The sun dipped behind the western hills. Sparse, dim yellow oil lamps flickered to life across the shack area, glowing weakly like the final gasps of a dying man. Chen Ping dragged his leaden legs back to his shack. He didn’t go immediately to collect his half-bowl of “evening meal.” The cramping pain in his

The word slithered into Chen Ping’s mind like a venomous snake, coiling in the darkness and refusing to leave. Steal. Fear instantly seized his heart, turning his hands and feet to ice. But immediately following the terror was the madness born of three years of starvation. If he didn’t steal, he would starve to death.

Chen Ping walked to the very center of the Black Earth. He crouched down. Gingerly, he dug a small hole in the fertile soil with his bare hands. The hole wasn’t deep—only half a finger’s length. Gently, solemnly, he placed the precious seed inside. He placed his own hope inside. He scooped up the nearby

All day long, Chen Ping shuttled back and forth between the hillside and the Pigsty. Cutting grass, carrying grass, cutting more grass, carrying more grass… The heavy basket bent his back, and the rough straps chafed his shoulders until they were raw and bloody. Sweat dripped into the open wounds, bringing a stinging, heart-piercing pain.

The tiny Spirit Grain seedling carried all of Chen Ping’s hopes. It carried his courage to keep living. This wasn’t an illusion. It was proof. With this, there would be food. There would be the strength to survive. With this, he could grow more. He could break free from this endless cycle of exploitation and

After finishing his prayer, Chen Ping slowly stood up. He stood before the golden Spirit Grain plant and reached out his hand. His fingertips trembled slightly from nervousness as he gingerly touched the lowest grain on the stalk. Hard. It wasn’t a dream. It was real food. Food that could fill his belly. Food that

Chen Ping walked over to the pile of grain and scooped up a large handful. The heavy grains slipped through his fingers, bringing a sense of solid happiness. He walked to the first row of pits and crouched down. Extending his rough fingers, he gingerly picked out six grains from the handful he held. Then,

Deep in the night, snores like thunder rumbled from the Shack. Chen Ping clenched the Jade Pendant tightly. HUM. His feet landed on solid ground. The faint light overhead remained constant. His first glance went to the newly sown patch of earth. The thousand small mounds of soil were still quiet. But upon closer inspection,

The night on Servant Peak was not quiet. The low roars of spirit beasts echoed from the distance, adding to the tension. Chen Ping kept his body as low as possible. He used the ridges of the fields and weeds for cover, moving like a wary wildcat. Familiar with the route, he avoided several muddy

Waking in the middle of the night, Chen Ping couldn’t fall back asleep. It hurt. Everything hurt. The straw bedding in the Shack was cold and hard. Curled up on it, Chen Ping felt as if his entire body had fallen apart, a deep ache seeping from the very marrow of his bones. The places

Chen Ping collapsed onto the Black Earth as if all his strength had left him, leaning back against the massive pile of rice panicles. He gasped for breath in great heaves, his chest rising and falling violently. He looked at the small mountain of heavy rice panicles before him. A smile of immense satisfaction and

After emerging from the Jade Pendant space, Chen Ping’s head throbbed as if being sawed by a blunt knife, and every part of his body screamed with exhaustion. He forced himself to lie down and close his eyes, but sleep wouldn’t come. Though he had food in his possession, his heart grew even more vigilant.

At dawn, when the Foreman’s grating voice rang out, Chen Ping’s eyes snapped open. He instinctively moved his limbs, sensing something different. His body felt light and agile, without the usual heavy fatigue that came after a night’s sleep. Sitting up, he felt an itch where the whip wounds on his back had scabbed over.

Manager Wang’s gaze was like a cold needle, piercing Chen Ping’s heart and making it clench. He quickly averted his eyes and walked toward the pile of baskets as usual. Manager Wang didn’t speak or move, just stood there until Chen Ping shouldered his basket and headed toward the wild grass field with the other

Crash! The underbrush was violently shoved aside. A massive creature charged out. This Wild Boar was far larger than Chen Ping had imagined. Its shoulder height nearly reached his chest, its body covered in coarse, stiff black-gray bristles that stood erect like steel needles. Enormous tusks curved upward from the sides of its mouth, gleaming

Chen Ping had made his decision. He was going to swallow this Wild Boar whole. He had his shovel tool and the Jade Pendant space; he could definitely do it. He first tentatively poked the Wild Boar with the iron shovel, confirming it was thoroughly dead. Then, taking a deep breath and enduring the persistent

Only in the dead of night, when the watchful eyes had temporarily closed, could Chen Ping snatch a moment’s respite. Dragging his utterly exhausted body, his consciousness sank into the Jade Pendant space. Warm white light enveloped him, isolating him from the cold and malice of the outside world. He threw himself before the pile

The arrival of the Immortal Zhou Qing was like a massive boulder thrown into the stagnant pond of Servant Peak, the ripples it stirred refusing to settle for a long time. The stone door remained tightly shut, separating the Immortal from the Mortal, yet it could not contain the turbulent mix of longing and anxiety

After Immortal Zhou Qing had stayed on Servant Peak for a week, occasional snippets of conversation would drift out from the stone house. While cleaning a corner of the Shack, Chen Ping faintly overheard two selected servants huddled together, whispering with awe. “Did you hear? Exalted Immortal Zhou said it’s not just here; it seems

Chen Ping descended the bluestone path swiftly. His footsteps struck the stone stairs with a rhythmic, solid cadence. With every step, he felt an unprecedented sense of stability grounding him. Behind him, high atop Servant Peak, Manager Wang’s furious curses and the pained groans of the Scarred Foreman struggling to stand were scattered by the

Chen Ping adapted quickly. The heavy labor from Mao Hour to Shen Hour each day was no longer a burden that could crush him; instead, it became a crucible to temper his muscles and bones. For the first three days, his arms were so sore he could barely hold his rice bowl. But he gritted

The interior of the mine shaft was far more oppressive than Chen Ping had imagined. The torchlight flickered with a dim, sickly yellow glow, illuminating only a fraction of the darkness. The air was thick and foul, saturated with heavy dust and a unique, faintly nauseating odor that clung to the back of the throat.

