Qi Refining

Just as Yun Long's consciousness was about to be completely devoured by the boundless agony—

Just as that violent medicinal force was about to tear his body apart—

Crack!

This was not the sound of shattering.

It was a breakthrough, a sudden clarity of enlightenment!

That indestructible, invisible barrier that had plagued him for half a month shattered at the sound!

The long-accumulated, rampaging medicinal force finally found an outlet, surging through the broken pass with a thunderous roar!

Whoosh—!

A stream of power, pure and condensed to the extreme, rapidly gathered, compressed, and transformed within his Dantian Sea of Qi!

The pale golden true qi, once like smoke and mist, now spun wildly, solidifying!

Its rotation drove everything around it!

Hum hum hum—!

A low, resonant vibration rang out from within Yun Long's body.

The sound echoed throughout the entire cave.

It was as if an ancient bronze bell had been struck with force, shaking one's mind and spirit!

At the center of the violently spinning golden vortex, a dazzling radiance suddenly burst forth!

Seven inches long!

Thick as a thumb!

Its entire body was golden, condensed to substance, radiating an invincible, fierce, and overbearing intent, tinged with a hint of sacred majesty!

A highly condensed golden qi force, its form faintly visible as the outline of a demon-subduing pestle, hovered silently, exuding a pulse that made one's heart tremble!

Vajra Primordial Qi!

Bodhidharma Muscle-Tendon Classic—at this moment, it had only just revealed a glimpse of its true form!

The Vajra Primordial Qi within his dantian was like a small golden sun, radiating boundless power.

This power was pure!

Condensed!

Overbearing!

And yet, perfectly controlled by him!

Qi Refining Stage!

He, Yun Long, had finally stepped into this legendary realm!

No longer a mere mortal martial artist!

He had truly crossed the threshold of immortal cultivation!

The hidden ailments and poison from the pills he had taken during his previous cultivation were now rapidly dissolving under the wash of this newborn power!

Like snow meeting a blazing sun—silent, yet thorough.

The body, nearly torn apart by that violent medicinal force, was restored to its original state in the blink of an eye.

Every cell in his body brimmed with unprecedented vitality and strength.

He felt his body lighter than ever before.

Filled with explosive power!

But this was not the most astonishing change!

His perception!

The entire world, in his perception, instantly became incomparably clear!

He could "hear" the faint sound of an ant crawling under a dead leaf a hundred paces away—every subtle friction of its limbs was distinctly discernible.

He could "smell" the faint fragrance of an unknown wildflower carried by the mountain wind from hundreds of paces away—the scent seemed to linger at the tip of his nose.

He could "see" the fine patterns on the wings of a night moth dozens of zhang away—every single line was vivid and lifelike!

His range of perception had expanded more than tenfold!

Every movement of wind and grass within the entire forest, covering hundreds of zhang in every direction, was laid bare, clearly presented in his mind!

Yet, it was not over.

A golden card flashed abruptly through Yun Long's mind.

Then, a torrent of information surged into the depths of his consciousness.

Bodhidharma Muscle-Tendon Classic.

This technique, which Yun Long had believed he had already cultivated to perfection on the mortal level, had only now reached its true first layer!

This is a supreme technique for the Qi Refining Stage!

The Qi Refining Stage is divided into nine layers.

The Bodhidharma Muscle-Tendon Classic also has nine corresponding layers!

Beyond that, the Golden Bell Shield he had been cultivating was actually a defensive spell for the Qi Refining Stage as well!

Only when driven by the Vajra Primordial Qi could the true power of this defensive spell be unleashed.

The more Vajra Primordial Qi there was, the stronger the Golden Bell's defensive capability.

Yun Long had always felt that the Arhat Fist wasn't as miraculous as the Golden Bell Shield.

Now Yun Long understood.

It was because the inheritance he had received was incomplete.

The true advancement of the Arhat Fist was the "Great Arhat Fist" at the Qi Refining Stage level!

If this fist technique was executed in conjunction with the Vajra Primordial Qi, its power would be enough to split mountains and shatter rocks, unstoppable!

Inside the Yun Clan ancestral hall, incense smoke curled upward.

