Humanity Follows the Laws of Heaven and Earth

This golden Buddha tree is about half a zhang tall, but it is not even as tall as the newly built courtyard wall of the town lord's mansion.

The golden Buddha tree has a canopy like an umbrella, its entire body is gilded, and its branches and leaves resemble small hands or palm-leaf fans.

"It actually worked!"

Xu Yunxin was overjoyed.

He tried to make the Golden Buddha Tree smaller, but no matter how he imagined it, the Golden Buddha Tree did not move.

It can get bigger, though.

Xu Yunxin estimated that the youngest one should be around this size.

Since the transformation time was limited, Xu Yunxin quickly assessed how well the tree trunk absorbed natural energy after the transformation.

As he became aware of it, the roots of the golden Buddha tree in the courtyard extended downwards into the soil, and its branches and leaves stretched towards the sky.

It was dusk, and the setting sun cast its rays, which were caught by the outstretched branches of the Golden Buddha Tree.

As the golden Buddha tree unfolded, a faint breeze stirred in the backyard of the town lord's mansion.

More spiritual energy gathered towards the Golden Buddha Tree; the sunlight overhead and the earth beneath its feet both provided energy to the Golden Buddha Tree.

These energies were readily available, but the Golden Buddha Tree absorbed them slowly and steadily, without any ravenous consumption. The whole process was natural and as steady as an old dog.

As the natural energy of heaven and earth surged in, it was as if a veil had been lifted, allowing Xu Yunxin to face this world directly. He could even "taste" the different "flavors" of the surging energy.

The energy falling from the sky is intense yet light, with a sense of detachment that suggests it might vanish at any moment.

The energy surging up from the earth is heavy, carrying a unique vitality, yet also like a chilling deathly intent about to be born, constantly shifting between life and death.

There is also spiritual energy in between, containing all five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. The five elements and five colors rotate endlessly, each one is unique, and it tastes just like "sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, and salty."

It's just like a person's life.

Xu Yunxin had barely tasted the flavor when he felt a sudden emptiness within him, and all his sensations vanished in an instant. He then transformed back from the tree trunk.

Three breaths have passed, and the skill [Wild Transformation] has ended.

Fortunately, he has now reached the second level of Qi Refining, and using a skill once did not completely deplete the spiritual energy in his body.

Xu Yunxin closed his eyes and carefully recalled the feeling when he had just absorbed the energy of heaven and earth, trying to retain the most profound impression.

But this feeling is too hard to hold onto; the more you try to recall it, the less you can remember what it tasted like.

In the end, we can only see how much benefit we gain from this transformation.

As a result of this absorption of natural energy, Xu Yunxin's body became firmer, and his muscles and skin membranes grew somewhat.

However, this change is very subtle and cannot be noticed without careful observation; it is merely a minor enhancement.

The changes in the spiritual energy within his body were quite obvious. The total amount of spiritual energy increased by one unit, which was roughly equivalent to the amount he would gain from three to five days of diligent practice.

His cultivation level has increased, but the amount of spiritual energy in his body is only a fraction left, which is because the energy loss from using the skill just now has not been replenished.

"Not bad, three breaths of cultivation can be exchanged for three to five days of cultivation time normally!"

With this time difference, he can spend more time doing other things, whether it's planting or going out hunting, both of which require a lot of time.

More importantly, one can cultivate by transforming into the world's tree species: the Golden Buddha Tree.

Xu Yunxin was also able to gain a preliminary understanding of the primordial energy of this world.

If he can truly understand any one of them, he will be qualified to be called a master and achieve unparalleled greatness!

Although it's still a long way off, and the charm of nature is not easy to grasp or understand, at least he has already stepped one foot in the door!

When his skill level increases in the future, the transformation duration will increase from three breaths to four breaths, ten breaths, or even a quarter of an hour.

One day I'll figure all of this out.

Through this training, compared to the feeling of transformation when I first encountered the tribulation cultivator in the wilderness, it seems that I have become taller and bigger, and I can absorb and perceive more energy.

It makes sense; it's obvious which tree absorbs more energy, a sapling or a large tree.

Therefore, to truly master this skill, you must be open-minded and grow exponentially.

Having figured out the true usage of the skill: Wild Transformation, Xu Yunxin was satisfied.

After checking that the skill's experience had increased a bit, he was satisfied and went inside to meditate and recover his spiritual energy.

After recovering his spiritual energy, he used the [Skill: Wild Transformation] again before recovering.

By the time Uncle Fu returned, Xu Yunxin had already transformed four times, truly taking a step towards the third level of Qi Refining.

As soon as Uncle Fu entered the courtyard, Xu Yunxin said, "Uncle Fu, I don't know what happened to this 'Spirit Gathering Array Plate,' it shook and stopped."

Uncle Fu was taken aback. He went inside to check and took out a grayish-white crystal from the "Spirit Gathering Array Plate," muttering to himself, "Wasn't it supposed to last a month? How come it's being used up so quickly!"

"That bastard Lao Wang sold me counterfeit goods?!"

Xu Yunxin knew that the rapid depletion of the "Spirit Gathering Array Plate" wasn't its fault, and had nothing to do with Old Wang, so he quickly changed the subject, saying, "Could it be that the spiritual energy here is thin, causing the 'Spirit Gathering Array Plate' to suffer significant energy loss when it's running?"

Uncle Fu wasn't sure either, and scratched his head suspiciously, saying, "It's possible."

Uncle Fu took out the last spirit stone and replaced it with the "Spirit Gathering Array Plate," then said to Xu Yunxin with a wry smile, "Young Master, now we're completely out of spirit stones."

Xu Yunxin thought for a moment and said, "How about this, after we return from this hunt, we'll organize another caravan to go to Shuanglin Town or Wancheng to exchange for some spirit stones."

Uncle Fu nodded and said, "That's the only way."

"Did you ask about that?"

"I asked, and Shaohua's relatives told the old man everything. The group from Manglin weren't from Qingxi Town. They were wandering here, trying to settle down in Qingxi Town, but Yinping drove them away."

"Is the information reliable?" Xu Yunxin was a little uneasy. After all, it was important to get the facts right. If it really was the eldest branch of the Xu family who was behind it, then they could settle accounts later.

"Judging from the timeline, this group of people had already roamed Qingxi Town and fought with Yinping before you, young master, signed your spirit."

"After being driven away by the silver bottle, this group of people settled down in that wilderness and started robbing cultivators who entered and exited the 'Thousand Lakes Wasteland'. They used the name of Qingxi Town, and outsiders, unaware of the situation, thought that it was really the robbing cultivators hidden in Qingxi Town doing business without any investment."

"Because of this, Yinping and Shaohua even went to drive them away, but they were ambushed by that Jiexiu. They lost four black dogs before they escaped. With four fewer black dogs, they were no match for him, so they could only let it go."

"So, we avenged her?"

"Yes, when Shao Hua said that you were fighting the 'Yellow Armored Violent Scorpion', Yin Ping knew it when you used the dagger with the handle. That's why, after defeating the 'Yellow Armored Violent Scorpion,' she publicly recommended you, young man, to be the town lord."

"Oh, so that's the connection!"

How could Yue Yinping, who was always cold and hostile towards him, so readily agree to hand over Qingxi Town to him?