The Outer Sect Cafeteria was built on a platform halfway up the mountain, large enough to accommodate thousands of people dining at the same time. When Lin Changsheng arrived, the cafeteria was already filled with many people.

Relying on his memory, he walked to a window and handed over his Identification Wood Plate. "Lin Changsheng, it's your last day for free meals."

The cook responsible for serving meals didn't even lift his head as he spoke, serving him a bowl of Spirit Rice and a plate of green vegetables.

The Spirit Rice was plump and translucent, exuding a faint spiritual aura.

The green vegetables were watered with Spirit Spring Water, lush and vibrant. This was the food of cultivators; consuming it over time could improve one's physique and increase cultivation. Although the effect was minimal, for disciples who had not yet entered the sect, it was a rare benefit.

Lin Changsheng found a seat in a corner and began to eat slowly. As the Spirit Rice entered his mouth, a warm current slid down his esophagus into his stomach, then spread throughout his body.

It was very comfortable. He could feel his body greedily absorbing this energy.

However, he was more interested in the conversations of the surrounding disciples. This was the place where the most Outer Sect Disciples gathered, and also the place where news spread the fastest.

"Did you hear? Senior Brother Li successfully induced Qi into his body yesterday and stepped into the first level of Qi Refining!"

"Really? He's only been in the sect for three days, right? His talent is terrifying!"

"Indeed, I've heard even the Elder who imparts teachings praises him, saying he might break through to the mid-stage of Qi Refining within a year."

"Sigh, comparing oneself to others is truly frustrating. I've been practicing for three days and haven't even sensed what Qi feels like."

"Tell me about it. I feel like my Dantian is empty, and I can't sense anything."

Listening to the discussions around him, Lin Changsheng silently ate his meal, but his mind was rapidly organizing information. Qi Refining.

This was the first step in cultivating immortality.

Inducing the Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth into the body to form a Qi Cyclone in the Dantian was the first level of Qi Refining.

After that, one must continuously absorb spiritual energy to strengthen the Qi Cyclone and enhance cultivation.

The Qi Refining stage is divided into nine levels.

Breaking through to the fourth level is considered the mid-stage of Qi Refining.

Breaking through to the seventh level is the late stage of Qi Refining.

After achieving perfection at the ninth level of Qi Refining, one can attempt to establish a Dao Foundation, entering the Foundation Establishment stage.

Once successfully establishing a foundation, one truly steps onto the path of immortality, with a lifespan reaching two hundred years, and can fly using Dharma Artifacts.

In the Qingyun Sect, there are tens of thousands of Outer Sect Disciples, but most remain in the Qi Refining stage for their entire lives.

Only by becoming an Inner Sect Disciple can one receive significant cultivation resources and guidance from the sect for Foundation Establishment.

To advance from the Outer Sect to the Inner Sect, one must either reach the late stage of Qi Refining before the age of thirty or stand out in the Outer Sect Grand Competition.

Neither path is easy.

"So that's how it is," Lin Changsheng understood.

The cultivation system in this world is clearly defined and full of competition. He thought of his superpower.

Flight, he could already achieve it without relying on any Dharma Artifact. Cultivators, however, need to reach the Foundation Establishment stage to fly using artifacts. The difference is immeasurable.

After finishing his meal, Lin Changsheng didn't linger and returned to his residence. He needed to thoroughly study the differences between the "spells" of this world and his "superpower."

***

Back in his room, he closed the doors and windows.

He sat cross-legged on the bed, closed his eyes, and began to try sensing the spiritual energy of the world using the method he learned from the original owner of his body.

This method was called the "Azure Essence Art," the most basic cultivation technique of the Qingyun Sect.

It's said that those who can cultivate the Azure Essence Art to the ninth level of Qi Refining are geniuses.

Lin Changsheng calmed his mind, and his spiritual power slowly spread out.

In his perception, countless colorful light spots floated in the air. These should be the so-called "Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth." He tried to use his mind to draw in a nearby blue light spot.

The light spot was "playful," seemingly unwilling to heed him. Lin Changsheng increased his Mind Power output.

The light spot began to tremble slightly, then slowly drifted towards him. When the light spot touched his body, a cool sensation spread throughout his body. So this is Qi Induction? It doesn't seem that difficult...

Lin Changsheng's heart stirred. Since Mind Power could draw in spiritual energy, did that mean... He suddenly opened his eyes, a sharp light flashing in them.

In the next moment, his powerful Mind Power swept out without reservation, like an invisible net enveloping the entire room.

Inside the room, the colorful spiritual energy light spots seemed to respond to an emperor's summons.

They went wild. They boiled. They surged towards Lin Changsheng, forming a Qi Vortex visible to the naked eye.

A massive amount of spiritual energy, bypassing the meridians, was forcefully poured into his Dantian.

"Hiss..."

Lin Changsheng took a sharp breath. The sensation was like a fire hydrant pouring water into a cup.

His Dantian was filled with intense pain, as if it was about to burst. His meridians also felt like they were being torn apart. Any ordinary person would have exploded by now. But Lin Changsheng wasn't afraid. He had a super healing ability.

Almost instantly, as his meridians were damaged, a powerful life energy began rapidly repairing his body.

On one side was the destructive force of the violent spiritual energy. On the other was the super healing ability's repair. His body reached a strange balance at this moment.

And within his Dantian, a small Qi Cyclone was forming and growing at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Qi Refining level one, achieved! The spiritual energy infusion continued. The Qi Cyclone spun faster and grew larger. Qi Refining level two, achieved!

***

An hour later.

When the spiritual energy in the room became thin, Lin Changsheng slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air.

He opened his eyes, feeling the surging power within him, a peculiar expression on his face.

"Is this... already Qi Refining level three?" He glanced outside the window. The sky was just beginning to darken.

From when he started cultivating until now, less than two hours had passed.

What took others days or even months to achieve in reaching Qi Refining level one, he broke through effortlessly.

What took others years to reach Qi Refining level three, he accomplished in just two hours.

If this cultivation speed were to be revealed, it would probably shock the entire Qingyun Sect. Any so-called once-in-a-millennium genius would be a joke in comparison.

Lin Changsheng didn't let it get to his head. Instead, he felt a chill.

A tree that stands out in the forest is sure to be toppled by the wind. His superpower must never be exposed. Likewise, his astonishing cultivation speed must be hidden.

In this unfamiliar world, people's hearts are unpredictable. Who knows if some ancient monster might take an interest in him and capture him for research? "Stay low, I must stay low."

Lin Changsheng took a deep breath, setting his overarching strategy for this world.

Lying low is the way.

Until he has absolute self-preservation ability, he is just an average, perhaps even slightly useless, Outer Sect Disciple of the Qingyun Sect.

With this in mind, he focused his mind and began to conceal his aura.

He skillfully used his Mind Power to control the flow of spiritual power within him, revealing only a faint spiritual power fluctuation on the surface.

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This fluctuation perfectly matched the characteristics of a cultivator who had just stepped into the first level of Qi Refining.

After completing all this, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"From today on, I am a proud little cultivator at the first level of Qi Refining."

Lin Changsheng nodded in satisfaction. As for his true cultivation level... let it remain a secret.

---

Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan