jiē xià lái de yī duàn shí jiān ， lín xuān zhuān xīn zhì zhì de kāi shǐ liàn xí tí chún zhōng pǐn xǐ suǐ dān ， wàn shì kāi tóu nán ， zuì chū de shí hòu ， què shí bù bù wéi jiān ， chéng gōng lǜ dī dé xià rén 。
接下来的一段时间，林轩专心致志的开始练习提纯中品洗髓丹，万事开头难，最初的时候，确实步步维艰，成功率低得吓人。
In the following period, Lin Xuan devoted himself entirely to refining middle-grade Essence Cleansing Pills. As they say, starting anything is hard. Initially, his success rate was abysmally low; it took almost ten pills for one successful refinement.
jī hū shì měi shí lì dān yào ， cái huì chéng gōng yī cì ， zhè yàng de shī bài lǜ ， ràng lín xuān yí dù xiǎng dào le fàng qì ， bù guò yǔ tóng líng rén xiāng bǐ ， lín xuān yào chéng shú yī xiē ， xīn zhì yě gèng jiā jiān rèn ， tā shǔ yú rèn zhǔn le yī jiàn shì qíng ， bù dá mù dì ， shì bù bà xiū de nà zhǒng ， zhōng yú hái shì yǎo yá jiān chí le xià lái 。
几乎是每十粒丹药，才会成功一次，这样的失败率，让林轩一度想到了放弃，不过与同龄人相比，林轩要成熟一些，心智也更加坚韧，他属于认准了一件事情，不达目的，誓不罢休的那种，终于还是咬牙坚持了下来。
Almost every tenth pill worked, and this failure rate nearly made Lin Xuan consider giving up. However, compared to his peers, he was more mature and had a stronger will. He was the type who would never give up once he set his mind on something. Finally, with gritted teeth, he persisted.
gōng fu bù fù yǒu xīn rén ， suí zhe shí jiān de tuī yí ， lín xuān zhōng yú jiàn jiàn shú xī ， xiào lǜ yě shàng shēng dào le měi wǔ lì kě yǐ tí chún chéng gōng yī cì ， suī rán hái shì hěn dī ， dàn zhì shǎo shǔ yú kě yǐ rěn shòu de fàn wéi le 。
功夫不负有心人，随着时间的推移，林轩终于渐渐熟悉，效率也上升到了每五粒可以提纯成功一次，虽然还是很低，但至少属于可以忍受的范围了。
Hard work eventually paid off. Over time, Lin Xuan gradually became familiar with the process, and his success rate rose to one successful refinement out of every five pills. While still low, it was at least within a tolerable range.
xū zhī zhōng pǐn dān de yào xiào fēi cháng shén qí ， yǔ xià pǐn dān bù kě tóng rì ér yǔ 。
须知中品丹的药效非常神奇，与下品丹不可同日而语。
Middle-grade Essence Cleansing Pills were indeed miraculous in their effects, far beyond those of lower-grade ones.
dāng rán hěn míng xiǎn ， zhè yàng de tí chún xiào lǜ gēn běn jiù wú fǎ mǎn zú lín xuān yī tiān jiǔ lì de yāo qiú ， duì yú zì jǐ de xiū xíng ， lín xuān kě shì yǒu yí gè dà tǐ guī huà ， suī rán zàn shí jiāng jìn dù fàng huǎn ， dàn měi tiān hái shì yào xiū liàn ， bù néng huāng fèi gōng kè 。
当然很明显，这样的提纯效率根本就无法满足林轩一天九粒的要求，对于自己的修行，林轩可是有一个大体规划，虽然暂时将进度放缓，但每天还是要修炼，不能荒废功课。
Of course, such a refining efficiency could not meet Lin Xuan's requirement of nine pills per day. He had a broad plan for his cultivation and couldn't afford to neglect his studies even if he slowed down the progress temporarily. After扣除 meditation time and minimal sleep, with only 20% success rate, he managed to get one middle-grade pill each day.
