Chapter 108: Consecutive Breakthroughs

About an hour later.

Li Chang’an finished taking inventory of the Elixir Pills and Talismans in the Storage Pouch.

As for the Cultivation Techniques and Magic, most were of the Earth Attribute and basically useless to him.

The remaining Treasures...

were also mostly Earth Element Treasures.

Among them, Li Chang’an discovered two types needed for the Ninth Stage of Body Refining.

’These Earth Element Treasures could help Dahuang build up some reserves,’

Li Chang’an called Dahuang over and immediately fed some to him.

Afterward,

he fed some Treasures to the Profound Water Turtle as well.

"The Marketplace probably won’t be peaceful for a while. The three of us won’t be going back for now. We’ll stay here for half a month."

Li Chang’an took out the Spiritual Eye and placed it in the center of the Underground Space.

With the support of the Spiritual Eye and Spirit Stones,

his cultivation speed wouldn’t drop too much even though he was temporarily away from the Spirit Vein.

...

Over the next half-month,

things went just as Li Chang’an had predicted.

The entire Cao Family went berserk, searching everywhere for the killer.

The disciples of the Cao Family relentlessly targeted the Zheng Family disciples in the Secret Realm, causing the Zheng Family to suffer heavy casualties.

Qinghe Marketplace was not peaceful either.

The Cao Family hired a large number of Tribulation Cultivators, who periodically stirred up trouble in the Marketplace.

The Cao Family’s patriarch, Cao Zhengxiong, even attacked the Marketplace twice. Although he was repelled by the Zheng Family’s patriarch using an Array both times, the Marketplace was still gripped by fear.

Everyone wanted to know—who on earth killed the Cao Family’s Young Master?

In contrast,

Li Chang’an’s days were peaceful and quiet.

「One day.」

Li Chang’an slowly rose from his medicinal bath.

His skin was crimson, his muscles corded and powerful. He looked like a humanoid tiger-leopard, his vitality terrifyingly strong.

’The Seventh Stage of Body Refining, I’ve finally reached it!’

At that moment, he felt a surge of power coursing through his entire body.

A sense of immense strength welled up within him.

It was as if he could tear anything apart with his bare hands!

Such a powerful physique was rare among Qi Refining Cultivators.

「A moment later.」

The crimson color on his body faded, and his fair complexion returned.

Once he put on his clothes, he once again looked like a pale scholar with a bookish air.

Subsequently,

Li Chang’an took out a Puppet comparable to the Qi Refining Seventh Layer and allowed it to attack him.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

He controlled the Puppet, showing no mercy as it bombarded his body.

When it was all over,

there were only a few faint white marks on his body.

’Withstanding a Qi Refining Seventh Layer’s attacks head-on... not bad!’

Li Chang’an was quite satisfied with his current physique.

At this point,

his Body Refining Cultivation had officially surpassed his Qi Refining Cultivation.

However, Li Chang’an had a faint feeling that his Qi Refining Cultivation was also on the verge of a breakthrough.

’Time to continue my seclusion!’

He focused his mind and continued to cultivate in the dim Underground Space.

Due to the lack of a Spirit Vein for support,

the amount of Spirit Stones he consumed each day during this period was astronomical.

Before he knew it,

another month had passed.

...

「One day.」

As evening fell,

Li Chang’an sat cross-legged with the Spiritual Eye before him. The ground around him was littered with shattered Spirit Stones.

For a brief moment, the Spiritual Power within the entire Underground Space reached an extremely dense concentration.

’It’s time to break through.’

His eyes were slightly closed, his heart and mind calm, as he slowly circulated the Cyan Wood Technique.

Not far away,

Dahuang and the Profound Water Turtle each stood guard in a corner, warily watching the surroundings to prevent anyone from disturbing Li Chang’an’s breakthrough.

The transition from the Qi Refining Sixth Layer to the Seventh Layer marked the shift from the Middle Stage to the Late Stage.

It was a significant barrier.

It was a significant barrier that held back many Qi Refining Cultivators for years, some even for their entire lives.

