Immortality and Cultivation: I can extract entries from all things.

Two months later.

In the early morning, a thin mist enveloped the east pier of Qing'ao Island.

Fang He walked slowly down the damp stone steps, her simple clothes already half-soaked by dew.

They had just returned from a patrol in the northeastern sea area last night. The ten-person team was unharmed and discovered two traces of formations left by the Dark Abyss Pavilion.

This is the fourth time we've gone out to sea this month, a much less frequent trip than when we first started the team.

After two months of operation, the patrol team gradually got on track.

Zhao Hengdao was in charge of leading the team on a daily basis, and his thick-backed machete already commanded great respect among the team members.

Zhou Qing's communication with the Zhou family went smoothly, and their attitude was much more cooperative than before.

After recovering from his injury and returning to the team, Liu Cheng became much more obedient and dared not leave the team without permission again.

The new rules were strictly enforced. During twelve sea patrols, three remaining formations were marked, with no casualties reported.

"Captain Fang."

At the dock, a young team member respectfully saluted.

Fang He nodded, gazing at the sea.

The rising sun peeked through the clouds, turning the seawater a golden-red hue.

The spiritual energy within his body flowed slowly, and the [Zhou Tian Tong Tai] system quietly began to operate.

Over the past two months, this technique has become second nature in my daily cultivation. My spiritual energy flows smoothly through my meridians, and the speed is nearly 30% faster than before.

Suddenly, he paused slightly.

A strange feeling welled up in my dantian.

It was as if there was a thin sheet of paper separating them. Normally, the flow of spiritual energy was unimpeded, but now there was a faint sense of stagnation.

It's not a blockage, but a more subtle feeling.

Fang He looked inward at himself.

Within the dantian and dantian, spiritual energy swirled like mist.

At the edge of that sea of ​​qi, an invisible barrier was faintly visible, trembling slightly with the tides of spiritual energy.

bottleneck.

The bottleneck at the seventh level of Qi Refining has loosened.

Fang He's heart skipped a beat, but she quickly regained her composure.

This is a good thing, but it's not the right time yet.

Breaking through the seventh level of Qi Refining is a major hurdle to entering the later stages. The dantian needs to withstand the impact of the spiritual energy transformation, and the foundation can be damaged if one is not careful.

Don't rush.

He took a deep breath, suppressed the impulse, and turned to walk towards the pharmacy.

---

In the backyard of the pharmacy, sunlight filters through the vines, casting dappled shadows.

Fang He sat cross-legged in front of the stone table, with a sheet of Xuan paper spread out in front of him and a wolf-hair brush in his hand.

"Shopkeeper, you're back."

Su Yun'er came out of the inner room carrying hot tea. The sixteen-year-old girl was much more mature than she had been two months ago.

She wore a plain dress, her hair was simply tied up, and she exuded a sense of competence in every gesture.

"Um."

Fang He took the teacup, her gaze still fixed on the Xuan paper.

"How did today's patrol go?"

"smoothly."

Fang He picked up his pen and wrote two characters on the paper: Ling Shi (灵石).

Su Yun'er stood aside and saw that the shopkeeper seemed to be pondering something, so she waited quietly without making a sound to disturb him.

Fang He wrote while silently calculating in his mind.

The patrol team receives a monthly salary of twenty spirit stones, totaling forty spirit stones over these two months.

The pharmacy is operating steadily, with a monthly income of about eight spirit stones, or sixteen spirit stones every two months.

Adding the previous surplus, and deducting patrol expenses, medicinal herb purchases, and array materials...

His pen never stopped, and lines of numbers appeared on the paper.

"Is the shopkeeper doing the accounts?"

Su Yun'er finally couldn't help but speak, her voice soft.

Fang He paused slightly with his pen, then looked up at her.

"I'm going into seclusion."

"Seclusion?"

Su Yun'er was taken aback, and then a trace of worry flashed in her eyes.

"Shopkeeper, are you... aiming for a breakthrough?"

"The bottleneck at the seventh level of Qi Refining has been loosened."

Fang He spoke calmly, as if he were talking about something ordinary.

"It can take anywhere from ten days to half a month."

Su Yun'er was silent for a moment before asking softly, "What do you need me to prepare?"

Fang He lowered his head and continued writing on the paper, saying casually, "How have the pharmacy's profits been these past two months? Are the accounts clear?"

"clear."

Su Yun'er answered immediately.

"The income is stable, and the customer base is also consistent. Those regular customers all know that the pills from our pharmacy are of high quality, so we have many repeat customers."

Fang He nodded, his pen still moving.

One hundred and fifty spirit stones. This was all the savings he could use.

Eight bottles of Qi-restoring pills, five bottles of wound-healing pills, and three bottles of mind-clearing pills. This is our current stock.

He put down his pen, looked at the densely packed notes on the paper, and gradually gained a better understanding of the situation.

enough.

With these resources and careful preparation, the chances of breaking through to the seventh level of Qi Refining are very high.

"You will temporarily take over the role of manager."

