The protective ring bestowed by the sect was classified as a top-grade magical artifact, yet it was only truly effective against threats from the early Qi Refining stage.

Its limit was defending against the simultaneous impact of three early-stage spells or two mid-stage spells. Anything beyond that would shatter its defenses.

In stark contrast, Han Yu’s Green Wood Protection Technique already offered defense comparable to a top-grade artifact from the late Qi Refining stage—perhaps even stronger. As he continued to absorb the rich wood aura from the Thousand-Year Sunkwood Heart, its power would only grow.

The difference in potential was night and day.

Moreover, the secret art offered utility beyond simple defense. Its ability to camouflage and conceal was potent. When combined with the Thousand Illusions Secret Art, Han Yu could vanish into a forest so completely that even the birds and insects would fail to register his existence.

He had also mastered the Spirit Breath Nurturing Technique, acquired months ago. Between his spell practice sessions, he had dedicated time to nurturing his two crows. The results were undeniable. The spiritual energy radiating from both the large and small crow was becoming increasingly dense; they were on the verge of breaking through to the mid-Qi Refining stage.

Han Yu hadn’t neglected his other studies. He had absorbed the Introduction to Artifact Refining, and while he had yet to hammer out his first creation, his ability to identify and classify magical artifacts had improved significantly.

Then there was the Vision Confusing Technique. Han Yu had suspected it would synergize with the Thousand Illusions Secret Art, and his intuition had proven correct. By adding a layer of sensory deception to his existing toolkit of disguises and presence concealment, he could now fool enemies with terrifying ease.

Combined with the Tracking Technique he had looted from a demonic cultivator, Han Yu had become a ghost—able to hunt without being seen, ensuring his enemies had nowhere to hide.

Over the past few months, Han Yu’s cultivation speed had been impressive.

His Three Spirit Roots aptitude, supercharged by the compatibility of the Thousand-Year Sunkwood Heart, allowed him to maximize his daily Spirit Breath growth. Even a disciple with Dual Spirit Roots might struggle to match his pace. Yet, despite this, the gap between the fourth and fifth layers of Qi Refining was vast; bridging it would still require another six months of hard labor.

In contrast, his Blood Refining cultivation was terrifyingly fast. Sustained by a steady supply of essence blood, he was only days away from breaking through to the fifth layer.

Han Yu had always marveled at the demonic path’s speed, but experiencing it firsthand was jarring. Demonic cultivators violated the natural order and twisted their own minds, making major breakthroughs incredibly dangerous. They were prone to self-destruction and endless infighting.

If not for these fatal flaws—and if they possessed the trustworthiness of his Wanchun Valley seniors—Han Yu might have seriously considered walking that path.

The next morning, after a night of cultivation, Han Yu stood in the clearing outside the Steward’s office for his daily drills.

Senior Sister Li and Hua Qi emerged, watching silently as he cycled through his repertoire: Sharp Gold, Wind Blade, Ice Condensation, Flame, and Phantom Body. Only when he paused to catch his breath did they approach with smiles.

“Junior Brother Han, your spellcasting gets sharper by the day,” Hua Qi praised. “If we were dueling with spells alone, no artifacts allowed, I doubt I’d last three rounds.”

Senior Sister Li nodded in agreement. “Even if Junior Brother Han isn’t a born prodigy, he’s certainly close. With such diligence, this level of skill is well-earned.”

She paused, her tone turning instructive. “However, don’t forget that your cultivation base is the root of all magic. Without high cultivation, even the strongest spells are like flowers without soil—brilliant for a moment, but fleeting.”

“The spirit fields are nearly ready for harvest,” she added. “You should cultivate in the fields to borrow the ambient Qi. It will save you some Qi Gathering Pills and Sunkwood Heart.”

“Naturally,” Han Yu agreed.

As they spoke, the large crow descended from the sky, folding its wings as it landed on Han Yu’s shoulder.

Hua Qi laughed. “Your spirit bird is going to have a feast again! Last harvest, it caught quite a few Spirit-Stealing Rats.”

“With all that spiritual energy radiating off it,” Hua Qi continued, eyeing the bird, “another feast might push it to the next level.”

Han Yu shook his head slightly. “I doubt it will catch much this time.”

“The sect has been generous lately, encouraging everyone to learn spells. After the last harvest, even the Laborer Disciples at the first or second layer have picked up Wind Blade or Flame Technique. Their cultivation has improved, too.”

“If my crow starts hunting rats now, the disciples might see it as stealing their prey and merit.”

Senior Sister Li and Hua Qi exchanged a look of realization.

“True,” Senior Sister Li said. “The sect wants everyone to improve their strength. The disciples are much more capable now. We won’t see a repeat of the tragedy where a single demonic cultivator slaughtered dozens of laborers.”

“After this harvest,” she added, “the overall strength of the Spirit Field Department will jump again.”

Chatting amicably, the three headed toward the fields. Beyond their administrative duties, they each tended ten acres of personal spirit fields. Han Yu’s plot combined his original five acres with Old Man Li’s five.

Halfway there, Pig Third came running up, wearing his trademark fawning grin.

“Senior Brother Han! Senior Sister Li! Senior Brother Hua!”

“Pig Third,” Hua Qi teased. “What are you peddling this time? Not more fake elixirs, I hope?”

Pig Third had been eager to repay Han Yu for lifting his seal, bringing him oddities every week or so. Hua Qi and Li were used to it by now.

“No, no! This time it’s genuine!” Pig Third insisted, waving his hands. “It’s a spirit fruit, size of an apricot, crystal clear and full of Qi. The merchant said he got it from a faraway land at great risk. He’ll be back from the Black Mountain Market in about ten days.”

Han Yu didn’t get his hopes up. “Let me know when he arrives. We’ll go to the market together.”

He was always on the lookout for resources to speed up his cultivation, but experience had taught him that “rare” usually meant “fake” or “misidentified.” Finding a true treasure in the Green Grain Market was like finding a needle in a haystack.

So far, Pig Third was zero for seven. Han Yu treated these excursions mostly as educational trips.

Suddenly, Han Yu frowned. He turned his head sharply toward the adjacent spirit field.

The thick spiritual energy that had been hovering over the Green Grain Spirit Rice—energy vital for the final stage of maturation—was moving. It wasn’t dissipating; it was flowing like a river, converging upward and streaming away from the Spirit Field Department.

The rice is at a critical juncture. Why is the Qi leaving?

Senior Sister Li and Hua Qi noticed it too. Shock washed over their faces.

“Where is the energy going?” Hua Qi gasped.

“This will ruin the harvest!”

Senior Sister Li didn’t speak. She summoned her flying shuttle and shot into the sky. Han Yu and Hua Qi followed suit on their own artifacts.

As they rose, the full scale of the phenomenon became clear. They froze in awe.

It wasn’t just their fields. The spiritual energy of the entire Wanchun Valley was being stripped away, surging violently toward the main peak. It formed a colossal, visible vortex that spiraled into the sky.

To facilitate this massive intake, the valley’s Guardian Formation had opened above the main peak. The protective cyan light usually shrouding the summit had vanished, deactivated to allow the torrent of Qi to enter unimpeded.

The vortex spun faster, a funnel of raw power.

“This is…” Hua Qi stammered, his voice trembling with excitement.

“A new Golden Core is forming!” Senior Sister Li cried out, her face flushed with joy.

“After years of the sect pouring every resource into this… the second Golden Core cultivator has finally appeared!”