### Chapter 140: The Eighth Layer of Qi Refining  

Given the wealth He Song had publicly displayed over the past three years, the spirit stones he had spent on gifts were essentially his entire savings.

He believed that using all his resources to purchase gifts for the three of them wouldn't come across as stingy.

In fact, it might even earn him some goodwill. 

Arriving at True Person Clear Moon's residence, He Song quickly gained entry after showing his identity as a disciple of the Earth Sect.

The servants respectfully led him through a series of corridors to a small pavilion in the garden, where he found True Person Clear Moon, Pinger, and Chu Shuangshuang. 

"Junior He Song greets Senior Clear Moon and the two senior sisters," He Song said, presenting the gifts and expressing his gratitude to True Person Clear Moon, Pinger, and Chu Shuangshuang. 

True Person Clear Moon didn't show much reaction, but after glancing at the gifts, her gaze softened slightly, and her tone became gentler.

It was clear that she was satisfied with the gifts.

Perhaps she had noticed the value of the gifts and understood He Song's financial situation, which had raised her opinion of him.

Alternatively, she might have appreciated the gesture of He Song personally coming to express his thanks. 

Behind her, Pinger couldn't take her eyes off the gift, clearly delighted.

Chu Shuangshuang, on the other hand, seemed momentarily flustered after receiving her gift, as if she hadn't expected to be included. 

After expressing his gratitude, He Song was invited to stay in Green Wall Immortal City for a few days.

During this time, Pinger and Chu Shuangshuang often came by to take him around the city.

He Song had no choice but to abandon his original plan of visiting the entertainment district in the northern part of the city and instead accompanied the two women on their outings. 

Since his last visit to the mortal settlement in the northern part of Green Wall Immortal City, He Song had developed a fondness for the place.

However, given the current circumstances, he decided to let go of that tempting idea.

Fortunately, the company of Pinger and Chu Shuangshuang made the outings enjoyable. 

A few more days passed, and He Song managed to find some free time to visit his former neighbor, Lin Cong.

Lin Cong had been He Song's neighbor for several years after He Song's transmigration.

During the great calamity in the immortal market, He Song had warned Lin Cong of the impending danger, and Lin Cong had heeded his advice, leaving the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market immediately. 

Since then, as a rogue cultivator, Lin Cong had made his way to Green Wall Immortal City.

Over a decade had passed in the blink of an eye, and the once fierce-looking Lin Cong had settled down in the city.

His cultivation had also risen from the fourth layer of Qi Refining when he left the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market to the sixth layer now. 

Fortunately, He Song and Lin Cong had maintained contact over the years.

Now that He Song had some free time, the two reunited and reminisced about their days in the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market.

However, He Song didn't mention that he was now a disciple of the Earth Sect.

While there was no need to hide it, He Song knew that such a change in status might put unnecessary pressure on Lin Cong, who was still a rogue cultivator. 

After reconnecting with Lin Cong, He Song spent a few more days wandering around Green Wall Immortal City with Pinger and Chu Shuangshuang.

Finally, when the time felt right, He Song bid farewell and left the city, heading back to the Earth Sect. 

This training expedition away from the sect had lasted just over a month, but He Song had accomplished a great deal.

His spirit fields had been destroyed, he had killed Chen Zhong, and he had found a new valley to cultivate spirit fields.

He had also sold spirit rice and disposed of stolen goods at the Ten Thousand Blossoms Immortal Market.

After that, he had spent several days catching up with Zhao Lin in the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market and visited Su Yan.

Finally, he had personally thanked True Person Clear Moon, Pinger, and Chu Shuangshuang in Green Wall Immortal City and even reconnected with Lin Cong. 

All of these events had taken place within a single month. 

However, after returning to the Earth Sect, He Song immediately went into seclusion to focus on his cultivation.

He was already close to breaking through to the eighth layer of Qi Refining.

With nothing urgent to attend to, he decided to continue cultivating until he reached the eighth layer.

Once he did, his strength would see a significant boost. 

Time flew by. 

In the blink of an eye, He Song had spent two years in seclusion within the Earth Sect.

During this time, aside from occasionally traveling thousands of miles to replenish the spirit stones in the formations of his newly cultivated spirit fields, He Song never left his courtyard. 

Within the Earth Sect, dedicated personnel delivered meals to every occupied courtyard. The meals consisted of spirit rice, spirit beast meat, and other spiritual ingredients.

In the outside world, such a meal would cost several, if not dozens of spirit stones.

But within the Earth Sect, these resources were provided freely. 

Outer sect disciples of the Earth Sect only needed to focus on their cultivation.

Everything else was taken care of for them.

After all, they were the future hope of the sect, its backbone. As long as new Foundation Establishment experts continued to emerge, the resources spent on them were insignificant. 

Of course, the Earth Sect also offered external tasks for those who felt their annual stipend wasn't enough.

Completing these tasks would earn them spirit stones and sect contribution points, which could be exchanged for unique sect resources.

One contribution point was equivalent to one hundred and fifty spirit stones. 

Since joining the sect, He Song had never taken on any external tasks, so his understanding of them was limited. 

Today, He Song sat cross-legged on a cushion in his courtyard, rapidly circulating the spiritual energy within his body and refining the external spiritual energy into his own. 

At a certain moment, when the spiritual energy within his body reached a critical point, He Song felt a sudden lightness, followed by the illusion of a massive surge in strength. 

He had broken through to the eighth layer of Qi Refining! 

After the breakthrough, He Song didn't rush to end his seclusion.

Instead, he continued to absorb and refine the surrounding spiritual energy, stabilizing his cultivation at the eighth layer. 

Several days later, when his aura had fully stabilized, He Song finally opened his eyes. 

"Five years to reach the eighth layer of Qi Refining. At this rate, it should only take about a dozen more years to reach the peak of Qi Refining. By then..." 

As He Song calculated the time in his mind, he recalled the scene of Meng Guan successfully breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage.

The swirling vortex of spiritual energy, the overwhelming spiritual pressure, and the sudden transformation in status and strength—all of it filled He Song with longing. 

(End of Chapter) 

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