Qi Refining Level Four

Yue Qianchou, unaware of his Master's thoughts outside, was desperately struggling with the golden bead. After an unknown amount of time, the increasingly fast-spinning golden bead finally slowed down, now rotating at a uniform speed. Yue Qianchou rejoiced, thinking the thing had finally had its fill. True Qi, converted from spiritual energy, immediately surged in, and his Dantian began to expand at a visible rate.

Damn it! His Dantian could only expand to about two-thirds of its original size before it stopped. Yue Qianchou had already cursed the white fox's ancestors for eighteen generations. Giving him this thing was practically a death sentence. In his current state, he doubted he could even reach the Foundation Establishment stage, and his dream of Sword Flight was crushed.

While he was lamenting his fate, the uniformly rotating golden bead suddenly emitted a dazzling light, and his Dantian felt intensely hot. The heat made Yue Qianchou restless, but the True Qi that had been stubbornly refusing to enter suddenly flowed in. His already formed Dantian began to expand again. Yue Qianchou was startled; an opportunity had arrived. He couldn't afford to hesitate. Enduring the heat, he pushed Mysterious Heaven Skill to its limit once more, pouring in True Qi without end.

After an unknown amount of time, when his Dantian had expanded five to six times its original size, the golden bead's light receded. It seemed to awaken, and began to move along a specific trajectory. No more True Qi could be injected, but Yue Qianchou was content. With his Dantian's current volume, he should have no problem cultivating to the Tribulation Crossing stage, right?

He inwardly chuckled with satisfaction. Successfully expanding his Dantian meant he had entered Qi Refining Level One. He decided to test himself by practicing the Qi Refining Level One techniques from Mysterious Heaven Skill. He guided his True Qi out, and it flowed smoothly through his meridians. After a few cycles, Yue Qianchou felt invigorated and ecstatic. Remembering the Qi Refining Level Two circulation route in his mind, he gritted his teeth and directed his True Qi, charging towards the unfamiliar meridians.

The powerful True Qi surged forward with unstoppable momentum. The widening of the meridians was inevitably painful, but Yue Qianchou felt both pain and pleasure. Gritting his teeth, he forced the circulation, breaking through the Level Two pathways. His entire body trembled, and after a few cycles of True Qi circulation, the previously painful meridians instantly felt warm, and he felt as if he were ascending to immortality.

"So comfortable! True Qi, advance! Target: Level Three pathways, kyaa!" Yue Qianchou commanded his True Qi to charge again. The unstoppable flow of energy surged forward, breaking through all obstacles as it circulated.

"Baka yarou! Target: Level Four pathways, charge!" Yue Qianchou's will directed the True Qi, which continued to advance bravely. However, the resistance was tenacious, and the pain was immense. Halfway through, he had to pause to regulate his breathing, cursing, "This little brat isn't good enough! Switch to the next line!"

"The revolution has not yet succeeded; comrades must continue to strive. For the great cause of cultivation, comrades, charge!" Yue Qianchou pushed his True Qi circulation to its limit. He was unstoppable, but the immense pain made his body tremble. He bit his tongue, suppressed his strength, and with one final push, broke through the last obstacle.

Instantly, his body felt as if it were submerged in a hot spring, comfortable all over. True Qi circulated repeatedly, and the sensation of all his meridians being connected was truly wonderful. After savoring the feeling, he pulled himself back to reality. Yue Qianchou mused, "Did I just complete the beginner level of Mysterious Heaven Skill? I've already reached Level Four? Hmm! I should ask Master to be sure."

He slowly drew his True Qi back into his Dantian, exploring the vast space within. Suddenly, a thought struck him: with such a large Dantian, wouldn't his stomach become enormous?

A month passed. His disciple had not finished his cultivation and woken up. No normal person would spend a month expanding their Dantian. Hao Sansi stood by the bed with a heavy expression, now certain that his disciple had encountered some problem. Just as he was considering whether to investigate, a scream rang out.

Yue Qianchou leaped up from the bed, looking as if he had seen a ghost. He kept touching his abdomen, and after a long while, patted his chest, sighing, "Phew, thank goodness. I didn't become a pregnant woman. That scared me to death!" He then saw an old face leaning close, and was startled again. Recognizing it, he exhaled, "Master! It's you!"

Hao Sansi scrutinized him, asking suspiciously, "You've been sitting here for a month. Are you alright?"

"Hehe! I'm perfectly fine!" Yue Qianchou thumped his chest proudly and said with a smile, "Master! I succeeded!" Then he paused, "I sat here for a month?"

"What do you think? I guarded your door for a whole month. How is that possible? Expanding the Dantian usually takes at most five days for most people. You just sat there for a month. Are you trying to fool me?" Hao Sansi asked.

