He fell off a cliff but unexpectedly gained a cultivation inheritance.

Time in the Xuanqing Secret Realm is as tranquil as a flowing stream, silent yet never ceasing. In the open space in front of the wooden house, Zhang Bufan sits cross-legged, his eyes closed, surrounded by a faint aura of spiritual energy, his breathing long and steady. In the surrounding air, besides the sweet fragrance of peach blossoms and the coolness of the lake water, there is also a faint fluctuation of spiritual energy, the aura he naturally emits during his cultivation.

For the past three months, Zhang Bufan had devoted almost all his time to cultivation. The hustle and bustle of the outside world seemed to be completely shut out by the barrier of this secret realm. He was unaware that the news of his fall from Mount Hua had caused a huge uproar in the secular world, nor did he know that his parents were weeping day and night because of his disappearance, or that Ye Qingxue was working tirelessly to find him. But a concern always lingered in his heart. Whenever he paused during a break from cultivation, the gray hair at his parents' temples and their expectant eyes would clearly appear in his mind.

"Dad, Mom, your son will definitely achieve mastery in his cultivation as soon as possible and return to see you." Zhang Bufan silently murmured to himself, this longing transforming into boundless motivation for his cultivation. He knew clearly that to leave this Xuanqing Secret Realm, he had to quickly improve his cultivation level. The information passed down from his master, Xuanqing Daoist, clearly stated in his mind that only by reaching the Foundation Establishment stage could he project his divine sense and thus recognize the spatial ring his master had left on the middle finger of his skull. That seemingly ordinary golden ring not only contained the method to leave the secret realm, but it must also contain more cultivation resources and immortal cultivation manuals left by his master, which was the key to whether he could go further on the path of immortal cultivation.

As a cultivator with a mixed spiritual root of five attributes, Zhang Bufan was well aware that his aptitude was considered "useless" in the cultivation world. From his master Xuanqing Daoist's inherited memories, he learned that in the current Pangu world, cultivation aptitude was categorized by the purity and number of attributes of the spiritual root. A single-attribute heavenly spiritual root was universally acknowledged as the best aptitude; cultivators with this aptitude possessed an extremely strong affinity for spiritual energy, cultivating at a speed far exceeding that of ordinary people, making them highly sought-after talents by various sects. The aptitude of cultivators with dual or triple spiritual roots decreased accordingly, and those with four spiritual roots were considered mediocre. As for his mixed spiritual root of five attributes, he was practically deemed "unable to cultivate" in the outside world. Even if he were to miraculously embark on the path of cultivation, his cultivation speed would be outrageously slow, likely limiting him to the Qi Refining stage for life, unable to even reach the Foundation Establishment threshold.

But now, Zhang Bufan, relying on the high-level inheritance of Xuanqing Daoist and the abundant resources in the secret realm, has forcefully broken through this constraint. In three months, his cultivation level has advanced rapidly from the early stage of the first level of Qi Refining, not only firmly establishing himself in the first level of Qi Refining but also breaking through several levels in succession. He has now reached the perfected fourth level of Qi Refining, just one step away from the fifth level. Such a cultivation speed is rare, even among cultivators with a single-attribute heavenly spiritual root, let alone those with mixed five-attribute spiritual roots, only when resources are extremely abundant, and often even surpasses it.

All these changes stem from the selfless gift of the Daoist Xuanqing. The *Xuanqing Daodao Jue*, a top-tier cultivation technique in the immortal realm, far surpasses the mortal cultivation methods of the Pangu world in its profoundness. This technique not only perfectly suits the physique of someone with mixed spiritual roots of the five elements, but also maximizes the absorption and refinement of spiritual energy from heaven and earth, transforming every wisp of energy into pure mana without any waste. More importantly, the method for opening meridians recorded in the technique is extremely sophisticated, guiding spiritual energy precisely to cleanse the meridians, greatly reducing the pain during meridian opening while simultaneously improving its efficiency and quality.

At this moment, Zhang Bufan was circulating the "Mysterious Purity Dao Inquiry Technique," guiding the magical power within his body to flow slowly through his meridians. He had completely opened up the three complete meridians of the Hand Three Yin Meridians. These three meridians were like three unobstructed rivers, with magical power flowing endlessly within them. With each cycle, the magical power became more solidified. The opening of the Hand Three Yin Meridians not only allowed his cultivation to steadily improve, but also made his hands more dexterous, and his control over spiritual power much more precise. Previously, he had tried to circulate his spiritual power to activate the basic spell "Object Manipulation" passed down by his master, and he was already able to easily manipulate the stones in the wooden house to levitate and move, and even make several stones fly in the air at the same time. This was already an extremely outstanding performance among Qi Refining Level 4 cultivators.

