Pop!
With a faint, crisp sound, Lou Xingyao finally broke through the last acupoint along his Yang Linking Meridian. In that instant, the aura surrounding him surged upward dramatically.
Opening his eyes, he slowly exhaled a turbid breath. Feeling the spiritual power circulating within his body, a trace of joy flashed through his gaze.
It had taken him a full two months to break through this acupoint, the longest he had ever been stuck on a single one.
Back when he had opened all fifty-three acupoints along his Ren and Du meridians, it had taken only eight months in total.
In the year that followed, Lou Xingyao’s cultivation advanced like a bamboo splitting open, he successively cleared the acupoints of the Chong, Dai, and Yang Linking Meridians, reaching the peak of the Qi Refining Fourth Layer.
And from the moment he had first drawn spiritual energy into his body until now, only two years had passed.
To reach the peak of Qi Refining Fourth Layer in just two years, in the entire Tianming Continent, such progress could only be described as astonishingly fast.
Even considering the aid of the mysterious Star Force within him, his relentless diligence and daily cultivation could not be denied.
Even Wen Hanshan, who was notoriously strict when it came to cultivation, was deeply satisfied with his disciple’s progress.
He had even reminded him several times not to rush ahead and neglect the solidification of his foundation.
Only after personally examining Lou Xingyao’s meridians and spiritual power, confirming everything was in order, did he finally rest assured.
And now, two full months spent on a single acupoint, by comparison, that seemed almost slow.
At first, Lou Xingyao had thought something was wrong with his cultivation, but this breakthrough dispelled his doubts.
Having finally cleared the last acupoint, his cultivation smoothly advanced into Qi Refining Fifth Layer.
He subconsciously wanted to share the good news with Wen Hanshan, but when he looked up, the familiar figure was still in the courtyard practicing his sword.
Judging from the time of day, he wouldn’t be done anytime soon. Lou Xingyao could only suppress his excitement for now.
But once he tried to sit down and meditate again, his mind refused to calm. Realizing this, he simply stood up and walked toward the fields in the backyard.
Soon, a vast expanse of lush green rice paddies came into view. After two years of careful tending, the farmland was nothing like the overgrown mess it had once been.
The heavy rice heads bowed under their own weight, and when a breeze swept through, waves of green rolled across the field, breathtakingly beautiful.
Stepping forward, Lou Xingyao plucked a stalk and inspected it closely. He could tell at once, the crop was ripe for harvest.
Forming a hand seal, he muttered a short incantation, and the rice stalks swayed as if moved by invisible hands, neatly flying toward the open ground beside him.
An hour later, he had finished harvesting all three acres.
Watching the neatly piled stalks, Lou Xingyao couldn’t help but marvel again at how convenient spells could be, even while forming the seals to separate the grains from the straw.
He remembered when he had first bought the rice seeds, he thought planting, weeding, and tilling three acres would take at least a week.
But after they returned home, Wen Hanshan had practiced his sword once in the field, and somehow all the weeds had vanished, and even the soil had been perfectly loosened.
Then, with a few more incantations, the man had plowed, watered, and planted all thirty catties of seeds. Lou Xingyao was utterly astonished.
For the first three months, that farmland had been more Wen Hanshan’s work than his own. Of course, for Wen Hanshan, all of that was just a few simple spells.
But since the idea of farming had been Lou Xingyao’s in the first place, something to occupy himself, he couldn’t very well let his master handle everything. So after breaking through to Qi Refining First Layer, he learned the relevant spells and took over the field himself.
That was when he realized how difficult it really was.
What seemed effortless when Wen Hanshan did it, just a few gestures and incantations, took him ten times the effort to reproduce. And with his meager spiritual power back then, casting a dozen spells was enough to drain his entire dantian.
Even so, he never once asked for help. He simply sat down to meditate and recover, then got up and continued working.
Over and over again.
