Chapter 122: Vein Refining Stage

"Brother, I am going to bury the black bird."

Hiding the spirit pet egg, Li Ying wiped away her tears and headed downward.

"Use it as a snack." Li Mu did not follow her. Standing on the stone cliff, he noticed something else—something quite remarkable.

Tucked away in a hidden crevice hung a dying, peculiar tree. Upon its branches grew several pale-red Earth-Covering Fruits.

The Earth-Covering Fruit is a third-grade spirit fruit that thrives by absorbing the unique energies of the world and the spiritual essence of other trees. It bears no leaves or flowers, and growing the fruit itself is no easy feat. If a cultivator were to eat it, the effect would be negligible, but as feed for a spirit pet, it could strengthen the creature’s physique, prevent illness, and even offer a chance to break through to a higher realm.

No wonder the Dark-Hook Eagle chose this spot for its nest; it likely intended for the hatchlings to feed on these fruits. Truly, even birds possess deep affection.

Li Mu took a soft breath, gathered all the fruits, and stored them within his spirit tower. "I shall help you finish what you could not. Rest easy; those two birds will be well cared for."

When they reached the bottom of the mountain, Li Ying’s mood was low, and she remained silent along the way.

Li Mu offered no words of comfort, knowing there was little he could do. He understood his younger sister; while other girls’ moods might be fickle, Li Ying was different. "She will only feel better once the spirit pet egg hatches," he thought.

As this realization struck him, he suddenly remembered something and hurriedly called out to her, "Wait, Ying'er."

"What is it, Brother?"

"I was distracted and nearly forgot. Ying'er, this spirit pet egg must be bonded to its master before it can hatch; otherwise, it will never emerge."

Li Mu was correct. A spirit pet egg, if not properly bonded upon being laid, would remain in its egg state forever. To become a spirit pet, the cultivator must first bond with it and then nurture it during their own cultivation, channeling a portion of their genuine energy into the egg so that the creature can finally hatch.

Hearing his explanation, tears welled up in Ying'er’s eyes again. "Then how can we do that, Brother?"

"Bonding? We have one egg each. A cultivator can only keep one spirit pet, and conversely, a spirit pet can only recognize one master. This is the only way to raise them to maturity," Li Mu said softly.

"But won't that slow down your cultivation progress?" Li Ying shook her head, hesitant to proceed.

Li Mu smiled gently. "Don't be silly. How much could it possibly take? It will be fine."

"Alright. We have one pet each, shall we bond with them now?" Li Ying thought it over carefully and nodded with great resolve.

The act of bonding was not complicated—it merely required a drop of blood. However, hatching the egg was no simple task. What Li Mu had said about it taking "a little" energy was merely to put her at ease. To truly nurture a spirit pet and forge a heart-to-heart connection, one had to dedicate a significant portion of their cultivation time to the egg.

Yet, it was not a loss. A spirit pet that shared a heart-to-heart bond with its master provided assistance far beyond what ordinary magical treasures could offer.

After the bonding, Li Mu explained the details to Li Ying. She listened intently, though she felt a flash of anger that he hadn't made these difficulties clear sooner. Li Mu said nothing, merely patting her cheek in silent apology.

The two of them, each carrying their spirit pet egg, slowly made their way back.

When they reached the door where Shen Bingxue was busy refining medicine, she saw Li Mu waving his hand and understood that everything was fine. She merely smiled and led the teary-eyed Li Ying away. They lived together, and their bond was so close that even Li Mu felt a twinge of envy.

Li Mu returned to his cultivation room alone.

Having consumed many beast pellets recently, his cultivation base felt slightly unstable and required steadying. This timing with the spirit pet egg was perfect for him to make some adjustments.

Every day, he channeled a portion of his cultivation energy into the egg. Watching it gradually absorb the spiritual essence and emanate a faint, ethereal aura brought him joy.

Months passed. The bird hatched, clinging closely to Li Mu as if he were its own parent.

Li Mu named the bird "Blackie," since Li Ying’s egg had yet to hatch, leaving her to claim the original black bird.

He fed it the two Earth-Covering Fruits, pushing it to its peak potential. Blackie’s eyes shone with intelligence as it chirped and hopped around Li Mu.

In the days that followed, Li Mu kept it by his side, allowing it to absorb spiritual energy with him as it slowly grew.

Li Ying’s black bird also hatched after a few months, and she treated it like a precious treasure. It held such a high place in her heart that it even overshadowed Li Mu, which left him feeling a bit vexed.

Time drifted by until one day, while Li Mu was fully immersed in his practice, he noticed something unusual.

The genuine energy within his body, flowing through his meridians and energy pool, felt like dense, gathering clouds—profoundly still.

The flow of these clouds was extremely slow, almost like water.

"It is time for the Pulse Refining stage."

Li Mu remained calm. He had anticipated this moment for a long time, though he had not expected it to arrive so quickly.

Pulse Refining was different from Spirit Building; it required no external spirit materials, and the energy pool and meridians would not expand. It was a process of internal transformation—refining the energy pool, meridians, and genuine energy itself, turning the energy into a liquid state. At the same time, it was a process of maintaining one’s nature and achieving enlightenment—clarifying what cultivation meant and defining one’s own path.

If one failed to define their own path, even if the genuine energy turned to liquid, the mind would not advance. Without that realization, one could not wield the true power of the Pulse Refining stage, resulting in a weak foundation.

Li Mu carefully circulated his genuine energy. It wound through his meridians like a calm sea hiding a turbulent tide beneath.

At that moment, every pore on his skin began to absorb—to devour—the surrounding spiritual energy. It surged into his sea of genuine energy, instantly being put to work.

A day passed. The sea of energy never ceased its circulation, though its speed began to slow. It churned as if ready to burst forth from his meridians and energy pool.

This was the perfect moment to temper them. Li Mu endured the pain, continuing to draw in energy, letting the genuine energy pulse and impact his vessels, making it more substantial and increasing his power.

Another day passed. The sea of energy continued to cycle, and now, his meridians and energy pool were strong enough to bear the load.

It was time to refine it into a liquid state.

Transforming into a liquid required time.

Two more days went by. The sea of genuine energy, moving of its own accord, had fully liquefied and settled into the energy pool. The pool resembled a vast, shimmering ocean, radiant and filled with an indescribable, wondrous sensation.

"Is this... the Pulse Refining stage?"

After scanning his internal state, Li Mu smiled faintly. The refinement of his energy was complete; what remained was the path of enlightenment.