Steady Cultivation: Starting With the Perk “Work Hard, Rest Hard”

[Ding, Rest Time +5308 Years]

Su Yuan froze.

Staring at the system panel’s data, Su Yuan fell into deep thought.

Feipeng was a Taiyi Golden Immortal, while he was currently a Golden Immortal, so there shouldn’t be any time loss. This meant Feipeng’s entire lifetime of rest time was only five thousand years!

Su Yuan’s eyes widened in shock.

“This golden-feathered bird seemed cunning, but who would have thought he was actually a hard worker.”

Su Yuan had to admit that anyone who could cultivate to the Taiyi Golden Immortal stage was definitely extraordinary.

Although Feipeng had died somewhat easily in his hands, no other Taiyi Golden Immortal could have been killed so effortlessly.

Su Yuan realized that if he wanted substantial rest time, harvesting Golden Immortals might be more rewarding than Taiyi Golden Immortals.

Lazy, mediocre Golden Immortals with poor aptitude and advanced age would be the ideal targets for plundering.

“Five thousand years of rest time… I’ll use it later.”

With one step, Su Yuan vanished.

He reappeared in the secret realm.

Several items remained where the two birds’ true forms had fallen.

Su Yuan waved his hand.

Eight objects flew toward him.

The most eye-catching were two sets of skeletal remains from Taiyi Golden Immortal-level demons—premium materials for artifact forging. Naturally adorned with intricate law patterns, these bones possessed inherent properties like fire resistance and metal fusion. With minimal refinement, they could become excellent magic treasures or even acquired spiritual treasures.

During their final resistance, the two demons had concentrated all their essence into their skeletons, elevating the material quality to late-stage Taiyi level, making them quite valuable.

Su Yuan stored the skeletons away.

Next, he examined their bonded spiritual treasures.

Feilian’s bonded treasure was a black feather that appeared intact, but it still had an owner.

“This treasure still shares a blood connection with Feilian—can’t use it recklessly!”

With a thought, Su Yuan tossed it into the Myriad Treasures Heaven-Earth Cauldron.

Old Qian gasped sharply: “Master, this feather’s grade is too high! I can’t refine it at all!”

“Take your time!”

Su Yuan responded, then retrieved eighteen Golden Immortal-level artifacts from Feipeng’s treasury and threw them all to Old Qian for refining.

“Refine these first to elevate your own grade to Golden Immortal level!” Su Yuan instructed.

Old Qian exclaimed excitedly: “Excellent! No problem! After devouring these Golden Immortal artifacts and this feather, I’ll definitely reach early-stage Golden Immortal level!”

Hearing this, Su Yuan’s mouth twitched: “Your cost-performance ratio remains as disappointing as ever.”

Old Qian had already buried himself in refinement.

Shaking his head, Su Yuan continued his examination.

The next item was Feipeng’s bonded spiritual treasure—a golden sword!

It appeared to be forged from a bird’s beak.

“A Taiyi Golden Immortal’s bonded treasure—not an acquired spiritual treasure, but nearly as powerful. However, as a bonded treasure, it’s difficult to achieve full compatibility with others, reducing effectiveness by at least 30%! Still, it’s a rare mid-stage Taiyi Golden Immortal treasure!”

“Yet another tainted item!”

Su Yuan sighed.

Unlike the feather whose owner still lived, making it unusable, this golden sword’s owner was gone. He could modify it for personal use.

Though for safety, having the Myriad Treasures Heaven-Earth Cauldron devour it would be best.

Su Yuan then examined the remaining four treasures:

A mirror, a cauldron, a vase, and a book.

“Spirit-Fixing Mirror, Four Symbols Demon-Suppressing Cauldron, Glazed Azure Current Vase, and Myriad Spirits Tome.”

All four were mid-grade acquired spiritual treasures!

The Spirit-Fixing Mirror specialized in soul attacks, the Four Symbols Demon-Suppressing Cauldron in sealing and defense, the Glazed Azure Current Vase in pure defense, and the Myriad Spirits Tome in soul protection.

Su Yuan laughed heartily: “Excellent finds, all of them!”

Pity they couldn’t be openly used either.

But he could refine them first anyway.

Su Yuan immediately sent all five treasures into his dantian for refinement by his Golden Core stars.

After handling these treasures, Su Yuan turned his attention to Feipeng’s treasury contents.

It contained vast resources—especially pills, herbs, and materials—mostly at Golden Immortal level.

Seeing these materials reminded Su Yuan of his earlier idea.

Artifact forging! Pill refining!

With these materials, he could attempt crafting Golden Immortal-level treasures.

But before forging, this secret realm needed relocation.

Su Yuan merged his divine sense with the Nine Suns Spirit Devouring Array, taking a full quarter-hour to envelop the entire secret realm.

Then he activated the [World Traveler] trait!

Boom!

The entire secret realm vanished instantly.