Yun He and Li Lingyue were devoutly praying before Yun Jiang's memorial tablet, seeking safety for the one who had traveled far.

Suddenly, the Family Genealogy, enshrined at the highest point of the incense table, began to flip through its pages without any warning!

Rustle—

The crisp sound of pages turning was especially clear in the silent ancestral hall.

The genealogy stopped at the first page, which bore only a handful of names.

At the very top, the name "Yun Long," originally written in black ink, now slowly shimmered with brilliant golden light like stars!

The golden specks were faint at first, but in an instant they joined together, illuminating the name "Yun Long" with a sacred radiance!

"Brother Yun Long!"

Li Lingyue let out a soft cry, her jade hand unconsciously covering her lips, her beautiful eyes instantly filling with tears.

Excitement, worry, and deep longing all surged into her heart at that moment.

She stared unblinkingly at the gleaming golden name, as if she could see through the genealogy to the figure who haunted her dreams.

Yun He glanced at the emotionally stirred Li Lingyue beside him, and the heavy stone hanging in his heart quietly settled.

He secretly rejoiced that the one who witnessed this family secret today was his elder brother's beloved.

Miss Lingyue would eventually become a member of the Yun Clan; there was no need for excessive concealment.

Still, this small ancestral hall would need to be heavily guarded from now on and designated as a family forbidden ground.

At the same time, a profound message, like a divine revelation, clearly appeared on the genealogy and entered both their minds.

[The Yun Clan has produced its first Qi Refining cultivator. The family has officially entered the era of immortal cultivation. Congratulations, player, you have received one Card Draw Opportunity.]

[The Yun Clan has produced its first Qi Refining cultivator. The family has officially entered the era of immortal cultivation. The player has received one Card Draw Opportunity.]

Finally, a new card could be drawn!

Inside the genealogy, Yun Jiang was overjoyed.

In this Family Card-Drawing Cultivation Simulation Game, obtaining cards was far too difficult.

He hoped this time he could draw a good card.

The Yun Clan had just been established, with few members and shallow foundations; every step was like treading on thin ice.

He hoped this fourth card would bring greater changes to the Yun Clan, preferably a functional card that would help the family flourish and expand.

Outside the Wind Tiger cave in the Jingyang Mountain Range.

Yun Ji, Li Pinghu, and Shi Tie all had their hearts in their throats.

They sat on pins and needles, every moment feeling unbearably long.

Suddenly!

All three of them changed expression at almost the same instant, staring sharply into the depths of the cave!

The torrent of energy that had been rampaging through the cave, so violent it had chilled them to the bone and nearly burst out, had vanished without a trace in an instant!

As if it had never existed.

Then, a completely different aura emanated from the cave.

That aura was vast, ancient, and profound, like looking up at a towering mountain or standing before a deep abyss!

It carried a majesty and power that made even their souls tremble!

"This... this is..." Li Pinghu's voice trembled, his face full of disbelief.

Shi Tie was also dumbfounded, unable to speak for a long time.

Yun Ji's body began to shake uncontrollably.

Joy!

Indescribable ecstasy instantly swept through the minds of the three!

They had originally thought that Yun Long's breakthrough in seclusion would take at least several days, or even longer.

They had already prepared to hold their ground here to the death, even ready to fight to the bitter end against the Ninth Prince's elite subordinates who might come in pursuit.

Who would have imagined that less than half a day had passed!

Yun Long had actually succeeded!

Yun Ji recalled the miraculous aspects of the cultivation technique that Yun Long and his two siblings had mentioned.

He himself had also cultivated the Wudang Xiantian Gong, and he deeply understood what this fundamental transformation signified!

It was no longer the pinnacle of mortal martial arts.

It was... an entirely new world!

The Yun Clan had produced a true immortal!

A Qi Refining Stage cultivator!

In the eyes of these mortal martial artists, that was an unattainable, mountain-moving, sea-inverting, all-powerful land-bound deity!

A single scalding teardrop slid from Yun Ji's aged eye.

Then came a second, a third...

Tears streamed down his weathered face!

This old man, who had toiled for the Yun Clan his entire life, could no longer suppress the excitement and joy surging within him.

The Yun Clan was about to rise!