Shengui Changsheng: Start from Zhenwuwei and add some points to cultivate immortality

He needs a completely safe place to process what he's gained from the ghost market and improve his cultivation.

Seeking a new cave dwelling:
He did not return to the ancient cave in Shushan, as it was too close to Chengdu and he had already lived there for half a year; there was no guarantee that someone wouldn't track him down. Instead, he spent several days in the deep forests north of Chengdu, finding a more secluded place—a natural cave hidden behind a waterfall and concealed by a curtain of water.

The cave was dry and well-ventilated, and though not large, its seclusion was its advantage. The sound of the waterfall and the spiritual energy could also mask the fluctuations of cultivation to some extent. He sealed the cave entrance from the inside with a huge rock (leaving a gap), and then used tree branches, vines, and a few ordinary rocks on the outside to set up a rudimentary maze based on his understanding of the earth's energy. This maze had no offensive power, and couldn't even withstand the forced detection of a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator, but it was enough to confuse wild beasts and mortals, and could slightly interfere with the perception of low-level cultivators, buying them some warning time.

Studying the "Azure Profound Breathing Technique":
After settling in, Fu Shaoping immediately placed the light blue jade slip on his forehead, immersed his consciousness in it, and began to thoroughly study this cultivation technique that could be practiced up to the early stage of Foundation Establishment.

The *Qingxuan Breathing Technique* is indeed more systematic and complete than the ancient cave inscriptions. It not only details the complete cultivation path from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment, and the methods for breaking through bottlenecks, but also includes secrets on how to more efficiently absorb and refine spiritual energy, and how to condense and compress true energy to lay a solid foundation for Foundation Establishment. More importantly, the jade slip contains three basic spells: Wind Control Technique (increases movement speed and agility), Gengjin Finger (condenses true energy at the fingertips, unleashing sharp metal energy to injure enemies), and Spirit Shield Technique (condenses true energy to form a protective aura).

"With this method, the path ahead is suddenly clear!" Fu Shaoping was thrilled. He immediately adjusted his cultivation route according to the methods of the "Azure Profound Breathing Technique." The slight obstacles he had encountered while figuring things out on his own using the ancient technique suddenly became incredibly smooth, and his efficiency in absorbing and refining spiritual energy nearly doubled! Although the spiritual energy here was still thin, the optimization of the technique greatly increased his cultivation speed.

My First Attempt at Alchemy:
He also took out the "Frosty Star Grass" for research. This herb is cold in nature and contains the essence of the moon. Taking it directly is not very effective and may damage the meridians. The best way is to refine it into a "Heart-Clearing Pill," which can help cultivators calm their minds, resist inner demons, and is quite helpful in breaking through minor bottlenecks.

Although Fu Shaoping had neither a pill furnace nor earth fire, he found another way. He used his own pure true energy as the furnace fire, and with his divine sense, he meticulously controlled it, suspending the Cold Star Grass in his palm, slowly burning and refining it. This was an extremely mentally and physically demanding process, requiring a very high level of control; the slightest carelessness would result in the complete loss of its medicinal properties.

Thanks to the powerful divine sense and exquisite control honed by "Daoist Rhyme and Painting," as well as his profound understanding of the essence of energy from his first life, he finally succeeded on his fourth attempt after failing three times! The Cold Star Grass in his palm transformed into a small pinch of pale blue powder shimmering with a faint light, emitting a cool and pure medicinal fragrance—this was the essence of the successfully purified Cold Star Grass!

He carefully placed it into a jade bottle. Although the quantity was small and insufficient to form a pill, it could still have a calming and tranquilizing effect if taken directly at a crucial moment. This successful purification gave him initial confidence in the "heart-refining method" of using himself as the furnace and his true qi as the fire, and laid the foundation for his future alchemy skills.

Cultivation advancement and spell practice:
Time stands still in the cave. Fu Shaoping is completely immersed in cultivation.

• Cultivation Level: Relying on the "Azure Profound Breathing Technique" and his own profound foundation, his cultivation level steadily improved. Half a year later, he naturally broke through to the third level of Qi Refining. A year later, he touched the barrier of the fourth level of Qi Refining. He did not force the breakthrough, but instead continuously strengthened his foundation and condensed his true qi, making his cultivation level of the third level of Qi Refining incomparably profound, far surpassing others of the same level.

• Spells: He has mastered the three basic spells to perfection.

When the Wind Control Technique is used, the figure moves swiftly, traversing the forest as if on flat ground, with a speed comparable to the top masters of lightness skills in the martial arts world.

The Geng metal refers to the ability to penetrate metal and stone within three zhang (approximately 10 meters), demonstrating considerable power and controllable energy consumption.

The pale blue light shield formed by the Spirit Shield Technique is enough to withstand ordinary sword and blade strikes and magical attacks from early-stage Qi Refining cultivators.

• Painting as a Secondary Practice: He never put down his paintbrush. In his spare time, he continued to hone the fusion of his mind and true energy through "cultivation painting." He also created several paintings imbued with different Daoist charms (such as the weighty "Mountain Map" and the flowing "Flowing Water Map"), just in case. He discovered that nourishing his paintings with the green wood attribute true energy cultivated through the "Azure Profound Breathing Technique" made the spiritual charm within the paintings more restrained and enduring.

Planning the way forward:

After a year and a half of secluded cultivation, Fu Shaoping's strength underwent a qualitative leap. From the initial stage of Qi Refining Level Two to the current peak of Qi Refining Level Three, his foundation was solid, his spells were proficient, and he had even mastered basic spiritual herb purification techniques. He felt much more confident about heading to the Cloud Mist Mountain Market.

He carefully analyzed the information he had obtained from the old man in the ghost market:

• Target: Cloud Mist Mountain Range, the "Cloud Mist Market" established by the loose cultivator alliance "Cloud Mist Pavilion".

• Distance: Thousands of miles away, requiring a long journey.

• Risks: You may encounter monsters or raiders along the way. Although there is a certain order within the market, the law of strength above all else remains unchanged.

• Needs: More spirit stones, more complete subsequent cultivation techniques, knowledge of alchemy and weapon crafting, and detailed information about the cultivation forces in this world.

Capital: His own Qi Refining Level 3 cultivation (actual combat strength is close to Level 4), proficient basic spells, unique "Daoist Rhyme Painting" works, and preliminary ability to purify spiritual herbs.

“It’s time to set off.” Fu Shaoping opened his eyes, a flash of blue light appearing in them. He removed the restrictions on the cave entrance and, facing the rising sun, walked out of the Water Curtain Cave where he had been cultivating in seclusion for a year and a half.

He changed into a slightly neater blue cloth robe, and put his important items (jade slips, essence of the Cold Star Grass, paintings, gold and silver, etc.) into an ordinary bundle, which he actually hid close to his body. He glanced in the direction of Chengdu, then resolutely turned around and faced north.

Our journey through the Cloud and Mist Mountains and the market town has officially begun!

He knew that this journey of a thousand miles would be anything but peaceful. But that was exactly what he wanted—to hone his cultivation amidst hardship and to seek opportunities in crisis. His third life's path of cultivation would officially unfold on this long journey.

Leaving the secluded Water Curtain Cave, Fu Shaoping (Shen Mo) did not use the wind-riding technique to travel a thousand miles. For a Qi Refining Level 3 cultivator, if he disregarded the consumption of wind power and used his full strength, he could probably reach the destination in ten days. However, he knew that the focus of this journey was on training and accumulation, not simply on traveling. He regarded this thousand-mile journey as a comprehensive test of his temperament, cultivation, and combat ability.

First Journey: A Mortal's Journey Through the Martial World, Tempering the Heart in the Mortal Realm

For the first few hundred miles, he chose to blend in with ordinary merchant caravans and travelers. Disguised as a young, traveling painter, he paid a small fee to join a large caravan heading to the northern prefecture. During the day, he would chat with the caravan's managers and guards, learning about local customs and tales of the martial world; or he would spread out paper and brushes by the roadside, sketching portraits of the caravan members and depicting the scenery along the way, earning a meager fee to maintain his "painter" identity. At night, he would meditate in his tent, cultivating his inner energy and refining his spiritual awareness.

He did not waste his time during this process.

• Information gathering: He learned from the镖师 (bodyguard/escort) about the potentially treacherous terrain ahead, the areas where highway robbers were active, and even some vague legends about "mountain spirits and wild monsters," which he secretly noted down and analyzed whether they were related to low-level monsters.

• Observing Human Nature: Within the caravan, interests intertwine, and the coldness and warmth of human relationships are vividly displayed. There are the chivalrous and righteous镖师 (bodyguards/escorts), the shrewd calculations of merchants, and the hardship and numbness of the lower-level workers. Fu Shaoping observes quietly from the perspective of an outsider, his heart unmoved, yet he gains a deeper understanding of the meaning of "mortal world," and his Daoist heart becomes increasingly clear amidst the ordinary worldly affairs.

• Qi Refining: Entering a meditative state in a noisy environment is itself a form of mental training. It allows one's internal energy to circulate more smoothly and effectively, and can isolate external interference to a certain extent. Second Stage: Venturing into Peril, Initial Test of Skill

After leaving the official road and entering the truly desolate mountains and wilderness, Fu Shaoping bid farewell to the caravan and began his solo journey. This place was sparsely populated, with ancient trees reaching for the sky, miasma permeating the air, and poisonous insects and ferocious beasts roaming freely.

He no longer concealed his identity as a cultivator, unleashing his Wind Control Technique, his figure moving like wisps of smoke through the forest, greatly increasing his speed. At the same time, he activated his spiritual senses to the fullest, vigilantly observing everything around him.

Dealing with monsters: Along the way, he encountered several low-level monsters.

A pack of rotting wolves with keen sense of smell and venomous claws were killed by him from a distance using his Gengjin Finger technique, after which the pack retreated in frustration.

• A green-scaled python lurking in the swamp, capable of spewing paralyzing poisonous mist, was blocked by his spirit shield technique. After getting close, he shattered its skull with a palm strike imbued with true energy.

