Cultivation begins with alchemy and collecting runes.

This year's task of collecting medicinal powder has come to an end.

Li Xiuyuan doesn't need to worry about paying his monthly quota for the time being.

"I need to focus all my efforts on breaking through to the third level of Qi Refining during this period!"

In the quiet little house.

Li Xiuyuan sat astride a futon woven from bamboo and grass, his eyes slightly closed, concentrating his mind and holding a low-grade spirit stone in his hand.

The luster of the spirit stone is rapidly fading.

In just thirty breaths.

He gradually absorbed and refined the spiritual energy within the spirit stone.

Li Xiuyuan opened his eyes and looked at the panel deep in his sea of ​​consciousness.

[Immortal Lord: Li Xiuyuan]

Lifespan: 30/32

[Spiritual Root: Mid-grade Fire Spiritual Root (Twelve Strands of Fire Spiritual Aura)]

[Realm: Qi Refining Level 2: 90/100]

His face was serene, as if he had experienced many hardships.

"Using spirit stones for cultivation is still a bit extravagant!"

Fortunately, my cultivation level has improved, so I have gained something overall.

The spiritual energy in the cultivation world is mostly free-flowing and uncontrolled, and also mixed and chaotic.

If a low-level cultivator wants to make it work for them, they must rely on their spiritual roots, circulate their cultivation techniques, and remove impurities from its essence.

It purifies and refines the unruly and impure spiritual energy from the outside world into its own magical power.

The amount of spiritual essence contained in a spiritual root determines the efficiency with which a cultivator can refine the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

In this world, the human race is born with all five elements, depending on the amount of spiritual energy within their bodies.

Cultivation aptitude is divided into five grades: Heaven, Earth, Upper, Middle, and Lower.

Nine strands or less constitute a low-grade spiritual root, and by analogy, a heavenly spiritual root requires no less than forty-five strands of innate spiritual essence.

Li Xiuyuan possessed twelve innate fire-elemental spiritual essences, making him a mid-grade spiritual root.

"The power of runes is so lovely."

He didn't need to expend any effort to purify the rune 'Mixed Mana'; he could refine it directly.

Therefore, he was always extremely excited whenever he faced the tedious and boring task of alchemy.

After all, this is not only a source of cultivation resources, but also a way to generate magical power to improve one's cultivation level.

"A single 'mixed magic power' rune is equivalent to more than half a year of my arduous cultivation. Now I have four on me, plus ten spirit stones, which allows me to attempt to break through to the third level of Qi Refining."

He cleared his mind of distractions and calmed his spirit.

He focused his divine sense on the four white runes deep within his sea of ​​consciousness.

[Grain-Closing Pill [White Rune]: Mixed Mana x4 (Refinable)]

The next moment, he consumed a 'mixed mana'.

Even though Li Xiuyuan was already used to it, he was still thrilled when a surge of magical power arose in his dantian.

His pure magical power, repeatedly tempered and refined by the "Minor Forging and Refining Fire Technique," slowly circulated throughout his body according to the technique.

The cycle repeats itself, returning to the dantian.

The "Minor Forging and Refining Fire Technique" is not some profound or mysterious skill.

It was a common product distributed by the Dan Ding Sect to the servants in the Dan Hall.

Its main purpose is to make the furnace fire burn brightly and sustain its energy for a long time. Its power is average, but the speed of cultivation is acceptable.

It has neither any advantages nor any disadvantages.

It's like spoiled food; it won't kill you, at most it'll give you diarrhea.

As the main cultivation technique, it is not particularly outstanding compared to other cultivators of the same level.

That suits the temperament of a patriarch from a prominent family; capable and reliable.

Having spent so many years navigating the world of cultivation, Li Xiuyuan has his own insights.

Cultivation techniques, spiritual objects, magical treasures, elixirs, and many other cultivation resources are all controlled by powerful families and prestigious sects.

For example, the Blazing Fire Sect, a superior sect with a Golden Core cultivator in charge, is responsible for eating meat in large quantities.

The remaining rogue cultivators couldn't even get their hands on leftovers; they mostly just smelled the aroma, and their main focus was on creating an "atmosphere."

Just like producers and decomposers in the ecology of a previous life.

Unless one is a genius blessed by the heavens.

Otherwise, without a background or powerful backer, it's difficult to climb the ladder of immortality.

Even cultivation sects like the Dan Ding Sect are willing to go to any lengths to curry favor with the Lie Huo Sect and be at their beck and call.

All of this is for the sake of taking one more step on the path to immortality.

……

Li Xiuyuan consumed one 'Mixed Mana' rune and found that his gradually increasing pool of spiritual energy was still not full.

He was not discouraged and refined another rune.

The technique is activated, refining the pure magical power flowing within the body for one's own use.

Gradually, I sensed wisps of spiritual energy emerging from my dantian, as if an invisible barrier was blocking the upper limit of the spiritual energy pool.