kòu chú dǎ zuò liàn gōng de shí jiān ， hái yǒu měi tiān jí shǎo de shuì mián ， shèng xià de shí jiān ， àn zhào bǎi fēn zhī èr shí de chéng gōng lǜ ， měi tiān yě jiù néng dé dào yī méi zhōng pǐn dān 。
扣除打坐练功的时间，还有每天极少的睡眠，剩下的时间，按照百分之二十的成功率，每天也就能得到一枚中品丹。
It was not enough just to consume this single pill; while it was already a luxury for other cultivators, Lin Xuan wasn't satisfied. He had the ability to refine, didn't he?
zǒng bù néng zhǐ chī zhè yī kē ， suī rán duì qí tā xiū zhēn zhě ér yán ， zhè yǐ jīng shì wú fǎ xiǎng xiàng de shē chǐ ， dàn lín xuān bù mǎn zú ， shuí ràng tā yǒu tí chún de běn shì ？
总不能只吃这一颗，虽然对其他修真者而言，这已经是无法想象的奢侈，但林轩不满足，谁让他有提纯的本事？
Since middle-grade pills were insufficient, he resorted to using lower-grade ones as substitutes. Although their effects were inferior, they were better than nothing!
zhōng pǐn dān bù gòu ， biàn yòng xià pǐn dān lái chōng shù ， suī rán xiào guǒ yào chà yī xiē ， dàn liáo shèng yú wú ！
中品丹不够，便用下品丹来充数，虽然效果要差一些，但聊胜于无！
Thus, in the morning, he took one middle-grade pill; at noon and in the afternoon, he consumed four lower-grade pills each time, starting his diligent cultivation.
yú shì lín xuān zǎo shàng fú yī méi zhōng pǐn dān ， zhōng wǔ hé xià wǔ gè fú sì lì xià pǐn dān ， kāi shǐ le nǔ lì xiū liàn 。
于是林轩早上服一枚中品丹，中午和下午各服四粒下品丹，开始了努力修炼。
Time flew like a river, and before long, a month had passed.
shí guāng rú shuǐ ， fēi sù liú shì ， zhuǎn yǎn guò qù le yí gè yuè 。
时光如水，飞速流逝，转眼过去了一个月。
The effect of middle-grade pills was indeed extraordinary. Although Lin Xuan only ingested one per day, under its powerful influence, his cultivation steadily improved. His spirit energy grew significantly, and at this rate, in just a few months, he should be able to reach the fifth layer of the technique, becoming one of the few with advanced-stage Flexible Spirit Period abilities among his peers.
zhōng pǐn dān de xiào lì què shí fēi fán ， suī rán měi tiān jǐn jǐn fú shí le yī lì ， dàn zài tā qiáng dà yào lì de tuī dòng xià ， lín xuān de xiū wèi hái shì wěn bù tí shēng ， líng lì zēng zhǎng de fú dù fēi cháng míng xiǎn ， zhào zhè yàng de sù dù ， zài guò shù yuè ， yīng gāi jiù néng liàn chéng gōng fǎ de dì wǔ céng ， chéng wéi tóng qī rù gǔ dì zǐ zhōng shǎo shù xiū wèi dào dá líng dòng hòu qī de gāo shǒu 。
中品丹的效力确实非凡，虽然每天仅仅服食了一粒，但在它强大药力的推动下，林轩的修为还是稳步提升，灵力增长的幅度非常明显，照这样的速度，再过数月，应该就能练成功法的第五层，成为同期入谷弟子中少数修为到达灵动后期的高手。
The speed of his progress pleased Lin Xuan, but his refining efficiency for middle-grade pills was not as good as expected. After a month, while he had gained some techniques and improved his proficiency, his success rate remained at 20%. The volume of the Star Sea in his body did expand slightly, but it was still insufficient to support the refinement of two pills.
