For the next half month, Su Ming, relying on the enhanced spiritual energy absorption effect of the Xuantian ring, devoted himself wholeheartedly to cultivating the Like Water Art.

Thanks to the supply of pure and abundant spiritual energy, as well as the high compatibility between the cultivation method and his own Water-Wood dual spiritual roots, Su Ming’s cultivation progress could truly be described as advancing a thousand miles a day.

Early stage of the fourth layer of Qi Refining…

Mid stage of the fourth layer of Qi Refining…

All the way to the peak of the fourth layer of Qi Refining!

If news of such speed were to spread, it would be enough to leave many outer sect disciples utterly dumbfounded.

For ordinary individuals with three spiritual roots, each small step forward during the middle stages of Qi Refining required years of painstaking grinding.

However, just as Su Ming’s momentum was soaring like a rainbow and he was preparing to muster his spiritual energy in one go to assault the barrier of the fifth layer of Qi Refining, a sudden, unexpected change occurred!

Late at night, inside the meditation room.

Su Ming sat cross-legged, but his body trembled slightly. Fine beads of cold sweat seeped from his forehead, and his face was flushed.

Within him, the spiritual energy driven by the Like Water Art had accumulated to the limit that his current meridians could contain. Surging and turbulent, like a bursting flood, it crashed against that invisible barrier of realm, time and time again.

“Break!”

With a hardened heart, Su Ming concentrated all his divine sense, imitating the method of his previous breakthrough, attempting to forcibly compress that vast spiritual energy into an indestructible sharp spear to pierce through the barrier.

However, this time, the spiritual energy went out of control!

That water-attribute spiritual energy, which should have been pliable and enduring, after being compressed to an extreme degree, actually gave birth to a violent backlash force! Moreover, a deep-seated stagnation and hidden pain originating from the depths of his Dao foundation suddenly amplified, as if an old injury had been triggered, causing the flow of spiritual energy to instantly congeal and distort.

“Ugh!”

Su Ming groaned, a sweet taste rising in his throat. A trickle of blood overflowed from the corner of his mouth.

His face instantly turned pale. A stabbing, burning pain, like needles and fire, came from his internal meridians. The previously orderly cycle of energy circulation was on the verge of collapse. Spiritual energy ran rampant inside him like a wild horse that had broken free of its reins.

“Quickly, disperse the energy! Do not force it!”

Lin Yu’s stern shout exploded in Su Ming’s Consciousness Sea like a thunderclap. “Foolish child! How could you be so reckless! Is this how you cultivate the Like Water Art?!”

“Master… I…” Su Ming’s breath was chaotic, even his spiritual sense communication becoming intermittent.

“Immediately guide the spiritual energy to disperse into your limbs and bones, return to calm! Quickly!”

Lin Yu, not caring about the consumption of his soul power, separated a wisp of pure soul power and forcibly intervened in Su Ming’s spiritual energy circulation, guiding those violent strands of spiritual energy to gradually calm down and disperse.

A full half hour passed before the stormy, churning commotion within Su Ming’s body gradually subsided.

He slumped limply on the meditation cushion, breathing heavily, his eyes still holding lingering shock and deep confusion.

“Master, why did this happen? The spiritual energy was clearly sufficiently abundant…”

“Because you are water, not metal, nor fire! And more importantly, because the old injury to your Dao foundation has not healed. Forcibly assaulting the barrier is like stirring up a flood peak in a river channel full of cracks, how could it not be dangerous?”

Lin Yu’s tone was heavy and solemn, carrying reproach, but even more so, a sense of lingering fear. “The essence of the Like Water Art lies in ‘silent, gradual nourishment,’ in ‘water dripping through stone’! It emphasizes acting according to the momentum, letting things take their natural course! You used it like a giant mountain-splitting axe, ramming with brute force, it would be strange if problems didn’t arise!”

“You, your heart is too impatient.”

Lin Yu sighed. “This half month of rapid cultivation progress has made you develop a sense of arrogance and impatience. Little did you know, the path of cultivation requires a balance of tension and relaxation. Sometimes, taking a step back allows you to advance three steps forward. Especially with the damage to your Dao foundation, you need to tread as if on thin ice. How could you act so rashly?”

“The fifth layer of Qi Refining is a crucial step marking the transition from the middle to the late stage of the Qi Refining period. It tests not only the quantity of spiritual energy, but even more so the comprehension of the essence of spiritual energy and the precise grasp of one’s own Dao body condition. Your meridians are now like a cup filled to the brim. Coupled with the constraints of old injuries, instead of thinking about nourishing, repairing, and broadening your meridians, you forcibly used brute strength. This is no different from destroying your own Great Wall.”

