Living a peaceful life in the world of cultivation

Inside the cabin.

Lu Ping activated the Lesser Five Elements Technique, guiding the pure spiritual energy within the spiritual energy cluster to flow through his meridians and throughout his limbs and bones, nourishing and warming his body.

With each cycle, the physical body is quietly refined, the muscles and bones become more resilient and powerful, and the spiritual consciousness becomes more condensed.

After the Five Elements Technique has circulated for one cycle, the spiritual energy flows into the dantian.

Under the introspection of spiritual awareness, spiritual energy was gradually gathering in the dantian, like sand forming a tower.

Lu Ping's current cultivation level is still some distance from the completion of the fourth level of Qi Refining.

Before reaching the fourth level of Qi Refining, a single ball of spiritual energy obtained from the Rejuvenating Grass was equivalent to more than a month of his arduous cultivation; now that he has reached the fourth level of Qi Refining, and considering his spiritual awareness, cultivation level, and physical body, the ball of spiritual energy produced by the Rejuvenating Grass is barely equivalent to half a month of his arduous cultivation.

Just at the fourth level of Qi Refining, just entering the middle stage of Qi Refining, the demand for spiritual power is already so enormous. I really don't know what it will be like at the fifth level, the sixth level, and even the later stage of Qi Refining.

The demand for resources and spiritual energy in the mid-to-late stages of Qi Refining is absolutely beyond the means of ordinary independent cultivators and spirit plant masters to support their own cultivation.

"No wonder sects and cultivation families value spiritual roots and talents so much," Lu Ping murmured.

The lifespan of a Qi Refining cultivator is roughly the same as that of some long-lived mortals.

The speed of cultivation during the Qi Refining stage is determined by one's spiritual root aptitude. If a cultivator cannot complete the accumulation of spiritual power and reach the Qi Refining stage before the age of sixty, their Qi and blood will decline after the age of sixty, their spiritual consciousness will weaken, and their control over their physical body will drop significantly. At that time, it will be impossible for them to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage.

For the Huayang Sect, Foundation Establishment cultivators are an indispensable cornerstone; for the Yunzhu Li family, Foundation Establishment cultivators are the backbone.

Without building a foundation, one remains but an ant.

"I am thirty years old now, and there are still more than thirty years until the sixty-year mark, so there is still plenty of time."

Lu Ping calmed himself down, took out the Moon Dew Bottle, dripped the Moon Essence Dew inside into his eyes, and then activated the [Mysterious Sword Forging Divine Technique].

Half an hour later.

Lu Ping opened his eyes, his pupils shining with a clear and bright light, and the aura and spiritual energy around him became more substantial.

He rubbed his temples with both hands to relieve the headache.

At the perfected stage, the [Mysterious Sword Forging Divine Technique] still has an outstanding effect on tempering spiritual consciousness; however, as the Moon Dew is used more often, its effect on nourishing spiritual consciousness becomes worse and worse, and it is likely that before long, the effect of the Moon Dew will be almost non-existent.

The experience points gained last time were all used on the [Mysterious Sword Forging Technique] and [Sweet Rain Mist].

The proficiency level of [Mysterious Sword Forging Divine Technique] has reached the Perfect stage, and the proficiency level of [Sweet Rain Mist] has reached the Mastery stage.

"I don't know where in the market I can find a spiritual item like the Snow Toad Jade to aid in cultivation; as for the Spirit Nourishing Pill, I can start preparing for it."

Lu Ping also remembered that Manager Lu's notes recorded two spiritual items that aided in cultivating spiritual awareness: Snow Toad Jade and Spirit Nourishing Pill.

The plant growers in the market made a fortune during the last surge in the price of Rejuvenating Grass.

Therefore, his financial resources, such as being able to buy a bottle of Nourishing Spirit Pill, were not particularly eye-catching.

Moreover, with the Spirit Nourishing Pill and Moon Dew as his endorsement, others will assume that he is nurturing his spiritual consciousness in order to break through to the mid-stage of Qi Refining. When he demonstrates the cultivation level of the mid-stage of Qi Refining in the future, the scattered cultivators in the outer areas will not find it strange.

"Snow Toad Jade, Snow Toad Jade, just by hearing the name, you can tell it's related to the snow toad in the mountains. In addition, this kind of thing is rarely circulated in the market, so it must be extremely precious."