gōng lì tí shēng de sù dù ràng lín xuān mǎn yì ， dàn zài zhōng pǐn dān tí chún de xiào lǜ shàng jiù méi yǒu xiǎng xiàng de hǎo ， zhè yí gè yuè xià lái ， àn lǐ ， yě zhǎng wò le yī xiē jì qiǎo ， shú liàn dù yě zài tí gāo ， kě chéng gōng lǜ què bú jiàn zēng zhǎng ， yī rán shì bǎi fēn zhī èr shí de chéng gōng lǜ ， tǐ nèi xīng hǎi de tǐ jī suī rán yòu kuò dà le yī xiē ， dàn yě zhǐ shì tí chún yī lì yǒu yú ， bù gòu zhī chí tí chún liǎng lì 。
功力提升的速度让林轩满意，但在中品丹提纯的效率上就没有想象的好，这一个月下来，按理，也掌握了一些技巧，熟练度也在提高，可成功率却不见增长，依然是百分之二十的成功率，体内星海的体积虽然又扩大了一些，但也只是提纯一粒有余，不够支持提纯两粒。
It seemed that his use of the blue Star Sea had hit a bottleneck. After careful analysis and reflection, Lin Xuan concluded that he needed to advance his cultivation level before improving further. For instance, reaching the fifth layer of the technique and entering advanced-stage Flexible Spirit Period might increase his refining efficiency. Since the Star Sea grew in tandem with spirit energy, once there was a significant leap in spirit energy, the bottleneck would disappear.
kàn lái zì jǐ duì lán sè xīng hǎi de yùn yòng dào dá yí gè píng jǐng le ， jīng guò zǐ xì fēn xī yǔ sī kǎo ， lín xuān dé chū le zhè yàng de jié lùn ， xiǎng yào tí gāo ， xiū wèi hái xū yào zài shàng jǐ gè děng jí 。
看来自己对蓝色星海的运用到达一个瓶颈了，经过仔细分析与思考，林轩得出了这样的结论，想要提高，修为还需要再上几个等级。
Although Lin Xuan had this analysis, he did not rush to boost his cultivation level. While practicing required effort, one shouldn't be overly ambitious; haste made waste. The Flexible Spirit Period served as a foundation for the long journey of cultivation. Given the support from medicinal treasures, his progress was already exceptionally fast. If he continued to pursue speed, he might achieve good results in the short term but would not benefit his future cultivation.
bǐ rú shuō ， liàn chéng gōng fǎ de dì wǔ céng ， jìn rù líng dòng hòu qī ， huò xǔ tí chún zhōng pǐn dān de xiào lǜ jiù huì shēng gāo ， yīn wèi xīng hǎi shì yǔ líng lì tóng bù zēng zhǎng ， dāng líng lì yǒu le yí gè fēi yuè hòu ， yùn yòng xīng hǎi suǒ yù dào de píng jǐng yě jiù xiāo shī le 。
比如说，练成功法的第五层，进入灵动后期，或许提纯中品丹的效率就会升高，因为星海是与灵力同步增长，当灵力有了一个飞跃后，运用星海所遇到的瓶颈也就消失了。
Despite being young, Lin Xuan was far from impatient. Even with valuable assets, he did not seek quick gains. Just as one eats a meal bit by bit, cultivation should be step-by-step. Lin Xuan would not become arrogant due to his refining abilities; instead, he cherished and utilized them wisely. Every day after practice, he summarized his experiences.
suī rán yǒu le zhè yàng de fēn xī ， dàn lín xuān bìng méi yǒu xīn jí huǒ liǎo de pīn mìng tí shēng xiū wèi ， suī rán liàn gōng xū yào nǔ lì ， dàn zuò shì qíng bù néng jí gōng jìn lì ， yù sù zé bù dá ， líng dòng qī ， xiāng dāng yú gěi màn cháng de xiū zhēn zhī lù dǎ yí gè jī chǔ ， píng xīn ér lùn ， yǒu le líng yào de zhī chēng ， zì jǐ xiū liàn de sù dù yǐ jīng kuài dé lí pǔ ， rú guǒ zài yī wèi zhuī qiú sù dù ， duǎn qī nèi kě néng qǔ dé bù cuò de chéng jiù ， dàn duì yǐ hòu de xiū liàn ， kě méi yǒu hǎo chù 。
虽然有了这样的分析，但林轩并没有心急火燎的拼命提升修为，虽然练功需要努力，但做事情不能急功近利，欲速则不达，灵动期，相当于给漫长的修真之路打一个基础，平心而论，有了灵药的支撑，自己修炼的速度已经快得离谱，如果再一味追求速度，短期内可能取得不错的成就，但对以后的修炼，可没有好处。
Since he had decided to focus on building a solid foundation without rushing, Lin Xuan deliberately slowed down his pace next. He aimed to make his foundation even more robust.
