Origin

With an independent and reliable channel for acquiring cultivation resources, Xia Dong's path of cultivation entered a brand-new stage.

In the secret chamber at the bottom of the well at Changchun Medical Hall, Xia Dong sat cross-legged.

He poured a lustrous Qi-Gathering Pill from a jade bottle and swallowed it.

BOOM!

The refined medicinal power dissolved within his abdomen.

Xia Dong's heart was as still as water as he skillfully operated the Qi-refining method of the Profound Yin Scripture.

Although his current efficiency in converting spiritual energy remained low, barely managing to retain ten percent of the medicinal power, this Qi-Gathering Pill was, after all, a pill specifically for cultivators to improve their cultivation base. The density of spiritual energy contained within it was simply incomparable to the thin, drifting spiritual energy in the Withered Well.

This ten percent of medicinal power was equivalent to half a month of his past bitter, sleepless meditation.

On the other hand, when a cultivator refines Qi, every time the accumulation of spiritual power reaches a critical point, they encounter the swelling pain of meridians and the bottleneck of their realm, requiring insight and persistent effort to break through bit by bit.

But Xia Dong was different; because he practiced the Mysterious Yin Spirit Refining and had consumed the Yin Evil Pill, his divine sense had already reached the fifth level of Qi refining.

The subsequent cultivation was like standing on a high vantage point to look down, proceeding logically and smoothly.

Under the precise guidance of his divine sense, that wisp of mana converted from the Qi-Gathering Pill was as docile as a lamb, circulating perfectly along the cycle of the Profound Yin Scripture and flowing into his dantian's sea of Qi without the slightest obstruction.

In less than a month, accompanied by an extremely faint humming sound from his dantian, the mass of mana, which was originally only the size of a thumb, suddenly expanded, and its color became deeper and more obscure.

Second level of Qi refining, accomplished with ease!

After the breakthrough, Xia Dong slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, feeling overjoyed.

With the mana of the second level of Qi refining feeding back into his sea of consciousness, the burden of Xia Dong's divine sense on his physical body was greatly reduced once again.

Since his blood and Qi no longer needed to excessively nourish his divine sense, the Evergreen Qi-Circulation Art within him, which pointed directly to the origin, also ushered in a period of explosive growth.

The wisp of cyan-colored primordial "Qi" in his dantian became thicker and more solid under the nourishment of sufficient blood and Qi.

The speed of Xia Dong's root-bone transformation accelerated significantly.

"At the current pace, in three years at most..." Xia Dong looked inward, feeling certain in his heart, "I will be able to completely cultivate the foundation chapter of the Evergreen Qi-Circulation Art to perfection."

While his cultivation progressed by leaps and bounds, Xia Dong also gained a deeper understanding of his three distinct types of power: blood and Qi, Qi, and mana.

First, the "Qi" condensed by the Evergreen Qi-Circulation Art possesses the overbearing characteristic of "returning to the origin." It can directly dissolve the mana of the Profound Yin Scripture, breaking it down into ownerless, refined spiritual energy. However, the reverse is not true; no matter how much mana is compressed, it cannot be converted into Qi.

Second, "Qi" itself cannot be used directly to cast a cultivator's spells.

But curiously, because the Evergreen Qi-Circulation Art was derived from the fusion of three mundane martial arts and medical theories—the Crane Stance, the Dragon-Capturing Technique, and the Evergreen Medical Classic—it shares the same origin as a martial artist's "blood and Qi," allowing for seamless conversion.

Qi can instantly transform into massive blood and Qi, and blood and Qi can also replenish the consumption of Qi through the operation of the technique.

"These three forces each have their own wonders."

If one uses "Qi" to drive martial arts, such as the "Dragon-Capturing Hand" or the "Wind-Riding Technique," the movements become extremely exquisite and subtle, like an antelope hanging its horns, leaving no trace to be found.

