Healed a Thousand Wounds, Gained Enlightenment

Lu Xuan did not hurry out of the Cloud Pavilion to test his ability to ride the clouds and soar through the mist. Instead, he calmed his mind and sensed his Qi Sea.

The Grand Rite he had undergone had been so difficult, demanding extraordinary Qi Sensitivity. Accordingly, it also granted wondrous abilities.

"Turbid Qi arises from filthy places and can be seen with the naked eye. Set up a ritual altar at will, invoke the power of the earth, and it can be collected."

"Mixed Qi is slightly more difficult, but as long as one can find places where spiritual qi converges, it is still easy enough."

"Clear Qi is where true cultivation begins. When the qi is clear and pure, harvesting it makes one's entire body spiritually attuned. Future qi-gathering cultivation will meet with no hindrance, and one will gain a few minor marvels besides."

"For instance, Pine-Grove Qi grants greater control over the wind than ordinary cultivators possess, while carrying the fragrance of pine throughout the body..."

"Ravine-Flow Qi offers somewhat stronger control over water, allowing one to condense qi into water without using any technique..."

"But in the end, they are still qi visible to the naked eye in heaven and earth, with only a trace of nature's spirit."

"True Qi is difficult to gather because it cannot be seen with the naked eye. It contains a thread of Dao resonance, an intent within the qi..."

"Such as the Temporal-Sequence True Qi my predecessor intended to gather and refine. If successful, it would allow one to adjust the nature of one's qi according to the changes of day and night, spring, summer, autumn, and winter."

"In spring, its vitality surges, and gathering qi brings flourishing life force, greatly increasing cultivation speed. In summer, its nature is fierce and powerful, like a domineering tiger, able to expel evil and ward off Baleful Intent. In autumn, it carries a bleak killing air, its qi sharp and ideal for spell combat. In winter, it holds frost within it, its qi like ice, well suited for refining techniques..."

"It is far more wondrous than ordinary Clear Qi. That is precisely why only those who refine True Qi may be admitted into the Heaven-Gazing Sect's inner sect."

"The Dawn Radiance True Qi I refined may not shift with the four seasons, but it belongs to the Great Yang. It can condense Great Sun True Fire, and whenever the morning sun rises and dawn's radiance appears, the thousand wounds suffered the night before can nearly all be healed. Whenever I am lost in confusion, daybreak grants me a turn of insight..."

"It happens to suit someone like me, whose inspiration is lacking and whose comprehension is not exceptional..."

Lu Xuan had chosen Dawn Radiance True Qi after careful consideration. Not only did it fit his life experiences and suit his heart, making the Grand Rite easiest to complete, it could also compensate for his shortcomings, ensuring that he would not be constrained by them on the path of cultivation ahead.

After all... Qi Refining was only the second realm of cultivation. Beyond it lay Foundation Establishment, the Violet Palace, Sitting in Oblivion, Golden Core, and many other realms.

The road was exceedingly difficult.

Moreover, the various Minor Offering Rituals required to cultivate all manner of Daoist arts also could not do without the aid of comprehension.

"Sadly, these Ancient Characters on the Jade Disc possess power only once..."

Lu Xuan sank his mind into his Qi Sea and felt the thread of Dao resonance within the Dawn Radiance True Qi, satisfaction stirring in his heart.

Yet as his mind drifted into that dimly discernible space and he looked upon the vanished character Diligence on the Jade Disc, he could not help but sigh again.

The Ancient Characters on the Jade Disc possessed power only once. That was why Lu Xuan had chosen to use it on the most important Grand Rite. Without the character Diligence in the future, he would have to rely on his own efforts.

"Why did these Ancient Characters on the Jade Disc appear here?"

"Could it truly be because I had acted diligently and tirelessly before, and thus they were reflected?"

"Will the character Diligence appear again, or will other ancient characters emerge?"

Lu Xuan pondered inwardly.

Over these past days, all his attention had been focused on the Grand Rite. Thus, after learning the use of the character Diligence, he had temporarily put aside the question of where the Ancient Characters on the Jade Disc had come from. But now that the Grand Rite was complete, the matter of the Jade Disc immediately rose to the forefront of his mind.

Earlier, he had already formed some guesses about the origin of the character Diligence.

Was it his own diligence? Or was diligence alone what could make up for one's inadequacies?

"Hmm?"

Just as Lu Xuan was thinking, azure light flowed across the Jade Disc, and another character faintly emerged.

Yet compared with the earlier character Diligence, this one was extremely blurry, as though there were not enough ink for it to be imprinted upon the Jade Disc.

Still, after straining his mind to discern it, Lu Xuan barely recognized the character.

"Sharpness?"

This time, perhaps because the character was too indistinct, Lu Xuan sank his mind into the Jade Disc yet did not learn what ability it possessed.

Nor did he know how to make the character take complete form and be reflected upon the Jade Disc.

"What does the character Sharpness mean?"

Lu Xuan murmured inwardly. He had some vague guesses, but could not be certain.

At the same time, reviewing everything he had done, he also formed a few deductions about how to make the ancient character fully take shape.

But he dared not be certain of any of them and could only test them slowly with time.

There was no use overthinking. Lu Xuan stopped dwelling on it and raised his head toward the vast Cloud Sea. Watching the increasingly brilliant Great Yang rise in the distance, a smile appeared at the corner of his lips.

"Let me ride the clouds and roam the mountains!"

With that, he stepped forward and left the Cloud Pavilion.

This time, he did not summon the Little Azure Rainbow Cloud. Instead, he stepped directly into the void with his physical body.

"Hoo!"

In an instant, surging qi flowed within his Qi Sea, covering his entire body. At that moment, Lu Xuan felt as though he were no longer flesh and blood. His whole body was wrapped in a mass of "qi," impossibly light and agile.