suī rán nián qīng ， dàn lín xuān yì diǎn yě bù fú zào ， jí biàn shēn huái zhòng bǎo ， tā yě bù jí gōng jìn lì ， fàn yào yī kǒu yī kǒu chī ， xiū xíng yě yào yī bù yī gè jiǎo yìn ， lín xuān bú huì yīn wèi yǒu tí chún de běn lǐng jiù dé yì wàng xíng ， xiāng fǎn ， shàng tiān jì rán jiāng zhè ge hǎo chù gěi le zì jǐ ， jiù gèng yào bèi jiā zhēn xī ， hǎo hǎo yùn yòng ， měi tiān xiū liàn wán le ， lín xuān dōu yào zǒng jié xīn dé 。
虽然年轻，但林轩一点也不浮躁，即便身怀重宝，他也不急功近利，饭要一口一口吃，修行也要一步一个脚印，林轩不会因为有提纯的本领就得意忘形，相反，上天既然将这个好处给了自己，就更要倍加珍惜，好好运用，每天修炼完了，林轩都要总结心得。
Under these circumstances, apart from refining pills and meditating, Lin Xuan found some extra time. He did not waste it; instead, he began practicing the use of spiritual artifacts.
jì rán zuò xià jué dìng yào dǎ hǎo jī chǔ ， bù jí gōng jìn lì ， nà me jiē xià lái ， lín xuān fǎn ér kè yì fàng huǎn le sù dù ， zhēng qǔ ràng zì jǐ de jī chǔ gèng zhā shí yī xiē 。
既然做下决定要打好基础，不急功近利，那么接下来，林轩反而刻意放缓了速度，争取让自己的基础更扎实一些。
Spiritual artifacts were simplified versions of magical treasures designed for low-level cultivators. Don't underestimate their power; although they couldn't control vast natural forces like turning rivers upside down, they possessed great abilities. They could fly and travel through the earth, incredibly versatile.
zài zhè yàng de qíng kuàng xià ， měi tiān chú le tí chún dān yào ， dǎ zuò xiū xíng ， lín xuān hái duō chū le yī xiē shí jiān ， tā dāng rán bú huì làng fèi ， jué dìng kāi shǐ liàn xí shǐ yòng líng qì 。
在这样的情况下，每天除了提纯丹药，打坐修行，林轩还多出了一些时间，他当然不会浪费，决定开始练习使用灵器。
By reaching the fourth layer of his Flexible Spirit Period technique, Lin Xuan could manipulate spiritual artifacts. However, this was merely theoretical knowledge. The reason was simple: while spiritual artifacts were far less powerful than magical treasures, they were still very valuable. Typically, only cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage would possess them. Newbies in the advanced-stage, unless they inherited family heirlooms or had exceptional talent and received gifts from mentors, could not afford such items.
suǒ wèi líng qì ， yě jiù shì jiǎn yì bǎn fǎ bǎo ， zhuān gōng dī jiē de xiū zhēn zhě shǐ yòng ， dàn qiān wàn bú yào xiǎo kàn tā de wēi lì ， suī rán bù néng fān jiāng dǎo hǎi ， dàn yě jù yǒu mò dà shén tōng ， fēi tiān dùn dì ， shén miào wú bǐ 。
所谓灵器，也就是简易版法宝，专供低阶的修真者使用，但千万不要小看它的威力，虽然不能翻江倒海，但也具有莫大神通，飞天遁地，神妙无比。
But Lin Xuan was different. Having plundered Zhang Yu's and Zhou Yan's treasures, he was incredibly wealthy. Besides spirit stones and talismans, he owned three spiritual artifacts.
