Shi Yu sat quietly in the center of the Spirit-Gathering Array, her eyes closed as she circulated her cultivation technique, feeling the spiritual energy flow through her meridians.
As the Spirit-Gathering Array was activated, a translucent golden light barrier rose around her, enveloping her within a bowl-shaped light barrier whose surface flickered with continuous runes.
Inside the light barrier felt like a tiny world cut off from the outside. The air was filled with a strange aura that granted Shi Yu an unprecedented sense of tranquility and peace.
Immediately after, the surrounding worldly spiritual energy was continuously drawn in and condensed. Though barely noticeable at first, after fifteen minutes, the concentration of spiritual energy within the light barrier had risen by roughly twenty percent compared to the outside.
After another fifteen minutes, when the spiritual energy concentration reached thirty percent higher than the outside, it stopped increasing and stably maintained that level.
Sensing the surrounding worldly spiritual energy surging into her meridians like a tide, Shi Yu calmed her mind and immersed herself in the continuous intake and refining of the energy.
Consuming Life Spring water daily allowed her newly born spiritual meridian to continually grow and evolve, yet her natural aptitude still could not be considered good. That she could advance to the fourth layer of the Qi Refining Realm at such an unexpected speed was largely thanks to the cultivation technique she practiced, the 《Fate-Tapping Record》.
In addition, there was the aid of various cultivation resources.
However, even though a considerable amount of time had passed since she advanced to the fourth layer of the Qi Refining Realm, the Qi cyclones in her dantian—which continually rotated around her yellow sprout Dao Foundation while absorbing and expelling spiritual energy—had only just grown to forty-three clusters.
After stepping into the mid stage of the Qi Refining Realm, she clearly felt her progress slow down.
Fortunately, having the Spirit-Gathering Array now made up for quite a lot.
...
An hour later.
Shi Yu ended her cultivation and opened her eyes, feeling refreshed and clear-headed.
The effect of the Spirit-Gathering Array was indeed remarkable. Although it only increased the concentration of worldly spiritual energy by thirty percent, in actual practice, an hour of cultivation was nearly equal to an hour and a half under normal conditions.
“Unfortunately, with my current cultivation, I can't refine a true Spirit-Gathering array plate yet.” Shi Yu shook her head slightly, feeling a bit disappointed.
High-grade Spirit-Gathering array plates could even multiply the spiritual energy concentration several times over.
The one she had refined was merely Tier-2, which fell far short compared to those that could boost it several fold at every turn.
However, this was the best she could refine for now. Anything higher would have to wait until her cultivation made further progress before she could attempt it.
Since she was still of a mortal body and required sleep to restore her energy, and because she had to continue her journey the next day, Shi Yu stowed away the array plate and array flags. She pulled a blanket out from the Fate-Tapping Bell, wrapped herself in it, and fell asleep.
...
Early the next morning, before dawn had broken, Shi Yu opened her eyes and instantly woke up.
She blinked, turning her head to look at the dark cave, where the nearby spirit stone lamp was still faithfully emitting its soft glow.
This light did not flicker like an oil lamp, nor did it dance like a candle flame. It was steady and bright, looking remarkably similar to what was known as an electric light in the distant hometown she could never return to.
After staring blankly for a moment, Shi Yu exhaled softly, any lingering drowsiness completely vanishing from her eyes.
She sat up cross-legged, closed her eyes, and formed a hand seal, practicing the 《Soul Tempering Art》 as was her morning routine.
In an instant, her divine soul was enveloped in endless hammering and tempering. The dull, throbbing pain felt like a giant bell ringing right beside her ear, shaking her so violently it felt as if her soul would be torn from her body.
Shi Yu swayed, her complexion instantly turning pale.
Her eyelashes fluttered rapidly as bean-sized beads of sweat rolled down her cheeks and chin. Lingering for a brief second at the tip of her chin, a drop fell with a soft plop onto her clothes and soaked in, spreading into a wet stain a moment later.
Although the pain was excruciating, the benefits were clear: under the refining process of the Qi of the Five Elements of Heaven and Earth, her divine soul grew increasingly condensed.
Shi Yu gritted her teeth and held on with sheer willpower until her strength was exhausted, at which point a booming roar echoed within her soul, expelling her from the state of cultivation.
Gasping heavily, her vision blurred, and the taste of rust spread in her mouth. Her entire skull felt as though it had been crushed, reconstituted, and crushed again.
After finally regaining her breath, Shi Yu took a gulp of Life Spring water, her expression returning to normal as if nothing had happened.
