63: The effects of the miraculous fungus, and the reunion with an old friend.

This thick earth spirit fungus felt slightly heavy in the hand, its texture warm and smooth like jade, its surface covered with profound and mysterious natural patterns.

Bringing it close for a careful sniff, one could detect a peculiar scent, a mixture of earthy fragrance and pure demonic power.

"Transforming the demonic into the spiritual, increasing magical power..."

Lu Xian murmured to himself, a sharp light flashing in his eyes.

Among Medicinal Pills, those that can directly increase magical power are as rare as phoenix feathers.

Most either gather Spiritual Qi and aid in its refinement, like the spirit gathering pill.

Or accelerate the cultivation process, like the Starlight Spirit Attraction Pill.

Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately channeled his magical power, condensing it at his fingertip, and carefully sliced a piece as thin as a cicada's wing from the thick earth spirit fungus.

The fungus slice entered his mouth, offering no special taste, but instead rapidly transformed into a warm, gentle stream that slid into his abdomen.

However, in the next moment, Lu Xian's expression changed slightly.

A power utterly different from the Five Elements magical power within his body, brimming with a wild and chaotic aura, surged through his Meridians like a Vicious Beast breaking free from its cage!

This power was precisely the extremely pure demonic power.

It was domineering and brutal; wherever it passed, a stinging pain spread through his Meridians.

Fortunately, Lu Xian's Physical Body had undergone multiple transformations and was already exceptionally robust. Apart from some minor discomfort, he did not feel excessive pressure.

If an ordinary Cultivator rashly ingested this, they would likely suffer Meridian damage from being unable to adapt to this foreign energy, or even risk Qi Deviation.

But Lu Xian was no ordinary Cultivator.

He immediately sat cross-legged, focused his mind into his Dantian, and began operating the Primordial Art with full force.

As the Cultivation Technique circulated, the Five Elements magical power within his Dantian seemed to transform into a massive vortex, generating a tremendous suction force.

The demonic power rampaging in his Meridians, as if encountering its natural nemesis, was involuntarily and forcefully drawn, surging towards the Dantian.

The moment it entered the Dantian vortex, the violent demonic power began to be rapidly decomposed, cleansed, and restructured.

Its Impurities and violent aura were completely stripped away, leaving only the most fundamental, most pure energy.

Then, it was thoroughly assimilated by the Primordial Art, transformed into Lu Xian's own magical power, and obediently merged into the Qi Sea within his Dantian.

The entire process took no more than a quarter of an hour; that fungus slice was completely absorbed by him.

Lu Xian slowly opened his eyes and let out a long, slow exhalation of turbid air.

Sensing the slight increase in magical power within his body, an expression of irrepressible ecstasy appeared on his face!

He had discovered an astonishing fact.

While refining the demonic power, he could still absorb and refine the external Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, with neither interfering with the other!

"Demonic power and Spiritual Qi can be absorbed and refined simultaneously... This means that from now on, I can consume this thick earth spirit fungus while also taking spirit gathering pills?"

If he then added the cultivation bonus of the Cultivation Chamber...

That would be triple the cultivation, triple the joy!

This thick earth spirit fungus could be harvested daily. From now on, Lu Xian possessed an inexhaustible supply of 'alternative Medicinal Pills'!

He had originally estimated that with his current cultivation at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, reaching the tenth layer of Great Perfection would require at least two years of arduous Cultivation, even with Medicinal Pill assistance.

But now, with a divine object like the spirit fungus, employing both methods simultaneously would double his cultivation speed.

"At this rate, quickly in two or three months, slowly within half a year, my cultivation is certain to climb to the peak of the Qi Refinement Stage. Within a year, I can polish my magical power to the Perfection Realm, ready to attempt Foundation Establishment at any time!"

Lu Xian's plans for the future became increasingly clear.

On the path of Cultivation, the higher the Realm, the more important the Foundation becomes.

