Immortality: Starting with the Fruit of Taiyin

Three days later, Wang Xuan returned to his small courtyard as usual.

As required, after a two-day delay, he formally reported his progress to the steward in charge of the lower courtyard disciples, indicating that he had entered the first level of Qi Refining.

Despite intentionally controlling the speed, he still managed to comprehend the first level of the Three Lights Qi Refining Method in three days, a level of comprehension that is still considered quite outstanding among his peers.

As a reward, Wang Xuan received three low-grade spirit stones and three bottles containing a total of thirty-six Yellow Sprout Pills.

Each of these common first-grade mid-level pills has a medicinal power roughly equivalent to the results of a week's cultivation of an ordinary mid-grade spiritual root. It can generally be digested within three days outside of normal cultivation.

It should be noted that, according to the records issued by the sect, elixirs in the world below the fifth grade are roughly divided into inferior (second-rate), first-rate, and superior (high-quality) based on the purity of their medicinal properties and the content of their toxicity.

Generally speaking, the difference between genuine and substandard products lies mainly in the amount of erysipelas, while the difference in medicinal efficacy is not significant.

The difference between premium and genuine products lies in the purity of the medicinal power. The former is not only refined faster, but also less likely to develop drug resistance, and its efficacy is also stronger.

The three bottles of Yellow Sprout Pills are all genuine pills produced by the Nanhua Sect. They are enough to save ordinary people half a year of hard cultivation, and even those with low-grade spiritual roots can save one or two years.

As Wang Xuan placed the reward money into a storage bag, he couldn't help but sigh, realizing that the strength of the sect's disciples was not without reason.

……

Compared to Wang Xuan's above-average progress among his peers, his neighbor Chen Yao's cultivation speed truly opened his eyes.

After half a month of practice, I mastered the Basic Qi Induction Technique. After receiving the technique, I entered the beginner level in one day and advanced to the first level of Qi Refining.

Even after she officially began cultivating, Chen Yao's speed still exceeded that of ordinary mid-grade spiritual roots.

For a time, even the headmaster of the lower academy was alarmed, saying that this disciple had exceptional comprehension and that if it weren't for his poor spiritual root, he might have had a chance to form a core.

Even though she only has a mid-grade spiritual root, she may still have a chance to form a low-grade pseudo-core in the future, and then dominate the Chen Kingdom for hundreds of years.

To show his encouragement, the academy head personally allocated a batch of pills and spirit stones, which even tempted Wang Xuan.

It should be noted that, thanks to the evolution of the Dao Fruit, he directly bypassed the threshold of comprehending the cultivation method, and his entry into the field was instantaneous.

He could learn it in a day... However, after only a moment's thought, Wang Xuan ultimately waited two days.

Because while his peers might not be able to see it, he could see it clearly.

The head of the lower academy seems to value the so-called extraordinary comprehension, but in reality, it's just a superficial effort.

If Chen Yao were truly considered a potential Core Formation cultivator, he would have been exceptionally admitted to the inner sect long ago, or even listed as a true disciple.

Compared to this, what are these resources?

Since there is no actual promotion, it is nothing more than a show to boost the new disciples' enthusiasm for cultivation... Obviously, in the eyes of this Foundation Establishment Dean, any talk of fake Core Formation is just empty talk.

In the early stages of the path to immortality, comprehension seems important, but in reality, it's not that important.

Unless one possesses unparalleled talent in the various arts of cultivation, no amount of comprehension can compare to superior spiritual roots.

Chen Yao's highest Golden Spiritual Root is 28 points, which is slightly higher than Wang Xuan's, but clearly not enough.

"It's just that this headmaster has probably misjudged the situation."

"My fellow villager... is not that simple."

He was filled with emotion, but Wang Xuan did not show it.

He simply continued to visit every now and then, trying to build a good relationship with this fellow villager, whether through the presence of an elderly woman or some other connection.