If pain could make her stronger, she was more than willing to drown in it.
After storing all her belongings in the cave into the Fate-Tapping Bell, Shi Yu stooped and walked outside.
Pushing aside the loose rocks and branches concealing the entrance, the dim cave mouth lit up instantly in the early morning sunlight.
Flocks of birds perched on branches, eagles beat their wings, and avian calls echoed across the mountain forest in continuous waves.
Wasting no more time, Shi Yu stepped out of the cave, unrolled her map, and continued heading toward the main city along the route.
When she finally crossed the boundaries of the Fulong Mountain Range, the landscape before her opened up into a vast plain stretching out as far as the eye could see.
Shi Yu's spirits lifted, and looking into the distance, she felt her horizons widen significantly.
Holding the map, she checked the surrounding terrain and pointed her finger toward the area ahead of her current position. “There's a village a dozen or so li ahead. I can stop there briefly to rest.”
On the map, this nearest village was named Changxu Village, annotated with a line of small text: The villagers of this village make a living by growing spiritual grain.
“I'll try my luck and see if I can find some spiritual grain seeds.”
Long-term consumption of spiritual grain nourished the physical constitution while benefiting one's cultivation, offering numerous advantages.
She had always been eating Tier-2 spiritual grain, White Jade Rice, and had long entertained the idea of upgrading to a higher grade. However, back in the market city, higher-grade spiritual grain was nowhere to be seen.
Besides, her supply of White Jade Rice was nearly exhausted, and before finding a new residence to settle down, she had no way to grow more.
The medicinal field inside the Fate-Tapping Bell was limited in size, barely sufficient for cultivating spiritual plants, leaving no space to spare for spiritual grain. She would have to wait until her cultivation improved and the space inside the bell expanded before she could luxuriously set aside a plot in the field for growing grain.
Then again, since Changxu Village ahead was only briefly mentioned on the map, it likely grew low-grade spiritual grain at best, making it improbable that they had what she wanted.
Still, since it was on the way, she might as well try her luck.
With that thought, seeing that the open terrain had few obstacles, she pulled out a Speed-Enhancing Talisman. After injecting it with spiritual energy, she was swept up as if carried by the wind, her speed increasing dramatically.
After traveling like this for a good while, a village gradually came into view up ahead.
From afar, an expanse of lush green fields was visible, with dense, unripened ears of grain swaying gently in the breeze.
The earthy scent filled her nostrils, accompanied by the faint, refreshing fragrance of the grain, making her feel thoroughly invigorated.
As she drew closer, she could feel the subtle specks of spiritual energy pulsing across the vast fields.
“It really is spiritual grain.” Shi Yu nodded slightly. “Unfortunately, it's all Tier-1 Pearl Rice.”
She felt a bit disappointed.
However, there was still quite a distance to the prefectural city, and the remaining spiritual grain in the Fate-Tapping Bell might not last that long.
Buying some of this Tier-1 spiritual grain to serve as emergency rations on the road wouldn't be a bad idea.
The grain in the fields was not yet ripe, but the villagers ought to have stored grain at home that she could buy.
Just as Shi Yu was about to enter the village, she suddenly sensed a subtle irregularity and stopped in her tracks.
Frowning, she looked over the fields once more. The ears of grain hung low, rolling like green waves, while sunlight flickered through the stalks... By all appearances, it was nothing more than a peaceful, undisturbed place.
No! Shi Yu's gaze sharpened, instantly realizing what felt wrong.
Cultivating spiritual grain required meticulous care and attention, yet across such a vast expanse of fields, not a single working villager was in sight.
The Hidden Hatred Flute slid from her sleeve into her palm as Shi Yu stepped forward, approaching the village entrance.
Not a single soul was visible on the village road either.
Growing bolder, she peered into the courtyard of the house closest to the village entrance. Beside the well sat a basin of washed clothes that had yet to be hung out to dry. Further inside, food sat on the stove, completely rotted and covered in a layer of mold, dripping with foul, sour fluid.
“What happened here...? It's as if everyone vanished in an instant.”
Shi Yu knitted her brows. Looking further, she realized it wasn't just the people—not even a single piece of poultry was present. Husks and chaff were scattered on the ground, yet there were no chickens or ducks anywhere.
It wasn't just this household; the entire village was the same.
In this sizable village, every living creature had vanished. The quiet, eerie scene sent a chill down her spine.
Shi Yu possessed no burning desire to investigate, so she decisively resolved to leave the village immediately.
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