Crow Immortal: I Can Duplicate Infinite Resources

Chapter 213: Blood Refining Ninth Layer

Returning to the crow breeding chamber from Sect Leader Qi’s abode, Han Yu found himself under the scrutiny of 25 pairs of dark-gold eyes. The flock watched him intently, a heavy cloud of feathers and gazes.

Han Yu began by carving the Beast Heart Psychic Pact on the ground to construct nests for them.

This process served to deepen the connection between master and beast while providing a subtle, gradual boost to the spirit beasts’ development. In the past, Zhang Shan had employed this method when raising his Spirit-Stealing Rats. However, due to his meager strength and lack of quality resources, the rats had been only marginally obedient, and their improvements were negligible.

Once the Beast Heart Psychic Pact was inscribed, Han Yu laid out 1,000 Spirit Stones according to the spirit bird breeding method, creating a bed of spiritual nourishment that would bathe the crows in Spiritual Qi day and night. He also withdrew 200 jin from his stock of 1,000 jin of spirit rice to serve as their fodder.

Two days later, the benefits were palpable. The crows at the initial stage of Qi Refining showed signs that they might soon break through to the mid-stage.

Han Yu then administered a Qi Refining Spirit Boosting Pill to every bird.

Another day passed. After the crows refined the medicinal potency of the pills, seven more advanced to the mid-stage of Qi Refining.

Han Yu felt no haste. Now that he had reached the ninth layer of Qi Refining and his Spirit Breath was brimming, the daily pressure of replicating pills had lessened significantly. His primary focus shifted to replicating essence blood to rapidly advance the Blood Refining Technique. In time, he planned to replicate Sword Heart Spirit Crystals to improve the Soul Condensing Sword Technique. Aside from these tasks, his daily routine consisted of cultivating the Wood Spirit Body Refining Technique and the Star Luo Traction Technique.

Seven days later, when Han Yu fed the crows another round of Qi Refining Spirit Boosting Pills, the combination of spirit rice and the Spirit Stone formation bore further fruit. Five more crows naturally broke through to the mid-stage of Qi Refining.

Following the Big Crow, both the Little Crow and the Flame Crow officially entered the late stage of Qi Refining.

After yet another feeding of Spirit Pills, only three crows remained stuck at the initial stage.

Ultimately, this was a matter of aptitude.

Even among crows, potential varied. Some could consume spiritual items like Spirit-Stealing Rats or Spirit Blood Vines yet remain unable to awaken their spiritual intellect, destined to be nothing more than ordinary crows with a spark of intelligence.

Among the current 24 crows in the formation, these three stragglers had appeared—unable to keep pace despite the immersion in Spiritual Qi and the nourishment of spiritual items. They remained stubbornly anchored at the initial stage of Qi Refining.

Given Han Yu’s breeding methods, any bird with decent aptitude should have improved. However, just as with humans, talent among beasts was unequal.

Han Yu considered his options: either double down on resources to grind these “stubborn stones” into mud in hopes of molding them, or replace them with birds possessing superior aptitude.

Before Han Yu could reach a decision, the Big Crow, as the leader of the flock, took the initiative to communicate via their mental link.

It suggested sending the three low-aptitude crows back and replacing them with members of the new generation—fledglings with greater potential.

As the crow flock transitioned into a spirit bird flock, reproduction had continued even among the dozens of crows that hadn’t yet evolved. Some offspring of the spirit birds had already hatched and matured.

These new-generation crows, born of two spirit bird parents, naturally possessed superior aptitude compared to their predecessors.

For humans, a generation took 15 to 20 years to mature. For crows, adulthood was reached in merely one or two years.

Han Yu pondered briefly before agreeing to the Big Crow’s proposal.

Summoning the three crows that had failed to reach the mid-stage, Han Yu connected with their minds to comfort them. As a parting gift, he gave them Beast Spirit Pills to take back to the general population.

The three crows looked visibly despondent. Through the Beast Heart Psychic Pact and the blood connection, they viewed Han Yu as their closest companion and master. Being sent away was a heavy blow.

Sensing their sorrow, Han Yu’s heart softened. “Go back and guard the flock for me. Once I acquire a few more spirit beast bags in the future, I’ll come back and take you with me.”

The gloom vanished instantly. The three crows became jubilant, fluttering onto Han Yu and pecking him gently in a display of affection.

