Spirit Embryo Enters the Dao and Expounds the Nine Qi; Even a Clever Wife Cannot Cook Without Rice

Heng Hua went down to the study on the second floor and calculated the first three tiers of cultivation methods he had created so far.

The Ninth Layer of Qi Refining was divided into three stages.

In the early stage, one breathed and circulated one's art to cultivate inner breath. In the middle stage, one refined essence into qi and cultivated immortal true qi. In the later stage, one tempered divine sense and awakened spiritual awareness.

Once true qi was full to the brim and spiritual awareness perfectly rounded, one could step into Foundation Establishment.

Within the Creation's Epoch-Reunion Art, these nine layers of cultivation corresponded to the first tier, the "Spirit Embryo Realm."

Immortal stones concealed the nine apertures; Bodhi understood the true Dao. The netherworld severed life and death; riding clouds, one entered the heavenly palace. Stirring chaos at the Flat Peach Banquet, the Heart Ape was refined within the furnace.

Only after completing the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining did Heaven-Gate Foundation Establishment count as the true beginning of immortal cultivation. Because the Nine Layers of Foundation Establishment were far more difficult than the Nine Layers of Qi Refining, the cultivation world further divided them into three stages: Foundation Establishment, True Fire, and Mystic Womb.

The first three layers established the Foundation Establishment cauldron. They nourished the Dao foundation and refined immortal true essence.

The middle three layers nurtured spirit through True Fire, refining Samadhi True Fire and transforming gaseous mana into the form of jade liquid.

The final three layers planted the Dao within the Mystic Womb, harmonizing dragon and tiger, Kan and Li, nourishing the Yellow Sprout with jade liquid, and forming a Mystic Womb that embraced the Core.

After these three realms and nine layers of Foundation Establishment came the Golden Core Dao.

Heng Hua's Creation's Epoch-Reunion Art produced three tiers of cultivation methods to complete the cultivation of the three Foundation Establishment realms.

At present, he had finished deriving "Five Elements Mountain" and the "Intention Steed Realm." The fourth-tier cultivation method beyond them, as well as the fifth-tier Golden Core method, existed only as concepts.

"Though I created a supreme Foundation Establishment method, when the time truly comes to disperse my cultivation and start over, I still cannot avoid hesitation."

The Evergreen Art Heng Hua cultivated already showed signs of "inner heart-fire arising." If he cultivated bitterly for a while longer, he could also refine Samadhi Fire.

This cultivation method had accompanied him for decades. To discard it so easily, threads of reluctance welled up within him.

Suddenly, a stray thought surfaced in his mind: Heavenly Book cultivation methods are difficult, so why not take a small step back and cultivate the Earth Canon Immortal Art instead? The Earth Canon could be created without tribulation. With my talent and the Lineage's support, immortality is within reach.

Then another thought arose: How could a self-created cultivation method be as complete as an existing immortal art? Fifteen hundred years ago, Fufeng Immortal Palace was destroyed, and the Wind-Supporting Immortal Canon scattered among the various families. If I can gather the fragmented chapters from the major lineages and restore them, I can inherit the Fufeng Dao Lineage and establish an Immortal Palace anew.

Stray thoughts rose and sank in his mind one after another.

Heng Hua silently circulated his Spirit Soul, suppressing the tangled weeds of distracting thoughts. With the sword of wisdom, he cleaved through every thorn and once again steadied his Dao heart:

I had been reborn not to scrape by.

Since I had chosen the righteous path of the Heavenly Book, how could I retreat so easily?

Crossing tribulation was difficult, but it was also tempering.

Without enduring tribulations, how could one attain the Dao?

Having reaffirmed his Dao heart, Heng Hua calmly instructed, "Hengshou, go procure a batch of jade materials. I want to make another Jade Garment. Oh, and prepare spiritwood to make a small coffin."

"..."

After waiting a while and seeing Hengshou make no move, he frowned. "Why haven't you gone yet?"

Xiaoyu explained for him, "Young Master, we have no money left."

"Put it on credit. With my status, the Lineage will agree."

The Fu Family treated talents like Heng Hua, who transmitted scriptures and expounded methods, like treasured jewels in their palms. His treatment was far better than that of Fu Xiangfeng and his ilk.

Xiaoyu said helplessly, "Young Master, have you forgotten? You are a professional at transmitting scriptures and expounding methods. The resources the Lineage has opened to you are all pills for extending life, replenishing qi, and nourishing the spirit."

