Qiu Zu: From an apprentice in a medicine shop to an immortal ancestor.

An old monster's disciple?

Qiu Zhen held the 【Miro Palace】 jade token, smiling wryly.

He hadn't expected that his act of summoning thunder to eliminate evil cultivators would lead the Demon Suppression Division to recognize him as a terrifying old monster who had reached the 'Refining Qi into Divinity' realm.

In fact, it had alarmed the upper echelons of Changle Prefecture overnight, causing quite a stir.

An old monster of Refining Qi into Divinity...

Qiu Zhen pondered this carefully, finding it not entirely unexpected.

To cast the 【Qingwei Thunder Summoning Immediate Response Talisman】 and command thunder, one needed to awaken the 'human' life force—the primordial spirit.

With the decline of the talisman school, the absence of the legendary Heavenly Court's conferred registers, and Daoists and Dharma masters existing in name only, unable to act on behalf of Heaven and command thunder gods and thunder generals...

Cultivation levels were too low to easily summon heavenly thunder.

Only by awakening the 'primordial spirit,' uniting man with heaven and earth, could one induce celestial phenomena and call down heavenly thunder.

Normally, in internal alchemy cultivation, only those who reached 'Refining Qi into Divinity' could awaken the primordial spirit and master the magical power of summoning thunder.

It was no wonder that the Demon Suppression Division regarded him as a mysterious old monster.

Qiu Zhen shook his head, sending his divine sense into the 【Miro Palace】, transmitting a message:

"I'm hardly the disciple of some senior. If I truly had such good fortune, I wouldn't be so ignorant about the cultivation world."

"That's true."

Fairy Yun Rou sounded somewhat disappointed:

"Alas~ I was hoping you had some connection with a senior master, perhaps even a little sentimental bond, so we might have a backer in the future."

"Amitabha."

Monk Zhen Kong smiled:

"Such great senior cultivators generally aren't actively provoked by the imperial court. They roam freely between heaven and earth, honing their minds. Their greatest opponent is themselves. Meeting one is a matter of fate; not meeting one is perfectly normal."

Qiu Zhen secretly found it amusing.

The person is right in front of you, but you don't realize it.

In other words, they wouldn't even entertain such a guess, never daring to imagine that the old monster who commanded thunder was actually a 'wild fox Zen' who had just entered the Yin Spirit stage and knew nothing about the cultivation world.

Seeing that Qiu Zhen didn't know much about the 'Refining Qi into Divinity' old monster, the two didn't dwell on the topic. They quickly changed the subject, discussing cultivation issues.

These days, Qiu Zhen had been talking with Apothecary An, gaining a lot and broadening his horizons.

Moreover, with the primordial spirit's Dharma body summarizing and analyzing, his understanding of the path of cultivation, internal alchemy, and the Mind Cultivation and Wisdom Sword Demon Slaying became increasingly profound.

Sometimes, when he shared his insights, Fairy Yun Rou and Monk Zhen Kong would listen attentively, gaining much.

"Having fellow Daoists to discuss and debate is far better than cultivating behind closed doors. Today, this humble monk has gained a lot."

Monk Zhen Kong chanted a Buddhist prayer.

"Agreed!"

Qiu Zhen nodded slightly; he had also gained a lot.

The Dharma gate cultivated by Monk Zhen Kong focused on reciting mantras (oral secrets), forming mudras (body secrets), and visualizing (mind secrets), cultivating the 'body, speech, and mind' three secrets, achieving Buddhahood in this very body. It cultivated the chakra bindu, which differed from but subtly echoed the path of internal alchemy.

Listening to Monk Zhen Kong's teachings was like using a foreign mountain as a whetstone, greatly beneficial.

As for Fairy Yun Rou, she specialized in the sword path and was extremely experienced in the way of killing. Moreover, she came from an extraordinary background and possessed extensive knowledge, knowing all kinds of Daoist spells like the back of her hand.

Listening to her words might save one's life in future battles, proving very useful.

"That's easy to say. The Qingmu County Magistrate appointed by the imperial court has officially taken office. Things are about to happen. Many forces in Changle Prefecture have begun to gradually move into Qingmu. In a few months, I'll probably set off for Qingmu and settle down there. Daoist Qingwei, we might run into each other on the street one day."

Fairy Yun Rou's voice was clear and beautiful as she said with a smile:

"Monk, what do you say? Are you going or not?"

"Amitabha, this humble monk will go."

