111: Chapter 111 Reaching the Peak of the Third Rank

Baicao Valley is located within the embrace of the Qixia Sect's mountains. It does not belong to any single Peak but is an area where the Sect centrally Cultivates and manages various types of Spirit Medicine.

The Spiritual Qi within the valley is abundant, leaning more towards Wood and Water attributes, which is suitable for the growth of Spiritual Plants. Through the teleportation Formation, Lin Tian soon arrived at the valley entrance.

Looking ahead, the valley entrance was shrouded in a faint, greenish-glowing Restriction; one must hold a mission token to enter.

The scene inside the valley was completely different from the sharp, stern atmosphere of Zixia Peak. What met the eyes were patches of neatly planned, crisscrossing medicinal fields, with various Spirit Medicine exhaling Spiritual Qi of different colors. The fragrance of the medicine, mixed with the fresh scent of soil and plants, was refreshing. In the distance, streams murmured, and deeper inside, clouds and mist swirled, obscuring the full view.

Following the instructions, Lin Tian found the aforementioned "Elder Qian" in a simple stone house near the valley entrance.

Elder Qian appeared to be around sixty years old. His hair and beard were all white, yet his complexion was ruddy, and he was full of spirit. He wore a gray, old Daoist robe that had been washed white, and there were traces of soil and grass clippings on his cuffs and lapels.

He was squatting by a medicinal field, carefully examining a Spiritual Plant with pale golden leaves and veins like stars, his expression focused, as if he were tending to a rare treasure.

"Disciple Lin Tian, on the orders of Elder Zhao of the Service Hall, has come to assist in guarding the medicinal fields for a period of two months. This is the token." Lin Tian stepped forward and respectfully presented the cyan token.

Elder Qian did not even raise his head. He merely stretched out a hand stained with soil, took the token, glanced at it casually, and tossed it onto a stone stool nearby.

He continued to stare at the Spiritual Plant, his voice somewhat hoarse, but his tone carried an unquestionable focus: "Zone A-3, over there. Your task, you could say it is simple, or you could say it is difficult."

He finally raised his head and looked at Lin Tian with a sharp gaze. They were eyes that had seen the withering and flourishing of plants and the changes of the world—profound and slightly turbid.

"It is simple because you only need to look after the Spirit Medicine in that medicinal field. If it lacks water, use the 'Cloud-Lin Pot' over there to draw mountain spring water and water it according to the portions I teach you; if there are pests, use the specially made 'Pest-Repellent Powder'; do not use brute force or Fire-attribute Cultivation Techniques; if it lacks fertilizer, use the 'Spirit-Nourishing Fertilizer' in the shed over there and spread it evenly three inches from the roots. Patrol once every morning and evening, and record the growth of the Spirit Medicine and any abnormalities. That is all."

Lin Tian listened carefully, feeling slightly relieved. It did not sound complicated, just some meticulous care work.

"It is just that simple?" he asked subconsciously.

"Simple?" Elder Qian rolled his eyes and pointed a finger stained with mud at Lin Tian, his tone carrying a bit of admonition. "Kid, do you think farming is as simple as swinging a hoe? These Spirit Medicine are very delicate! Too much water will rot the roots, too little will wither the leaves; pest infestations must be discovered early, or it will be troublesome once they spread; applying fertilizer requires attention to timing and dosage! More importantly, you must be vigilant at all times! Do you think looking at them once every morning and evening is enough? Wind and rain, cold snaps and heat waves, even the slightest changes in the earth's Qi can affect them! You must put your heart into this and take care of them like children, understand? This seemingly simple work is the most draining on the mind and time-consuming!"

Lin Tian realized in his heart. Indeed, taking care of these delicate Spirit Medicine requires continuous, careful attention, as well as a large investment of time.

This was exactly what he was most unwilling to give—time.

Two months, spending every day here, his Cultivation progress would inevitably be greatly affected.

He frowned slightly, looking at the vast medicinal field before him, and then at the sparse, simple bamboo houses and thatched sheds in the valley in the distance. A thought suddenly occurred to him.

"Elder Qian, this Disciple has a request." Lin Tian cupped his hands and said, "I wonder... can this Disciple live here in Baicao Valley? That way, it would be more convenient to take care of the medicinal fields and respond at any time, and also... save some time traveling back and forth between the Peaks."

He didn't finish the second half of his sentence; saving travel time was naturally to squeeze out more time to Cultivate.

"Live here?" Elder Qian was clearly stunned. He looked Lin Tian up and down, a flash of surprise in his eyes.

He had been guarding Baicao Valley for many years and had assigned many Disciples to assist, most of whom left in a hurry after completing their tasks, wishing not to stay a moment longer. Lin Tian was the first to take the initiative to ask to stay.

"This valley is big enough, and there are a few empty bamboo houses and thatched sheds that can barely provide shelter from the wind and rain." Elder Qian stroked his beard and pondered, "It is just that the conditions are very simple. Apart from a bed, table, and chair, there is nothing else, and there are no Spirit-Gathering Formations or the like. Usually, it is just me and some Utility Disciples, so it is very quiet. Are you sure you want to live here? The residences of Zixia Peak Disciples are surely better than this, right?"

"This Disciple is sure." Lin Tian said firmly, "As long as it is habitable and provides shelter, that is enough. It is quieter, which is just right for focusing on work and Cultivation."

"Heh, what a kid who can endure hardship and seeks quiet." Elder Qian revealed a slight smile and nodded, "Alright then, since you are willing, I will not stop you. There is an empty bamboo house at the east end of Zone A-3. Although it is a bit old, it is still sturdy. You can tidy it up yourself. Remember, once you live here, you must be even more attentive! If you neglect the care of the Spirit Medicine because you are greedy for Cultivation, I don't care what kind of Genius Disciple you are, I will definitely not go easy on you!"

"This Disciple understands and will definitely do my best!" Lin Tian quickly agreed.

From then on, Lin Tian settled into the bamboo house next to Zone A-3 in Baicao Valley.

The bamboo house was indeed simple, with only a bed, a table, and a chair. The furnishings were simple, but it was clean. Opening the window, he could see his own medicinal field and the lush valley in the distance.

The rich, herbal Spiritual Qi and medicinal fragrance permeating the air, while not perfectly compatible with the Purple Qi Diagram Cultivation Technique he practiced, were still refreshing and quite beneficial for calming the mind.

His life became very regular.

Every morning, he got up before dawn, first standing on a stake and practicing boxing in the small courtyard in front of the bamboo house to activate his qi-blood.

Afterward, he would carry the Cloud-Lin Pot and begin his first patrol of the medicinal fields, carefully checking the status of every Spiritual Plant and recording it in the Jade Slip given by Elder Qian.

Watering where watering was needed, fertilizing where fertilizing was needed, and removing pests where pests were needed.

These tasks seemed trivial, but Lin Tian did them meticulously and soon became proficient.

He was naturally calm in his Heart-Nature, and with the powerful perception of his own subtle changes brought by the Proficiency System, applying it to taking care of Spirit Medicine, he was surprisingly handy and could always timely discover some subtle abnormalities.

In the afternoon, it was his unwavering time for Cultivation.

He closed the bamboo house door, isolating himself from the outside, and fully circulated the "Purple Qi Diagram". The quietness of the valley, away from the interpersonal disturbances of Zixia Peak, allowed him to calm his heart even more.

Although he had to spend a lot of time on the medicinal fields every day, the lack of unnecessary social interactions and travel meant that, overall, the time spent focusing on Cultivation did not decrease much, and because his state of mind was more peaceful and pure, his efficiency even improved.

Elder Qian was initially a bit worried and often wandered over to check.

But seeing Lin Tian managing the medicinal fields in an orderly manner, with detailed records and the Spirit Medicine growing well—even looking more spirited than when he had handled them before—that stiff and serious face gradually revealed a look of satisfaction.

Seeing that Lin Tian did nothing but take care of the medicinal fields and bury himself in Cultivation all day, without complaining of hardship or fatigue, and unlike other Disciples who were impetuous and often wanted to run outside, he developed a bit of affection for this "strange" kid.

Once, when Lin Tian was recording the Spirit Medicine, he was unsure about the characteristics of some medicinal materials and asked Elder Qian for advice.

