Origin Qi

Biodata

Nature

Origin Qi is drawn from heaven and earth through Internal Qi methods, then merged with a cultivator and stored within the body—primarily in the dantian. Greater cultivation produces a larger reserve of Origin Qi and deeper internal strength. 2

It is distinct from an Internal Qi method: cultivation arts determine how Origin Qi is absorbed, circulated, and applied, producing different effects on the practitioner’s body and combat techniques. 2 6

Role in Internal Qi Cultivation

Applications

External Force

Origin Qi can be directed into the limbs and weapons to reinforce attacks. Chen Fan channels it through his right arm, wrist, and palm for a powerful sword strike during Swordcry Mountain’s entrance examination. 5

• External Force techniques can release stored Origin Qi offensively. 2
• The fullest strength of an External Force technique requires Internal Qi at an equal realm. 2
• Origin Qi may be concentrated through a weapon, as seen when sword fighters gather it to resist or unleash Sword Qi. 19

Soaring Arts

Soaring techniques are founded upon Internal Qi and the control of Origin Qi. Practitioners may develop personal movement methods by transforming and directing this energy. 2

• Origin Qi beneath the feet can lighten movement and suppress footstep sounds. 8
• A sufficiently advanced user may travel through the air directly or fly by controlling artifacts such as swords, shields, fans, or zithers. 2
• Chen Fan learns a Soaring technique that uses his Internal Qi to step through the air while ascending a mountain. 35

Healing and Recovery

Meditation circulates Origin Qi to heal injuries, restore internal strength, and replace sleep. 2

• Chen Fan uses a controlled thread of Origin Qi to stimulate Qin Ziyan’s own circulation, protect her heart meridians, and support her recovery from snake venom. 10
• He later channels Origin Qi into Yun Zhongjun, restarting the latter’s stalled circulation after Spirit-Drunken Incense incapacitates him. 37
• Chen Fan’s Golden Wheel Scripture repeatedly proves unusually effective at circulating Origin Qi, restoring his vitality more efficiently than other low-grade Internal Qi arts. 6 14

Poison Refinement and Detoxification

Origin Qi can be integrated into poisoncraft and medicine. Chen Fan injects a trace of heaven-and-earth Origin Qi into gathered herbs to heat and knead them into a crude poison intended to counter snake venom. 10

• Poison masters may use Origin Qi to infiltrate a target’s celestial circulation or cause poison to enter through the target’s absorption of heaven-and-earth energy. 3
• Spirit-Drunken Incense can disrupt a cultivator’s ability to circulate Origin Qi, incapacitating even powerful practitioners. 36 37
• Chen Fan’s poison-assisted cultivation causes his Origin Qi to increase sharply enough to shatter the bottleneck between the second and third levels of Internal Qi. 13

Origin Qi in the Natural World

Animals living long-term in areas rich in Origin Qi can absorb and store it, developing longer lives, greater strength, and unusual abilities. Venomous snakes transformed in this way may use Origin Qi to strengthen or project their venom. 8

Spirit Stones are rocks that have absorbed Origin Qi over many years. Their low-, mid-, and high-grade classifications depend on how much Origin Qi they contain. 16

Wind-Veined Jade can store Origin Qi and, when incorporated into a weapon, increase that weapon’s power. 17