Inner Sect Qi Cultivation Art

In the days that followed, Shen Hao completely immersed himself in cultivating the Ziyang Inner Sect Basic Qi Cultivation Art. He scarcely stepped outside, sitting cross-legged on the Jade Bed each day as he devoted himself to studying the mysteries of the Qi Cultivation Art and sensing the paths of spiritual energy flowing through his body.

This Inner Sect Qi Cultivation Art was far more complex than the Outer Sect's. It emphasized the three essential principles of "guide, refine, condense," each link interlocking with the next, none dispensable. Guide meant drawing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into the body; refine meant using one's own true fire to temper that spiritual energy and remove its impurities; condense meant gathering the refined spiritual energy within the Sea of Qi, increasing its concentration.

Sitting cross-legged upon the Jade Bed, Shen Hao slowly closed his eyes according to the records of the Qi Cultivation Art, focusing his mind and calming his breath. He adjusted his breathing until it became long and steady. The spiritual energy of the Inner Sect was exceptionally dense. Thread after thread of it, like drifting gossamer, gathered at the tip of his nose and swirled around his body.

He cautiously circulated the Qi Cultivation Art, guiding that free spiritual energy through his nostrils and into his body, then along his meridians and slowly into his Sea of Qi. This process required extraordinarily precise control. If he guided in too much spiritual energy, it would burst his meridians; if he guided in too little, he would get twice the work for half the result.

With the foundation he had laid from cultivating the Meridian Tempering Art during this time, along with his sharp control over spiritual energy, Shen Hao kept its flow at exactly the right pace. Like a trickling stream, the spiritual energy slowly coursed through his meridians, gently nourishing their inner walls and making them tougher and broader.

Once the spiritual energy gathered in the Sea of Qi reached a certain amount, Shen Hao drew upon a thread of spiritual energy within it and transformed it into a wisp of weak true fire according to the Qi Cultivation Art's records. That wisp of true fire was extremely faint, yet it carried a scorching aura. It was formed from a cultivator's own Spiritual Power.

He controlled that wisp of true fire and began tempering the spiritual energy he had just drawn into his body. The true fire slowly burned the spiritual energy, incinerating the tiny threads of black impurities mixed within it. They turned into wisps of turbid air and were expelled through his pores. The tempered spiritual energy became purer, its color changing from pale green to a rich dark green, while its texture became ever more condensed.

Though this process was tedious, it consumed an immense amount of concentration. Shen Hao had to remain completely focused. The slightest mistake could cause the true fire to backlash and scorch his meridians. Yet he did not dare relax in the slightest, patiently controlling the true fire as he tempered every strand of spiritual energy.

Last came the Condense principle. Shen Hao gathered the refined, pure spiritual energy within his Sea of Qi, compressing and condensing it until its concentration grew higher and higher. The lake of spiritual energy within his Sea of Qi visibly became denser by the moment. Spiritual light flickered across its surface, and the energy was so concentrated that it nearly transformed into liquid.

Though this process was tedious, its effects were remarkably evident. After cultivating for only one hour, Shen Hao felt that the spiritual energy within his Sea of Qi had become much denser than before. He could clearly sense his cultivation steadily rising, with faint signs that he was beginning to touch the barrier of the Qi Refining Fourth Layer.

"As expected of an Inner Sect Qi Cultivation Art. It really is formidable!" Shen Hao was overjoyed, a gratified smile appearing on his face. The Outer Sect's Qi Cultivation Art could only absorb spiritual energy, not temper it. Its cultivation speed was far inferior to that of the Inner Sect Qi Cultivation Art.

He did not stop. After briefly regulating his breath, he circulated the Qi Cultivation Art once more and threw himself wholeheartedly into cultivation. Outside the window, sunlight shifted from morning to noon, then to dusk. It gradually sank in the west, while moonlight slowly climbed the branches and spilled over the window lattice. Yet the room remained silent, filled only with Shen Hao's steady breathing and the faint sounds of spiritual energy flowing.

After an unknown amount of time, Shen Hao slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a mouthful of turbid air. It carried a faint trace of black, the impurities removed by the true fire. When it fell to the ground, it even bore a slight burnt smell.

He looked inward at his dantian and saw that the lake of spiritual energy within his Sea of Qi had become exceptionally dense. Its color had also shifted from dark green to pale blue. This was the mark of the Qi Refining Fourth Layer! So long as he took one more step and completely transformed his spiritual energy into blue, he would break through to the Early Qi Refining Fourth Layer!

"At this rate, I'll break through to the Early Qi Refining Fourth Layer within a month!" Shen Hao muttered, a delighted smile spreading across his face. The Inner Sect's cultivation resources truly lived up to their reputation. If he had remained in the Outer Sect, breaking through to the Qi Refining Fourth Layer would have taken at least half a year.

He stood and stretched lazily, feeling thoroughly refreshed and brimming with strength. Spiritual energy flowed freely through his meridians without the slightest obstruction, while his physical body had grown tougher under its nourishment.

Shen Hao walked to the stone table, took a jade bottle from his Storage Pouch, and poured out a Body Tempering Pill. The pill was dark red and emitted a rich medicinal fragrance that invigorated the mind at a single whiff. This was a commonly used pill for cultivators in the Qi Refining Stage. After consumption, it could temper the physical body, increase its strength, and allow it to withstand denser spiritual energy.

Shen Hao placed the Body Tempering Pill in his mouth. It melted as soon as it entered, turning into a warm current that flowed down his throat and into his abdomen. The current was exceedingly gentle, yet it carried powerful force as it traveled through his meridians and spread throughout his entire body. Everywhere it passed, his muscles and bones felt numb and tingling, as though countless tiny hands were softly massaging them, making both his muscles and bones tougher.

Shen Hao sat cross-legged on the ground and circulated the Qi Cultivation Art, guiding that warm current as it tempered his physical body. Half an hour later, he slowly opened his eyes, feeling strength fill every part of him. When he threw a punch, he could even hear the air burst.

"The Body Tempering Pill's effects really are quite good." Feeling the changes within his body, Shen Hao nodded in satisfaction.

He understood clearly that on the path of cultivation, one had to raise not only one's cultivation, but also temper one's physical body. Only a sufficiently powerful body could withstand denser spiritual energy and unleash greater strength. Otherwise, no matter how high one's cultivation was, a frail body would still be unable to display its full power.