The oppressive atmosphere deep within the mine was suffocating, silently enveloping every corner of the tunnels. The flickering light of dim torches danced on the rock walls, illuminating faces that were numb and dull. Chen Ping blended in among them, mechanically raising and lowering his pickaxe. Clang! Clang! Clang! Each strike only chipped away fingernail-sized

Returning to his shack, Chen Ping lay on the creaking, broken wooden planks, yet he felt no desire to sleep. The dull ache brought by the Ore Toxin spread deep within his body, feeling like countless tiny ice needles pricking at his marrow. He closed his eyes, but his mind was exceptionally clear, repeatedly analyzing

A spark of hope had ignited in Chen Ping’s heart, yet it could not immediately dispel the cold that had taken root in his body. The days following the planting of the Purifying Grass seeds were not as easy as he had hoped. He had overestimated himself. The deterioration of his body was faster and

The next day. Last month, Chen Ping had only received one Spirit Stone, yet he decided to use it to exchange for a Purifying Grass seed. Although his body was already in a terrible state, at least hope still remained. The fact that Purifying Grass could be grown within the Jade Pendant space was his

Chen Ping stretched his limbs within the space, feeling the surging power within his body. This power felt very real, putting his mind at ease. Chen Ping knew that the person he was now was completely different from the frail “consumptive ghost” outside the shack. However, this strength could not be revealed just yet. He

Chen Ping returned to his Shack and immediately entered the Jade Pendant space. A full month of pretense and covert labor had left him mentally weary. More importantly, he could feel that familiar sensation of heaviness and sluggishness beginning to resurface within his body. The new Ore Toxin was slowly accumulating. His strength was once

In the mine, Chen Ping remained hunched over, covering his mouth with a tattered cloth. Occasionally, he erupted into fits of heart-wrenching coughs. Under the dim light of the shaft, he pretended to be no different from the other numb miners. If anything, he looked worse—a consumptive clinging to life by a thread. Days slipped

In the days that followed, Chen Ping perfected the art of the sick man. He blended into the soot-stained crowd, his pickaxe swinging with the same mechanical rhythm as the other miners, chipping away at the endless veins of ore. He controlled his output with surgical precision. The ore fragments he broke off were small

An hour of climbing had passed, and sweat had long since soaked through the back of Chen Ping’s shirt. Finally, the massive hall built into the mountainside came into view. Constructed from rough-hewn stone blocks, it loomed over the path. It was not ornate. In fact, it was rugged, bordering on austere. Its wide doors

Chen Ping hurriedly opened the booklet. The paper was coarse and yellowed, filled with names of places and personnel scrawled in rough brushstrokes. Some entries were marked with checkmarks; others were left blank. His gaze swept quickly over the unfamiliar locations: Beast Pen, Weaving Workshop, Spirit Grain Granary, Charcoal Kiln, Laundry Room… Most were arduous,

The garden gate was a simple structure, two thick logs roughly pieced together to form a fence door. It was currently left wide open. Chen Ping took out his token and had just reached the entrance when the smooth surface—specifically the spot engraved with the characters for “Manager”—vibrated against his palm. Behind the fence gate,

“Manager, since you’ve just arrived, the most important thing is to familiarize yourself with the types and characteristics of every spirit herb in the garden. You absolutely must not confuse them.” Wang Fa seemed to remember something. He fumbled inside his robe and pulled out a thick booklet, respectfully presenting it with both hands. “This

In the days that followed, Chen Ping’s life settled into a precise, mechanical rhythm. During the day, he donned the indigo robes of a Manager disciple and patrolled the medicinal herb fields under his supervision. He spoke very little. Most of his time was spent observing—watching how the laborers worked, studying the daily growth of

Inside the space, Chen Ping removed the segment of Blood Stanching Vine and walked to the edge of the field. He did not plant it immediately. Instead, he picked up the medicine shovel and dug a shallow, small hole near the boundary of the Black Earth, close to the spatial barrier. The hole was just

Chen Ping carefully calculated his next move. The Cold Star Grass was a rare treasure, and Bai Zhi guarded it with an intensity that bordered on obsession. She rarely left its side. As the primary ingredient for the Marrow Cleansing Pill—a true elixir of the Immortals—every single stalk was meticulously cataloged. If even one leaf

The remnant leaf from the diseased Cold Star Grass had been planted in a corner at the edge of the Black Earth within the Jade Pendant space. Chen Ping held no great expectations. The leaf was weak in vitality, and being a delicate spiritual herb, it would be normal if even the miraculous Black Earth

He took stock of the resources within the space. The area of the Black Earth was limited, so he had to concentrate his efforts on cultivating the most valuable plants. The leaves of the Dew Condensing Grass were effective for helping him break through bottlenecks, while the Cold Star Grass held immense long-term potential. As