But if one pursues lethality, directly stimulating "blood and Qi" results in even greater, more explosive damage.

As for "mana"...

Xia Dong raised his right hand, and a wisp of obscure Mysterious Yin Mana danced at his fingertips.

Why are cultivators able to stand high above?

Because mana is most in tune with the laws of heaven and earth in this world.

A cultivator's spells, talismans, magical artifacts, and formations all essentially use mana as a medium to nudge and borrow the natural laws of heaven and earth, thereby triggering extraordinary, great power.

Mana is the optimal solution for externally controlling the rules of the world.

And "Qi" is more like an internal cornerstone close to the origin of life.

It is the foundation for internal cultivation of the origin, elevating the dimension of life, and reshaping one's root-bones.

"One external, one internal; one surface, one essence..."

Xia Dong's divine sense sank into his sea of consciousness, gazing at the mottled Bronze Ancient Bell floating silently, and a strong sense of anticipation grew in his heart.

Currently, the Evergreen Qi-Circulation Art and the Profound Yin Scripture are two parallel lines.

But since the Bronze Ancient Bell can perfectly fuse martial arts and medical theory, then a year from now, when the foundation chapter of the Evergreen Qi-Circulation Art reaches great perfection and his own root-bones transform into spiritual roots...

"Can the ancient bell forcibly fuse the Evergreen Qi-Circulation Art and the Profound Yin Scripture?"

If that day truly comes, the internal cultivation of the origin and the external control of heaven and earth will become one.

The resulting technique would surely be unfathomably profound.

Xia Dong looked forward to this very much.

Over the next period, Zhao Ting quietly distributed the continuous batches of low-grade Wind-Riding Talismans.

Zhao Ting was a shrewd man who understood the ways of officialdom perfectly.

He did not swallow this fat piece of meat alone; instead, he went with the flow, steadily channeling most of the profits and the quota for the Wind-Riding Talismans into the Thousand-Household Office under the guise of "filial piety."

Such is the way of this world.

In the world of cultivation and the imperial bureaucracy, empty professions of loyalty are worthless.

Only tangible, binding interests can compel those high-ranking figures to genuinely protect and promote you.

Thus, Zhao Ting secured the full support of the Thousand-Household Office. Coupled with his own commendable efforts—having turned a setback during the demon suppression at Tiger Hill into a blessing by breaking through to the fourth level of Qi Refining and entering the mid-stage—he stood out among the many flag-leaders of the Linyuan Prefecture Eagle-Wolf Guard.

With sufficient seniority, the required cultivation level, and connections at the top, he finally succeeded.

During this month's internal performance review of the Eagle-Wolf Guard, Zhao Ting achieved his heart's desire and was officially promoted to the rank of "Hundred-Household" for Pingyang County.

Not only was he promoted, but more importantly, he had firmly grasped the territory of Pingyang County in his own hands.

On the third night after his promotion to Hundred-Household.

Zhao Ting rented a secluded pavilion by the water in an extremely discreet private garden within the city to host a private banquet for Xia Dong.

Inside the pavilion, there were no musicians or dancers.

On the low table sat a few plates of exquisite wine and dishes.

"Brother Xia, come, this cup is for you." Zhao Ting was dressed in casual attire, yet he could not hide the high spirits between his brows.

He personally took up the pot and poured a full cup for Xia Dong, his tone revealing a sense of heartfelt sincerity.

"If not for your 'all-out assistance,' I fear I would have had to toil for another eight or ten years to reach this Hundred-Household position."

Xia Dong smiled faintly, raised his cup, and clinked it against Zhao Ting's. "That you could rise so high is entirely due to your own ability. I merely offered flowers belonging to another, running a few errands."

Zhao Ting laughed heartily and drained his cup in one gulp.

After three rounds of drinks, Zhao Ting set down his cup, leaned forward slightly, and stared into Xia Dong's eyes, suddenly lowering his voice.

"Brother Xia, do you want to be promoted?"