Chapter 61: Above All Others

"Dao Yan, what are your plans next? Can you tell me?" Tian Shi Gong returned to his seat and asked with a smile.

"I don't have any plans, I'll just go back to Shilong City. There's nothing for me to do here!" Xu Daoyan was unfamiliar with Tian Shi Wangcheng, and since he had delivered the letter and received commendation, he was content.

"There's no need to go back to Shilong City. You can wander around Tian Shi Wangcheng and broaden your horizons. You need to expand your vision to become stronger. You can't always stay in a corner; that will make you short-sighted. How can you become strong and protect your family?" Tian Shi Gong spoke calmly, always hitting the key points, making Xu Daoyan deeply agree.

"Since that's the case, I'll follow Tian Shi Gong's advice!" Xu Daoyan nodded.

"Good. For the time being, you can stay at my residence. I'll have someone arrange a small courtyard for you. You can walk around the city when you have time, and if I'm free, I'll come and see you!" Shilong City was on the border, and Shi Yue was a trusted general of Tian Shi Gong. Since he had sent a personal letter, and Xu Daoyan's temperament suited him, he would naturally take good care of him, cultivating him as a promising talent for future use.

"Xiao Feng, arrange for Dao Yan to stay at Tianxin Garden!"

"Yes!" The man, who looked rather frail, flashed a look of surprise, glancing at Xu Daoyan, feeling quite astonished.

Tianxin Garden was a place where even someone of Tian Tian Junzhu's level might not receive such high-level hospitality. It was a palace specifically for the royal family to stay in Tian Shi Wangcheng, only accessible to princes and princesses!

But since this was Tian Shi Gong's arrangement, he didn't dare to ask more and immediately led Xu Daoyan away.

Tian Shi Gong sat on a stone chair, immovable like a mountain, his eyes sharp, as if he could see through the essence of things: "This young man has a rich aura, and the cultivation method he practices is extraordinary. His foundation-building technique is profound, from the inside out, connecting the five organs, and harmonizing body and mind. There must be a high-level expert behind him. Regardless of his military achievements, which are significant, even without them, I should give face to the high-level expert behind him, to form a good connection!"

Tian Shi Gong had been in charge of Tian Shi Wangcheng for many years, having seen countless people. He could tell at a glance that Xu Daoyan's cultivation method was extraordinary, but he kept it to himself and didn't say more.

Xiao Feng, with his long flowing hair and scholarly robe, had a refined and slightly pale face. He spoke softly, smiling: "Young Master Xu, to receive such favor from Tian Shi Gong at your young age is truly remarkable."

"Well, I just got lucky by killing the young lord of the Xiong clan and earning military merit..." Xu Daoyan was taken aback, not knowing the deeper reasons.

Before he could finish, Xiao Feng interrupted him: "No, Young Master Xu, do you know that Tianxin Garden is a palace reserved for the royal family? According to protocol, your background isn't high enough, and even with great military merit, you shouldn't overstep. But since Tian Shi Gong favors you, it's a special case. After all, this is his territory, far from the emperor's reach, so there's nothing to say about it!"

Xu Daoyan didn't realize he was receiving such high-level hospitality. After Xiao Feng's explanation, he was flattered and could only laugh awkwardly, not saying much more.

Returning to the side hall, they passed through a small teleportation array and arrived at Tianxin Garden.

The place wasn't too large or too small, covering about ten miles, and was very exquisite.

In the garden, rare and exotic flowers bloomed, emitting a gentle fragrance that was beneficial to the body and mind.

A small hill extended from a distance, and a fine stream of immortal water flowed through countless crevices, gathering in a pond about ten zhang in diameter, with mist rising and spreading.

A stone pavilion stood in the center, with a chessboard and nine attendants, each at the lower level of human immortals, available for service.

Xu Daoyan opened the palace gate, and the interior was simply decorated, with a clear layout: a study, a main bedroom, a guest bedroom, a bathroom, and a cultivation room, all separate.

Xiao Feng didn't introduce much, considering his task complete once he had brought the person. He bid farewell and left.

"If you need anything, Young Master Xu, just let us know," one of the human immortal attendants said before closing the door.

"I didn't expect Tian Shi Gong to treat you so well!" Qin Han and the others were almost blinded by the luxury, praising it endlessly.

"Regardless, I'll remember this favor," Xu Daoyan was very grateful for Tian Shi Gong's hospitality.

He walked to the cultivation room, opened the door, and found it to be a square space, nine zhang in size.

A thick, pure immortal mist filled the room. Here, the air was condensed with immortal qi, not just spiritual qi. Cultivating here would bring tremendous benefits to Xu Daoyan and his companions, making rapid progress possible.

"Immortal qi, cultivating with it brings great benefits, and the concentration here is so high," Zhang Chao's eyes almost popped out, he was so excited, trembling all over.

