Promise!

Chapter 243, Double

November 27th, the 62nd year of the Qianyuan era.

Cangzhou City, the first ring road, Zhaixing Tower.

"Due to some unforeseen circumstances, things progressed slightly slower than expected, but thankfully, I managed to complete the accumulation of the first level of the Innate Qi Realm before the surge of vital energy this year."

Zhuang Jin thought to himself, and without waiting any longer, sat cross-legged and began to circulate his internal energy.

hum!
In such a place rich in spiritual energy, compared to his last breakthrough to the Qi Refining Realm, more obvious phenomena appeared. Stars of spiritual energy, almost solidified, gathered together, forming pure ripples visible to the naked eye, which he absorbed into his body.

At this moment, the dark silver, heavy like mercury, and sharp-feeling qi in his dantian easily broke through an invisible bottleneck as it rotated, and the innate qi began to be further purified.

It was during this process that his innate ice-attribute constitution manifested, and a strange change was taking place.

As mentioned before, the primordial energy of heaven and earth is a combination of spiritual energy and the energies of yin and yang and the five elements. At this moment, with Zhuang Jin's ice attribute physique manifesting, he shows an affinity for ice attributes and absorbs the primordial energy of heaven and earth more towards the ice attribute, which is a mixture of yin and water.

The nature of innate qi is inherently sharp and fierce. Now, as it begins to condense its attributes, the already extreme innate qi is becoming even more extreme. The originally dark silver and heavy innate qi, like mercury, is beginning to transform into a pure icy color and is gradually showing a tendency to solidify.

After tea time.

Zhuang Jin opened his eyes: "Second level of the Innate Qi Realm, achieved!"

With a swift movement, his innate qi surged and formed a spherical energy shield centered on himself. Compared to the silvery-white color he had when he was at the first level of the innate qi realm, this shield was now pure and almost transparent, yet it possessed an indescribable texture and a chilling aura reminiscent of ice.

'The innate qi of this nature can now be called ice qi!'

"Ice originates from water, yet is stronger than water and restrains fire. If I encounter that Fire Phoenix again, I will have the advantage in attributes. If its cultivation level is still below the Tempering Three Organs stage, I can easily block its Meteor Shower attack, and I certainly won't be as embarrassed as last time."

"Furthermore, once I break through to the second level of the Innate Qi Realm, my skills, which were already stuck at the minor completion limit in 'Free and Easy Wind Control - Qi Chapter' and 'Severing Meridian Divine Sword - Qi Chapter,' will naturally reach the major completion level."

With a thought, Zhuang Jin instantly transformed into a hurricane, circling the room in a flash and returning to his original spot: 'The *Intercepting Meridian Divine Sword -罡气篇* is now complete, allowing for the simultaneous unleashing of six sword strikes, but it's no longer suitable to practice here.'

'My current strength is considered top-tier within the small circle of those at the Innate Qi Realm.'

As mentioned before, due to the beast core, the highest level among the six people in the Innate Qi Realm circle, including Li Tingguan, is only the second level of the Innate Qi Realm, the same realm as him now. At most, they can only go further in this realm and accumulate more experience.

In Cangzhou, apart from the three great families, only those who are extremely lucky enough to obtain rare and precious materials suitable for refining attributes can break through to the third level of the Innate Qi Realm, or even further.

'Now, I'll also be facing this difficult problem.'

Zhuang Jin had already experienced it. If he relied solely on his own physique to absorb the ice-attribute spiritual energy from the outside world, it would probably take decades to complete the step of condensing the attribute.

'This is too slow for me to wait, so I must use external aids to accelerate the attribute condensation process—either rare and precious materials suitable for attribute condensation, or beast cores.'

He has studied more information and now knows that the reason why refining attributes with natural treasures suitable for refining attributes is called the superior method is because: such natural treasures have pure attributes and can be refined at a faster speed. If the natural treasures used are extremely special, they can also provide various special bonuses to oneself.

Using beast cores to refine attributes is troublesome and slow, since beast cores are formed from the essence, energy, and spirit of exotic beasts, and their attributes are not pure. During the refining process, impurities must be removed...

The above is based on the case of condensing a single Six-Fu Realm Perfection Core. If multiple beast cores are condensed, even those from the same type of exotic beast, after condensing one, a period of purification and adjustment is still required before the next one can be condensed. This will not only make the bottleneck of the Third Level of the Innate Qi Realm unbreakable, but also cause many minor bottlenecks to appear during the process.

Zhuang Jin has no bottleneck and doesn't need to worry about it. He can refine multiple beast cores using the same method as other rare and precious materials. The only difference is whether there are any bonuses and the speed.

To quantify the speed difference: using natural treasures of different qualities suitable for condensing attributes takes one or two months to half a year, while condensing multiple beast cores would take approximately two years.

Comparing the two, the best choice is naturally the natural treasures suitable for refining attributes. If you can find them, it's like sharpening your axe before chopping wood.

