Shennong Sequence

Afterwards, Zhao Yun carefully refined and infused these innate energies into the "Three Flowers and Five Qi" that he had already condensed when he reached the Qi Refining stage.

Using the innate origin as a guide, one can slowly reverse the acquired essence, acquired energy, and acquired spirit within the Three Flowers and Five Qi, allowing these acquired powers to gradually transform into innate-level origins, laying a more solid foundation for subsequent cultivation.

Once the innate essence, vital energy, and spirit have accumulated to a sufficient quantity, one will enter the stage of "extracting lead and processing mercury".

Furthermore, only when lead and mercury are perfectly blended and condensed to form "true nature" can one be said to have achieved the ultimate goal of the lead and mercury harvesting realm.

Then, using this "true nature" as a foundation, one invests it into one's own inner world, which is the initial stage of the fourth stage of foundation building, "nurturing yellow teeth".

It is evident that each step of cultivation in the Foundation Establishment realm, though seemingly a simple division of names, actually contains the profound principles of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth. A slight deviation can lead to vastly different outcomes.

Time passed quietly during his cultivation. Every day, Zhao Yun continuously refined the innate jade with Yin-Yang Fire, gradually filling the Three Flowers and Five Qi with the refined innate essence. By reversing the innate principle, he made his physical body and spiritual foundation stronger and stronger.

Moreover, with each additional part of innate matter he refined, his aura became more stable, bringing him one step closer to the threshold of the next realm.

Two more years have passed, slipping away like sand through our fingers.
In the past two years, Zhao Yun's life has been simple yet fulfilling:
Instead of staying in the treasure trove, they use the material transformation method to analyze various spiritual medicines;
It is the process of refining innate jade.

He also occasionally takes time to study the "Golden Register of the Great Dao: Dividing the Soul, Nourishing the Spirit, and Gathering All Beings," attempting to glimpse more of the mysteries of the soul.
Or he could return to his residence and discuss the principles of Yin and Yang with Xin Ruyin, drawing insights into cultivation from the workings of heaven and earth and the rising and falling of stars...

At the same time, Xin Ruyin was also helping to take care of Zhao Yun's "other selves".

Apart from the Spirit-Slaying Insect, the other eleven clones of the other self were all placed by Xin Ruyin in various places in the sect, such as the spirit beast garden and spirit plant nursery, which can be regarded as a secret "resurrection backup plan".
However, the most powerful Gold-Eating Insect swarm was left by Xin Ruyin's side, which can be considered as adding another layer of protection for her.

So, in these peaceful and orderly days, two years passed quietly.

However, even with the World Bronze Furnace as a foundation and the Yin-Yang Fire used for continuous refining, Zhao Yun only managed to refine about two-thirds of the innate jade stone.

It is evident that the path of cultivation is always arduous and long. Even with sufficient resources, the refining process remains challenging and allows no room for impatience.

Not to mention, Zhao Yun has already reached the Foundation Establishment stage of the Great Dao, with the World Copper Furnace and Yin-Yang Fire as aids. If it were an ordinary cultivator who only uses their own inner vision as a "Golden Cauldron," the time required to refine such a piece of innate jade would probably be several times, or even dozens of times, longer.

In addition, Gongshu Tianming visited Zhao Yun several times during these two years.

In the past two years, Gongshu Tianming has gained a more thorough understanding and mastery of the various explicit rules and implicit rules within the sect.

Even when faced with pressure from the disciples of powerful families, this group of people can now handle the situation calmly and ensure their own safety.

However, Gongshu Tianming also admitted that since the falling out with those aristocratic families, many rare resources have become difficult to obtain. Helpless, he came to Zhao Yun, hoping to purchase some resources through Zhao Yun's channels or ask Zhao Yun to help introduce him to channels for obtaining resources.

Zhao Yun readily agreed.

Having Gongshu Tianming and his group to distract those powerful families who were always looking to cause him trouble was already a worry-free thing, and it wouldn't hurt to lend a hand.

Moreover, Zhao Yun can directly construct many rare and precious materials using the material transformation method.

Therefore, Gongshu Tianming's needs provided him with an additional channel for "material sales".

This was a mutually beneficial arrangement, and there was no reason to refuse. The Gao family had also approached Zhao Yun and Xin Ruyin, and ironically, they actually wanted to take back the innate jade stone…

However, now that the item is in Zhao Yun's hands, there's no reason to give it back.

This is simply nonsense.

So Zhao Yun simply ignored them, while he himself held the innate jade stone and stayed in the Daoist cultivation storehouse or the treasure medicine storehouse all day long, rarely going out.

Even when someone came to visit, he would only act according to the sect's rules and would never give the other party a chance to cause trouble. Over time, the Gao family had no other choice.

"This innate-level substance is indeed extraordinary."

Looking at the faintly glowing jade core in his palm, Zhao Yun sighed inwardly, "It took me two years to refine even this little bit, but my overall lifespan and physical essence have been strengthened by at least four or five times under the nourishment of innate power!"

"It's a pity that all these refined innate essences will eventually be injected into the 'true nature' condensed during the lead and mercury extraction stage, in preparation for forging a more stable Great Dao Golden Core later..."

After sighing, Zhao Yun suppressed his distracting thoughts, sat cross-legged again, activated the World Copper Furnace, and continued his gradual cultivation of refining the innate jade.

Time flowed slowly like a long river, unhurried and unhurried, as if even the years were too lazy to count.

Until a year later,
Zhao Yun finally finished refining the innate jade stone he had obtained for so long, extracting every last bit of the innate creation power contained within it and returning it all to his own three flowers, ultimately condensing into clusters of full and refined innate essence, innate energy, and innate spirit.

The innate jade stone that once shone with a warm, jade-like luster was completely reduced to ashes and dissipated into the Yin-Yang fire burning in the World Copper Furnace.

At this point, Zhao Yun's innate three elements had finally reached their strongest state at his current level, and the spiritual energy surrounding him carried a faint innate Daoist charm.

"Cultivate your mind and nourish your nature, extract lead and refine mercury; with the righteous fire of yin and yang, your true nature will naturally manifest!"

Zhao Yun murmured the cultivation mantra softly, while the innate creation substance he had obtained from refining the jade was evenly distributed among the three flowers on the top of his head.

Therefore, at this moment, his three flowers are the places that bear the most innate primordial essence, primordial energy, and primordial spirit. The luster flowing on the petals is even stronger than before, and there is a faint radiance of treasure.

However, the process of extracting lead and mercury cannot be completed by refining the three flowers alone; it also requires the perfect coordination of the physical body and the soul.

Therefore, the innate three elements within the three flowers were guided to slowly sink and re-integrate into the body's limbs and bones.

In an instant, the aura of the physical body and the fluctuations of the soul surged simultaneously.

However, this surge of power was too overwhelming. It took Zhao Yun more than five days just to adapt to this new source of strength. Only when the innate power within his body completely merged with his physical body and soul, without any stagnation, did he stop to adjust his breathing.

Subsequently, Zhao Yun went to the Daogongku to report and applied for a short leave, while also temporarily closing the Baoyaoku for ten days.

He intends to take advantage of this peak of vitality to refine true lead and mercury and cultivate his true nature.

Meanwhile, Xin Ruyin also took leave from the Wanwu Academy and returned to her residence to protect Zhao Yun throughout his advancement, ensuring he wouldn't be disturbed by outside forces. (End of Chapter)