3: Breakthrough! First level of Qi Refining!

Cultivation was not the process of Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment as remembered.

In this world, it was necessary to nurture a Cultivation Physique.

The Physique of an ordinary Mortal simply could not withstand and store the Spiritual Qi between Heaven and Earth.

Therefore, it was necessary to Cultivate the Qi Consumption Method to transition the Physical Body into a Dao Cultivation Physique.

Of course, the prerequisite was to possess a Spiritual Root!

This Realm was called the Qi Introduction Realm.

After the Qi Introduction Realm, the human body would become leak-proof, capable of storing and nurturing Spiritual Qi.

At this time, individual differences became apparent.

Those with good Physiques and good Spiritual Root Aptitude, who had a higher affinity for Spiritual Qi, would absorb more Spiritual Qi and advance quickly.

Those who were slow… for example, Shen Li.

No need to mention him.

After the Qi Introduction Realm, came the well-known Qi Refining Realm.

At this Realm, one could already control Spiritual Qi and perform various extraordinary actions.

He became one of the Cultivators.

Shen Li was now only one step away from the Qi Refining Realm.

Inside the inn room, Shen Li sat cross-legged in the guest room.

As mentioned earlier, the Wang Family and the Shen Family had a good relationship, so naturally, Shen Li chose this place for his Breakthrough.

This inn, built by the Wang Family, was conveniently located at the end of an eighth-rank Spiritual Vein, allowing one to enjoy the pure Spiritual Qi in the air.

This was the benefit of having a Family.

Additionally, Shen Li had made arrangements; the Wang Family would soon activate a Spirit Gathering Formation specifically for Shen Li to pave the way for his Qi Refining Breakthrough.

As for the money that needed to be paid.

That could be charged to the Shen Family.

After all, this was a good thing for the Shen Family.

Even now, those Disciples who had entered the main Spiritual Vein likely hadn't many who had stepped into the Qi Refining Realm.

If Shen Li Broke through to the Qi Refining Realm and the news returned home, it would probably give them a shock, right?

As for why Shen Li could come from behind… it was naturally because of the moon essence spirit water.

It was recorded in ancient texts that moon essence spirit water was formed by the condensation of moon essence Qi and water Qi.

It only appeared at midnight, and if not collected in time, it would dissipate into the air within three-quarters of an hour.

As if it never existed, never appeared.

moon essence spirit water could cleanse the Physical Body, helping Cultivators achieve leak-proof bodies earlier, and this was not its full capability as a ninth-rank heaven and earth treasure.

It could also enhance a Cultivator's affinity for water veins and moon essence; Cultivating at night and Cultivating near water could increase the speed of Spiritual Qi absorption.

In simple terms, it enhanced the corresponding Spiritual Root Aptitude! It was extremely extraordinary!

This item was incredibly rare; only some large Cultivation Families would have collections of it.

Even if the Shen Family had it, it likely wouldn't fall into Shen Li's hands.

After all, in reality, Shen Li's Dao Cultivation Physique… was truly ordinary.

Sitting cross-legged on the bed, as the hand seals were formed, the Spiritual Qi gathered by the Spirit Gathering Formation gradually began to atomize.

The atomized Spiritual Qi entered his nostrils, and a series of stimulations came rushing in.

However, a full seventy percent of the Spiritual Qi dissipated outwards.

Shen Li paid no mind, took out the moon essence spirit water, and consumed it.

The spirit water burst open suddenly.

Then, it flowed through his limbs and bones, reaching every corner of his body.

In an instant, the dispersed Spiritual Qi was forcefully blocked.

As Shen Li began to circulate the Shen Family's unique Qinglan Food Qi Method, the mist, like a siphon, entirely entered Shen Li's abdomen!

According to ancient texts, a Breakthrough from the Qi Introduction Realm to the Qi Refining Realm would inevitably involve an internal and external transformation, accompanied by intense pain.

However, in Shen Li's perception, the pain had just appeared when it was neutralized by a gentle and cool aura.

The entire Breakthrough process was terrifyingly easy.

Until the rooster crowed, Shen Li suddenly opened his eyes.

His eyes gleamed, and then he slowly exhaled a mouthful of turbid Qi.

Looking at the dirt and foul odor on his skin, Shen Li called Qiu Ya and asked the inn's waiter to prepare a hot bath.

The matter of Breaking through to the Qi Refining Realm was neither big nor small.

People on the outside had their own Opportunities, and the Family likely wouldn't say much.

These were all things Shen Li deserved.

Afterward, he ordered a meal. Shen Li opened the window, but suddenly retched, immediately closed the window, and asked.

"Did the waiter dump my bathwater on the street?"

Qiu Ya shook her head with a strange look in her eyes and said.

"Young Master, do you remember that Loose Cultivator who was following us yesterday?"

Shen Li's eyes flickered, and he asked doubtfully.

"Your lightness skill is good; we didn't reveal any flaws. What happened? Is this related to him?"

"We went to the tree in front of the public restroom, then dug out that treasure, and then I brought you back using my lightness skill."

"And then?" Shen Li didn't know why Qiu Ya brought this up and continued to ask.

Qiu Ya then said with a strange expression.

"Then he blew up the public restroom. He even used a Blazing Flame Talisman."

???

Only then did Shen Li react, bursting into laughter.

A Blazing Flame Talisman shouldn't cause such a big commotion, but it depended on the location.

What kind of place was a public restroom? A place of filth and grime. Although there was a storage Formation below, some swamp gas was inevitable.

Normally, open flames were prohibited. Throwing a Blazing Flame Talisman in there… was truly outrageous.

Well, now what? He's definitely going to be wanted by the Wang Family.

Shen Li formed a hand seal, activated the Purification Formation, and the stench in the air disappeared. Only then did he shake his head with a wry smile.

"Never mind, let's not bother with him. After we finish this meal, we can set off."

"How many Spirit Stones do we have left?"

"The Family's subsidy for us was fifty Low-Grade Spirit Stones, plus the Elder's private subsidy of twenty-five Low-Grade Spirit Stones, and that Young Master also gave five Low-Grade Spirit Stones."

"So now there are eighty Low-Grade Spirit Stones, plus the twenty you brought from home, making exactly one hundred."

These Spirit Stones were Shen Li's starting capital. At first glance, there seemed to be many Spirit Stones, but an ordinary Qi Refining Cultivator consumed one Low-Grade Spirit Stone every day.

And buying things also required Spirit Stones; even buying things from Mortals required Spirit Stones for payment, let alone many spiritual items, so it was simply not enough.

It could at most last for a month.

Shen Li rubbed his chin, spreading out the Opportunity he had obtained from in front of the public restroom's large tree.

[Blazing Sun Formation - Ninth-Rank]

A Ninth-Rank Formation could withstand a casual blow from a Foundation Establishment True Person, of course, just a casual blow.

But it was still extremely precious.

He had originally thought of selling the Formation. Formations were precious and extremely rare. This Ninth-Rank Formation could be sold for a premium of one thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones, which he thought would last for a while.

But Shen Li quickly changed his mind.

Being in the Yellow Sand Plains, where dangers were everywhere, it would be better to invite a Formation Master to set up a Formation. Although this wouldn't bring in much Spirit Stones, it would ensure his safety.

This was also why Shen Li had asked how many Spirit Stones were left.

However, one hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones couldn't hire a Formation Master, and he also needed Spirit Stones as a hidden backup energy source.

So he could only give up.

Shen Li sighed, saying that ultimately, it was the lack of Spirit Stones that caused the trouble.

But very quickly… a new idea appeared in his mind.