Chapter 19 - Cultivation

It's burning... Fu...

The moment Lin Yan consumed the entire golden pill, a fiery sensation surged, coursing through every inch of his body.

With Lin Yan already unclothed, he seamlessly initiated the utilization of his divine-grade Eternal Yin Yang Cultivation Mantra. Simultaneously, an extraordinary occurrence unfolded—the Wood Qi in the vicinity, as if drawn by an irresistible force, surged towards him at an accelerated pace. The air vibrated with the energy as it intricately interwoven with Lin Yan's body, forming a mesmerizing dance of Wood Qi absorption.

Immersed in his cultivation, Lin Yan resembled a sage delving into the profound secrets of the world, seeking a profound understanding.

At this juncture, he surged with a fresh wave of exhilaration for cultivation, ascending towards the zenith of power inherent in the art.

After what time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Lin Yan woke up due to the resonating notification sound that echoed in his mind.

[ Ding! Experience Points +420 ]

Looking at how many experience points he got just from using a single high-level pill, Lin Yan was simply dumbfounded.

Is this for real? Incredible!

These pills are great!

... Perhaps I should learn how to make them myself. That way, I can mass produce them and...

Slurp...

Lin Yan exulted in ecstasy as he amassed a considerable amount of EP in a single solitary cultivation session. The rapid acceleration of his strength brought him immense delight, making the experience exceptionally gratifying. After bringing himself out of his bliss, Lin Yan gazed at his status.

...

[ Host: Lin Yan ]

[ Lifespan: 16/280 ]

[ Cultivation: 5th layer of the Qi Refining ]

[ Next Level: 458/1000 ]

[ Physique: Supreme Yang ]

[ Talent: Average Level (1/3) ]

[ Spiritual Root: Wood ]

[ Birth Control: Active ]

[ Partner: Li Ruoxi ]

[ Technique: Eternal Yin Yang Mantra ( Divine grade ) ]

[ Skills: { Inspect }, { Charm }, { Skill Description}]

...

Hm. There are still 10 pills left. I don't think the average-level pill would work like the high-level one. I can tell just by smelling it. They don't have any significance to me... Let's just save them.

Stuffing another pill inside his mouth, Lin Yan began to cultivate again. This was the only reason why he chose to come to the Mystic Wood Sect. The environment and the resources for cultivation were way better than in Moonlight Town.

While cultivating the Yin Essence of Li Ruoxi undoubtedly contributed to his current realm, it did little to quell Lin Yan's insatiable desire for higher realms and enhanced talent. The imperative to amass formidable strength in the cultivation world persisted, driven by the need to safeguard both his loved ones and himself.

Lin Yan's primary objective was to safeguard his opulent lifestyle while indulging in the boundless pleasures afforded by his acquired strength, particularly in the realm of intimate encounters.

A few moments passed, and Lin Yan opened his eyes to look at the sudden notification.

[ Ding! Experience Points +350 ]

Hmm. Exp. Decreased. Why?

Ah, I see. All Wood Qi got used up around this area... Hmm. Should I change the location? But then I have to move again and again like this... Sigh... What a pain.

Looking at his status bar, Lin Yan calculated how many EP he would be required to reach the next layer.

[ Next Level: 808/1000 ]

I guess one more cultivation session would suffice for me to experience a breakthrough...

Without a moment's hesitation, Lin Yan strode out and made his way to the cave on the far right. Overgrown with bushes and densely entangled wild plants, the cave's condition held little significance for him.

Swiftly spreading a white cloth on the ground, he seated himself without dwelling on the surroundings. In a seamless motion, Lin Yan ingested another golden pill, akin in size to a golf ball, initiating his cultivation process.

In a matter of moments, the Wood Qi surrounding Lin Yan once again began to swiftly converge towards him. Employing his Heavenly Spiritual Root, Lin Yan meticulously refined the gathered Qi, compelling the purified essence to consolidate at his navel position. This meticulous process set the foundation for the forthcoming forging of his Dantian in the next realm.

While regulating the cultivation session, Lin Yan felt the familiar intoxicating sensation he had experienced in the morning. He had a breakthrough in the middle of cultivation. At this point, he had reached the sixth layer of the Qi Refining realm.

[ Ding! Experience Points +380 ]

[ Ding! Successfully reached the 6th layer of the Qi Refining realm.]