This repeated cycle not only increased the spiritual power in his dantian but also refined his control over its flow — truly killing two birds with one stone.
Now, he could harvest the entire field in one go without rest.
Who could say his rapid rise to Qi Refining Fifth Layer wasn’t partly thanks to all that practice?
After the harvest, the field would need a month to rest and restore its fertility, so Lou Xingyao didn’t rush to replant. He stored away the grain in his pouch and sat cross-legged to recover his spiritual power.
As he circulated his qi, his consciousness slipped into the portable space within his body.
He had long verified the effectiveness of the Spirit Spring inside, exactly as described in the original text of the world he’d transmigrated into.
The first time he drank its water, he had truly understood the line, “Those who drink it will slowly temper their body and strengthen their meridians.”
Indeed, the effect was gentle, almost imperceptibly slow. Without the Meridian-Restoring Pill, it would have taken him at least three years to fully heal just by relying on the spring.
So in a sense, that pill had saved him years of time.
After confirming that the Spirit Spring’s effects were mild but real, he replaced all of the drinking water he and Wen Hanshan used with it.
But while its internal effects were subtle, its influence on plants and soil was immediate and miraculous.
Compared to two years ago, his personal space had undergone a complete transformation.
The once dry, cracked soil had become rich, fertile spiritual farmland under the spring’s nourishment.
And the once-ignored spiritual herb seeds he’d found, some he used to disguise the black soil patch in their courtyard, but most were planted here.
Plants that would normally take ten or even dozens of years to mature now grew to full size in just a few months.
By now, most of them had gone through two or three generations, and he’d even harvested plenty of new seeds.
Fortunately, his medicine cabinet could preserve herbs without letting their potency fade, otherwise, storing so many would’ve been impossible.
Looking at the neatly categorized thousand-plus herbs inside, Lou Xingyao felt an immense sense of satisfaction rise in his chest.
Once he found a way to sell them, he’d be one step closer to his goal, purchasing a pill recipe.
Yes, even after two years, Lou Xingyao hadn’t given up on his dream of becoming a pill alchemist.
In his past life, he came from a family of physicians, giving him a solid foundation. Now, with both Fire and Wood spiritual roots, the ideal combination for alchemy and a pocket realm that could endlessly produce herbs, he truly had the makings of a born alchemist.
The only problem… was money.
He and Wen Hanshan shared their finances openly; his teacher knew exactly how much he had. So before doing anything, he’d have to find a legitimate excuse to make these “mysterious” herbs appear out of thin air.
As he pondered this, his spiritual power had already fully recovered and then he heard approaching footsteps.
Knowing Wen Hanshan always made his presence known intentionally, Lou Xingyao opened his eyes and saw that familiar tall figure walking toward him.
He stood up and smiled, “The spirit rice was ripe, so I went ahead and harvested it. Since our current stores are low, I’ll keep this batch for ourselves.”
“Very well,” Wen Hanshan nodded. He always let Lou Xingyao handle such minor matters.
Before reaching the Golden Core realm, cultivators couldn’t live entirely without food, unless they used special fasting pills.
Ordinary grains contained impurities harmful to cultivation, so spiritual rice and monster meat rich in energy became the ideal food for lower-level cultivators.
Being Chinese by birth, Lou Xingyao’s love for food ran deep in his bones. At first, he had relied on fasting pills out of necessity, but once their spirit rice matured, he cooked a proper meal, his first in this world.
Having been a single man with excellent cooking skills in his past life, one meal was enough to completely capture Wen Hanshan’s taste buds.
From then on, their household abandoned fasting pills for proper daily meals.
Naturally, their biggest expense became the spiritual rice, all grown from these three acres.
At that moment, Lou Xingyao suddenly remembered something important. But instead of saying it outright, he grinned mischievously and asked, “Wen brother, can you tell what’s different about me today?”
Even though the concealing pendant hid Lou Xingyao’s cultivation base, Wen Hanshan knew him too well, a glance at his expression and tone was enough, “You broke through?”
