"Master, what is this?"

Xu Changshou pointed at the small cloth pouch hanging from Zhang Zhengyuan's waist, his curiosity piqued.

This was his second time seeing Zhang Zhengyuan pull an object from that small cloth pocket. Last time it was a yellow talisman, and this time a jade slip.

To Xu Changshou, this method of producing items with a mere pat of the pocket was nothing short of miraculous.

Zhang Zhengyuan gave a profound and mysterious smile. "This is called a Storage Bag. Do not be deceived by its outward appearance; it holds a world within. The space inside this very pouch is as large as a room."

"That's incredible!"

Xu Changshou was extremely envious.

Zhang Zhengyuan said proudly, "This is but a trifle. The Green Immortal Sect possesses many treasures. You will have plenty of time to broaden your horizons. Once you formally join the Sect, you will also possess a Storage Bag."

"Master, when can we enter the Green Immortal Sect?"

Overjoyed, Xu Changshou felt his yearning for the Green Immortal Sect burn even brighter.

"Enough chatter. Close your eyes and quiet your mind."

"Oh!"

Zhang Zhengyuan pulled a long face, and Xu Changshou hurriedly closed his eyes.

Immediately after, Zhang Zhengyuan raised the jade slip in his hand and pressed it firmly against the center of Xu Changshou's brow.

A profound Cultivation mantra slowly flowed into Xu Changshou's consciousness:

The essence of the Supreme Dao is vast and fathomless; the pinnacle of the Supreme Dao is silent and still.

See nothing, hear nothing, embrace the spirit in perfect stillness. The mortal shell shall correct itself; it must be pure, it must be tranquil.

Do not exhaust your flesh, do not squander your essence, cast aside all mortal schemes; thus, you may attain eternal life...

A sudden resonance echoed within Xu Changshou's heart. He immediately sat cross-legged on the ground, embracing the origin and guarding the One, keeping his spirit centered. Once again, he sensed that radiant speck of golden light pulsing within the Guanyuan acupoint in his lower abdomen.

Simultaneously, the ambient heat within his body surged upward toward the Baihui acupoint on his crown, condensing once again into a golden thread.

The golden thread followed his Meridians, completing a full circuit around his body before finally stopping at the Guanyuan acupoint to merge with the golden speck of light.

After the fusion, the speck of light seemed to expand by a fraction.

Xu Changshou felt a rush of dragon-and-tiger-like vigor. His physical strength seemed to have grown again. Although it wasn't as obvious as last time, the growth was undeniable.

Opening his eyes and looking at the sun, he saw that it was already high in the sky.

Good heavens, a whole Shichen has passed?

Xu Changshou was astonished. No wonder rumors said there was no time in Cultivation. His brief session of closed-eye cultivation felt like less than a quarter of an hour, but in reality, a full Shichen had been used.

Fortunately, after cultivating a true immortal technique, not only did he not feel tired, but he felt exceptionally comfortable.

While meditating and cultivating, he could also rest and build up energy.

"This is the Cultivation mantra for the Qi Condensation realm, though it only contains the first three layers. You must cultivate diligently and shun laziness. You must not practice for less than one Shichen each day."

Zhang Zhengyuan spoke with stern authority from the side, the very image of a transcendent Daoist master.

"Thank you, Master!"

Inwardly, Xu Changshou felt it was a pity that there were only three layers. However, since his master only gave him the first three, he didn't dare to ask for more.

In the days that followed.

Zhang Zhengyuan said, "To draw Spiritual Qi into your body makes you a Cultivator of the first layer of Qi Condensation. When you can condense that Qi into a pearl, you will be at the second layer."

"Disciple understands!"

Xu Changshou threw himself into Cultivation even more painstakingly. Aside from eating and going to the toilet, almost all his time was spent on Cultivation. He even replaced sleep with seated meditation.

With every accumulation of his Cultivation sessions, each time the mantra completed a full cycle, the speck of light in Xu Changshou's abdomen swelled a fraction larger.

Xu Changshou was very excited; his strength was growing every day.

Ten days later.

Boom...

When a gossamer thread entered his Guanyuan acupoint, Xu Changshou's entire body shuddered violently. He felt as if his body had undergone some kind of transformation, and his strength increased by a large margin.

He now possessed nearly two hundred jin of strength, almost twice that of a grown man.

