I Cultivate in a Government Office

Chapter 144: Chapter 100: Practicing the Fourth Refinement

Yang Wenqing stepped out of the Flying Shuttle and walked into the courtyard alone. Aunt Zhou, perhaps having heard the shuttle’s engine, was already waiting by the screen wall with Spring Flower and Qiuyue. Seeing him enter, she gave a silent curtsy.

"Welcome back, sir. Would you care for some supper?" Aunt Zhou’s voice was low and formal.

"No, that won’t be necessary. You all should get some rest." Yang Wenqing waved a hand, his gaze sweeping over the front courtyard. The vast space felt somewhat empty and desolate.

He then headed straight for the living room in the main house.

Yang Yong and Yang Tie followed him in, closing the door behind them.

Only a single floor lamp was on in the living room, casting a dim, warm glow. Yang Wenqing sat down in the Grandmaster’s Chair and gestured for the other two to sit as well. He then took the note he had written that afternoon from his coat, placed it on the coffee table between them, and tapped it with his finger.

"Take a look at this."

Yang Yong and Yang Tie stood and leaned in, reading it carefully by the lamplight. Although they were not versed in high-level cultivation, their years of handling the medicinal ingredients business had given them a considerable understanding of the value and properties of Spirit Grass.

"Sharp Gold Grass, Withered Heart Vine, Frost-Marrow Ganoderma, Earth Flame Fruit, Bedrock Mushroom..." Yang Yong read aloud in a low voice, his brow furrowed. "Brother Wenqing, these... their properties are too potent. They rarely circulate on the market. They’re either controlled substances or extremely niche items."

"I know," Yang Wenqing said calmly. "That’s why I need you to handle it. Don’t go through the company’s official channels. Use your private connections."

He leaned forward slightly. "Remember, the medicinal properties and age of each group of herbs must be equivalent..."

"For example, if you have a ten-year-old Sharp Gold Grass, you must find a Withered Heart Vine, Frost-Marrow Ganoderma, Earth Flame Fruit, and Bedrock Mushroom that match it in both potency and age. Do you understand what I’m saying?"

"Understood!"

The two answered in unison.

Then, Yang Tie spoke up. "Brother Wenqing, this will probably take some time."

Yang Wenqing nodded and asked, "I need ten sets to start. How long will that take?"

Yang Tie thought for a moment before replying, "At least a month."

"Acceptable."

"We’ll split up and get started tomorrow."

"Mm."

Yang Wenqing leaned back in his chair, gently stroking the ’Heart-Guarding Ring’ on his left thumb. He changed the subject. "During dinner today, Director Sun mentioned that some people at the Civil Affairs Bureau think Four Seas Trading Company is being too aggressive."

Yang Yong’s expression shifted slightly, while Yang Tie pursed his lips.

"Tall trees catch the wind," Yang Wenqing said lightly. "At the end of the day, our roots are still here in our little corner of Qianjiao County. Bureau Chief Gao is at a critical juncture, and Section Chief Wang is also aiming for the deputy director position. We can’t give people any more ammunition against us."

He looked at the two of them. "After you go back, discuss this. Starting next month, halt all of the company’s external expansion projects. Focus on increasing the profitability of our existing operations. And especially..." He paused. "Don’t get into any more conflicts with others. Section Chief Wang and Brother Xiao have surely heard the news as well, so they certainly won’t object."

"Right!" Yang Tie’s reply was crisp.

Afterward, Yang Wenqing went over a few more details, particularly regarding Qingyuan Manor in Xiaoqiao Town. The manor was a tangible asset and could provide a stable output of Spiritual Medicine.

By the time they finished talking, it was late at night. After seeing off Yang Yong and Yang Tie, the courtyard fell completely silent.

Aunt Zhou and the two maids had long since gone to bed, leaving Yang Wenqing alone in the main house. He lingered for a moment, savoring the comfort of his new home, and when he felt satisfied, he rose and walked to the back courtyard, entering the Quiet Chamber.

The room’s furnishings were simple. Basic Spirit Gathering and shielding Arrays operated silently, maintaining the chamber’s tranquility.

First, he took out the Array Base from his Storage Bag, which he had prepared for the Fourth Refinement, ’Radiant Viscera’. The Array was called the ’Five Qi Returning Yuan Array’.

The Array was divided into five regions, corresponding to the southern Heart Fire, eastern Liver Wood, central Spleen Earth, western Lung Metal, and northern Kidney Water. At the core of each region lay an extremely complex nourishing rune that, upon injection of Spiritual Qi, would adaptively evolve to produce nourishing patterns best suited for the current state of one’s internal organs.

Surrounding these five core runes, intricate silver spirit-conducting circuits extended outward. They cleverly intertwined at the edges and center of the pentagonal disk, forming a complete, cyclical network that symbolized the Five Elements Mutual Generation and the mutual support of the five major organs.

At the very center of the five regions, the geometric center of the pentagonal disk, there was an indentation.

Within the indentation sat a piece of Earth Essence the size of a pigeon’s egg. It was creamy and lustrous, emitting a peaceful Earth Element Spiritual Qi. Positioned in the center to support the other four elements, it was ideal for harmonizing their violent natures and stabilizing the Array Base. The cores of the other four regions were, respectively, a Fire-ascribed Scarlet Flame Stone, a Wood-ascribed Azure Wood Crystal, a Metal-ascribed pile of Platinum Sand, and a Water-ascribed Profound Water Jade.

As the Array activated, runes on the Array Base suddenly lit up. Five different-colored lights glowed simultaneously, flowing like five gentle streams along the established network. They converged and finally, about a foot above the disk, formed a rotating, mist-like canopy of spiritual essence.

The Array could, according to the Cultivator’s intent, strengthen the nourishment of a specific organ or element. Moreover, its self-contained Five Elements cycle could, to a certain extent, harmonize the elemental imbalances and organ damage caused by consuming potent Spiritual Medicine.

At the same time, it could convert external Spiritual Qi or medicinal power into a gentle life-force energy that was easily absorbed by the organs, reducing the internal risks and pain during refinement.

Yang Wenqing sat cross-legged in the center of the Array. He took out a Five Qi Returning Yuan Flower he had long prepared and placed it on his lap. Sinking his consciousness into his Qi Sea, he slowly drew upon his Spiritual Qi. The Five Qi Returning Yuan Flower on his knees seemed to respond to the call; its five petals, each a different color, trembled slightly, and each released a wisp of pure, distinctly-ascribed Spiritual Qi.

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