"Let's not waste time, let's start cultivating!" Xu Daoyan couldn't wait. He inhaled a breath of immortal qi, feeling a sense of lightness. He activated the lung cleansing technique, opening his pores to expel more impurities, which left him feeling refreshed.

Then he directed the immortal qi to his kidneys, and just one refinement removed a lot of impurities.

The four of them immediately began cultivating in the room.

Xu Daoyan directed the immortal qi to his kidneys, transforming it into storage qi, which strengthened and refined his bones even more.

In less than half a day, his kidneys had reached the flawless realm, and the bone refinement technique had reached the ten-thousand-refined iron bone stage.

The speed of cultivation with immortal qi was astonishing, and Xu Daoyan understood why Tian Shi Gong said that staying in Tian Shi Wangcheng and broadening his horizons would make him stronger: "It turns out that the royal family cultivates in such an environment. How could they not be strong? It seems that I am far from those at the top, starting from such a low point!"

If Xu Daoyan had cultivated step by step, buying high-grade water spirit stones, it would have taken him at least ten days to reach the ten-thousand-refined iron bone stage and make his kidneys flawless.

Now, his kidneys were like black jade, black and shiny, smooth and free of impurities, and the storage qi they contained was even more condensed.

Originally, his lifespan was at the first-class upper level, nine thousand years. Now, he had directly reached the upper level, ten thousand and eight hundred years.

The first-class upper level ranges from seven thousand six hundred and ten years to nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine years. Once you reach ten thousand years, you are considered to be at the upper level.

Many people get stuck here, unable to progress, largely due to the cultivation environment, with talent being secondary.

Cultivating here for one day is equivalent to cultivating for a year in the outside world.

With such a good environment, Xu Daoyan naturally cherished it. He immediately directed the immortal qi to his heart, transforming it into growth qi to refine his bloodline.

With his heart refined, his bloodline was cleansed, and his qi and blood surged. Xu Daoyan felt his mind become clearer. When he looked inward at his heart, it was as red as a premium carnelian, free of impurities.

The Heart Lamp Technique, the Fiery Sun Seal, and the Heart Fire Fist all improved greatly as his heart reached the flawless realm.

Xu Daoyan's lifespan increased from ten thousand and eight hundred years to twelve thousand nine hundred and sixty years, reaching the peak of the upper level!

Only by breaking through this lifespan limit could one enter the human immortal realm.

This was a very subtle threshold. Once broken, it would bring a comprehensive leap, a fundamental transformation.

Many people were just one step away from breaking through, unable to do so and dying with regret.

Now, Xu Daoyan had refined everything related to his five organs to the extreme. Unless there was a greater breakthrough, his lifespan could not increase further.

As the old beggar had said, reaching the flawless realm wasn't difficult, but breaking through to the vortex qi realm was the real challenge.

"Cultivation can be so fast!" Xu Daoyan felt his body full of strength. For him, further cultivation was now less meaningful. He transformed the qi stored in his five organs into immortal qi, significantly improving its quality. Now, using the storage qi to form a qi arrow would increase its power by at least ten times!

"Qin Han, take the Huanglong War Saber, the Huanglong War Bow, and the Huanglong War Armor! As for Baise and Zhang Chao, wait a moment. I'll go to the Shilong General Chamber of Commerce to find some good magical treasures for you!" Xu Daoyan said.

"Thank you, Young Master!" Xu Daoyan was very good to the three of them, and they remembered it deeply.

He left the palace, and a servant stood outside the door, asking, "Young Master Xu, where are you going?"

Tianxin Garden was an independent space, very quiet, and to leave, one had to use the teleportation array.

"I want to go to the Shilong General Chamber of Commerce," Xu Daoyan said gently.

"Please follow me, Young Master!" The servant led the way, walking two li to a small teleportation array. "This is a direct channel to the Shilong General Chamber of Commerce. Please, Young Master Xu."

Xu Daoyan took a deep breath. Tianxin Garden was indeed set up for the royal family, with such meticulous consideration, leaving no room for criticism.

"Thank you!" Xu Daoyan stepped in and appeared in a luxurious room, clearly another small palace for the royal family.

The style here was completely different from Tian Shi Gong's residence, with golden splendor and intricate carvings. The bed's carvings were exquisite, and the material was something Xu Daoyan couldn't name, but the strange fragrance it emitted could nourish the soul, strengthening it!

Every detail was meticulously arranged, leaving no room for criticism, especially at the moment Xu Daoyan broke through to the upper level.

He finally experienced the treatment enjoyed by the royal family.

Just as he was marveling, a sweet female voice came from outside the door: "Honored guest, may I come in?"

The Shilong General Chamber of Commerce and Tian Shi Gong's residence had a dedicated channel, with special personnel guarding it. If someone was teleported, they would be received immediately!

Moreover, the person receiving them would be of very high status within the Shilong General Chamber of Commerce!

Xu Daoyan was taken aback and said, "Yes, come in!"

(Updates resumed on May 19th!)

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