líng dòng qī gōng fǎ liàn dào dì sì céng ， jiù kě yǐ cāo zòng líng qì le ， bù guò zhè jǐn jǐn shì lǐ lùn shàng ， yuán yīn wú tā ， líng qì suī rán yuǎn yuǎn bǐ bù shàng fǎ bǎo ， dàn yě shí fēn zhēn guì ， yì bān lái shuō ， zhù jī qī de xiū zhēn zhě cái kě néng yōng yǒu ， líng dòng qī de xīn rén ， chú le shǎo shù jì chéng xiān rén yí wù ， huò zhě tiān zī cōng yǐng ， huò dé shī zhǎng zèng yǔ wài ， shì bù kě néng yōng yǒu líng qì de 。
灵动期功法练到第四层，就可以操纵灵器了，不过这仅仅是理论上，原因无他，灵器虽然远远比不上法宝，但也十分珍贵，一般来说，筑基期的修真者才可能拥有，灵动期的新人，除了少数继承先人遗物，或者天资聪颖，获得师长赠予外，是不可能拥有灵器的。
The first one was the golden chain used by Zhou Yan to attack her master during an assassination attempt. When shrunk, it was only a foot long but could expand when infused with spirit energy, binding enemies.
dàn lín xuān bù tóng ， shōu guā le zhāng yǔ hé zhōu yàn de bǎo wù ， tā de shēn jiā fēi cháng fēng hòu ， chú le líng shí fú lù ， hái yǒu líng qì ， ér qiě gòng yǒu sān jiàn zhī duō 。
但林轩不同，收刮了张羽和周燕的宝物，他的身家非常丰厚，除了灵石符箓，还有灵器，而且共有三件之多。
Another item was that flying sword; this belonged to the offensive category of spiritual artifacts. Its power was evident from Lin Xuan's firsthand experience. A single strike had collapsed a significant portion of a mountain wall, its destructive force immense.
dì yī jiàn shì zhōu yàn àn suàn shī fù shí shǐ yòng guò de hún jīn suǒ ， suō xiǎo yǐ hòu zhǐ yǒu yī chǐ lái zhǎng ， dàn zhù rù líng lì hòu kě yǐ suí yì zēng zhǎng ， zuò yòng shì jiāng dí rén kǔn zhù 。
第一件是周燕暗算师傅时使用过的浑金索，缩小以后只有一尺来长，但注入灵力后可以随意增长，作用是将敌人捆住。
However, these weren't the most precious items. Zhou Yan's cultivation level was only at the advanced stage of Flexible Spirit Period, making her one of the top cultivators among low-level disciples but still far from Zhang Yu's wealth.
lìng wài yī yàng zé shì nà bǐng fēi jiàn ， zhè jiù shǔ yú gōng jī xìng de líng qì le ， tā de wēi lì lín xuān yě qīn yǎn jiàn shí guò ， zhǐ yī jī ， jiù hōng tā le yī zuò bù xiǎo de shān bì ， wēi lì wú bǐ 。
另外一样则是那柄飞剑，这就属于攻击性的灵器了，它的威力林轩也亲眼见识过，只一击，就轰塌了一座不小的山壁，威力无比。
From Zhang Yu, Lin Xuan inherited only one item: a small ring, crystal clear and snow-white, resembling an armlet.
bù guò zhè liǎng jiàn hái bú shì zuì zhēn guì de ， zhōu yàn bì jìng zhǐ shì líng dòng qī dà yuán mǎn de xiū wèi ， suī rán shì dī jiē dì zǐ zhōng shǔ yī shǔ èr de gāo shǒu ， dàn shēn jiā xiǎn rán shì méi yǒu bàn fǎ hé zhù jī qī de zhāng yǔ xiāng bǐ 。
不过这两件还不是最珍贵的，周燕毕竟只是灵动期大圆满的修为，虽然是低阶弟子中数一数二的高手，但身家显然是没有办法和筑基期的张羽相比。
Don't be fooled by its unremarkable appearance; the Azure Snow Ring was famous in Drifting Cloud Valley as one of the few top-grade spiritual artifacts.