“As expected of Brother Wen! Sharp as ever!” Lou Xingyao beamed with joy.
“Good,” Wen Hanshan nodded with a faint smile, “In that case, pack up. You’ll be coming out with me.”
“Huh?” Lou Xingyao blinked, puzzled. That tone didn’t sound like they were just going on a stroll.
Wen Hanshan explained patiently, “Cultivators fight against heaven itself. Without experiencing blood and battle, you cannot grow. You’ve been secluded in cultivation long enough. Now that you’ve advanced, it’s time to temper yourself.”
“We’re going to the Endless Forest, then?”
No wonder the final acupoint of his breakthrough had felt unusually difficult, he’d lacked real-world combat experience.
“At the fifth layer, you’re strong enough to move safely through its outer region,” Wen Hanshan said, “As long as we don’t go too deep, there won’t be danger. And this time, I’ll go with you.”
Though he didn’t spell it out, Lou Xingyao understood, Wen Hanshan meant he’d ensure his safety if things went wrong.
Naturally, he agreed without hesitation. After a quick bit of packing, the two set out toward the Endless Forest.
They didn’t bring their mount, the Azure Flame Horned Horse, but traveled light and fast. For Lou Xingyao, now at the fifth layer, the distance was easily manageable.
But what surprised him was that, as they neared the northern outskirts of Xilin County, what appeared before him wasn’t the forest but a massive city wall that seemed to pierce the heavens.
From afar, it rose like a mountain, making the people walking below it seem as small as ants.
Even as they approached, its grandeur only grew more overwhelming.
“What is this?” Lou Xingyao asked in awe.
He had thought the ten-zhang walls of Canglan City were already monumental yet this was twice as large.
“This wall defends against beast tides,” Wen Hanshan explained quietly.
“Beast tides?” Lou Xingyao repeated, unfamiliar with the term.
Wen Hanshan, ever patient, elaborated: The Endless Forest teemed with countless spirit beasts that reproduced rapidly. Even though cultivators frequently hunted them for training, their numbers always rebounded faster than expected.
Eventually, their population would exceed what the forest could sustain, and when that happened, they would surge out in massive hordes, invading human lands.
That phenomenon was called a Beast Tide.
And Xilin County, bordering the Endless Forest, was always the first to suffer its wrath. Thus, its people had built this enormous wall to defend against it.
Over generations of reinforcement, it had become the colossal structure standing before them now.
Looking closely, Lou Xingyao noticed intricate runes carved into the stone, faint lines of light flickering beneath the surface. These, Wen Hanshan said, were the formations that formed the wall’s greatest defense. When activated, they could both shield and attack, a weapon of immense power.
Just from its scale and complexity, Lou Xingyao could feel how seriously Xilin County took the threat of beast tides.
It was the first time he realized that living beside the Endless Forest also meant living beside danger.
Seeing his expression, Wen Hanshan’s calm voice carried a trace of reassurance: “No need to worry. The last beast tide was over three hundred years ago. By the usual pattern, the next won’t come for at least two hundred more.”
After countless such outbreaks, cultivators had long discovered the pattern; they occurred roughly every five centuries.
Lou Xingyao nodded in understanding.
No wonder the “original story” he remembered never mentioned beast tides at all, by the time the protagonist ascended to the higher world, this event was still centuries away.
Neither the wall nor the tide was their true destination anyway. Without lingering, they continued toward the Endless Forest.
Even before entering, Lou Xingyao could already smell the faint tang of blood in the air, the scent of danger. Even the cultivators near the edge of the forest radiated killing intent, their expressions cold and hardened.
Just a glance told him why Wen Hanshan had brought him here. Compared to them, Lou Xingyao still carried a peaceful, gentle aura, the kind born of a life in a safe, civilized world.
That sort of presence, in a place like this, was like a lamb among wolves.