Han Yu laughed heartily, playing with them for a moment. When he stopped, he noticed the Big Crow and the others watching with jealous, tiger-like intensity. He couldn’t help but find it amusing.

He reached out and patted all their heads, encouraging them to focus on increasing their strength.

Scram! Scram!

The Big Crow impatiently drove the three outcasts away and ushered in three talented crows from the new generation.

Three months passed in a flash.

Under Han Yu’s continuous breeding regimen and the steady diet of Qi Refining Spirit Boosting Pills, the Big Crow was now approaching the threshold of Foundation Establishment. The rest of the flock had successively entered the late stage of Qi Refining. Unsurprisingly, four more crows had failed to bridge the gap from mid to late stage and were replaced by high-aptitude fledglings.

Now, all 25 crows were at the late stage of Qi Refining. When condensed into the spirit bird formation, their offensive and defensive capabilities were invincible within the Qi Refining realm. Even a Foundation Establishment cultivator would be unable to shatter such a formation with a single strike.

Han Yu felt his capacity for self-preservation grow once more.

During these three months, tending to the crows occupied very little of his time. His main effort was directed toward his own cultivation.

After daily refining of essence blood, his Blood Refining Technique broke through from the eighth layer to the ninth, finally reaching Perfection.

The count remained at 108 drops of essence blood, but each drop was now as large as a copper coin—round, crimson, and smooth as jade beads.

This “essence blood” was so pure and voluminous that ordinary cultivators wouldn’t recognize it, and even a Demonic Cultivator would struggle to identify it at first glance. No standard Blood Refining Technique produced essence blood of this nature.

As for its power, Han Yu lacked a worthy opponent to test it fully, having only tried it against ordinary Protection Talismans.

A single drop of this essence blood could effortlessly pierce through three layers of protection spells.

Reaching the ninth layer of the Blood Refining Technique wasn’t his only achievement. The Wood Spirit Body Refining Technique had also been successfully cultivated to the third layer.

Even without activating the technique, his unshielded body could now withstand spells and Magical Artifact attacks from early Qi Refining cultivators. His physical strength had multiplied, and his skin and bones were tough enough to smash through protection spells with brute force.

Once the body refining technique was activated, he could contend head-on with spells and Magical Artifacts of the mid-Qi Refining stage.

Additionally, the eighth Star Luo Thread of the Star Luo Traction Technique had formed, and he had begun condensing the ninth.

Furthermore, by borrowing the Sword Heart Spirit Crystal again, Han Yu’s sword intent, technique, and soul condensation had all seen further improvement via the Soul Condensing Sword Technique.

Before Foundation Establishment, the only things Han Yu hadn’t yet perfected were the ninth Star Luo Thread and his soul, which had not yet been condensed to its absolute limit.

Theoretically, his preparations were sufficient. Attempting Foundation Establishment now would carry a 70 to 80 percent chance of success. Adding a Foundation Establishment Pill into the mix would make failure almost impossible.

However, recalling his Master’s advice that the firmer the foundation and the more thorough the preparation, the better, Han Yu decided to invest another month to polish his divine soul to its absolute peak.

As for the ninth Star Luo Thread, condensing it would take too long, so he chose not to force it.

Standing on the precipice of Foundation Establishment, Han Yu took stock of his current offensive and defensive capabilities, planning for both his breakthrough and future travels.

His strongest defensive asset was naturally the Talisman Treasure, followed by the Formation gifted by Sect Leader Qi, and then the Foundation Establishment level Protection Talismans. Within the Qi Refining realm, his defenses included the spirit bird formation, the Green Wood Protection Technique, the Wood Spirit Body Refining Technique, the invisible Star Luo Threads, the various disguises of the Thousand Illusions Secret Art, as well as standard Magical Artifacts, talismans, and spells.

His most lethal offensive means was the refined, now-invisible Heavenly Mechanism Spindle. Originally a Golden Core realm item, its power when activated was immense. Next were the Foundation Establishment attack talismans, followed by the spirit bird formation, Star Luo Threads, Object Explosion Technique, the Blood Droplets from the Blood Refining Technique, sword arts, and various other spells and talismans.

Unknowingly, Han Yu had amassed a terrifying arsenal, and his Storage Bag was stuffed with resources. To travel quietly and unobtrusively, he was indeed more than prepared.