Days slipped by amidst the repetitive labor in the Hundred Herb Garden and the meticulous care of the spatial herb fields. In the blink of an eye, Chen Ping had already been lying low in the Hundred Herb Garden for three months. The limits of his body were now clearly laid out before him. Sixty-five

One hundred and twenty-one days. That was the fourth month since arriving at the Hundred Herb Garden. It was deep winter. Outside the Servant Peak, heavy snow swirled, blanketing the world in white. Yet, within the Hundred Herb Garden, thanks to Immortal methods, it remained as warm as spring, with medicinal herbs flourishing luxuriantly. Chen

The journey back seemed somewhat lighter than the trip there. Chen Ping’s heartbeat remained steady, but the fourteen Spirit Stones nestled against his chest felt like a warm fire, driving away the winter’s bitter cold. He gingerly avoided routes where people might be present, trudging through the thick snow, each step planted firmly and deliberately.

The days slipped quietly by, spent tending the medicine fields, making snacks, and maintaining a relationship with Bai Zhi that was neither too close nor too distant. A month passed in the blink of an eye. Chen Ping continued, every few days, to bring freshly made snacks to the medicine fields. Steamed cakes, red bean

The Manager Hall at the summit of the Servant Peak was even more solemn than the buildings halfway up the mountain. At some point, several Servant Disciples had appeared here. The bluish-gray stone walls exuded a chill. The Servant Disciples standing guard at the entrance looked down on others with disdain, their eyes filled with

The young man’s body suddenly straightened, not showing any sign of pain, but rather as if stimulated by some profound force. The surface of the bronze mirror abruptly erupted with a blinding red light! A crimson light pillar shot into the sky, instantly occupying nearly ninety percent of the mirror’s height! The intensity and purity

Chen Ping did not look at anyone else again. Silently, he turned and walked out of the hall with steady steps. Passing through that strange, mist-shrouded grassland, he returned to the cold, long corridor. The Manager followed behind him, silent the entire way. Back in the dimly lit side hall of the Servant Peak, Li

Bai Zhi looked at Chen Ping, her gaze piercing. Despite his calm exterior, she sensed the faint, almost imperceptible urgency simmering beneath the surface. She shook her head gently. “A trick? There isn’t one. Sensing Qi is inherently different for each person. It relies entirely on talent and that indescribable spark of comprehension. Back when

The weakness brought on by the intense pain had not yet fully dissipated. Chen Ping lay sprawled on the soaked bedding, gasping for air. The faint sensation of Qi in his Dantian was his only comfort, yet it also served as a stark reminder of the peril he had just endured. “Unless absolutely necessary… never

The sky outside the window shifted from deep black to dark blue, gradually revealing the pale white of dawn. The first faint rays of morning light filtered through the cracks, falling upon Chen Ping, who was covered in grime. As the last trace of medicinal potency was guided through a final Circulation Cycle and converged

As night fell, Chen Ping sat cross-legged on his wooden bed early. He carefully retrieved a Low-grade Spirit Stone from his robe. Its cool, hard edges pressed against his palm, bringing a strange sense of solidity. Before he could draw Qi into his body, this stone felt no different from any ordinary rock on the

Chen Ping’s next objectives were clear. Pills, Alchemy manuals, an Alchemy Furnace… He wanted to purchase Cultivation Pills, basic Alchemy manuals, and finally, an Alchemy Furnace that could aid him in refining Pills. Moving between several slightly larger Pill shops, his gaze swept over the jade bottles on the counters, which emanated the rich scent

Whether it was due to Chen Ping’s thorough safety measures or because the small sect Marketplace inherently had decent security and fewer thieves, the journey back to the Hundred Herb Garden passed without the anticipated ambush or robbery he had feared. The mountain wind whistled through gaps in the forest, rustling the coarse, old clothes

The issue of materials had been resolved. Another obstacle hindering his Cultivation surfaced… Time! The work of managing the Hundred Herb Garden was trivial and time-consuming. Daily inspections, record-keeping, assigning tasks to Laborers, handling unexpected situations (such as small-scale pest infestations or local Qi fluctuations), submitting reports to the Sect, and so on—these tasks occupied

The materials were prepped, and the alchemy manual had been committed to memory until the pages were worn thin. Chen Ping knew the time for theory had ended. It was time to act. He produced the small bronze alchemy furnace he had purchased for fifteen Spirit Stones. The vessel remained dull, its surface a roadmap

The door to the small hut creaked on its hinges. Chen Ping dragged his feet across the threshold and gently closed it behind him. Outside, the daylight was bright, a rare clear and sunny day. But Chen Ping… his eyes were sunken, a web of red veins stubbornly clung to the whites, and even his

As the furnace temperature gradually stabilized, a gentle warmth transmitted through the furnace wall to the palm of his hand. Chen Ping picked up the materials. One stalk of Dew Condensing Grass, one Red Ginseng, and one Crystal Flower. His movements were meticulous, removing roots, old leaves, and skin cleanly and efficiently. When the pale

Early the next morning. Chen Ping awoke. He stretched, his entire body relaxing. Since the pill refinement had already succeeded, it was time to proceed to the next step. The Spirit Nourishing Pill was even more helpful for a Cultivator’s training than the Marrow Cleansing Pill, so Chen Ping was filled with confidence about breaking

Inside the stone hut, Chen Ping slowly withdrew his Cultivation. After three days, he had finally stabilized his Cultivation base, preventing any regression. The mass of Qi in his Dantian had solidified, thick as a toothpick, flowing gently and smoothly. Just as Chen Ping was about to get up and leave, an unprecedented and peculiar