Talents who transmitted scriptures and expounded methods did not need to go out and fight. Within cultivation lineages and sects, their role was that of transmission elders guarding scripture repositories.

Their realms were unfathomable. They instructed generation after generation of juniors in cultivation, and their status was exceedingly revered.

They had no need to worry over pills or spirit stones, because everyone would prioritize supporting them.

But defensive and combat magic treasures and divine weapons had nothing to do with them.

If they did not need to fight, what use did they have for high-grade magic treasures?

Thinking of his own situation, Heng Hua's expression darkened.

Xiaoyu was right. His grandfather's lifespan was nearly exhausted. Not to mention that the great Lineage would refuse to let him waste those spirit materials crafting items, even Cypress Sovereign Hall itself was preparing to relocate soon. They did not have much to let him squander as he pleased.

He even thought of certain more terrifying possibilities.

"Right now, Grandfather dotes on me, so I can still retain the magic treasures Father and Mother left behind. If Grandfather is gone, I fear they too will be 'borrowed' by the clansmen for others to use in battle outside."

Magic treasures were divided into four grades: artifact, treasure, spirit, and immortal.

Artifacts bore cultivators' true qi and spiritual power, inscribed with talismanic seals and spirit glyphs. They were the lowest grade, mostly used as temporary measures.

After reaching Foundation Establishment, one could gather heavenly materials and earthly treasures, nourish and refine them day and night, and unite them with one's mind. Such objects were treasure artifacts.

Going a step further, after Golden Core, one bestowed spirit upon a treasure artifact, making it a spirit artifact. Such magic treasures possessed their own spirituality, inhaling and exhaling the spiritual qi of heaven and earth without requiring cultivators to nourish them day and night.

As for immortal artifacts, those were matters for after one became immortal.

The Fu Family had produced quite a few Golden Core Cultivators, so it naturally did not lack spirit artifacts. Back then, Heng Hua's father had also received a spirit artifact from the Lineage as a reward. Later, Fu Danwei had thrown away his old face and made the others in the Lineage yield, tacitly allowing Fu Henghua to hold it for the time being.

But if Grandfather passed away, Fu Henghua, merely as a Dharma Performer, might not even be able to keep that spirit artifact.

However, the Lineage did not intend to take it back for nothing.

According to what Fu Danwei had once revealed,

it would be fine if Fu Henghua broke through to Golden Core himself. If he could not, the Fu Family's Great Elder would seek a "Kan-Li Silver Spirit Pill" in the future and shape a False Core for Fu Henghua.

Once the False Core was formed, there would be no hope of advancement for the rest of his life. Yet he could enjoy a lifespan of fifteen hundred years just like a proper Golden Core Cultivator.

Perhaps it was cruel, directly severing a person's future potential.

But Fu Henghua also understood clearly in his heart.

As a fifth-grade spirit pill, the Kan-Li Silver Spirit Pill was not something the Fu Family could prepare in a short time, even if it wished to offer such a treasure.

Not only would it consume favors owed by the Lineage and several alchemists, it would also require a vast quantity of heavenly materials and earthly treasures for the alchemy.

Many Fu Family members struggled their entire lives yet could not obtain the Lineage's aid in acquiring even one False Core. Yet one had already been reserved for him.

It could be said that the Fu Family treated him generously.

But such generosity meant he would have to remain under the Lineage's protection for his entire life.

"Like a queen bee or an ant queen, enjoying offerings—but at the price of permanent freedom."

Heng Hua secretly shook his head. I had not returned to this life to become a queen bee or ant queen.

He wanted to prove the Dao through his own efforts.

Otherwise, what was the point of creating this Heavenly Book-grade Foundation Establishment method?

Was he truly going to shelve it, honestly become a Dharma Performer tool for his entire life, and only hand the cultivation method to some genius the Lineage encountered centuries later, playing the role of an old grandfather who transmitted cultivation methods?

After considering it for a while, Heng Hua said to Xiaoyu, "Go ask Aunt Lan whether I can clean Grandfather's treasure vault again and help him safeguard some things."

"..."

Xiaoyu and Hengshou wore strange expressions.

Whenever you helped the old master safeguard something, Young Master, you never returned it.

Xiaoyu said, "Aunt Lan said the old master's side has been watched closely lately, so I'm afraid it won't be convenient to go again."

Over the past few years, how many things had Heng Hua, this inner thief, pilfered from the old man?

It was only because the old master adored his grandson, and those items were not worth much, that he could not be bothered to fuss over them.

If Fu Danwei were truly angered, he would drag him out of the library and give him a sound whipping.