His current cultivation speed was already terrifying. Without a superior Foundation Establishment Cultivation Technique as guidance, recklessly attempting a Breakthrough could easily lead to an unstable Foundation, severing his own Dao path.

The Cangye Sect, as a Golden Core-level power, possessed core Cultivation Techniques, which were precisely what he needed most at the moment.

Otherwise, Lu Xian would have to venture into the wilderness to try his luck, searching for those elusive, untamed Legacies. But how was that possible? It didn't suit his style.

Time waits for no one!

Having set his goal, Lu Xian immediately began preparations.

He even temporarily set aside Alchemy.

First, he went to Qingyun City to purchase a set of Materials for the A Bridge ofSo close yet so far, then began seclusion to craft a new array Foundation.

This was Lu Xian's top priority, concerning whether he could come and go freely after entering the Sect and maintain his industries in Qingyun City,

And even more, ensuring he possessed an absolutely stable escape route.

This being his third time crafting it, he grew increasingly proficient. In less than half a month, the task was successfully completed.

During this period, Lu Xian also commissioned the Du Family to collect one set of level 1 upgrade Materials for each building in his Immortal Cave, which he stored properly.

Preparedness ensures success; lack of preparation spells failure.

Making an extra preparation would save him a great deal of tedious effort gathering Materials in the future if he opened a third Immortal Cave, allowing him to quickly lay the Foundation.

...

For a Cultivator, the passing of a month is but the snap of a finger.

On this day, within Qingyun City.

Tens of thousands of Cultivators went about their business as usual, some trading in the market, others cultivating quietly at home.

Suddenly, a vast and mighty aura abruptly enveloped the entire city!

Immediately after, a clear, cold voice resonated clearly in the ears of every person:

"The Cangye Sect's recruitment for this session is being held half a year early. It will commence precisely at Chen hour tomorrow in the city square. All those under sixty years of bone age may participate."

As the voice faded, the aura receded like a tide, yet Qingyun City instantly erupted into an uproar.

"What? Recruitment is half a year early?"

"Damn it all! I'm not fully prepared yet!"

"Heavens! I'm still in seclusion trying to break through a Bottleneck! It's all ruined now!"

"That was the voice transmission technique of a Golden Core True Person! No mistake, the news is true!"

Cultivators rushed out of their homes, their faces filled with shock, excitement, or frustration.

Many more secretly rejoiced. Since this matter was so sudden, many Cultivators traveling abroad would surely be unable to return in time.

The competitive pressure would likely lessen considerably.

Lu Xian stood in his small courtyard, looking up at the sky, his expression calm.

Finally, it had arrived.

...

The next day, at Chen hour.

The central square of Qingyun City was already packed with a sea of people.

Tens of thousands of Cultivators had gathered here, each face bearing tension and anticipation.

High in the sky above, a female Cultivator dressed in Cangye Sect attire sat upright, her expression indifferent as she looked down upon the masses below.

Lu Xian kept his aura restrained, blending into the crowd, utterly inconspicuous.

His Divine Sense swept over the area, then suddenly paused slightly, landing on two figures at the outer edge of the square.

There stood a young man and a young woman.

"Sister Wang, do you think... Fellow Daoist Han will come today? We didn't send him a message."

The young man stood tall and straight, his features resolute. It was Shen Nan.

He wore simple servant attire, but his back was ramrod straight. The unique aura of a Sect Disciple about him made him stand out from the surrounding Loose Cultivators.

"He will come."

"When we parted last time, I knew Fellow Daoist Han was no ordinary talent. Upon his return this time, he is sure to amaze everyone with a single brilliant feat, becoming an Outer Sect Disciple in one go! He, like me, possesses the potential for the Golden Core!"

The young woman stood gracefully, her beauty surpassing the past, her bright eyes sparkling as they swept around. It was Wang Man.

"Outer Sect Disciple?!"

Hearing this, Shen Nan's heart was greatly shaken: "Th-then, wouldn't that make him the same as you, Sister Wang?"