From Celestial Official to Great Celestial Venerable

Chapter 44 Spirit Area
After cultivating to the fifth level of Qi Refining, Qin Chuan became increasingly clear-headed:
If one wishes to follow the unspoken rule in the cultivation world that "if one does not advance to the True View stage at the appropriate age, it will be difficult to achieve the Golden Core stage," or even surpass it, talent alone is far from sufficient.

My third uncle's words from that day resurfaced in my mind.

Wealth, companion, law, and place—they are all indispensable.

"We'll see. If I can find the time, I'll take on a few more jobs as a spiritual plant consultant. Earning money for cultivation isn't shameful."

He could only console himself with this thought.

I glanced out the window; it was already dawn.

Over the next week, Qin Chuan successively reprocessed the remaining items that contained Dharma essence.

The things in Liu Shichang's room were not of much use to him; most of them were decorations given by others to adorn the public housing. Unlike Guo Shanshan, who often caressed and played with the items, Liu Shichang's room was filled with miscellaneous things, but the spiritual essence they contained was scattered and shallow.

In the end, Qin Chuan kept only the pair of iron gallbladders from Liu Shichang's room, and sent the rest back to the furnace.

[Item: Iron Gallbladder]

[A pair of ordinary iron flasks, due to Liu Shichang's frequent handling and use of the Palm Flame Technique, have become imbued with magical essence. One point of "Palm Flame Technique" cultivation can be extracted from them, or they can be recycled into 200 points of magical essence.]

Qin Chuan chose to refine.

[The Palm Flame Technique has been refined; the furnace master has obtained the sixth level of Palm Flame Technique cultivation.]

This technique can melt gold and smelt iron. Liu Shichang came from the Jiuchuan Ironware Workshop in his early years. After being promoted to deputy abbot of Nongling Temple, he did not forget his old skills. He would play with these iron gallbladders all day long, using the palm-burning technique to roll and flatten them to relieve pressure...

The spell, valued at two hundred magic essences, was actually comparable in rank to the Five Elements Immortal Foundation Technique.

If we compare it to the levels of the Yi Mu Qing Tian Jue (乙木青天决), this means that Liu Shichang's mastery of the Palm Flame Technique has at least reached the sixth level of the Yi Mu Qing Tian Jue. This implies that Liu Shichang also has his own understanding of fire-based magic.

This also proves that none of the immortals who can reach the Foundation Establishment stage are fools or good-for-nothings; otherwise, they would have been just another ordinary person in the Qi Refining stage.

Peng!
When Qin Chuan used this technique, flames instantly erupted from his entire palm, so intensely hot that the air itself seemed to distort.

He casually picked up an iron bladder and instantly heated it until it was red-hot. However, he was unable to knead it as easily as Liu Shichang had.

With a slight thought, he channeled the true energy of the Burning Wood and Separating Fire Technique into the spell...

Instantly, the iron balls softened like molten clay, changing shape at will in his palm.

"It seems Liu Shichang used to be under a lot of pressure... but this is really a way to relieve stress."

Qin Chuan played with the iron gall, feeling quite satisfied:
"This Palm Flame Technique should be my most powerful spell to date."

A pair of fleshy palms, capable of melting gold and iron, would have unimaginable consequences if struck on a person.

Apart from the Palm Flame Technique, Qin Chuan recycled all the magical essence of the other items, including the Minor Cloud and Rain Technique—since he already had a copy and could upgrade it at any time, it would be more practical to convert it into a flexible magical essence resource.

Seven days later, Qin Chuan's interface had been completely renewed:
Hearth Master: Qin Chuan

Dharma aggregates: 545 points

Rank: Heavenly Register Daoist (Rank 9, Child Spiritual Scripture Register)

Cultivation level: Qi Refining Level 5

Spells practiced:
Five Elements Immortal Foundation Technique (Fifth Level)
Silver-light White Needle (Sixth Layer)
Thirteen Astounding Transformations (Second Level)
Yi Wood Azure Sky Technique (Seventh Level)
Burning Wood Separation Technique (Sixth Level)
Palm Flame Technique (Sixth Level)
Lesser Cloud Rain Technique (Level 1)
Talismanic Proficiency (Second Tier)
Culinary Skills (Advanced)
………………

With over 500 points of magical energy surrounding him, Qin Chuan felt his back straighten considerably. He invested a few points of magical energy to test it and discovered that only 150 points were needed to raise the Yi Mu Qing Tian Jue to the level of Elder Huo—the eighth level! At that time, his mastery of spiritual plant medicine would be comparable to Elder Huo's.

