Over the past three years, Li Bai had suffered a lot from damaged meridians. Each time he healed, it took a long time, and as an ordinary person without a spiritual root, trying desperately to keep pace with his peers left him no time to waste. Li Bai carefully controlled the flow speed of his spiritual energy. Fortunately, through constant practice, he had a good understanding of his meridians' tolerance.

An hour later, after completing the cycle, the spiritual energy returned to his dantian via the meridians. Using the internal visualization technique to check, a shadow flashed in Li Bai’s eyes. Despite his hard efforts, his cultivation level remained unchanged. Ideally, a Great Circle should slightly increase spiritual energy.

It seemed he had no choice but to go to the Heart Refining Path. Li Bai gritted his teeth.

The Heart Refining Path was a special place in Misty Cloud Valley, discovered by the ancestor of the sect three thousand years ago, and confirmed to be a relic left by ancient cultivators. It was a remarkable location; once inside, one would be enveloped in illusions, experiencing scenes like mountains of knives and seas of fire, or descending into the eighteen levels of hell. Although the illusions didn't cause real harm, they were agonizing, yet the benefits were clear.

While terrifying, the Heart Refining Path was rich in spiritual energy, allowing for more effective cultivation. Moreover, it was freely accessible to disciples of the sect. Unfortunately, apart from experts at the Foundation Establishment stage and above, low-level disciples at the Spirit Movement stage dared not attempt it. With their unstable Dao hearts, they couldn't withstand the onslaught of illusions.

However, Li Bai had no other way to advance. He could either remain stuck at his bottleneck or seek a breakthrough on the Heart Refining Path. He chose the latter.

Pushing open the heavy stone door, Li Bai left the training room. It was already dark outside, the stars blinking weakly. But Li Bai didn't intend to rest and headed towards the Heart Refining Path.

At the rear mountain of Misty Cloud Valley, a sloping tunnel cut into the rock wall extended downward to unknown depths—this was the Heart Refining Path. Standing at the entrance, Li Bai took a deep breath and entered.

The first hundred meters contained no illusions, and the concentration of spiritual energy was the same as outside. Still, Li Bai dared not be careless; though this was his first visit, he had heard much about the Heart Refining Path's terrors.

After a few more steps, everything changed suddenly. The surrounding spiritual energy became denser; indeed, this place was suitable for cultivation.

Li Bai's expression grew serious. He carefully examined his surroundings before cautiously sitting cross-legged.

Boom!

Flames shot up from the ground a meter high, and the surrounding temperature rose sharply. Terrifying scenes appeared, but Li Bai merely raised an eyebrow, showing no panic, ignoring them as he focused on absorbing the surrounding spiritual energy. Everything on the Heart Refining Path was an illusion and need not be minded.

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However, despite knowing it was false, the sensations felt all too real. Soon, the flames drove the temperature to unbearable levels, and large beads of sweat dripped from Li Bai's face.

Listening to others talk was indeed different from experiencing it firsthand. Li Bai had only heard the foundation-building experts talk about the Heart Refining Path before; he hadn’t realized how frightening it truly was.

The flames soon licked at his body. With his cultivation at the first level of the Spirit Movement stage, he couldn’t yet produce a protective shield and could only grit his teeth and endure the pain.

While enduring the agony of being burned, he also had to concentrate on absorbing the spiritual energy of the heavens and earth, a hardship unimaginable to ordinary people. Yet, through sheer tenacity, Li Bai managed to persevere.

The flames licked his skin, his teeth grinding loudly from pain that eventually turned numb. However, the spiritual energy here was indeed plentiful, absorbed at several times the rate outside.

Though an illusion, the sensation was like a true purgatory, testing Li Bai's endurance.

Absorbing the spiritual energy into his body was merely the first step. He then needed to refine it using the secret methods taught by his sect, a process with significant losses. Typically, absorbing a hundred milliliters of spiritual energy would yield only a strand of spiritual energy as thick as a hair.

This refined energy would then circulate through his eight extraordinary meridians before being stored back into the dantian.

Even those with resilient minds found it impossible to complete the entire process amidst flames. Li Bai lasted five minutes before his stamina hit its limit. He stood and ran out with all his speed. Once outside the rich spiritual energy area, the illusion of flames vanished with it.

“Indeed, it is just as they said,” muttered Li Bai, checking his body for any injuries and finding none. The pain of the illusory flames was still vivid in his memory.

Despite the discomfort, it was worthwhile because not only was the spiritual energy here concentrated, but it was also very pure. Cultivating in this environment greatly enhanced the chances of breaking through bottlenecks.

After resting for a while, Li Bai returned to the path. The flames reappeared as he endured the burning pain, continuing to absorb spiritual energy.

When his endurance reached its peak, he would exit for a rest and, once recovered, re-enter the fiery illusions.

In this cycle, Li Bai used his determination to strive in the Heart Refining Path.

...

A few days passed, and his spiritual energy finally showed some improvement. Although the gains still seemed meager compared to the effort, it was much faster than cultivating outside.

At this pace, he should be able to enter the second level of the Spirit Movement stage with perseverance.

After mentally calculating his cultivation progress, Li Bai stood up. He had been on the Heart Refining Path for four days and needed to leave for two reasons: first, after four sleepless days of training amidst flames, his body had reached its limit; second, today was the time for instructional lectures on techniques.

According to the rules of Misty Cloud Valley, every four days, a foundation establishment expert would teach the Spirit Movement stage disciples. Receiving guidance from experts could help avoid many pitfalls in cultivation, an opportunity Li Bai did not want to miss.

Following the path, Li Bai came outside. Unlike before, he immediately encountered a foundation establishment cultivator.

"Uncle Master!"

"You…" The man looked at Li Bai in surprise. "Did you go to the Heart Refining Path?"

"Yes, Uncle Master."

After they parted, the foundation establishment cultivator remained astonished. Although the illusions caused no real harm, the experiences felt utterly real. For a disciple at the initial Spirit Movement stage to endure it, this disciple named Li Bai truly possessed remarkable fortitude.

In cultivation, besides spiritual roots, a steadfast mind was necessary, and this disciple Li Bai indeed deserved a second look!