Immortality and Cultivation: Starting with Improved Spirit Rice

Chapter 32 Results

The monk in blue robes wore a blue jade crown and a white jade pendant at his waist. His temples were gray, and he looked to be around fifty years old.

However, he still has a handsome and dashing appearance, clearly indicating that he is living a very good life.

This person's name is Lu Huaishuang, and he and Shen Yanshan were both born into the second-rate Taoist lineage, Taiwei Sect.

The two had a fairly good relationship when they were cultivating in the sect, and Shen Yanshan's cultivation was even slightly superior to Lu Huaishuang's.

Second-rate Taoist lineages needed to pay "taxes" to join the Taoist court, sometimes in the form of precious spiritual materials and ritual implements, and sometimes in the form of dispatching manpower. Although the two served as libationers in the Imperial Academy under the jurisdiction of the Taoist court, they took completely different paths.

Shen Yanshan was assigned to the impoverished Seven Kingdoms region, where he has cultivated very few outstanding disciples over the past hundred years.

Lu Huaishuang, who also came from the Taiwei Sect, was assigned to the more developed Qingling region. Not only did she train students to enter second-rate lineages, but she even trained several students to enter first-rate lineages.

The gifts from the Daoist court, plus the tributes from some local cultivation families.

Although the two were of similar age and background, their appearances and demeanors were completely different. Shen Yanshan was hunched over, like an old man in his twilight years, while Lu Huaishuang still looked very energetic.

In addition, Lu Huaishuang's occasional boasting in front of him made Shen Yanshan extremely annoyed.

Lu Huaishuang seemed completely oblivious to the look of disgust on Shen Yanshan's face, and continued talking to herself.

"It's a pity that cultivators like us are like weeds by the roadside. We are already extremely fortunate to be able to observe and experience the Dao principles of the Golden Core True Monarchs by taking advantage of the positions provided by the Dao Court."

"As for wanting to stay inside and cultivate, that's extremely difficult... You have to join the Golden Core lineage."

Shen Yanshan blew his beard and glared.

"What, do you have a student with extraordinary talent who can enter the Golden Core Dao lineage for cultivation? Then what am I supposed to say? Congratulations!"

Lu Huaishuang shrugged and laughed.

"Entering the Golden Core Dao lineage is naturally impossible."

"However, we have received a student with a mutated wind spirit root, and a top-notch aptitude at that. He is also quite good at comprehending and learning runes... It's just that this child is sometimes arrogant and doesn't put much effort into his cultivation."

"I can't find a good reason to give him a little nudge."

"Senior Brother Shen, you see, sometimes it's not all a good thing when a disciple is too outstanding. As their teacher, I also have a lot of worries."

"Your place is much better... Although the Seven Kingdoms are a bit remote, they are more peaceful and you don't have to worry about this and that all the time like I do."

Lu Huaishuang looked troubled and touched her temples.

"Look, I've started getting gray hairs these days."

"To kill someone and then destroy their spirit? Damn it, Lu Huaishuang, are you asking for a beating?!"

Shen Yanshan was so angry that he almost jumped up on the spot.

Lu Huaishuang's plan succeeded, and a smile immediately appeared on her face. "Haha, just kidding, senior brother, please don't take offense."

At this moment, the Taiyi Transcendent Divine Ship trembled slightly.

The orange-yellow clouds dispersed, and the divine vessel was anchored on a platform atop the Upside-Down Mountain. Several people disembarked from the vessel, revealing a vast plaza before them, at the far end of which stood a magnificent palace.

This is the Hall of Discussions at the Imperial Academy.

The palace gates were wide open, and people were coming and going.

Shen Yanshan followed Lu Huaishuang inside, a worried sigh escaping his lips. The people on the Taiyi Divine Ship traveled north and south, their information network extensive; he had already grasped the general outline of what had transpired.

Just a few days ago, the demonic force Hunyuan Cave, which had been entrenched in the East China Sea for a thousand years, was wiped out by the Dao Court in conjunction with more than a dozen major sects, striking right at the heart of the enemy.

The eight main branches of Hunyuan Cave were forcibly dispersed, and countless resources were seized.

