Can it spread like wildfire?

"You must be wondering what realm of cultivation I'm at?"

Xie Xuanyi's smiling words directly exposed Deng Baiyi's thoughts.

Deng Baiyi blushed slightly.

"Being able to sense the Primordial Qi of heaven and earth, and 'use' it, is the Qi Refining realm. This is known as the most basic and simplest first realm."

Xie Xuanyi said, "Qi Refiners of the first realm can create talismans and engrave array patterns to fight, but they cannot store Primordial Qi within their bodies... This is fatal. In a real fight, the enemy won't give you time to draw talismans or inscribe array patterns. Duels between Qi Refiners are a bit like rich people competing with their family wealth. Whoever has more treasures, and whose treasures are stronger, will gain the initiative."

Deng Baiyi quickly held her breath, listening attentively.

"The Qi Refining realm is the realm of sensing the flow of 'Primordial Qi' in all things."

Xie Xuanyi explained patiently, "The process of a cultivator sensing Primordial Qi is like a newborn opening its eyes. Some people are very talented and can quickly draw the Primordial Qi between heaven and earth into their bodies... At this point, they enter the second realm."

"The second realm?"

"Different sects have different cultivation methods. The Daoist sects call this second realm 'Foundation Establishment.'"

Xie Xuanyi smiled and said, "Different schools of cultivation have different names for each realm. The path taken by the Great Grain Sword Palace is different from that of the Daoist sects. This second realm in the Sword Palace is called the 'Divine Sense Realm'. Demon cultivators and body refiners in the Buddhist sects have yet another name. You don't need to remember those messy names, just know that cultivators in this realm can store Primordial Qi inside their bodies. Those demon spirits I killed earlier were all existences of the second realm."

Deng Baiyi nodded vigorously, indicating that she had remembered.

She asked curiously, "You just said that talented people can enter the second realm quickly... What about those who aren't talented?"

"Ten years, twenty years, or even a lifetime."

Xie Xuanyi said calmly, "Those who aren't talented may remain Qi Refiners for their entire lives."

Deng Baiyi was stunned.

"Cultivation is defying fate. Any realm can be a chasm."

Xie Xuanyi said indifferently, "Talented people may only need a year, a month, or even a few days to enter the second realm. This world is so unfair, and what's more... cultivation is inherently unfair."

Deng Baiyi was speechless for a moment.

Yes.

Cultivation is inherently unfair.

For the vast majority of mortals, being able to become a Qi Refiner is already a stroke of heavenly luck.

Deng Baiyi sighed, "Those geniuses can enter the second realm in just seven days?"

"Seven days is already a long time."

Xie Xuanyi shook his head and said, "Some top geniuses only need a day from sensing Primordial Qi to absorbing it..."

Deng Baiyi was shocked again, completely speechless this time.

The carriage fell into a brief silence.

Xie Xuanyi crossed his arms and closed his eyes to rest, giving Deng Baiyi plenty of time to digest the information.

After a moment, Deng Baiyi asked, "You just mentioned the second realm... What about after that?"

Xie Xuanyi opened his eyes and said slowly, "The third realm is called 'Qi Manipulation'. Different cultivation schools cultivate different 'Qi'. The Daoist sects' 'Qi Manipulation' manipulates 'Primordial Qi', while the Great Grain Sword Palace's 'Qi Manipulation' manipulates 'Sword Qi'. Being able to cultivate to this realm is considered truly entering the hall. Cultivators in the Qi Manipulation realm usually condense a natal artifact. Sword cultivators in this realm can fly on their swords, but they can't sustain it for too long. If they wanted to, Qi Manipulation realm cultivators could actually establish their own sects in remote and uninhabited mountains and wilderness, of course, the kind of sects that are not considered mainstream."

Deng Baiyi's eyes lit up, "Then Reverend Heavy Mist from before?"

"That's right, he was in the Qi Manipulation realm."

Xie Xuanyi smiled with a hint of sarcasm and said, "This realm basically blocks ninety percent of cultivators. Beyond that... are the mainstays of the major sects, as well as young geniuses."

"I see... Then your realm must be very high, far beyond Qi Manipulation..."

Deng Baiyi subconsciously exclaimed.

As soon as these words came out, Xie Xuanyi's expression changed slightly.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something but hesitating.

The poor Deng Baiyi, who was listening intently, didn't notice at all, and continued to hold her breath, ready to listen carefully.

However, after waiting for a long time, Xie Xuanyi didn't say anything else.

