Crow Immortal
Chapter 9: First Layer of Qi Refinement

"Finally decided to start farming, eh? Otherwise, you'd have been punished according to sect rules!" 

In the afternoon, Steward Wang walked past their spirit fields with his hands behind his back and belly protruding, sneering as he delivered this remark. 

Han Yu and Old Taoist Li were initially puzzled by his meaning, but after asking Zhang Shan, they learned that failing to begin planting within three days of receiving spirit rice seeds would result in punishment. 

Normally, stewards would simply remind and urge the disciples, but a tyrant like Steward Wang might actually severely punish servant disciples like them. 

Upon hearing this, Old Taoist Li couldn't help but mutter a few more curses under his breath. 

That night, Han Yu fed the giant raven, replicated more spirit rice, then sat cross-legged to gather energy currents. 

The next day, he finished planting the remaining spirit fields. 

On the third day, he began carrying mountain spring water in buckets to irrigate the fields. The distance was considerable, allowing him to barely water one acre per day... 

After about seven or eight days, Han Yu finally completed all tasks for planting Green Sprout Spirit Rice—sowing, watering, and more. According to Sun Kang, Zhang Shan, and Liu Lan, from now on, aside from monitoring the fields for pests and watering twice monthly, most of his time could be devoted to cultivation. 

With daily nourishment from spirit rice balls, the energy currents within Han Yu grew rapidly, reaching roughly one-fifth of a complete energy cycle. 

At this rate, another month or so of cultivation should allow him to complete his first full energy cycle, reaching the first layer of Qi Refinement. 

Compared to senior servant disciples, this progress was remarkably fast—Zhang Shan, with his five spiritual roots, took over a year to reach the first layer, while Sun Kang, with four spiritual roots, required six to seven months. 

Clearly, ample spirit rice as sustenance greatly accelerated initial cultivation progress. 

During this period, Old Taoist Li also worked by day and cultivated at night, even resuming his Blood Refinement Art using stallion essence blood. 

One day, Old Taoist Li rushed excitedly into Han Yu's room, his face flushed: "I've sensed qi!" 

"Kid, have you sensed it yet? Let me tell you how it feels!" 

Han Yu was taken aback: "Qi sensation?" 

Hadn't he experienced that since starting to eat spirit rice balls? 

Only then did Han Yu understand why Steward Fang had given him an extra glance initially while dismissing Old Taoist Li. At his advanced age and with five spiritual roots, true cultivation was nearly impossible for the old man. 

Old Taoist Li enthusiastically described his "qi sensation" for hours, repeatedly exclaiming that his path to immortality was indeed hopeful! 

Seeing him like this, Han Yu couldn't bring himself to say anything, silently listening instead. 

Finally satisfied, Old Taoist Li left. 

The next day, he asked Sun Kang if sensing qi meant he was just one step away from the first layer. 

"Qi sensation? That's just the very beginning of gathering energy currents for the cycle," Sun Kang replied surprised. 

"Ah, I..." 

Old Taoist Li's lips trembled, his ugly face turning crimson with shame as he retreated into his room for three full days. 

Time passed unnoticed, and over another month, Han Yu and Old Taoist Li adapted to life tending spirit fields—inspecting them two or three times daily, spending remaining time studying cultivation techniques and learning Wangu Valley's rules and customs. 

Apart from occasionally seeing Steward Wang, that green-robed outer sect disciple, they had no contact with other outer sect disciples. Even other servant disciples remained largely unfamiliar, maintaining closer ties only with nearby Zhang Shan, Sun Kang, and Liu Lan. 

Seeing these three and other servant disciples—all at second or third layer of Qi Refinement capable of using one or two spells—Old Taoist Li watched with envy in his eyes. 

One evening while eating his spirit rice ball, Han Yu felt certain. 

Daily spirit rice balls were a luxury even third-layer servant disciples who'd farmed for years couldn't afford, let alone Han Yu using them solely to reach the first layer and complete his first energy cycle. 

With energy currents nearly fully gathered, today would mark his official entry into the first layer of Qi Refinement! 

Guided by the spirit rice ball's effects, new energy currents emerged and circulated within him. 

At a certain profound moment, Han Yu instinctively assumed a solemn expression as he crossed the threshold. 

In that instant, the currents connected seamlessly, flowing from "Bubbling Spring" to "Jade Pillow," passing "Central Mansion" toward "Shining Sea," stimulating a series of acupoints throughout his body in a complete cycle before converging at his dantian, condensing into a spiritual energy seed that continuously absorbed and released qi—this was the "spiritual breath" within. 

The first layer of Qi Refinement was achieved! 

With spiritual breath completing its cycle, it naturally began slowly transforming his mortal body, extending his lifespan by about a decade. 

Opening his eyes, Han Yu felt lighthearted with joy. 

He'd finally stepped onto the proper immortal cultivation path! 

Beyond the spiritual breath cycle, his entire musculature had also significantly strengthened. 

Focusing inward, Han Yu activated the blood qi technique Old Taoist Li had taught him, confirming his enhanced vitality—he could now produce two essence blood portions without exhaustion. 

This meant he could potentially use the "Blood Droplets" technique twice consecutively, or even three times if pushing limits. Combined with his replication ability, that became four Blood Droplet uses. 

As he opened his eyes, "Caw! Caw!" sounded at his door. 

In high spirits, Han Yu rose and opened it to find the giant raven impatiently flying in to perch on his shoulder, scolding him for forgetting today's blood qi feeding. 

Han Yu laughed: "Got distracted by good news today, but here you go—" 

The raven eagerly eyed the small jar of stallion essence blood in the corner. 

Picking it up, Han Yu felt its lightness—only dregs remained. He turned accusingly: "You greedy black-feathered thief! That stallion blood was supposed to last me two years, yet you've finished it in under two months! No wonder your feathers gleam so brightly now!" 

Unrepentant, the raven stretched its neck to peck the last remnants clean before trying to escape. 

Han Yu grabbed its wing: "Not so fast after eating all my supplies!" 

"Caw?" 

The raven looked back puzzled. 

Smiling, Han Yu tossed it two freshly condensed blood portions: "Take these, and from now on, you're officially my raven!" 

Though confused, the raven happily swallowed the offerings when it confirmed they were edible. 

Seizing the moment, Han Yu activated the Spirit Nurturing technique from his Blood Refinement Art, fully binding the raven as his familiar. 

As the technique took effect, the raven's gaze grew increasingly affectionate—no longer merely seeing Han Yu as a food provider, but truly acknowledging him as master. 

Exhaling deeply, Han Yu concluded the ritual. 

He extended his arm, and the raven joyfully flew up to perch, its dozens-of-pounds weight substantial. 

Stroking its feathers, Han Yu found them bamboo-hard, producing metallic rustling sounds when flicked, with edges sharp enough to prick skin. Its jet-black eyes shone brilliantly—clearly no ordinary raven. 

"Good bird. Henceforth, help me find cultivation resources to aid my immortal path!" 

"Caw caw caw!" 

The raven happily agreed to serve its new master.