12: Health is the foundation of everything.

After packaging the success of the "Cooperative Force Talisman" as a stroke of accidental luck, the prying pressure from the outside world indeed lessened significantly. Those gazes hidden behind the scenes seemed to lose most of their interest in a non-replicable, risk-filled "accident."

D-7 Courtyard regained its surface-level tranquility once more.

But Wen Youyi knew clearly that beneath this calm, the undercurrents remained turbulent. That casual demand from the person behind Liu Ming to "hand over the Talisman Making Method" hung like a sword over his head, a constant reminder of his lack of strength. Without sufficient strength, he couldn't even protect a small invention of his own.

"Brothers, we've temporarily dodged the trouble outside, but we must resolve our own issues with determination," Wen Youyi gathered everyone, his expression serious.

Zhao Iron Pillar patted his chest: "Little Wen, just say the word, what do you need us to do? Is it time to practice a new Formation again?"

Wen Youyi shook his head, his gaze sweeping over the group. Although their condition had slightly improved from being well-fed recently, their bodies remained fundamentally weak: "No, the first thing we need to resolve is our physical frames."

He pointed at Zhao Iron Pillar: "Brother Iron Pillar, you have great strength, but every time you exert too much force, do you feel a tightness in your chest and need to rest for a long time before you can recover?"

He then looked at Wang Wu and the others: "Senior Brother Wang, you all are agile, but you lack endurance. When maintaining the 'breathing method' and coordinating for long periods, do your hands and feet feel weak and your head feel dizzy by the end?"

The group nodded instinctively. These were old ailments left by long-term malnutrition and overwork; they had previously assumed it was just due to poor Aptitude or insufficient Cultivation, never looking deeper into it.

"The root cause is that our bodies are too 'deficient'," Wen Youyi used the simplest term. "It's like barren land; no matter how carefully you sow seeds, the crops won't grow well. Our current 'breathing method' and team coordination are like fertilizing and watering this barren land, but if the land itself is no good, the results will ultimately be limited."

This metaphor was simple and easy to understand, and Zhao Iron Pillar immediately caught on: "I get it! Little Wen, you mean we have to fatten up this land of ours first?"

"Exactly!" Wen Youyi praised. "The Physical Body is the Foundation of Cultivation and the capital we have to resist the spirit net's extraction! The thicker our capital, the smaller the impact when a bit is taken away."

His so-called "capital" referred to the body's blood, Qi, and essence. He suspected that the spirit net extracted more than just Spiritual Qi; it also took a life's most fundamental Origin essence. The weaker the body, the slower the recovery after the Origin was taken, forming a vicious cycle.

"Then how do we nourish it?" Zhao Iron Pillar grew spirited; anything involving "eating" and "growing strength" interested him most.

Wen Youyi had long had a plan. He had saved up some capital from selling the "valiant progress stone" and occasionally helping others with difficult chores. After buying talisman paper and Cinnabar, he still had some Spirit Stones and Materials left.

"We'll use our remaining resources to trade for things that truly nourish the body!" Wen Youyi counted on his fingers. "We don't want those flashy, low-grade Medicinal Pills; we'll trade for the most substantial items: spirit grain, beast meat, and those wild vegetables and roots from the back mountain that are said to have mild tonic effects!"

He even recalled several plants from the original owner's memory that were dismissed as weeds by Cultivators but were mentioned in health-preserving texts from his previous life as having Qi-supplementing effects.

No sooner said than done.

Wen Youyi assigned tasks once more: Zhao Iron Pillar was responsible for using the remaining Spirit Stones at the market to buy the most cost-effective spirit grain and beast meat; Wang Wu and Senior Brother Li, with their familiarity with the back mountain, went to gather the "wild vegetables" Wen Youyi specified; and Wen Youyi himself began researching how to maximize the effects of these ingredients.

He rejected Zhao Iron Pillar's suggestion to "stew it all in one pot" and instead implemented "personalized dietary therapy" based on each person's physical condition and Cultivation characteristics.

For example, for Zhao Iron Pillar, who focused on strength and defense, he provided high-calorie, fatty beast meat and roots, emphasizing "solidifying the Foundation."

Wang Wu and the others needed agility and endurance, so they were given more spirit grain and fiber-rich wild vegetables, focusing on "harmonizing blood and Qi."

He himself chose ingredients with mild properties that helped calm the mind and focus the spirit.

He also drew upon the concept of "team collaboration," turning cooking into an efficient process: one person in charge of washing, one for processing, and one for controlling the heat, ensuring they produced meals that retained the ingredients' "Origin Qi" in the shortest time.

Thus, a strange scene appeared in D-7 Courtyard: while others were busy meditating, refining Qi, or studying Spells, their courtyard was filled with cooking smoke and the aroma of various foods all day long. Anyone who didn't know better would think they had opened a canteen.

For the first few days, Zhao Iron Pillar was still somewhat skeptical, wondering if eating could really make such a difference. But after sticking with it for seven or eight days, changes began to happen quietly.

Zhao Iron Pillar was the first to feel it. He found that after each practice session, the tightness in his chest was much lighter, his recovery speed was noticeably faster, and he felt as if his whole body had endless energy.

Wang Wu and the others also discovered that they could sustain the same intensity of coordinated training for longer. The sense of exhaustion afterward was greatly reduced, and even Cultivating with the "breathing method" after a full meal made that warm current feel smoother and more lasting as it moved through their bodies!

"Amazing! Little Wen! Truly amazing!" Zhao Iron Pillar looked at his arms, which seemed to have grown a size thicker, and was incredibly excited. "I feel like I could punch through a wall right now!"

"It's not just strength," Wang Wu added, sensing it carefully. "It's as if my mind is much clearer, and those distracting thoughts I had during Cultivation have decreased."

Wen Youyi felt the changes in himself and understood the reason in his heart. This confirmed his suspicion—a strong Physical Body and robust blood and Qi could effectively offset a portion of the spirit net's drain on one's Origin essence, providing a more solid material Foundation for the Breathing Cache Method.

This wasn't just "eating"; it was a fundamental "Physique revolution" targeting the "Ranch rules"!

Just as everyone was immersed in the joy of their physical changes, the courtyard gate was knocked upon once more.

The one who came this time was the grey-clothed servant who had previously delivered a letter to Wen Youyi.

He still maintained his humble and low-profile appearance, but the news he brought made Wen Youyi's heart skip a beat.

"Senior Brother Wen, the Fairy sent me to pass on a message: in three days, the Outer Sect Competition will be held early. This competition is different from previous years; it involves the distribution of a batch of important resources, and even... perhaps the qualification to enter 'that place'."

The grey-clothed servant paused, giving Wen Youyi a meaningful look.

"The Fairy says the winds have not settled, and this competition may see the 'Wind of Tree-Toppling' reappear. Please... prepare early, Senior Brother Wen."

After delivering the message, the servant departed silently once more.

Wen Youyi stood in place, his brow furrowed.

The Outer Sect Competition was moved up? Important resources? "That Place"?

And the "Wind of Tree-Toppling" that Yun Zhi specifically warned about... It seemed the brief peace was over. A greater storm was already approaching.

But this time, they had stronger bodies, a more coordinated team, and a heart... longing to break the deadlock.

(End of Chapter 12)