Sedimentation and Cultivation: The Five Qi's Initial Condensation

Inside the water mansion, time seemed to stand still. Xuan Wazi completely settled his mind and entered a state of deep seclusion and cultivation. The abundant gains from the Dragon-Han Initial Tribulation needed time and mental effort to digest and transform into a foundation of strength that truly belonged to him.

He first focused his consciousness on the Chaos Bead suspended above his head. This was a supreme treasure of chaos, containing a world of unformed chaos within, immeasurably profound. With his cultivation at the Grand Perfection of Grand Unity Golden Immortal, completely refining it was a fool's dream, but preliminary refinement and mastering some of its power was achievable.

His divine sense, like silk, cautiously probed into the gray, boundless chaos space within the Chaos Bead. Upon entering, he felt a vast, primordial, and chaotic force surging, repelling all orderly existence. Xuan Wazi steadied his mind, circulated the Nine Revolutions Primordial Profound Art, and used the innate aura of his Primordial Dao Body to slowly interact with, adapt to, and even guide this chaotic force.

This was a painstaking process, extremely taxing on the mind. The chaotic energy was violent, and a slight misstep could result in a backlash. Fortunately, the Dao rhythm of the Creation Green Lotus sprinkled down rays of creation and fortune, constantly soothing his fluctuating soul due to consumption and maintaining the clarity of his mind.

He didn't know how long had passed, perhaps several hundred years, perhaps over a thousand. Xuan Wazi finally felt a wisp of his divine sense, through great difficulty, take root deep within the core of the Chaos Bead. Although it was only preliminary refinement, not even one ten-thousandth complete, the effects were already apparent.

With a thought, the space around him subtly distorted, and an invisible film of chaos enveloped him, completely isolating his aura and karma. Even the traces of his existence became blurred and indistinct. If he were to leave the water mansion now, unless a Saint personally investigated, it was unlikely anyone would be able to find him.

"Good! With the Chaos Bead protecting me, where in the Primordial Era can I not go?" Xuan Wazi's heart settled, and his sense of security greatly increased.

After the preliminary refinement of the Chaos Bead, he shifted his focus to consolidating and breaking through his cultivation.

He took out a drop of Ancestral Dragon Blood Essence and a drop of First Kirin Blood Essence. As soon as the blood essences emerged, dragon might and kirin gravitas filled the water mansion. These two powerful auras would have likely triggered celestial phenomena outside if not for the suppression of the Chaos Bead.

Xuan Wazi inhaled, swallowing the two drops of blood essence. The Nine Revolutions Primordial Profound Art circulated madly, and his Primordial Dao Body acted like the most precise furnace, beginning to refine these two powerful innate origins from the peak of Quasi-Saint.

The Ancestral Dragon Blood Essence contained the ultimate laws of power and control over water, fierce and domineering. The First Kirin Blood Essence contained the earth's support and the vitality of Wutu Earth, steady and profound. The two forces had different attributes and even conflicted, but under the harmonization of the Primordial Dao Body and the domineering refinement of the Nine Revolutions Primordial Profound Art, their pure origins were forcibly stripped and integrated into his limbs, bones, and internal organs.

Intense pain surged, as if his body was being torn apart and reassembled. But his eyes were incredibly firm, holding his mind steady and guiding these two forces.

The lungs belong to metal, corresponding to the White Tiger, governing slaughter! The sharp will and power within the Ancestral Dragon Blood Essence were guided into his lungs, and a wisp of white-gold Innate Geng Metal Qi began to slowly condense, carrying the majesty and killing intent of the Dragon Clan.

The spleen belongs to earth, corresponding to the Kirin, governing transformation! The profound Wutu Earth essence from the First Kirin Blood Essence continuously flowed into his spleen, and a dense, auspicious, earth-yellow Innate Wutu Earth Qi was born, supporting all things and stabilizing his foundation.

With the preliminary condensation of these two Five Qi, Xuan Wazi clearly felt his connection with the metal and earth laws of heaven and earth become much closer. With each breath, he could draw upon the metal spiritual energy and earth power within a radius of ten thousand miles. The magic power within his body also became more refined, carrying a hint of Dao rhythm.

"Two of the Five Qi have been obtained; still missing liver wood, heart fire, and kidney water!" Xuan Wazi felt his progress with joy. Condensing the Five Qi within his chest was a crucial step towards becoming a Grand Unity Golden Immortal. With the perfection of the Five Qi, one could then gather the Three Flowers on top of the head and achieve the Dao of Grand Unity Golden Immortal.

He did not rush to refine the Primordial Phoenix Blood Essence to condense the heart fire. The path of cultivation required balance. He turned his attention to the Dao rhythm phantom of the Thirty-Six-Grade Creation Green Lotus.

The Dao rhythm of this Creation Green Lotus contained the most fundamental life force and creation, the basis for the origin of all things. It did not directly increase magic power but fundamentally enhanced the cultivator's comprehension and Dao realm.