Having figured out the key to this matter, Lü Ping stopped worrying and went to sleep peacefully.

There are important matters to attend to tomorrow.

......

Lu Ping held a cup of hot tea in one hand and used the [Sweet Rain Mist] technique with the other.

A powerful and refined spiritual consciousness, coupled with mastery of the [Sweet Rain Mist] stage, provides the foundation for casting spells at will.

A bluish-white mist slowly enveloped the spirit plant, then merged into its body.

"Uncle Ping, I'm here."

Zhao Xiaofan knocked on the courtyard gate, and after receiving a response from Lü Ping, he pushed the gate open and entered.

"Come on in, come inside with me."

The weather was getting colder and colder, and the two houses were very close to each other. Zhao Xiaofan's face was red from the cold.

We entered the cabin.

Outside the window, the cold wind swirled snowflakes, while inside, the bamboo charcoal crackled and popped in the glowing stove.

On the table, in a copper pot, clear water bubbled and churned with white bubbles. On either side of the pot, slices of monster meat curled up with white edges, and in two small bowls were prepared dipping sauces.

The important thing today is to have a hot pot meal with Zhao Xiaofan.

After all, having cultivated immortality for several months, it's time to enjoy life.

This copper hot pot meat was bought from Xiangyunlou. Lu Ping thought he would have to explain it to the manager of Xiangyunlou, but he didn't expect that Xiangyunlou already had this kind of food.

"Wow, it's hot pot."

"Uncle Ping, this pot isn't cheap; it'll cost at least five spirit stones."

Zhao Dashan used to work at Xiangyunlou, so Zhao Xiaofan must have eaten there before.

Five spirit stones are not cheap for a rogue cultivator who is frugal with every spirit stone; but for Lü Ping, who has 187 low-grade spirit stones in his storage bag, they are not necessarily expensive.

However, of these 187 low-grade spirit stones, 40 belonged to Zhao Dashan's family. Lü Ping always remembered that he owed Zhao Dashan's family spirit stones.

They were just waiting for Zhao Dashan to return safely so that he could return the spirit stone to them in front of the family of three.

As the aroma gradually rose, the two uncles and nephews stopped thinking and began to feast.

The sliced ​​and scalded monster meat was then eaten by the two of them.

Before long, Zhao Xiaofan had only eaten a few pieces of monster meat before stopping.

The flesh of the demon beast contains spiritual power and blood essence. If Zhao Xiaofan eats too much, he will not be able to digest it and it will be detrimental to his health.

"Uncle Ping, where's Da Huang? I can't find him."

Zhao Xiaofan is still a child at heart; once he's full, all he wants to do is play.

"It's sleeping soundly in its den. It's cold, and this silly dog ​​doesn't want to move at all."

Lu Ping's words were a mixture of truth and falsehood.

Basically, whenever someone comes to the courtyard, Lü Ping will tell Da Huang to hide beforehand.

There's no other reason than that Dahuang is about the size of an adult water buffalo and is approaching maturity.

This abnormal growth rate must not be known to the other cultivators.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Lü Ping escorted Zhao Xiaofan back home.

As soon as they stepped out of the cabin, Big Yellow conveyed his thoughts.

[Master, I smell a very strong stench of blood. Several demonic beasts must have been killed to create such a strong smell.]

Rhubarb can smell blood; this innate ability far surpasses the enhanced senses of cultivators.

Not long after sending Zhao Xiaofan home, Lü Ping also smelled the blood.

clang.

The sound-transmitting gong was struck, and the sound spread throughout the entire outer area of ​​the market.

"Fellow Daoists, the demonic beasts that appeared in the Lingnong area and the mortal towns have been slain."

"This year, the snow is cold, and my Yunzhu Li family intends to establish a patrol guard team."

"Inspect the mortal towns, the Lingnong region, and the outskirts of the market."

"Those who join the patrol guard will be richly rewarded."

Lu Ping was deeply puzzled. In all the years that had passed, this was the first time he had ever seen the Li family form a patrol team. What was the real story behind it?

Just as I was pondering this, the familiar aroma wafted through the air once more.

The blood essence mixed with the fragrance of spiritual herbs was the Crimson Blood Ginseng from the spiritual soil, now mature.

[One Tier 1 Mid-Grade Spirit Plant, Crimson Blood Ginseng, has been harvested. Excellent condition. Tier 1 reward...]