However… Based on his previous experience with the breakthrough and skill point allocation, Qin Chuan felt that before his next advancement, it would be best to find a “Water” or “Earth” technique to cultivate the corresponding true qi, in order to balance the easily imbalanced wood and fire energies. If he could obtain either an Earth or Water technique, although the five elements cycle would not be complete, the three elements of true qi would be more stable.

“These days, the teacher has been busy at the county temple, supposedly to meet with other members of the special training class, and has not had a free time. Otherwise, I would have asked him for these two magic techniques to try them out.”

That day, after finishing work, Qin Chuan returned to the He family compound and saw He Xingchen's family excitedly gathered in the courtyard.

He Qingxuan exclaimed excitedly, "Brother, you're amazing!"

Seeing this, Qin Chuan couldn't help but feel curious.

He stepped into the courtyard and asked with a smile, "Qingxuan, Uncle He, Brother He, what makes you so happy?"

Upon seeing Qin Chuan return in his black and white Taoist robe, He Qingxuan's eyes lit up, and she rushed forward, chattering, "Brother Qin Chuan, my brother got a spot in the third phase of the Spirit District housing!"

"A room in the Lingqu area!" Qin Chuan was taken aback, then looked at He Xingchen with delight: "Brother He, this is truly a joyous occasion!"

The third batch of spiritual housing was built on the core spiritual vein of Jiuchuan, where the concentration of spiritual energy was five or six times higher than that of the outer city district.

If one could reside there to cultivate oneself, it would be like adding wings to a tiger; one year of arduous cultivation could be equivalent to five or six years of effort by others.

He Xingchen replied tactfully, "This is all thanks to Brother Qin's previous mental cultivation manual, which helped me break through to the late stage of Qi Refining, thus meeting the application requirements. In addition, a teacher in Langyin Pavilion valued me highly and made several secret arrangements before submitting my name. However... it's still hard to say when I can actually take possession of the room."

Qin Chuan was overjoyed for Xingchen, but a thought also crossed his mind: "Can one apply for a room in the Spirit Area once they reach the late stage of Qi Refining? What qualifications are required?"

He was troubled by the issue of spiritual energy resources for cultivation.

If I could own a house in a spiritual area, I wouldn't need to go through the trouble of finding a part-time job as a spiritual plant consultant. I could then devote all my extra time and energy to work and spiritual practice.

It is equivalent to five or six times the spiritual energy content outside the workshop.

How could she not be moved?

"Brother Qin, are you also interested in applying for a Spirit Area house?" He Xingchen immediately said, "Indeed, our current living environment is no longer suitable for your cultivation here. You'll need your own Spirit Area house. As for the eligibility requirements, the standards vary from agency to agency. Our Langyin Pavilion requires you to be in the late Qi Refining stage, have made meritorious contributions within the past two years, and have a recommendation from an elder. However, if it's the Nongling Temple, I'm afraid you'll have to ask Elder Huo..."

He answered the questions seriously.

His words made Qin Chuan think a lot. He had long been aware of He Xingchen's talent. He had reached the seventh level of Qi Refining in about two years after joining the company. He was undoubtedly one of the most outstanding young people in Jiuchuan County. It was precisely because of this that he had a place in the Scripture Recitation Association. His future was limitless.

I only realized today, after hearing He Xingchen's words, that He Xingchen also has a powerful background in Langyin Pavilion.

It seems that Brother He's experiences in cultivating Taoism are far beyond what ordinary people can compare to.

Qin Chuan bowed deeply and solemnly, saying, "Thank you for your explanation, Brother He."

Although he cultivates very quickly, he has only been working for nearly three months. These are things he didn't have time to think about before, but now it seems that he can get a piece of the action.

"Teacher Huo will be at the temple tomorrow, I'll ask him when I go to work," Qin Chuan thought to himself.

Tomorrow, not only will Elder Huo be returning, but I've also heard that the new abbot and deputy abbot, as well as other specialists from the special task force, will also be arriving.

"If Brother Qin Chuan also gets a room in the Spirit District, does that mean he'll have to move out?" He Qingxuan suddenly asked.

state!
He Xingchen flicked her forehead: "Silly girl, if Brother Qin also gets approved, then it will definitely be the third phase, and we'll still be in the same alley."

He Qingxuan pouted and mumbled something unintelligible.

(End of this chapter)