Xu Changshou focused his inner sight. In the Guanyuan acupoint of his lower abdomen, there was a thumb-sized golden Qi vortex that, to his inner eye, resembled a golden pearl.

Just as his master had said, condense Qi into a pearl. He should have entered the second layer of Qi Condensation.

"Second layer of Qi Condensation. Not bad, not bad. You are teachable."

Zhang Zhengyuan nodded slightly. It typically took an ordinary person half a month to cultivate from the first layer of Qi Condensation to the second layer.

For Xu Changshou to achieve it in ten days was considered fast.

However, the time Xu Changshou spent cultivating was more than twice that of an ordinary person. Calculated this way, his innate talent was just average.

Time flew by.

Another month passed.

"Third layer of Qi Condensation!"

Xu Changshou, who was sitting cross-legged, opened his eyes, a golden light flashing in his pupils.

At this moment.

The Qi vortex within his Dantian had already become as large as an egg yolk.

His physical strength had also reached over three hundred jin.

The Qi Condensation realm consisted of twelve layers in total. There were two hallmarks of cultivating to Grand Perfection at the twelfth layer: one was Qi flushing the internal organs, and the other was a thousand jin of strength.

Naturally, Cultivators did not compete with brute strength. They focused more on attacks involving Spiritual Power, divine arts, and Magical Artifacts.

Reaching the twelfth layer of the Qi Condensation realm would grant a thousand jin of strength. The increase in strength was quite obvious in the early stages, but after the eighth layer of Qi Condensation, the growth in physical strength would become very small, primarily shifting toward expanding one's Cultivation.

"Master, Master, I've cultivated to the third layer of Qi Condensation..."

Xu Changshou found Zhang Zhengyuan, wanting the subsequent Cultivation mantra.

Zhang Zhengyuan was somewhat surprised and said sternly, "My injuries are almost healed. Once I am recovered, I will take you back to the Sect. Cultivation methods from the fourth layer of Qi Condensation onwards must only be cultivated by disciples within the Sect. You are not yet a disciple of the Green Immortal Sect. We will speak of this after you enter the Sect."

"I see."

Xu Changshou nodded in distress.

Zhang Zhengyuan said, "You possess Cultivation, but you lack defensive techniques. Therefore, I shall teach you a martial technique so you won't be completely helpless when encountering danger."

"What kind of palm technique?"

"The Withered Wood Palm."

Withered Wood Palm: By channeling Spiritual Qi to the palm, the palm takes on the form of withered wood, becoming exceptionally hard and capable of splitting mountains and shattering stone.

The Withered Wood Palm was not difficult. Xu Changshou mastered the essentials in just three days.

"Time to test its power!"

Xu Changshou went to the edge of the village. As he channeled his Spiritual Qi to his palm, his entire right hand took on the form of withered wood.

Xu Changshou raised his palm and slammed it fiercely onto the Sleeping Ox Boulder at the village entrance.

Crack!

The Sleeping Ox Boulder split into pieces.

"My mother!"

This scene was coincidentally witnessed by Wang Xushi, who was peeing in the fields. Wang Xushi was so terrified that her stream cut off, and the gaze she directed at Xu Changshou was full of fear.

If this palm were to land on a person, wouldn't it beat them to death? Let alone a person, even a bull couldn't withstand it.

What should I do?

I treated that kid so terribly in the past; he won't take revenge on me, will he?

"Not bad, not bad! I imagine ordinary wild beasts can no longer do anything to me."

Glancing at the shattered Sleeping Ox Boulder, Xu Changshou happily walked home.

...

"What? Changshou shattered the Sleeping Ox Boulder at the village entrance with one palm strike!!!"

In the cowshed, upon hearing Wang Xushi's words, Landlord Wang was both shocked and envious.

For Xu Changshou to become so formidable after following the immortal for just a few months meant that the immortal had genuine abilities.

"Aiya, husband, that little bastard has become a god! I want to be a god too. Hurry up and find the immortal to ask for immortal destiny."

"I... I don't dare!"

"What are you afraid of? The Exalted Immortal has been eating and living in our house these past few months. What's wrong with asking him for immortal destiny?"

"Fine, let's go together!"

Gritting his teeth, Landlord Wang pulled Wang Xushi along and walked toward the front courtyard.

Looking for more free chapters? Visit www.skynovelvault.com to read over 5,000 free chapters and continue exploring more stories from SkyNovelVault.