Qiu Zhen tucked the 【Miro Palace】 jade token into his chest and glanced casually.

He saw Bai Shu and the Little Wood Sprite circling the place where the Foundation Establishment treasure 'Wood Heart' had been buried, restless, as if drawn by some great attraction.

"You mustn't steal the Foundation Establishment treasure buried in the ground."

"Hehe he!"

Bai Shu and the Little Wood Sprite jumped up in surprise, giggling foolishly.

"Young Master, don't worry, I'll definitely help you guard it and not let Little Jujube steal it."

Bai Shu touched the saliva at the corner of his mouth, guaranteeing solemnly.

"Hehe~"

Qiu Zhen smiled without saying anything. He wasn't worried about the two little fellows. After giving a warning, he began to meditate and cultivate again.

After refining the 'demon' within the Foundation Establishment treasure 'Wood Heart' and absorbing the 'spiritual essence,' he had replenished his depleted cultivation and basically recovered from his injuries. However, the backlash was still present, and his Yin Spirit was somewhat scattered, requiring quiet cultivation to heal.

Three days later.

Qiu Zhen had completely recovered and left the valley.

He had originally planned to go straight to the training ground to instruct his clansmen in martial arts.

However, when he arrived at the training ground at the hour when they should have been practicing, he found it empty.

Not only was the training ground empty, but the village was also deserted, with no women or children at home.

Qiu Zhen was surprised. If Qiu Family Village had encountered danger, even if he was in secluded cultivation, he would have felt a premonition.

Moreover, Bai Shu and the Little Wood Sprite occasionally sneaked out of the valley.

Qiu Zhen strode swiftly, using his lightness skill to reach a high place. He looked into the distance and saw the villagers of Qiu Family Village gathered in the wilderness in large groups.

What happened?

Filled with curiosity, he ran over as fast as the wind.

"Brother Zhen is here."

In the crowd, a member of the Qiu family saw Qiu Zhen approaching and shouted loudly.

On the wilderness, the members of the Qiu family, perhaps having also seen him, gathered from all directions.

Their gazes towards Qiu Zhen were full of excitement. A group of Qiu family youths looked at him with admiration, their eyes shining with a different kind of brilliance.

As if welcoming a hero returning from victory.

Seeing this scene, Qiu Zhen was slightly stunned. Then, his gaze fell on the Qiu family's old patriarch and elders, who were surrounded by everyone.

"Old patriarch, what happened?"

"Just now, the yamen runners from the government came and issued a notice, officially allocating the surrounding wasteland and hills to our Qiu Family Village!"

The Qiu family's old patriarch looked excited, his white beard trembling wildly. He was incredibly thrilled.

Ever since they encountered the beast tide and the Qiu Family Village had no choice but to relocate as a clan, the worry in his heart had never subsided. He had been constantly working and worrying about the future of the clan, feeling uneasy.

Now that the government's notice had been issued, and they would go to the yamen to handle the official documents and confirm the land deeds, the entire Qiu Family Village would truly gain a foothold in Qingmu County, having a place to call their own.

The burden in his heart had finally been lifted.

The Qiu family's old patriarch felt relaxed all over.

"So that's what it is."

Qiu Zhen wasn't surprised. Having learned from Fairy Yun Rou that the Qingmu County Magistrate would officially take office in a few days, he knew that it wouldn't be long before the government officially measured the land and settled the refugees.

"Old patriarch, it's good that this matter has been settled. I can finally say that I haven't disappointed everyone's expectations and have put one worry to rest."

"More than not disappointing!"

An elder immediately interjected, looking extremely excited:

"Just now, the yamen runners from the government specifically mentioned you, Little Zhen, calling you Little Divine Doctor Qiu. Not only have we officially settled down here, but the wasteland we've been allocated is much more than expected. We even have two more Little Barren Hills."

"At this rate, each household will be able to get almost twenty or thirty mu of land. It'll be a bit tough at the beginning, but after a few years of reclaiming the land and nourishing it, life will be even better than it was back home."

"Who says it isn't? It's all thanks to Brother Zhen. Brother Zhen is really capable, even having connections in the government."

"Brother Zhen, you're really something. I'll listen to you from now on. If you tell me to look east, I'll never look west."

"Yes, yes, yes, me too, Brother Zhen. I'll listen to you too, and practice martial arts properly so I can be successful in the future..."

"Agreed, agreed!"

