When he opened the pot, a rich, savory aroma filled the air—deep and mouthwatering, with the hearty scent of Magic Beast meat at its core. The meat gave off a natural, almost wild fragrance, like roasted game infused with spiritual essence. The salt and pepper added a sharp kick, while the cinnamon released a gentle sweetness that tingled the nose. Mixed in, the Spiritwind Leaves released a cool, refreshing undertone, calming and crisp.
As he took the first bite, the meat was tender and juicy, almost melting on the tongue. It carried a bold, earthy flavor, slightly mellow from the cinnamon but grounded by the spice of black pepper. The broth was rich and smooth, coating his throat with warmth.
He couldn't help but crave another spoonful. Hastily, Xitu grabbed 2 large bowls. One for the congee and the other for the stew. Within minutes, he had finished both, yet an insatiable hunger lingered. Without hesitation, he dug into another serving.
After an hour, Xitu sat on the ground, his belly round and full. He had never eaten so much in his entire 2 lives combined. With a contented sigh, he patted his swollen stomach.
"This is life! I've wasted the past 31 years of my existence! If I could eat like this daily, I wouldn't hesitate to venture into the forest and battle Magic Beast."
Of course, only he knew how much of that statement was true.
A while later, he finally felt ready to move. Standing up, he shuffled over to the wooden water barrel and took a few sips. Mid-drink, something strange stirred within him.
His body began to heat up like a blazing furnace. Spiritual Energy surged through his meridians like a raging tide, saturating every fiber of his being. He brimmed with such profound energy that he felt compelled to act, or else it would get dangerous.
Xitu settled down and focused on clearing his mind. Thanks to the calming effect of the Spiritwind Leaves, it didn't take too much effort. He began cultivating according to the Five Elements Technique. With each deep breath, he felt more composed.
After 5 hours of meditation and 2 Full Circulations of Qi, his energy finally began to flow naturally.
'I'm on the verge of breaking through to the 9th stage of Vein Opening Realm. I can feel the 'boundary' already, just one more small push and I'll make it,' he thought.
But before he could decide whether to continue, a wave of exhaustion swept over him. His eyelids grew heavy, his consciousness fading as if gently pulled away.
He had overworked his body and meridians, so he desperately needed a rest now. With a deep yawn escaping his lips, Xitu collapsed unconscious onto the floor.
Early the following morning, Xitu woke up feeling refreshed in both body and mind. It was as if he'd just downed a strong cup of coffee. Energy coursed through him.
He decided to open his shop earlier than usual today. But first, he had to take care of some… necessary business. His digestive system demanded the removal of 'waste.' In other words, he needed to use the toilet.
As previously mentioned, the early stages of cultivation would not free one from basic needs. You still had to eat and drink, sleep to recover, and heed nature's call. These necessities would gradually lessen as one advanced.
It was said that cultivators at the Core Formation Realm—the 3rd realm of cultivation, transcended most mortal shackles. At this level, Qi coursed through every organ and blood vessel, thoroughly infusing the body.
Survival depended solely on Spiritual Energy, with food and drink consumed purely for pleasure.
Unless severely injured, most cultivators in this realm no longer needed sleep, replacing it with deep meditation.
Their bodies would naturally expel impurities, and a subtle, invisible barrier of Qi would form around them, repelling dust, grime, and filth. In other words, they could eat greasy street food, roll in the mud, or stroll around completely naked and still remain perfectly clean without ever needing to bathe or relieve themselves.
But Xitu was nowhere near that level yet.
After finishing his business, he casually flicked a Purification Talisman into the toilet. The talisman dissolved instantly with a faint shimmer, releasing its cleansing magic. He closed the lid, knowing that in a few hours, everything inside would be sanitized, odorless, and fresh as new.
With everything ready, Xitu went out for what he hoped would be another profitable day. As he strolled along the path, a sudden 'Whoosh!' sliced through the air above.
He looked up just in time to catch a streak of light cutting across the sky. It took him a moment to realize that it was a human flying swiftly toward the center of the Cultivation District.
He didn't recognize who it was, but one thing was clear: it was a high-level cultivator. They were soaring across without the support of any flying artifact. The only person he knew capable of such a feat was Mo Xing, the manager of this Cultivation District.
'But it's been ages since I last saw him. Rumor has it he was gravely wounded battling a Magic Beast deep in the forest.'
'I wonder if that's the new manager sent by the sect?'
Either way, it was none of his business. Shrugging it off, Xitu went on his way. Like yesterday, he took the same spot and set up his stall. Only this time, his neighbor—Daoist Luo An, wasn't here yet.
There wasn't much traffic in the early morning, so Xitu got bored soon enough. Xitu decided to practice the Qi Bullet Spell on nearby small rocks to pass the time. And so, the morning passed by quietly as he missed most of his targets.
As the sun climbed toward its peak, Daoist Luo An slowly made his way over, smirking.
"Got nothing better to do? How about reading some adventure tales? I've got a few good ones here."
"No thanks. What about you? Sleeping till the sun's overhead but still look like a walking corpse. Mind sharing your secret?", Xitu teased back.
Luo An shot him a long, unreadable glance. It sent Xitu a faint chill up his spine. Then, with a half-smile, Luo An chuckled.
"Hah... A 'baby bird' like you wouldn't understand anyway. Maybe try broadening your knowledge first—if you catch my drift."
With that, he sat down, pulled out a scroll, and began reading at his own pace. Xitu frowned, puzzled by his words, but since no answer came, he had no choice but to continue practicing his spells.