The most dangerous incident occurred when Fu Shaoping trespassed into the territory of an Ironback Demon Bear, equivalent to a fourth-level Qi Refining cultivator. This bear possessed thick hide and immense strength, making it difficult for the Gengjin Finger technique to penetrate its defenses. Fu Shaoping fought it for a long time before finally seizing an opportunity using the agility of his Wind Control Technique. He delivered a Gengjin Finger strike, imbued with eighty percent of his power, precisely striking the bear's eye socket and piercing its brain, thus killing it.

• Gathering Resources: While fighting against monsters, he also began to consciously collect resources.

He processed the demon bear's fur, claws, and gallbladder with his true energy and then stored them away, which might be able to be exchanged for spirit stones in the market.

Along the way, relying on his spiritual senses, he picked several young plants of Polygonatum and Polygonum multiflorum, whose spiritual energy was clearly superior to that of ordinary herbs, as well as several auxiliary herbs that could be used to refine low-level pills.

Beside a secluded mountain stream, he even discovered a small patch of Moonlight Moss, a first-grade low-level spiritual plant that likes to grow in damp, spiritually rich places. It is one of the auxiliary materials for refining "Qi Gathering Pills," and he carefully collected it.

These battles and gatherings not only provided him with his first batch of cultivation resources, but also greatly honed his combat skills, elevating his application of spells, control of true qi, and grasp of timing to a new level. He felt that the bottleneck of the fourth level of Qi Refining had loosened after experiencing these trials on the brink of life and death.

The third stage: A chance encounter with like-minded people, undercurrents surging.

At a mountain pass more than a hundred miles from the outer edge of the Cloud and Mist Mountains, Fu Shaoping met his first group of "fellow travelers" on this journey.

There were three cultivators traveling together, two men and one woman. The leader was a young man with an arrogant face, dressed in brocade robes, whose cultivation was around the fourth level of Qi Refining. The other man was burly, carrying a ghost-head saber, and his cultivation was at the third level of Qi Refining. The woman was beautiful, with bright, lively eyes, and her cultivation was also at the third level of Qi Refining.

The two sides met at the narrow pass and were both taken aback, then both showed signs of wariness.

The young man in the brocade robe glanced at Fu Shaoping, noticing his Qi Refining Level 3 (Fu Shaoping was still concealing some of his aura) and his travel-worn appearance. A hint of contempt flashed in his eyes, but he did not react. He simply snorted and led his companions through first.

Fu Shaoping could sense the fleeting fierce glint in the burly man's eyes, as well as the woman's curious gaze. He remained expressionless, and only after the other party had walked away did he slowly pass through the pass, his heart filled with extreme vigilance.

"It seems that the closer we get to the market, the more cultivators we will encounter, and the more complicated people's hearts will become." He secretly warned himself, "I must remember my grandfather's teachings and tread carefully."

Fourth stage: Breakthrough in the face of battle, Qi permeates four levels

Several days later, on a mountaintop with relatively abundant spiritual energy, Fu Shaoping decided to attempt to break through to the fourth level of Qi Refining.

He set up a simple warning barrier, sat cross-legged, and adjusted his state to its peak. Then, he took out a small pinch of Frost Star Grass essence powder and put it in his mouth. A cool sensation instantly spread out, calming all distracting thoughts.

He activated the Azure Profound Breathing Technique, drawing upon the surrounding spiritual energy with all his might. The true energy within his dantian swirled rapidly like a vortex, constantly compressing and condensing. The barrier that had hindered him for so long was suddenly breached under the combined impact of the pure true energy and the calming medicinal power!

Qi Refining Level 4!

A surge of true energy, nearly twice as powerful as before, instantly filled his limbs and bones, and the range of his divine sense expanded to nearly twenty feet! He felt his whole body brimming with power, and his perception of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth became even clearer.

After breaking through, he did not get up immediately, but continued to meditate to stabilize his realm until he had completely mastered the cultivation of the fourth level of Qi Refining.

Finally reaching the clouds:

After more than ten days of trekking, and crossing the last treacherous mountain ridge, the view suddenly opened up before us.

Amidst the mountains ahead, shrouded in mist, a vast valley loomed in and out of sight. Within the valley, the outlines of pavilions and towers were faintly visible, and streaks of light of various colors (mostly wind manipulation techniques or low-level flying artifacts) rose and fell at the valley's entrance.

The concentration of spiritual energy in the air was significantly higher than that outside!

We've arrived at Yunwu Market!
Standing atop the mountain ridge, Fu Shaoping gazed into the distance at the gathering place of cultivators, a slight ripple stirring in his heart. After nearly two months, traversing thousands of miles, experiencing the mortal world, treacherous mountains, battles, and breakthroughs, he had finally arrived at his destination.

He straightened his robes, stabilized his breathing at the level of the initial fourth level of Qi Refining, and strode steadily toward the entrance of the valley.

A new stage is now before him. His journey to Cloud Mist Mountain is about to officially begin. (End of Chapter)