Immortality and Cultivation: Starting with Improving Spiritual Root Aptitude

The cultivation technique "Crimson Fire Technique" states that when a cultivator's cultivation level breaks through to the late stage of Qi Refining, they can mobilize the spiritual power in their dantian and release it externally.

However, at this stage, the release of spiritual power is still somewhat crude. It can only disperse throughout the body and is difficult to control precisely. It is also impossible to condense into various forms with practical combat value, such as lines, balls, and blades. Its practicality is far inferior to the solid spiritual power of the eighth or ninth level of Qi Refining.

However, this is undoubtedly a hallmark ability of the late stage of Qi Refining, and also the most fundamental difference between it and the early and middle stages of Qi Refining.

Reaching this point means that Wu Fan's combat strength will experience a qualitative leap.

Just like controlling a magical artifact, in the early stages of Qi Refining, one needs to firmly attach spiritual power to the artifact, making it extremely difficult to control. In the middle stages of Qi Refining, although one has spiritual awareness as an aid and the sensitivity of controlling the artifact increases greatly, it is still controlled indirectly by the spiritual power within the body. However, in the late stages of Qi Refining, it is different; one can directly wrap the artifact with externally released spiritual power.

It's like controlling one remotely with a thread, and holding it directly in your hand; the difference is self-evident.

The precision and explosiveness of the control are far beyond what the first two minor levels can match.

Although he had broken through to the next level, Wu Fan did not get up to stretch his muscles and bones. Instead, he closed his eyes again and entered a meditative state, focusing his mind on cultivation.

After all, a newly advanced cultivator's foundation is not yet stable. Only by thoroughly calming and refining the restless spiritual energy around them can they truly control their late-stage Qi Refining cultivation and avoid falling back to the mid-stage Qi Refining stage, or causing their realm to become unstable, thus hindering their subsequent progress towards the ninth level of Qi Refining or even the Foundation Establishment stage.

Inside the room, spiritual energy began to slowly swirl around Wu Fan, flowing into his body with his breath, nourishing his newly broken-through dantian and meridians. His aura became increasingly stable and restrained.

......

Meanwhile, the night was deep, and it was already past 3:45 AM.

In the dimly lit room on the top floor of a small brick building in Luoxing Valley Market, seven figures sat in a circle. They were the seven of the ten people who had participated in the exchange meeting with Wu Fan.

The three who were absent were Wu Fan, Zhao Xuan, and Lin Shu.

From the second seat, Gao Xu spoke first:

"Today's trade fair has caught a big fish. Zhao Xuan is a talisman master, and he spent extremely generously at the fair, so he must be quite wealthy. When we leave the market together and set off, we'll take action and seize his life and his storage bag at the same time."

As soon as he finished speaking, the other five nodded in agreement, their eyes revealing nothing but greed.

As independent cultivators, they were already short of resources. Zhao Xuan, as a talisman master, could exchange even the low-level talismans he casually made for a lot of spirit stones, so he naturally became the fattest piece of meat in their operation.

Only Fu Qianyu remained cautious and asked:

"Second Brother, but that Lin Shu is a wary girl. She declined to come with us today. What if she acts alone and we can't make a move?"

Gao Xu scoffed, his tone disdainful:

"That little girl looks like a cultivator from that small family, but her cultivation level is only at the fourth level of Qi Refining. Although she is a bit wary, she can't cause any trouble. No problem, Sixth Brother and Seventh Sister, you two go and keep an eye on her. Once she leaves the market area, take her down immediately. Don't let her get away."

"Yes, Second Brother!"

Ding Cheng and Tang Xin agreed in unison.

At the exchange meeting, Ding Cheng, who seemed honest and simple, had completely lost his naivety. His eyes were full of excitement and lewdness, and he unconsciously stuck out his tongue to lick the corner of his mouth, looking impatient.

Tang Xin glanced at him, her disdain undisguised, but it was fleeting, and she ultimately said nothing more.

At this moment, Fu Qianyu remembered someone else and added:

"Brother, and that kid named Liu Xi, he seems quite composed, unlike ordinary rogue cultivators. He seems more like a cultivator from a powerful family. Should we keep an eye on him too?"

Master Zhou, who had been sitting to the side, fiddling with his prayer beads and meditating with his eyes closed, suddenly opened his eyes, a glint of shrewdness flashing in them:

"That kid, I could tell he was no ordinary person the moment I saw him today. He was cautious and composed. Although he was in a difficult situation at the trade fair, he couldn't hide the calmness in his eyes. I don't know if he was really short of money or if he was just pretending. But no matter what, since he participated in the trade fair with us and ended up in Falling Star Valley with us, and appeared in front of us, he's taken our bait. We can't let him escape so easily."

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded again, even Gao Xu, who was standing to the side, nodded slightly to Master Zhou.

"However, that kid didn't come with us, and he said he wasn't here to participate in the Star Ascension Ceremony, but just to find a job in the market."

Tang Xin, the only female cultivator present, frowned slightly and whispered a reminder.

She was calm and collected, and noticed what Liu Xi said today.

Master Zhou paused in his hand as he was fiddling with the prayer beads, and said with great certainty:

"He's definitely lying. At this time of year, most cultivators who come to Falling Star Valley Market are here for the Star Ascension Conference. If he really just came to Falling Star Valley Market to find a job, why not let him go?"

"What you say is very true, elder brother."

Fu Qianyu quickly echoed.

Upon seeing this, Gao Xu immediately made a decision:

"Then let's proceed according to the previous personnel arrangement. It would be best if we could defeat them one by one. At that time, the seven of us from Mangshan will act together. If not, my eldest brother, third brother, and I will deal with Zhao Xuan first. He is a talisman master, so we need to finish him off quickly to prevent him from using a large number of talismans to retaliate and escape. Sixth brother and seventh sister, you two should keep an eye on that little girl Lin Shu. Although her cultivation is low, we also need to finish her off quickly and not delay. Fourth brother and fifth brother, you two are responsible for keeping an eye on Liu Xi. Fifth brother, secretly monitor his movements, find out his daily whereabouts, and investigate his background. Fourth brother, you should deliberately interact with him, pretend to be on good terms, and try to find out his true strength and background."

"Yes, Second Brother!"

Sun Leiluo and Fu Qianyu both responded in unison, but when Fu Qianyu turned to look at Sun Leiluo, his expression revealed a hint of unease.

Gao Xu swept his gaze across the crowd, his tone becoming serious:

"After today, apart from the presence of those three, we should not meet or gather in private. We must be careful in our words and actions, and not give anything away that might arouse their suspicion. If the plan is exposed, it may not be so easy for us to make our move when we arrive at the Star Ascension Ceremony in Falling Star Valley."

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions tightened, and they all nodded in agreement.

Afterwards, Gao Xu carefully broke down the details of the subsequent operation, agreed on the code words and meeting point for everyone, and the group discussed in hushed tones for half an hour before quietly leaving the pavilion under the cover of night.