“Finally out here farming, are you? If you’d waited any longer, I would have had to punish you according to the rules!”

In the afternoon, Steward Wang, hands clasped behind his back and belly protruding, strode past Han Yu and Old Daoist Li’s spirit fields with a cold sneer.

Han Yu and Li exchanged puzzled glances. It was only after asking Zhang Shan that they learned failing to start planting within three days of receiving the spirit rice seeds would result in punishment.

Usually, stewards would only offer a reminder or a prod. But a tyrant like Steward Wang was fully capable of severely punishing Laborer Disciples like them for any infraction.

Old Daoist Li couldn’t help but mutter a few curses under his breath as the man walked away.

That night, after feeding the large raven and replicating the spirit rice, Han Yu sat cross-legged, concentrating on condensing the flow of Qi within him.

The next day, they finished planting the remaining spirit fields.

On the third day, they began carrying buckets of mountain spring water to irrigate the fields. The distance was not short, and despite their best efforts, they could barely manage one mu per day.

After about seven or eight days of grueling labor, Han Yu finally completed the sowing and watering tasks for the Green Grain Spirit Rice. According to Sun Kang, Zhang Shan, and Liu Lan, from now on, aside from checking for pests and watering twice a month, most of their time could be devoted to cultivation.

With the daily nourishment of a spirit rice ball, the flow of Qi within Han Yu’s body grew rapidly. It had already reached roughly one-fifth of a full Circulation Cycle.

He estimated that after another month or so, he should be able to complete his first Circulation Cycle and reach the first layer of Qi Refining.

Compared to the senior Laborer Disciples, this was incredibly fast—Zhang Shan, with his Five Spirit Roots, took over a year to reach the first layer. Even Sun Kang, with Four Spirit Roots, took six or seven months.

Having an ample supply of spirit rice as sustenance clearly accelerated the initial progress of cultivation.

During this period, Old Daoist Li also worked during the day and cultivated at night. He even resumed practicing the Blood Refining Art, relying on the warhorse Blood Essence he had saved.

One day, Li rushed into Han Yu’s room, his face flushed red with excitement. “I’ve sensed the Qi Sense!”

“Little brat, have you sensed it yet? Let Master Daoist tell you how it feels!”

Han Yu was taken aback. “Qi Sense?”

Wasn’t that something he started experiencing as soon as he began eating the spirit rice balls?

It was then that Han Yu understood why Deacon Fang had given him a second glance back at the registration stone, while barely sparing a comment for Li. For someone of the old man’s age and with Five Spirit Roots, true cultivation was fraught with a thousand difficulties and almost no hope.

Old Daoist Li enthusiastically pulled Han Yu aside and talked for a long time about the sensation of “Qi Sense,” excitedly repeating that his Orthodox Cultivation Path truly held promise.

Seeing him like this, Han Yu didn’t have the heart to interrupt, so he just listened silently.

Finally, Li left, thoroughly satisfied.

The next day, Old Daoist Li asked Sun Kang if, after sensing “Qi Sense,” he was now just one step away from the first layer of Qi Refining.

“Qi Sense? That’s still a long way off! That’s just the very beginning of gathering the Qi flow for the Circulation Cycle,” Sun Kang replied, surprised.

“Ah, I…” Old Daoist Li’s lips trembled. His ugly face flushed crimson with shame, and he holed up in his room for a full three days without coming out.

Another month passed unnoticed. Han Yu and Old Daoist Li grew accustomed to life in the spirit fields, inspecting them two or three times a day. The rest of their time was spent studying cultivation techniques and familiarizing themselves with the rules and daily life of Wanchun Valley.

Apart from occasionally seeing Steward Wang, the Outer Disciple in green robes, they had no chance to meet any other higher-ranking disciples. They also had little interaction with the more distant Laborer Disciples, remaining familiar only with their neighbors: Zhang Shan, Sun Kang, and Liu Lan.

Seeing the three of them—along with other Laborer Disciples—all at the second or third layer of Qi Refining and able to use one or two spells, Old Daoist Li watched with naked envy.