cóng zhāng yǔ nà lǐ jì chéng de líng qì zhǐ yǒu yī jiàn ， shì yī jīng yíng tī tòu ， tōng tǐ xuě bái ， lèi sì yú shǒu zhuó yàng de xiǎo huán 。
从张羽那里继承的灵器只有一件，是一晶莹剔透，通体雪白，类似于手镯样的小环。
Spiritual artifacts were categorized into lower-grade, middle-grade, upper-grade, and top-grade. Only condensation core stage cultivators could use magical treasures, while the most powerful high-level cultivators had only a single top-grade artifact.
bié kàn tā bù qǐ yǎn ， bì xuě huán zài piāo yún gǔ kě shì dà dà yǒu míng ， nǎi běn mén shǎo yǒu de jǐ jiàn jí pǐn líng qì zhī yī 。
别看它不起眼，碧雪环在飘云谷可是大大有名，乃本门少有的几件极品灵器之一。
In Drifting Cloud Valley, even senior mentors typically possessed only upper-grade artifacts, with only a few people having top-grade ones. Zhang Yu was one of them, and Lin Xuan's luck was truly exceptional.
líng qì fēn wéi xià pǐn 、 zhōng pǐn 、 shàng pǐn ， jí pǐn sì gè děng jí ， yào níng dān qī de gāo shǒu ， cái néng shǐ yòng fǎ bǎo ， ér zhù jī qī de gāo shǒu ， zuì lì hài de yě bù guò shì yōng yǒu yī jiàn jí pǐn líng qì 。
灵器分为下品、中品、上品，极品四个等级，要凝丹期的高手，才能使用法宝，而筑基期的高手，最厉害的也不过是拥有一件极品灵器。
Actually, Zhou Yan's two spiritual artifacts were also impressive. The golden chain could bind enemies, making it an auxiliary artifact that combined defensive and offensive properties; middle-grade.
ná piāo yún gǔ de qíng kuàng lái shuō ， jiù suàn shì gè wèi shī shū ， shī bó ， yōng yǒu de yě dà dū shì shàng pǐn líng qì ， zhè jí pǐn líng qì zhǐ yǒu shǎo shù jǐ gè rén cái yǒu ， ér zhāng yǔ zhèng shì qí zhōng yí gè ， bù dé bù shuō ， lín xuān de yùn qì zhēn shì tài hǎo le 。
拿飘云谷的情况来说，就算是各位师叔，师伯，拥有的也大都是上品灵器，这极品灵器只有少数几个人才有，而张羽正是其中一个，不得不说，林轩的运气真是太好了。
And the flying sword was upper-grade!
In the following period, Lin Xuan devoted himself entirely to refining middle-grade Essence Cleansing Pills. As they say, starting anything is hard. Initially, his success rate was abysmally low; it took almost ten pills for one successful refinement.
Almost every tenth pill worked, and this failure rate nearly made Lin Xuan consider giving up. However, compared to his peers, he was more mature and had a stronger will. He was the type who would never give up once he set his mind on something. Finally, with gritted teeth, he persisted.
Hard work eventually paid off. Over time, Lin Xuan gradually became familiar with the process, and his success rate rose to one successful refinement out of every five pills. While still low, it was at least within a tolerable range.
Middle-grade Essence Cleansing Pills were indeed miraculous in their effects, far beyond those of lower-grade ones.
Of course, such a refining efficiency could not meet Lin Xuan's requirement of nine pills per day. He had a broad plan for his cultivation and couldn't afford to neglect his studies even if he slowed down the progress temporarily. After扣除 meditation time and minimal sleep, with only 20% success rate, he managed to get one middle-grade pill each day.
It was not enough just to consume this single pill; while it was already a luxury for other cultivators, Lin Xuan wasn't satisfied. He had the ability to refine, didn't he?
Since middle-grade pills were insufficient, he resorted to using lower-grade ones as substitutes. Although their effects were inferior, they were better than nothing!
Thus, in the morning, he took one middle-grade pill; at noon and in the afternoon, he consumed four lower-grade pills each time, starting his diligent cultivation.
Time flew like a river, and before long, a month had passed.
The effect of middle-grade pills was indeed extraordinary. Although Lin Xuan only ingested one per day, under its powerful influence, his cultivation steadily improved. His spirit energy grew significantly, and at this rate, in just a few months, he should be able to reach the fifth layer of the technique, becoming one of the few with advanced-stage Flexible Spirit Period abilities among his peers.
