The Origin

With a reliable, independent way to obtain cultivation resources, Xia Dong's path of cultivation entered a brand-new stage.

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

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

Boom!

The pill's pure medicinal power unfurled in his abdomen.

Xia Dong's heart was still as water as he skillfully circulated the Qi Refining method of the Profound Yin Scripture.

Although his current efficiency at converting spiritual energy remained low, he could barely retain a tenth of the medicinal power. Even so, the Qi-Gathering Pill was made specifically to help cultivators advance their cultivation. The density of spiritual energy it contained was nothing like the thin, free-floating spiritual energy in the Withered Well.

That tenth of the pill's power was enough to equal half a month of his past, sleepless meditation.

On the other hand, when cultivators refined Qi, each time their accumulated spiritual power reached a critical point, they encountered swelling pain in their meridians and a bottleneck in their cultivation. They had to rely on insight and patient, painstaking effort to break through bit by bit.

But Xia Dong was different. Because he cultivated the Mysterious Yin Spirit Refining Art and had taken Yin Evil Pills, his spiritual sense had already reached the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining.

His cultivation from here on would be like building a high tower on a firm foundation, progressing naturally.

Under the precise guidance of his spiritual sense, each wisp of mana converted from the Qi-Gathering Pill was as docile as a lamb. It followed the circulation route of the Profound Yin Scripture to perfection, flowing smoothly into his dantian qi sea.

In less than a month, a faint, almost imperceptible hum sounded from within his dantian. The mana vortex, originally no larger than a thumb, abruptly expanded, its color growing darker and more profound.

Qi Refining Second Layer—achieved as naturally as water finding its course!

After breaking through, Xia Dong slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, overjoyed.

With the mana of the Qi Refining Second Layer nourishing his sea of consciousness, the burden his spiritual sense placed on his body was once again greatly reduced.

Since his vital blood no longer had to overnourish his spiritual sense, the Evergreen Qi-Circulation Art within him, which reached straight to the origin, entered a period of explosive growth.

The wisp of hazy, green primordial "qi" in his dantian grew ever thicker and more solid, nourished by his ample vital blood.

The transformation of Xia Dong's Root Bone picked up speed considerably.

"At this rate, in three years at most..." Xia Dong examined himself inwardly, quietly certain. "I'll have cultivated the foundational section of the Evergreen Qi-Circulation Art to complete mastery."

As his cultivation surged ahead, Xia Dong also gained a deeper understanding of the three wholly different powers within him: vital blood, qi, and mana.

First, the "qi" condensed by the Evergreen Qi-Circulation Art possessed the domineering trait of "returning things to their origin." It could directly dissolve the mana of the Profound Yin Scripture, breaking it down into pure, ownerless spiritual energy. But the reverse was impossible. No matter how much mana was compressed, it could not be transformed into qi.

Second, "qi" itself could not be used directly to perform cultivators' spells.

But, intriguingly, because the Evergreen Qi-Circulation Art had been derived by combining and extrapolating from the Crane Stance, Dragon-Capturing Technique, and Evergreen Medical Classic—three mundane martial and medical disciplines—it shared the same source as a martial artist's "vital blood" and could be converted between the two without a hitch.

Qi could instantly become surging vital blood, while the circulation of the art could also replenish qi by drawing on vital blood.

"These three powers each have their own uses."

If he used "qi" to drive martial techniques, such as the Dragon-Capturing Hand or Wind-Riding Technique, his movements would become incredibly subtle and precise, like an antelope hanging its horns on a branch—leaving no trace to follow.

But if he sought sheer destructive power, directly unleashing "vital blood" would be stronger and more explosive.

As for "mana"...

Xia Dong raised his right hand. A wisp of dark Mysterious Yin Mana danced at his fingertip.

Why could cultivators hold themselves above everyone else?

Because mana best conformed to the laws of heaven and earth in this world.

Cultivators' spells, talismans, magical artifacts, and formations all used mana as their medium to stir and borrow the natural laws of the world, thereby unleashing extraordinary power.

Mana was the best way to command the world's laws from without.

"Qi," on the other hand, was more like an inner foundation close to the origin of life.

It was the root of internal cultivation: the means to elevate the dimensions of life and reshape one's Root Bone.

"One without, one within; one surface, one core..."

Xia Dong's spiritual sense sank into his sea of consciousness, where he gazed at the mottled Bronze Ancient Bell floating quietly. Deep in his heart, a strong anticipation stirred.

For now, the Evergreen Qi-Circulation Art and the Profound Yin Scripture were two parallel lines.

But since the Bronze Ancient Bell could perfectly fuse martial arts with medical theory, then once the foundational section of the Evergreen Qi-Circulation Art reached complete mastery a year from now, and his Root Bone transformed into a Spirit Root...

"Could the bell forcibly fuse the Evergreen Qi-Circulation Art with the Profound Yin Scripture?"

If that day truly came, internal cultivation of one's origin and external command of heaven and earth would become one.

Who knew how wondrous the art derived from that union would be?

Xia Dong eagerly looked forward to it.

In the days that followed, Zhao Ting quietly distributed the steady stream of low-grade Wind-Riding Talismans.

Zhao Ting was a shrewd man who knew the ways of officialdom inside and out.

He did not keep this juicy prize all to himself. Instead, in a smooth, natural move, he sent most of the profits and the Wind-Riding Talisman allotment to the Thousand-Household Office, under the guise of "paying his respects."

That was simply the way of the world.

In the cultivation world and in officialdom, loyalty offered with nothing but empty words was worthless.

Only a tangible sharing of benefits could make those lofty bigwigs sincerely protect and promote you.

Thus Zhao Ting earned the Thousand-Household Office's full support. And since he himself had proved more than capable, his setback during the demon suppression at Tiger Hill had turned into a blessing: he broke through to the Qi Refining Fourth Layer and entered the Qi Refining Mid-Stage. This set him apart from the many Flag-Bearers of the Eagle-Wolf Guard in Linyuan Prefecture.

He had the seniority, the cultivation, and connections above him.

Finally, during this month's performance review within the Eagle-Wolf Guard, Zhao Ting got his wish and was formally promoted to Centurion of the Eagle-Wolf Guard in Pingyang County.

Not only had he risen a rank, more importantly, he had firmly taken control of Pingyang County.

On the third night after his promotion to Centurion, Zhao Ting reserved a secluded waterside pavilion in a discreet private garden in the city and invited Xia Dong to a private banquet.

There was no music or dancing in the pavilion.

A few plates of exquisite food and wine sat on the table.

"Brother Xia, come. I offer you this cup." Zhao Ting wore ordinary clothes, but the high spirits in his brows were impossible to hide.

He personally poured Xia Dong a full cup of wine, his tone carrying the sincerity of a heart-to-heart.

"If not for your 'generous assistance,' little brother, I'd probably have had to wait another ten or eight years for this Centurion's post."

Xia Dong smiled faintly and clinked his cup against Zhao Ting's. "Brother, you earned your promotion entirely through your own ability. I merely borrowed flowers to offer to the Buddha and ran a few errands."

Zhao Ting laughed heartily and drained his cup.

After several rounds of wine, Zhao Ting set down his cup, leaned forward slightly, and stared into Xia Dong's eyes. Then he suddenly lowered his voice.

"Brother Xia, would you like a promotion?"