Am I the only cultivator in this cultivation group?

Li Hu was merely a minor demon in the mortal realm, born with a mortal body.

For a mortal to cultivate immortality, the first step is to transcend the mundane world.

This stage is called "Dust Cultivation," which is considered the entry-level cultivation. The core is body tempering and soul stabilization. Externally, one cultivates the physical body and nourishes the blood and qi; internally, one cultivates the soul, using visualization and soul-stabilizing techniques to guide the blood and qi and open the seven divine gates.

Open the gates of the soul, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, body, and detach from worldly dust.

With all seven gates open, qi and blood can circulate within the body without dissipating, and physical strength, perception, and reaction far surpass those of ordinary people. One can also perform some basic minor spells. However, the true barrier between the first and second tiers is still the final hurdle of transcending the mortal realm.

He rushed forward, his blood and qi transformed into spiritual essence, and he officially entered the ranks of cultivators.

If you can't get through, your blood and energy will dissipate, and you'll fall back to the opening gate, forcing you to start all over again.

For decades, Li Hu has been stuck here.

Time and again he gathered his qi and blood, time and again he tried to break through the barriers, only to fall back down again and again, over and over, he could never get past that one step.

At first, he wasn't flustered.

He always felt that no matter how bad he was, he was still a fox demon who had gained sentience, and he still had several decades of life left. He should be able to endure it all by now.

But he later realized that he had been too optimistic.

It turns out there really are demons who will be trapped and die at the gate of the Departure from the Dust for their entire lives, never able to take another step out.

As his lifespan burned away bit by bit, Li Hu grew increasingly anxious. But the more anxious he became, the more chaotic his mind became, and the more chaotic his mind became, the less he could break through that barrier.

But it's different now.

"A top-grade Qi and Blood Pill... My master is so good to me."

Li Hu held the blood-red pill in both hands. The pill was surrounded by flowing light and had a rich medicinal aroma. His eyes were filled with emotion.

It was Li Hu's greatest fortune to have such a master.

He secretly vowed that he would treat his master well from now on, and that he would never let her down, not even for one lifetime, ten lifetimes, or a hundred lifetimes.

Thinking of this, he opened his mouth and swallowed the pill in one gulp.

Gudong.

As soon as the pill entered my stomach, a strong, bloody smell exploded in my mouth.

Li Hu was taken aback at first, then his eyes suddenly lit up.

"This is... dragon blood!"

He recognized the taste.

When he first came to the July Mountains, he saw a real dragon severely wounded and bleeding profusely, its blood flowing into the mud. He secretly drank it all, not even spitting out the mud.

It was precisely because of that mouthful of dragon blood that he was able to extend the lifespan of an ordinary fox demon to one hundred and seventy years, a lifespan that was usually just over a hundred years.

Dragon blood was used to refine the pill; no wonder this Qi and Blood Pill can be considered a top-grade mortal pill!

If you're lucky enough, you might even trigger that one in ten thousand chance of "spirit attraction," skipping the risks and stepping directly into the second stage.

Li Hu steadied himself and closed his eyes.

"The first gate to transcending the mundane world, where blood and qi transform into spiritual essence, is the transition from mortal to immortal..."

He silently recited the mantra and formed the hand seals for the Soul-Stabilizing Technique, and the phantom of his soul slowly emerged in his sea of ​​consciousness.

The next moment, his blood and qi surged and boiled.

The pent-up energy and blood, accumulated over decades, surged forth like a river bursting its banks under the stimulation of the elixir, rushing towards the Transcendental Gate deep within the dantian.

boom!

The moment the blood and qi collided with the barrier, a terrifying recoil force surged back along the meridians.

"Ugh—"

Li Hu groaned, cold sweat instantly beading on his forehead.

His meridians felt as if they had been ripped open, and his blood and qi surged and churned within him, almost spiraling out of control. If it weren't for the fact that his physical body had been honed to a high level over the years, this attack would have been enough to severely injure and destroy him.

But he dared not back down.