Life returned to its established rhythm. Cultivation, Alchemy. Occasionally, he would set aside a proper rest day or two. Regarding Bai Zhi’s words, he had always believed them deeply. Those who could care for him must have his best interests at heart. Having acquired Divine Sense, Chen Ping’s control over Alchemy ascended to a new

Mountain wind mixed with ice shards, lashing against Chen Ping’s face with biting cruelty. The path ahead had vanished under a sheet of white, crunching softly with every step. Chen Ping lowered his head, burying his chin in his collar as he pushed through the blizzard. Luck was not on his side today; he had

The sun bled into the western horizon, casting a sickly yellow twilight over the Marketplace. The wind howled, whipping the snow into a blinding frenzy. Chen Ping slipped into a blind spot. With a thought, the bronze Alchemy Furnace and the bundles of herbs vanished, swallowed instantly by the dimension within the Jade Pendant. He

Chen Ping gazed down at the wreckage of the scar-faced man. Warm blood melted the snow beneath the corpse, pooling into a stark, widening crimson stain. The nausea he expected never came. Instead, a strange, electric heat surged from the base of his spine. It flooded his limbs, bringing with it a dark, terrifying euphoria.

Chen Ping returned to the Hundred Herb Garden without incident. He pushed open the wooden door of his small hut. The familiar scent of medicinal herbs mixed with the damp, earthy smell of soil washed over him, loosening the knot of tension in his chest. He bolted the door and checked the latch twice. Only

A sharp, demanding knock rattled the door of the small hut. “Junior Brother Chen Ping, are you in? Routine inspection from the Outer Sect Duty Hall.” Chen Ping took a slow, grounding breath. He smoothed the folds of his coarse servant robes and adjusted his expression. In the blink of an eye, the cold calculator

Chen Ping sat cross-legged at the heart of the Qi Gathering Formation, his eyes closed, his vision turned inward. Deep within his Dantian, in the churning Sea of Qi, strands of spiritual power drifted like fine hairs. He gripped a Low-grade Spirit Stone in his palm. He pulled at the energy within, drawing it out

The world did not stop turning simply because Chen Ping reached the 3rd Level. Life continued in silence. For a low-level cultivator, silence was armor. Earth-shattering events belonged to the chosen few, the protagonists of legends. For the bottom-feeders of the sect, noise was a death sentence. In a realm teeming with monsters and ancient

“Open the door!” A flat, authoritative voice shattered the silence of the morning. Standing on the threshold was a stranger, a deacon from the Outer Sect. His face was a mask of indifference, his eyes sweeping over Chen Ping’s humble quarters with cold, bureaucratic scrutiny. “Registered Disciple Chen Ping?” The tone was detached, the voice

Three days later, dawn broke over the mountain plaza. A biting wind howled across the stone, but the cold did nothing to dampen the feverish excitement of the gathered disciples. Dozens stood in formation, mostly at the 2nd or 3rd Level of Qi Condensation. Their eyes were bright with greed. For a lowly Registered Disciple,

Chen Ping stood up, his gaze fixed upstream—the direction the Servant Peak Manager and his two lackeys had vanished moments earlier. Li Yingyong… For some reason, the name alone triggered a visceral revulsion. It was as if they were born enemies. A hatred that was both bone-chilling and boiling hot detonated without warning, gnawing at

The moment the final syllable fell from his lips, a torrential aura detonated from Chen Ping’s core. Qi surged like a volcano shattering its seal. An invisible, crushing spiritual pressure instantly flooded the rocky slope. The air seemed to freeze solid. The pressure slammed into the hearts and shoulders of the trio like a physical

Chen Ping withdrew the Green Edge Sword, flicking the beads of warm blood from the steel. He didn’t spare a glance at the three corpses cooling on the ground. Moving with practiced efficiency, he stripped Li Yingyong and the two lackeys of their personal storage bags, looting every Spirit Stone and scrap of material inside.

For the next three days, Chen Ping was a ghost haunting the outer fringes of the Spirit Medicine Valley. With his Divine Sense fully extended, he skirted the territories of lurking demon beasts and pockets of toxic miasma. He ignored the rare, dangerous treasures, focusing his entire will on the low-hanging fruit: mid-to-low grade herbs

Chen Ping’s gaze rested on the wooden identity token lying in the corner of the table. The application he had submitted six months ago—a request to leave the sect for family visitation—had finally been approved. A single character, “Permitted,” was carved into the wood, along with a deadline: Valid for three months. “Father… Mother…” Chen

The next day, a dull, mournful bell tolled from the direction of the mines. Chen Ping stepped out of the foot inn and merged into the stream of people pouring from the shack district. The crowd moved in silence, numb. Most here had long since sold their lives to the mine. He deliberately slowed his

“Who’s there?! Get the hell out here!” Scarred Bear’s roar detonated like a thunderclap, shaking dust from the wooden rafters of the shack. His massive frame launched from the chair with shocking agility. In his hand, a heavy ghost-headed broadsword appeared as if by magic, its tip pointing unerringly at the slag heap where Chen

Following Scarred Bear’s directions, Chen Ping stepped into the gaping maw of the Abandoned Pit. A blast of hot, fetid air assaulted him, thick with the cloying stench of rot. It was suffocating. Behind him, the mine shaft narrowed rapidly. The darkness swallowed the daylight, leaving only a dim, yellow patch of illumination fading in

