Chapter 20: The Path of the Earth Immortal

Lin Donglai spent an entire night carefully studying the method of opening the Blessed Field within the Inner Landscape during the Qi Refining stage.

This method was neither strictly difficult nor strictly easy. It required refining Primordial Qi, then using that Primordial Qi to merge with the Essence of the Five Elements. This Five-Element Essence would then be used to connect the five internal organs, achieving a Five-Element cycle to carry the Dao Seed and forge the Blessed Field of the Inner Landscape.

The text explicitly stated that this Primordial Qi was the innate Fetal Breathing of an infant—specifically, the breath corresponding to the Fetal Breathing Realm used to guide Qi into the body.

The Fire Essence was actually Solar Fire; one could simply collect it by facing the sunlight.

The Earth Essence was essentially Earth Qi.

The Water Essence could be collected from large lakes, great rivers, or major waterways.

The Metal Essence required five types of metallic ores, with at least several hundred catties as a baseline, making it the most inconvenient to obtain.

The Wood Essence was the vitality of flora and vegetation.

Aside from the metallic ores, the other elements were basically covered by the desires transmitted by the Dao Seed earlier.

If he had spirit stones, purchasing these Five-Element Essences directly should not be difficult, as many spells and the refining of magical tools required them.

However, this innate Fetal Breathing required the process of "Refining Essence into Qi" to be obtained. This meant Lin Donglai needed to continue transforming his Spirit Marrow Bones and refining his essence blood, which required consuming large amounts of spiritual meals to replenish his nutrition.

Otherwise, if the innate Fetal Breathing was insufficient, the area of the Inner Landscape's Blessed Field would naturally not be very large.

That said, although the Jianmu Dao Seed had only just sprouted with a single bud, it wouldn't require much land to be supported, so it likely wouldn't need many resources in the early stages.

As for the Five-Element Essence, as long as one practiced Five-Element type cultivation methods, the Dao Seed would grow Five-Element roots and automatically transform the essence from the void's primordial Qi. This was similar to how Lin Donglai had previously practiced the Primordial Nourishing Breathing Technique and the Tendon-Changing Marrow-Washing Stance.

Cultivation methods grow the roots.

Roots are responsible for providing nutrition.

But for the trunk to grow tall, it relies on the Dao Master's cultivation level (Dao Xing). This was how it was described in the inheritance; Lin Donglai wasn't entirely sure what "Dao Xing" specifically entailed, so he simply categorized it as being related to one's cultivation realm.

The branches and numerous leaves could then be used to carry "Laws."

Lin Donglai currently only had a vague concept, but he could indeed begin preparing to practice Fetal Breathing.

The Qi Induction Technique, the most basic method of pulling spiritual Qi into the body to convert it into spiritual power, should also fall under the category of cultivation methods. He estimated it would stimulate the Dao Seed to grow relevant root hairs, which would then automatically assist him in his cultivation.

Therefore, reaching the first layer of Qi Refining and becoming an outer disciple was a foregone conclusion; he basically had nothing to worry about.

He only needed to continue practicing the Tendon-Changing Marrow-Washing Stance without pause after reaching Qi Refining, and select one physical cultivation method and one Five-Element cycle method.

By relying on physical cultivation to refine essence blood, and then using that essence blood to transform into innate Fetal Breathing, he would succeed.

By using Five-Element cultivation methods to prompt the growth of root hairs, the Dao Seed would collect the Five-Element Essence from the void on its own.

The only thing he needed to consider was how to earn spirit stones. Only by earning spirit stones could he maintain the requirements for physical cultivation and the initial Five-Element Essence needed for the Blessed Field. After all, collecting Qi on his own was too slow, and the nutrition within the Dao Seed was limited; without the nourishment of a Blessed Field, it would be difficult to continue growing, and its empowerment of Lin Donglai would grow increasingly weak.

"At least I have a year and a half of relative freedom. I'll get the Blessed Field set up first, plant the Dao Seed, and study cultivation methods and farming skills diligently. In the future, my Blessed Field can also be used to grow spiritual herbs."

As the sovereign of all trees, Jianmu was known as the "Azure Emperor" and could control the growth of vegetation. Spiritual herbs planted within the Blessed Field would grow better and faster, and could even feed back vitality to the Jianmu.

