At this moment, the heat from the kidney mansion at his waist began to fade.

Liou Yuan’s body was steaming slightly, and he slowly opened his eyes, which were shining brightly.

Feeling the spiritual power fluctuations radiating from the walnut-sized spiritual qi cluster within him, Liou Yuan leisurely spoke: "Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer!"

He didn’t know if any disciple with a Four-Star Star Acupoint at the Five Extremes Mountain had broken through to the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer during his month of seclusion.

If not, he should be the first.

But none of that mattered; the important thing was that after reaching the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, he would receive a reward of eighty merit points.

"According to past experience, the news of my breakthrough won’t escape the sect leaders; soon a servant disciple should deliver my reward."

Liou Yuan thought with a cheerful smile.

Seizing the break, Liou Yuan got up and stretched his body a bit.

He didn’t immediately go out but instead focused his consciousness inside, activating the Fixed Star Compass.

Having just broken through, his insights weren’t comprehensive yet.

He still needed to see how the Fixed Star Compass evaluated him.

[Human Race, Liou Yuan]

[Cultivation]: Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer (Unranked)

[Aptitude]: Two-Star Water Acupoint, Three-Star Gold Acupoint

[Talent]: Evil Eyes

[Magic]:

"Yunwu Prefecture" Grade D Inferior

"Lion’s Roar Spell" Grade D Medium (Small Success)

"Talismanic Skill" Grade E Supreme (Small Success)

"Treading Flowing Waves" Grade D Superior (Introduction)

[Cultivation Technique]: "Five Mansions Star Gazing Breathing Skill" (Progress: Early Stage of the Third Mansion)

Apart from the increase in cultivation, the progress of the Five Mansions Star Gazing Breathing Skill had also reached the early stage of the third mansion.

Each mansion corresponds to two levels of realms.

The day he perfectly completes the fifth mansion will be the day he achieves perfection in the Qi Cultivation Realm.

As for magic, apart from the Lion’s Roar Spell, only the Talismanic Skill had progressed, reaching small success.

This should be related to Liou Yuan’s recent diligent practice with the Bamboo Infant Pen.

The Talismanic Skill was also Liou Yuan’s second magic to reach the small success stage after the Lion’s Roar Spell.

"Now my grasp of the Talismanic Skill is definitely not inferior to Ge Jinhong."

Moreover, his cultivation was much higher than Ge Jinhong’s, making the power of the talismans he drew significantly stronger.

Using the Bamboo Infant Pen and talisman ink, the power of the talismans Liou Yuan drew was several times stronger than before.

Speaking of magic, Liou Yuan remembered something.

With a thought, he quickly exited his cultivation state, reached into his bosom, and took out a green jade scroll.

It was the swordsmanship jade scroll "Green Tide Pure Water Sword" that his brother Liou Zhen had given him recently.

Liou Yuan had gone into seclusion to break through to the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer as soon as he received this swordsmanship and hadn’t had time to examine it closely.

Now was the perfect time to take a look.

[Name] Green Tide Pure Water Sword

[Category] Swordsmanship Jade Scroll

[Quality] Grade D Supreme

[Effect] Contains swordsmanship techniques. Practicing it can condense two types of sword auras: one called Green Tide, the other Sushui. If one attains the highest mastery of this swordsmanship, it may be possible to merge the Green Tide and Sushui into one, potentially gaining insight into Sword Qi.

This was the Fixed Star Compass’ evaluation of the Green Tide Pure Water Sword.

"It’s actually a Grade D Supreme swordsmanship." Liou Yuan’s eyes lit up with excitement.

He had been relying solely on the properties of the Profound Brilliance Sword in battles, using brute force over technique, with no real sword moves to speak of.

If he mastered this swordsmanship, his combat prowess would definitely advance further.

With this, Liou Yuan again looked at how the Fixed Star Compass evaluated this swordsmanship, which mentioned Sword Qi.

"I wonder what exactly this Sword Qi is; it seems necessary to ask my big brother about it."

"Whatever it is, it’s definitely enough to kill that Liou Tao." Liou Yuan smirked sinisterly, then pressed the jade scroll to his forehead, reading the swordsmanship content closely.

Green Tide Pure Water Sword, like Treading Flowing Waves, was a swordsmanship of the water element.

Before practicing the sword moves, one needs to nurture a type of sword aura called Green Tide as recorded in the swordsmanship method.

When executed, the sword aura rolls like a tide, enhancing the blade.

The Green Tide sword aura has two striking methods, each with its own set of sword moves.

One is the Green Tide as the visible force, with a sword momentum that’s not only sharp but also highly destructive.

When the Green Tide sword aura is cultivated to a profound level, it spawns a latent force known as the Sushui sword aura.

The Green Tide sword aura is fierce, like stormy waves at sea, with an imposing momentum.

The Sushui sword aura, on the other hand, lies covertly beneath the Green Tide sword aura, like a hidden current at sea, silent and elusive.

When cultivated to the highest level, the Green Tide and Sushui sword auras merge to enhance the blade, allowing the execution of the mightiest move in this swordsmanship formula.

One slash can be as terrifying as raging tides and towering waves, rarely matched in the Qi Cultivation Realm.

The Fixed Star Compass clearly stated that one could comprehend Sword Qi from that final slash.

However, executing that final slash in itself demands exceptionally high spiritual power.

Requiring one to reach the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer.

"Not bad, suits me well." Liou Yuan remarked excitedly.

He then sat on the ground and began to study the cultivation method of the Green Tide.

It’s truly worthy of admiration, this swordsmanship that even Liou Zhen, a great Foundation Establishment cultivator, holds in high esteem. Liou Yuan watched with rapt attention, marveling at the sword technique’s intricacy.

Before he realized, half a day had passed.

