Fang Hao spent the next dozen years grinding. His main source of xp was still layering seals as detailed in the Tantric Yang Codex. He was diligent with his practice, and for every additional seal layered; Fang Hao would make sure to deconstruct and reconstruct all the seal layers right from scratch. Just for a change of pace, he would sometimes grind his Foundation Establishment spells. The grinding of spells did add up over a dozen years, even if he didn't treat it as his primary focus.

As a direct disciple of a Palace Head and a Junior Core Disciple, Fang Hao was extremely low key these past years. Other than grinding some shopping and meeting with his fatty clique, only one of whom was a Junior Core Disciple, he did pretty much nothing. No public appearances, no participating in completions/arena and not involving himself in sect tasks. He figured that as long as it wasn't necessary being low key was the best. Chances of being involved in messy situations would be drastically reduced.

While the xp pinyata of the Tantric Yang Codex was bountiful, he finally faced a hard bottleneck after successfully layering 27 sets of defensive seals as per the Tantric Yang Manual. While successive layers of seals became increasingly difficult and slower, he didn't face any bottleneck until he attempted the 28th layer. Whether it be the four Qi seals or the six Condensed Spiritual Sense Seals, any attempt to form them would end up in failure, almost instantly dissipating it. Even after trying for almost a couple of months, he couldn't condense even a single Qi seal for the 28th layer.

After failing in his attempt to condense the Qi seal for the 28th layer, the umpteenth time; Fang Hao was forced to admit that he had met a true bottleneck which couldn't simply be bypassed by xp or skill points. He reviewed his status screen as he pondered on his plan for the immediate future.

STATUS SCREEN Name: Fang Hao Race: Human Gender: Male Age: 41 years Titles: Lord Lard, Privileged Glutton Class: Cultivator Unused Skill Points: 998 Realm: Expert Mortal Body Refiner Level: 9 (7) Current Experience: 2594453 (1850585) Level Up at Experience: 2665589 (2015101) Active Effects: Stats Physique: 55.0 Finesse: 47.4 Spirit: 52.5 Qi 131.3/131.3 Traits Calm Lucky Primal Instinct ?? Immortal Monk's Prospective Disciple ?? 1st Seal - Primordial Marrow 2nd Seal – Behemoth's Hide Manuals and Scriptures Sublime Qi Manual (1st Realm, 10th Layer) Divine Vajra Body Scripture (2 seals, 9 moves) Aura Fist Manual (+) (5th Layer) Primal Vajra Aura Scripture (*) (4th Layer) Spells and Techniques Primal Thunder Reinforcement (Master) Scorching Horned Serpent (Expert) Wind Sickle (Master) Qi Barrier (Master) Frost Shackles (Master) Vajra Strike (Master) Thundering Primal Phantom Steps (Master) Veiling Mist (Master) Illusion (Master) Telekinetic Arm (Master) Call Storm Clouds (Master) Thunder Web (Master) Corrosive Splash (Master) Imperial Roar (Master) Hovering Leaves Step (Master) Vajra Burst (Master) Thunder Pigeon (Master) Blood Thorn Vine (Master) Aura Sacrifice (Perfection) Directed Discharge (*) (Master) Codexes and Tactics Tantric Yang Codex

'It has been what, around 27 years in the sect? I am 41 years old now and having a Qi Cultivation of early phase of the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment. Of course, my Body Refining is at the peak of the Late stage of Foundation establishment Equivalent. Of course, lets not disclose that to anyone. With 27 layers of the Tantric Yang seals and my Body Refining Cultivation, only a Core Formation Cultivator or above can hope to injure me seriously.' thought Fang Hao as he appreciated his growth so far.

'Damn it, I am roughly 70k xp away from condensing my third seal of the Divine Vajra Body Scripture. Maybe I should have equally distributed my xp between Qi and Body Cultivation instead of just focusing on Body Refining after reaching the 7th layer of Foundation Establishment.'

'While 70k xp doesn't seem much compared to the millions of xp I have earned till now, I no longer have the Tantric Yang Codex as a convenient source of xp. And even my Foundation Establishment spells are upgraded to Master Proficiency; and that took around two years but gave only around 125k xp. At that rate it would take me more than a year to earn the 70k xp.'

'Even if I wanted to learn a bunch of spells purely for grinding; it will be highly inefficient and take far too long. Not to mention that the contribution points spent that way is much better spent on stocking up loads of powerful consumables for emergencies. It seems like grinding spells for xp is efficient only in the early stages after a breakthrough. At the mid and late stages, the xp required for a level up becomes far too much for spell grinding to be efficient. Next time I grind spells will probably be just after breaking through to the Core Formation stage with some Grade 4 spells.' reasoned the fatty.

Besides grinding this past dozens of years, he would use his contribution points to stock up on plenty of powerful consumables like various pills, talismans, one-use items etc. he refrained from buying any Grade 3 treasures suitable for Foundation Establishment Cultivators as the truly good magic tools required star points; and Fang Hao was loath to spend his on magic tools which would become outdated as his cultivation reached core formation.

On the other hand, the reasonably powerful consumables were much cheaper than magic tools and could truly support him with bursts of power in sticky situations. Not to mention that the discount he got for being the Direct Disciple of a Palace head was also hefty. Other than the discount benefits, and things going easier for him whenever he wanted something done in the sect, Fang Hao didn't really feel as if he was the Direct Disciple of the palace Head of Formations and Restrictions.

He was perhaps one of the few disciples, if not only, disciple in the Palace of Formations and Restrictions who knew absolutely nothing about Formations or Restrictions despite spending over a decade in the said Palace. Maybe it would be alright for an in-name disciple to know nothing about formations and restrictions; but it was downright embarrassing for a direct disciple.

Knowledge of Formations and Restrictions could be very helpful to a Cultivator, but his master clearly didn't feel like teaching him anything. He had decided that if his Master didn't impart him any knowledge about this field after Core Formation, he would start his self study. But for now, he had to find some way to earn xp efficiently.

'Maybe I can fight non-lethal matches in the arena till I form my 3rd seal of the Divine Vajra Body Scripture. After that hunt for spirit beasts and murder vicious greedy disciples maybe?' thought Fang Hao as he drank some Grade 2 spirit wine in the garden of his mansion.

Not that he couldn't afford Grade 3 spirit wine, but he felt that it was more prudent to spend as much of his contribution points as he could on stocking up powerful consumables instead on luxuries like grade 3 spirit wine and meat of Grade 3 spirit beasts.

'I also wonder what happened to the inter-sect competition? It should have happened by now. I should make inquiries about it, as that may be the ticket for some xp.' decide Fang Hao as the figure of his Master appeared from nowhere before him.