Fifth Level of Qi Refining (Combined Chapter)

At the same time, on the third floor of the Treasure Pavilion.

Incense smoke curled upward. Two sprigs of plum blossom stood at an angle in a Glazed Glass Lamp, gleaming in the candlelight.

"Fourth Level of Qi Refining, and he ate most of the Bear Paw and choice cuts of meat in one sitting?"

Spiritual light shimmered within a heavy copper mirror inlaid with white jade. A graceful figure in brilliant white feathered robes stood with her hands behind her back, silver hair cascading down her back and emerald eyes shining.

Her hair fell to her waist like a waterfall, her skin was smooth as cream, and her slender, voluptuous figure was alluring without losing its elegance.

Mist veiled her lovely face, obscuring her features. Before the mirror, Yun Mo knelt respectfully on one knee, daring to look no higher than the tips of the woman's shoes.

"Pavilion Master. It's absolutely true. What's more, that lord's residence has been arranged with exquisite care, concealing arcane mechanisms. Only a great sect could employ methods like those."

Trembling, Yun Mo swiftly recounted all the information she had gathered to the Pavilion Master, then waited for further instructions.

"Since the first time you met, he hasn't displayed his True Essence again?"

"Y-yes."

Yun Mo stumbled over her words. The Pavilion Master was one of Flying Cloud Market's two Foundation Establishment cultivators. Born into a Dao Sect, she had once been an outer disciple of the Incense-Burning Pavilion.

Unfortunately, some misfortune seemed to have befallen her, forcing her to travel countless miles to this bitterly cold land and manage a branch pavilion.

"However... that Lord Ling's True Essence is far more abundant than others at his level. Despite being at the Fourth Level of Qi Refining, he may be no weaker than a Late Qi Refining cultivator."

"Have you seen him fight?"

The Pavilion Master scoffed. Yun Mo's expression changed, and she immediately bowed her head to the floor.

"I spoke out of turn."

"Abundant True Essence... Your horizons are too narrow. You know his True Essence is formidable, but not how formidable it truly is. Even an ordinary secondary art from a Daoist sect would seem immeasurably powerful to you. I'll have to see him for myself."

The Pavilion Master gave a soft snort. Cold sweat had already soaked Yun Mo's forehead. If she had judged him wrongly, her fate would likely be miserable.

Then she recalled Lord Ling's gentle manner and his reserved, diligent nature. Both were worlds apart from the Dao Sect prodigies she knew of.

Could I really have been wrong?

As Yun Mo hesitated, the Pavilion Master spoke at an unhurried pace.

"Still, the way this man conducts himself really does resemble a prodigy of the Profound Sects I once met."

"The highest virtue is like water; cultivating one's character matters most. Years ago, my elder sister had the good fortune to meet a prodigy of the Profound Sects. He was as reserved as still water. Though past forty, he was only at the Second Level of Qi Refining, no different from a rustic Rogue Cultivator."

Reminiscence filled the Pavilion Master's eyes, and her voice brimmed with emotion.

"My sister treated him as an honored guest, though the rest of us couldn't understand why. Yet in a mere fifty years, he broke through Foundation Establishment, formed an eight-revolution Golden Core, and gained the power of life and death over an entire region."

"Even today, I'm grateful my sister had the eye to recognize a pearl. The rest of us nearly offended that lord."

The Pavilion Master murmured, her beautiful eyes troubled. A trace of ruefulness colored her oriole-sweet voice.

Though that lord's ties to their clan remained slight, he was still their greatest support. If not for the regard others held for him, the clan would have been torn apart long ago, and she would never have had the chance to seek refuge here.

"It will be another twenty days before I can return. Until then, you'll have full authority over our dealings with Ling Wudao."

"Use whatever means you must to keep him within Flying Cloud Market's territory until I return."

The Pavilion Master spoke slowly, but Yun Mo heard anticipation and excitement in her voice. Relaxing a little, she gathered the courage to ask,

"Pavilion Master, from certain small details, I did notice a few Rogue Cultivator habits in that lord. Could he have stolen the art?"