Yue Qianchou chuckled. It was probably because of the golden bead in his Dantian. He wasn't sure if he should tell his Master yet. After some thought, he decided not to, shaking his head, "I don't know what happened either."

Hao Sansi didn't press further. He sighed, patted his disciple's shoulder, and said, "You've officially entered Qi Refining Level One. Since there's hope, you must cultivate diligently. Once you reach Qi Refining Level Four, you can start practicing skills."

"Uh..." Yue Qianchou scratched his head sheepishly and said, "Master! There's something I wanted to ask you. Please take a look for me."

Hao Sansi nodded. Yue Qianchou extended a palm, and a wisp of white True Qi emerged, gradually forming into a budding lotus. The latter vigorously channeled his True Qi, and the bud gently swayed as a petal slowly unfurled. After it spread open, the bud swayed again, and a second petal slowly opened.

"Qi Refining Level Two!" Hao Sansi's voice trembled. His disciple had actually broken through to Qi Refining Level Two in just one month. In his astonishment, the third petal opened, and Hao Sansi's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief.

As the fourth petal unfurled, Yue Qianchou was already sweating profusely, clearly having pushed his True Qi to the limit. His face slightly pale, he asked, "Master! Does this count as reaching Qi Refining Level Four?"

"Stop!" Hao Sansi's astonishment vanished, replaced by a solemn expression. After his disciple withdrew his True Qi, he said cautiously, "Qianchou, although I don't know what happened to you, you must never tell anyone about expanding your Dantian. Remember, not a soul! As for your successful cultivation, it can't be hidden forever. If anyone asks, just say you joined my sect not long ago and successfully expanded your Dantian, and that I, your Master, told you to keep it a secret. Absolutely do not say you entered the sect and reached Qi Refining Level Four within this month. Otherwise, it might bring you great trouble. You must, must remember my words!"

At this point, there was something he had to confess. Hao Sansi, who had always been alone, was beginning to see Yue Qianchou as a son.

Hearing his Master's words, Yue Qianchou was initially happy that he had indeed reached Qi Refining Level Four. But he wasn't foolish. His Master's words were so serious, and considering how long he had been in the Qingguang Sect, he hadn't heard of anyone cultivating to Qi Refining Level Four in just one month. Even the legendary highly talented individuals took nearly a year to reach Qi Refining Level Four. Reaching it in one month was indeed impossible, and it was likely related to the golden bead within him. He believed there were many people in this world who would covet wealth, so his Master's words were reasonable. He immediately nodded solemnly, "Your disciple understands Master's meaning and will keep it firmly in mind."

"Hmm! That's strange, I can't discern your cultivation!" Hao Sansi said strangely as he looked Yue Qianchou up and down, then shook his head, "Never mind. You don't need to tell me, and I don't want to know."

Yue Qianchou shrugged and said with a wry smile, "Master, even if you asked me, I wouldn't know. I only know it might be related to the forbidden area behind the mountain." He felt a bit guilty saying this, as he already knew it was definitely the golden bead's doing. But due to his experiences in two lifetimes, and after hearing his Master's earlier words, he decided to keep the matter of the golden bead buried. It wasn't that he feared what his Master might do, but rather that some truths are just like that... some things cannot be told even to the closest people, not out of distrust, but for your own good and mine, so that everyone can be well!

"The forbidden area behind the mountain?" Hao Sansi murmured. His disciple often went to the back mountain, so it was likely related. He then shook his head and stopped thinking about it.

A few days later, Yue Qianchou was meditating on his bed when Hao Sansi entered and threw a pile of things onto the bed. The former finished his cultivation and woke up. The latter smiled, "I'm going out for a month. Here are some Spirit Stones for you to cultivate and absorb. That book is a copy I made for you; it contains all the Qi Refining stage cultivation methods. And that sword is something I found. Find a secluded place to practice and don't let anyone see you. Although your cultivation is sufficient to carry a sword, the sect hasn't officially granted you one yet, so it's not good if people see it. Hide your cultivation level for as long as you can!"

Yue Qianchou flipped through the book and asked doubtfully, "Master, where are you going?"

Hao Sansi smiled, "Heh! Your cultivation speed is astonishing. This time, for the 'Newcomer Tournament,' I'm going to pester the Sect Master Brother and contribute. Tomorrow, I'll be leading the team with a few senior brothers. When the time comes to distribute Foundation Establishment Pills, I'll have the nerve to ask for one or two to prepare for your Foundation Establishment."

"Mm!" Yue Qianchou nodded, biting his lip without saying anything, his eyes slightly reddening. How could he not know that his usually lazy, drunk Master was actively seeking out tasks for his sake?

The next day, his Master left. Yue Qianchou chose a time when no one was around, packed a bag, and stood at the entrance of the forbidden area's cave. He took a deep breath and walked in.

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