Qin Ming sat cross-legged on the grass-woven mat in the room.
In his hand, he held a bowl of Blood Locust Rice.
The spirit rice grains, resembling insects, emitted a blood-red aura, casting a crimson glow on Qin Ming's face.
Qin Ming grinned, joy of harvest welled in his heart.
Just a sniff filled him with the pervasive Qi Blood Power.
Eating Blood Locust Rice demands high physical Qi Blood strength from cultivators; it must not be consumed excessively.
With Qin Ming's current Qi Blood strength.
This bowl of Blood Locust Rice should barely be within his capacity.
He scooped a spoonful of Blood Locust Rice into his mouth.
Boom!
A surge of overwhelming Qi Blood Power rushed straight to his crown!
Though Qin Ming was prepared, he nearly couldn't withstand it!
Hurriedly, he began channeling Qi Blood according to the "Hundred Treasures Glaze Scripture," refining marrow and exchanging blood.
In an instant.
Thick blood mist began to rise around Qin.
Inside, he felt intolerable itching, as if countless insects were wriggling under his skin.
He felt his blood boiling and bubbling throughout his body.
Through continual compression and refining of Qi Blood, Qin Ming's internal Qi Blood gradually began to thicken.
He finished off the remaining Blood Locust Rice.
Instantly, his entire Qi Blood power reached a pinnacle.
Boom!
Qin Ming opened his eyes, shedding layers of scabs formed during blood exchange on his skin.
"Hundred Treasures Glaze Scripture," Fourth Layer, breakthrough!
"Finally..." Qin Ming felt the powerful Qi Blood surging within him, his heart thrilled.
"Stepping into the Fourth Layer is equivalent to mid-stage body refining."
In just a year, Qin Ming had undergone such a significant transformation, even he found it a bit unbelievable.
"The Fourth Layer... is still not enough. I must strive to quickly break through to the Fifth Layer!" Qin Ming clenched his fist, thinking to himself.
In the days that followed.
Besides tending the spirit fields, Qin Ming intensely practiced the "Hundred Treasures Glaze Scripture."
He stayed secluded, making rapid progress in body refining with the support of Blood Locust Rice.
As he diligently cultivated, time swiftly passed.
After another half a year.
Inside the room.
Qin Ming had his eyes tightly shut.
Through repeated marrow refining and blood exchange during these days, his internal Qi Blood grew increasingly compressed and refined.
Now his Qi Blood Power had reached an unprecedented height.
Only the final barrier remained before breaking through to the Fifth Layer.
Without hesitation, Qin Ming utilized the 'Abundant Qi Blood' within his Sea of Consciousness.
In an instant.
Everything turned black before his eyes, like a rushing sea overwhelming him.
The pressure almost made Qin Ming gasp for breath.
The Qi Blood boost from the 'Abundant Qi Blood' was immense, nearly comparable to Blood Locust Rice.
Swoosh-swoosh-swoosh~
Suddenly.
The sound of Qi Blood continuously flowing echoed in Qin Ming's ears.
The scene before him suddenly transformed.
His spiritual sense took an internal view, discovering his body now resembled a boundless sea of blood.
The Qi Blood was thick as mercury slurry.
The mystical Qi Blood Power enveloped him.
Qin Ming stood amidst it, appearing insignificantly small.
Abruptly!
From deep within the blood sea, a massive tsunami began to surge.
Waves surged, instantly immersing Qin Ming.
Boom!
Qin Ming's mind exploded, a sound of ringing echoing in his ears.
His internal Qi Blood Power underwent a transformation again, continuously strengthening his flesh, bones, and physique.
A layer of treasure light, resembling glaze.
Gradually appeared around Qin Ming, like a robe, covering every inch of skin.
This was the 'Glazed Treasure Robe' formed with Qin Ming's vast Qi Blood Power, having reached Qi Blood as mercury slurry!
The moment the robe congealed marked his entry into the Fifth Layer of the "Hundred Treasures Glaze Scripture!"
Body refining completely transcended.
Qin Ming's current strength far surpassed body refining cultivators at the same stage.
He took out the Cyan Spirit Dharma Sword, forcefully slashed his skin.
Only to see his skin reveal a trace of white mark, then vanish.
"Seems ordinary magical artifacts can no longer harm me!" Qin Ming felt immense joy, an inexplicable sense of security emerged.
More importantly, the 'Glazed Treasure Robe' possesses a Dharma-defying effect.
"The Fifth Layer is so formidable! The power described in the scripture is indeed true!"
"I've completed the first five layers of the 'Hundred Treasures Glaze Scripture,' I must quickly obtain the remaining four layers from Fellow Daoist Ruan."
Feeling his strength surge, Qin Ming couldn't help but anticipate the subsequent cultivation techniques.
His quick breakthrough was mainly attributed to the tremendous Qi Blood boost from Blood Locust Rice.
Otherwise, acquiring the spiritual materials demanded by the "Hundred Treasures Glaze Scripture," reaching this realm might have taken unknowable time.
Qin Ming felt incredibly elated.
After a bout of washing up.
Qin Ming's blood aura withdrew, hidden within.
His skin still appeared as a Spirit Farmer, slightly tinged with malt color.
But his Essence, Qi, and Spirit were starkly different from before; he now exuded restraint, yet his gaze was spirited.
"Now, I finally have some means of self-preservation in this chaotic Cultivation World."
"This is the first card I've held since entering the Cultivation Realm all these years?"
"Alas... it really hasn't been easy..."
Qin Ming's tension from the recent days plagued by Tribulation Cultivators had eased considerably.
His tense nerves finally released the heavy burden.
With just two more months.
The acre of Beast Fang Rice in Qin Ming's spirit field was about to mature.
By then, he could not only exchange for the remaining cultivation techniques of the "Hundred Treasures Glaze Scripture."
But also be promoted to a Tier One Low-Grade Spirit Plant Master.
Enjoying Spirit Feather Sect's policy of halving spirit rice tax from now on.
Not only would his status among Spirit Farmers greatly enhance.
Additionally, he would gain a considerable increase in spirit rice income.
However, to rise to a Tier One Spirit Plant Master, he also needed to pass a sect's knowledge assessment for spirit plant masters.
Regarding successfully cultivating Tier One Spirit Plants, he's already grown Beast Fang Rice and Yin Condensing Flower.
These had been registered and reported by the Spirit Feather Sect's Record Officer.
Now only the spirit plant knowledge assessment remains.
Aiming for Tier One Spirit Plant Master is still Qin Ming's plan.
After all, having this reputation would bring various conveniences in future cultivation life.
After the body refining breakthrough, Qin Ming lacked follow-up cultivation techniques.
He had no choice but to patiently wait for two months until the Beast Fang Rice matured.
During this period.
Qin Ming avidly reinforced his spirit plant knowledge, preparing for the assessment.
Besides that, he was also learning the alchemy skill.
He purchased a small Pill Furnace from Shopkeeper Liao, trying to practice refining some basic pills.
All ended in failure.
"Seems without guidance, reading books alone isn't enough..." Qin Ming looked at the pitch-black spiritual materials inside the furnace, helplessly letting out a long sigh.
Alchemy truly needed talent; he found himself to be mediocre in this aspect as well.
It seemed he could only wait and eventually plant large numbers of spirit grass to accumulate experience...
Hopefully, when the Yin Condensing Flower matures, Master Su might offer some guidance.