As his consciousness sank into the phantom image of the budding green lotus, Xuan Wazi seemed to witness the scene before the opening of heaven and earth, within chaos, a green lotus nurturing Pangu, supporting heaven and earth, and evolving all things. It was a principle of creation that transcended the Five Qi and surpassed laws, grand, vast, and all-encompassing.

Nourished by this Dao rhythm, some obscure points from his previous refinement of blood essences and preliminary condensation of metal and earth Qi suddenly became clear. His understanding of his own "stubborn" Dao seemed to deepen by another layer.

"Stubbornness is not mere unruly mischief, but rather a Dao Heart that is unconventional, breaks free from constraints, seeks possibilities in the impossible, and finds change in certainty!" Xuan Wazi had an epiphany. "My Dao of Grand Unity might need to be rooted in this 'stubborn' heart, using Primordial chaos as the foundation, incorporating all methods as tools, and forging a unique path!"

As this thought arose, it was as if thunder struck in his sea of consciousness, and his soul became clear. The direction of his future path became clearer than ever before. Although he was still far from truly condensing his Dao fruit, at least he had seen the doorway.

Unaware of the passage of time in seclusion, when Xuan Wazi opened his eyes again, his demeanor had subtly changed. His cultivation was still at the Grand Perfection of Grand Unity Golden Immortal, but the depth of his foundation far surpassed his peers. His aura was contained, yet it subtly resonated with the Five Qi of heaven and earth, especially the metal and earth Qi, which had been preliminarily formed. In the depths of his eyes, besides the characteristic "stubborn" playfulness and liveliness, there was a profoundness born from his enlightenment of the Great Dao.

He calculated with his fingers; this seclusion had taken nearly three thousand years in the outside world.

"Three thousand years... the Primordial Era should be even more lively now, right?" Xuan Wazi stood up, stretching his limbs. The joints of his body made cracking sounds like thunder.

He removed the water mansion's restrictions and cautiously extended his divine sense outward with the help of the Chaos Bead.

Indeed, after three thousand years of recuperation, the Primordial Era's world had largely dispersed its tribulation energy, and life was beginning to revive, but the landscape had changed drastically.

The Three Clans had completely become background characters. Occasionally, one would hear of a Dragon Clan member being captured by a powerful being to pull a chariot, or a Phoenix Clan member becoming a mount. Even "dragon liver and phoenix marrow" had become delicacies at some top banquets. Kirins were rarely seen, and it was said that their descendants were often taken as auspicious beasts and mounts. The former overlords had fallen to such a state, which was lamentable.

Meanwhile, the new generation of powerhouses was developing vigorously. The reputation of the Three Pure Ones on Kunlun Mountain was growing, and it was said they had all reached the peak of Grand Unity. The brothers Di Jun and Tai Yi on the Sun Star had consolidated the remnants of the Demon Clan, and their influence was rising. Nuwa, Fuxi, Zhen Yuanzi, Hong Yun, and other powerful beings were also cultivating diligently, their Dao cultivation advancing.

However, the most striking development was the subtle confrontation between the West and the East.

The Western lands were filled with demonic energy. Luohu's demon sons and grandsons were active, stirring up conflicts everywhere and absorbing slaughter and negative emotions. The malevolent aura of the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation could make even powerful beings feel a sense of alarm across infinite space.

The Eastern Jade Capital Mountain was filled with immortal energy. Although Ancestor Hongjun had not officially appeared, the aura of his Mystic Gate Orthodox Path acted as a stabilizing force, standing in opposition to the Western demonic path. There were faint rumors that Ancestor Hongjun was contacting various powerful beings, seemingly to deal with the Western demonic plague.

"The conflict between Dao and Demon is about to erupt!" Xuan Wazi stroked his chin, excitement flashing in his eyes. "How could I miss such excitement?"

His strength had greatly increased, and with the Chaos Bead protecting him, he was full of confidence. It was time to emerge from seclusion and "play" again in this Primordial Era, which was about to usher in a new storm!

"Where should I go first?" Xuan Wazi pondered. "The Western lands are too heavy with demonic energy; I might get ambushed. On Eastern Jade Capital Mountain, Hongjun, that old earthworm, is probably watching... Why not visit Kunlun Mountain first? I heard the Three Pure Ones have many good things at home, and maybe I can instill some 'Hunyuan' ideas in Fellow Daoist Tongtian in advance?"

Having made up his mind, Xuan Wazi's characteristic "stubborn" smile, which gave all beings in the Primordial Era a headache, reappeared on his face. His figure flickered, and he left the water mansion. The aura of the Chaos Bead flowed naturally, completely concealing his form as he leisurely headed towards Kunlun Mountain.

A new storm was approaching, and at the eye of the storm, there would always be that figure who enjoyed "not acting like a proper person."