Chapter 404: Spiritual Fire

[Cultivation +1]

[Lifeblood +1]

Jiang Hao looked at his interface. He still lacked a bit of cultivation and lifeblood. He then headed to the Spirit Herb Garden.

If he could find another blue bubble, he would be able to advance tonight.

Cheng Chou who was standing at the entrance of the Spirit Herb Garden immediately rushed over to report the situation.

“The main issue is with the outer sect. The Spirit Herb Garden was just recently opened. The quality of the soil is unstable, and some of the spirit herbs are showing signs of withering. Although the disciples of the Candlelight Pill Pavilion have examined it, their own problems are even greater. Senior Sister Miao isn’t free, so we’re not sure who to ask for help.” Jiang Hao walked all the way to the blue bubbles.

[Strength +1]

[Spirit +1]

After confirming that both Lifeblood and Cultivation were full, Jiang Hao sighed in relief.

It seemed that there was no need to wait any longer. He could attempt to advance tonight.

After advancing, he could finally sell the talismans he had.

No more piling up of tasks.

Lately, he had been using up talismans, and he had less than a thousand spirit stones left. He had used mostly the Heaven Secrets 1–lidden Talismans and the Breath Concealment Talisman.

The materials were expensive, and the talismans couldn’t be sold.

“Other than those that are withering, how are the other spirit herbs?” Jiang Hao asked.

Even if he was going to advance tonight, he still needed to handle the matters of the Spirit Herb Garden.

He couldn’t rush things.

“Not very well.” Cheng Chou shook his head.

“The spiritual energy there is insufficient, and the land can’t be compared to a normal Spirit Herb Garden. It’s mainly because it’s too large. The resources are spread thin after distribution, and the effects are slow.”

Jiang Hao nodded. This was a situation he had no control over.

However, as long as there were more spirit herbs, the environment there could be changed. Once they persisted through this phase, they would enter a bountiful phase.

As for the withering of the spirit herbs, it naturally needed attention. After all, many of them belonged to him. Even if they weren’t his, too much withering could cause trouble.

Everything would be dealt with calmly so that the seniors weren’t alarmed.

Having understood the surrounding situation, Jiang Hao didn’t think much about it.

This was his responsibility, but he had lived through similar situations in all these years. Compared to the other things he had faced, this was ordinary.

“Oh, by the way…” Cheng Chou hesitated. “Although the rumors aren’t increasing in recent days, they are deeply rooted. They feel that you have accepted the Blood Wish Path. Even the ordinary people are wary of you.”

“Are they doing their tasks properly?” Jiang Hao asked.

“Yes.” Cheng Chou nodded.

“That’s good. Don’t worry about it,” Jiang Hao said.

There was nothing inherently wrong with pursuing the Blood Wish Path. It not only made him seem more like a disciple of the demonic sect, but it also provided him with a reason for advancement.

Now, his excuse for advancement didn’t have to depend solely on fortuitous encounters. People would assume the Blood Wish Path played a part in it as well.

Everything was going smoothly, except Han Ming. He still had to reach the peak of the foundation Establishment Realm.

When that time came, he would wait a bit longer before displaying his cultivation at the Golden Core Realm.

Once he achieved the Golden Core Realm, his status in the Heavenly Note Sect would rise.

Under his watch, the Spirit Herb Garden wouldn’t encounter issues, and it would facilitate his cultivation.

The only trouble was whether he could continue guarding the Spirit Herb Garden.

When it was evening, Jiang Hao returned to his courtyard. After making sure that everything was alright, he attempted to advance to the next realm.

He had used the last of his spirit stones to purchase an array formation to prevent any unpleasant surprises.

He also activated some Heaven Secrets Hidden Talismans around his house.

Only then did he close his eyes and begin to cultivate.

His lifeblood and cultivation were extracted. Boundless spiritual energy surged around him.

The Hong Meng Heart Sutra circulated, and immediately, a purple aura enveloped him.

