Crow Immortal: I Can Duplicate Infinite Resources

“Senior Brother Sun, you must be close to breaking through to the third layer of Qi Refining, right?” Han Yu asked as Sun Kang prepared to leave.

Sun Kang’s face lit up with anticipation. “If the Spirit Rice holds out… another half year should do it!”

He paused, adding, “Oh, right. In a month, our spirit fields will be ready for harvest. You can tag along then to watch the process and gain some experience.”

After Sun Kang disappeared down the path, Han Yu murmured, “Senior Brother Sun is truly a warm-hearted man. I hope he breaks through smoothly and enters the Outer Sect soon.”

Old Daoist Li rasped from the shadows, “Indeed, not bad.”

A hint of heavy envy crept into his voice. “He’s about to reach the third layer…”

With that, the Old Daoist turned abruptly and hurried back to his hut to cultivate.

Han Yu inspected the spirit fields once more before returning to his own stone hut to begin his routine.

He replicated a Spirit Rice ball and swallowed it. Warmth flooded his system as he guided the energy through a Circulation Cycle. The flow was gentle and clear, bringing tiny, thread-like increments of growth that finally settled into the spiritual seed within his dantian.

In Qi Refining, the flow of Qi began in the dantian, traversed the meridians of the body, and ultimately returned to the source.

Once the cycle was complete, the spiritual energy from the rice ball was exhausted. When he tried to continue cultivating using only his Four Spirit Roots to pull scattered Qi from heaven and earth, the speed plummeted. It was like trying to fill a lake with a spoon; the effect was drastically worse.

“Replicating one Spirit Rice ball a day isn’t enough,” Han Yu pondered. “And this Four Spirit Roots aptitude… it really is lacking.”

Just then, a faint fluttering of wings sounded at the door.

He opened it to find the large, glossy-feathered crow hopping inside, followed by another crow of ordinary size.

The two birds, one large and one small, stared at him in silence.

Han Yu found it amusing. “I asked you to help me find spirit herbs, and you went and found yourself a partner instead?”

The large crow gave a light cry. “Caw.”

“You’re saying having a helper makes the search easier?”

“Caw.”

Han Yu chuckled. “Alright, that makes some sense. No wonder you haven’t had any results these past few days.”

The large crow let out a wronged croak and hopped to the side.

Han Yu condensed a drop of his Blood Essence, activated the Spirit Nurturing Technique, and flicked it into the beak of the new arrival.

A wisp of bright red blood mist slowly rose from the bird’s body, swirling thickly before receding into its feathers.

Moments later, the crow affectionately hopped onto Han Yu’s shoulder and gave him a gentle peck. It had acknowledged its master.

Freshly transformed by the Spirit Nurturing Technique, it wasn’t as intelligent as the large crow yet. It acted purely on instinct, displaying docility and affection toward Han Yu.

Han Yu stroked the new bird’s feathers and sent the large crow back out with its new subordinate in tow. With two crows searching for spirit herbs, perhaps his luck would change.

Early the next morning, after inspecting the spirit fields and finding no issues with pests or water, Han Yu prepared to return to his cultivation.

A woman passing by called out to him. “You’re Han Yu, correct?”

Han Yu stopped. It was the rather pretty Senior Sister Wei who had celebrated Liu Lan’s breakthrough yesterday.

“Senior Sister Wei. Yes, I am Han Yu.”

“Mm. You’re young, and Four Spirit Roots isn’t a death sentence. You still have a chance to enter the Outer Sect in the future,” Senior Sister Wei said with a warm smile. “Would you like to come sit at my place for a bit? This Senior Sister has some good food to share.”

Han Yu looked at her in surprise. Was she another warm-hearted soul? Why hadn’t he sensed that yesterday?

“Don’t worry,” she said, reading his hesitation. “My family has some influence back in the Nanli Kingdom. Exchanging mundane gold and silver for cultivation resources isn’t difficult for me. I’ve always been willing to form good karma and build relations with promising junior brothers.”

She smiled knowingly. “If, in the future, you leave Wanchun Valley to travel or slay demons, and you show a little consideration for the Wei family… then this karma will have been worth it.”

Han Yu understood immediately. She was making an investment.

Then, a thought struck him. “Your Wei family… is it the Wei family of the Nanli Kingdom’s Prime Minister?”

Senior Sister Wei’s eyes lit up with delight. “Junior Brother Han knows of us! That’s even better!”

She stepped forward and took Han Yu’s arm familiarly. “Since we are both from Nanli Kingdom, let’s not be strangers. Come, let this Senior Sister host you!”

Han Yu felt out of his depth with such aggressive hospitality. He quickly interjected, “Li Quan, who entered the sect with me, is also from Nanli Kingdom. Let me call him to join us.”

The ninety-year-old with Five Spirit Roots?

Senior Sister Wei instinctively pursed her lips.

But she quickly reasoned that hosting one extra person wouldn’t cost much. Not offending people was a crucial part of building good karma. She nodded. “Very well.”

Han Yu walked to the Old Daoist’s hut and called out twice. No answer.

“He doesn’t seem to be home.”

Senior Sister Wei brightened, secretly pleased she could save a gift. “What unfortunate timing. Then I shall just host you today.”

Han Yu thought for a moment. “Senior Sister Wei, how about I wait for Li Quan, and we can visit together later? Would that be alright?”

Senior Sister Wei looked surprised, her expression clearly displeased.

She nodded indifferently. “That… could work too.”

Without another word, she turned and left.

While she genuinely intended to form connections, this kid was being tedious. She knew many disciples, but this was the first time she’d met someone who dragged their feet when offered a free benefit.

Do I really have to beg you to accept my hospitality?

Old Daoist Li was away for a long time that day. It wasn’t until evening that a faint light flickered in his stone hut, only to vanish an instant later.

Han Yu went over and knocked.

Old Daoist Li poked his head out, looking wary. “What is it?”

“Master Daoist, that Senior Sister Wei approached me today. She wants to host us, to form some good karma…”

As Han Yu spoke, he noticed the Old Daoist’s gaze was unusually cold and profound. His mouth was clamped shut, jaw tight, as if he were a bloodthirsty beast secretly grinding its teeth.

After Han Yu finished explaining, the cold, predatory aura around the Old Daoist slowly faded. He rasped out a grin.

“You Little Brat. If she asks you to go, just go. Eat, drink, take the benefits, and come back. Why wait for me?”

“We’re in this together. Besides, we’re both from Nanli Kingdom, and I’ve had conflicts with her family’s fourth son,” Han Yu said. “I thought bringing you along would be safer than going alone.”

Old Daoist Li gave him a soft look, then let out a raspy cackle. “You stubborn kid… alright, get in here!”

Once inside, Han Yu saw a bowl on the table filled with thick, viscous Blood Essence. The scent of iron and blood hung heavy in the air.

“I went to the Green Grain Market today!” Since he had let Han Yu in, Old Daoist Li dropped the pretense. “I traded my martial arts manuals for gold and silver, and bought Blood Food.”

“Master Daoist… you’ve started cultivating Blood Refining again?”

“That’s right. My cultivation speed is too slow; I have no choice.” The Old Daoist’s ugly face was solemn. “If I stick to the Green Grain Qi Cultivation Method, I’ll die of old age before I ever step onto the true path. I must find another way.”

He gestured to the bloody bowl. “Although Blood Refining is a Pseudo-Immortal Method—a path of the Demonic Sects—it is still a path. It is far better than cultivating for a lifetime with nothing to show for it, only to die with regrets!”