The speed of his progress pleased Lin Xuan, but his refining efficiency for middle-grade pills was not as good as expected. After a month, while he had gained some techniques and improved his proficiency, his success rate remained at 20%. The volume of the Star Sea in his body did expand slightly, but it was still insufficient to support the refinement of two pills.
It seemed that his use of the blue Star Sea had hit a bottleneck. After careful analysis and reflection, Lin Xuan concluded that he needed to advance his cultivation level before improving further. For instance, reaching the fifth layer of the technique and entering advanced-stage Flexible Spirit Period might increase his refining efficiency. Since the Star Sea grew in tandem with spirit energy, once there was a significant leap in spirit energy, the bottleneck would disappear.
Although Lin Xuan had this analysis, he did not rush to boost his cultivation level. While practicing required effort, one shouldn't be overly ambitious; haste made waste. The Flexible Spirit Period served as a foundation for the long journey of cultivation. Given the support from medicinal treasures, his progress was already exceptionally fast. If he continued to pursue speed, he might achieve good results in the short term but would not benefit his future cultivation.
Despite being young, Lin Xuan was far from impatient. Even with valuable assets, he did not seek quick gains. Just as one eats a meal bit by bit, cultivation should be step-by-step. Lin Xuan would not become arrogant due to his refining abilities; instead, he cherished and utilized them wisely. Every day after practice, he summarized his experiences.
Since he had decided to focus on building a solid foundation without rushing, Lin Xuan deliberately slowed down his pace next. He aimed to make his foundation even more robust.
Under these circumstances, apart from refining pills and meditating, Lin Xuan found some extra time. He did not waste it; instead, he began practicing the use of spiritual artifacts.
Spiritual artifacts were simplified versions of magical treasures designed for low-level cultivators. Don't underestimate their power; although they couldn't control vast natural forces like turning rivers upside down, they possessed great abilities. They could fly and travel through the earth, incredibly versatile.
By reaching the fourth layer of his Flexible Spirit Period technique, Lin Xuan could manipulate spiritual artifacts. However, this was merely theoretical knowledge. The reason was simple: while spiritual artifacts were far less powerful than magical treasures, they were still very valuable. Typically, only cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage would possess them. Newbies in the advanced-stage, unless they inherited family heirlooms or had exceptional talent and received gifts from mentors, could not afford such items.
But Lin Xuan was different. Having plundered Zhang Yu's and Zhou Yan's treasures, he was incredibly wealthy. Besides spirit stones and talismans, he owned three spiritual artifacts.
The first one was the golden chain used by Zhou Yan to attack her master during an assassination attempt. When shrunk, it was only a foot long but could expand when infused with spirit energy, binding enemies.
Another item was that flying sword; this belonged to the offensive category of spiritual artifacts. Its power was evident from Lin Xuan's firsthand experience. A single strike had collapsed a significant portion of a mountain wall, its destructive force immense.
However, these weren't the most precious items. Zhou Yan's cultivation level was only at the advanced stage of Flexible Spirit Period, making her one of the top cultivators among low-level disciples but still far from Zhang Yu's wealth.
From Zhang Yu, Lin Xuan inherited only one item: a small ring, crystal clear and snow-white, resembling an armlet.
Don't be fooled by its unremarkable appearance; the Azure Snow Ring was famous in Drifting Cloud Valley as one of the few top-grade spiritual artifacts.
Spiritual artifacts were categorized into lower-grade, middle-grade, upper-grade, and top-grade. Only condensation core stage cultivators could use magical treasures, while the most powerful high-level cultivators had only a single top-grade artifact.
In Drifting Cloud Valley, even senior mentors typically possessed only upper-grade artifacts, with only a few people having top-grade ones. Zhang Yu was one of them, and Lin Xuan's luck was truly exceptional.
Actually, Zhou Yan's two spiritual artifacts were also impressive. The golden chain could bind enemies, making it an auxiliary artifact that combined defensive and offensive properties; middle-grade.
And the flying sword was upper-grade!