For example, the stall owner who had traded the Peaceful Spirit Talisman with Li Chang’an had failed three times in a row.

But Li Chang’an’s foundation was exceedingly stable.

He had accumulated a deep foundation at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer.

This breakthrough went smoothly, and he didn’t feel any bottleneck at all.

About a quarter of an hour later,

A profound and mysterious aura emanated from his body.

’Qi Refining Seventh Layer!’

Li Chang’an opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing within them.

Finally,

he too had become a Late Stage of Qi Refining Cultivator!

"It wasn’t easy,"

Li Chang’an retracted his aura and sighed with heartfelt emotion.

The journey to this point...

had been fraught with difficulties.

Perhaps only his two Spirit Beasts could vaguely understand the hardships he had faced.

"Dahuang, and you, Profound Water Turtle, come over here!"

Li Chang’an called out.

The two Spirit Beasts immediately came to his side.

He looked at the Profound Water Turtle and thought for a moment.

"It’s been so long, and I still haven’t given you a name. Since you’re pitch-black all over, I’ll call you Xiaohai."

Hearing this,

the Profound Water Turtle rolled its eyes, proving that its eyeballs were, in fact, white.

It had actually been grayish-cyan when it was born, but as it grew, its color deepened until it was now as black as ink.

The name Xiaohai was actually quite fitting.

Li Chang’an smiled and patted the two Spirit Beasts on the head, saying:

"The opportunities in Qinghe Marketplace are no longer of much use to us. In a few days, we’ll go to Yellow Crane Immortal City. We might be able to find an opportunity for you two to break through to Tier Two there."

As he spoke, he himself felt a sense of anticipation.

...

「A few days later.」

Li Chang’an consolidated his Cultivation at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer.

He left the Underground Space and returned to Qinghe Marketplace.

More than a month had passed, and the shockwaves from Cao Shaolin’s death had subsided considerably.

Qinghe Marketplace was no longer so chaotic.

Li Chang’an returned to his residence and began to pack his things.

「Two days later.」

He suddenly received a letter from Xu Fugui.

The letter contained a very important piece of news.

"Brother Li, in one month, Yellow Crane Immortal City will be holding an auction. Information about a small portion of the auction items has already been leaked, and it includes four stalks of Blood Dragon Vine. You have to come quickly! I’ve already secured an invitation to the auction for you!"

Blood Dragon Vine!

This was precisely the last main ingredient Li Chang’an needed for the Foundation Establishment Pill.

’Four whole stalks!’

Li Chang’an took a deep breath.

If there were only one, the competition at the auction would be incredibly fierce.

But four stalks was a different story.

With his current financial resources, winning the bid for one stalk wouldn’t be a problem at all!

Not long after,

another letter arrived in his hands.

This letter was from Chu Daniu. It also mentioned the Blood Dragon Vine and urged Li Chang’an to hurry to the Immortal City.

’This time, I must secure at least one stalk!’

Li Chang’an made up his mind.

「That night.」

He paid a visit to Zheng Qingqing’s residence to make a trade.

Inside Cao Shaolin’s Storage Pouch, there were several rare Fire Element Treasures.

And Zheng Qingqing had a Fire Spirit Root.

Li Chang’an planned to trade them with her for the Treasures he needed for his Body Refinement.

"Young Miss, are any of these Treasures of use to you?"

"Daoist Li, your timing is perfect. If you’d come a few days later, you would have missed me."

Zheng Qingqing said to him with a smile.

Hearing this, Li Chang’an was taken aback.

"Could it be that you’re also going to Yellow Crane Immortal City, Young Miss?"

"Oh? You’re going too, Daoist Li?"

"That’s right!"

Given their current relationship, there was no need to hide anything.

After a brief conversation,

Zheng Qingqing learned that Li Chang’an was going to the Immortal City to buy the Blood Dragon Vine.

And Li Chang’an learned why Zheng Qingqing was going to Yellow Crane Immortal City.

Foundation Establishment!