Creating a paradise in an ant nest

Chapter 88 Qi Refining Level 5!

"Come with me."

As soon as Meng Yunxiang finished speaking, he turned and left, moving so fast that Liu He could only see his back flash by.

Despite his doubts, Liu He did not hesitate and quickly followed.

He was acquainted with Meng Kaizhou, but had barely spoken a few words to Meng Yunxiang. The disparity in their power and status was too great for them to be on equal footing.

A moment later, the two arrived at Meng Yunxiang's residence one after the other.

An exquisite three-story pagoda stands on a deserted mountaintop, with a sacred spring flowing nearby.

On one side of the mountain is the Spirit Tree Garden, a lush and verdant garden filled with towering spirit trees, and on the other side is the Flower and Grass Garden, a garden teeming with spirit flowers and herbs.

The pagoda is hexagonal in shape and more than three zhang tall.

The entire tower is constructed of gold-threaded white jade bricks, with red-lacquered ironwood beams and eaves covered with blue-patterned gray tiles. The tower tapers in layers, giving it a graceful and elegant outline.

The pagoda gate is carved with cloud patterns and auspicious beasts; crystal jade pendants hang from the eaves; the window frames are carved with intertwined celestial flowers; and the pagoda's spire holds a radiant, jewel-like pearl.

The entire pagoda is exquisitely carved, exuding a seamless and ethereal charm.

"Come in."

As Meng Yunxiang spoke, the tower gate opened automatically, and he stepped inside.

Liu He followed him inside and saw two pots of jade-leafed emerald bamboo placed on either side of the door, and a screen standing upright.

After passing the screen, one can see that the interior is furnished with tables, chairs, and utensils, all made of spirit wood.

Meng Yunxiang sat down in the main seat and pointed to the side: "Sit."

"Manager Meng, this disciple dares not presume to answer."

Liu He was being polite, but he was also genuinely a little apprehensive. It was his first time visiting Meng Yunxiang's residence, and he didn't dare to be too casual.

Seeing his reaction, Meng Yunxiang chuckled and said, "You don't need to be nervous. I'm just asking you a few questions."

"Steward Meng, please ask whatever you wish; I will answer to the best of my knowledge."

"You're under Pang Qing and Commander Fu's command, aren't you?"

"I am indeed an outer disciple under Deacon Pang and Senior Brother Fu."

"As a forest ranger, all logging and timber harvesting in the forest area passes through your hands. Have you noticed anything unusual?"

Meng Yunxiang asked this question.

Ok?

Upon hearing this question, Liu He's heart skipped a beat. Could it be that Meng Yunxiang had discovered the affair between Pang Qing and Fu Shuai?

This is a difficult question to answer.

Why did Meng Yunxiang ask this question? Was he helping Pang Qing, or was he trying to get back at Pang Qing?

Although Liu He and Meng Kaizhou were acquainted, he wasn't so naive as to think that Meng Yunxiang was necessarily a good person on his side.

You can know a person's face but not their heart, and besides, he and Meng Yunxiang were not familiar with each other at all.

If he were to reveal all his suspicions about Pang Qing and Marshal Fu, he would be in big trouble.

First of all, he was just guessing based on a few clues, without any evidence.

Secondly, if he had suspected it all along, why didn't he report it to the sect sooner?

Finally, if Meng Yunxiang was Pang Qing's backer and was here to test him, wouldn't he be putting himself in danger? Although the possibility of this was very small, why would a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator test him, a mere fourth-level Qi Refining outer disciple, in such a way?

"Manager Meng, I have been diligent and law-abiding in the forest area. I have followed the rules of Lingzhi Peak in logging and timber collection, and I have left a certificate for everything. There has been nothing unusual."

Liu He decided to pretend he knew nothing.

"I see—then you can go back now. If you find anything unusual, feel free to come find me anytime."

Meng Yunxiang said, waving his hand.

"Yes."

Liu He respectfully took his leave.

After Liu He left, Meng Yunxiang muttered softly, "You are a friend of my son Kaizhou, I hope you won't get involved."

He is indeed investigating Pang Qing's matter.

Recently, someone complained to Zheng Pingyu, the owner of Lingmu Garden, that Pang Qing is a member of a small Foundation Establishment family. He has been hiding his identity in the Qian Yuan Holy Sect for years, secretly accumulating huge amounts of spirit stones to provide to his family.

The complainant also provided various pieces of evidence showing that Pang Qing was involved in collusion with other sects that purchased spiritual plants.

Zheng Pingyu, the owner of Lingmu Garden, personally investigated the matter, while Meng Yunxiang, as the manager, assisted in and supported the investigation.

Pang Qing has eight inner disciples under his command, and Commander Fu is just one of them.

Meng Yunxiang had just begun his investigation and had not yet obtained any evidence, nor did he know which of Pang Qing's inner disciples was colluding with him.

He just happened to think of Liu He under Fu Shuai Mo, so he went to ask him about it.

Although he hadn't received any clues, he didn't care.

The main focus of the investigation was on Pang Qing himself. Liu He was merely a low-ranking outer disciple and a marginal figure under his command, and it was difficult for him to obtain any effective evidence.

As Liu He left Meng Yunxiang's three-story pagoda, he turned back to look at it from afar, a hint of envy in his eyes.

That three-tiered pagoda is a magical artifact.

Similar to the Wanqi Pavilion and Lingdan Pavilion in the Zongnei Market, it is a building-type spiritual artifact.

Its primary function is protection, and it also has some other auxiliary uses.

The higher a cultivator's level, the more concerned they are about their safety.

With a pagoda as a building-type spiritual artifact, one can cultivate and practice in peace without worrying about being disturbed or even attacked from the shadows.

