Cultivation begins with harvest.

After drinking tea and celebrating with the remaining cultivators, Chen Guang's courtyard quieted down again, leaving him alone.

"Isn't it time to calm down, organize my thoughts, and decide on my future path?"

While thinking this way, Chen Guang also rejected the idea. He wanted to leave this matter to Huoxu Cave. What kind of changes would occur in Huoxu Cave was still unknown. He had experienced many times that plans could not keep up with changes, so he was not in a hurry.

At this point, Chen Guang's spiritual fields have reached their limit; the only thing he can increase is their quantity. He has also reached the limit in tending to them. Moreover, spiritual plants such as Huangcheng, Spider Silk Bottle Wood, and Xuanwen Bamboo are maturing, while Black Horn Grass and Smoked Foot Vine have not yet been planted. The activity of various spiritual energies will become stronger year by year. Even if his cultivation improves and he obtains new spiritual fields, Chen Guang wants to give the opportunity to Gu Shu, calm down these strong spiritual energies, and maintain a harmonious spiritual atmosphere.

At the same time, I will steadily study some secret techniques and classic texts to improve myself and prepare for the foundation building stage.

Although he was only at the fourth level of Qi Refining, he already possessed at least half of the things needed for the middle and late stages of Qi Refining, so he naturally wanted to seize the opportunity to advance further.

This autumn, harvesting Jade Heart Grass will allow one to reach the fifth level of Qi Refining. Such speed is undeniably fast. From initially taking two years to enter the Qi Refining realm, to breaking through a realm every year thereafter, in the blink of an eye, it has been almost five years since he became a cultivator; and nearly seven years since he came to this place.

Every day is fulfilling and busy, and I feel more and more in harmony with this world. Sometimes, just watching the clouds in the sky gather and disperse makes me feel a little bit of magic power being refined, as if I have really entered the level of enlightenment.

The Taoist priest of the Sutra Repository once said that long-term contact with various spiritually vibrant objects is beneficial for comprehending the Dao. Although it may not directly elevate one's cultivation level, one day, the feelings from these contacts can become a more intuitive manifestation—the ability to sense that the workings of heaven and earth are governed by laws. As long as one can sense this sign, it means that one has begun to step onto the level of comprehending the Dao.

Although having this feeling is vastly different from truly comprehending the Dao, if one cannot even take this first step, then there is no point in talking about comprehending the Dao.

Chen Guang was somewhat surprised. Was his talent in this area a result of his contact with many spiritually potent creatures?

Judging from my own cultivation path, the latter probability is quite high.

But most of the time my thoughts are very scattered. Even if I try to connect the five elements with the world, I can't give my feelings a definite meaning. It's like scratching an itch through a boot. It's not that I don't feel anything at all, but it's just a little bit of feeling. I can't explain it clearly.

I can't see through it, I can't figure it out.

"Forget it, I won't dwell on it anymore. If I get caught up in it and become obsessed without even realizing it, that would be terrible."

Just follow your feelings and let things take their course.

This year's task is to wait for those spiritual plants to mature and then harvest another batch of rewards that we've already seen.

Summer is coming to an end, and the quality of the Fiery Heart Grass has reached a new high of eight plants. The other rewards are similar to those before, only the quantity has increased slightly.

This is also an example of how the spiritual atmosphere has improved. As for the care of the Heart-Breaking Grass, apart from Chen Guang and the Thousand-Needle Wren who catch insects becoming more and more skilled, there has been no further investment.

As time passed, Chen Guang broke through to the fifth level of Qi Refining after harvesting the Jade Heart Grass. Each advancement in the mid-stage of Qi Refining requires a difference of three pots of mana. If nothing unexpected happens, he will need to harvest Jade Heart Grass twice more to reach the sixth level of Qi Refining.

The three grains of rice were obtained by first acquiring the essence of cordyceps, and the excess strands of true qi were directly bestowed upon the Purple Poison Spider and the Heavenly Star Tiger Bee.

The overall quality of the millet has only improved slightly compared to last year, despite the great sacrifices made for this family.

……

As for the other spiritual plants, there haven't been any major changes compared to previous years. The various accumulated rewards have also reached a plateau, so there's no need to expect any other changes this year.

The annual increase in Purple Spirit Earth Roots is a well-worn topic.

Another gain was mastering a second spell system this year, which further improved my combat skills.

This system is mainly an addition to the existing one. Considering that Firebeard Cave is just a cave in the name, and in reality only the residence of the Venerable One is located under the central crater, with the surrounding terrain being relatively open and wide, the focus is on reconnaissance and physical protection spells.

In the end, I couldn't bear to let the Thousand Needle Wren go with me. The two little ones haven't grown to their best condition yet. If they get hurt, I'll be heartbroken.

Otherwise, it would be a great detection tool.

Fire Beard Cave may seem safe, but it's a dangerous place with a history, so it's always good to be careful.

In a careful consideration, Huoxu Cave can be considered a sacred place in the hearts of independent cultivators. Huoxu Shangren has guided many independent cultivators, and these independent cultivators have in turn occupied some hilltops near Huoxu Cave. On the one hand, they rely on Huoxu Shangren's prestige to survive and cultivate, and on the other hand, they protect the master and are willing to be his servants.

However, over the course of ten thousand years, the surrounding mountains lost their protection and order after the passing of Master Huoxu. They became the lodging places for many rogue cultivators. When the spiritual veins of Huoxu Cave were drained, the mountains shook and collapsed, and those mountains with little spirituality collapsed. Now, it is the outer region of Huoxu Cave that has completely lost its lineage.

Chen Guang was always alarmed whenever he read this part of the history of Huoxudong.

The events of ten thousand years ago are only briefly recorded, but one can still sense the overwhelming power of those high-level cultivators.

He single-handedly created the Fire Beard Cave.

Another mysterious entity has drained the spiritual veins, severing the spiritual energy for hundreds of miles, causing mountains to collapse and the earth to crack. Such methods shake people's minds and spirits.

The area of ​​Ziling Peak is actually a thousand miles in circumference, extending south and west. The area to the east and north is where Ziling Peak is located, hidden in the immortal mist and invisible to the naked eye. Those who try to find it often get lost in the purple mist and only find a way out and escape when they are exhausted. Over time, no one dares to venture into that boundless purple mist.

That's why Huoxu Cave is still famous even after 10,000 years.

Compared to the Qingheng Sect, it is not so insignificant as to be negligible.

"It's strange, though. From the time Master Huoxu passed away to the time the spiritual veins were extracted, initially forming the outer realm as it is today, there's a vague history of two or three thousand years. Yet, during this time, no one coveted or occupied the spiritual veins of Huoxu Cave, only for them to be taken away by that vague being. It's truly bizarre."

This history is well-known to many, who have gleaned some hidden truths from it, but it seems that no one has gained anything from it.

Rather than hoping to discover the secrets behind this and gain something, it's better to hope that this trip to Firebeard Cave will be safe and smooth, and that we can protect ourselves. After all, the Dongfang siblings have only been with the Qingheng Sect for two or three years, and they are both at the early stage of Qi Refining, which is too much of a burden.

……

Months passed, the world was covered in frost, and winter had truly arrived. The moonlight shone on everything, illuminating it all in a pure white, and even the shadows hidden in the light seemed soft.

Tranquil and profound.

Chen Guang sat in the courtyard, pondering the fact that the Shenyan magic power, which had just reached three-quarters of its full strength, had collapsed again. Only when he relaxed his mind to heal his injuries did he notice this change in the celestial phenomena.

I noticed the chilly winter moon and became engrossed in it without even realizing it.

The sun rises in the east, and all the light and heat of all things come from there. But does that mean all things become like the sun?

It retains its original appearance, but possesses some characteristics of photothermal infection.

"Isn't the relationship between fire and water similar?"

It's not water within fire, but water manifesting as fire!

The many scattered sensations brought about by the Water and Fire Pills suddenly merged into Chen Guang's current understanding, becoming a river. A breath caught in his chest, and he had no choice but to exhale!

Realizing this, Chen Guang immediately calmed his mind and stopped recuperating. He immediately mobilized his magical power again, slowly channeling it through acupoints and meridians.

"That's how it should be."

Chen Guang suddenly opened his eyes, and a faint, dark blue flame appeared on the front of his chest, changing shape with each breath.