Li Xiuyuan knew he was just one step away from success; this was the bottleneck!

Without hesitation, he decisively took out the remaining three spirit stones from the small black pouch in his pocket and crushed them with both palms.

The next moment, a pure spiritual energy permeated his body.

He quickly activated his cultivation technique, continuously transferring and refining the surrounding spiritual energy into his body.

Soon, the spiritual energy in his dantian continued to increase, and he was just one step away from reaching his limit.

Li Xiuyuan knew that this was due to insufficient spiritual energy. He touched the two white runes deep in his sea of ​​consciousness with his divine sense and refined them in an instant.

The next moment, a pure spiritual energy, no less than that brought by the spirit stone, was generated from his limbs and bones.

He dared not be distracted, silently reciting the incantation of the cultivation technique, circulating this spiritual energy throughout his body, and slowly refining it for his own use.

Half an hour later.

"Phew, Qi Refining Level 3!"

Li Xiuyuan exhaled a breath of turbid air, feeling that the hidden injuries and chronic illnesses accumulated over the years had all been healed as he broke through his cultivation level.

He then spent another half a day stabilizing his cultivation.

He used his divine sense to look at the area in his sea of ​​consciousness, and several lines of large characters appeared on the panel.

[Immortal Lord: Li Xiuyuan]

Lifespan: 30/32

[Spiritual Root: Mid-grade Fire Spiritual Root (Twelve Strands of Fire Spiritual Aura)]

[Realm: Qi Refining Level 3: 1/100]

[Cultivation Technique: Lesser Yuan Refining Fire Technique, Advanced Level: 89/100]

Only after confirming that he had indeed made a breakthrough did he slowly get up.

His current cultivation level is still unremarkable in the market, but at least he can protect himself.

Although there are many cultivators in Shanyang Market, most of them are beginner cultivators.

The next level up is the mid-stage of Qi Refining, which is no easy feat.

The spiritual energy required to break through to the mid-stage is not enough with just a dozen or so spirit stones.

With his unremarkable mid-grade spiritual root aptitude, if he didn't receive any special help in this life, he would be considered extremely fortunate if he could cultivate to the sixth level of Qi Refining by the time he died.

He usually earns spirit stones by taking on missions, and also sells medicinal powders privately.

With only enough left over from paying the rent for the cave dwelling and the annual corvée tax to barely make ends meet, where would they find the extra money to improve their cultivation?

As far as he knew, the rent for the cave dwelling and the corvée tax were one of the means by which the Blazing Fire Sect controlled the many markets under its jurisdiction.

Now things are fine. These things have little to do with Li Xiuyuan. With the panel by his side, he can earn enough spirit stones by refining pills to meet his cultivation needs.

After his cultivation level broke through, he began practicing the fireball technique in the courtyard.

After all, this is his only means of attack!

Fireball +1

Fireball +1

Fireball +1

……

As the sun set, Li Xiuyuan, who had been practicing diligently all day, also felt exhausted.

[Fireball Skill Proficiency 170/300]

Looking at the results on the panel, he was about to take a break.

Just then, someone knocked on his courtyard gate.

He got up and opened the door, only to find that the person who came in was Su Sanmei, who lived on the same street.

Upon seeing Li Xiuyuan, Su Sanmei asked with a grin, "Fellow Daoist Li, a very important person has arrived on our street!"

Su Sanmei, carrying two large bags, looked around and said, "You're incredibly rude. Is this how you treat guests?"

Li Xiuyuan then came to his senses, looked around, and finding no one else, said repeatedly, "Come, come, come in and sit down!"

Su Sanmei then handed the jug of wine she was carrying to Li Xiuyuan, saying irritably, "Why are you sitting down!"

"A new neighbor moved in nearby, didn't you know?"

Li Xiuyuan casually took the wine pot, his expression indifferent.

"A new neighbor, or someone important?"

Su Sanmei could tell from his appearance that Li Xiuyuan hadn't left the house in a long time and wasn't as well-informed as her.

He sighed and pointed at Li Xiuyuan, saying, "You should go out more often and not always stay cooped up at home."

"A cultivator moved into the alley a few days ago, and he's a genuine array master!"

"A formation master?"

Among the myriad arts of cultivating immortality, alchemy, array formations, talismans, and artifacts are the most revered.

Formations are the most profound and difficult to learn.

"Only those with exceptional talent and keen insight can grasp its essence; only those with meticulous attention to detail and a profound understanding of the universe can achieve its mastery."

This is an evaluation of array masters that Li Xiuyuan saw in "The Complete Encyclopedia of Basic Knowledge in the Cultivation World".

It also reads, "The methods of a formation master are profound; they can trap and kill enemies of higher levels, gather spiritual energy to advance their own level, stabilize space, and even seal powerful enemies..."

The spirit-gathering array that Li Xiuyuan saw at the Spirit Treasure Pavilion that day was a low-grade array of the lowest level.

