Break through to late-stage Qi Refinement? As if I wouldn't want that!
Ji An lowered his head, hiding the helplessness in his eyes.
Despite his relentless, no-expense-spared cultivation, he had already hit the bottleneck of the sixth level of Qi Refinement a year ago.
Rising early and resting late, never once slacking, only in the past few days had he begun to feel the bottleneck loosen.
But to truly step into late-stage Qi Refinement, it would still take at least a few more months.
Thinking of how Liu Yu had managed to complete his breakthrough in mere months, Ji An once again sighed inwardly at how much one's aptitude dictated progress.
With poor aptitude, the refinement of spiritual energy was sluggish. The spiritual power from pills and even from the Spirit-Draining Array often dissipated before he could fully refine it.
For minor realm advancements, this was still tolerable; it only meant wasting a few extra pills and spirit stones. But whenever he hit a bottleneck, the struggle was truly grueling.
Still, it wasn't without its benefits. Because he had avoided relying on special breakthrough pills, his spiritual meridians had received more nourishment over time, widening considerably. He had even opened a few new branches, while his older ones extended further.
At this moment, Elder Zhang Fan was in excellent spirits. Two disciples achieving Grade A evaluations in one batch meant he, too, would be rewarded.
He warmed up considerably toward Ji An, exchanging a few pleasantries and offering encouragement to cultivate diligently.
A sixth-level Qi Refinement disciple capable of managing ten mu of spirit fields… His harvests are enough to sustain his own cultivation. Competing for a Foundation Establishment Pill in the future won't be hard. He's got a solid chance of forming a foundation worth befriending. Who knows, he might even become a valuable connection for my family's juniors.
As for Liu Yu, his future was likely far brighter. Someone destined for greater heights might not deign to associate with a mere early Foundation cultivator like Zhang Fan.
Zhang Fan decided he would occasionally visit this patch of spirit fields, offering Ji An a few words of guidance now and then. It would cost him nothing and might sow the seeds of a future connection.
Old Huang, noticing that Zhang Fan seemed ready to depart, stepped forward and said:
"Master-Uncle, this disciple will reach sixty years of age next year and will no longer qualify to remain in the sect.
The overseer's position for the Guiwei fields will need to be reassigned."
Overseers had the duty of guiding new spirit farmers. When new disciples performed well, overseers were rewarded with contribution points.
Old Huang's luck had been remarkable; both of his new disciples had earned Grade A ratings. The reward would easily exceed a hundred contribution points.
By stepping down early, he could also let his successor enjoy a round of those benefits.
According to sect rules, overseer positions were reassigned within the same area. Since Liu Yu would inevitably leave the fields, there was only one choice left.
"How quickly time flies…" Zhang Fan sighed before turning his head.
"In that case, since Old Huang is willing to retire early, the overseer for the Guiwei fields will be Ji An.
Ji An, you clearly have some talent with planting techniques. When the new disciples arrive, be sure to guide them well. The sect rewards such merit."
"Many thanks, Master-Uncle."
"Mm. I'll be off to examine the next batch of disciples."
Zhang Fan turned to Liu Yu with a smile and cupped his hands.
"Nephew Liu, stay here a few days longer; good news will soon come your way."
"We respectfully send off Master-Uncle," Liu Yu replied with a bow.
The three Qi Refinement disciples spoke in unison. Elder Zhang Fan swept his sleeve, and without the aid of any artifact, soared into the sky and vanished into the distance.
After Zhang Fan departed, Old Huang chuckled warmly.
"I'll be leaving the sect for a few days, heading to the Huangya Dao Institute. Brothers, I'll take my leave for now."
At Bihai Market, Hundred Flavors Pavilion, Heavenly Room No. 4
Zhao Mengyao lifted her cup with a graceful smile.
"Congratulations to Senior Brother Zhang for breaking through to the ninth level of Qi Refinement. It may not be long before we have to call you Uncle Master."
"Haha, speaking of Foundation Establishment is still far too early. I only broke through a few months ago. Who knows how long it will take me to reach perfection at Qi Refinement?"
Zhang Yuanshan drained his spirit wine and shook his head slightly.
"Since I went to Mo Cliff Mountain, it seems the disciples of the Dao Institute have been unable to gather together."
Thanks to his budding talent in artifact refinement, combined with cultivating on a high-grade spirit vein, his progress had been rapid, far beyond his initial expectations.
He paused, then turned to Chu He.
"Junior Brother, have you really made up your mind?
Relying mainly on sect monster-hunting missions to cultivate is a path best avoided. Even Foundation Establishment uncles have fallen in those mountains, and every year, countless Qi Refinement disciples perish."
From the day they'd met, Chu He had followed closely at his side. Their bond ran deep.
Chu He smiled.
"I don't have the talent for refining. If I want to stay in the sect safely, my choices are beast taming, alchemy, or farming spirit fields.
But none of those paths is what I want.
I've been preparing for this for two years, practicing spells diligently, saving spirit stones to buy artifacts. All I need now is to join a reliable squad."
The roads of beast taming and alchemy had already been closed off; his family would no longer give him that level of support.
And toiling as a farmer, scraping together spirit stones season after season, was not the life he sought.
Zhang Yuanshan gave a slight nod.
"Mo Cliff Mountain has already become the sect's forward base. Many hunting squads are active there. The sect even carved out a small market for trade.
I've already taken up work repairing damaged artifacts, so I know a few of those hunting squads.
I can ask around to see if anyone needs extra members. With you already at the seventh level of Qi Refinement, you should have no trouble being accepted.
But until then, do not absolutely do not venture into the mountains alone."
Hunting monsters often required delving deep into the wilderness. For a newcomer, going alone was no different from seeking death.
Chu He beamed.
"Then I'll have to trouble Senior Brother. With someone reliable to put in a word, things will be much simpler."
His initial plan had been to gather a few familiar faces and form a squad of his own. But without someone to vouch for him, no established team would ever accept a newcomer.
Just then, seeing Zhang Yuanshan's gaze turn toward him, Ji An pulled out five spirit stones and pushed them across the table.
"These are to repay Senior Brother. And to thank you all for your help, tonight's meal is on me."
"Junior Brother, you've grown so wealthy? This feast isn't cheap. Better if we all split the cost."
Zhang Yuanshan was surprised. He had ordered several high-grade spirit dishes. The bill alone would run at least four spirit stones.
And now, with Ji An also handing over repayment, he was spending the equivalent of nine stones in a single evening. Even Zhang himself would have felt the sting.
Zhao Mengyao chuckled behind her hand.
"Senior Brother may not know, but Junior Brother Ji's Minor Rain Technique has already reached perfection. He's farming ten mu of spirit fields.
In terms of wealth, he's probably not far behind you."
She had carefully calculated his income before. By her estimate, he could save up thirty spirit stones each season, comparable to what an eighth-level Qi Refinement disciple like herself managed with both sect rewards and family support.
"So it's true Junior Brother has trained the Minor Rain Technique to perfection. Excellent!"
Zhang Yuanshan raised his cup with a smile.
"With such ability, you are bound to have hopes of Foundation Establishment. The more we exchange insights together in the future, the better."
Ji An lifted his own cup, thinking to himself that he had finally been accepted into the circle of these family disciples.
After the wine was drunk and the dishes cleared, Ji An spoke:
"Once I sow the spirit grain, I'll have about a month of free time.
After breaking through to the seventh level, I plan to join a monster-hunting squad as well.
If Brother Chu's team ever finds itself short-handed, feel free to call on me."