Fang He put away the Xuan paper and looked at Su Yun'er.

"If you need anything, you can contact Zhou Ming or Zhao Hengdao. Zhao Hengdao can handle all the patrol team's affairs, and you can contact Chen's Trading Company for the purchase of medicinal herbs."

"I've got it."

Su Yun'er responded, her lips moving slightly as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she just lowered her head.

"Shopkeeper... please be careful in everything you do."

Fang He glanced at her; the girl had her eyes downcast, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her skirt.

He withdrew his gaze and said calmly, "Go and get busy."

Su Yun'er gave a slight curtsy and turned to leave.

After taking a few steps, he turned back to look at Fang He again before quickly entering the inner room.

Fang He sat alone in the courtyard as the sunlight gradually brightened.

He took out another sheet of Xuan paper and began writing the list of preparations for the breakthrough.

First, the method to stabilize the dantian. The key to breaking through the seventh level of Qi Refining lies in whether the dantian can withstand the impact, so it is necessary to find an auxiliary technique or trick to stabilize the dantian.

Second, materials for the Spirit Gathering Array. The higher the concentration of spiritual energy during a breakthrough, the better, so a Spirit Gathering Array needs to be set up in a quiet room.

Third, pills that aid in breakthroughs.

The [Breakthrough Pill] is the best choice, but the main ingredient is scarce, so you need to check the inventory or purchase it separately.

After Fang He finished writing, he looked at the three tasks on the paper and considered the order in which they should be completed.

The most urgent method to stabilize the dantian is to first visit Master Qian.

Very few independent cultivators can reach the late stage of Qi Refining, making the experience of Qian Zhenshi invaluable.

He got up, gathered his paper and pen, put the list into his sleeve, and turned to leave the pharmacy.

---

Qian Zhenshi's residence was located on the edge of the market, in an inconspicuous little courtyard.

Fang He pushed open the half-closed courtyard gate, and the scene inside came into view.

Materials for the formation were scattered all over the ground, with bronze fragments, rune slabs, and cinnabar powder piled up haphazardly.

Several stacks of bamboo slips were piled up in the corner, covered with densely written array deductions.

Master Qian sat on a stone bench in the center of the courtyard, with a broken array plate in front of him. He was carving something on the array plate with a slender carving knife.

"Money Master".

Fang He bowed with his hands clasped in greeting.

Qian Zhenshi raised his eyelids, saw that it was Fang He, and nodded slightly.

"Manager Fang, a rare guest."

"I have something to ask you."

Fang He was straightforward and didn't mince words.

Master Qian put down his carving knife and pointed to the stone bench opposite him.

"sit."

Fang He took his seat, his gaze sweeping over the broken array plate.

The runes on the array plate were blurred, but it was still vaguely discernible that it was a complex defensive array.

"Is Master Qian researching a new formation?"

"Restoration of antiques".

Master Qian's voice was deep and his words were concise.

"I want to see if I can figure out their formation methods from the fragments left behind by the Dark Abyss Pavilion."

Fang He nodded and didn't ask any further questions.

He pondered for a moment before speaking, "The bottleneck at the seventh level of Qi Refining has loosened. I would like to ask about the precautions to take when breaking through."

Qian Zhenshi looked up at him, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

"You just broke through to the sixth level two months ago, and now you're aiming for the seventh?"

"Due to a chance encounter."

Fang He didn't explain further.

Master Qian remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking.

"The seventh level of Qi Refining is the threshold for the later stages, which is completely different from the mid-stage."

He stood up and walked to an old tree in the corner of the courtyard.

"The first three levels of the Qi Refining stage are the initial stage, where spiritual energy is like mist, scattered and invisible. Levels four to six are the middle stage, where spiritual energy is condensed and begins to take shape. Levels seven to nine are the late stage, where spiritual energy liquefies and transforms into true essence."

Qian Zhenshi turned around and his gaze fell on Fang He.

"The most crucial factor is not the accumulation of spiritual energy, but whether the dantian can withstand the impact of changes in spiritual energy."

Fang He listened intently, memorizing every word.

"Many rogue cultivators are stuck at the peak of the sixth level not because they lack spiritual energy, but because their dantian walls are weak, and they dare not force a breakthrough. Forcing a breakthrough will at least damage the dantian and cause a regression in cultivation, and at worst, the dantian will shatter, making it impossible to advance any further for the rest of their lives."

Qian Zhenshi walked back to the stone bench and took out a jade slip from his sleeve.

"This 'Strengthening Essence Technique' is something I learned during my travels in my early years."

He handed the jade slip to Fang He.

"By practicing this method, a spiritual energy shield can be formed on the dantian wall during the breakthrough, reducing the impact damage. It lasts for about fifteen minutes, which is enough to get through the most dangerous stage."

Fang He took the jade slip, placed it between his eyebrows, and probed it with his divine sense.

Information about a method flooded into my mind.