He gritted his teeth, forcibly calmed his mind, and used visualization and soul-stabilizing techniques to re-guide his scattered qi and blood, attempting to break through the barrier once again.

once.

twice.

three times……

The barrier of detachment remained as solid as an impregnable fortress, unmoved.

The force of the recoil, however, grew stronger and stronger.

Li Hu's face gradually turned pale, his vital energy was rapidly dissipating, and his soul was also being pulled by waves of sharp pain, as if it would collapse at any moment.

"No refunds..."

That was the only thought in his mind.

If you retreat, you will fall back into the opening gate and have to start all over again.

But he no longer had time.

If this drags on any longer, he will die of old age and be buried in the earth.

Thinking of this, Li Hu suddenly opened his eyes, a ruthless glint flashing in them.

He suddenly changed his hand gestures, pressing all the last remaining vital energy in his body into his soul.

In an instant, a faint light surged between his brows!

The previously illusory image of the divine soul suddenly became clear, and it even seemed to have the potential to break free from the constraints of the physical body.

"Use the soul as the guide, and the vital energy as the blade!"

"Break it!"

A low shout.

In the next instant, the blood and qi that had gathered all the power of the divine soul transformed into a crimson rainbow and crashed fiercely into the Dust-Transcending Pass!

This time, there was no violent backlash.

There was only one faint yet incredibly clear sound.

Click.

The pass that had trapped him for decades finally cracked open.

As soon as the gap opened, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth from the outside world rushed in and frantically merged with the blood and qi in Li Hu's body.

The originally raging and fiery blood and qi gradually became gentle and refined under the nourishment of spiritual energy, and its color slowly changed from crimson to light gold.

This is a sign that Qi and blood are transforming into spiritual essence!

Li Hu's heart skipped a beat, but he still dared not relax. He continued to urge his divine soul, guiding the spiritual energy and blood to merge and constantly cleanse the crack.

I don't know how much time passed.

When the last trace of life force completely transformed into spiritual energy, the barrier to transcendence finally shattered with a deafening roar!

A power several times greater than before suddenly spread from the depths of his dantian, instantly flowing through his limbs and bones.

Li Hu slowly opened his eyes.

The spiritual energy flowed throughout my body, warm and lingering. The previous fatigue, pain, and sense of decay vanished, replaced by an unprecedented lightness and clarity.

The Qi and blood used to flow like a raging torrent, but now the spiritual essence is like a clear spring, circulating endlessly in the meridians, neither dissipating nor overflowing.

Li Hu raised his hand, his fingertips condensed, and a wisp of pale golden spiritual energy quietly appeared.

He flicked his finger.

Whoosh.

The wisp of spiritual energy transformed into a faint light, striking the bamboo wall opposite and leaving a shallow mark.

Li Hu stared blankly at his hands, his eyes gradually brightening.

He could clearly feel that his physique, perception, and reaction were several times stronger than before. He could even vaguely sense the flow of spiritual energy in the world.

From now on, he will no longer be just a mere cultivator who can only endure hardship by relying on his qi and blood.

"It's done..."

Li Hu murmured, his voice trembling.

The next moment, the emotions that had been suppressed for decades burst forth completely.

"I did it!"

He finally broke through the barrier of transcending the mortal realm, transforming his qi and blood into spiritual essence, and truly stepped into the ranks of cultivators!

Although he failed to trigger the one in ten thousand chance of "divine soul guidance" and leap directly to the second level, he broke through this barrier solidly and honorably.

And this also means...

His spiritual journey had finally truly begun.

"Master, I've succeeded! Li Hu has lived up to your expectations!"

Li Hu's eyes reddened, and she cried. The fox demon's face was filled with emotion and grievance. She wiped away her tears, but they kept falling.

He had been cultivating for a hundred years, and had come all alone from a remote mountain valley to the July Mountains. He hadn't even had the chance to visit his deceased fox mother.

Every day, he huddled in this cold cave, practicing his cultivation day after day.

Today I have finally escaped the dust of the world.

All the hardship was worthwhile!

"July Demon Cave, here I come!"