Filthy Cultivation: I Pierced the Heavens with the Merit System

The essence of cultivation is to absorb the unclaimed spiritual energy between heaven and earth into the body, transform it into the life force with one's own spiritual root attributes through the spiritual root, and then either store it in the dantian to settle or use it to temper the physical body.

The more spiritual roots one has, the higher the upper limit of storage in the dantian. Although one can control more spiritual power attributes, the spiritual power and time required for cultivation will also increase several times over.

If one possesses both water and fire, which are mutually destructive spiritual roots, then let alone cultivation, even survival becomes a problem.

Under normal circumstances, apart from those with special bloodlines, living beings can only be compatible with the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth.

However, if someone were to see Li Fuyao cultivating at this moment, they would be immediately shocked to discover that the spiritual energy she absorbed into her body was not just five types, but also included two more colors: blue and purple.

Even more faintly, there was an extremely blurry black and white projection looming over it, moving along a mysterious trajectory, its flow carrying an inexplicable majesty.

Li Fuyao couldn't see any unusual phenomena on her body. She only felt that cultivation was the ultimate enjoyment in the world, far surpassing any top-tier spa in her previous life.

If the body is likened to a parched desert, then spiritual energy is like refreshing rain.

Pure spiritual energy surged and flowed through his meridians. Li Fuyao felt that as the cultivation technique was being practiced, not only his physical body was being nourished and strengthened, but also his soul.

As she practiced the technique, surging spiritual energy flowed into every cell of her body.

Like a sponge soaked in dish soap, it cleansed and healed Li Fuyao's years of accumulated illnesses and injuries, from her skin and flesh to her meridians and bones.

Layers of filth oozed from every pore of her body, enveloping her like a foul-smelling cocoon.

The strong in this world are divided into two main categories: mortals and cultivators. Those who are born with or have acquired their skills are mortals, while those who have reached the Qi Refining stage are cultivators.

Aside from those with exceptional talent, most people are trapped in their acquired abilities their entire lives, struggling even to reach the innate level.

The acquired stage involves using spiritual energy to strengthen bones and muscles, temper the body, and remove impurities. As the body becomes purer, the connection with heaven and earth becomes stronger.

The strongest in the acquired stage can shatter rocks with their fists and race horses with their legs. They can also use the spiritual energy within their bodies for their own purposes, such as pouring water, starting fires, building houses, sprouting buds, and forging iron, making life much more convenient.

When the body is tempered to be as pure as a newborn baby, it enters the innate stage.

The innate level is the top expert among mortals. Not only has the strength of the physical body increased, but the power and endurance of the spiritual power have also been significantly improved compared to the acquired level. They are able to use some mortal-grade talismans and low-grade magic weapons.

Once one can condense the spiritual energy in their dantian into a vortex, it means they have truly entered the ranks of cultivators and become a Qi Refining stage cultivator.

Li Fuyao is still far from condensing the Qi vortex. She has used most of the spiritual energy she has absorbed to restore her body.

The original owner was abused too severely, resulting in malnutrition and stunted growth, as well as many chronic and hidden injuries. Even if he managed to escape from the jaws of the filthy beast this time, it would be difficult for him to live to adulthood.

Therefore, to temper one's physical body and reach the Innate Realm, one needs to put in several times more effort than others.

Although her foundation was weak, Li Fuyao was fortunate enough to prove herself.

In addition, the Heavenly One Technique is very powerful, and with the support of both, the progress is not much slower than the initial loading bar of a large game.

The feeling of complete comfort was intoxicating, and Li Fuyao was so engrossed in cultivation that she could not extricate herself.

Unbeknownst to her, the spiritual energy she had attracted had already formed a rapidly spinning vortex above her head, pouring massive amounts of spiritual energy into her body like water being flushed from a toilet.

The obvious fluctuations in spiritual energy immediately attracted the attention of the entire town.

In a luxurious restaurant a few hundred meters away, an elderly man paused slightly in his hand movements.

The old man had white hair and a youthful face. Although he was dressed in luxurious clothes, he did not exude any arrogance or sharpness.

His eyes gleamed with a sharp light, and when he looked at people, a sense of authority was revealed, making him seem like an ordinary person.

If he hadn't been gnawing on a chunk of pork knuckle until his face was greasy, and if his sleeves hadn't been tied in a comical knot for convenience.

"Hmm? Such a strong spiritual energy fluctuation."

The old man raised his head from his elbow, glanced in the direction of the inn, and then looked at the changing expression on his disciple's face. He couldn't help but sigh.

He slowly put down the half-eaten pork knuckle in his hand, pulled out a gleaming towel from somewhere, and asked Lin Qingqing while wiping his mouth:

"Qingqing, is that little girl you told me about near the whirlpool?"

“Master, the inn I booked is located below that whirlpool. Little Fuyao has a pitiful background, and she is well-behaved and sensible. We get along very well.”