To avoid the young master getting beaten, Hengshou thought for a moment. "The Lineage does not restrict jade materials too much. If we find a way to scrape together some discarded gold thread from before, we can barely make another Jade Garment. But a tribulation-avoiding coffin will be difficult."

Heng Hua stroked his chin. "I remember that old nanmu tree on the back mountain has six hundred years of growth behind it, yes?"

The Compendium of the Hundred Woods said: "Grass and trees are born of heaven and raised by earth, gathering the essence of sun and moon, receiving the nourishment of land and mountains, bathed in the breath of wind and moisture. After a hundred years, they may become timber."

It also said: "Camphor and nanmu wood are hard and rot-resistant, carrying a strange fragrance and long lifespans. Timber of three hundred years is third-grade treasure wood. Another two hundred years raises it to second grade. Another two hundred years makes it first-grade wood."

Hengshou tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Young Master, you intend to use that old nanmu tree? That tree is already six hundred and ninety-seven years old."

In another three years, it would become first-grade treasure wood. If you touch it now... With such prodigal behavior, aren't you afraid the old master will beat you to death? Besides, it was among the first batch of trees planted after Cypress Sovereign Hall moved onto Coiling Dragon Island.

Heng Hua waved a hand. "Others may not know this young master's situation, but don't you two know? What do you think I painstakingly created cultivation methods for? This tribulation-avoiding 'Spirit-Hiding Wooden Coffin' is absolutely necessary.

"Besides, the Jade Garment cannot use inferior goods. Discarded gold thread—can that stuff be used? What if something goes wrong?

"We lack money right now, so starting next month, deduct a little from my allotted pills and sell them outside."

Perhaps it was coincidence, or perhaps unspoken understanding. The transmission elders of the great sects and the Dharma Performers of the great lineages all secretly hoarded a portion of their cultivation pills, exchanging them with others for heavenly materials and earthly treasures to refine private magic treasures.

Even a useless wretch who calculated cultivation methods had a heart that yearned for battle!

Fu Henghua was merely a junior just beginning his career as a Dharma Performer. Yet the unspoken rules of his seniors found excellent expression in him.

Over the years, he had withheld quite a few pills to sell, replenishing what his experiments consumed.

After speaking, Heng Hua glanced at the two behind him.

Xiaoyu and Hengshou had been personally chosen by his mother, He Yuhua. They had decent cultivation talent and had followed Fu Henghua since childhood, growing up as his trusted confidants.

Suddenly, Heng Hua let out a faint sigh. "What a pity you two established your foundations so early."

Hengshou and Xiaoyu had grown up alongside him. After decades together day and night, they quickly followed Fu Henghua's train of thought.

Foundation Establishment Pills sold for a high price → they had established their foundations without using Foundation Establishment Pills → therefore, their Foundation Establishment Pills could be sold for money.

Seeing their young master's gaze grow increasingly strange, Xiaoyu and Hengshou felt an ominous premonition rise in their hearts.

"Actually, if you two were to suffer qi deviation and your cultivation regressed, requiring you to establish your foundations again... I could ask for new Foundation Establishment Pills for you."

Establish our foundations again? We have to disperse our cultivation and do it all over once too?

Xiaoyu and Hengshou looked at each other, seeing terror in one another's eyes.

They did not share their young master's obsessive need to seek the very best.

They had established their foundations with Profound-grade cultivation methods. Their cultivation progress was no slower than that of ordinary Fu Family members, and they were already quite content.

Heng Hua lowered his head in thought. "Xiaoyu's Waterflow Immortal Art still has room for improvement. Hengshou's Mountain Spirit Scripture also has room for restoration."

As inspiration burst forth, he developed entirely new ideas and began considering improvements to their cultivation methods.

Xiaoyu decisively said, "Young Master, let us consider how to cut down the tree instead. No one usually guards the back mountain."

Hengshou said, "I remember there is still a jade axe in the storeroom."

"You two..."

Heng Hua was somewhat helpless.

"Though the meridian disorder caused by dispersing cultivation and starting over is a little painful, isn't it a good thing to recultivate a higher-grade cultivation method?"

A little painful?

Xiaoyu silently thought to herself.

Having served the young master for decades, she had seen several Fu Family members disperse their cultivation. They had howled until heaven and earth seemed to collapse, making even Langhuan Hall tremble. In severe cases, they could not leave their beds for three days and three nights.

Though Hengshou was not afraid of pain, he had no intention of needlessly experiencing the torment of meridian disorder and a shattered Dao foundation. Freaks like his young master were rare in this world.

