Chapter 163: Chapter 138: I Want to Be Saved by Master Once, Too

Yang Qi smiled humbly and briefly explained a few things about the habits and conservation status of clouded leopards.

The group continued onward.

Before long, they walked out of the dense forest and arrived at the relatively flat outer area of the zoo’s back mountain.

Considering that Yang Qi had not only been through a perilous encounter but also had his animals with him, Xiao Jun was very considerate. He told Yang Qi to drive home and rest, saying the official statement could wait until tomorrow or the day after. Whenever Yang Qi was free, he could just go to the station to provide a more detailed report.

Yang Qi thanked them, said goodbye to Deng Lei, Xiao Jun, and the others, then took Xiaojiu, Bai Wan, Hu Zi, Leopard, and Ta Xue, got into his SUV, and returned to his dormitory at the Zoo.

Back in his familiar surroundings, he naturally began to relax.

After a short rest, Yang Qi went to the backyard to give his furry companions a bath. They had spent the afternoon tumbling through the mountains and were covered in dirt and grass clippings. He washed them with warm water, blew their fur dry, and then dusted each one with some medicated, insect-repellent pet powder.

Then, he went inside and took a hot shower himself.

Emerging from the bathroom, he felt completely refreshed.

Yang Qi went into the kitchen and began cooking a large pot of Spirit Rice Porridge.

While the porridge simmered, he made a trip to the Giant Panda Hall. He took Tuantuan out for his usual long walk and fed him two "special" apples. He waited until Tuantuan had returned to his enclosure, contentedly hugging the apple cores, before heading back to the dormitory.

When he returned, the Spirit Rice Porridge was perfectly cooked, its fragrance filling the entire house.

Yang Qi took out their food bowls and dished out a large, heaping serving of Spirit Rice Porridge for Xiaojiu, Bai Wan, Hu Zi, Leopard, and Ta Xue.

But that wasn’t all.

After a moment of thought, Yang Qi took a block of system-produced "Vitality Nutrient Cream" from his Hundred Pouches Belt.

The cream exuded a scent that was irresistible to animals. He divided it into five equal portions, placing one next to each of his furry companions’ bowls.

"You all worked hard today, especially Xiaojiu, Hu Zi, and Leopard. Your performance was excellent. This is your reward."

Although each only received a small piece, the Vitality Nutrient Cream possessed a powerful, instinctual allure for animals, and it was packed with pure life energy. The combination instantly made the furry companions ecstatic.

At first, they licked it cautiously. Then their eyes lit up, and with a single flick of their tongues, they swallowed it whole, tails wagging furiously.

"WOOF WOOF~"

Leopard finished his portion the fastest. Licking his chops, still wanting more, he barked excitedly at Bai Wan and Ta Xue.

’What is this stuff? It’s delicious!’

’I feel like I’m bursting with energy!’

’Brother Wan, Brother Xue, have you guys ever eaten this before?’

"WOOF!"

Bai Wan was clearly savoring it as well, and he licked the corner of his mouth.

’I’ve had it once before.’

’When Master rescued me, this is what he fed me, along with something else that was delicious.’

"ARF~"

Ta Xue nodded in agreement.

’Me too.’

’When Master saved me, he gave it to me to eat as well.’

"WOOF~"

Hearing this, Leopard wagged his tail, his eyes full of envy and longing.

’That’s so cool.’

’I wish Master would rescue me sometime.’

’Would I get to eat this again then?’

Yang Qi: "..."

He was in the middle of eating his Spirit Rice Porridge and nearly choked when he heard this.

He shot Leopard a speechless look.

’This glutton...’

’He was actually looking forward to a "get-into-trouble-and-be-rescued" plot, just for a snack?’

Still, seeing his little companions so full of spirit and in excellent condition made Yang Qi very happy.

After dinner, Yang Qi followed his routine and set up the "Demon Extermination Array" in the backyard, letting it continue to accumulate contribution points.

Then, he went upstairs and entered the "Cultivation Chamber."

From his "Hundred Pouches Belt," he took out five Mid-grade Five Elements Spirit Stones, each a different color and shimmering with Spiritual Qi, and used them to replace the previous Low-grade Spirit Stones.

He set up the "Five Elements Spirit Gathering Array" anew.

When the final Earth Attribute Spirit Stone clicked into place, the Array activated.

HUMMM—

A torrent of Five Elements Spiritual Qi—far richer and purer than before—surged like an awakening tide, rapidly gathering, spiraling, and circulating within the chamber.

The Spiritual Qi of the five attributes complemented one another, forming a stable and highly efficient field of energy that enveloped the entire room.

A faint, five-colored halo even began to shimmer in the air.

Yang Qi checked the window, making sure the curtains were fully drawn. He then averted his gaze and sat cross-legged on the "Meditation Cushion" in the center of the Array.

The moment he entered a state of meditation, he felt as if every pore in his body had opened. Without any need for conscious guidance, wisps of pure Five Elements Spiritual Qi seeped into his body. They were swiftly refined along the pathways of the Great Derivation Spirit-Controlling Technique, converted into pure Magical Power, and funneled into his Dantian and Qi Sea.

’The effect of Mid-grade Spirit Stones is really worlds apart!’

Yang Qi thought to himself, sensing the changes in his Magical Power.

The quality and density of the Spiritual Qi this time were many times greater than when he had cultivated using Low-grade Spirit Stones.

The speed at which his Magical Power was generated was simply skyrocketing.

Moreover, as Yang Qi entered a deep state of cultivation, a nourishing feedback of fortune flowed from Xiaojiu, Bai Wan, Hu Zi, and Leopard. This invisible power gathered in wisps, like streams flowing into a river, nourishing his soul and his Cultivation, making his insights come much more smoothly.

Combined with how the sudden life-and-death crisis in the forest that day—and his calm response to it—had tempered his will, his mind became even more focused and clear.

With all these factors converging, the Magical Power within Yang Qi’s Dantian rapidly accumulated, compressed, and became purer...

An unknown amount of time passed. Then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, it felt like he had broken through an invisible film.

POP—

A faint, crisp sound that only Yang Qi could perceive rang out from within his body.

His Dantian and Qi Sea trembled violently before instantly expanding!

The Magical Power, once somewhat misty, grew more solid and pure, and its circulation speed increased by a notch.

The aura around him suddenly surged before quickly retracting, returning to a state of calm neutrality. Upon closer inspection, however, it now possessed a new layer of depth.

Yang Qi slowly opened his eyes, a keen light flashing within them for an instant before disappearing.

He had broken through.

Third Level of Qi Cultivation! 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

’Speaking of which... now that I’m at the Third Level of Qi Cultivation, can I be called a "major cultivator"?’