Its restrictions can capture the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and increase the concentration of spiritual energy within the formation.

That low-grade spirit-gathering array alone is worth three hundred spirit stones!

Array masters are also known as the "walking spirit stone mines" of the cultivation world.

"How could someone of his stature be relegated to a position in the outer city?"

Li Xiuyuan asked, puzzled.

After all, the art of array formations is extremely difficult to master, requiring a great deal of effort to study array diagrams and restrictions.

Sufficient spiritual energy is also required to support the operation of the formation, which is why there are very few formation masters who are originally rogue cultivators in the cultivation world.

Because whether it's an individual cultivator's advancement or the survival and development of a sect, both are inseparable from array masters, whose role is irreplaceable.

Once such a person appears, all factions vie to win him over and treat him as an honored guest.

They were treated with great respect and held a superior status, far surpassing other cultivators of the same level. There was a saying that "one man can hold the pass against ten thousand."

At least Li Xiuyuan had never heard of the name of an array master within the Dan Ding Sect.

"He must be an array master who hasn't reached the next level yet?" Li Xiuyuan asked hesitantly.

"It's said he's temporarily staying here while traveling, but they wouldn't reveal such details!"

"Hey, you're always interrupting. Hurry up and prepare a gift so we can visit and get to know each other better."

Su Sanmei urged him on, slightly annoyed.

"So you invited me to drink just as a side effect? ​​Or is it because of that formation master?"

Li Xiuyuan was speechless; people can actually laugh when they're speechless.

After a while.

Li Xiuyuan, dressed in a crisp black robe, walked through several alleys with Su Sanmei.

Arriving at a three-courtyard house, Su Sanmei knocked on the door softly.

soon.

The vermilion gate was pushed open from the inside.

A young cultivator in purple robes, exuding an air of nobility, appeared before the two.

He was around twenty years old and had reached the sixth level of Qi Refining cultivation.

Li Xiuyuan and his companion were taken aback, not expecting this person to be so young!

"Having heard that a fellow Daoist master has moved into a new residence, we two have come to pay a visit and get to know each other better. As the saying goes, a close neighbor is worse than a distant relative, haha."

Su Sanmei said eagerly.

The three exchanged pleasantries and introduced themselves.

The two then presented the gifts they were carrying.

Li Xiuyuan gave her ten mid-grade Bigu Pills, and Su Sanmei gave her one Qi-Nourishing Pill, plus a pot of her own brewed wine.

"It's just a small token of my appreciation; I hope you won't take offense, fellow Daoist."

The young man in purple accepted the gifts and stepped aside to invite the two inside.

"Fellow Daoists, there's no need for you to be so polite."

"It is fate that we meet. I am Liu Guanyi, and this is a small trinket."

The young man in purple took out two palm-sized copper coins from the embroidered brocade pouch at his waist.

He handed them to the two people respectively.

Li Xiuyuan politely accepted the copper coin and glanced at it briefly.

It was discovered that the copper coin was actually a semi-divine artifact.

Several restrictions are carved on it, seemingly to resist magical attacks.

"Is this a defensive magical artifact?"

Su Sanmei also noticed the extraordinary nature of the copper coin.

You should know that even the lowest-grade magic artifacts in the market are worth thirty or forty spirit stones.

Moreover, something that can defend against magic would cost at least a hundred spirit stones.

Although this copper coin is a semi-divine artifact and not yet of high grade, it is still quite valuable.

The array master truly lives up to his reputation as a "big spender" in the cultivation world, throwing around hundreds of spirit stones with ease—how extravagant!

The two looked at each other and both saw the awkwardness in each other's eyes.

Compared to the return gifts they received, the pills they offered were rather inadequate.

"It's more like they came here specifically to take advantage of the situation."

Fortunately, Fellow Daoist Liu didn't seem to mind.

"I am indeed a formation master. I recently broke through to the first-tier mid-grade formation master. These two copper coins are just some practice I made in my spare time. They are nothing special."

Liu Guanyi spoke with a hint of arrogance.

Array masters hold a high status; even unranked apprentices can make a fortune by creating basic arrays to aid their cultivation.

Not to mention that he is a mid-grade first-level array master.

Such figures are all honored guests of sects and aristocratic families.

This Fellow Daoist Liu is young and promising; he must be a person with extraordinary talent in array formations, and has great potential for advancement.

The future is limitless!

Such a person would be highly sought after by the Dan Ding Sect.

It was not something that Li Xiuyuan could have established a relationship with, such as Su Sanmei, who was a menial alchemist.

……

Half an hour later.

Feeling bored, Li Xiuyuan and Su Sanmei took their leave.

"This is so embarrassing!"

"How did you find out? Is Array Master Liu so young, and only a mid-grade array master?"

"How would I know?"

"Hey, don't call me again next time there's this kind of 'good thing'."

……