It didn’t take long before he noticed hostile gazes on him from all directions, greedy, assessing. Only when they caught sight of Wen Hanshan behind him did those eyes withdraw, tinged with reluctant frustration.
Lou Xingyao had no doubt that without Wen Hanshan, he would’ve been torn apart before setting foot inside.
In that instant, something within him shifted, his aura sharpened, a faint chill of distance and vigilance settling over him.
Though subtle, it didn’t escape Wen Hanshan’s eyes. The man’s lips curved slightly as he said softly, “Let’s go.”
“Alright.” Lou Xingyao nodded, and together, they stepped into the depths of the Endless Forest.
✦ ✧ ✦
[Translator]
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← PreviousNext →
ChaptersChapter 1 · Crossing OverChapter 2 · Lu XioaWuChapter 3 · UncleChapter 4 · Substitute MarriageChapter 5 · Travelling Through BookChapter 6 · SpaceChapter 7 · InheritanceChapter 8 · ExplanationChapter 9 · He familyChapter 10 · CompensateChapter 11 · WeddingChapter 12 · LeavingChapter 13 · SuspicionChapter 14 · Change SurnameChapter 14 · Change SurnameChapter 15 · SummaryChapter 16 · Family BusinessChapter 17 · ResettlementChapter 18 · DeterminationChapter 19 · TreatChapter 20 · Enter the TaoChapter 21 · Private TrainingChapter 22 · BreakthroughChapter 23 · ExperienceChapter 24 Part 1 · Questions and AnswersChapter 24 Part 2 · Questions and answersChapter 25 · GiftChapter 25 Part 1 · GiftChapter 26 Part 1 · Sword IntentChapter 26 Part 2 · Sword IntentChapter 27 Part 1 · SelectChapter 27 Part 2 · SelectChapter 28 Part 1 · PastChapter 28 Part 2 · PastChapter 29 Part 1 · ConfessionChapter 29 Part 2 · ConfessionChapter 30 Part 1 · TradeChapter 30 Part 2 · TradeChapter 31 Part 1 · Male LeadChapter 31 Part 2 · Male LeadChapter 32 Part 1 · LuckChapter 32 Part 2 · LuckChapter 33 Part 1 · GuessingChapter 33 Part 2 · GuessingChapter 34 Part 1 · SystemChapter 34 Part 2 · SystemChapter 35 · OpportunityChapter 36 Part 1 · LingquanChapter 36 Part 2 · LingquanChapter 37 Part 1 · Hundred Flowers PartChapter 37 Part 2 · Hundred Flowers PartChapter 38 · Worth itChapter 39 · SaintessChapter 40 · ExperimentChapter 41 · Vampire SystemChapter 42 · NotesChapter 43 · WarningChapter 44 · PlanChapter 45 · Fellow VillagersChapter 46 · AssimilationChapter 47 · IlliterateChapter 48 · Pak WahChapter 49 · Sudden EnlightenmentChapter 50 · Wen ZhiChapter 51 · CarrierChapter 52 · LeavingChapter 53 · Follow UpChapter 54 · OutrageousChapter 55 · OnceChapter 56 · TeasingChapter 57 · Playing aroundChapter 58 · Beast fireChapter 59 · Watching a PlayChapter 60 · Extermination of the entire clanChapter 61 · ChoiceChapter 62 · PossessionChapter 63 · CalculationChapter 64 · GuaranteedChapter 65 · Grand OpeningChapter 66 · Grand OpeningChapter 67 · Protecting one’s ownChapter 68 · Secret RealmChapter 69 · BetrayalChapter 70 · DetailsChapter 71 · FramedChapter 72 · MeetingChapter 73 · KillChapter 74 · MapChapter 75 · FoundationChapter 76 · Strange Phenomenon!Chapter 77 · ExchangeChapter 78 · LetterChapter 79 · ShortcutChapter 80 · God of