For Shen Yuan, the juvenile delinquents he encountered online were merely seasonings in life, not worth his attention.
The sky outside was gradually darkening. After enjoying a sumptuous dinner, Shen Yuan started his daily cultivation.
He converted a corner room in the courtyard into an independent practice chamber, which had only a meditation cushion.
Sitting on the cushion, Shen Yuan directed his gaze to his system interface.
System: Do you confirm to claim the novice guidance reward?
"Confirmed."
With Shen Yuan's response, the completed novice guidance task bar on the system interface gradually disappeared, and a purple book fell into Shen Yuan's hands—this was none other than "Purple Clouds Elemental Qi Refinement Method" that he had previously acquired.
After calming his excited emotions, Shen Yuan slowly opened "Purple Clouds Elemental Qi Refinement Method" and started reading.
The method of refining Elemental Qi is the foundation of all methods. Any cultivator needs to refine the Qi of heaven and earth into his own to obtain abilities beyond the ordinary. The "Purple Clouds Elemental Qi Refinement Method" is a technique for collecting the first Morning Glow Purple Qi between heaven and earth at the transition of day and night.
If practiced deeply, it can turn the refined Primordial Elemental Qi into a force filled with the power of Purple Clouds, effective in eliminating evil spirits and magic barriers.
This volume of "Purple Clouds Elemental Qi Refinement Method" not only contains techniques for cultivation but also plenty of knowledge about cultivation and small spells.
Even though this information has passed for ten thousand years, it still holds significant value for Shen Yuan.
After repeated studying, Shen Yuan began his cultivation of the "Purple Clouds Elemental Qi Refinement Method."
Although it was already late at night and there was no chance to gather Morning Glow Purple Qi, it did not affect the operation of the refinement method.
As his breathing gradually blended into the rhythm of the Cloud Mist Breathing Method and became longer and more extended, a large amount of Spirit Energy began to surge into the practice room.
In this process, "Purple Clouds Elemental Qi Refinement Method," which Shen Yuan practiced, felt like an invisible hand continuously capturing the surrounding Spirit Energy and forcefully stuffing it into Shen Yuan's dantian, allowing it to transform into Essence Element.
"Purple Clouds Elemental Qi Refinement Method" and Cloud Mist Breathing Method are both inherited techniques of the Falling Clouds Sect, and they complement each other in functionality.
The progress brought about by the first practice of refining Elemental Qi exceeded Shen Yuan's expectations.
On Shen Yuan's right hand, the previously integrated Pot's Heaven Divine Capacity Seed, under the operation of the refining method, once again revealed the spirit treasure-like gourd imprint.
The jade-green gourd seemed to materialize, its mouth continuously capturing the external Spirit Energy. A large amount of Spirit Energy was swallowed into the Divine Capacity Seed, with a small part nourishing Shen Yuan's body through the seed.
The meager Spirit Energy from the just-arrived Spirit Energy Tidal Surge could hardly satisfy the Divine Capacity Seed. The Spiritual Energy Vortex around Shen Yuan began to visibly expand, quickly enveloping more than half of the old town.
The dormant Spirit Energy in the old town was gradually stirred up and began to rush towards the courtyard where Shen Yuan was located.
The jujube tree and the green vine in the courtyard, amidst the Energy Vortex, were absorbing a minor part of the Spirit Energy, even though most of it was consumed by Shen Yuan.
The previously shedding jujube tree started sprouting new buds, and the verdant vine shed its old body and started growing anew, breathing new life into this ramshackle courtyard.
Although most of the Spirit Energy was absorbed by the Divine Capacity Seed, the Spirit Energy nourishing Shen Yuan's body was the purest, not requiring any refining before blending into his Essence Element to strengthen himself.
The Essence Element inside Shen Yuan began to rapidly expand at an unimaginable speed.
Shen Yuan's Elemental Qi refining practice caused a stir in half the city, yet the old town did not react at all.
The old town, being an abandoned industrial area, barely had people living there, mostly elderly people. Under these conditions, it's challenging for a natural cultivator to be born.
People who have no cultivation practice could not perceive the changes in Spirit Energy, so barely anyone in the old town noticed.
Despite the lack of human notice, it doesn't mean other life forms remained unaware.
...
In the dark and secluded alleyway, a gigantic Maine Coon cat, almost half human height, swept by without making a sound, its large frame seemingly merged with the dark shadows.
Behind it followed dozens of stray cats, their pairs of green eyes glittering in the night, carrying an eerie and horrifying atmosphere.
However, the terrifying atmosphere reduced significantly if one noticed the half-human-sized Maine Coon's head.
A tiny kitten was fearfully perched on the head of the Maine Coon, with its claws deeply dug into the Maine Coon's long hair for fear of being thrown to the ground.
The Maine Coon covered its face with a paw, unable to hold back laughter upon seeing the tiny one's timid behavior.
"Your Majesty, please maintain your posture."
Upon hearing this, the kitten shakily stood upright, surveying the ordinary stray cats staring at it with a human-like embarrassment visible on its small face.
"Shut up!"
With glove-like little paws batting the Maine Coon's head, a tender voice came from the kitten's throat:
"How much longer till we reach?"
The Maine Coon glanced at their surroundings, a hint of unease flickering in its deep vertical pupils.
"We should be in the vicinity. But speaking of which, Your Majesty, are you sure the location identified by the box weapon is accurate?"
Upon hearing this, the kitten arrogantly lifted its small head.
"Humph! In order to get that jerk's information, I made a great effort to find his phone number then located his parcel receiving location. His residence will definitely be near the parcel point.
When the time comes, we just have to search house by house. We will certainly find it!"
"Then, Your Majesty, do you know what that person looks like?" The Maine Coon asked appropriately.
Upon hearing this, the smile on the kitten's face instantly froze.
"But... but I know his name is Shen Yuan!" The kitten quickly responded.
The Maine Coon sighed deeply after hearing that.
"Your Majesty, you don't know the exact location, nor what the person looks like. How is knowing the name going to help? We can't possibly go from house to house asking for his name, can we?"
Upon hearing this, the kitten deflated instantly, its ears drooping dejectedly on top of its head, looking gloomy.
The dejected look of the kitten only brought relief to the Maine Coon.
It was actually unwilling to go on this reckless adventure with the kitten, as the kitten was too small and had no self-protection ability; any accident could lead to irreversible consequences.
Yet, it could not disobey the king's command; its best option was to make the kitten see reason and voluntarily give up.
From the looks of it, it seemed to have achieved its goal.
Just when the Maine Coon was about to speak again, the kitten—barely as large as a ball of yarn—sniffed lightly, its unusually-colored eyes showing a look of excitement.
"The fluctuations of Spirit Energy are unusual; there's bound to be a good treasure there!"
As soon as the kitten spoke, the Maine Coon immediately sensed the chaotic Spirit Energy spreading around. A mass amount of Spirit Energy transformed into a huge vortex, gathering towards a small courtyard at the core of the area.