Jianmu could even consume its own essence to transform spiritual plants into Heaven and Earth Spiritual Roots.

Ten more days passed. During this time, Lin Donglai was focusing on nourishing his body. Having lost too much essence blood, he felt quite weak even after eating the Primordial Nourishing Ginseng Stewed Chicken in advance.

He could only eat more free spiritual food in the canteen to compensate through sheer quantity, while also seeking work at the Outer Sect Merit Hall. He found a job weeding and catching insects in the medicinal fields of Tengshe Peak; it paid only half a spirit stone a day, but working seven consecutive days would yield four spirit stones, which was just enough to pay back Ding Zhen.

Ding Zhen's spiritual root aptitude was similar to his own. At Xianmiao Peak, not a single person with low-grade Five-Element roots had yet achieved Fetal Breathing or completed Qi Induction. Lin Donglai didn't want to be the first; he just wanted to complete it before the second Hundred-Day Assessment.

During these ten days, Lin Donglai did not dare to continue practicing the Tendon-Changing Marrow-Washing Stance. Having too many Spirit Marrow Bones in his body increased his consumption.

Even after the Dao Seed sprouted and the effect of the cultivation methods enhanced—allowing him to breathe with the Primordial Nourishing Breathing Technique for twelve hours straight and draw enough spiritual energy from the void for cultivation—many other nutrients could not appear out of thin air; they still had to be ingested from the outside.

According to the *Records of Cultivation*, only upon reaching the Foundation Establishment stage could one achieve the preliminary state of "consuming Qi to live without food," allowing for long periods of secluded meditation without fasting.

However, truly abandoning the desire for food and drink required reaching the Purple Mansion Realm.

On this day, Lin Donglai was barefoot, carrying a hoe in his small Xianmiao courtyard, leveling the ground. He intended to try planting some semi-spiritual or low-grade spiritual herbs to test his skills.

Suddenly, he heard Ding Zhen's anxious voice: "Donglai! Zhong Xuan has completed Qi Induction! He also has low-grade Five-Element roots!"

Lin Donglai wasn't surprised. He only asked, "How many more drops of essence blood do you need to begin refining essence into Qi and achieve Fetal Breathing?"

"I've condensed nine drops of essence blood, but the effect of the Marrow-Nourishing Pills is getting worse. I've only transformed two Spirit Marrow Bones, and the speed of generating essence blood is too slow. The spiritual food in the canteen isn't great either, and I don't have a large appetite like you."

Lin Donglai asked, "How many spirit stones do you have left?"

"Eight." Ding Zhen had gone out to do some work, but buying Marrow-Nourishing Pills had consumed a lot.

"Go to Deacon Peng, the spiritual chef at the canteen, and ask him to make a portion of Primordial Nourishing Ginseng Stewed Chicken. This is a spiritual meal only inner disciples can afford, and it is most effective for nourishing primordial Qi. It costs 12 spirit stones. Once you eat it and practice the Tendon-Changing Marrow-Washing Stance, you will definitely be able to grow a third Spirit Marrow Bone. That way, you'll surely complete Qi Induction before the Hundred-Day Assessment."

"Donglai, how do you know this method?"

"Master Ma told me while I was cutting wood in the Danmu Forest a few days ago," Lin Donglai said. "I just don't know if you're willing to gamble. After all, twelve spirit stones is not a small amount."

"I'm willing! As long as there's hope!"

Lin Donglai nodded. "Actually, I have already condensed enough essence blood. I will attempt to refine essence into Qi and complete Qi Induction tonight. There is still a month before the second Hundred-Day Assessment, so I can definitely complete it and reach the first layer of Qi Refining."

"Regarding the spirit stones, once I become an outer disciple, I will receive a stipend of two spirit stones. I can lend them to you. Can you borrow the remaining two? If you go to take on tasks now, I'm afraid it will waste several more days."

"I'll borrow two from Zhong Xuan," Ding Zhen said, gritting his teeth. "I will definitely succeed!"

Lin Donglai patted his shoulder. "Good. You have ambition."

The two had supported each other since leaving their hometown. Lin Donglai sighed inwardly; although his own aptitude was slightly lower, he had the support of the Dao Seed. Without a fortuitous encounter, Ding Zhen might end up like Li Yunze said—struggling his whole life to break through to the middle stage of Qi Refining.

(End of Chapter)