With the decrease in external threats and the need to convert a large amount of resources into results, this assessment will differ from previous ones. In addition to examining cultivation level and combat ability, a basic assessment of rune application will be added to select well-rounded talents needed by various Dao lineages.

"Practice and combat skills can be improved through diligent study and practice, but the application of runes requires extensive training with various spiritual materials."

Shen Yanshan thought to himself, "The Seven Kingdoms region is a low-spirit area with a barren environment and almost no usable spiritual materials. How difficult it will be to achieve good results in this new assessment subject."

Shen Yanshan suddenly remembered that Zhao Chengan had said that he was very interested in the cultivation of runes and spirit rice.

But then came another sigh. Even a skilled cook can't cook without rice; no matter how talented Zhao Cheng'an is, without sufficient training, it's like talking about war on paper—ultimately, he'll find it difficult to achieve any good results.

Shen Yanshan followed the crowd into the main hall, his expression momentarily showing some frustration.

……

……

In the blink of an eye, another three months have passed.

Cangwu Mountain, Imperial Academy, in a quiet bamboo building.

Zhao Cheng'an sat cross-legged on the bed, currently in a meditative state.

Two red-glowing runes already emanated from his dantian, and a third rune was being drawn. As the final stroke was completed, Zhao Cheng'an's aura became smooth and unified, carrying a faint burning sensation, with even fine steam rising from his skin.

The completion of the Qinghua Zhou Tianwen inscription not only increased the passive cultivation speed.

Moreover, because this rune is inscribed with true spirit, it does not require extra effort when practicing the technique, thus significantly increasing the speed of the "Sunrise Ignition" cultivation method in the second volume of the "Yi Wood Sunrise Scripture".

Over the course of three months, Zhao Cheng'an successively completed the inscription of the subsequent Fire Return Pattern and True Qi Pattern, successfully completing the second stage of his cultivation.

If Zhao Cheng'an were in seclusion at this time, the wood and fire spiritual energies within his body could form a cycle without interfering with each other. On the contrary, they could help the fire energy to vaporize the wood energy, achieving a mutually reinforcing effect.

The whole night passed.

The next day, early in the morning.

Zhao Cheng'an opened his eyes, his face full of energy.

After assessing his progress in cultivation last night, he pondered to himself:

"After completing the 'Rising Sun Ignites the Flame' chapter, my cultivation speed has increased significantly compared to before, but I am still far from breaking through to the second level of Qi Refining."

This is because breaking through to the second level of Qi Refining involves two steps.

The first step is to further refine and strengthen the previously refined True Spirit, and then begin cultivating the second True Spirit from scratch. At each of the nine levels of Qi Refining, each step becomes more difficult and requires more resources than the previous one.

Therefore, apart from aptitude, resources are also a crucial part of spiritual practice.

Fortunately, I don't lack resources for the time being.

Zhao Cheng'an smiled slightly.

After washing up, when I went downstairs, Xiao Wu had already cooked rice porridge in the yard, which smelled very enticing.

"Come, sit down and eat with us."

Zhao Cheng'an extended the invitation and ladled a bowl of porridge from the pot. The rice grains were translucent, soft, sticky, and sweet.

"Were these harvested from the newly planted rice paddy?" Zhao Chengan asked.

"Yes, they were just dried and delivered yesterday afternoon," Xiao Wu hurriedly said. "But the young master was cultivating at that time, so he didn't have time to say so."

Zhao Cheng'an picked up the bowl, took a bite, and immediately felt wisps of spiritual energy spreading across his lips and tongue, incredibly sweet.

Xiao Wu's eyes widened as well after taking a bite.

"Young master, the rice porridge tastes a little different today than usual."

"What's different?"

"The taste is much better, and I feel much more comfortable."

Zhao Cheng'an simply smiled.

After breakfast, he packed some of the hybrid rice into a small bag. Zhao Cheng'an had previously said that when there were results, he would take some out for Master Qi to taste, and now it was time to fulfill that promise.

Zhao Cheng'an looked up at the rising sun.

Then they headed towards Chiho Valley.