Lin Qingqing stood up, sword in hand, and as she spoke, she had already placed one foot on the windowsill, leaning forward as if to leap:

“Now that I’ve brought her back, we’ve formed a karmic bond. Our trip here will inevitably attract the attention of those with ulterior motives. If this commotion is caused by me and ends up endangering her, it will surely affect my disciple’s resolve. Master, please continue eating. I’ll get right back…”

"state!"

"What do you mean by that?"

The old man, both amused and annoyed, gave her a light tap on the forehead. Seeing Lin Qingqing rubbing her forehead, confused, he gently scolded her:

"Why are you in such a hurry? You've only met that girl a few times. You believe everything she says just because you feel sorry for her? I might as well say I'm the head chef of this Wenxiang Restaurant!"

"Have you ever thought about this? That place was just massacred by demonic cultivators, so how come she was the only one who survived?"

Seeing his eldest disciple's embarrassed expression, the old man couldn't help but sigh:

“It is good for a cultivator to have the world in mind and to have good intentions. I am not reprimanding you because you have good intentions. It is just that even though you are born with a pure, kind and exquisite heart, you should also remember to be careful while being kind.”

"This is not the sect after all, so you must be more careful in your actions. For example, yesterday's incident made me think that your actions were quite reckless. I only asked you to clean up the evil beasts, why did you go and disturb the demonic cultivators' formation? You just rely on the protective magic treasure I gave you to act recklessly every day!"

"It seems I still need to let you go out of the sect more often to gain experience. Staying in the sect every day for closed-door martial arts training has turned a fine young girl into a dullard! Look at your unsteady appearance, where is the demeanor of my senior sister of Wangyue Peak?"

Lin Qingqing was taken aback upon hearing this, and a look of shame appeared on her face:

"Master is right, I was too impatient."

"Yes, you are much more impatient than usual. I think it's because you've been affected by the corrupted beast. After you return to the sect, stay at the Tranquility Tower for a few more days."

After the old man finished speaking, he glanced regretfully at the barely touched food and wine on the table, but ultimately couldn't bear to make his apprentice anxious.

He took out his money pouch, left the money for the meal, and led Lin Qingqing toward the inn.

"Alright, alright, since you're in such a hurry, I'll go with you and see for myself. It'll be a good opportunity to meet this young friend you've praised so highly."

"Thank you, Master!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Qingqing's eyes crinkled with joy.

Before the master and disciple could even step out of the room, they saw the vortex of spiritual energy suddenly weaken.

The two looked over in surprise, only to find that the once impressive vortex of spiritual energy had quietly dissipated in the blink of an eye.

The old man raised an eyebrow, reached out and grabbed Lin Qingqing's arm, and with a slight movement of his feet, he was instantly at the entrance of the inn.

At this moment, three distinguished middle-aged men were already standing at the entrance of the inn. All of them were dressed in extraordinary clothes and their bodies were filled with spiritual light. Each of them looked like a person in a high position.

These are the heads of the three major families in Yuanshan Town.

Each of them was accompanied by several servants and guards, and they were talking quietly while looking at the second floor of the inn.

"You guys are pretty quick."

The old man chuckled softly and led Lin Qingqing forward slowly.

Upon hearing this, the three men turned around and, seeing that it was an old man, their expressions immediately changed to one of utmost respect. They all bowed deeply and said:

"Greetings, Elder Ye."

Seeing this, the old man glanced at the three of them indifferently and said casually:

"No need to be polite, just get up."

The three family heads, still bowing and about to exchange pleasantries, were suddenly lifted up by an irresistible force and stood up straight.

After exchanging glances, their expressions became even more respectful.

Seeing the somewhat awkward atmosphere, a short, stout patriarch mustered his courage and stepped forward to ask:

"Elder Ye, you've also come because of this fluctuation of spiritual energy?"

Perhaps because someone had started it, another tall, thin patriarch, seeing the old man smile and nod, quickly stepped forward to strike up a conversation:

"Elder, we are ignorant and have never seen anything like this before. You are knowledgeable and experienced. Could you please enlighten us?"

"Yes, I wonder if this spiritual pressure indicates a fellow cultivator's sudden enlightenment and breakthrough, or the appearance of a supreme elixir?"

After the last patriarch finished speaking, fearing he might leave the old man with an impression of greed, he quickly added:

"If one is fortunate enough to broaden one's horizons and make good connections, that would be a wonderful thing."

Upon hearing this, the old man glanced at them with a half-smile, showing them absolutely no respect:

"Alright, look at your hypocritical faces, aren't you ashamed? I've lived for hundreds of years, and you're still trying to pull your little tricks on me?"

"If you want to know, just follow me. Stop with the nonsense and empty promises."

Having said that, he ignored the stiff smiles of the crowd behind him and simply waved to Lin Qingqing, saying:

"Qing'er, take me up there. I want to see what kind of person could make you so worried!"