“Don’t!” Chen Dashan and Lin Shi screamed almost in unison, their voices thin with terror. Chen Ping froze mid-step. He turned back, stunned. “Ping’er… you can’t kill him!” Lin Shi gasped, her voice weak but desperate. “He… he’s the reason your father and I are still breathing!” Chen Ping’s pupils contracted to pinpoints. “Saved your

After settling his parents into the guest room of the inn, Scarred Bear immediately scrambled to serve them. He ordered a table of the best food available and poured water with fawning diligence. From somewhere on his person, he produced two relatively clean meat pies. “Master, please rest, rest! This is just some coarse food

In the realm of spiritual botany, anomalies were rare but miraculous. Whether favored by the fortunes of heaven and earth, or twisted by unique environments, the fundamental essence of a plant could sometimes undergo a metamorphosis. This process birthed potential far surpassing its kin. Such mutations were known as “Variants.” Variant spirit herbs often contained

In the vast world of spiritual botany, anomalies were rare, yet miraculous. Whether favored by the fortunes of heaven and earth or twisted by extreme environments, the fundamental essence of a plant could sometimes undergo a metamorphosis. This process birthed potential far surpassing its kin. Such mutations were known as “Variants.” Variant spirit herbs often

Yuan Jingtian spat a chewed stalk of dogtail grass into the dirt and jogged over, bowing low. “My Lord, you called?” Chen Ping tossed a jade vial through the air. Yuan Jingtian fumbled to catch it, looking confused. “Take it. That is your allocation of pills for the year.” Chen Ping’s voice was flat, devoid

Deep within the bowels of the Black Market, beneath an unassuming stone building, a secret auction was underway. The lighting was deliberately dim, casting long, wavering shadows against the rough walls. Every participant wore a mask or a heavy cloak designed to block Divine Sense probing. Entry was granted only to those holding a special

The auction concluded, and a faint, satisfied smile touched Chen Ping’s lips. The beast-skin scroll containing the Origin Nourishing Pill formula lay safely within the Jade Pendant’s space, nestled beside the charred, unassuming stump of Soul Nourishing Wood. His wealth, once a mountain of two thousand seven hundred Spirit Stones, had been reduced to rubble.

Chen Ping pressed the pile of Spirit Stones against his Dantian. Flash. A blinding white light erupted. Like parched earth meeting a torrential storm, the Jade Pendant unleashed a terrifying suction force. The Spirit Stones dimmed instantly. Their stored Qi was violently stripped away, transforming into wisps of white mist that vanished into the Jade

The three primary ingredients for the Origin Nourishing Pill required a full decade of natural growth to reach maturity. However, under Chen Ping’s meticulous care—and the constant irrigation of spirit spring water—their growth rate had been accelerated twentyfold. In just six months, he would be able to harvest the first batch. Only then could he

Chen Ping cleared a patch of open ground in the center of the courtyard. Dozens of ironwood blocks were stacked nearby. His tools—engraving knives, Beast Soul Stones, copper wire—were arranged with surgical precision. He took a deep breath, picked up the Puppetry Primer, and flipped to the schematic for the Tier 1 Low-grade Wooden Bird.

Chen Ping calmed his mind, his gaze locked on the skeleton of the wooden bird. “Flight and reconnaissance are its core functions,” he muttered. “Attack capabilities? Useless. How much damage could a Wind Blade from a Low-grade puppet truly inflict? As for pecking attacks… completely negligible. And balance? As long as it flies, who cares

Chen Ping used a hand formed of Qi to clamp the newly shaped ironwood core, holding it steady before his eyes. The puppet engraving knife moved along the grain with surgical precision. It left behind grooves of uniform depth, their edges perfectly rounded. One by one, the Spirit Gathering Mark and Soul Control Mark were

As soon as Chen Ping stepped into the Black Earth, a peculiar fragrance washed over him. It was a refreshing, pervasive scent—delicate, sweet, and utterly captivating as it filled the small space. Chen Ping’s heart skipped a beat. He knew this smell. It was the unique aroma of the Origin Nourishing Fruit. The clear sweetness,

The furnace fire roared to life once more. Chen Ping’s gaze was as calm as a stagnant pool. The repeated failures of the last few days had not shaken his resolve; they had only sharpened it. He moved through the preliminary steps with mechanical efficiency: melting, purifying, fusing, and Spirit Infusion. Inside the furnace, the

Before he could ascend, the vessel had to be forged. Chen Ping spent a full day resting. With the aid of Spirit Stones and the Spirit Gathering Array, he repaired the deficits caused by his marathon alchemy sessions. His Qi and Divine Sense returned to their absolute peak. He sat cross-legged on the rush cushion

Chen Ping’s figure materialized within the Jade Pendant space. Beneath his boots lay the familiar, rich Black Earth. Recently, he had fed the space over a thousand Spirit Stones. The investment had paid off. The arable land had expanded significantly, now spanning more than two acres. However, despite the expansion, the boundary remained unchanged. The

Chen Ping’s heart hammered against his ribs as he crossed the small courtyard. He pushed open the heavy wooden door. The room smelled of bitter herbs and old wood. The conditioning of the last six months—the Spirit Grain, the Spirit Spring water, the constant stream of low-grade pills—had worked miracles, but the damage of a

“Pfft…!” A wet, tearing sound broke the silence. Almost simultaneously, Chen Dashan and Lin Shi lurched forward. Two mouthfuls of dark, foul-smelling blood sprayed from their lips, splattering across the woven mat in a shocking crimson display. Then, the nightmare deepened. From Chen Dashan’s temples, nostrils, and ears—and from the seven orifices of Lin Shi’s

“Hoo…” A long, ragged breath finally escaped the depths of Chen Ping’s chest. The tension that had held his body rigid snapped. A wave of exhaustion and vertigo crashed over him like a tsunami. Black spots danced before his eyes. He swayed dangerously, nearly toppling off the kang bed. Summoning the last dregs of his

Another month slipped by in the quiet sanctuary of the hidden residence. Under Yuan Jingtian’s cautious vigilance and Chen Ping’s daily efforts to soothe his parents’ shattered systems with gentle Qi, Chen Dashan and Lin Shi finally drifted back to the world of the living. They had remained in a deep, death-like slumber for nearly

While Chen Ping was deep in cultivation, an envoy from the Duty Hall arrived. The timing was off. The agreed-upon inspection was supposed to happen at the three-year mark, but Chen Ping had already been in the sect for nearly four years. He didn’t dare to be careless. He adjusted his Concealing Mask, suppressing his

The stone door creaked open, and the warm morning sunlight spilled across the threshold, chasing away the chill that had settled overnight. Chen Ping took a deep breath. The crisp mountain air filled his lungs, carrying the sharp, bitter scent of wild herbs and damp earth. Only half a month remained until the deadline set

“One!” Zhao Ning extended his index finger, his expression severe. “Every year, you must complete at least one sect mission. The Mission Hall posts these regularly, ranging in difficulty from early to late Qi Condensation. The Contribution Points awarded vary wildly. Act within your means, but do not shirk this duty. Failure results in a

Deacon Zhao Ning turned back to look at Chen Ping. The look of approval that had previously graced his face vanished, replaced by a heavy, warning solemnity. He lowered his voice, his speech accelerating slightly. “Junior Brother Chen, what leaves my mouth today must enter your ears and go no further. The Sect… is not

“No matter what, the risk must be taken. This is the simplest, lowest-risk channel for me to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill in the short term!” Chen Ping murmured softly, a gleam flashing in his eyes. Armed with this intelligence, he immediately began scouring the archives for records concerning this Secret Realm. Soon, piecing together

Spirit Stones vanished from his Jade Pendant like water down a drain. In exchange, a thick stack of Talismans materialized in his hands. Chen Ping sorted the yellow paper with methodical precision. Attack: Fire Snake, Ice Spike, Golden Needle, Wind Split. Defense: Golden Armor, Thick Earth Shield, Water Curtain. Evasion: Divine Movement, Wind Riding, Paper

The disciples’ expressions were solemn as they activated their Light Body Techniques, flying in an orderly stream into the spacious hold of the Spirit Boat. Chen Ping drifted with the current, a nondescript speck in the crowd. He counted silently. Including himself, the Qingyun Sect had committed sixty-three disciples to this venture. The hatch sealed

Chen Ping had not expected to find his target within half a day of entering the realm. He crushed the impulse to rush forward. Instead, he deployed his Divine Sense, sweeping the swamp and its perimeter with paranoid precision. The swamp was still. Dead leaves drifted on the stagnant water. Fist-sized water lice scuttled along

Chen Ping moved like a ghost. He detached himself from the shadow of the great tree and tracked the fleeing Shenxiao disciple with the silent precision of a wolf stalking wounded prey. His Divine Sense locked onto the chaotic, panicked aura ahead, even as his eyes scanned the perimeter for secondary threats. The disciple was

In the days that followed, Chen Ping moved through the treacherous Shadow Forest like a phantom. He strictly avoided the red zones marked on the sect map. At the slightest hint of anomaly—a sudden silence in the insectsong, a broken branch, a lingering scent of musk—he would unleash his Divine Sense, sweeping the area repeatedly

Chen Ping’s eyes darted frantically. His face was pale, beads of cold sweat rolled down his temples, and his body trembled with apparent terror. He looked at the eight men closing in on him, his expression a portrait of despair and reluctance. “I… I’ll hand it over! Just don’t kill me!” His voice shook, carrying

Within the silent expanse of the Jade Pendant space, Chen Ping sat on the black earth, his chest heaving like a bellows. Cold sweat clung to his forehead, and his heart hammered against his ribs. He stared down at his trembling hands. The three cyan Golden Blade Talismans were gone, reduced to fine gray ash

“Damn it! Just how many talismans does he have?!” A disciple’s voice cracked, thick with despair. They had never seen such an “extravagant” fighting style. This wasn’t a battle of arts or skill. It was simply using Spirit Stones to smash people to death. Suppressed by the endless torrent of elemental attacks, the five elites

The yellow light of the trapping formation faded, and with it, the illusion masking the tree. The true form of the spiritual plant revealed itself. It stood ten feet tall, its trunk twisted and gnarled like a climbing dragon, the bark smooth and warm as jade. But the crown told a different story. The “six”

An idea took root in his mind, impossible to suppress. I can’t take the main stalk, but I can certainly take a shoot! To others, these shoots were “chicken ribs”—tasteless and worthless. Without the unique lightning-struck environment of the cliff, they would wither and die within days. But Chen Ping had the Black Earth space.

