Before long, Wang Dahu returned with the soldiers, having fetched spring water from the nearby stream.
The spring water was crystal clear, without any impurities. Upon returning, he gestured toward Yi Tianxing, indicating that the water had no issues and was drinkable. Moreover, it was incredibly sweet and refreshing, uplifting both body and mind with a sense of tranquility.
Yi Tianxing scooped a ladle of water and drank without hesitation.
It was cool and sweet.
What's more, the spring contained a unique spiritual aura. This aura dispelled all physical and mental fatigue, even causing vitality within the body to surge instantly. This was no ordinary spring—it was spiritual spring water.
"My wound has healed!"
"All my fatigue is gone, completely. I feel like I'm instantly back to my peak state. This spring water is incredible!"
"Amazing. My energy, spirit, and vitality are fully restored. This spring is almost on par with the water from our Moon Well!"
All the soldiers began drinking the spring water. Instantly, they felt their energy, spirit, and vitality restored. Fatigue vanished, and even their wounds began to heal rapidly. In moments, they returned to their peak condition. In such a dangerous environment, the benefits of this water were simply incalculable.
"Such spiritual spring water—living at the foot of this spring, Old Sir, you are truly blessed."
Yi Tianxing also drank a ladle of spring water and felt the unique spiritual aura flowing through him. A subtle feeling rose in his heart as he smiled and said. Just this spring alone was worth a fortune—truly priceless.
"Heh heh, I'm just making a living. It's a gift of nature, nothing more. I just benefit from the land's terrain. I'm merely an old farmer who knows how to till the land."
The old farmer chuckled.
"To build a hut among men, yet hear no cart or horse."
"How is that possible? Because one's heart is distant, so the place becomes secluded."
"Plucking chrysanthemums beneath the eastern fence, I leisurely see the southern mountain."
"The mountain air is fresh day and night; birds fly back together."
"There's true meaning in this; I try to explain but forget the words."
"Sir, you truly are blessed, with a pure heart and peaceful life. If we ever attain peace, having such a place to live self-sufficiently, in harmony with one's spouse and friends, away from the world—secluded in the mountains—would be a blessing."
Yi Tianxing smiled calmly.
"The world is tainted, like this wasteland overrun with weeds. But such land isn't barren—it's fertile. The weeds grow strong, which proves its richness. But if you plant rice directly, the young sprouts are weak and cannot compete with the weeds for nutrients. That's why I use my hoe to cut down the weeds and turn the soil over—cutting off the roots of the weeds, transforming wasteland into fertile fields. Then, when the rice is planted, with no weeds to compete, it can take root and grow strong, eventually bearing abundant grain."
The old farmer chuckled as he spoke.
"Indeed. Too many weeds compete for nutrients. One must either grow stronger or remove the weeds. Only then can there be room for growth. Even if some seeds are consumed by weeds, the stronger ones will take root. In time, a full paddy field will flourish."
Yi Tianxing responded with meaning.
Then he added, "Tonight, we'll be troubling you, Old Sir."
"No trouble at all! I like the liveliness. Not many people come here. I'm happy to see so many guests today. But I can't provide food—my grain stores wouldn't be enough."
The old farmer smiled.
"Don't worry. We brought our own food. No need to trouble you."
Yi Tianxing nodded politely.
Without disturbing the old farmer further, Yi Tianxing and Wang Dahu led the troops to a nearby area to make camp. Calling it "making camp" was a bit of an exaggeration. They simply established a perimeter and sat on the ground without setting up tents. Tents, in such a place where ambushes could occur at any time, would become a hindrance, giving enemies an edge.
They sat down, some cross-legged, others upright, entering meditative cultivation while maintaining a state of heightened alertness.
After intense battles, cultivating at this moment was like receiving a great nourishment—a true boost. Many would experience a surge in cultivation, even breaking through on the spot. For soldiers, slaughter is cultivation.
Their meals had long been prepared in the form of military rations.