The Qiu family's old patriarch's face was flushed. He had originally been happy and excited, but upon hearing the Qiu family's young and strong men's 'rebellious declarations,' the smile on his face suddenly froze.

He looked at Qiu Zhen with a resentful expression.

Qiu Zhen responded with a smile.

Bai Shu chuckled from the side: “╮(╯▽╰)╭”

“Finally, the dust has settled.”

Qiu Zhen left the village, planning to go to Anfu to thank Apothecary An for his help.

This time, the Qiu Family Village settled in Qiu Zhen Valley so smoothly, thanks to Apothecary An.

For a moment, Qiu Zhen felt relaxed all over.

Having eliminated the evil cultivators, grandfather and grandson, and with the Qiu Family Village officially settled in the remote outskirts of Qingmu, and these two trivial matters resolved, he had no more worries for the time being, and could finally cultivate in peace.

The most crucial thing for him now was to refine the [Tendons, Skin, Bones, Flesh, and Meridians], break through the five acquired barriers, and achieve great perfection in acquired self-refinement.

The Primordial Spirit Dharma Body was profound and unparalleled, with infinite wonderful uses, but what he had discovered so far was only the tip of the iceberg, far from unleashing the true power of the Primordial Spirit Dharma Body.

Especially in the past few days, after triggering celestial phenomena and driving thunder, he truly understood the power and mystery of the "Primordial Spirit."

His injury from using the [Qingwei Summoning Thunder Instant Response Talisman] magical power was ultimately due to insufficient cultivation.

As long as his cultivation improved and he achieved a "Flawless Body," with the initial formation of the Yin Spirit, things would be much better.

Only by becoming a true "Yin Spirit Expert" could he truly step onto the path of immortality and enter the hall.

In the following days, Qiu Zhen's life became very regular.

During the day, he went to Anfu to practice martial arts, read books, and learn alchemy and medicine making from Apothecary An. Occasionally, he went to the Town Demon Division to exorcise evil for the martial masters. In the evening, Qiu Zhen rode back to Qiu Family Village to practice Qi and cultivate internal alchemy and thunder techniques.

Occasionally, the Town Demon Division would have commoners infected with "Evil Demon Qi" or "Demonic Thoughts" that Qiu Zhen would exorcise.

The Town Demon Division felt a little embarrassed, but Qiu Zhen righteously criticized Town Demon Commandant Wu Chuanfeng, scolding him severely, and happily agreed to the extra errand without charging extra money.

The scolded Commandant Wu was moved to tears, repeatedly calling him "Benevolent Doctor Qiu, the Divine Physician."

Days passed by.

Unconsciously, a year went by.

It was night in Qiu Zhen Valley.

On the medicine field, patches of herbs were lush and verdant.

Among the herbs, spiritual light shone brightly, with piles of spiritual herbs and precious medicines, as if in a fairyland.

“Little Jujube, they're all ripe, let me take a look.”

On the hillside beside the medicine field, Bai Shu, with his jade-like appearance, gazed at the little wood spirit with fascination.

The roots of a brown sapling transformed into feet, stepping quickly and stirring up a gust of wind, causing the green leaves on the branches to sway.

Among the layers of green leaves, red jujubes emitted a faint red light, extremely tempting.

“No, are you trying to steal them?”

“I won't steal them, I'll just look. Your treasures are a feast for the eyes.”

“No, no!”

“Whoosh whoosh ~”

The two little fellows chased and played in the valley, having a lively time.

However, soon, they both sensed something, stopped simultaneously, and looked towards the house deep in the valley.

In the living room of the Qiu Zhen Courtyard, a powerful aura suddenly erupted.

“Young Master has broken through!”

Inside the house, Qiu Zhen sat cross-legged.

A powerful and masculine Qi and blood soared into the sky, like wolf smoke, with a terrifying aura.

Entering a meditative state, the breathing within his body rolled like the tides of the sea, surging, heavy, wave after wave, powerful and continuous.

In his mind, a green giant bird, covering the sky and the sun, galloped across the boundless sea, constantly flying, with a long and endless breath...

This image was none other than the Divine Demon Five禽 Diagram [Azure Sea Green Bird Diagram].

Visualizing the [Azure Sea Green Bird Fist Style] could impact the meridian barrier in the acquired [Tendons, Skin, Bones, Flesh, and Meridians], cultivate the [Azure Sea Green Bird Meridian], strengthen the meridians throughout the body, and greatly benefit Qi and blood, and internal cultivation.

Throughout this year, he had been cultivating diligently.

Except for the first few months when he used "spiritual herbs and precious medicines" to impact the fourth acquired barrier and cultivate the [Mountain Giant Bear Skin].

Subsequently, when impacting the fifth barrier, he followed Apothecary An's instructions and no longer consumed spiritual herbs and precious medicines.

At most, occasionally when the Town Demon Division encountered "Demonic Thoughts" during exorcism, he refined the spiritual energy essence to increase his power.

Over the past six months, he had been steadfast and practical, practicing step by step, strengthening his Qi and blood, and finally refined the fifth level of the Five禽 Play to perfection, impacting the fifth acquired barrier and cultivating the [Azure Sea Green Bird Meridian].

At this point, he had achieved great perfection in acquired self-refinement.

“This is the Flawless Body.”

Qiu Zhen looked inward, experiencing the changes in his body.

The biggest change was that during Qi cultivation, his body would no longer be like a sieve, swallowing a stone and leaking five pecks.

Having cultivated the [Flawless Body], the Qi and blood essence within his body was complete and non-leaking, his physical body was strong, his strength was infinite, and his whole person was full of energy.

Ordinary martial masters, even if they could not break through to the innate realm in the future, could rely on this power to live a long life, reaching a hundred years.

“Sixteen years old, great perfection in acquired self-refinement, almost the same as those geniuses with top-grade innate roots.”

Qiu Zhen stretched his waist, feeling great.

Since he entered the path of immortality after a hundred days of foundation building, in just over a year, he had been brave, diligent, and striving to catch up. Finally, he had caught up with the pace of martial arts geniuses with superior roots and spiritual bodies, revealing the edge of a "destined genius."

Of course, unlike ordinary geniuses, once he had refined his acquired self, without needing to break through bottlenecks or impact realms, he would be a genuine Yin Spirit Expert.

Qiu Zhen looked at the sky, the sky outside the window was dark, and he immediately felt anticipation in his heart, trying to let his Yin Spirit out of his body.

The next moment, a stream of blood-red Qi rose from the top of his head, faintly transforming into his figure.

It was the Yin Spirit leaving the body.

Compared to the previous Yin Spirit, after cultivating the Flawless Body, the Yin Spirit was between reality and illusion, incomparably solid.

Even if the evening wind howled, it remained unshaken.

Qiu Zhen's Yin Spirit swayed and flew out of the valley.

In just a few dozen breaths, he returned.

“Young Master, where did you go?”

Bai Shu and Little Jujube looked at the spiritual herb in Qiu Zhen's hand with surprise.

“I went for a stroll in the mountains a hundred miles away and happened to come across a precious medicine.”

“Ah!”

Bai Shu and Little Jujube opened their mouths wide, their faces full of surprise.

How long had it been, and he had actually gone a hundred miles away and picked a spiritual herb.

Qiu Zhen smiled, feeling good.

Without the obstruction of the physical body, the Yin Spirit's speed was astonishingly fast.

In a short while, the Yin Spirit appeared a hundred miles away and happened to encounter a spiritual herb.

Along the way, watching the mountains and rivers whiz by, galloping between heaven and earth, gave him a sense of freedom in the world.

Previously, his Yin Spirit had never dared to stray too far from his physical body.

Having cultivated the "Flawless Body," he was officially in the realm of the "Night Wanderer," and the Yin Spirit possessed the supernatural power to travel thousands of miles at night.

To travel to the North Sea in the morning and to Cangwu in the evening, to eat morning dew and dine on clouds.

It was no longer a fantasy.

“Plant the precious medicine well.”

Qiu Zhen casually threw the spiritual herb to the two little fellows, letting them plant and collect the medicine, and the Yin Spirit flew back to the physical body.

After a period of meditation, he remembered something and quickly turned his eyes inward.

“Having cultivated the Flawless Body and entered the [Night Wanderer] realm, I wonder what changes have occurred in the Primordial Spirit Dharma Body.”

Qiu Zhen felt expectant, and his mind sank into his sea of consciousness.

The next moment, ten thousand feet of golden light bloomed.

In the spiritual platform, the Dharma Body Qiu Zhen sat Xuan on the clouds, like a saint and a god.

At first glance, it was no different from usual.

Upon closer inspection, one could see that Qiu Zhen's Primordial Spirit Dharma Body was holding a spiritual light orb in both hands, on which countless numbers and mysterious runes flowed endlessly.