Besides the assistance of advanced cultivation techniques, the cultivation resources within the secret realm further amplified Zhang Bufan's progress. The Xuanqing Secret Realm, a small secret realm opened by Xuanqing Daoist using his last ounce of magical power, boasts a spiritual energy concentration several times higher than the outside world, even surpassing the core area of ​​the Huashan Immortal Sword Sect's secret realm. This abundant spiritual energy allowed Zhang Bufan to cultivate with twice the efficiency, absorbing spiritual energy at a speed far exceeding that of cultivators outside. More importantly, the secret realm also contained two cultivation aids that could be considered "treasures"—immortal peaches and silver fish.

The effects of the Immortal Peach are well-known. When Zhang Bufan first entered the secret realm, he ate just one Immortal Peach, which instantly dispelled his hunger, restored his strength, and even caused initial changes to his body. For the past three months, Zhang Bufan has been eating an Immortal Peach every few days. The pure energy contained in the Immortal Peach not only replenishes the mana he consumes during cultivation but also continuously nourishes his body, improving his mixed spiritual root constitution. Although this improvement is extremely slow, over time it has significantly increased his affinity for spiritual energy, thus accelerating his cultivation speed.

The silverfish in the secret realm were an unexpected delight on Zhang Bufan's cultivation path. Three months ago, when he first saw the silverfish in the lake, there were only a few thousand fish, the largest of which was just over two feet long. At the time, he only thought that the silverfish had delicious flesh and could replenish his strength after eating them, but he never expected that the silverfish would also have the magical effects of improving cultivation aptitude and widening meridians. As he continued to eat the silverfish, he found that he absorbed spiritual energy faster and faster, and his comprehension of cultivation techniques became smoother and smoother. Only then did he realize the extraordinary nature of the silverfish.

To ensure the silverfish could continue to provide him with assistance, Zhang Bufan began to deliberately feed them in the lake. He discovered that fallen petals and leaves from the peach trees, as well as shriveled peaches, were the silverfish's favorite foods. So, every day after his cultivation, he would go to the peach grove, collect a large amount of peach blossoms, leaves, and shriveled peaches, and then scatter them into the lake. He continued this feeding for nearly three months.

The changes in the silverfish in the lake are astonishing. What were originally just over a thousand silverfish have surged to over fifty thousand. The vast majority are recently hatched fry, only a few inches long, entirely silvery-white, darting nimbly through the water like countless shimmering silver threads. Of the original hundred or so large fish over two feet long, after Zhang Bufan ate over a dozen, only eighty or ninety remained. These large fish have now grown to over three feet, their bodies much rounder, and their weight more than doubled. They look plump and full, their scales gleaming faintly in the milky-white light. In addition, the original thousand or so small fish, about an inch long, have all grown to over a foot, becoming the backbone of the school.

To feed the silverfish, Zhang Bufan practically cleared out a foot-thick layer of fallen blossoms, leaves, and fruit that had accumulated under the peach trees near the wooden house over three thousand years. Initially, he worried that the amount of peach blossoms and leaves wouldn't be enough to meet the growing demand of the silverfish. But he soon discovered his worries were unnecessary. Within this core area of ​​the secret realm, spanning nearly a kilometer in radius, grew thousands of peach trees, each with lush foliage. Every day, a large number of peach blossoms would fall with the wind, enough for the silverfish to eat. Moreover, as the peach trees grew, they would continuously produce immortal peaches. The unripe, green immortal peaches that fell before ripening, as well as the ripe, shriveled immortal peaches, were all excellent food for the silverfish. It could be said that as long as the peach trees in this secret realm didn't wither, the silverfish would never lack food.

What delighted Zhang Bufan even more was that as the silverfish consumed more peach blossoms and immortal peaches, their flesh became more delicious, their energy more refined, and their effects on improving cultivation aptitude were even better than before. Now, with each silverfish over three feet long that he ate, he could clearly feel his mixed spiritual root constitution subtly improving, his affinity for spiritual energy increasing accordingly, and his speed of absorbing spiritual energy during cultivation accelerating. This virtuous cycle made Zhang Bufan's cultivation speed faster and faster, bringing him closer and closer to his goal of reaching the Foundation Establishment stage.

That day, Zhang Bufan finished his daily cultivation and slowly opened his eyes. He exhaled a breath of stale air, a faint white mist rising from his mouth and dissipating into the air. He stood up, stretched his limbs, and heard a series of cracking sounds from his bones, a sound brimming with power. After three months of cultivation, his physique had become more upright, and his face, which had previously appeared somewhat haggard due to mid-life unemployment and a failed marriage, now had a rosy and radiant glow. His eyes were full of lively light, and there was no longer any trace of despondency or confusion.

"I've reached the fourth level of Qi Refining, just one step away from breaking through to the fifth level." Zhang Bufan felt the abundant magical power within his body, his heart filled with joy. He could clearly sense that his body was ready for the breakthrough. As long as he accumulated magical power for a while longer, or found a suitable opportunity, he would be able to successfully break through to the fifth level of Qi Refining.