"Pfft... hahaha."

Despite her usually cool demeanor, the Pavilion Master could not help covering her mouth as she laughed.

"Yun Mo, you have a talent for jokes too. Not bad."

The Pavilion Master shook her head with a snort. "Do you think the Spirit Transformation powerhouses of the Profound Sects are mere decorations?"

"How could you understand the wonders of an Arcane Canon?"

"Even if he had somehow been blessed by heaven and comprehended the art, he would no longer be a Rogue Cultivator."

After speaking, the Pavilion Master shook her head with a faint, self-mocking smile. She wished Ling Wudao had stolen the art.

Only then could she offer charcoal in a snowstorm while he was still obscure, maximizing her investment.

Unfortunately, that dream belonged in broad daylight.

"Dao Sect disciples of the Profound Sects keep their personal soul tablets with them at all times. Watch for one. If you get a glimpse of it, you can confirm his identity."

"A soul tablet..."

Yun Mo murmured. When Lord Ling had circulated his Yi Wood True Essence, she seemed to have caught a fleeting glimpse of a wooden tablet.

Unfortunately, she had not seen it clearly enough to be sure.

Meanwhile, along the Treasure Pavilion's trade route, at a village.

The moon shone bright among sparse stars, and a cold wind swept through a gap. Where two valleys met, Luo Fanchen sat cross-legged in meditation. Beside him, the Soul Banner stood planted at an angle, its ghostly patterns churning and twisting. Thick mist blanketed the valley, gathering moonlight while creating an illusion that concealed their presence.

Inside him, Yi Wood True Essence entered through the Life Gate Acupoint, passed through the Gate of Zhang Acupoint to the Spirit Palace Acupoint, then completed a Lesser Celestial Circuit. It flowed into the Conception Vessel and Governing Vessel before cycling through the Thoroughfare Vessel and drawing tight. With every circulation, his True Essence grew a little stronger.

"Phew—"

With two Meridian-Opening Pills in his stomach, Luo Fanchen gripped a Spirit Stone and continued circulating his energy. At the same time, the Spirit Seed in his Lung Viscera glowed softly, ceaselessly condensing Yi Wood True Essence. Working on both fronts, his True Essence solidified into a ring that traveled around his spleen and stomach Meridians like a golden band.

His waist and abdomen contracted, giving him the illusion of being cinched tight.

"Bone Devouring, spirit seizure—"

Luo Fanchen's shoulders felt burdened by a thousand pounds. His spleen and stomach Meridians swelled as if filled with raging fire, the pain almost unbearable.

He formed the hand seal for the Xu Earth Art. Bloodlight glimmered in his vacant eyes as the Soul Banner danced like a demon. More than a hundred ghostly souls emerged from its surface, twisting and struggling before turning into orbs of light, which he swallowed one by one.

The mixed Soul Power rampaged through his Meridians. Once it passed through his Lung Viscera, the Spirit Seed immediately absorbed it and transformed it into pure Yi Wood True Essence.

With all three methods working together, the Yi Wood True Essence accumulated in three places finally broke through the Zhiyu Acupoint. It flowed back through his spleen and stomach to his Lung Viscera, completing a Lesser Celestial Circuit.

"Cough, cough, cough!"

Luo Fanchen ended his cultivation and spat out a mouthful of bloody filth. Drawing ghostly souls into his body had injured a small portion of his Meridians after all.

Fortunately, the injuries were minor, and the resentful souls had not affected his mind. Half a day of rest would be enough to recover.

"Fifth Level of Qi Refining. I did it."

A smile spread across Luo Fanchen's face, his heart surging with excitement.

In just three months, he had advanced from the Fourth Level of Qi Refining to the Fifth. His progress was at least ten times faster than when he had cultivated through sheer effort.