After Yi Tianxing casually mentioned the need, the Gourmet Hall of Xuanhuang City, led by Lai He, swiftly developed boxed meals for the military. More importantly, the Heavenly Works Pavilion created a special type of container called the Icefire Lunchbox—infused with ice and fire runes. Once sealed, the box would become instantly frozen, preserving its contents for decades or even centuries. When opened, fire runes activate, heating the food instantly—like it just came out of the pot.
These boxes weren't disposable. They were reusable. Food could be placed back in and reheated again. This was an innovative and practical invention, saving time and effort in the field. Soldiers could eat hot meals without needing to light fires, quickly replenishing their strength.
The dining didn't take long. Once finished, the lunchboxes were carefully collected. After all, this was a Xuanhuang City invention—if left behind, others might steal the idea. Also, they were reusable.
After dinner, the soldiers wasted no time. Gathering together, they either stood or sat, and began cultivating using the Heavenly Soldier Battle Canon ("天兵战典"). As soon as they began, dense blood fiendish aura (血煞之气) appeared around each soldier—drawn from the hundreds of thousands or even millions of enemies they had slain.
These fiendish energies, instead of harming or corrupting them, were the best kind of nourishment—perfect medicine for their cultivation. The thick, bloody aura was absorbed and refined at speeds visible to the naked eye, becoming a part of their cultivation.
Their power visibly surged.
Boom!!
After just a brief period of cultivation, one soldier suddenly erupted with a surge of energy.
Divine Sea Realm, Sixth Level!
Yi Tianxing opened his eyes slightly. The aura was indeed the breakthrough into the sixth level of the Divine Sea Realm. Just one step away from the seventh.
Ordinary foundational techniques typically peak at the seventh level, where only thirty-six runes are required to condense an illusory Sea of Transformation pool. That allows an easy promotion to Transformation Sea Tier One. At the eighth level, the full thirty-six runes—the number of Heavenly Gangs (天罡)—must be gathered.
The number of runes directly determines the strength and quality of the Sea of Transformation and thus impacts the foundational Dao base.
The next tier of foundation techniques requires seventy-two runes—the number of Earth Fiends (地煞). It starts with twelve runes and culminates in seventy-two at level eight.
Beyond that is one hundred and eight runes—a full cycle of Heavenly Gang and Earth Fiend. Already considered extremely rare and powerful among foundational arts.
Then comes three hundred and sixty-five runes—the number of the full cosmos.
And above that, the minimum of ten thousand runes—a state known as Eternal Longevity (万寿无疆). This tier can range from ten thousand to tens of thousands of runes. How many you condense depends on willpower, aptitude, fate, opportunity, and personal foundations. Even those cultivating the same method can have vastly different results. That's where comprehension, persistence, and luck show their true value.
This type is the peak of foundational techniques, producing the most supreme and flawless Dao base.
Techniques like the "Sitting Oblivion Sutra ("坐忘经")", "Crimson Heart Chronicle ("碧血丹心录")", "Heavenly Soldier Battle Canon ("天兵战典")", and "Heavenly General Battle Canon ("天将战典")" all belong to this highest tier. They differ in rune power and complexity but exist on the same level.
And above them is the legendary class—Heaven Scriptures (天经). Their rune count is based on the Number of Unity (一元之数).
Yi Tianxing's own "Imperial Dragon Heavenly Scripture ("御龙天经")", which later evolved into the "Heavenly Emperor Imperial Dragon Scripture ("天帝御龙经")", belongs to this class—a true supreme heaven-class technique.
"The cultivation method is provided. Resources are given. What level you reach—that depends on your own fortune."
Yi Tianxing watched as the soldiers cultivated, madly absorbing fiendish and worldly energies. With such intense effort, breakthroughs came one after another.
These fiendish auras were an irreplaceable elixir.
With two thousand soldiers cultivating simultaneously, the larger the group, the faster the cultivation. Their rate of breakthroughs was astonishing. Of course, advancing into the Transformation Sea Realm wasn't as simple—it required condensing runes. Even so, with this many soldiers, the speed had a group amplification effect.
Wang Dahu, Yang Yanping, and others had already reached the seventh level of the Divine Sea Realm. Now, they were swiftly condensing runes, and with the stimulation of fiendish energy, the process was remarkably smooth—almost frighteningly fast.
With every passing moment, they grew stronger.