Jiang Chen didn't waste any time. He quickly took a Clear Mind Awakening Spirit Pill and swallowed it.
As soon as the pill touched his tongue, it melted instantly, spreading its effects through his internal organs, Dantian, and meridians. The powerful medicinal properties transformed into Origin Power, seamlessly integrating with the bright white vortex at the center of his Dantian.
Those who reach the Spiritual Awakening realm have liquid Origin Power. To move up to the Mysterious Platform realm, they need to solidify this vortex; this solid state of the Origin Power vortex is known as the mysterious platform.
When a cultivator reached the Mysterious Platform realm, their reserves of Origin Power, physical strength, and spiritual essence all underwent significant improvements.
A single expert in the Mysterious Platform realm could easily defeat ten experts in the Spiritual Awakening realm on their own!
Time flew by, and before he knew it, a week had passed.
The door of the meditation chamber slowly opened. Jiang Chen stepped out, bathed in sunlight that highlighted his handsome features, making him look even more striking, like a finely carved piece of jade.
After a week of dedicated cultivation and the combined effects of four Clear Mind Awakening Spirit Pills and the medicinal power of the Ten-Turn Harmonious Spirit Pill, he had successfully advanced to the Late-stage Spiritual Awakening realm!
Now, the liquid cyclone within Jiang Chen's Dantian had become denser, appearing almost solid in his inner vision.
Once the cyclone solidified completely, it would signify his breakthrough to the Mysterious Platform realm!
During his time of cultivation, Jiang Chen occasionally stepped out of his secluded practice. He used his Spirit Condensation Bianstone Jade to carefully examine the Vast Spirit House. Luckily, everything was under control without any unexpected changes.
Arriving in the courtyard of the house, Jiang Chen looked up at the sky, now partly lit by dawn. 'Ah, morning has already broken. I wonder what those three are doing inside the Vast Spirit House,' he mused to himself before activating his Spirit Condensation Bianstone Jade.
Instantly, a wave of divine sense expanded outward, covering the entire Vast Spirit House.
Feeling his divine sense grow even more powerful and enjoying the enhanced clarity, Jiang Chen silently exclaimed with satisfaction, 'My divine sense has expanded its range by dozens of meters in the Late-stage Spiritual Awakening realm. Fantastic!'
Just then, his divine sense stealthily moved through the protective formation of a room, revealing an atmosphere filled with lingering mist.
In the midst of the mist, a large bathtub became visible. There lay a beautiful young woman, half-submerged in the water. Her hair floated on the surface, and the sunlight's shimmering reflections on the water skillfully hid everything below her delicate neck.
Her eyes were closed, and she was inhaling the warm air slowly, clearly deep in slumber.
'Bathing at dawn? It seems she's been quite exhausted these days,' Jiang Chen thought to himself, a smile curling on his lips as he openly admired the scene of the beautiful woman bathing.
Ning Xian was the heroine he was determined to win over, and he was fully prepared to take up his responsibilities in the future...
Just then, a message arrived on Jiang Chen's transmission jade token; it was from Elder Ge.
'There's activity?' Jiang Chen's eyebrows raised slightly in intrigue. At his command, the Jiang Clan's cultivators had been vigilantly observing developments and forthcoming events within Autumn Glory City.
Retrieving the transmission jade token, Jiang Chen infused it with his divine sense. Instantly, the message became clear: "Eldest Young Master, the White Mountain Chamber of Commerce has arrived in Autumn Glory City. They were initially headed to Clear Water City, but something made them change their plans. Traditionally, the White Mountain Chamber of Commerce works with our Jiang Clan, the Zhou Clan, and other powers to organize a large-scale trading event in Autumn Glory City..."
After finishing the message, Jiang Chen's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. 'A chamber of commerce specializing in trading pills and spiritual plants, conducting transactions on their travels...' he pondered. Quickly, he surmised that the arrival of this White Mountain Chamber of Commerce was likely the next significant development for Lin Feng.
Lin Feng, after all, was rumored to possess a Medicinal Spirit Body. Though it wasn't explicitly confirmed, his journey appeared to be intertwined with spiritual plants, especially in the early stages.
Therefore, it was highly probable that this White Mountain Chamber of Commerce, known for trading pills and spiritual plants, would have some connection to Lin Feng.
'With the arrival of the White Mountain Chamber of Commerce, Autumn Glory City is sure to become a hub of activity in the next few days,' Jiang Chen contemplated.
'Since Lin Feng is in need of spiritual plants, he's likely to visit and explore their offerings.'
'I can also use this chance to "accidentally" run into him and try to reduce his Heavenly Fate Value, while increasing my Villain Value!' he schemed, a cold grin forming on his lips as he put away the transmission jade token.
Shortly after, Jiang Chen used his divine sense again to check on Lin Feng's room. The young man was seated cross-legged on the bed, deeply immersed in cultivation.
To his surprise, Lin Feng had already returned to his previous peak condition at the Middle-stage of the Soul Refining realm. His rate of recovery was impressively fast.
...
Inside the room, sensing that his time for cultivation was almost over, Lin Feng slowly stopped his practice. He opened his eyes, and a brief flash of emerald-green light sparkled within them.
Not only had he restored his cultivation base to the Middle-stage of the Soul Refining realm, but he had also successfully switched to the main cultivation technique outlined in the Thousand Green Pill Heart Records.
This primary technique was now sufficient to aid him in advancing to the Inquiring Journey realm.
'It's a shame that I missed the chance to act when Jiang Yuqian was ill earlier. I could have gone beyond the Middle-stage Soul Refining realm. That cursed Jiang Chen is to blame!' Lin Feng brooded as he familiarized himself with his newfound strength.
'However, now that I'm capable of defending myself in Autumn Glory City, I can go out and look for spiritual plants.'
'I wonder if that detestable Jiang Chen has already helped Master fix the supply channel for spiritual plants. If he has, that would be even better,' he speculated, pondering the possibilities.
Suddenly, a knock sounded at the door. Qu Liaoxi's voice followed, calling from outside, "Feng'er!"
"Master?" Lin Feng's expression changed subtly, and he quickly opened the door.
"Feng'er! Have you really advanced to the Middle-stage Soul Refining realm?!" Qu Liaoxi, sensing the changes in Lin Feng's cultivation aura, looked at him with a face full of surprise.
"Hahaha, I've only restored my previous level," Lin Feng replied modestly, yet a trace of pride still sparkled in his eyes.
"That's wonderful!" Qu Liaoxi nodded with excitement. "But remember, you mustn't slack off; you need to keep working hard!"
"Yes, Master!" Lin Feng smiled, then shifted the conversation to a topic of interest. "By the way, has the supply of spiritual plants to the Vast Spirit House been restored?"
"Not yet," Qu Liaoxi replied, shaking her head with a hint of regret.
"Young Master Jiang Chen is already on it. However, the suppliers who used to provide us with spiritual plants have committed their stocks to others since we switched to an inn. They are businessmen, after all, and it wouldn't be fair for them to break their promises. So, we'll have to wait a bit longer."
"Additionally, the White Mountain Chamber of Commerce has arrived in Autumn Glory City. The spiritual plants here will likely be gathered at the trade fair they're organizing in the coming days."
"In that case, we will have to wait even longer," she commented with a thoughtful frown.
"The White Mountain Chamber of Commerce?" Lin Feng asked, sounding puzzled. Having grown up in the Starry Abyss Sect with few chances to venture out, he wasn't well-versed in the affairs of foreign chambers of commerce.
"The White Mountain Chamber of Commerce is an external entity," Qiu Liaoxi explained with a smile. "They travel to different cities of cultivators to buy and sell spiritual plants and pills."
"They specialize in a wide range of spiritual plants and pills, from the common to the rare. In my view, this could be a fantastic opportunity for you to find the spiritual plants you need."
"Also, I still have a considerable amount of savings. If there's anything you require, I'll be more than happy to help you acquire it," she offered, her tone generous and supportive.
'A foreign chamber of commerce specializing in spiritual plants! This is just the opportunity I was waiting for!' Lin Feng thought excitedly, his heart brimming with joy.
'Although almost any spiritual plant can aid the Burning World Red Lotus's recovery, those richer in fire element are far more effective.'
'The White Mountain Chamber of Commerce, traveling through various cities, must have amassed a wide variety of such plants, surpassing what's available in Autumn Glory City.'
'This time, we need to secure a substantial quantity of fire-rich spiritual plants. The better the Burning World Red Lotus recovers, the faster my cultivation will progress!' As these thoughts culminated, a smile spread across Lin Feng's face. He bowed to Qiu Liaoxi and gratefully said, "Many thanks, Master!"