Lingyun Peak, like a slumbering giant beast, lay across the center of the secret realm. The closer one got, the more refined the Qi permeating the air became, almost turning into a tangible, thin mist. The towering ancient trees grew increasingly sparse, replaced by black mountain rocks and tenacious, low-growing spiritual plants clinging to the

Entering the mountainside of Lingyun Peak, Chen Ping did not relax in the slightest; instead, a lingering sense of strangeness rose in his heart. The Qi became even denser, and the exotic flowers and rare herbs in the mountains also noticeably increased. He even luckily picked three portions of Amethyst Flower and one portion of

Chen Ping knelt on one knee, leaning heavily on his “Metal Splitter” sword, his breath coming in ragged gasps. Sweat mixed with blood slid down his temple, dripping onto the cold stone floor. A sharp, throbbing pain radiated from the wound on his left arm, and his spiritual power was more than half depleted. Scattered

These twenty figures… They were wearing Qingyun Sect outer disciple robes identical to Chen Ping’s. Their height, build, and even the bloodstains and exhaustion on their faces were perfect mirrors of his own. In their hands, they held phantom images of the “Water Divider” and “Metal Splitter” flying swords. Their eyes were vacant, yet they

Zzzzt! A faint, almost transparent milky-white halo materialized over the Taiyi Sect disciple’s skin without warning. Clang! Bai Yue’s sword strike, sharp enough to decapitate a Qi Condensation Great Perfection cultivator, slammed into the halo. It felt like stabbing into viscous glue. The blade stopped dead, inching forward not a hairsbreadth. The halo rippled softly,

The stone steps hung suspended in the void, piercing straight into the churning sea of clouds above. On the platform, the gazes of the twenty-seven battered survivors were uniformly focused on that bluestone staircase extending from the edge of the abyss. No one knew what “Immortal Fate” lay at the summit. Was it a world-shaking

Chen Ping’s footsteps faltered, a silent sigh echoing in the hollow of his chest. This was the price of having no retreat. These prodigies, born with golden spoons and supreme talent, could climb far higher than him in a single, explosive attempt. But under this unreasonable, continuous high pressure, once they reached their limit, failure

Within the Sea of Consciousness… The form of Chen Ping’s soul had solidified by nearly thirty percent. When he swept out with his Divine Sense, the world was clearer, sharper. His control over his own internal state had reached a microscopic level of precision. This was a realm exclusive to the Foundation Establishment stage. He

Boom… The heavy stone door ground against the floor, a low, grating rumble echoing in the silence as it slowly swung inward. It was not what Chen Ping had expected. There were no blinding rays of auspicious light. No celestial music drifting through the air. Not even the spine-chilling pressure of lingering killing intent. Behind

Chen Ping took a deep, steadying breath. He tore his gaze away from the barren Spirit Medicine Sector and turned toward the depths of the cave—the corner marked as the Puppet Sector. He prayed silently. Please, let there be something real here. He couldn’t afford another disappointment like the Alchemy or Spirit Medicine areas. Those

“The Dao of Puppetry begins with the very Origin of the Heavenly Dao itself! I have exhausted my life’s energy, yet I have only glimpsed the threshold. I failed to touch the core, the most profound power of the Origin. I leave this legacy in the hope that a destined successor may inherit my will,

The terror of the ladder was burned into his bones. He had experienced it personally. In that final stretch, every step had been a struggle through purgatory. Especially during the last ten steps. He had only managed to crawl to the summit by relying on the Jade Pendant space, forcibly recovering his stamina and mental

“Chen Ping?” The voice came from outside the cave dwelling. It was flat, carrying an unmistakable note of condescension. Chen Ping deactivated the defensive restrictions and stepped out, cupping his hands in a formal greeting. “That is me. May I ask what instructions Senior Brother Deacon has?” “It’s regarding your Foundation Establishment Pill exchange.” The

Chen Ping’s voice wasn’t loud, but it landed with the weight of a stone shattering a frozen lake. “The Foundation Establishment Pill formula?” The warm, amiable smile on Li Mao’s face froze. A flicker of shock and suspicion darted through his eyes. He leaned forward slightly. Under the stone table, his fingers curled, tightening into

After sending Li Mao away, silence returned to the cave dwelling. Chen Ping sat cross-legged on the floor, his mind sinking into the Jade Pendant suspended in his Dantian. It had been some time since he returned to the Sect, yet he hadn’t taken a moment to properly organize his harvest. The scenery before his

Chen Ping withdrew his consciousness from the Jade Pendant space, returning to the silence of his cave dwelling. Only then did a thought strike him: ‘I didn’t see Yuan Jingtian or my parents when I got back.’ Almost on cue, a familiar fluctuation rippled through the cave’s protective array. It was a gentle, inquiring ping—a

In the days that followed, Chen Ping went completely underground. He was in no rush to attempt alchemy. The Foundation Establishment Pill was notoriously difficult to refine; at his current level, attempting it would be nothing short of arrogance. It was far beyond his control. Instead of risking the precious main ingredients on a gamble,

Chen Ping crouched, grinding a pinch of the dark earth between his thumb and forefinger. A familiar warmth and heaviness traveled up his fingertips, signaling the soil’s immense vitality. But as he scrutinized the grains, his brow furrowed. “This purple tint isn’t just cosmetic,” he muttered. “Could it be… the upgrade didn’t just increase the

Inside the Jade Pendant space… The massive boost in growth speed was a godsend, but Chen Ping didn’t let the euphoria cloud his judgment. He remained a pragmatist. He needed to verify a critical variable: the “fuel consumption” of the upgraded Black Earth. Did accelerating time by forty-fold strip the land of its fertility at

“It seems my only option is to rely on the Black Earth. I must force the medicinal age of the Foundation Establishment ingredients to their absolute biological limit, then leverage the True Fire Alchemy Scripture to refine High-grade—or even Supreme-grade—pills myself.” Chen Ping felt the weight of the pressure settling on his shoulders. In the

