Chapter 302: Foundation Building, Fifth Level
Wang Hong soared through the Mountain of Liquor, selecting a jar from the second-tier Spirit Wine. This particular jar contained White Crystal Fruit wine, aged for over a thousand years.
Earlier, he had consumed a ripe Green Spirit Peach, causing his Spiritual Power to surge. For the past few years, he had been refining his Spiritual Power diligently.
White Crystal Fruit was the best aid for this purpose, and the Spirit Wine brewed from it had even greater effects.
With wine and meat in hand, he drifted into the Green Spirit Peach forest and plucked a ripe fruit. His refined Spiritual Power had become exceptionally pure over the years.
Wang Hong decided to eat another Green Spirit Peach to break through to the Fifth Level of Foundation Building as soon as possible.
In the current turbulent Cultivation World, even as a core Sect Alchemist, he couldn't be assured of his safety.
It was crucial to increase his strength to have an extra layer of protection in times of crisis.
Exiting his Space, Wang Hong steamed the two silverfish over high heat for a quarter of an hour, separating the fish from their bones and flesh.
Then, he sprinkled some scallions made from Thousand-Year Polar Small Cold Onions, which he had obtained from Sloppy Old Daoist.
According to the Old Taoist, he had paid a significant price to obtain a single eight-hundred-year-old Polar Small Cold Onion.
Wang Hong had only cultivated a small patch of Polar Small Cold Onions in his Space, but it was more than enough for his personal consumption. Growing more seemed unnecessary.
The snow-white and glistening silverfish, adorned with scallions, sizzled as he poured hot oil over them.
A sizzling sound filled the room, and the scallion aroma blended with the fish fragrance, wafting through the entire room.
Wang Hong couldn't help but inhale deeply, trying to savor the delightful aroma that filled the air.
Using chopsticks, he picked up a piece of fish and brought it to his mouth. The fish was tender and slightly elastic, with a rich and fragrant flavor that didn't instantly dissolve but lingered on his taste buds.
He savored the exquisite taste of the fish until he swallowed it, wanting more.
Next, he brought out a jar of thousand-year Spirit Wine, opened the seal, and was immediately enveloped in a rich and mellow fragrance that filled the room.
The jar was nearly half-empty after aging for a thousand years, and the wine had become incredibly thick. Even when a drop was placed on the table, it maintained its spherical shape without spreading.
Wang Hong poured a glass into a jade cup and took a deep breath before sipping it. The wine's aroma penetrated deep into his lungs.
Taking a small sip of the Spirit Wine, the liquid expanded fully in his mouth, covering his entire palate with a harmonious blend of sour, bitter, sweet, spicy, and salty flavors that coexisted without conflicting.
As he swallowed the wine, he took a slow breath, allowing the fragrance to flow from his mouth to his belly and then throughout his entire body.
Finally, he exhaled the breath through his nose, feeling a sense of ease and ethereal tranquility wash over him.
Wang Hong only drank two cups of Spirit Wine, saving the rest in small bottles for later use.
It was only then that he took out the Green Spirit Peach and began consuming it.
After swallowing a Green Spirit Peach, Wang Hong immediately began meditating to refine the surging Spiritual Energy within him.
Once the Spiritual Energy had completely transformed into his own Spiritual Power, his dantian sea was only inches away from being full.
With one more Green Spirit Peach, he would be able to directly advance to the Fifth Level of Foundation Building.
Wang Hong secluded himself in the Cultivation Room for another month, waiting for his Spiritual Power to stabilize before consuming another Green Spirit Peach.
After digesting the Green Spirit Peach, Wang Hong finally achieved his goal of reaching the Fifth Level of Foundation Building.
His dantian sea expanded once again, now reaching a size of fourteen feet.
At this point, if we were to compare solely based on the total amount of Spiritual Power, he had more than many fully cultivated Foundation Building practitioners.
Of course, combat strength wasn't determined solely by the quantity of Spiritual Power. Battle experience, possession of Spiritual Weapons, and other factors also influenced the outcome of a fight.
With his current strength, even without using any other means, he could easily defeat late-stage Foundation Building opponents.
After advancing to the Fifth Level of Foundation Building, he couldn't use Green Spirit Peach to advance quickly again for some time. He needed to refine his power further.
Wang Hong continued his seclusion for three more months. By this time, he had spent over two years in the Heishi Valley Marketplace and felt it was time to return to the sect.
"Luo Senior Brother, Gu Junior Brother, I plan to return to the sect tomorrow, so I've come to bid farewell to both of you," Wang Hong said after finding the two.
"Wang Senior Brother, can I go with you?" Gu Wei hurriedly asked upon hearing that Wang Hong was leaving. After spending a long time here, he felt as though he was practically part of the sect, still confined to one place.
"Gu Junior Brother, Master specifically instructed you to stay in the marketplace and help me manage the business," Luo Yuxuan said, making it sound like Gu Wei's assistance was vital for the marketplace, though it was mainly to keep him here.
"I will be going into seclusion for quite a while when I return to the sect. Will you come back with me?" Wang Hong knew Gu Wei's temperament well and asked.
"Forget it, I'll stay here and learn more from Elder Brother," Gu Wei quickly shook his head. Compared to returning to the sect, he preferred staying here.
"In that case, Junior Brother, take care on your journey!"
The next day, Wang Hong rode Little Peng and flew toward the Qingxu Sect. On the way, he encountered five Treasure Hunters who, seeing him alone, thought he would be an easy target and surrounded him.
To ensure his Spiritual Power stabilized sooner, Wang Hong deliberately summoned two Spiritual Weapons to fight against the five individuals.
He fought them single-handedly and didn't seem to be at a disadvantage. In fact, he appeared to gain confidence as the battle went on.
The highest cultivation level among the five was only in the mid-stage of Foundation Building, and they had unwittingly become Wang Hong's whetstones for practice.
At this moment, the five Treasure Hunters were growing increasingly worried. They felt as though they had kicked a hornet's nest and didn't know if it was too late to surrender.
They were now clearly on the losing side. One of them had even tried to escape earlier but was blocked by a giant bird that didn't join the fight. It leisurely flew around, occasionally tossing a handful of melon seeds into its mouth, ensuring no one could escape.
They deeply regretted encountering this bird now. As they struggled to fend off Wang Hong's relentless attacks, one of them lost their head to his blade.
The remaining four immediately surrendered and begged for mercy, hoping to be spared.
However, their opponent showed no mercy and continued to ruthlessly kill. The last Treasure Hunter attempted to flee but was cleaved in half by Little Peng's wing.
After this battle, Wang Hong's Spiritual Power had been further tempered, and the previously unstable energy had become more solid.
He collected the items from the five corpses, then cremated the bodies with a burst of flames and left the scene.
Sitting on Little Peng's back, Wang Hong examined the loot and realized that these Treasure Hunters were either newcomers or struggling financially. Their possessions were meager, consisting of a few ordinary Spiritual Weapons and minimal Spirit Stones and pills.
It was nothing compared to the last haul he had obtained in the Demonic Beast's cave.
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