Slaughter!Chapter 81 · Poison PillChapter 82 · Lou ShuChapter 83 · ProgressChapter 84 · An attemptChapter 85 · Movement and StillnessChapter 86 · Good intentionsChapter 87 · ChangeChapter 88 · Childhood friendChapter 89 · ThoughtsChapter 90 · Old storiesChapter 91 · HeritageChapter 92 · TestChapter 93 · LoverChapter 94 · Heartfelt wishesChapter 95 · MasterChapter 96 · TeachingChapter 97 · IllusionChapter 98 · Mutual RestraintChapter 99 · ObstructionChapter 100 · PalaceChapter 101 · Core TechniqueChapter 102 · OathChapter 103 · Dual cultivationChapter 104 · AccessChapter 105 · VulnerabilityChapter 106 · DensityChapter 107 · WantedChapter 108 · EntrustChapter 109 · RevisitChapter 110 · MonitoringChapter 111 · Secret RealmChapter 112 · NourishChapter 113 · InventoryChapter 114 · Get Rich QuicklyChapter 115 · ElderChapter 116 · Grand FormationChapter 117 · Heaven’s WillChapter 118 · BountyChapter 119 · GainChapter 120 · BlameChapter 121 · ChattingChapter 122 · GuessChapter 123 · Zheng TianChapter 124 · SparringChapter 125 · Sword intentChapter 126 · KenshinChapter 127 · Auditing a classChapter 128 · CoincidenceChapter 129 · ContradictionChapter 130 · RouteChapter 131 · CostChapter 132 · ConfiscatedChapter 133 · Holding a grudgeChapter 134 · SupportChapter 135 · DeteriorationChapter 136 · Unable toChapter 137 · PriceChapter 138 · VariantChapter 139 · Start AnewChapter 140 · ShamelessChapter 141 · Black PotChapter 142 · Benefiting fromChapter 143 · PieChapter 144 · DifferencesChapter 145 · DetoxificationChapter 146 · Current situationChapter 147 · TeasingChapter 148 · IntelligenceChapter 149 · Returned GiftChapter 150 · Old debtChapter 151 · FleshChapter 152 · OpeningChapter 153 · GrudgesChapter 154 · RegretChapter 155 · Gang fightChapter 156 · GentleChapter 157 · ComplaintChapter 158 · ScreamsChapter 159 · GeniusChapter 160 · ConcernChapter 161 · Hidden StoryChapter 162 · StingyChapter 163 · Guilty conscienceChapter 164 Part 1 · StruggleChapter 164 Part 2 · StruggleChapter 165 · Win or LoseChapter 166 · TasteChapter 167 · Shifting The BlameChapter 168 · MoonlightChapter 169 · Past EventChapter 170 · RegretChapter 171 · RetributionChapter 172 · Cause and EffectChapter 173 · BackgroundChapter 174 · FlatteryChapter 175 · HonestChapter 176 · BookkeepingChapter 177 · FarewellChapter 178 · GuidelineChapter 179 · BottleneckChapter 180 · HabitChapter 181 · Casual ChatChapter 182 · Flowing WaterChapter 183 · RumoursChapter 184 · Seeking AdviceChapter 185 · PityChapter 186 · FormationChapter 187 · BasicChapter 188 · Fake TombChapter 189 · BewareChapter 190 · TraceChapter 191 · DiscussChapter 192 · Ancestral preceptsChapter 193 · Loose CultivatorChapter 194 · AllocationChapter 195 · Thank you for your kindnessChapter 196 · ExplanationChapter 197 · ErrorChapter 198 · Culinary skillsChapter 199 · Starry SeaChapter 200 · ComparisonChapter 201 · FrustratedChapter 202 · Don’t watchChapter 203 · LonelinessChapter 204 · NoChapter 205 · Exposing ShortcutsChapter 206 · CraftsmanshipChapter 207 · Bottom LineChapter 208 · StrikeChapter 209 · Ten GoldChapter 210 · Pretentious