Xu Qingtong withdrew his primordial spirit into his Niwang Palace and began considering his next steps. He had been in Mist Valley for five days, fought demon beasts twice, and killed two people. Of those four battles, only the first had been an easy victory. The other three had been hard-won, especially the last two, when he had come within a hair's breadth of death.
In those fights, he had precious few means at his disposal. Without his powerful divine sense, who knew how many times he would have died already? It seemed his greatest weakness at present was his low cultivation. Had he also been at the fifth layer of Qi refining, he would not have been driven into such a sorry state against Lin Qian.
He had begun cultivating at ten, and five years had passed since then. In five years, anyone with slightly better cultivation aptitude would probably have reached the fifth or sixth layer of Qi refining. They might even have entered late Qi refining.
Yet he remained a mere novice at the Third Layer of Qi Refining, still in the early stage. According to the Cultivation Guide, only upon reaching the fourth layer of Qi refining could someone barely qualify as a middle Qi refining cultivator.
Xu Qingtong took out the Black Jade Slip his master had left him again, extended his divine sense into it, and studied it closely. For an entire night, he repeatedly examined its contents and compared them in detail with the cultivation method left by Patriarch Chen Yuanhua. At last, he understood the subtleties within.
The cultivation method in the Black Jade Slip contained something Patriarch Chen's method lacked: the transformations of Five Elements Generation and restraint. To a cultivator possessing all five spirit roots, the two methods might seem little different. But to Xu Qingtong, who lacked a metal spirit root, the difference was enormous.
He could not benefit from mutual generation and instead suffered from mutual restraint, causing his cultivation to advance slowly.
In that case, why not abandon cultivating water and wood spiritual power, let water generate wood and wood generate fire, and retain only the cultivation of fire and earth? Would that let me advance faster?
If it works, I can raise my cultivation first. Once I'm capable enough, I can refine the Sinew-Building Elixir, complete my spirit roots, and then raise the magic power of my other attributes.
Having thought through these crucial points, Xu Qingtong hesitated no longer. Following the cultivation method in the Black Jade Slip, he began converting his spiritual power.
After one full circulation, Xu Qingtong stopped cultivating, his face bright with the joy of success. It seemed his idea was feasible.
Xu Qingtong turned to look at Dongfang Hui on the bed. She still showed no sign of waking. He gave Xiao Qi an instruction, and before long, Xiao Qi returned with a wild rabbit in his beak.
He cleaned the rabbit, formed a hand seal with his right hand, and a small flame appeared at his fingertips. Within the time it took to drink a cup of tea, the scent of roasting meat filled the Mountain Cave.
Dongfang Hui had actually woken long ago. She had kept pretending to sleep because she wanted to see what Xu Qingtong was doing. Once the scent of meat filled the cave, she gave a soft murmur and sat up.
Seeing Dongfang Hui get out of bed, Xu Qingtong hurried to call her over. "Sister Dongfang, I've just finished roasting a rabbit. Come and try it!"
Dongfang Hui walked over and sat beside him. Xu Qingtong tore off a rabbit leg and handed it to her, and the two treated themselves to a feast.
In no time at all, only bones remained of the large roasted rabbit. The two exchanged a glance and laughed in shared understanding.
After breakfast, they cleared away the scraps on the ground. Xu Qingtong said, "Sister Dongfang, I gained some insights while cultivating last night. I may enter deep cultivation next. Unless something unusual happens, don't wake me."
Xu Qingtong pondered briefly, then asked, "Can you gather magic power now?"
Dongfang Hui shook her head.
"You can't cultivate magic power, but you should still be able to use your divine sense. I have some jade slips here, though I don't know what's in all of them. Have a look and see whether there's anything useful."
After giving Dongfang Hui her instructions, he turned to the Double-Pupiled Bird. "Xiao Qi, guard the cave entrance. If there's any danger you can't handle, call me."
With everything arranged, Xu Qingtong sat cross-legged and began cultivating according to the principle of Five Elements Generation. This cultivation session lasted three full days and nights. Not only did he become thoroughly familiar with the process of Five Elements Generation, but his magic power also reached its peak.
Feeling that he had touched the threshold of the fourth layer, Xu Qingtong stopped cultivating. He wanted to bring himself into the best possible condition before attempting to break through to the fourth layer of Qi refining.
He opened his eyes and saw a beautiful face staring at him in a daze.
Xu Qingtong smiled faintly, startling Dongfang Hui as though she had been caught stealing something. Flustered, she said, "Brother Qingtong, you're awake."
Xu Qingtong murmured in acknowledgment and asked, "Sister Dongfang, what were you looking at?"
Dongfang Hui's face flushed bright red. "N-nothing!"
Knowing she was embarrassed, Xu Qingtong refrained from teasing her further. He instructed Xiao Qi to go hunting, then said to Dongfang Hui, "Sister Dongfang, I've touched the threshold of the fourth layer of Qi refining. I'm going to rest a little before attempting the breakthrough."
Dongfang Hui was delighted to hear this. Their fates were bound together; if Xu Qingtong could break through, she would be a little safer too.
"Oh, Qingtong, I've looked through all the jade slips you gave me. I'd like to make copies of these two. Would that be all right?" Dongfang Hui asked.
Xu Qingtong took the jade slips and scanned them with his divine sense. Both had come from his master's Storage Ring. His master had said that the Storage Ring was intended to pull the wool over others' eyes. Presumably, its contents could be shown to others as well.
After considering this, Xu Qingtong said, "I obtained these two jade slips by chance. The Fisherman's Song in Misty Waves seems to be a text on formations, while this Turtle Breath Technique should be a minor spell. If they're useful to you, Sister, go ahead and copy them."
"Thank you, Qingtong!" Dongfang Hui said happily.
Xu Qingtong felt that Sister Dongfang seemed much closer to him today. He had not seen her do anything in particular, so why did she feel closer?
Just then, Xiao Qi flew back into the cave, clutching a small wild boar in both talons. Xu Qingtong put aside his thoughts and took the boar from him.
Good heavens! This little boar must weigh over twenty jin, yet Xiao Qi brought it back without any effort. This little fellow is really strong!
Xu Qingtong took out the Red Sun Sword and gutted, skinned, and cleaned the boar. Before long, the savory aroma of roasted pork filled the entire Mountain Cave. Even Xiao Qi, who normally wanted nothing to do with mortal food, stretched his head forward and hurried over.
Once Xu Qingtong had finished roasting the boar, Dongfang Hui came closer. "Qingtong, you're such a good cook. Just smelling it makes my mouth water."
The two chatted and laughed as they ate their fill. Xu Qingtong reached out and took Dongfang Hui's fair wrist. Narrowing his eyes, he examined her condition, then said, "The Power-Dissolving Powder is formidable indeed. You still can't gather magic power, Sister."
Dongfang Hui nodded with a bitter smile.
"Sister Dongfang, I'm about to enter seclusion and attempt to break through to the fourth layer of Qi refining. I don't know whether I'll succeed or how long it will take. You can cultivate on your own. If anything comes up, call Xiao Qi. He can understand you."
With that, he tore off another piece of pork and handed it to Xiao Qi, then said to him, "I'll be cultivating in seclusion for a while. You must listen to Sister Dongfang."
Xiao Qi gave a very human nod, then walked over to Dongfang Hui with the meat in his beak.
Seeing this, Dongfang Hui quickly held out her hand. "Xiao Qi, come onto my hand." Xiao Qi hopped onto her hand and began eating the meat at a leisurely pace.
Xu Qingtong returned to his meditation spot, sat cross-legged, and began preparing to break through to the fourth layer of Qi refining.
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