"Exactly three days from now is this year's Primordial Qi Tide. This year is also a big year, so it will be a large-scale Primordial Qi Tide. However, a large-scale Primordial Qi Tide also means more chaos... Now that I have broken through to the second level of the Innate Qi Realm, it can be considered as having an extra layer of protection."

Zhuang Jin had consulted the information on the Suspended Sky Division. Even in such a large-scale primordial energy tide, with his current level of cultivation, if he only stayed on the edge of the first or second level of perilous land and did not go deep, he would still have a great deal of protection.

"Besides, I had already been preparing another trump card, and these three days have been the perfect time to fully strengthen it."

His eyes flickered slightly, and he thought to himself.

……

December 1st.

The year-end primordial energy tide arrived on time. Compared to the lesser years of previous years, this year was a major year. The start of this large-scale primordial energy tide caused subtle tremors to be felt throughout the city. Vortexes of primordial energy rose and fell, spewing out massive amounts of primordial energy, instantly transforming the 800-mile-long Funiu Mountains into an ocean of primordial energy.

If the small-scale primordial energy tides are like the eruption of a volcano in the Funiu Mountains, then the large-scale primordial energy tides are like the eruption of a cluster of volcanoes.

Within the Funiu Mountains, amidst the collision of vortexes of primordial energy, showers of primordial energy can be seen from time to time. In this environment of abundant primordial energy, countless specks of azure light emerge from the pines, cypresses, bamboos, and grasses, dancing among the boundless branches and leaves. As they fly, they either condense into strands of light or transform into halos. Coupled with the activity of various strange beasts, this place suddenly seems to have transformed into a fairy tale world.

This was also a celebration for the martial artists of Cangzhou City. In such an environment, all sorts of opportunities would arise. Every year, a lucky person would rise up, allowing the lower-level martial artists to see a glimmer of hope.

……

As in the past two years, after entering the Funiu Mountains, Zhuang Jin did not compete with the lower-level martial artists on the outskirts, but went directly into the depths of a dangerous area.

Now that the purple kangaroo has broken through the Five Internal Organs Realm, its treasure-hunting ability has greatly increased. And in this environment full of treasures, it is natural that it has reaped a great harvest.

Cloud Fairy Mushroom, Silver Sunflower Grass, Golden-Veined White Peach, Fire Star Anise, Red Jade Bodhi... Zhuang Jin harvested one rare and precious natural treasure after another, filling his pockets with them all.

In just half a day, the estimated value of the harvested items was two to three million contribution points.

It wasn't smooth sailing, and we encountered quite a few battles along the way.

Although Zhuang Jin was only in the first level of danger and on the edge of the second level of perilous land for a short half day, he had already encountered many strange beasts at the peak of the Five Organs Realm, and even a strange beast at the early stage of the Six Organs Realm, which made him sigh inwardly that it was indeed a large-scale Yuan Qi Tide.

Of course, these strange beasts were all within his ability to deal with. Since they had come to him, there was no reason to let them go, especially that strange beast in the early stage of the Six Organs Realm, whose beast core was enough to complete the upgrade task of the Two-Patterned Black Python Token.

Perhaps it was good luck that day, because on the afternoon of this first day, led by the purple kangaroo, they found a tea sapling on the edge of the second level of the forbidden zone. This small tea sapling reflected shimmering light and shadow, absorbing the vital energy of heaven and earth, forming a small rainbow in the sky above it.

"This is a truly extraordinary plant—the Rainbow Tea Tree?!"

Zhuang Jin was surprised when he saw the tea tree.

The Yunyin Tea Tree of the Shen family in Diannan Prefecture was only a semi-extraordinary tree, yet it was already a valuable asset for a powerful family in the prefecture, which he had envied for a long time. Now, however, he had encountered a truly extraordinary tea tree!

To put it simply, if this Rainbow Tea Tree were put up for auction, it would fetch tens of millions of contribution points, and wouldn't even be worth a single Condensing Qi Pill.

'That's right, this rainbow tea tree belongs to the Zhuang family.'

Zhuang Jin thought to himself and was about to step forward when he suddenly sensed something. He moved, and his innate qi circulated around him, condensing into a pure sphere.

hum!hum!hum!
Just then, a giant bat, the size of a calf, revealed itself. Terrifying sound waves transformed into semi-transparent circles that descended, but they were completely obliterated by the innate protective energy shield.

"A supersonic bat, a beast? It's only at the Great Perfection of the Five Organs Realm. Who gave you the courage to attack me?"

Zhuang Jin looked at it indifferently and pointed.

Swish!
Under the sunlight, a faint, almost invisible, yet extremely restrained and incomparably sharp, invisible ice-soul sword aura pierced through the air. The Illusionary Sound Bat flapped its wings in an attempt to dodge, but it couldn't react in time. Amidst a shrill scream that could almost shatter eardrums, its flesh and blood exploded and fell like raindrops.

Wow!
At this moment, a flurry of green leaves swirled and danced, like sword energies gathering together. They collided with the protective aura, leaving cracks on it. Then, two jade-like vines, shimmering with intense light, broke through the cracked protective aura and shot straight toward Zhuang Jin's chest.

