Alaric Ye had always been patient. The Five Elements Primordial Art was the most suitable cultivation technique for him. He didn't get discouraged by repeated failures; instead, he continuously absorbed experience, practicing the Five Elements Vajra Technique alongside the Five Elements Primordial Art.

Now, his Five Elements Vajra Technique had reached the second level, and his cultivation had stepped into the third stage of Qi Refining just a few days ago.

This meant that Alaric Ye had become a senior outer disciple of Spirit Beast Peak, just a step away from becoming a highly esteemed inner disciple!

Suddenly, Alaric's body shook, and a vast aura exploded from him, shaking the surrounding chairs and bedding. The scattered five elements' qi in front of him suddenly fused into one and surged into his body!

The five Five Elements spirit herbs withered completely at a visible speed!

If his physical strength wasn't sufficient, such a vast amount of five elements' qi entering his body would cause an instant explosion, leading to immediate death. At this moment, Alaric's entire body shone with a faint golden light. His brows furrowed, teeth clenched, and he let out a low growl!

"This time, I must succeed! Break through for me!"

Alaric had reached a bottleneck in his practice of the Five Elements Primordial Art. As long as he broke through this bottleneck, he would successfully step into the first stage.

Many cultivators practicing the Five Elements Primordial Art had been stuck at this point, either losing all their previous efforts or never advancing again.

This was Alaric's seventh attempt!

With his roar, the five elements' qi inside him became extremely violent, like a hundred wild horses running amok, impossible to control.

Many had died at this step due to their bodies exploding.

However, Alaric had learned from his previous six attempts. He remained calm and focused, slowly controlling the speed at which the five elements' qi flowed through his meridians.

This was a contest of endurance and willpower.

Failure would mean losing all his previous efforts!

And what Alaric lacked the least was endurance and willpower!

Sweat poured down Alaric's body like rain. His skin, glowing with golden light, took on an unhealthy red hue. Without the golden light from the Five Elements Vajra Technique, he would look like a lobster freshly pulled from boiling water.

Soon, his entire body was drenched in sweat, steam rising from his head, while his feet felt like they were in an ice cave, with sweat condensing into blocks of white ice.

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After two full hours, Alaric's breath finally stabilized. He completely controlled the wild five elements' qi in his meridians, slowly guiding it into his Dantian.

In his Dantian, a diagram of the five elements' mutual generation and restraint slowly emerged.

He slowly opened his eyes, a sharp gleam flashing in them.

After a whole year of effort, six failures, and the expenditure of spirit herbs worth hundreds of spirit stones, he had finally cultivated the rare Five Elements Primordial Art to the first stage.

His efforts had not been in vain.

Under the influence of the five elements' diagram, the mana in his Dantian was crazily condensed. At the same time, the surrounding abundant Spiritual Qi surged into his body, finally converging in his Dantian. The intensity of his mana was skyrocketing, even more terrifying than the growth after breaking through a realm.

The first stage of the Five Elements Primordial Art permanently increased mana intensity by 50%!

This meant that an ordinary third-stage Qi Refining cultivator's basic mana intensity was equivalent to the strength of three fierce horses, but with the Five Elements Primordial Art's enhancement, it would be 4.5 fierce horses.

Moreover, Alaric had the domineering enhancement of the Insect Emperor's body and had practiced the Five Elements Vajra Technique, which greatly enhanced physical strength. Although he was only at the third stage of Qi Refining, his real strength was not to be underestimated!

Of course, compared to the progress of his five spirit insects, his improvement was just a drop in the bucket.

In a good mood, Alaric stood up, took off his robe, and comfortably soaked in the clear pool built by Little White to wash off the sweat.

Suddenly, water splashed, and a huge white head the size of a water tank emerged from the water. The giant python's white scales shimmered brilliantly in the sunlight and water.

"Master, you're so shy..." Little White's voice came.

Alaric didn't feel embarrassed at all. He retorted, "Little White, you're a spirit beast, I'm a human cultivator, and haven't we bathed together many times before?"

Little White's shy voice came, "That was... that was when Little White was still young and didn't understand..."

Alaric: "..."

Little White continued, "Besides, Little White will eventually form a demon core and transform into a human. Humans are the spirits of heaven and earth; only by transforming into a human can one possess human wisdom and comprehension."

Alaric nonchalantly said, "Then wait until you transform into a human. By then, I'll reluctantly stop bathing with you... Besides, you said you need to transform into a human to have human wisdom and comprehension, but you all seem smarter than me. I feel like I'm becoming the dumbest and least perceptive one."

Little White giggled, "Isn't that because Master raised us well!"

"Have Little Strong and Little Blue gone out again?"

Little White nodded.

Alaric said guiltily, "I wonder which unfortunate kitchen is going to suffer again..."

Little White said, "Mostly, it's the cultivators who have had minor conflicts with Master or have troubled Longevity Society members. Little Strong and Little Blue have their own principles; we should support them."

Now, Little Strong and Little Blue had already cultivated the Hidden Dragon Technique to the second level and had legitimate identities. In the entire Top Xuan Sect, except for the residences and frequent places of the Golden Elixir elders, they were almost unimpeded.

Little Blue had also been led astray by Little Strong...

As for Silkworm One and Silkworm Two, Alaric rarely dared to let them out alone. Half a year ago, when Alaric went out, he forgot to take them back, and all the flowers, plants, trees, and even the furniture and beams in the courtyard ended up in their bellies.

Although Silkworm One and Silkworm Two were quite intelligent, their gluttony was just like Little Strong's love for stealing and Little White's love for soaking in water to cultivate. It was their nature.

Alaric, as an insect cultivator who deeply understood spirit insects, couldn't arbitrarily deprive them of their hobbies, forcing them to be obedient insects fighting and producing for him.

Silkworm One and Silkworm Two obediently spinning silk for him every day was already a blessing.

It was worth mentioning that Silkworm One and Silkworm Two could now produce top-grade silkworm silk, though in very limited quantities. Alaric had been collecting it without selling any.

Top-grade Snow Silkworm Silk was extraordinary. Even for Elijah Wang, Alaric didn't feel at ease giving it away.

Of course, it wasn't that he doubted Elijah would betray him. Over the past year, Elijah had steadily helped him expand the market for Snow Silkworm Silk, only occasionally taking a symbolic reward, which was very fair to Alaric.

Alaric feared that the top-grade silkworm silk would attract too much attention, putting Elijah in danger and possibly exposing himself.

As for the tasks from Spirit Beast Peak, Alaric always handed in low-grade Snow Silkworm Silk, sometimes a bit more, sometimes a bit less, trying to stay low-key.

At this moment, a black shadow, moving at a speed almost imperceptible to the naked eye, "slapped" onto Alaric's chest. It was Little Strong, holding a fragrant hundred-year-old wild ginseng in his big pincers...

"Master, eat it quickly, or it will get cold!"