And during the breakthrough, he had fully opened all six auxiliary acupoints. By rights, he should have thirty percent more spiritual energy than an ordinary cultivator at the Fourth Level of Qi Refining, and at least ten percent more than one at the Fifth.

His waist and abdomen felt taut, as though he had strength to spare. Even the cold wind against his face no longer felt chilly.

At the peak of the Fifth Level of Qi Refining, ordinary poisons could not harm a cultivator, nor could common illnesses take hold. In the mortal world, one could live an entire life free of sickness and pain.

Unfortunately, that was of little use to him.

"Mo Xue is close to the Second Level of Qi Refining too."

Luo Fanchen stretched and looked at Mo Xue, who sat cross-legged more than ten meters away, breathing and meditating opposite him. Reassurance showed on his face.

The girl's Conception Vessel was already open. The Longevity Art was simply too weak for breaking through barriers, so it took her much longer than it had taken him. If she kept patiently grinding away until dawn, she should officially reach the Second Level of Qi Refining.

While Mo Xue remained in seclusion, Luo Fanchen sat cross-legged again and examined his Meridians from within.

The Fifth Level of Qi Refining focused on cultivating the Lung Viscera. Starting at the Golden Gate Acupoint, it passed through the Yangjiao, Shoulder Well, Wind Pool, Wind Palace, and Mute Gate Acupoints before ending at the Hundred Convergences Acupoint: seven primary acupoints and three auxiliary ones in all. Each auxiliary acupoint opened granted ten percent more True Essence than others at the same level.

Once the Fifth Level was perfected, one could breathe as freely as the wind, run a thousand miles without panting, and hold one's breath for an entire day.

Thanks to the Lesser Yang Wood-Transforming Art, after the Spirit Seed formed in his Lung Viscera, Yi Wood True Essence nourished them every moment, indirectly opening his Meridians.

"All three auxiliary acupoints are open, and the Golden Gate Acupoint is more than halfway opened."

Luo Fanchen's pupils widened slightly, and even his lips trembled.

All seven primary acupoints had already passively held Yi Wood True Essence, reducing the difficulty of opening them by seventy percent. As the Spirit Seed grew stronger, it would become easier still.

"Six months? Three? I could reach the Sixth Level of Qi Refining..."

Luo Fanchen murmured, hardly able to believe it.

At this rate, he was probably no slower than Dao Sect disciples aided by precious natural treasures. It was terrifying.

"The Lesser Yang Wood-Transforming Art and the Soul Banner method should both have advanced. My fighting strength shouldn't fall short of Chang Hao, that tribulation cultivator."

Murmuring silently to himself, Luo Fanchen summoned the Eight Desolations Record of the Demoness.

[Name: Luo Fanchen]

[Lifespan: 31/70]

[Spirit Root: Five-Element Spiritual Root]

[Cultivation: Fifth Level of Qi Refining]

[Cultivation Art: Lesser Yang Wood-Transforming Art, Third Level (1/300)]

[Techniques: Fire Curse Art, Beginner; Great Sage Perfected Person Banner Method, Beginner (1/300)]

[First-Rank Low-Grade Talisman Maker (300/300); must craft a first-rank mid-grade Talisman to advance]

[Current Demonesses available for binding: 1; admiration points accumulated: 0]

Luo Fanchen focused on the Great Sage Perfected Person Banner Method. Although its proficiency still read "Beginner," the text had changed from green to blue, and the proficiency count had reset to zero. To reach mastery, he would likely have to elevate the Soul Banner to the second rank.

After the Lesser Yang Wood-Transforming Art reached its third level, he had finally touched upon the chance to comprehend a divine ability through it.

A divine ability took root in the Spirit Seed, hid within a cultivator's will, and aligned with their Dao heart. Each was different.

The divine ability he had comprehended was called Awakening of Insects. It concealed its edge within the body, gathering force before release. It embodied an unstoppable thrust born of long accumulation in the heart.

