It was a morning in August.
Lin Changsheng, dressed in short clothes, woke up early, intending to finish tending to the Spirit Field as soon as possible.
He scooped a basin of cold water and stood in front of the house to wipe his face, which helped him wake up.
He looked out at the Hundred Thousand Mountains in the distance. The peaks soared into the clouds, seemingly endless. The ancient trees were so thick that several people would be needed to embrace them.
Mist permeated the mountains, and from time to time, large, strange flying Yao Beasts would flash by.
Amidst the ethereal clouds, Immortal Qi lingered.
Turning to look behind him, the market city wall was tall and majestic, rising from the ground to dozens of zhang high and over two hundred li long, like a giant Dragon lying across the land.
The city wall was grand and exquisite, carved with profoundly mysterious Spirit Runes. Spirit Light flowed intermittently, making it appear incredibly magnificent.
Lin Changsheng sighed.
"This truly is an Immortal family's grandeur."
Compared to the shantytown, this was truly a place for Cultivators. He wondered when he would be qualified to move in.
Just as Lin Changsheng was admiring the view, the door of the adjacent house opened.
"Oh, Young Master Lin, you're up so early today."
It was the beautiful woman, Wang Tao, who was holding a basin of clothes, preparing to wash them by the river.
Although Cultivators could use Cleaning Spells to clean their clothes, in this shantytown, many low-level Cultivators came from the Mortal world and still retained many Mortal habits.
Especially these ordinary female Cultivators, whose cultivation was low and who were not skilled in combat. To call them Cultivators was less accurate than to say they were women who knew some ordinary Spells and had strong bodies.
"Heh, good morning."
Lin Changsheng didn't know what to say to this enthusiastic female neighbor.
"Shh, Fellow Daoist has had a Breakthrough to Qi Refining Middle Stage. Breaking through to Qi Refining Fourth Level at such a young age means Fellow Daoist has limitless potential in the future."
Wang Tao sized Lin Changsheng up and down a few times, then continued,
"Do you need Sister to introduce you to a marriage? I guarantee a woman with a big butt who's good at childbearing will satisfy you."
With that, she giggled.
"I want someone like you, Sister Wang, with a big butt and good at childbearing. Now I can hunt Yao Beasts in the mountains."
Lin Changsheng teased her.
As for his cultivation, he had deliberately revealed it. His original body was already on the verge of a Breakthrough, so revealing it now didn't seem abrupt.
"You brat, you're actually teasing a married woman like me. You've learned bad habits."
Wang Tao's face flushed, and she quickly left with her clothes.
Lin Changsheng laughed heartily. He was often teased and joked with by this female neighbor. Today, he finally got his revenge.
However, he also had the idea of hunting Yao Beasts in his heart. This was currently the fastest way to earn Spirit Stones.
He just needed to wait until his strength was sufficient and he had a clear understanding of the situation before proceeding.
Otherwise, going into the mountains would just be delivering fat meat to the Yao Beasts!
...
Back in the house, Lin Changsheng set up an iron pot and started a fire to cook. If he didn't eat breakfast, he wouldn't have the strength to hoe the Spirit Field.
He scooped a few spoonfuls of Spirit Rice, poured in a basin of clear stream water, and then added a few slices of ordinary cured meat bought with gold, beginning to cook.
Gold was useless in the market and could only be exchanged for Mortal items. Unable to afford Spirit Beast meat, he could only rely on ordinary cured meat to satisfy his cravings.
Smacking his lips, as if remembering the delicious Spirit Food at Zuixian Restaurant, Lin Changsheng decided that once his cultivation was higher, he would eat large chunks of Yao Beast meat for every meal.
A large fire rose, and it wasn't long before the Spirit Rice was cooked.
The rich aroma of Spirit Rice, combined with large slices of glistening cured meat, made one's appetite soar.
After the meal, a warm current flowed through his abdomen, circulating through his limbs and bones. This invigorated his body, filling him with vitality and drive.
"As expected of cultivation! A bowl of Spirit Rice down the stomach is better than a grand massage."
With a sigh, Lin Changsheng swayed towards the Spirit Field.
At this time, the grains in the field were becoming fuller.
"A lot of Spirit Stones will be mine soon!"
Thinking about the uses of Spirit Stones, Lin Changsheng began to work on the Spirit Field.
Hoeing the field, weeding, eliminating insects, and casting the Spirit Rain Technique. He worked methodically until noon, when he finished the day's work.
As soon as he sat down, there was a chirping sound above his head.
Looking closely, it was a flock of Spirit Birds attracted by the Spirit Grains.
They were considered unranked Yao Beasts, with plump bodies. They were about the size of pigeons, but their appearance and color were similar to sparrows.
"Too bad if only they were bigger!"
Lin Changsheng murmured, but his hands were not idle.
He flicked his right hand upwards, and several golden needles, like embroidery needles, pierced through the air, shooting out as fast as flowing light.
"Puff, puff, puff!"
Blood appeared on the golden needles, each one accurately piercing through a head.
In the blink of an eye, several Spirit Birds fell straight down, while the remaining ones scattered in a panic.
"Tsk tsk! This embroidery needle technique of mine is no less than the legendary divine Cultivation Technique..."
Seeing several Spirit Birds fall, Lin Changsheng was satisfied.
For Spirit Farmers, the most annoying things were the three scourges of the fields: demonic insects, weeds, and these Spirit Birds.
Especially these birds, which were fast and flew high. Ordinary Spirit Farmers could only stare helplessly.
By harvest season, they had to constantly drive these birds away, otherwise, they would lose several catties of Spirit Rice in a day, which was a disaster for Spirit Farmers.
"However, these Spirit Birds can be considered Yao Beast meat."
"While other Spirit Farmers suffer losses, I, Lin Changsheng, get fat!"
He picked up the fallen Spirit Birds.
Lin Changsheng leisurely processed the feathers, strung them into a large skewer, and roasted them at the edge of the field.
Before long, the aroma of meat filled the air. A large skewer of Spirit Birds was roasted to a golden crisp.
He took a bite, and his mouth was filled with flavor.
"This Spirit Beast meat is truly a delicacy. It surpasses even the ordinary food of Mortal emperors..."
After eating five in a row, Lin Changsheng kept burping. A stream of Spiritual Qi continuously spread throughout his abdomen.
"It must be the essence of those Spirit Grains."
Thinking of this, Lin Changsheng dared not waste the Spiritual Qi from the Spirit Beast meat.
He began to meditate and cultivate, circulating his Cultivation Technique.
Qi Condensation Art +1...
About half an hour later, a prompt appeared.
Lin Changsheng slowly ended his cultivation, and his cultivation increased by another trace.
"Not bad, it really helps with cultivation."
He nodded with great satisfaction, then formed a Spirit Art with his hand.
He began to practice the Golden Needle Technique.
One golden needle after another shot out, and he continuously cast the Spell.
Thanks to his Breakthrough to Qi Refining Middle Stage, his magical power doubled. Practicing the Golden Needle Technique became more efficient.
His proficiency rapidly increased, Golden Needle Technique +1, +1...
At a certain moment, it was like an Epiphany, a sudden enlightenment.
A large amount of Spell insights flooded his mind. Lin Changsheng casually pointed his hand, and dozens of golden needles instantly formed.
With a thought, he maximized the power of the Spell.
The golden needles surged, each becoming as thick as a chopstick. Then, at an extremely fast speed, they blasted towards the ground in the distance.
Like a torrent of Sword Qi, the solid golden needles densely blasted the ground.
"Puff, puff, puff..."
The entire ground looked as if it had been ploughed, leaving a patch of pitted holes several meters deep.
【Golden Needle Technique: Perfection】
Lin Changsheng was stunned by the effect before him.
"Is this still the Golden Needle Technique used for pest control?"
"With this power, one would believe it's a First-Order High Grade Spell, the Geng Metal Finger!"
After pondering for a moment, Lin Changsheng realized.
"The difference between Spell Perfection and Major Achievement is like heaven and earth."
"When casting a Spell, at the Perfection Realm, it consumes one-tenth more magical power, but its power can increase by fifty percent out of thin air. With the same magical power consumption, it can still be thirty percent stronger than the Major Achievement Realm, and it can also be cast instantly."
...
"It seems the higher the Spell Realm, the higher the utilization rate of Spiritual Qi. The effects produced are vastly different."
Lin Changsheng deduced in his mind.
Ordinary people who practice Spells, even with decades of continuous practice, can at most reach the Major Achievement Realm. To achieve Perfection, talent and Comprehension Ability are indispensable.
Furthermore, Cultivators are busy improving their Realm and earning Spirit Stones, so they won't have much time to practice Spells. After all, doing so would undoubtedly be picking up sesame seeds and losing the watermelon, a false economy.
Lin Changsheng sat down cross-legged, digesting the insights he had just gained while meditating to restore his spiritual power.
A Spell at Perfection can be cast at will, activated extremely quickly, and its power undergoes a complete transformation. Fighting ordinary Cultivators beyond one's Realm becomes as easy as turning one's hand.
Just like the Perfection-level Golden Needle Technique he had just cast, it started as a pest control Spell.
But the power unleashed in that instant was enough to pierce a Qi Refining Sixth Level Cultivator into a porcupine.