He walked to the lakeside, gazing at the countless silver fish swimming in the water, a satisfied smile appearing on his lips. These silver fish had now become an indispensable aid on his path of cultivation. He bent down and picked up a few fallen peach blossoms from the ground, gently scattering them into the lake. The moment the peach blossoms touched the water, they immediately attracted a large number of silver fish, scrambling to catch them. The lake surface instantly became lively, with countless silvery-white figures darting through the water, creating delicate ripples.

Zhang Bufan stood quietly by the lake, watching the silver fish in the water, his mind drifting to his master, Daoist Xuanqing. If it weren't for his master's legacy, he would likely have already perished at the bottom of Mount Hua's cliff, and would never have had the chance to embark on the path of cultivation, possessing such astonishing speed of cultivation. "Master, rest assured, your disciple will cultivate diligently and inherit your mantle as soon as possible. If the opportunity arises in the future, I will surely send your remains and legacy back to the Xuanqing Immortal Sect, allowing your soul to return to its homeland," Zhang Bufan solemnly said in his heart.

Then, he turned and walked towards the peach grove, intending to pick a fairy peach to replenish the magical power he had consumed during cultivation. In the grove, peach blossoms continued to fall in the wind, like pink snowflakes. The thick layer of petals beneath his feet was soft and comfortable to walk on. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the branches and leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground, intertwining with the falling blossoms to create a breathtaking scene.

Zhang Bufan walked to a peach tree, tiptoed, and picked a large, red peach. The peach was heavy, with a smooth, delicate skin, and emitted a rich, sweet fragrance. He went to the stream, washed the peach clean, and then took a big, satisfying bite. A crisp sound followed, and the juicy flesh burst in his mouth, a rich sweetness mixed with a subtle peach blossom aroma instantly captivating his taste buds.

The energy from the immortal peach slid down his throat into his stomach, transforming into a warm current that slowly flowed to his limbs and bones. Zhang Bufan could clearly feel that his magical power was rapidly recovering, even becoming more abundant than before. As he ate the immortal peach, he strolled through the peach grove, admiring the surrounding scenery, his anxieties and worries long since vanished.

After finishing the immortal peach, Zhang Bufan returned to the wooden house, sat cross-legged again, and began to regulate the magical power within his body. He knew that there were no shortcuts on the path of cultivation; to reach the Foundation Establishment stage as soon as possible, he had to be down-to-earth and accumulate strength step by step. Although his current cultivation speed far exceeded that of ordinary people, he dared not slack off in the slightest, because he knew in his heart that only by improving his cultivation level as quickly as possible could he leave this Xuanqing Secret Realm and see his parents whom he missed day and night.

As night fell, the milky-white stones in the Xuanqing Secret Realm still emitted a soft glow, illuminating the entire realm as if it were daytime. Zhang Bufan continued his cultivation in front of the wooden hut, the spiritual aura surrounding him growing increasingly dense. The silver fish in the lake also quieted down, with only a few occasionally leaping out of the water, splashing a string of water droplets that broke the tranquility of the secret realm before quickly disappearing back into the water, restoring calm.

Zhang Bufan was completely absorbed in his cultivation, oblivious to everything around him. His divine sense was entirely internalized, focused on the circulation and accumulation of his internal magical power. With the dual assistance of advanced cultivation techniques and abundant resources, the magical power within his body became increasingly solid, drawing ever closer to the bottleneck of the fifth level of Qi Refining. He could sense that the opportunity for a breakthrough was drawing ever closer; perhaps in the next few days, he would be able to successfully break through to the fifth level of Qi Refining.

"Foundation Establishment stage, spatial ring, leaving the secret realm..." These thoughts swirled in Zhang Bufan's mind, becoming his inexhaustible motivation for cultivation. He firmly believed that as long as he persevered, one day he would reach the Foundation Establishment stage, recognize the spatial ring left by his master, find a way to leave the secret realm, and return to his parents. At that time, he could not only allow his parents to enjoy their later years in peace, but also live a different life with his own cultivation strength, no longer being overwhelmed by life as before.

The night in the Xuanqing Secret Realm was tranquil and peaceful. Zhang Bufan's cultivation continued, his figure appearing even more resolute in the soft light. He was unaware that the outside world had long forgotten him; only his parents and Ye Qingxue still worried about his life or death. But none of that mattered anymore. At this moment, his heart was filled only with the path of immortality and the longing to reunite with his parents as soon as possible.

Three months of cultivation had transformed Zhang Bufan, greatly increasing his cultivation level and calming his mind. He knew this was merely the beginning of his path to immortality, and a longer, more arduous journey lay ahead. But he was fearless, for he possessed a high-level inheritance, abundant resources, and, most importantly, a steadfast heart. He believed that as long as he forged ahead, he would surely go further on the path of cultivation and realize his dream.