Chapter 402: Chapter 144: A Change in Status Shakes the Entire Gang; Rapid Advancement to the Third Heaven of the Spirit Awakening Realm

The third step is to continuously draw in the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Mechanism and refine it into one’s own Primordial Qi.

But Chu Fan skipped this step of drawing in the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Mechanism entirely.

The further one walked the path of cultivation, the more it became a contest of resources and foundation.

And right now, he didn’t lack resources.

If ordinary Independent Cultivators or Martial Artists from Minor Sects in the Spirit Awakening Realm could find a blessed land rich in Spiritual Mechanism, their cultivation speed would increase somewhat.

If they couldn’t, they could only rely on slow, grinding effort, arduously drawing meager Spiritual Mechanism from the world day after day, year after year, making for slow progress.

But it was different for the disciples of major sects or members of Noble Families.

They might occupy legendary Spirit Veins, have Treasure Plants bestowed by their elders, Spirit Fruits to aid cultivation, and Elixirs that could save them months of hard work.

For example, the pure Spiritual Mechanism within a single Three-Stripe Essence Enhancing Pill was worth more than half a year of arduous cultivation for an ordinary Cultivator in the Spirit Awakening Realm.

The reason the two Spirit Demons, Cyan Snake and White Snake, were so "obedient" and willing to serve the Seven Stars Gang as guardians in Qing Province was twofold. While the protection of the Demon Suppression Bureau was one part of it, the monthly allotment of resources sufficient to advance their Cultivation was the truly irresistible temptation.

During their years in the Mist Marsh, those two Spirit Demons had only seen a handful of precious Treasure Plants over several decades.

They never imagined that after meeting Chu Fan, they would be dazzled by the sight of bottle after bottle of Essence Enhancing Pills, Qi Gathering Pills, and Treasure Plants laid out before them.

With benefits like these, how could they be willing to leave?

In just a few short months, Chu Fan had repeatedly foiled the plots of the Moon Worship Sect and slain its masters. The spoils he had obtained were incredibly bountiful.

In his eyes, the members of the Moon Worship Sect were like a parade of eager "Wealth Boys," practically handing him vast quantities of cultivation resources.

Elixirs, Treasure Plants... For the time being, he was not short on cultivation resources.

Thus, his cultivation in the Spirit Awakening Realm had been drastically simplified, and his goal had become incredibly pure: Open Veins! Keep opening Veins! Constantly open Veins!

His mind sank into his body. Through Introspection, he looked upon his Dantian, where the chaotic, hazy Qi Sea churned slowly.

The meridians he had already opened were like glowing streams, connecting the Qi Sea to the rest of his body.

He only needed to open sixteen more main meridians, and he would naturally break through to the Third Heaven of the Spirit Awakening Realm.

"Let’s begin!"

With a single thought, Chu Fan mobilized the pure Primordial Qi within his Qi Sea. It condensed into a single stream, like the sharpest, most precise "Engraving Knife," and charged toward the barriers of his unopened meridians.

When ordinary Martial Artists performed Opening Veins, they had to endure the agony of their meridians being forcibly widened and torn. After opening a single meridian, they often needed to rest for several days to recover before they could continue.

But Chu Fan, relying on the solid foundation and unique resilience of his Vajra Undying Body, felt almost no pain from the impact.

The only thing he had to face was the physical and mental exhaustion that came after successfully opening a meridian.

It was precisely for this reason that he could be so "frenzied."

The Primordial Qi Engraving Knife, under his control, was steady, precise, and ruthless.

Before long, a meridian was cleared. The Qi Sea trembled slightly as the range of his Primordial Qi circulation expanded a little more.

Without a moment’s pause, he immediately guided the Primordial Qi toward the next target meridian.

Time flowed by in the silence...

Outside, Zhao Tianxing, Fatty, and the others knew Chu Fan was in secluded cultivation. They shared a tacit understanding not to disturb him, even treading lightly as they walked.

An unknown amount of time passed. Then, as the Primordial Qi Engraving Knife pierced through the final meridian in one clean strike—

"HUM!"

Chu Fan’s body trembled. It was as if his Dantian Qi Sea had shattered some invisible shackles. It began to churn violently, expanding outward at a rate visible to the naked eye!

His once-full Qi Sea, nearly depleted of Primordial Qi from the continuous, high-intensity process of opening his meridians, now seemed empty and "parched."

Chu Fan was prepared. With a single inhalation, a longan-sized Essence Enhancing Pill, wreathed in an alchemical halo, and a bright red Vermilion Fruit, overflowing with Spiritual Mechanism, flew into his mouth. He swallowed them instantly.

The Elixir dissolved the moment it entered his mouth, and the Vermilion Fruit transformed into a warm current. Two streams of pure, immense energy instantly surged into his nearly-depleted Dantian Qi Sea.

Like a parched land receiving welcome rain, his previously listless Qi Sea immediately came "alive," its contents surging like a mighty tide.

Vast waves of Primordial Qi filled him at an unprecedented rate, circulating wildly through all his newly opened meridians.

With each complete cycle, the Primordial Qi grew more refined. When it returned to the Qi Sea, it would slam against the sea’s barriers with even greater force, further accelerating its expansion!

This process lasted for about the time it takes an incense stick to burn.

By the time all the energy was completely absorbed, the Qi Sea’s expansion had reached its limit. No matter how Chu Fan circulated his Primordial Qi, its size remained unchanged, having become stable and profound—

"Haaaah..."

Chu Fan let out a long, turbid breath. The air shot out like an arrow, traveling over a foot before slowly dissipating.

An intense wave of exhaustion washed over him. Unable to support himself any longer, he fell straight back onto the cold bed, lacking even the strength to lift a single finger.

[Cultivation: Spirit Awakening Realm, Third Heaven]

Seeing the change to his Cultivation Realm on the panel, the corners of Chu Fan’s mouth lifted into a smile.

’His Vajra Undying Body, coupled with a plentiful supply of Treasure Plants and Elixirs, had actually let him break through in the Spirit Awakening Realm much faster than he had passed the five stages of Foundation Establishment!’

Outside, bright sunlight streamed through the window lattice, casting dappled patterns of light and shadow on the floor.

Without realizing it, he had cultivated through the entire night. It was now noon the following day.

After resting for a moment to catch his breath, Chu Fan’s mind stirred, and he "looked" at the panel once more.

[Skill: Demon Dragon Celestial Spirit Scripture (Entry-Level), Progress: 45/5000, Trait: None]

[Skill: Nine Heavens Wind Mastery Scripture (Entry-Level), Progress: 55/800, Trait: None]