Chapter 50: Chapter 48: Unwilling to Yield Now Ji An still has 11 pieces of Spirit Stone in his hand, ready to use them to activate the Spirit Capturing Array for cultivation. No matter when, improving cultivation is always of utmost importance. After enduring for another three months, he’ll be able to harvest a substantial amount of Crystal Stones, allowing him to purchase Magic Technique Jade Slips, or even a Lower Grade Magical Artifact. He shook his head slightly again; there’s no urgency about the Magical Artifact. Given his current income from cultivating Spirit Fields, participating in Demon Hunting doesn’t seem cost-effective. It’s better to focus entirely on improving his cultivation and wait until reaching the Ninth-Layer Qi Refining before making plans. By then, his Spirit Field for planting Spirit Grain might have already improved to Tier One Lower Grade, enabling him to plant Jade Corn. For the first two months after planting Jade Corn, not much management is needed, giving him more time to go out. He hopes that such high-risk investments from Demon Hunting can yield enough returns to quickly accumulate the Contribution Points needed for the Foundation Establishment Pill and join the ’queue to buy pills’ sequence. According to Qin Yan’s theory, he needs to open more branch networks of Immortal Veins at the Ninth-Layer Qi Refining, and then, with the power of body and mind ascension during the breakthrough to Foundation Establishment, to nourish the Immortal Veins and extend their length to further improve his aptitude. The Ninth-Layer Qi Refining can be polished slowly, just right for practicing Magical Combat. Ji An sighed in his heart; even though his dual soul fusion made his Divine Sense exceptional and, with the help of Stone Turtle, his progress in practicing magic techniques was far beyond others, he still found cultivation full of difficulties. Those cultivators from aristocratic families have family backing, making the path ahead much smoother. Wei Songnian collected the Crystal Stones and said with a smile: "No need to rush, junior brother, having debts is no harm." What’s feared is not having debts, but not having any debts owed! He felt that with the junior brother’s continuous growth, he would eventually become his biggest client. The two started to talk about their own cultivation, exchanging insights, without realizing that the day had passed. Ji An stood up and lit a candle in his hand, Liang Hill brought up a pot of fish head soup. "Let’s go help," Wei Songnian walked out, and the three went to the kitchen to bring out Fish Bone Cakes, stewed fish tails, and steamed fish. Liang Hill took out a few porcelain cups, and after they sat down, filled them with Spirit Wine. After downing a cup of wine, Liang Hill said softly: "Entry for twenty years, I am thirty-six this year, barely at Eighth-Layer Qi Refining, unsure if I will have the opportunity to attempt Foundation Establishment in my lifetime." The flickering candlelight cast a light and shadow over his deeply furrowed face. Why does the sect expel disciples who haven’t reached Foundation Establishment by the age of sixty? Because after sixty, a Qi Refining cultivator’s body begins to decline, and without a remarkable opportunity, achieving Foundation Establishment becomes unlikely. He has twenty-four years left, needing to break through Ninth-Layer Qi Refining and then practice to the Realm of Perfection. These aren’t difficult; however, exchanging for a Foundation Establishment Pill requires sixty thousand Contribution Points, which converts to three thousand Spirit Stones. The price of a Foundation Establishment Pill is much higher than the pills used in the daily cultivation of Foundation Establishment cultivators. "With income from the fish ponds, junior brother will surely accumulate enough Contribution Points for a Foundation Establishment Pill early." Raising a cup, Wei Songnian smiled and said: "Let us drink this cup together." After drinking the Spirit Wine, Liang Hill exhaled gently: "No need to console me, senior brother, it’s incomparable to having family support; my father was just a mid-stage Qi Refining loose cultivator, and the family still needs to support younger siblings. The only one to rely on is myself. I’ve calculated closely; unless I cultivate some advanced Spirit Fish, it’s hard to scrape together enough Contribution Points in the limited time. Even if enough Contribution Points are gathered, there’s still the queue to wait for." His hand clenched under the table; he’s thought