Advancement was an extremely perilous process. Jiang Hao didn’t dare to be distracted. At this moment, he felt the spiritual energy surging toward his Primordial Spirit.

For a moment, it felt like the peak of the Primordial Spirit Realm was being consumed by flames.

Intense pain spread through his body. The burning sensation covered his entire being.

Amidst the burning, Jiang Hao felt a light appear between his eyebrows.

This was a divine ability of the Primordial Spirit called the Divine Might.

The Divine Might was tempered by the flames of the Primordial Spirit.

At that moment, Jiang Hao felt that his spirit was becoming increasingly pure and condensed.

Under the flame of the Primordial Spirit, his lifeblood was also ignited. It tempered his body.

Only by doing so could he support a powerful Primordial Spirit and unleash his full strength.

This tempering process lasted for three days.

At dawn, the purple energy gradually dissipated, and Jiang Hao’s body appeared within the purple aura.

When the purple aura completely dissipated, he opened his eyes.

An inexplicable pressure emerged around him, and an intangible flame seemed capable of igniting everything around him.

It was the spiritual flame of divine ability.

‘This divine ability is quite powerful.’

After his advancement, Jiang Hao could perceive that the most significant change this time was in his divine ability.

Previously, Divine Might could protect his Primordial Spirit and impose pressure on others.

Now, his Divine Might was like a flame that could ignite with his consciousness.

Those with weaker strength would experience unbearable suffering.

If the flame wasn’t extinguished, the agony wouldn’t stop.

Moreover, he could sense the power of a refined spirit. What was previously an intangible Primordial Spirit had now become solid, robust, and colossal.

It could easily overpower the Primordial Spirit.

Indeed, the process of refining the soul was terrifying.

His former self was so weak compared to his current self.

A short while later, he began absorbing the remaining cultivation to refine his realm.

During the night, he made some changes to his backup treasures.

For instance, the Nine Heavens Battle Armor Set. The set hadn’t been activated fully yet because his cultivation had been weak.

Now, he could fully make use of its potential.

The Moon- Slaying and Mountain Suppression Techniques in his wrist guards needed to be replaced as well.

Jiang Hao also needed to modify the Reappearance of Hidden Spirit between his brows.

At noon, he once again reached his peak.

Afterward, he went to the courtyard to water the Heavenly Fragrance Dao Flowers.

This time, he needed to see how long it would take for the bubbles to appear.

After he was done with his advancement, everything began to return to normal.

During the day, he tended to the Spirit Herb Garden.

At night, he meditated and examined himself.

He had only just advanced, and he needed time to adapt to his current power and strength.

At twenty-eight years old, he was at the Soul Ascension Realm. He felt as though the entire sect was no match for him.

It was easy to entertain thoughts like that which would lead him astray.

The future was promising, so he felt that he had become invincible.

Once such thinking became a habit, it would be hard to acknowledge one’s flaws. One would feel as though their arrogance was just a natural state of being.

That was the most terrifying thing.

He needed to calm himself. It would be best if he spoke as little as possible during the next few days.

Even five days later, no bubbles appeared near the Heavenly Fragrance Dao

Flowers.

There was none on the sixth day too. On the seventh day, two blue bubbles appeared.

[Cultivation +1]

[Lifeblood +1]

‘An extra two days, but that’s okay.’

That meant one cultivation point in seven days. Around four each month…

Fifty-two in a year.

Two years would be needed for the next advancement.

‘It’s slower than before. It’s a pity that Xuanyuan Tai’s flower won’t be here for long, or else I could get blue bubbles from it too.’

‘But it might take twenty years to advance beyond the Soul Ascension Realm. I was already quite fast in my advancement.’

Moreover, in a few more years, the Immortal Peach Tree might become a divine tree. By then, he might get more blue bubbles.

This would further increase his speed.

He might advance in one year instead of two.

He just needed to wait for the Immortal Peach Tree’s next incarnation.

The future held promise..