The sky outside transitioned from night to day, and then afternoon passed.

A respectful voice sounded from outside the door, reaching into Liou Yuan’s cottage.

"Is Mr. Liou Yuan here? I’m disciple Zhou Shu, sent by the sect to deliver your breakthrough rewards."

Liou Yuan reluctantly withdrew his consciousness from the jade scroll containing the sword skills and responded, "Coming!"

On Five Extremes Mountain, those responsible for errands and menial tasks are usually odd-job disciples.

They have low aptitude and can only enjoy the spiritual atmosphere within Five Extremes Mountain by exerting far more effort than the outer sect disciples.

Of course, if these odd-job disciples are appreciated by someone with high status within the sect and kept close, their status rises, making even outer sect disciples avoid offending them easily.

And this Zhou Shu is an odd-job disciple beside Fang Yu.

With Fang Yu, an inner sect disciple, around, few outer sect disciples dare to look down on Zhou Shu.

Liou Yuan was no exception, politely inviting Zhou Shu into the house.

Zhou Shu was of average height, not particularly handsome, but had a steady demeanor similar to Fang Yu.

He wore a simple and neat black outfit, emphasizing his clear-cut silhouette, showcasing his competence.

"Mr. Liou, your talent is exceptional; your cultivation speed is nearly at Five-Star Star Acupoint level."

"From what I know, among this batch of disciples, Mr. Liou is the first to break through to Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, aside from those genius disciples with Five-Star Star Acupoint."

Zhou Shu spoke with a smile, his tone courteous.

His cultivation was also at Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer.

His cultivation wasn’t high, but because he was Fang Yu’s close odd-job disciple, even regular outer sect disciples had to greet him with a smile.

Facing Liou Yuan, he completely took on the role of an odd-job disciple, showing no trace of arrogance.

After all, the person before him had Fang Yu’s appreciation and was Mr. Liou’s younger brother; he dared not be impolite.

"Haha." Liou Yuan laughed without further explanation.

Zhou Shu was efficient, quickly distributing the 80 merit points awarded by the sect into Liou Yuan’s token.

Breaking through Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer granted 40 merit points.

And Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer was double the reward for Fourth Layer.

Liou Yuan had previously spent 5 merit points to purchase a star stone during his seclusion, leaving him with only 28 merit points.

The addition of these 80 merit points immediately brought his total to over a hundred, reaching 108 merit points.

Zhou Shu didn’t linger, exchanging a few congratulatory words with Liou Yuan before hurriedly departing.

As odd-job disciples, they had numerous daily tasks and weren’t as leisurely as outer sect disciples.

Liou Yuan politely escorted him to the door, holding his token happily and thinking, "Nothing is more substantial than merit points."

"With over a hundred merit points, at least for the next year, I won’t need to worry about running out of star stones."

After experiencing the convenience star stones brought to cultivation, almost no disciple could bear the days without them.

Liou Yuan was no exception.

Just as Liou Yuan was immersed in the joy of his gains.

He suddenly felt several gazes from afar.

When Zhou Shu arrived at Xiaopei Mountain, his neighbors Qiu Ming, Xie Xiaobo, and Fu Xueping heard the commotion and came out.

Now they stood at their respective doors, looking at Liou Yuan with peculiar expressions.

In full view, Liou Yuan calmly adjusted his headwear, smiling without saying a word.

Even Qiu Ming, who was not fond of thinking, knew what had happened when Liou Yuan emerged from seclusion and Zhou Shu showed up.

"Mr. Liou, you’ve broken through to Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer so quickly!"

"Damn it, letting you seize the lead again." Xie Miaobo shouted at Liou Yuan with a look of unwillingness, like a possessed Qiu Ming.

"Congratulations, Mr. Liou." Fu Xueping was much calmer, smiling sweetly as she softly congratulated Liou Yuan.

"Isn’t it normal for him to breakthrough to Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer? Why are you yelling?" Qiu Ming’s tone was matter-of-fact.

Qiu Ming, who loved drinking, naturally wouldn’t miss any opportunity to extort Liou Yuan, calling out boldly, "Let’s drink!"

"Drink!" Liou Yuan, in good spirits, nodded in agreement to Qiu Ming’s request.

The four went to the fifth peak, brought several jars of divine wine and plates of hearty dishes made from demonic flesh, and indulged till late night, at the cost of only two merit points.

The gathering dispersed, Liou Yuan, cheeks flushed from alcohol, lay on his bed reeking of wine.

Then he began to refine the spiritual energy from the wine using Five Mansions Star Gazing Breathing Skill.

It took half an hour to transform the medicinal power into spiritual energy to enhance his cultivation.

The yield was merely a wisp; for Liou Yuan, who was already at Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, it was scarcely helpful, better than nothing.

"Darn it, this divine wine is truly a lucrative business." Liou Yuan refined the medicinal power from the wine, exhaling a breath laced with alcohol, his face showing distress.

Two jars of divine wine amounted to one merit point, equivalent to two star stones.

Four jars equaled two merit points, enough to support Liou Yuan’s cultivation for six days, enough to cultivate two wisps of spiritual energy; whereas the wine yielded only one.

However, Liou Yuan took it in stride; after all, it was for pleasure, mere two merit points were inconsequential.

"Now, with five months left until the year’s end, the spiritual energy required to advance from Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer to Sixth Layer doubles again."

"I wonder if I’ll make it."

Liou Yuan silently calculated the time.

Originally, his plan was to only acquire the merit point rewards for Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer.

Unexpectedly, he found himself with extra time after receiving the rewards.

With five months remaining, he certainly wasn’t willing to give up easily.

After all, the reward for breakthrough to Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer was a hefty 160 merit points.

"I’ll give it a try." Liou Yuan said externally, though internally uncertain, he could only do his best and leave the rest to fate.