Despite the breakthrough, Lin Yan harboured no joy or contentment. The awareness lingered that within the sect, numerous individuals possessed strength capable of swatting him like an insignificant ant.

Unsettled by the vulnerability of being at the mercy of others, Lin Yan pressed on, driven to venture deeper into the forest, seeking to fortify himself against the lurking shadows of potential threats.

Repeatedly, whenever Lin Yan sensed a scarcity of Wood Qi in his vicinity, he would relocate to the deeper recesses of the forest. As time flowed, night descended, casting its veil over the surroundings.

Sigh...

...

[ Lifespan: 16/360 ]

[ Cultivation: 9th layer of the Qi Refining ]

[ Next Level: 988/1000 ]

...

Observing that he was just a few EP shy of achieving a breakthrough into the next realm, Lin Yan ceased his cultivation and returned to his initially chosen cave. It wasn't a lack of desire to enhance his strength, but rather a mental fatigue that prompted this pause, a weariness not of the body, but of the mind.

Enduring the strain of cultivating for an entire half day, especially after numerous breakthroughs in his strength, proved excessively demanding for Lin Yan.

It was through this experience that he gained a profound understanding of the true essence of cultivation.

Exhausted, Lin Yan mused aloud, "How did those old-timers endure such prolonged cultivation sessions? Months of seclusion—do they have some kind of superhuman endurance? It's akin to the sensation I had after finishing my major exams. Are they a bunch of freaks or something?"

At that moment, Lin Yan's sole desire was a comforting cup of tea to indulge in and ease the restlessness of his mind.

Gazing at the dark expanse of the sky, an involuntary sigh escaped his lips. It hadn't even been a full day, yet the pangs of homesickness had already settled in.

How I wish to be with Xi'er right now. Sigh... It sucks. Ah, this headache.

Even after consuming those average-level pills, I didn't break through immediately.

What a garbage...

Don't even know if the damn thing worked or not... Who made that useless rubbish?

Seated on the meticulously cleaned cloth, Lin Yan commenced the practice of the techniques bestowed upon him by his master.

The sky was dark. As Lin Yan was already at the peak of the Qi Refining realm, he didn't need to sleep. So, the only thing left for him to do was to learn and try out the newly gained techniques.

Hah! How I long for the passion of my sex-full life...

Ah, right. I have to snatch that ring too. I'm stronger than him... but he is the protagonist or something, so he must have one or two life-saving treasures with him.

I can't do a thing to him inside the sect. It must be against the rules.

Looks like I can only postpone this matter for now...

Lin Yan reflected on his circumstances, promptly shelved unnecessary thoughts, and redirected his attention to the pressing challenges at hand.

Embracing the veil of darkness with moonlight as his silent motivator, Lin Yan dedicated the entire night to mastering the intricacies of the Mystic Palm and Heavenly Wood Techniques.

...

The next morning.

Where countless caves had once dotted the landscape, a transformative shift had occurred.

In their stead, a colossal and majestic tree now asserted its presence amidst the thick forest, resembling a regal monarch overseeing its devoted subjects.

The massive trunk extended over several dozen meters, commanding an expansive swath of the surroundings with its sheer grandeur.

Perched atop the colossal tree, a bare-skinned Lin Yan sat upon a thick branch. Throughout the entire night, he delved into the intricacies of the Heavenly Wood Art, mastering the fundamentals and successfully wielding the technique. However, grappling with its cessation, the consequence unveiled itself—a sprawling, majestic tree.

At the current moment, Lin Yan resumed his cultivation with the aspiration of attaining a breakthrough into the Dantian Forging realm.

With each continuous breath, all the Wood Qi around the area churned and began to flow toward his direction. After successfully refining it with his Spiritual Root, Lin Yan flowed the refined Qi, which was Spiritual Qi, through his meridians and accumulated it at his navel. Compressing it again and again until a core-shaped organ was beginning to form.

A newfound delight illuminated Lin Yan's countenance as he intensified his focus and hastened his pace.

The impending development of his Dantian hinted at the prospect of ascending to a new level of strength, should the endeavour prove successful.

After a few moments of unbreakable silence and intense effort.

A booming sound resonated within his body and a shining golden core formed at his navel position.

As Lin Yan opened his eyes, the initial sight that greeted him was a cascade of annoying notifications, vividly popping up before his eyes.