Although Elder Qian scolded him, saying "How did you become an Inner Sect Disciple if you don't even know this?", he still patiently taught him the habits, medicinal properties, cultivation points, and even some rudimentary identification and processing knowledge of several common Spirit Medicine.

Lin Tian learned seriously, and his memory was good, which made Elder Qian feel a bit of the gratification of "a child who can be taught."

"By the way, kid." One day, Elder Qian suddenly remembered something and reminded him, "You are a newly promoted Inner Sect Disciple. You can go to the 'Danxia Pavilion' every month to receive two 'qi-blood pills' as a Cultivation aid. This stuff is much stronger than the 'qi-blood powder' you use below, and it can save you a lot of grinding work. Don't forget to go and collect them; they will expire."

qi-blood pill?

Lin Tian was overjoyed upon hearing this. He was worried that the "Purple Qi Diagram" consumed a huge amount of qi-blood during Cultivation. Although the progress was stable, if there were Medicinal Pills to assist, it would definitely be faster.

He hurriedly thanked him and took the time to return to Zixia Peak, where he successfully received four qi-blood pills, each the size of a pigeon egg, with a crimson color and a fragrant medicinal scent.

After returning to Baicao Valley, he took one every few days, combined with the "Purple Qi Diagram" for Cultivation. The effect was significant, and the speed of qi-blood growth and Internal Energy condensation increased significantly.

In the mountains, there is no concept of time, and one does not know the years while Cultivating.

In the blink of an eye, the two-month period passed quietly.

On this day, Lin Tian was sitting cross-legged in the bamboo house, having just finished a long round of Cultivation.

His qi-blood surged like a tide, and the circulation of his energy was smooth and free. A strand of pale purple Internal Energy, much more solid than before, slowly precipitated from the end of the circulation and then silently merged into his bones and muscles.

In an instant—

"Crackling—!"

A series of dense, crisp sounds, like the simultaneous sounding of firecrackers in the new spring, and like gold and jade striking each other, suddenly burst forth from every joint and every inch of bone in Lin Tian's body, from the inside out!

The sounds connected into one, echoing in the small bamboo house, as if his whole body had turned into a Treasure Artifact being forged by an invisible hammer, emitting a clear ringing!

Bones and muscles resonating! Rank 3 Peak!

Lin Tian suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze shining with brilliance. A powerful aura that was dense, solid, yet contained vigorous vitality naturally permeated the air.

He slowly stood up and stretched his limbs, feeling that his body's strength was harmonious and transparent. Wherever his mind went, his qi-blood followed like an arm, and his control over his body reached an unprecedented level of delicacy.

Beneath his skin, there was a faint flow of treasure light; that was a sign of qi-blood fullness and bones and muscles strengthened to the extreme.

Sinking his mind:

Name: Lin Tian

Cultivation: Rank 3 Martial Artist (Peak)

Martial Arts:

Purple Qi Diagram (Proficiency 170/500)

Five Elements Fist (Gold, Wood, Water, Fire Perfection; Earth Fist Mastery 278/500)

Not only had his Cultivation successfully broken through to the Rank 3 Peak, but the "Purple Qi Diagram" had also crossed the threshold of "Introduction" after hundreds of days of hard work, stepping into the realm of "Proficiency," further improving the condensation efficiency of Purple Qi Internal Energy and the effect of nourishing the body!

And the last of the Five Elements Fist, the Earth Fist, was also close to the Perfection of "Mastery," just one step away.

What made him even more delighted was that with the deepening of the Earth Fist, the five Fist Intents of Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth were circulating harmoniously in his heart, evolving through mutual generation and Restriction. He already had a embryonic understanding of "Five Elements in One, Circulating Endlessly," but he had not yet found the opportunity to perfectly integrate them into one strike.

"Hahaha! Great!" Lin Tian couldn't help but chuckle, feeling extremely happy in his heart.

The resonance of bones and muscles meant that his Bright Energy Cultivation had reached the limit of his current physique; there was no further progress!

Next, he only needed to continue Cultivating the "Purple Qi Diagram," storing the condensed Purple Qi Internal Energy in his Dantian or specific acupoints, constantly accumulating and condensing it. When it reached a certain quality and quantity, he would be able to achieve success naturally and break through that barrier in one go, officially stepping into the Rank 4 Internal Energy realm!

