Home of Immortals and Mortals

The Jade Pendant Small World, a courtyard.

Chen Renfeng, Bai Xue, and Chen Qing sat cross-legged on round wooden stools, dressed in short silk shirts and shorts, facing each other.

"Bai Xue, can you feel the spiritual energy?" Chen Renfeng asked.

Bai Xue shook her head and said helplessly, "No! Uncle Chen, I'm so stupid. I've been practicing for several days!"

Chen Renfeng looked at Chen Qing and asked, "How about you?"

Chen Qing shook his head awkwardly and said, "Every time I feel something trying to enter my body, it's like my pores can't open and block it."

Bai Xue chimed in, "It's like something is on the surface of my body, unable to get in, it tickles."

Chen Renfeng understood. The impurities in the grains and meats they ate in their previous life were too much, and they needed to cleanse their marrow before they could sense energy.

However, the Marrow Cleansing Pill was only sold in the mortal realm. On Penglai Island, where everyone had immortal physiques, no one sold it. He would have to refine the pills himself.

He recalled that Chen Tuan had refined the Marrow Cleansing Pill recipe in the mortal realm. This small world had plenty of medicinal herbs and immortal grasses. He decided to do it right away.

Blue smoke rose from the alchemy room south of the courtyard. Raw medicinal pills made from He Shou Wu, ginseng, blood essence grass, and other herbs were placed into the alchemy furnace. They would mature in forty-nine hours.

Chen Renfeng, Bai Xue, and Chen Qing sat in the courtyard chatting. Two puppets stood behind the large gate like door gods. The plaque above the gate read "Home of Immortals and Mortals," written by Chen Renfeng himself.

"Bai Xue, Chen Qing, we can't go back for a while, and you can't leave this small world. Do you have anything you want to say?" the Professor asked seriously. This was their first formal conversation since the courtyard was built.

Bai Xue held a book in her hand and shook her head. When she had free time, she immersed herself in the study, just like she used to spend all day in the library during college. She loved reading, especially getting addicted to professional knowledge.

Chen Qing was holding a piece of wood in his hand, with various parts he had assembled on it, changing shape. If you looked closely, it resembled the hand of one of the puppets at the door. He also shook his head.

Chen Renfeng said helplessly, "You two are going to start cultivating. First Qi Refining, then Foundation Establishment, then Golden Core. It will take many years, and... and you'll have to abstain from sex to avoid affecting your cultivation. Can you do it?"

Bai Xue replied first, "Uncle Chen, what are you trying to say? You're beating around the bush."

Chen Qing remained silent, fiddling with the object in his hand.

Chen Renfeng cleared his throat and said, "Do you two like each other?"

Bai Xue put down the book in her hand, and Chen Qing also put down the piece of wood. They looked at each other. After their eyes met, they both lowered their heads.

Chen Renfeng saw this and thought, "A talented man and a beautiful woman. It's truly hard on these young people." He couldn't bear to say, "If you truly love each other, I will arrange your marriage. You can hold the wedding ceremony in the next few days, become husband and wife, and practice the dual cultivation method."

Bai Xue was startled. She did have feelings for Chen Qing, but she couldn't make a decision about getting married right away.

Chen Qing was naturally willing, but he wanted to see his mother after they returned and get her opinion before getting married. He also couldn't make up his mind.

Seeing them both looking down in silence, Chen Renfeng sighed and stopped persuading them.

"What's that smell? It's so fragrant!" Chen Qing sniffed, and a delicate fragrance wafted from the alchemy room.

Chen Renfeng also smelled the aroma and quickly said, "The Marrow Cleansing Pills should be ready. Let's go and see."

The three of them went to the alchemy room, where the fragrant smell was even stronger. The Professor circled the alchemy furnace and nodded with satisfaction. He had Bai Xue and Chen Qing lift the lid with wooden sticks. After a wisp of clear energy dissipated, nine white pills lay inside the furnace, lustrous and very tempting.

