Everwood farmhouse.
Surrounded by the comforting aroma of freshly harvested Spirit herbs.
Aksai stood in his spacious kitchen, ready to fix himself a hearty meal.
With baskets brimming with vibrant Flesh Pumpkins freshly plucked from the vines, Spirit herbs, Spirit fish, and various other ingredients, Aksai’s imagination soared with endless possibilities.
The Flesh Pumpkins’ smooth, runic-laden skins seemed to shimmer with the Spirit essence nurtured in them, promising a feast beyond compare. The same was the case with Spirit fish as well.
With deft hands, Aksai sliced through the Flesh Pumpkins, revealing their rich, red-meat-like flesh within. He sliced them up into nice layers and kept them aside.
Some Flesh Pumpkins bore a colorless, meat-like appearance. Aksai processed them differently.
Since the various breeds of Flesh Pumpkins produced varying kinds of “vegan meat,” they couldn’t be mixed together. Doing so would only ruin the taste after all.
“Dun-dun-da. Da-da-dun-dun-da. Dun-da-dun-da-dah. In the heart of fields, where spirits roam. There lies a farmer, making his home. With hands that–”
As he worked, Aksai hummed a tune with a smile on his face and pep in his steps. This melody was often sung by his late Spirit farmer father, a common tune among all Spirit farmers in Wuyum County.
The song was simple and didn’t contain any profound meaning. But it was still stuck in Aksai’s mind, and he would sing this song every time he had mundane tasks to do, adding a bit of rhythm to his actions so that he could finish the work faster.
Aksai combined the succulent flesh of the Flesh Pumpkins with tender cuts of Spirit fish, blending flavors that danced together in perfect harmony.
Soon, the kitchen was filled with the sizzle of cooking and the intoxicating aroma of spices mingling with the preprocessed pieces of the Flesh Pumpkins. Thanks to the effective use of the elemental Spirit spells, Aksai didn’t have to work very hard to make multiple dishes at once.
Aksai’s dishes took shape before his eyes. They looked very colorful and full of flavors. The rich aroma they exuded was mouthwatering. With finesse, Aksai plated the dishes, arranging them neatly on a low-height dining table.
Finally, with his creations laid out before him, Aksai sat down cross-legged to savor the fruits of his labor. He first lifted a spoonful of the Spirit fish stew to his lips, the aroma wafting up to greet his senses.
The broth was rich and flavorful, infused with the essence of the Spirit fish and herbs. Aksai closed his eyes in bliss as he savored each spoonful, the tender chunks of fish melting in his mouth.
[ Qi Fusion Arts is activated to extract the maximum amount of qi from the food ]
Aksai didn’t pay heed to the Spectral notification. “Spirit Refining Trifecta, huh? I guess breaking into the 2nd Spirit cultivation realm is more complicated than I thought,” he murmured as he enjoyed the rich flavor of the food bursting inside his mouth.
Next, he turned to the Spirit rice pilaf, where the delicate grains had absorbed the essence of the Flesh Pumpkins, lending them a subtle sweetness. Appropriate spices had also been added to create a tasteful contrast.
Each bite was a symphony of flavors, perfectly complemented by the earthy undertones of the Spirit herbs.
“I don’t want to rely on base building objects. It’d be great if I could get my hands on the Foundation Establishment Pill. But I don’t think I can buy something like that,” Aksai pondered aloud as he savored the home-cooked meal.
Moving on to the roasted Flesh Pumpkins, Aksai delighted in their caramelized exterior and tender flesh. The honey and spices had infused them with a tantalizing sweetness, leaving him craving more with every bite.
“As mentioned in the jade slip related to the Spirit Refining Trifecta, I have cultivated many of the crucial resources an alchemist needs in creating the Foundation Establishment Pill. But I don’t have its pill recipe,” Aksai sighed as he thought, enjoying his food and letting his thoughts wander.
“Getting the recipe won’t be easy as well. But it’s still a lot better compared to fighting with others for a Foundation Establishment Pill.
Why should I struggle to get a rare pill only to be targeted by others for it? Why should we spend thousands of spirit stones only to face a relentless list of enemies?
I’d rather obtain the pill recipe in secret and concoct it myself to assure my safety at the time of 2nd realm breakthrough,” Aksai decided to himself, feeling determined.
Finally, he sampled the Spirit herb salad, where the crisp greens and seeds provided a refreshing contrast to the hearty main dishes. The vibrant flavors danced on his tongue, leaving him feeling invigorated and satisfied.
***
The jade slip given by Zen Pewlu helped Aksai a lot in setting up his goals. Titled “Spirit Refining Trifecta,” it contained basic information related to the 2nd realm breakthrough.
Through this jade slip, Aksai learned that the breakthrough into the second realm wasn’t something a Spirit cultivator could achieve by mere steadfastness on their cultivation journey. Certain conditions needed to be met for a successful entry into the 2nd realm and establishment of one’s foundation.
The so-called Spirit Refining Trifecta revolved around the concepts of mind, body, and spirit. The prerequisites for the 2nd realm were related to these three concepts.
According to the jade slip, the concept of Spirit was represented by Spirit essence. The quantity and quality requirements of Spirit essence meant that a cultivator needed to reach the Spirit Refining Perfection realm before attempting the 2nd realm breakthrough.
The Spirit Refining Trifecta also mentioned that Spirit cultivators all had life force within their bodies. This life force needed to be potent and sufficient for a successful breakthrough into the 2nd realm. Hence, the unwritten age limit of 50 years for Spirit cultivators seeking to establish their foundation.
Aksai had concluded that the so-called life force potency mentioned in the Spirit Refining Trifecta jade slip was nothing but the amount of qi a Spirit cultivator possessed.
Regarding the concept of representing the mind, the jade slip stated that a Spirit cultivator needed a certain level of attainment in using their Spirit Sense to stand a chance at establishing their foundation.
The trifecta of Spirit, mind, and body.
Only when these three concepts came together and harmonized could a Spirit cultivator initiate their breakthrough into the 2nd realm.