He hovered steadily in the air without falling.

Clear Qi rose, while Turbid Qi sank.

Thus, anyone who gathered Clear Qi or something above it could naturally rise into the air, as if born to fly.

Those with Mixed Qi could also barely fly, though their height was limited and they risked falling. Those with Turbid Qi could not fly at all and had to rely on external force.

"Off I go!"

Not only that, Lu Xuan sensed countless spiritual currents in the surrounding heaven and earth circling around him, as though awaiting his command.

Spiritual qi!

Those in Qi Refining communicated with heaven and earth and could naturally control spiritual qi.

Spiritual qi was the source of heaven and earth. Gathering water into fire, pinching lightning into being, transforming earth—such things were nothing extraordinary.

But they still required certain cultivation methods: Daoist arts and techniques.

Lu Xuan had not yet cultivated any Daoist art, but driving spiritual qi to serve as the force of flight was instinctive.

For at this moment, he was using "qi" to command the sky, not merely his fleshly body.

"Boom!"

At a thought from him, spiritual qi from all over the sky fused into his body and merged with his own "qi," transforming into a brilliant mass of golden radiance that shot into the distance.

"How exhilarating!"

Unlike riding clouds before, Lu Xuan was not relying on any tool this time. He was truly soaring through the sky by his own strength alone.

The thrill was utterly different from cloud-riding.

He did not need to fear falling to the ground, did not need to sit cross-legged, and had no need for the Little Azure Rainbow Cloud's wind-shielding ability. The wild winds filling the heavens seemed to have become one with him.

Unfettered and free, he could assume any posture he pleased.

Moreover, although he was merely at the Qi Refining First Layer, he had gathered Dawn Radiance True Qi, which carried a trace of the Great Yang's nature. When he flew, not only did brilliant flowing light trail after him in a dazzling spectacle, but he could travel four hundred li in an hour.

The deeper his cultivation grew, the faster he would become.

Before long, he crossed the boundless Cloud Sea and passed over the Righteous Qi Hall.

Within the Righteous Qi Hall, the middle-aged Daoist heard the commotion and immediately left the hall. Looking up, he saw a brilliant streak of light among the clouds, darting left and right, rolling up and down, seemingly rejoicing to its heart's content.

"He actually succeeded..."

The middle-aged Daoist's eyes widened as he could not help murmuring to himself.

What was the most important mark of those on the immortal path since ancient times?

Flight!

Only those who could fly counted as people of the immortal path. Otherwise, they were merely ordinary mortals.

And now, with Lu Xuan flying through the sky, he had already successfully entered Qi Refining.

After quite some time, Lu Xuan seemed to have had his fill. Only then did he withdraw the radiance and descend once more before the Righteous Qi Hall.

"Thank you for standing watch. Here is the Ritual Chamber token."

Lu Xuan laughed brightly as he returned the token.

"Congratulations, selected attendant. You have succeeded in Qi Refining and may enter the inner sect."

The middle-aged Daoist respectfully received the token and congratulated Lu Xuan.

"I have only just entered the gate of cultivation..."

Lu Xuan waved a hand, though joy filled his heart as well.

This step had been crucial. Had he failed, hardships and obstacles would likely have risen one after another.

After all, it was good to enjoy the shade beneath a great tree.

Just then, a mass of azure cloud suddenly sped in from the horizon and descended before the hall.

A young man with an ape's back, a wasp's waist, and a high bridge of a nose stepped down from the azure cloud.

He was Senior Brother Lin, whom Lu Xuan had encountered once before in the Red Pine Fief.

"Junior Brother Lu?"

Senior Brother Lin was at the Embryonic Breath Perfected Realm. Though he lacked Spiritual Sense, his perceptions were sharp. The moment he arrived before the hall, he sensed that something was different about Lu Xuan's aura.

Clear and ethereal, detached as the wind, it seemed as though he could rise into the air at any moment.

Although Lu Xuan's appearance had previously outshone all others in the Hibernation Academy, and he had always resembled an immortal banished from the dust of the world, he had still been flesh and blood.

But now, this was no longer the aura a body of flesh and blood ought to possess.

"Senior Brother Lin!"

Lu Xuan smiled and gave a Daoist salute.

"Why are you at the Righteous Qi Hall, Junior Brother?"

Senior Brother Lin stared at Lu Xuan and asked uncertainly.

"Like you, Senior Brother, I was unwilling to accept my former fate, so I came here."

"You... you succeeded in your Grand Rite?"

Senior Brother Lin's expression changed in shock, and he hurriedly pressed the question.

"I succeeded by luck..."

Lu Xuan smiled and did not put on airs.

Though Senior Brother Lin was also a disciple of the Hibernation Academy, Lu Xuan's predecessor had preferred quiet and had not socialized much. He and Senior Brother Lin had merely known each other.

Still, there had been no unpleasantness between them.

And Lu Xuan knew that the pressure of the Second Grand Rite was unprecedented. Though his success would offer Senior Brother Lin some encouragement, it would also place immense pressure upon him.

He did not wish to pressure another person. He simply had not expected to run into him by chance, and there was nothing to be done about it.

"Senior Brother, steady your heart and guard your spirit. You will surely succeed as well. This junior brother will take his leave first."

Seeing Senior Brother Lin's expression shift repeatedly, Lu Xuan did not wish to linger. He immediately said farewell, rose into the air, transformed into a streak of golden light, and vanished from where he stood.

"Cloud Qi turning into light... he truly succeeded..."

Senior Brother Lin watched the trail of light left by Lu Xuan's departure, his fists clenched and his gaze complicated. In the end, he let out a long breath, bowed to the middle-aged Daoist, and entered the Righteous Qi Hall.