One evening, as Han Yu ate his spirit rice ball, he felt a sense of certainty.

The daily supply of spirit rice balls was a luxury even Laborer Disciples at the third layer of Qi Refining, who had farmed spirit fields for years, wouldn’t indulge in. The Qi flow had already gathered almost completely before; today, he should officially step into the first layer.

Under the effect of the spirit rice ball, tiny new streams of Qi appeared and circulated within his body.

At a certain critical moment, Han Yu’s expression turned solemn as he crossed the threshold.

In that instant, the streams of Qi connected seamlessly, linking together like a river. They flowed from the Yongquan acupoint to the Taixi, passed through the Zhongfu and Chize, and finally converged in the dantian, condensing into a single point—a seed of spiritual energy that continuously inhaled and exhaled.

This was the “Spirit Breath.”

The first layer of Qi Refining was achieved!

With the Spirit Breath now completing a full Circulation Cycle within his body, it naturally began transforming his mortal physique, extending his lifespan by about a decade.

Han Yu opened his eyes, his heart leaping with joy.

He had finally set foot on the Orthodox Cultivation Path!

The improvement within his body wasn’t limited to the Spirit Breath Circulation Cycle; his muscles and sinews had also benefited significantly, gaining considerable strength.

With a thought, Han Yu activated the Blood Essence technique Old Daoist Li had taught him. Sure enough, he sensed his Blood Essence had grown robust; he could now muster the energy to condense two portions of Blood Essence in one go without feeling fatigued.

If he used the “Blood Droplet” spell now, he could unleash it twice consecutively. Pushing himself, he might even manage three Blood Droplets. And if he added his replication ability, it would mean four Blood Droplets.

Han Yu opened his eyes again as a harsh Caw! Caw! sound came from the doorway.

In high spirits, he got up and opened the door. The large raven flew in, landing heavily on his shoulder. “Caw! Caw! Caw!”

It seemed to be scolding him for forgetting to feed it Blood Essence today.

Han Yu smiled. “Something happy happened today, so I forgot about you. Here you go—”

The large raven looked expectantly toward the corner of the room, at the small jar containing the warhorse Blood Essence.

Han Yu picked up the jar, feeling it unexpectedly light in his hand. Looking down, he saw only a tiny residue remained inside.

He immediately turned back with a laugh and a scold. “You big Black Raven! The warhorse Blood Essence Master Daoist split with me was supposed to last two years, and you’ve gobbled it all up in less than two months! No wonder your feathers are so glossy and you’re so full of vigor!”

The large raven, possessing thick skin, pretended not to understand. It stretched its neck, pecked with its beak, and cleaned out the last bit of residue. Then, it tried to scurry out of the room.

But Han Yu reached out and grabbed its wing. “You’ve eaten so much of my stuff; you can’t just run off after filling your belly!”

“Caw?” The large raven looked back at Han Yu, puzzled.

Han Yu smiled, tossing the two portions of condensed Blood Essence to it. “Eat up. From now on, you’re my raven!”

The raven was confused but, upon confirming it was food, was overjoyed. It opened its beak and swallowed the two plump portions of Blood Essence.

Seizing the opportunity, Han Yu activated the Spirit Nurturing Technique from the Blood Refining Art, thoroughly transforming the large bird into his own Nurtured Spirit Raven.

As the technique took effect, the look in the large raven’s eyes grew increasingly affectionate and gentle—completely different from before, when it merely saw him as a feeder. It was now clearly beginning to acknowledge its master.

Letting out a long exhale, Han Yu concluded the ritual.

He extended his hand, and the large raven, filled with joy, cawed and flew up to land on it, a heavy weight of several dozen jin.

Han Yu reached out to stroke it, feeling the raven’s feathers hard as bamboo strips. A light flick produced a metallic rustling sound, and a slight touch brought a sharp, prickling sensation. Its eyes were pitch-black and bright—this was now a magnificent raven no ordinary mortal world could ever produce.

“Good bird. From now on, help me find useful cultivation materials and aid me on my path to immortality!”

“Caw! Caw! Caw! Caw!”

The large raven responded happily, willing to serve its master.