The path of martial arts was bright!

The movement outside the bamboo house obviously alarmed Elder Qian in the stone house not far away.

Footsteps sounded, and Elder Qian pushed the door and entered. His gaze fell on Lin Tian, who was full of spirit and whose aura was completely different from two months ago, and a trace of obvious surprise flashed in his eyes.

"Bones and muscles resonating? Rank 3 Peak?" Elder Qian looked Lin Tian up and down, his tone carrying a bit of amazement. "Kid, not bad! I remember when you first came, although your aura was stable, it was clearly only Rank 3 Early Stage. In just two months... you reached the Peak? This Cultivation speed can be considered top-notch even in the Inner Sect. It seems that you, kid, didn't just farm in my Baicao Valley; your Cultivation didn't fall behind either."

He paused, as if recalling, and then waved his hand: "Alright, since your bones and muscles are already resonating, reaching this point, staying in my medicinal field is a waste of time. Your two-month mission period is also up. Pack up and go back to your Zixia Peak. Real Internal Energy Cultivation requires more focused seclusion and a more suitable Cultivation environment. My place is, after all, just a place for growing medicine. You have good talent, don't waste it here."

Lin Tian heard this, but a trace of reluctance surged in his heart.

These two months, the tranquility of Baicao Valley, Elder Qian's attitude of being strict on the surface but actually caring underneath, and this medicinal field that he had personally tended and was full of vitality, all made him feel a rare sense of peace and fulfillment.

Compared to the fickleness of human relationships and infighting on Zixia Peak, this place was more like a pure land where he could focus on himself without distraction.

"Elder Qian, does this Baicao Valley... still need people to look after it for a long time?" Lin Tian couldn't help asking.

"Of course it does." Elder Qian nodded. "Spirit Medicine grows in all four seasons and needs people to pay attention. However, spring and autumn are the key growing periods, so there are more affairs. Summer is mainly for pest prevention and water control, while winter requires attention to cold prevention and maintenance of the Restriction, which is relatively leisurely. Why, do you still want to come?" He glanced at Lin Tian.

"This Disciple understands." Lin Tian nodded, having made up his mind. He bowed solemnly to Elder Qian: "Thank you for your care and guidance over these two months. This Disciple will go back to hand over the mission."

"Go, go, Cultivate well, and don't let down this body of yours." Elder Qian waved his hand and squatted back down to his medicinal field, as if the conversation just now was just an insignificant episode.

Lin Tian returned to the Service Hall of Zixia Peak and successfully handed over the mission.

Walking out of the hall door, he did not immediately return to his remote small courtyard, but stood in the bustling square, pondering slightly.

With bones and muscles resonating, the next step is the critical period of condensing and storing Internal Energy to impact the Internal Energy realm.

There are too many people and eyes on Zixia Peak. Although his small courtyard is remote, the Spiritual Qi is average, and it is inevitable that fellow Disciples will visit.

And Baicao Valley... although the Spiritual Qi attribute is not perfectly compatible, it has the advantage of being absolutely quiet, with no one to disturb him, and there is Elder Qian, a Senior who seems strange but is actually keen on the perception of Spiritual Plants and earth Qi, who might be able to offer advice at critical moments.

More importantly, he had just received a new one-month "Assist in Caring for Spirit Medicine" mission—this was something he had proactively applied for to Elder Zhao when he was handing over the old mission, with the excuse that he wanted to continue to familiarize himself with Spirit Medicine knowledge. Elder Zhao was worried about not having anyone willing to go, so he was naturally happy to fulfill it.

Thinking of this, Lin Tian no longer hesitated and turned to walk towards the direction of the teleportation Formation.

Baicao Valley, Zone A-3 bamboo house.

Elder Qian was checking a newly transplanted "Moonlight Grass" when he suddenly heard familiar footsteps behind him. He didn't turn his head and said angrily: "Why are you back again? Did you leave something behind? I didn't pick up any of your items."

"Elder Qian, it is this Disciple." Lin Tian's voice sounded with a hint of a smile.

Elder Qian turned his head in doubt, only to see Lin Tian back again, standing at the door of the bamboo house, holding a brand-new mission token in his hand.