He seemed to have thought of something and fell silent.

Deng Baiyi held back for a long time and finally couldn't help but break the silence, "What about after that? What comes after the Qi Manipulation realm?"

"After that..."

Xie Xuanyi, who had regained his senses, asked with a smile, "Does the realm after that have anything to do with you?"

Deng Baiyi: "???"

With one sentence, he left her speechless.

"Focus on Qi Refining, don't think about things you shouldn't... When the time comes, you'll naturally know."

Xie Xuanyi waved his hand, feeling disinterested.

As early as when they set off, he had taught Deng Baiyi the simplest and most basic cultivation method.

The Qi Refining realm, sensing Primordial Qi, is actually not difficult.

All the major sects have breathing techniques, and in the end, the principles are the same.

Still your mind, focus your spirit, and sink your qi to your dantian.

Any cultivator capable of sensing Primordial Qi can do so with any breathing technique; it's just a matter of how long it takes.

Soon, the carriage returned to silence once more.

Deng Baiyi sighed, suppressing her curiosity, and ceased "disturbing" Xie Xuanyi. Instead, she closed her eyes and began cultivating, striving to sense the "Primordial Qi" that permeated the world.

On the other side, Jiang Huang rolled over, changing her sleeping position.

Within the carriage, only Xie Xuanyi remained awake.

He leaned against the window, maintaining his pose of lifting the curtain with one hand, silently gazing at the scenery behind him, like a wooden figure lost in thought.

The night shattered, and the layered mountains were swallowed by mist. Sunlight surged like a tide, chasing after them.

No one knew.

At this moment, a hint of confusion and bewilderment flickered in Xie Xuanyi's eyes.

Back in the Great Grain Sword Palace, countless disciples had yearned to hear him lecture and impart his insights into the Sword Dao.

Throughout the four regions of Great Chu, countless cultivators had sought to kowtow and become his disciples.

He had never encountered a problem in cultivation that stumped him.

But this time.

Xie Xuanyi was "stumped" by himself.

After plunging into the Northern Sea and being resurrected… he had lost all his cultivation.

Strictly speaking, he was now just an ordinary Qi Refining cultivator. Although he could draw upon the Primordial Qi of the world using his "past life" memories, his own body was empty.

He had lost everything he once possessed.

Xie Xuanyi thought for a long time, realizing he truly had nothing left.

Even his most cherished natal flying sword was gone.

"So, all I have left is my life, huh…"

He shook his head with a smile, muttering to himself with a hint of self-deprecation.

Fallen leaves drifted from the trees above.

The horse's hooves trod on, crushing muddy puddles and countless crimson maple leaves that had fallen in late autumn—

Xie Xuanyi watched the countless shattered reflections in the puddle and suddenly extended his palm.

After the horse's hooves moved on, the countless shattered silhouettes calmed, reflecting a clear blue sky.

Xie Xuanyi slowly released his palm.

In his palm lay a complete, withered maple leaf.

Xie Xuanyi gazed at the dying leaf, his eyes unusually calm.

Deng Baiyi, who was diligently meditating and cultivating, suddenly frowned.

She adjusted her breathing according to the method Xie Xuanyi had taught her… and slowly began to sense the true nature of the world. She felt a faint, fresh, and sweet scent in the air with each breath. After hundreds of breaths, this sensation gradually amplified. It was as if she had opened another pair of eyes and "saw" that wisp of scent, like smoke and mist, filling the space around her.

This must be the so-called "Primordial Qi of Heaven and Earth."

Deng Baiyi had no time to rejoice.

Within the maximum range she could sense, countless strands of Primordial Qi were surging like boiling water, converging towards a single point…

The next moment, a very soft sound echoed within the carriage.

"Chh!"

Jiang Huang, who was fast asleep, twitched her nose, smelling a familiar scent.

Deng Baiyi opened her eyes in confusion, seeing a very faint flame flickering in Xie Xuanyi's palm.

And a fallen leaf lay in the fire, silently burning.

She stared blankly at the white-robed youth, somewhat bewildered.

Xie Xuanyi gently clenched the flame, extinguishing it, and then opened his hand again. Miraculously, the maple leaf retained its complete outline, and faint sparks still flickered.

Xie Xuanyi asked softly.

"Do you think…"

"This withered leaf, with only these embers remaining, can still start a prairie fire?"

Currently, the new book is updated at 12 noon. I don't know if everyone is used to this time. Would it be better to move it to the morning or evening?