor Mastery, while the newly acquired Soothing Art and Fireball Art had both reached the Initiation stage after several days of practice. Their progress was gratifying.

Geng Metal Finger, on the other hand, had already reached Minor Mastery before. Advancing it further required much more proficiency, and as the spirit insects dwindled 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 immortal cultivation world.

At the Third Layer of the Qi Refining Realm, one might not be able to protect oneself in the outskirts of the marketplace, but ordinary people would no longer dare look down on them.

For instance, those Innate Realm husband and wife from before—if Zhou Changwang had possessed the immortal arts strength of the Third Layer of the Qi Refining Realm back then, neither of them would have dared act rashly.

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

"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 Spirit Rice ball. After seeing that its master had no further reaction, it happily scampered into the Spirit Field, leaping up and down as it caught mice and hunted insects...

The Soothing Art was absolutely a divine skill for raising spirit beasts.

With a single spell, a Spirit Hound immediately became calm and grew a little closer to its master.

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

That was what had made it so well-behaved and obedient.

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

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

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

They themselves could not even be sure of eating Spirit Rice at every meal, yet they were supposed to provide it for a Spirit Hound?

They were not that extravagant.

Night.

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

One cycle, two cycles, three cycles...

The spiritual power within his body slowly increased as his cultivation method continued to circulate.

Cultivation +1

Cultivation +1

Suddenly, Zhou Changwang felt a swelling sensation rise from the dantian within his body.

It was like a balloon swelling to its limit.

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

Zhou Changwang's heart 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...