Even without Chen Yao as a role model, and even if the other party were to directly enter the inner sect based on that, Wang Xuan would actually be reluctant to put himself in the spotlight.

When one's cultivation level is still low, the more people pay attention to him, the easier it is for him to cause trouble that he cannot handle.

……

More than half a year later.

The Nanhua Lower Temple recruits disciples only once every three years.

In just six months, the newly initiated disciples gradually shed their naivety.

Some conflicts had also broken out around the Second Academy, seemingly related to the senior disciples opening tutoring classes, but they all ended hastily in the end.

Clearly, the sect chose to let it go.

You can't learn by being taught, but you can learn by doing.

Wang Xuan did not participate in this, and the sharp-mouthed youth never came to cause trouble, whether he held a grudge or had already forgotten about it.

He simply lived a secluded life, practicing asceticism in seclusion.

Courtyard B, Quiet Room.

Dressed in a white robe, Wang Xuan sat quietly on a prayer mat.

The purest and most yin-like magical power flows through the meridians, nourishing them while washing away impurities from the body.

This self-created technique, which he eventually named the "Taiyin Jade Scroll," was more suitable for nighttime practice, but it was not impossible to practice during the day.

Except when you first begin cultivating and planting the 'seed of Dharma,' the stars and moon at night only serve to accelerate your cultivation.

Especially after sacrificing the magical power gained from three bottles of Yellow Sprout Pills, Wang Xuan endowed his 'Moonlight Bracelet' with the true concept of [First Order - Moonlight].

In this way, even though it is still not as fast as at night, the cultivation speed is increased by 10% out of nowhere.

"call--"

"Almost there... Level 2 Qi Refining, give it to me—hmm?"

With a slight thought, Wang Xuan became completely focused.

Having broken through to a new level for the first time in his life, he was prepared to face all kinds of outcomes.

However, the next moment, the flow of magical power in his meridians was completely unimpeded, just as usual, as if nothing had happened.

Only his spiritual pressure trembled slightly, then became several degrees stronger than before.

"¿"

Wang Xuan slowly opened his closed eyes, somewhat surprised.

In the early stages of immortal cultivation, Qi Refining and Foundation Building are each divided into nine levels. After Core Formation, there are only early, middle, and late stages.

Although the second level of Qi Refining is arguably the least noticeable bottleneck, under normal circumstances, even a mid-grade spiritual root would have to test it out before breaking through in one fell swoop.

It's normal for it to take a whole day, from start to finish.

Unexpectedly, when it came to him, he didn't even sense the existence of a bottleneck and just broke through it in one go.

"this……"

"Well... it's a bit unexpected, but thinking about it, it makes sense."

"Isn't this the greatest benefit of advanced cultivation techniques?"

After concentrating his mind and repeatedly confirming that there was no problem with his breakthrough, Wang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief.

The bottleneck seems to be nonexistent, which seems incredible, but it's not actually that mysterious.

Many independent cultivators in the cultivation world believe that high-level cultivation techniques mean fast cultivation speed and strong combat power among those at the same level. However, the truth is actually quite the opposite.

If the strength of one's abilities is indeed influenced by the techniques one uses, then the idea that one can cultivate quickly is pure nonsense.

The so-called emperor's golden carrying pole is probably nothing more than this.

After all, in the eyes of independent cultivators, the biggest obstacle to their cultivation is probably the speed at which they accumulate magical power, so the divine skills and ultimate techniques they envision are the best remedy for this problem.

In reality, for the true disciples of major sects who cultivate high-level techniques, their worst spiritual roots are top-grade, and they may even have earth spiritual roots, heaven spiritual roots, or various spiritual bodies.

Is accumulating magical power a problem for them?

Of course, that's not a problem.

Compared to magical power, the real issue is the probability of breaking through to a higher realm, and the speed of breaking through to a lower realm...

"It is said that after forming the core, even without the aid of pills, it takes no more than a hundred years to reach the threshold of the middle stage of the core formation."

