Eternal Life: Starting with Refreshing the Farmland

Qin Ming sat cross-legged on a straw mat in his room, holding a bowl of Blood Leech Rice.

The grains of the spirit rice, resembling tiny worms, emitted a crimson mist that bathed Qin Ming's face in a red glow.

A smile spread across his face as the joy of his harvest filled his heart.

Just the aroma alone carried an overwhelming surge of vitality.

Consuming Blood Leech Rice required a strong physical constitution, and overindulgence was dangerous.

Given Qin Ming's current level of vitality, he estimated that he could barely handle one bowl.

He scooped a spoonful of the rice and brought it to his mouth.

**Boom!**

A torrent of vitality surged through his body, rushing straight to the top of his head!

Even though Qin Ming had prepared himself, the intensity nearly overwhelmed him.

He quickly began circulating his vitality according to the "Hundred Treasures Glazed Sutra," refining his marrow and blood.

In an instant, thick blood mist began to rise from Qin Ming's body.

An unbearable itch spread across his skin, as if countless insects were crawling beneath the surface.

His blood felt as though it was boiling.

Through repeated compression and refinement, Qin Ming's vitality gradually began to thicken, turning into a viscous, syrup-like substance.

He finished the remaining Blood Leech Rice in one go.

Instantly, his vitality reached its peak.

**Boom!**

Qin Ming opened his eyes, and the scabs formed during his blood refinement fell away in layers.

He had broken through to the fourth layer of the "Hundred Treasures Glazed Sutra"!

"Finally!" Qin Ming felt the surging power of his vitality and was filled with excitement.

"Reaching the fourth layer means I've entered the mid-stage of body refinement."

The drastic changes Qin Ming had undergone in just a year were almost unbelievable, even to himself.

"The fourth layer… isn't enough. I need to break through to the fifth layer as soon as possible!" Qin Ming clenched his fists, determination burning in his heart.

---

In the days that followed, Qin Ming divided his time between tending to the spirit fields and relentlessly cultivating the "Hundred Treasures Glazed Sutra."

He lived a reclusive life, and with the help of Blood Leech Rice, his progress in body refinement advanced at an astonishing pace.

As he dedicated himself to cultivation, time flew by.

Another six months passed.

---

Inside his room, Qin Ming sat with his eyes closed.

Through repeated refinement of his marrow and blood, his vitality had become increasingly compressed and concentrated.

Now, his vitality had reached an unprecedented level.

He was just one step away from breaking through to the fifth layer.

Without hesitation, Qin Ming activated the "Abundant Vitality" fragment in his consciousness.

Instantly, his vision darkened, as if a vast, surging ocean was pouring down on him.

The pressure was so immense that Qin Ming could barely breathe.

The boost from the "Abundant Vitality" fragment was nearly as powerful as the effects of Blood Leech Rice.

**Whoosh—**

Suddenly, Qin Ming heard the sound of his blood flowing like a roaring river.

His vision shifted, and he found himself observing his body from within.

His internal landscape had transformed into an endless sea of blood.

The vitality was so dense that it resembled liquid mercury.

A profound energy surrounded him, making Qin Ming feel incredibly small.

Then, deep within the blood sea, a massive tidal wave began to form.

The towering wave crashed over Qin Ming, engulfing him completely.

**Boom!**

Qin Ming's mind exploded with a deafening roar, and his ears rang with a high-pitched hum.

His vitality underwent another transformation, further strengthening his body, bones, and constitution.

A layer of glazed light began to envelop Qin Ming's body, forming a radiant robe that covered every inch of his skin.

This was the "Glazed Treasure Robe," a manifestation of his immense vitality, marking his breakthrough to the fifth layer of the "Hundred Treasures Glazed Sutra"!

The moment the robe formed, Qin Ming had officially entered the mid-stage of body refinement.

His strength now far surpassed that of other body-refining cultivators at his level.

To test his newfound power, Qin Ming took out his Green Spirit Sword and slashed it across his skin.

A faint white mark appeared but quickly vanished.

"It seems ordinary magical tools can no longer harm me!" Qin Ming was overjoyed, feeling a newfound sense of security.

More importantly, the "Glazed Treasure Robe" also provided resistance to magical attacks.

"The fifth layer is this powerful! The descriptions in the sutra are true!"

"Now that I've mastered the first five layers, I need to get my hands on the remaining four layers from Fellow Daoist Ruan."

Qin Ming's rapid progress was largely due to the immense vitality boost provided by Blood Leech Rice.

Without it, the amount of spirit materials required by the "Hundred Treasures Glazed Sutra" would have made such progress impossible.

Feeling refreshed, Qin Ming washed up and allowed his vitality to settle, concealing it within his body.

Outwardly, he still looked like an ordinary spirit farmer, with a slightly tanned complexion.

But his demeanor had changed entirely. His aura was calm and reserved, yet his eyes sparkled with energy.

"Now, I finally have some ability to protect myself in this chaotic cultivation world."

"This is the first real advantage I've gained since coming here."

"Sigh… it hasn't been easy."

The tension Qin Ming had felt due to the recent appearance of bandit cultivators began to ease.

His nerves, once tightly wound, finally relaxed.

---

In two months, the acre of Spirit Tusk Rice in his field would mature.

By then, Qin Ming would not only be able to exchange for the remaining layers of the "Hundred Treasures Glazed Sutra" but also advance to the rank of a first-grade spirit plant cultivator.

This would grant him a 50% reduction in spirit rice taxes under the Spirit Feather Sect's policies.

His status among spirit farmers would rise significantly, and he would gain a substantial increase in income from spirit rice.

However, to officially become a first-grade spirit plant cultivator, Qin Ming still needed to pass a sect-administered knowledge test.

As for successfully cultivating first-grade spirit plants, he had already grown Spirit Tusk Rice and Frostbloom Flowers, both of which had been recorded and reported by the sect's officials.

Now, all that remained was the theoretical exam.

Qin Ming was determined to earn the title of first-grade spirit plant cultivator.

After all, the benefits it would bring to his cultivation life were immense.

---

With his body refinement breakthrough complete and no further techniques to practice, Qin Ming patiently waited for the Spirit Tusk Rice to mature.

During this time, he immersed himself in studying spirit plant knowledge to prepare for the exam.

He also began learning alchemy.

He had even purchased a small alchemy furnace from Shopkeeper Liao and attempted to refine a few batches of basic pills.

All attempts ended in failure.

"It seems studying alone isn't enough without guidance," Qin Ming sighed, staring at the charred remains of the spirit materials in the furnace.

Alchemy truly required talent, and Qin Ming's aptitude in this area was mediocre at best.

He could only hope to improve through experience, perhaps by cultivating large quantities of spirit plants in the future.

He also hoped that when the Frostbloom Flowers matured, Alchemist Su might offer him some guidance.

(End of Chapter)

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