"Forget it. Let's list cutting down the tree as a backup plan first. For now, use the old method. Hengshou, I'll give you a few more cultivation manuals. Take them and sell them—if anyone is willing to have one custom-made, that would naturally be best."

Hengshou asked, "What if something happens again?"

"It's fine. Set the deposit higher. Once I've acquired everything we need and recultivated, I'll go collect the debt in person."

Perhaps Heng Hua's luck was good. In five days, Hengshou sold several cultivation manuals and bought a large batch of jade materials.

Hengshou said, "We have the jade materials, but there is still no news of gold thread or treasure wood. Young Master, how about we go cross tribulation at Turtle-Burial Reef?"

"Leaving the island is unsafe, and that place is not under the Fu Family's control. Going now would also bring about another bout of slaughter. No good, no good."

Turtle-Burial Reef lay in the middle of the Dragonreach Waters and was an exceptionally special region. According to Heng Hua's deductions, it was a tribulation-avoiding place created by nature.

But water bandits ran rampant at Turtle-Burial Reef, and he had no plans to go there anytime soon.

Heng Hua examined the accounts and sighed repeatedly. "Still no one is willing to have one custom-made? A bunch of fools who cannot recognize goods. They would rather go to great immortal Dao sects and seek fragmented, inferior cultivation methods than trust my business. Are those great sects' methods suited to their constitutions? They are all garbage swept out by the great sects!

"Only a cultivation method matched to oneself is the best."

His words made sense. But what cultivator family would trust an obscure Dharma Performer?

At that moment, Xiaoyu entered carrying gold thread and said with a smile, "Young Master's skill at expounding methods is high, but the Lineage has deliberately concealed it. How much can outsiders know? Once your cultivation succeeds and you become a Great Golden Core Adept of the immortal Dao, those seeking cultivation methods from you will likely trample down the threshold of our Coiling Dragon Pavilion."

Heng Hua's expression eased somewhat.

Hengshou looked at the tray of gold thread in puzzlement. "Where did it come from?"

"The Second Madam received a new batch of gold thread, intending to make treasure garments for the old master, the various masters, and the young masters. I shamelessly asked Aunt Lan for a tray in advance and promised to replenish the weaving room by the end of the month."

"Aunt is making treasure garments again?"

Heng Hua was somewhat surprised, but at the sight of the gold thread, he immediately cast his doubts aside.

"Good, good. It is enough that the gold thread has arrived. I'll compensate Aunt later. Quickly, you two go bathe. We begin at once."

The tribulation-avoiding garments of the Creation's Epoch-Reunion Art could not contain a single trace of human breath.

Any treasure garment or immortal garment that had been worn would strengthen the heavenly lightning's power because it carried living qi. After repeated experiments, Heng Hua eliminated feathered robes, straw rain capes, iron armor, copper hide, and one after another, until he finally found the "Jade Garment."

After burning incense and bathing, the three took their respective seats.

Hengshou carved the jade materials into pieces the size of mahjong tiles.

Xiaoyu used gold thread to weave the jade pieces together.

Finally, Heng Hua inscribed spirit glyphs across the surfaces of the jade pieces.

The three were exceedingly careful, not daring to let even the faintest trace of breath contaminate the Jade Garment.

They understood this from deep experience.

If even the tiniest bit of living qi contaminated it, the heavenly lightning's power would double.

This time differed from the past. It was the crucial item for Heng Hua to genuinely disperse his cultivation and begin anew. There could absolutely be no carelessness.

The three spent three days before completing the "Gilded Jade Garment."

"Tonight is the night."

Heng Hua put away the Jade Garment and gazed at the full moon that had just risen beyond the clouds.

"Tonight is the fifteenth, precisely the right time. We'll go to the back mountain. Hengshou, bring the jade axe and cut down the nanmu tree to make the coffin."

The days for avoiding tribulation had to be nights of the first or fifteenth. There could be no wind, rain, or thunder, and the Taiyin had to be dim or the bright moon shining high.

The location had to be a blessed spirit-acupoint, free of weeds and fire, far from water sources.

Then one dug a pit and buried the coffin. The person donned the Jade Garment, lay inside holding their breath, and confused the Dao of Heaven's perception. Only then could they successfully complete cultivation of the first tier, the Spirit Embryo Realm.

Supplement:

The Miscellany of Donglai stated: Eight hundred li east of the middle of the Dragonreach Waters lies Turtle-Burial Reef. Whenever Spirit Tortoises reach the end of their lifespans, they swim there to await death.