16: Qi Refining Level 4

Because he could add points individually, the growth progress of this mutated willow leaf was faster than the other willow leaves.

The other willow leaves had just sprouted, while this mutated willow leaf had already grown to half an inch long.

Looking at the panel progress, in about five more days, this willow leaf would complete its transformation.

After catalyzing the willow leaf, Lin Yan returned to the side of the small hut to check on the Alfalfa he had planted.

To prevent the mutated Alfalfa from being too conspicuous, he also watered the other Alfalfa with some spirit fertilizer to accelerate their growth.

Even so, the mutated Alfalfa still stood out from the rest.

While the other Alfalfa were not even a foot tall, this stalk of Alfalfa had already reached one and a half feet.

Because its vitality was strong and it was growing so well, the branches and leaves of this Alfalfa were exceptionally verdant.

After three days of cultivation, this mutated Alfalfa was approaching transformation:

【 Plant Name: Alfalfa 】

【 growth progress: 8 / 10 】

【 mutation progress: 92% 】

【 Growth Status: None 】

...

This was the first time catalyzing a mortal plant's transformation; Lin Yan was very curious about what the Alfalfa would mutate into and how much insight it would provide him in return.

The Azure Wood Technique circulated, and he pressed his fingers together like a sword.

He channeled his pure Wood Spiritual Power like a trickling stream toward the Alfalfa in front of him.

Lin Yan was very careful during this process because the Alfalfa's capacity to withstand it was quite limited.

After catalyzing the Alfalfa for three days, he felt that his level of control over Spiritual Qi had improved somewhat.

Soon, Lin Yan and the Alfalfa entered a state of resonance.

As Spiritual Qi flowed slowly between the two, the Alfalfa's mutation progress quickly reached 100%.

The transformation happened quietly.

The Alfalfa's stem turned deep purple at a speed visible to the naked eye, and fine, tough fluff grew on the back of its leaves.

Even more surprisingly, its root system emitted a unique, crisp Aura that created a subtle resonance with the surrounding Alfalfa.

Lin Yan's breathing was closely connected to the life rhythm of the mutated Alfalfa.

He could clearly "hear" the faint humming sound emitted as the internal tissue structure of the plant reorganized.

He perceived the entire process of the mutated Alfalfa establishing a resonance connection with the surrounding Alfalfa.

He even faintly sensed the "joyful" emotion emitted by this patch of Alfalfa because of it.

The insight provided by the Alfalfa during its transformation was not much, but it was very unique, giving him a greater understanding of plant life.

Every stalk of Alfalfa was an independent living entity.

And a patch of Alfalfa, from a certain perspective, was also a single living entity!

Life does not only exist in individual plants but also exists at a higher and larger level.

This deep symbiotic experience allowed his comprehension of the Azure Wood Technique to break through its previous boundaries.

In an instant, Lin Yan entered a state bordering on Epiphany.

Every section of the Mind-Cultivation Technique within the Azure Wood Technique flashed through his mind like flowing water.

The understanding of the technique, like the level of life, existed at a higher level.

Some problems that he could not figure out in the past now melted away like ice and snow; every seal in the Cultivation Technique became increasingly familiar, and he could use them at will.

Lin Yan's Azure Wood Technique broke through to the Major Achievement level.

Ordinary Utility Disciples at the Spirit Herb Hall would struggle their whole lives to reach this level, yet Lin Yan had only taken a little over a month.

The Breakthrough in the Cultivation Technique fed back into his cultivation.

The cyan Spiritual Power in his meridians circulated rapidly, and the free-floating Spiritual Qi in the air was quickly absorbed into Lin Yan's body, becoming a part of his own Spiritual Power.

The essence of the Refining Qi Realm is refining Spiritual Qi for one's own use.

The Spirit Rice he had eaten over these days had not been completely absorbed; much Spiritual Qi remained stored within his body, unabsorbed.

At this moment, this stored Spiritual Qi played its part, turning into wisps of transparent airflow that merged into his meridians, and after being refined, flowed into Lin Yan's Dantian.

The lines of Spiritual Power in his meridians grew thicker and thicker, and the cyan vortex in his Dantian continuously strengthened.

Finally, at one moment, the cyan vortex underwent a qualitative change.

As if breaking through a shackle, the vortex suddenly grew a circle larger, and the Spiritual Power became more solid.

Refining Qi Fourth Layer, achieved!

"Hoo..."

Lin Yan opened his eyes and exhaled a long breath of foul air.

As he circulated his Cultivation Technique, a strand of pure Wood Spiritual Power condensed in his palm.

When he first started the Azure Wood Technique, his Spiritual Power was mottled; at the Minor Achievement stage, the Spiritual Power became much purer, and now, his Spiritual Power was even more refined.

The ball of Wood Spiritual Power in his hand was as green as a piece of jasper, full of vitality.

Looking closely, in the center of this jasper-like ball, patterns resembling rice stalks had condensed.

This was the mark of Major Achievement in the Azure Wood Technique.

The feeling of a Breakthrough in cultivation was exhilarating; his whole body felt as if it had endless strength.

Drawing the hundred refined azure steel sword he bought from Senior Brother Cheng, Lin Yan enthusiastically performed a few moves.

Thrust, hack, dot, scoop, parry, slash...

Cyan sword light flickered, and the few basic sword moves were danced with an imposing Aura; one could say it was brute force overcoming technique.

He had not practiced any advanced Sword Techniques, but he still knew the basic sword moves.

In the Sword Pavilion, even Disciples who farmed would know some swordsmanship after staying there for a long time.

When Lin Yan first joined, while learning the Azure Wood Technique and Spirit Rice Cultivation Techniques, he also followed the older Disciples to learn a few sword moves to show off.

He vaguely remembered that three years ago, when he joined, excellent Disciples with High Grade Spiritual Roots were directly recruited as Outer Sect Disciples of the Sword Pavilion.

Lin Yan estimated that his cultivation progress should have caught up to these Disciples.

In the future, he would leave these fellow Disciples far behind.

Lin Yan was full of confidence about this.

He took a look at the mutated Alfalfa's panel:

【 spirit plant Name: Purple Stem Alfalfa 】

【 growth progress: 10 / 10 】

【 spirit plant Characteristic: Can promote the growth of surrounding Alfalfa; has a strong attraction to herbivorous Spirit Beasts 】

【 Growth Status: None 】

...

The formal name after transformation was "Purple Stem Alfalfa".

The entry "Plant Name" had changed to "spirit plant Name", indicating that its life grade had been upgraded and it was no longer a mortal plant.

This Purple Stem Alfalfa even had a spirit plant characteristic, but to Lin Yan, this characteristic was quite useless, not as good as the Qinglu Rice.

The Purple Stem Alfalfa did not continue to grow taller; the biggest change in appearance was that the stem had turned purple.

Compared to the other emerald green Alfalfa around it, this touch of purple seemed somewhat noble.

In fact, in Lin Yan's perception, this Purple Stem Alfalfa had indeed become the "king" of these Alfalfa.

That night, in a great mood, Lin Yan skinned another Spirit Rabbit for an extra meal.

Now, only a few small Spirit Rabbits were left.

The Alfalfa brought from Sun Xiaochuan had long been eaten by the Spirit Rabbits, and the Alfalfa he planted had not yet grown.

Therefore, Little Fatty now had an additional daily chore: cutting grass to feed the rabbits.

Fortunately, Spirit Rabbits were tenacious; as long as they were fed, they wouldn't die, though they grew slowly if their food was poor.

...

A few days later, the mutated willow leaf also completed its transformation under Lin Yan's catalysis.

【 spirit plant Name: Azure Blade Willow Leaf 】

【 growth progress: 10 / 10 】

【 spirit plant Characteristic: The leaf blade is sharp; can be used for Artifact Refining; can induce mutation in the parent plant. 】

【 Growth Status: None 】

...

The insight fed back by this mutated willow leaf was very peculiar.

The insights fed back by the spirit plants he had catalyzed before were all related to life, nature, and the like.

In Lin Yan's limited understanding, cultivation to the deep level was about cultivating the Dao, and these insights were probably related to the "Dao", such as the Dao of Life, the Dao of Wood, the Dao of Water...

This was all reasonable; after all, these were spirit plants.

Yet the insight fed back by the mutated willow leaf was related to the sword.

At the moment of the willow leaf's transformation, in the ethereal void, Lin Yan seemed to see a peerless expert using a sword, performing a set of Sword Techniques.

Even though he only perceived it vaguely for a moment, he was surprised to find that his level of control over the sword had improved by a notch.

Drawing the hundred refined azure steel sword and gripping the hilt, Lin Yan felt like a swordsman who had practiced for many years.

He casually twirled a few sword flowers; the hundred refined azure steel sword was as obedient as an extension of his own arm, without the slightest sense of stagnation.

In the secular world, he would definitely count as a master of the sword.

Of course, he couldn't compare to a Sword Cultivator; they were not on the same level.

But this was still shocking enough.

"It's too miraculous." Lin Yan couldn't help but exclaim.

The Dao of spirit plants was far more complex and profound than he had imagined.

When he first entered this path, he thought he was just a farmer, but now it seemed, it was far from that simple.