"Ah!"

Zhuang Jin sneered, his innate qi flashing in his hand. He raised his hand and grabbed two 'vines', pulling out a frog-like beast with what looked like a flower growing on its back. These were actually its two antennae.

Rumble, rumble!

At that moment, it seemed as if a massive earthquake had struck within a half-mile radius. Large sections of soil exploded around him, and a creature several meters long, its body gleaming with a steely luster, and resembling a silkworm in segments, burst forth from the ground, charging towards Zhuang Jin. This forced him to release the frog-like beast and temporarily dodge to the side.

"The Vine Flower Frog and the Steel Pupa Snake, two strange beasts at the Six-Fu Realm? One has tempered one Fu, and the other has tempered two Fu."

Zhuang Jin nodded slightly. To avoid any unforeseen complications, he had no intention of getting entangled and immediately unleashed his ultimate move, transforming into a hurricane-like tornado and unleashing all six swords of the Meridian-Severing Divine Sword.

A moment later, the two strange beasts collapsed heavily, ending the battle, and two more beast cores at the Six Organs Realm were obtained.

……

On the first day of this large-scale energy tide, Zhuang Jin got off to a great start. The harvest in the following three or four days was much lower, but the harvest in one day was still comparable to the harvest in seven or eight days of a small-scale energy tide.

The only pity was that he didn't encounter any suitable rare and precious materials for refining attributes. However, such rare and precious materials are hard to come by, so Zhuang Jin was not discouraged. The stimulation and encouragement from the harvest gave him a lot of motivation.

As luck would have it, on the fifth day of this month's energy tide, the fifth day of the twelfth lunar month, I truly encountered a rare and precious material suitable for refining attributes.

"Chirp! Chirp! Pikachu pikachu pikachu!"

The purple kangaroo squealed excitedly. This was the first time I'd seen it so excited since it was domesticated; it hadn't even been this excited about the rainbow tea tree before.

"Same as always, you stay nearby and hide for a while, I'll go ahead first."

Because it might involve high-level combat, and a mere glancing blow would be fatal to a purple kangaroo at the Five Viscera Realm, it was best to leave it behind and let Zhuang Jin go alone.

In the past month or two, he saw something that excited the purple kangaroo: a fist-sized, cyan pearl spinning in the vortex of the heaven and earth in mid-air, causing small tornadoes, each a foot high, to appear around it.

"This is... the Wind Spirit Orb?!" Zhuang Jin recognized it at a glance.

In the Xuantian Division's list of wondrous items, the ten spiritual beads of the Five Elements, Yin Yang, Wind, Thunder, and Ice are born from the essence of the corresponding elemental energy of heaven and earth. They are among the most suitable natural treasures for refining attributes. Not only are their attributes pure and easy to absorb, but they can also be obtained through basic secret techniques that match the cultivation method. Furthermore, after absorption, they can greatly enhance one's own attributes, aptitude, and potential.

Well, the good news is: I've found a rare and precious material suitable for refining attributes; the bad news is, it's not ice-attribute.

'Let's get the Wind Spirit Orb first, and see if we can trade it for something later!'

Although he knew the probability was extremely small, Zhuang Jin couldn't possibly let go of such a treasure.

It must also be mentioned that he was not the first to arrive. There was already a lizard-like beast that looked like it was wearing stone armor guarding the place, and now there were two more beasts, a giant bird surrounded by wind and thunder, and a beast that was all white with a single horn on its forehead, arriving almost at the same time as Zhuang Jin.

'Stone Helmet Dragon, Thunderbird, and Unicorn?! The Stone Helmet Dragon is alright, it's only at the initial stage of the Six Organs Realm, but the Thunderbird and Unicorn, one has tempered three organs and the other four, they're stronger than me.'

Zhuang Jin thought to himself, his expression extremely solemn.

Upon seeing the man and the two beasts, the stone-helmeted dragon roared in resentment and retreated. Although the Wind Spirit Pearl was about to absorb all the vortex of heaven and earth energy and truly emerge into the world, its own life was clearly more important.

After the Stone Helmet Dragon left, Zhuang Jin, the Wind Thunder Bird, and the Unicorn formed a triangular standoff, with no one making the first move, until the Wind Spirit Orb was fully born.

The man and the two beasts moved together.

"Wow!"

With a long cry, the Wind Thunder Bird lunged at the Wind Spirit Orb, activating its innate beast skill. A field of thunder formed, and endless purple lightning bolts struck down towards Zhuang Jin and the unicorn to intercept them.

A milky-white light shone from the unicorn's body, and it also sped away, dodging bolts of lightning. Its unicorn horn lashed out repeatedly, unleashing its innate beast skill, Three-Part Light Wheel, which was also aimed at Zhuang Jin and the Wind Thunder Bird.

"Qi Bomb!"

Zhuang Jin retreated rapidly, dodging the two beasts' innate beast skills. As they drew near to meet, he threw something at them and immediately followed up with a Divine Sword of Intercepting Meridians, which he then detonated.

……

(End of this chapter)