The operation of the Solidifying Essence Technique is not complicated. Its core is to guide the spiritual energy to form a circulation in the dantian wall, so as to protect the internal dantian with external spiritual energy.

Fang He quickly grasped the principle and mastered the essentials in a short time.

He opened his eyes and handed the jade slip back.

"Thank you, Master Qian."

Master Qian waved his hand, sat back down on the stone bench, and picked up his carving knife.

"With your talent for formations, you should be able to master it quickly."

He paused, then added, "When breaking through, remember to be slow rather than hasty. The liquefaction of spiritual energy is a gradual process; do not rush it."

"clear."

Fang He stood up and bowed again.

"I won't disturb Master Qian's research any longer. Farewell."

Qian Zhenshi didn't even look up; he simply waved his hand.

Fang He turned and left, silently reciting the circulation route of the Qi-Strengthening Technique as he walked out of the courtyard.

With this method, the chances of breaking through are greatly increased.

---

It was noon when I returned to the pharmacy.

Fang He went straight to the underground quiet room in the backyard.

This quiet room was originally a elixir storage room. The walls are made of bluestone, which is sturdy and soundproof, making it an ideal place for secluded cultivation and breakthroughs.

He took out all the necessary materials for the formation: cinnabar, spirit beast blood, formation plate, and spirit stone.

[Mastery of Formations] activated, and the complete structure of the Spirit Gathering Array appeared in my mind.

The Spirit Gathering Array is the most basic auxiliary array, but it can increase the concentration of spiritual energy by 30%, which is very beneficial for breakthroughs.

Fang He used the [Spirit Rune Inscription] technique to draw array patterns, his fingertips stained with a mixture of cinnabar and spirit beast blood, to outline runes on the stone wall.

Every stroke is precise and accurate.

There are forty-nine basic runes, each containing the principles of formation.

[Mastery of Formations] gives him a thorough understanding of formation structures, while [Spirit Rune Inscription] ensures that the runes are accurately placed.

Two hours later, the array pattern was completed.

Fang He placed ten spirit stones at the core of the formation as the driving force.

He formed hand seals and released a burst of spiritual energy to activate the formation.

hum-

The array patterns glowed faintly, and the surrounding spiritual energy began to slowly converge into the quiet room.

Fang He closed his eyes and sensed the change in spiritual energy concentration through the [Spiritual Affinity] ability.

It increased by more than 30%.

"That's enough."

He muttered to himself, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

Next step: alchemy.

Fang He took out the alchemy furnace and placed it in the center of the quiet room.

He had already memorized the recipe for the Breakthrough Pill. The main ingredients were Sea Soul Grass and Purple-Veined Seaweed, with three common spiritual herbs as auxiliary ingredients.

During his previous inspection, he made a point of collecting enough main materials.

The first attempt to refine the pill failed, and the pill turned to ashes.

Fang He remained expressionless as he cleaned the alchemy furnace and began again.

The second refining yielded two pills, but their color was dull and their medicinal effects were insufficient.

The third refining process involved precise temperature control down to the millimeter.

The process of condensing the elixir was stable, and the aroma of medicine permeated the air.

The elixir is complete.

Three grayish-white round pills lay in the palm of the hand, with fine lines on the surface and a faint fragrance.

The success rate of producing 10% of the pills exceeded expectations.

Fang He carefully put away the two, keeping one for later use.

With the Spirit Gathering Array and the Qi Strengthening Technique, the chances of breaking through have increased even further.

---

By evening, everything was ready.

The spirit-gathering array is operating normally, and the concentration of spiritual energy is stable.

The Breakthrough Pill is stored in a jade bottle and can be taken out at any time.

I have mastered the Qi-strengthening Technique, and my dantian is now secure and safe.

Fang He checked it one last time to make sure there were no omissions.

He left the quiet room and went to the backyard.

Su Yun'er was sitting on a stone bench in the courtyard, holding a spirit lamp in her hands.

The light was dim, lit by her own meager spiritual power, and could continue to burn in the quiet room.

"Shopkeeper."

Su Yun'er stood up and handed over the spirit lamp.

Be careful in everything you do.

Fang He took the spirit lamp and glanced at her.

The girl's eyes were clear, yet filled with unconcealed worry.

"A ten-day period."

Fang He's voice was flat.

"If they don't appear within the allotted time, it's not too late to look for them again."

"I've got it."

Su Yun'er said in a low voice.

Fang He turned and walked towards the quiet room, pushing open the heavy stone door.

With his last glance, he looked out the window at the sea.

The sun was setting, the water shimmered, and the sea and sky blended into one.

Having reached the seventh level of Qi Refining and merged his knowledge, a larger world awaits him.

Fang He withdrew her gaze, her expression calm.

He stepped into the quiet room, and the stone door slowly closed behind him.

As darkness fell, only the faint light of the spirit-gathering array flickered.

Fang He sat cross-legged in the center of the formation and took out the Barrier-Breaking Pill, placing it in front of him.

He took a deep breath and adjusted his mindset to its best state.

A breakthrough is about to begin.