Chen Renfeng placed the pills on a plate and took them out. He took one himself to test its efficacy. Although he was a Primordial Spirit, he had cultivated to a point where he was no different from a true immortal.

The Marrow Cleansing Pill melted in his mouth. The Professor could feel that its medicinal power was that of a high-grade Marrow Cleansing Pill. Thanks to Chen Tuan's memories from his previous life, these alchemy skills and control over heat allowed him to succeed on his first try.

Seeing that the Professor was satisfied after eating, Bai Xue and Chen Qing both reached out, wanting to eat as well. The Professor lightly hit their hands and said with a smile, "You two prepare a bucket of water in your respective bathrooms, sit in it, and then take the pill. Change the water when it becomes murky, and when the water color no longer changes, your task for today will be complete."

Bai Xue and Chen Qing followed the Professor's method. After taking the Marrow Cleansing Pills, they felt warm all over. The impurities in their bodies seeped out, dyeing the water in the buckets black. On the first day, they changed the water seven times before it stopped changing color.

On the second day, following the Professor's method, after taking the Marrow Cleansing Pills, they felt a sense of clarity all over their bodies, in addition to the warmth. They changed the water six times before it stopped changing color.

On the third day, the water was no longer murky, and they felt as if their pores had opened up.

Chen Renfeng refined another batch of pills. On the fourth day, he had them each take two pills. The warm feeling returned, and the water in the buckets turned black again. On the fifth day, two pills were no longer effective. On the sixth day, they took three pills. On the seventh day, they took four pills. By the ninth day, they stopped taking the Marrow Cleansing Pills.

In the courtyard, the three of them sat cross-legged on the wooden stools again. This time, after Bai Xue and Chen Qing closed their eyes, they felt many tiny light particles falling onto their skin and beginning to enter their bodies without any resistance.

They followed the breathing and meditation methods taught by the Professor. The light particles in the air entered their bodies with the air, and then most of them escaped the body through breathing or skin.

However, some of the light particles remained in their bodies, becoming a part of them. They felt their own strength had increased.

Bai Xue wondered if this was the spiritual energy described in books, the "sensing energy" Uncle Chen mentioned. She hadn't confirmed it yet when Chen Qing shouted, "I can feel spiritual energy!"

Seeing this, Chen Renfeng laughed heartily, "Chen Qing, tell me first, what is spiritual energy like?"

Chen Qing said happily, "Professor, there has always been spiritual energy in the air. Look at these light particles, they're drilling into my body now, it feels so comfortable!"

Seeing this, Bai Xue also saw the light particles in the air drilling into her body. She also saw that more particles were drilling into Uncle Chen's body than theirs, as if a new world had opened up.

Bai Xue also shouted happily, "I can feel spiritual energy too!"

Chen Renfeng laughed heartily, "Congratulations to you both for stepping onto the threshold of cultivation, the Qi Refining Stage. From now on, cultivation, pills, and breakthroughs will bring you one surprise after another. Once you form your Golden Core, I will find a way to take you out."

Bai Xue smiled and said, "Uncle Chen, we can refine Qi now, how will you reward us?"

Chen Renfeng thought for a moment. He saw Bai Xue and Chen Qing looking towards the kitchen. He understood. Their taste buds had been dulled by the Marrow Cleansing Pills for the past few days, and they were craving food. The Professor laughed and said, "I'll make you a big meal to reward you."

"Hooray!" Bai Xue and Chen Qing both kissed the Professor on the cheek. This was the happiest day since they arrived in the small world.

Chen Renfeng felt a little embarrassed but happy in his heart. He maintained a stern expression and said, "I'll go cook. You two go outside and gather some medicinal herbs for the Spirit Origin Pill. Refine a batch of pills yourselves to strengthen your foundations."

"Okay!" Bai Xue said happily, grabbed a basket, and ran out. Chen Qing followed closely behind her.