Spatial turbulence rushed to fill the massive void, creating a minor spatial storm!

Another hour passed.

A figure arrived at the former secret realm location via mysterious steps.

After thorough investigation, the person frowned: “What secret realm? There’s nothing here!”

Unable to reverse time within spatial turbulence, they shook their head and left.

Meanwhile.

Su Yuan had already transported the entire secret realm into the Seven Stars Realm.

Upon arrival,

The Heavenly Dao’s law network activated automatically. A Heavenly Dao eye manifested, purple lightning brewing within, seemingly intent on destroying the secret realm.

Su Yuan waved dismissively: “I brought back these spoils—no need for alarm! Besides, you couldn’t destroy this even if you tried!”

The Heavenly Dao eye scrutinized the array protecting the secret realm before vanishing.

Su Yuan suspended the secret realm within Seven Stars Realm’s cloud layer.

Using his [Seven Stars Sovereign] authority, he connected the realm’s energy veins to the secret realm.

Energy veins intertwined throughout the secret realm as massive spiritual energy from Seven Stars Realm flooded in.

Soon after, strands of innate spiritual energy seeped out, joining Seven Stars Realm’s energy cycle.

As the secret realm integrated into this system, Seven Stars Realm’s energy flow accelerated hundredfold!

The secret realm functioned like a powerful heart, injecting vibrant vitality into Seven Stars Realm!

Thump!

Thump!

Thump!

The secret realm demonstrated tremendous output capacity, converting increasing spiritual energy into innate energy that fed Seven Stars Realm’s ley lines.

Watching this, Su Yuan smiled.

He’d known the secret realm contained a supreme-grade immortal vein capable of producing innate spiritual energy. Its integration represented an epic enhancement for Seven Stars Realm!

After completing this, Su Yuan dispatched his second Nascent Soul to explore the secret realm’s structures.

Meanwhile, he entered the Nine Suns Spirit Devouring Array to begin forging.

“Let’s start with standard flying swords!”

From the Dragon Clan’s Myriad Books Sea, Su Yuan had obtained numerous Golden Immortal-level forging blueprints and pill recipes, including standardized weapons with relatively lower difficulty.

Retrieving a piece of Dark Ironwood,

He tossed it into Great Sun True Flames.

The formula stated melting Dark Ironwood required at least three hundred years.

Yet under Great Sun True Flames’ control, the wood liquefied in under three days.

Using Nascent Soul energy, Su Yuan shaped the molten wood while inscribing countless Dao patterns.

Restriction lines formed, merged, and combined into more powerful restrictions.

Simultaneously, he incorporated additional materials into the Dark Ironwood—an extremely complex process.

One month later,

A black longsword inlaid with golden threads was completed.

“Dark Gold Sword—a mid-grade Golden Immortal treasure!”

Upon completion, the Myriad Treasures Heaven-Earth Cauldron appeared, inhaling a massive divine light that triggered qualitative transformation, officially elevating it to Golden Immortal level.

Noticing the divine light, Su Yuan immediately activated the [Work-Life Balance] trait six times consecutively!

Five thousand years of rest time converted to 1.8 days of cultivation time!

Locking onto the divine light, Su Yuan observed its changes and the cauldron’s transformation process.

Almost instantly, he entered profound enlightenment.

Old Qian focused entirely on controlling the cauldron’s breakthrough to Golden Immortal level.

Time passed minute by minute.

Su Yuan’s [Daoist Techniques Naturally] trait shone brilliantly, allowing crystal-clear observation of the divine light’s transformations.

Countless memories surged through Su Yuan’s mind—his formidable comprehension instantly unraveling the divine light’s mysteries.

“Creation Light! Creation Power!”

Sudden realization struck!

What the Myriad Treasures Heaven-Earth Cauldron obtained during forging was the accompanying Creation Power!

And Creation Law was the source of forging and alchemy laws!

Forging is creation! Alchemy is creation!

Through unknown fortune, the cauldron had developed the ability to absorb Creation Power, granting limitless evolution potential!

This was Creation Law’s extraordinary aspect!

Using forging and alchemy laws as stepping stones, Su Yuan plunged into profound comprehension of Creation Law.

[Daoist Techniques Naturally]’s supreme perception combined with [Work-Life Balance]’s super comprehension boost accelerated his grasp of Creation Law.

When the cauldron advanced to low-grade acquired spiritual treasure level,

Su Yuan simultaneously achieved initial mastery of Creation Law!

Merely introductory mastery—he hadn’t comprehended any essence of Creation Law, just thirty thousand strands of it.

Yet Creation Law’s profundity dramatically enhanced his forging and alchemy capabilities!

Meanwhile, Creation Power circulating through his body gradually strengthened both flesh and Nascent Soul!

The Myriad Books Sea recorded Creation Law as a supreme law!

Any being fully comprehending Creation Law could instantly ascend to Great Luo realm!

(Very late)