Time dissolved in a blur of absolute focus. In the blink of an eye, another six months vanished. It had now been a full year since the Jade Pendant space underwent its evolution. For Chen Ping, this year was defined by a monastic discipline. His life shrank to a rigid cycle: cultivating in his cave

Chen Ping had long prepared himself for the sheer difficulty of this task. Among all Tier 2 pills, the Foundation Establishment Pill was universally recognized as one of the hardest to refine. Its complexity dwarfed the True Essence Pills he had used for practice. His confidence lay entirely in the True Fire Alchemy Scripture, the

The third furnace. The fourth. The fifth… The results were identical. Each attempt brought him agonizingly closer to the finish line. He held the reaction stable for longer, pushed the fusion further, but the end result remained the same. By the fifth furnace, he had even managed to imprint two of the three stabilization seals.

The pills were ready. Now, the battlefield had to be prepared. Chen Ping’s current cave dwelling sat atop a branch of a Tier 2 Low-grade spirit vein. While the Qi density was acceptable for daily cultivation, it was woefully insufficient for the massive energy demands of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment realm. Forcing a

The second torrent of medicinal energy flooded his system. It was a monsoon breaking a century-long drought. The deficit caused by his voracious, inefficient Spirit Roots was instantly replenished. The medicinal Qi roared, slamming into the teetering, nascent Dao Foundation. “Condense!” Chen Ping roared internally. He pushed his Divine Sense to its absolute limit, acting

Chen Ping sat motionless on the meditation cushion. The last trace of restless energy swirling around his body slowly sank into his Dantian. Six drops of liquid True Essence hovered in the void of his Sea of Qi, perfectly still. He opened his eyes. The rough texture of the stone walls stood out with razor-sharp

Zhao Yuanqi’s hand froze mid-air, the porcelain cup hovering inches from his lips. He looked up at Chen Ping, his expression a mask of sheer astonishment and confusion. “Junior Brother… you chose this?” He set the cup down with a sharp clack, leaning forward, his tone dropping into a serious, admonishing register. “Junior Brother, do

The final item on the agenda was the selection of a cave dwelling. Zhao Yuanqi produced another map, this one etched onto a slab of translucent jade. It displayed a detailed topographical view of the Qingyun Sect’s core territory, pulsing with faint light to indicate the flow of ley lines. The Main Peak, Qingyun Peak,

A few days later, a streak of cyan light descended from the heavens, landing steadily upon the summit of Green Mountain. The light dispersed, revealing Chen Ping, his parents, and Yuan Jingtian. Chen Dashan and his wife stepped onto the solid earth, looking around with a mix of curiosity and timidity. This was to be

Shan Yu and Yao Min performed the formal disciple induction ceremony. Thud. Their foreheads struck the cold stone floor, the sound echoing softly in the empty chamber. When they raised their heads, their expressions were a mixture of irrepressible excitement and nervous apprehension. Chen Ping paused for a moment, appearing to deliberate. He reached for

Time flowed quietly over Green Mountain, passing like a silent stream through a gorge. In the blink of an eye, a month had vanished. Deep inside the cave dwelling, within the austere stone walls of the meditation chamber, Chen Ping slowly opened his eyes. His brow was furrowed in mild frustration. He opened his hand.

Bai Zhi took her seat, her gaze sweeping over the cave dwelling’s furnishings. They were simple to the point of being shabby, yet her expression showed no surprise. To a dedicated cultivator, material luxury was irrelevant. As long as the space was habitable and allowed for peaceful cultivation, it was sufficient. Chen Dashan hurried over

Upon returning to the Sect, Chen Ping launched a relentless investigation. He haunted the Scripture Depository, scouring dusty shelves. He frequented the bustling taverns, buying rounds of wine to loosen tongues. He even visited obscure shops in the market that specialized in ancient, fragmentary texts. In just a few days, he questioned no fewer than

Zhao Yuanqi paused, a faint, knowing smile playing on his lips as he looked at Chen Ping. “Here is a statistic that is even more thought-provoking: Throughout recorded history, there has never been a single instance of a cultivator with a Five-Element Waste Spirit Root breaking through to the Violet Palace realm.” Zhao Yuanqi’s eyebrows

The two sat together, the conversation stretching on for what felt like an eternity. It was entirely a one-sided affair. Zhao Yuanqi expounded on his theoretical knowledge of the cultivation world, while Chen Ping sat in silence, acting the role of the attentive audience. Chen Ping was exhausted. But Zhao Yuanqi showed no signs of

Elder Li leaned forward slightly, the lines on his face deepening as his tone turned grave. “Junior Nephew Chen, are you absolutely certain you want the Whale Swallowing Technique? The Earth-rank mid-grade art that costs two thousand Contribution Points?” “I am certain,” Chen Ping replied, his voice calm and steady. Elder Li fell silent. His

Since advancing to the Foundation Establishment realm, Chen Ping had identified a significant bottleneck in his routine. Time. He simply didn’t have enough of it. The logistical demands of alchemy were becoming a nightmare. Pills were the currency of the cultivation world, and his needs were insatiable. He needed pills to barter for Tier 3

Chen Ping’s consciousness descended into the Jade Pendant space. A year had passed in the outside world, and the flow of time had left a profound mark on this miraculous expanse of pale purple earth. The most striking change dominated the southeast corner. The fields of low, emerald-green True Essence Grass that once carpeted the