To activate it, the cultivator's heart had to be as hard as steel, possessed of the resolve to overcome all obstacles. Then Startling Thunder could be drawn into the body, joining one's strength with heaven and earth and elevating every ability. The degree of enhancement depended on one's will to fight; the slightest hint of cowardice would break the technique.

"Useless."

Luo Fanchen felt rather helpless. Never mind what could break the ability; the conditions for activating it alone made it nearly useless.

As its name suggested, the divine ability could only be used during Awakening of Insects.

"Once a year?"

Disappointment filled Luo Fanchen's heart. This year's Awakening of Insects had already passed. He might as well not have the ability at all.

He continued breathing and meditating to stabilize his cultivation. At dawn, the cold wind curled overhead like an inverted vortex. Mo Xue's lashes fluttered as a surge of spiritual radiance rose from her body. True Essence poured into her Governing Vessel, and she officially broke through to the Second Level of Qi Refining.

"Master Luo, I did it!"

Mo Xue's eyes curved with delight. She sprang up from the ground and hurried over to Luo Fanchen.

She was about to ask for praise when her nose twitched. Only then did she realize a layer of foul-smelling grime coated her skin. Her pretty face instantly flushed, and she fled to bathe, muttering as she went,

"Wait for me, Master Luo!"

"This girl really is extraordinarily gifted."

Luo Fanchen watched her with satisfaction, a little envious of her Superior-Grade Spiritual Root.

She had only begun cultivating at eighteen, yet in a mere three months had reached the Second Level of Qi Refining—and that was while practicing the Longevity Art, a poor fit for her. Even Dao Sect disciples were hardly better. At the coming Ascension Immortal Assembly, Mo Xue would surely shine.

"Fellow Daoist Ling Leng really did plant a willow without meaning to."

Luo Fanchen sighed. By rights, Mo Xue had started cultivating too late. Her Meridians and acupoints should have closed, making achievement difficult.

But the Heavenly Demon Spirit Puppet curse marks Ling Leng had carved lay precisely along her Meridians and acupoints. Their sinister True Essence kept them from closing, while her explosive Gold-Fire Spirit Root greatly reduced the difficulty of breaking through.

"Master Luo, hasn't Qiu Yun come out of seclusion yet?"

"Her cultivation has advanced significantly. She needs to devour the power of ghostly souls to stabilize it, so she'll remain in seclusion for a few more days."

A quarter of an hour later, Mo Xue changed into a clean, plain-colored strapless dress. Damp strands of hair clung to her cheeks, revealing her smooth, pale forehead and slender neck tinged faintly pink.

The faint scent of gardenias drifted from her, mingled with the moisture left by her bath.

Smiling, Luo Fanchen reached out and gently tucked her hair behind her ear, inadvertently revealing her delicate, pale earlobe.

Perhaps it was his imagination, but after reaching the Second Level of Qi Refining, she seemed even fairer and lovelier.

"When Qiu Yun comes out, I'm afraid I won't be a match for her again..."

Luo Fanchen cooked a simple pot of Spirit Porridge and gave most of it to the girl. As they ate, Mo Xue pouted, frustration showing on her pretty face.

After the Soul Banner's elevation, the amount of Soul Power Qiu Yun could contain had soared. She could command up to three ghosts with cultivation, and her overall strength was roughly equal to the Fifth Level of Qi Refining. She would be extremely difficult to deal with.

"Reaching the Second Level of Qi Refining this quickly would make even a heaven-born genius envious. You're already remarkable, Mo Xue."

"A heaven-born genius?"

Mo Xue blinked her almond eyes and quietly edged closer to Master Luo.

"If I'm a heaven-born genius, what does that make Master Luo? Your cultivation advances much faster than mine."

"That's different. My circumstances are rather unusual."

Luo Fanchen raised an eyebrow. Several factors had come together for him; their situations could not be compared so simply.

Mo Xue still absorbed spiritual energy several times faster than he did, and her comprehension of techniques was far superior.