As for low-level cultivators like Liu He, they could only meditate and practice in the wooden house, and had to constantly spare a bit of their attention to guard against the outside world.

Fortunately, Liu He had an ant nest.

Sometimes he meditates and cultivates in the magical cave deep inside the ant nest, which also provides the same protective effect.

"Compared to this three-tiered pagoda, my anthill's box-shaped magical artifact is too crude and rudimentary."

He was comparing them subconsciously.

As soon as he entered the three-story pagoda, he immediately sensed that the concentration of spiritual energy inside was higher and more abundant than that outside.

The three-tiered pagoda has the effect of gathering the surrounding spiritual energy, similar to a spirit-gathering array.

This is just one of the effects that Liu He noticed.

"My spirit artifact cave also has an advantage; it's big enough, haha."

he thought.

Meng Yunxiang's three-story pagoda is only about three zhang tall, with an interior area of ​​about one hundred square meters.

His magical artifact cave, from his perspective, is a cave with a ceiling ten zhang high and a floor fifteen zhang long and wide.

"Go back and cultivate diligently. It will come, it will all come."

Liu He doesn't need to envy others' architectural artifacts; he'll get better ones sooner or later.

As for the matter of Pang Qing and Marshal Fu.

Although he hoped that Fu Shuai's affair would be exposed and that he would receive the punishment he deserved, he did not want to be the "foot soldier" at the forefront of the storm.

His idea was indeed somewhat selfish.

Better safe than sorry; he didn't want to put himself in danger.

Ten days have passed in the blink of an eye.

The ant nest is located in the magical artifact cave.

Liu He was breaking through the bottleneck of the fifth level of Qi Refining, and Jiu You was "protecting" him outside the door.

He circulated his cultivation technique repeatedly, and finally condensed the fortieth strand of spiritual energy in his dantian.

However, this was only the fourth level of Qi Refining, not the fifth level.

He didn't stop, following the instructions in the "Gathering Spirit and Qi Technique" to circulate forty strands of spiritual energy through the meridians and acupoints along a specific route.

The bottleneck from the fourth to the fifth level of Qi Refining is not difficult to overcome.

In just the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Liu He mastered the trick.

Forty strands of spiritual energy form a complete cycle, perfectly harmonious and fulfilling.

It flows through the meridians and acupoints of the whole body, through the limbs and bones, and into the dantian (lower abdomen), where it circles in a specific pattern. Like forty agile snakes, it swiftly passes by, "drawing" a three-dimensional pattern in the dantian.

"Buzz~~"

Liu He's bones and muscles throbbed, and his physical strength and spiritual power underwent a slight improvement, officially breaking through to the fifth level of Qi Refining!

"Six years after joining the sect, and three years after arriving at the Spirit Wood Garden, I have reached the fifth level of Qi Refining."

He was filled with joy.

"I wonder how long it will take to break through to the sixth level of Qi Refining."

When you're at the fourth level of Qi Refining, you're thinking about the fifth level; when you're at the fifth level, you're thinking about the sixth level.

The path of cultivation is endless, especially since he is only in the mid-stage of Qi Refining.

Upon reaching the fifth level of Qi Refining, forty strands of spiritual energy resided within his dantian.

When one condenses one hundred and twenty strands of spiritual energy, one can break through to the sixth level of Qi Refining.

Based on Liu He's efficiency of condensing a wisp of spiritual energy every two months, it would take him thirteen years to break through to the sixth level of Qi Refining.

"No wonder the higher one's cultivation level, the slower the progress becomes."

he thought.

Fortunately, there was an ant nest; otherwise, he would have had a hard time even breaking through to the late stage of Qi Refining, let alone Foundation Establishment.

"Boom!"

Suddenly, the magical artifact cave beneath Liu He's feet trembled slightly.

"What's going on?"

He exclaimed in surprise that this had never happened in the three years he had been at Spiritwood Garden.

He dashed out of the cave and was met head-on by Jiu You, who rushed in like a phantom.

"Hiss~~"

Jiuyou didn't know what had happened either. Seeing the entire ant nest shaking outside, he rushed in to protect Liu He.

At this moment, outside the spirit artifact cave, the ant nest, which was densely covered with crisscrossing tunnels, was shaking and trembling, and pebbles and soil were falling down in a flurry.

Every now and then, bits of soil crumble from the rock face.

Without the protection of magical artifacts, the underground ant nest appears somewhat dangerous.

"Quickly take the queen ant to the spirit artifact cave for protection!"

Liu He ordered the ant soldiers to take the ant queen into the spirit artifact cave.

Originally, the Red Queen lived with Liu He in the Spirit Artifact Cave. Later, the Ant Nest did not encounter any danger in the Spirit Wood Garden, and Liu He's wooden house was right next to it.

Later, Liu He's spirit artifact cave house was expanded to include the Eight Desolations and the Nine Netherworlds. He also frequently cultivated and practiced magic in the spirit artifact cave house. Since the space was not spacious enough, he asked the Red Queen to move to the nest room next to the spirit artifact cave house.

The Red Queen is very close to the Spirit Artifact Cave, so she can enter quickly if danger occurs.

A moment later, a group of ant soldiers escorted the Red Queen into the Spirit Artifact Cave.

The shaking of the entire anthill continued.

"Woof~"

Bahuang, who was originally in the miniature spiritual plant garden outside, sensed the earthquake and hurriedly ran back to the spiritual artifact cave deep in the ant nest.

"Don't worry, our spiritual artifact cave is very sturdy. You can stay here without worry. I'll go outside and check."

After calming down the Eight Desolations, the Nine Netherworlds, and the Queen Ant, Liu He traveled back to reality.

His magical artifact cave was forged using second-tier magical artifact materials, so its sturdiness is self-evident; even if the entire ground collapsed, it would remain intact.