it over, if time runs out at the end, he will purchase Magical Artifacts and Talismans and venture into the Ten Thousand Mountains. Risk his life for a future; if not, then bury himself in the green hills. Liang Hill is well aware that if he can’t obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill within the sect, it would be even more impossible to obtain one outside. In the Immortal City, a Foundation Establishment Pill can sell for four to five thousand Spirit Stones without raising eyebrows. Entering the sect, he has seen a broader world and is unwilling to just remain a Qi Refining cultivator. The elder in the sect always teaches that Foundation Establishment is the true beginning of cultivation. How can one resign to fate, wandering outside the gateway of cultivation? Wei Songnian felt a bit awkward, indeed, it’s easy for him to say as he has family backing. Once he achieves Ninth-Layer Perfection, his family will support him with a sum of Crystal Stones, and furthermore, utilize connections to allow him earlier access to a Foundation Establishment Pill. Ji An frowned slightly, then picked up a Fish Bone Cake, smiling: "Senior brothers, Spirit Fish tastes best when eaten hot. Eating and drinking one’s fill gives the strength to strive forward." "Junior brother is right, eat and drink one’s fill before talking about striving forward. Our situation is much better than loose cultivators." Liang Hill picked up a piece of fish tail, placing it in the porcelain bowl before his eyes. Outside, the moon shone bright, casting its glow over the jade green lake. The Spirit Fish in the pond leapt to form rippling waves, scattering fragments of moonlight across the water. ... In the morning, early-rising birds were already chirping on the branches. Ji An formed the spell with his fingers, crimson Spirit Light dispersing, and wisps of green smoke rose from the barren field. His hand shifted the Dharma Seal, releasing the Thick Earth Technique. In not much time, five acres of Spirit Field were cultivated. At this time, the morning light rose, shining on this tranquil valley, reflecting a gentle Spirit Light upon the Spirit Field. Old Huang and Little Huang returned hastily from the direction of Jade Water Lake, seeing several acres of Spirit Field cultivated here, they smiled enviously and said: "If I had Brother Xiao’an’s ability, I could linger in the sect for another twenty years." He had planted topsoil all his life, yet could not compare to others’ three years of work, and although he had long past the age of striving for victory, he still felt a certain indescribable bitterness every time he thought about it. Ji An replied gently: "It was with senior brother’s help back then that I was able to reach where I am today." Old Huang hurriedly waved his hand: "Without me, junior brother would still have a bright future." Outstanding people are more likely to receive help. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺 He pondered for a moment, then suddenly looked up: "Brother Xiao’an, after this Jiling Valley harvest, I’ll let you cultivate the Entry Level Spirit Field I have. The cultivation of Jade Corn differs slightly from Yellow Sprout Rice, and while I can still stay in the sect for half a year, I can teach you the key points." That day, Wei Songnian’s words during the wine-drinking fully awakened him. Yielding the Spirit Field earlier means fewer Spirit Stones earned now; there will be many requests for favors in the future. What he hesitates to give up now, more may need to be sacrificed later. There’s no gratuitous kindness; giving more now builds up goodwill. They’ve been together for years; he’s also managed to understand Ji An’s temperament and character. Such goodwill, the other party would reciprocate. He only lent a Spirit Stone, and a meal probably cost dozens of Spirit Crystals. Ji An was silent for a second, clasping his hands in courtesy: "To tell the truth, senior brother, I am in need of Crystal Stones, your generous offer cannot be refused with courtesy. In the future, if Flying Tiger faces difficulties, I will not refuse within my ability." He believes in taking benefits now and repaying the kindness when his cultivation is higher later, which will be easier. Just like when he initially joined the sect, borrowing Spirit Stones for cultivation, quickly enhancing his cultivation to repay the debt. Back then, borrowing nine Spirit Stones was an enormous sum for him at First-Layer Qi Refining, but repaying it at Qi Refining Fourth Level seemed much easier.