"In comparison, a single mid-stage bottleneck can trap a pseudo-core cultivator to death, and force ninety percent of true core cultivators to endure a hundred years of torment... and that's only because their cultivation techniques are inherently extraordinary!"

"If advanced cultivation techniques really sacrifice their ability to weaken bottlenecks in order to accelerate the accumulation of mana... then it is very likely that mana will be quickly maxed out, but the bottleneck will be so strong that even breakthrough pills cannot save it."

"This is a perfect example of losing the big picture for the sake of small gains."

Shaking his head slightly, Wang Xuan felt relieved now that he understood the cause and effect.

Breaking through to the second level of Qi Refining in just over half a year is considered fast among outer sect disciples, but it's nothing special among inner sect disciples.

Generally speaking, a mid-grade spiritual root can enter the second level of Qi Refining in one year, the third level in two years, and reach the threshold of the mid-stage of Qi Refining in three years. On average, it takes six years, followed by another month to a year of further training to complete the breakthrough. A high-grade spiritual root, on the other hand, only takes about half the time and does not have a mid-stage bottleneck.

This result does not take into account elixirs, high-level spiritual veins, demonic secret techniques, etc., and is also an average value.

Even among top-grade spiritual roots, the strength can differ by up to 18 points, not to mention the influence of individual diligence and luck when breaking through bottlenecks.

Over time, this will ultimately affect a person's achievements.

……

Another six months have passed, and more than a year has passed since I entered the Nanhua Sect.

After spending his fourteenth birthday in the quiet room, Wang Xuan finished his practice and got up.

His black hair was casually tied up, and now that he was getting older, his eyebrows and eyes held a certain elegance and handsomeness reminiscent of ancient scholars.

It will take more than half a year to reach the third level of Qi Refining, and it will be difficult to break through in a short period of time.

Wang Xuan strolled out of the courtyard, preparing to visit the Sutra Repository again.

Baiyun Mountain is no longer unfamiliar to him, and his spiritual practice has been put on the right track.

Being in the lower courtyard, the chores that outer disciples are required to do are still voluntary, so there doesn't seem to be anything to worry about at the moment.

However, those who do not plan for the future will surely have trouble in the present.

While Wang Xuan could gain an advantage with just one cultivation technique, it was by no means a sure thing.

If one relies solely on meditation and qi cultivation, even those with superior spiritual roots will find it difficult to successfully establish a foundation, let alone advance further.

The path to immortality involves external things: wealth, techniques, companions, and land. The sect provides the spiritual veins, and the cultivation techniques have been resolved. All that remains is to acquire wealth...

If given the chance, Wang Xuan would always want to see if he has any talent in the various arts of cultivation.

If so, that would be best.

But if not...

"If not, I'll have to resort to my 'cheat code' again."

He shook his head slightly, a hint of helplessness in his voice.

Wang Xuan currently has no way to obtain the essence blood of demonic beasts, and even if he did, he couldn't afford it.

Therefore, if he wants to use the power of the "Dao Fruit", he can only do so by sacrificing his own cultivation or essence.

"Indeed, we should open source it as soon as possible."

With a sigh, having made up his mind, Wang Xuan pushed open the door and went out.

He originally intended to go to the library to find the corresponding texts, but unexpectedly, at that moment, something in his storage bag at his waist suddenly flickered slightly.

A hint of doubt flashed in Wang Xuan's eyes. He reached out and grabbed a jade talisman, which immediately appeared in his hand.

"This is……"

"Han Cheng's communication talisman?"

squeak-

There was a commotion at the gate of the neighboring courtyard, and Chen Yao, who had grown noticeably taller than a year ago, pushed the gate open and came out.

Coincidentally, she was also holding the same communication talisman in her hand.

"Oh, looks like you received it too."

The girl lightly tapped her chin and casually asked:

"It's an invitation to the Foundation Establishment 'Grand Ceremony'... Heh, Foundation Establishment is also called the 'Grand Ceremony,' and it's two years from now."

"So, are you going to go take a look?"