Listening to his master’s admonishment, the impetuousness that had sprouted in Su Ming’s heart due to the rapid improvement completely cooled down, replaced by an icy chill of lingering fear.

Yes, he had been too eager for quick results. After learning the secrets of the ring and the cultivation method, subconsciously, he had become somewhat carried away, forgetting that his own foundation was still not solid.

This mouthful of vomited blood and the hidden pain from his Dao foundation were like alarm bells, thoroughly waking him up.

“The true meaning of the Way of Survival lies first in self-awareness.” Su Ming wiped the bloodstain from the corner of his mouth, his eyes once again becoming calm and resolute.

“Master, this disciple knows his mistake.”

“Knowing your mistake is good, nothing is greater than this.” Lin Yu’s tone softened. “Since this path is temporarily blocked, there’s no need to force it. End your seclusion.”

“Studying behind closed doors is ultimately not a good strategy. You need to enter the world, walk among the mundane dust, temper your heart and nature, and comprehend the true meaning of ‘flowing water does not compete to be first.’ When your state of mind becomes harmonious and unified with the true intent of the cultivation method, the bottleneck will naturally break.”

…….

The first light of dawn appeared, a strand of purple qi passed through the sea of clouds, shining on the tightly closed window lattice of Courtyard D-7.

Beside the ancient well in the courtyard, a few unknown wild grasses hung with crystal dewdrops, gently swaying in the breeze. Suddenly, the wooden door of the meditation room emitted a light “creak” and was slowly pushed open.

A moist air, mixed with the scent of dew and spiritual herbs, rushed to meet him. The faint spiritual energy misting from the ancient well in the courtyard seemed to sense something, becoming a bit more lively than usual, even faintly gathering towards the doorway.

Su Ming stepped over the threshold, standing in the morning light, and took a deep breath.

With this inhalation, it was as if a giant whale was sucking in water. The moisture within several zhang around him was instantly swept away, transforming into a nearly invisible white thread that vanished into his nostrils.

A moment later, he slowly exhaled. His breath was long and drawn out, actually condensing into a straight arrow of qi in the cold morning air, shooting out three chi before dispersing.

Su Ming clenched his fist, feeling the water spiritual energy within his body. A faint curve lifted the corner of his mouth.

Although he hadn’t directly broken through to the fifth layer during this seclusion, after digesting the insights from “Perceiving the Minutest Detail,” his control over his own spiritual energy was no longer on the same level as before.

That feeling was like going from a blacksmith wielding a great hammer to a sculptor holding a carving knife.

“Don’t get cocky,” Lin Yu’s lazy voice sounded in his mind, carrying a hint of a sleepy nasal tone. “You’ve just barely learned how not to spill the water. Remember, right now, you’re like a water balloon filled to the brim. Looks big, but pops with one poke. Keep a low profile, understand?”

“Master’s lesson is correct.” Su Ming was in a good mood and didn’t argue. He lifted his foot and walked towards Bing Character Seven Courtyard.

…

Stepping into Bing Character Seven Courtyard, the scene that met his eyes made Su Ming pause slightly.

The usual hustle, bustle, and noise were gone, replaced by an extremely comfortable “production rhythm.”

In the center of the courtyard, the once mountain-like pile of formation plates awaiting repair was now sorted and placed on three long wooden tables.

Over a dozen menial disciples stood in a single row. Each had specific tools and materials arranged before them. Their movements were uniform and synchronized, like gears on a precision instrument.

There was no idle chatter, no complaints, only the rustling sound of carving knives scraping metal and the crisp clicks of spirit stones being fitted into grooves.

“Li Er! The concentration of the spiritual ink in the third process is two points too high! Are you trying to burn the formation plate? Do it again!”

Not far away, Old Wang stood with his hands behind his back, holding a homemade “vernier caliper” made by Su Ming. He was sternly reprimanding a young menial disciple.

That demeanor, that tone, was the spitting image of how Su Ming used to scold people, even down to the subtle expression of exasperation at someone failing to live up to expectations.

“And you, Zhang Tiezhu! That’s the ‘Spirit Gathering pattern,’ not for you to draw ghostly scribbles! The lines must be steady, your breathing even! If you tremble one more time, forget about dinner tonight!”

Li Hou was responsible for the final quality inspection on the side. He held a standard sample plate in his hand. Every repaired formation plate had to undergo extremely stringent comparison. If there was the slightest flaw, it was directly thrown back into the rework area.

On the wall, that huge “Data Publicity Board” shimmered faintly in the morning light. The top line of vermilion characters was particularly eye-catching—

“This Ten-Day Period’s Pass Rate: Ninety-nine point eight percent.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep