Chapter Thirteen: The Transformation of Vital Energy

The appearance of the premium Beast Fang Rice had become distinct from the ordinary kind. On its surface, several blood-red streaks interlaced with the white, creating an arresting pattern. The spiritual energy it contained, as well as its ability to enhance one's vitality, was three times greater than the common Beast Fang Rice. It could significantly strengthen one’s blood and energy.

With excitement surging in his heart, Qin Ming swiftly harvested and tidied up several hundred stalks of Beast Fang Rice. This batch alone yielded six pounds of premium rice. Over the next half month, Qin Ming followed the same method, reserving some of the premium Beast Fang Rice as seeds. Utilizing the remaining four "ripening" entries, he continued to hasten their maturity in batches. Ultimately, he harvested thirty pounds of premium Beast Fang Rice and acquired four "weak vitality" entries.

By now, all the "ripening" entries in his sea of consciousness had been exhausted. From here on, he could only hope for more "ripening" entries to appear as blessings from the spiritual fields in the second season. Such a use was indeed extravagant, but Qin Ming could not afford to worry about that. The urgent priority was to strengthen himself as quickly as possible.

He reckoned that if these thirty pounds of premium Beast Fang Rice were placed in Qingyang Market, they would incite a frenzy among cultivators. Its value was self-evident. Qin Ming understood the importance of concealing his abilities; with his current meager strength, it was wise to remain inconspicuous in the cultivation world, lest he attract the covetous gaze of those with ill intent.

That evening, Qin Ming cooked a pot of the premium Beast Fang Rice. As it finished, a fragrant aroma filled the air. The red and white grains presented a captivating hue, intoxicating to behold. More importantly, its ability to greatly augment one's blood and energy was something countless body-cultivating practitioners dreamed of. On any dining table, it would be considered a delicacy reserved for the elite of the sects.

Qin Ming’s mouth watered at the scent. Carrying the rice to his bedroom, he sat on his bed and feasted, quickly devouring the entire pot.

Boom!

A torrent of searing energy erupted within Qin Ming’s body, as the vital force contained in the Beast Fang Rice swept through him. Hastily, Qin Ming began to circulate his energy according to the techniques of the "Baibao Glazed Scripture." After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Qin Ming’s skin turned increasingly red, and a faint red mist emanated from his body. This was a sign of the blood being transported deep into his marrow—an indication of the beginning of blood renewal.

Having cultivated the "Baibao Glazed Scripture" himself, Qin Ming discovered that this method did not produce the violent reactions typical of other training, but was instead gentle. His whole body felt warm and gradually began to heat up and swell. Combined with the premium Beast Fang Rice, his cultivation was twice as effective with half the effort.

Soon, Qin Ming had completely transformed into a little red man. Beads of blood oozed continuously from his skin as new blood replaced the old. Gritting his teeth, Qin Ming focused his will on his sea of consciousness and used a "weak vitality" entry.

Boom!

A surge of vital energy flooded him like a tide. Qin Ming felt as if he were inside a steam basket, his entire body ablaze. The never-ending stream of blood began to transform, coursing throughout his body. Gradually, the old blood expelled from him started to solidify, encasing his body like a massive cocoon of blood.

Thump! Thump!

Within the cocoon, red light pulsed in rhythm with Qin Ming’s heartbeat, dimming and brightening in turn.

Pfft!

After two full hours, a crack appeared on the cocoon. As more fissures spread, the entire cocoon began to fall away. Qin Ming emerged, breaking free!

A brand-new power had been born within him—a more profound force, the power of blood and energy. Its emergence marked Qin Ming’s entry into the first layer of the "Baibao Glazed Scripture." Having completed his blood transformation, Qin Ming felt the blessing of this new force; his organs, bones, and skin had all been strengthened as never before.

Now, with every movement, he felt brimming with inexhaustible strength. The skin that had once endured daily exposure to sun and rain was now smoother, as if he had shed an old layer, and paler than before. Most importantly, his skin seemed coated with a protective membrane, becoming far tougher—he surmised that ordinary blades could no longer harm him.

Rising, Qin Ming walked into his small courtyard, raised his fist, and struck a millstone beneath a tree.

Bang!

Shards of stone scattered. The millstone shattered into countless fragments beneath his blow.

So powerful!

Qin Ming was overjoyed.

"This is far stronger than the typical first-layer body cultivator," he thought in wonder.

No wonder Senior Ruan, even at the cost of everything, had chosen to cultivate this method.

Qin Ming gazed at his hands, hope for the future rekindled in his heart. Perhaps he had found a shortcut to overtake others.

In the days that followed, Qin Ming devoted himself to farming and cultivating the "Baibao Glazed Scripture." Whenever a "ripening" entry appeared, he immediately used it to mature more premium Beast Fang Rice. With a steady supply to enhance his vitality, his progress in body cultivation soared by leaps and bounds.

...

Time passed.

Half a year later.

Through the sheer quantity of premium Beast Fang Rice and the forced accumulation of "weak vitality" entries, Qin Ming had cultivated the "Baibao Glazed Scripture" to the third layer. If Senior Ruan knew, he’d likely be so frustrated he’d cough up blood.

Qin Ming now understood why, when "Beast Fang Rice" was mentioned, Senior Ruan’s eyes gleamed. It turned out this rice was the most compatible spiritual ingredient for enhancing vitality with this method—a realization Qin Ming had come to himself.

Yet, according to the scripture, the effects of body cultivation in the first five layers were only slightly superior to ordinary methods. The true transformation came with breaking into the fifth layer. When one’s blood and energy became as dense as mercury, and the power of blood and energy could be condensed into a "Glazed Treasure Garment," the later stages would be incomparable to typical body cultivators.

Such potent vitality would greatly aid Qin Ming in his path to Foundation Establishment. In the world of cultivation, those seeking to break through to Foundation Establishment had to reach the peak of Qi Refining before the age of sixty—this was the minimum requirement.

Foundation Establishment Pills were strategic resources, monopolized by major powers and sects. Ordinary rogue cultivators could scarcely dream of obtaining one, let alone seeing one.

Besides this, there were three main hurdles.

First was the Vitality Barrier: to break through to Foundation Establishment, a cultivator’s blood and energy must be vigorous, and the body free from hidden injuries or illnesses. Otherwise, forcing the breakthrough with depleted vitality could lead to disaster.

Second was the Mana Barrier: one’s mana must be abundant, both in quality and quantity, with meridians strong enough to withstand the strain. Without meeting these conditions, it was impossible to complete the condensation of liquid mana.

The final barrier was the Spiritual Sense Barrier: in Qi Refining, spiritual sense could only be used for introspection, enhancing the five senses, and reading jade slips. In Foundation Establishment, true spiritual sense is born, allowing its projection outside the body to probe an area of at least several dozen yards—a tremendous boon for daily cultivation and combat.

...

The days marched by.

During this half year, something unexpected happened to Qin Ming. Master Su, the alchemist, visited him twice—a rare occurrence indeed. In the months since they last met, Master Su had advanced to the sixth layer of Qi Refining, much to Qin Ming’s envy.

"Alchemists advance so quickly," Qin Ming thought.

Each time Master Su visited, it was to purchase some everyday spiritual rice from Qin Ming. Qin Ming welcomed this immensely. Through these exchanges, the two gradually became more familiar.

After negotiating with Master Su, Qin Ming twice traded one hundred pounds of Golden Spirit Rice for two Gathering Spirit Pills, which could enhance mana during Qi Refining. Master Su readily agreed.