"Three months to go from the Fourth Level of Qi Refining to the Fifth. Of course Master Luo is unusual~"

Mo Xue's eyes curved in a smile. Without him noticing, she had moved close enough to rest her little head on his shoulder.

She tilted her head up without ceremony, settled her chin on Luo Fanchen's shoulder, and puffed out her cheeks playfully.

"I knew Master Luo was an overlooked genius. It's a shame Chang Hao is only at the Fifth Level of Qi Refining. He probably wouldn't even be enough to give you practice."

"A genius... You think too highly of me, Mo Xue."

Luo Fanchen shook his head with a wry smile. His Five-Element Spirit Root had long since worn his confidence away.

"I don't think too highly of you. You're just too modest."

Mo Xue extended a finger and poked Luo Fanchen's cheek with a little huff.

She was certain Master Luo could at least crush others at his level in battle.

He was no worse at fighting than she was. Though he absorbed spiritual energy more slowly, his cultivation grew considerably faster. If he were not over the age limit, he might well be able to enter a Dao Sect through the Ascension Immortal Assembly.

After lunch, the two continued toward the Bandit Stronghold. By dusk, they finally reached the site of the village before it.

"Master Luo... did we take a wrong turn?"

Mo Xue pouted. Ravines crisscrossed before them; this was clearly a mountain gorge. Where was the village?

She unfolded the map and studied their surroundings for a long while. She was certain they had come the right way.

"No, this is the place. Is there something wrong with the Treasure Pavilion's map?"

"The map is fine. Stay behind me."

Luo Fanchen frowned. He summoned the Soul Banner, formed a hand seal for the Wu Fire Art, and cast the Illusion Array illusion technique.

A billowing, ghostly wind blew from the Soul Banner, covering the entire valley in the time it took to drink a cup of tea. Vengeful Ghosts wailed wherever the reeking wind passed. The ravines and mountains gradually warped and lost their color, and dozens of dilapidated houses appeared out of thin air.

Night had fallen, but not a single candle burned in the village. It had clearly been deserted for some time, and there was not a sound.

"An Illusion Formation, just as I thought."

Luo Fanchen formed another hand seal. As his Illusion Array technique completely covered the unknown Illusion Formation, it severed the formation's connection to its caster.

He released dozens of Wraiths to search and sense their surroundings. Before long, they detected a hundred faint presences.

Their vitality was weak. They were likely mortals, gathered beneath the village.

"It's a trick Demonic Cultivators commonly use."

Luo Fanchen murmured, his grip on the Soul Banner tightening until his hand trembled slightly. It had actually triggered a stress response in him.

Blood-red formation markings lurked faintly on all four sides of the village. They appeared to belong to some sort of sacrificial formation used to seize blood essence and absorb resentment.

The methods were sophisticated and extremely well concealed. Without the Soul Banner, he and Mo Xue probably would not have noticed anything amiss.

"Villages along the Treasure Pavilion's trade routes should have disciples from the Clear River Sect stationed in them. How could this one have become a blood-refining ground for Demonic Cultivators?"

Luo Fanchen's brows knitted tightly. He was already considering retreat.

He did not act rashly. At the same time, he formed the Hai Water hand seal and cast Baleful Spirit Command, directing dozens of Wraiths to return and stand guard outside the Illusion Formation.

Meanwhile, the Vengeful Ghost refined from the one-eyed bandit chief coalesced from the Soul Banner. With a savage grin, he ventured deep into the cellar where the mortals were gathered to investigate.

Through the Vengeful Ghost's eyes, Luo Fanchen finally glimpsed the full extent of what lay underground.

Intricate, twisted black formation markings extended toward the cellar from all eight directions. Inside were countless human bodies wrapped in blood cocoons, with bloody mist spreading as they writhed.

Luo Fanchen recognized these strange formation markings, which resembled a ghost's face. More precisely, no one in the cultivation world would fail to recognize them.

"A blood formation for refining a Heavenly Demon Spirit Puppet."

(End of chapter)