Conflict had raged without cease these past few years, and four years passed as if in a dream.
Liu Xiaowen was now eighteen. His cultivation had reached the perfected late stage of Fetal Breath, and he was in seclusion, attempting to break through to Qi Refining.
Under pressure from their neighbors, everyone in the sect had devoted themselves to rigorous cultivation over the years, and all had made steady progress.
Xu Xuan had broken through to the seventh level of Qi Refining, Wen Si'an had entered the fifth, and Wang Qiyun had reached the second. Even Zhang Gaoxia, busy as she was with the spirit fields, had reached late-stage Fetal Breath and was not far from Qi Refining.
The number of outer disciples had grown again, gradually returning to its former scale.
Under Jiang Chiyu's supervision, the mines at White Stone had been dug ever deeper, revealing another vein of [warmheart jade]. It was a fairly good jade for Qi Refining cultivators, comparable in value to [bloodfire essence iron], giving the sect another source of income.
Liu Xiaowen was currently secluded in a cave abode on Azure Sky Peak. A jade slip lay before him, containing the sect's fourth-grade cultivation method, the Heavenly Fire Eternal Radiance Scripture.
The portions of this method beyond Qi Refining were incomplete, and only someone endowed with a special fate and fortune could cultivate it. In the previous generation, only Wen Fufeng had succeeded; now, Liu Xiaowen was the only one in the sect capable of practicing it.
Breaking through to Qi Refining with this method required [celestial fire qi]. Sunlight had to be concentrated and fire drawn with a bronze mirror on the Bingwu Day of the fifth month each year. Six years of this would yield a single wisp of heavenly fire qi.
Naturally, the sect had prepared this qi for him well in advance. Now he needed only to use it to make his breakthrough.
The Heavenly Fire Eternal Radiance Scripture belonged to the path of bing fire. The sect's third-grade Fire-Crossing Unhindered Art had been passed down as a simplified version of it. Whether in its secret arts or the marvels of its immortal foundation, it fell far short of the Heavenly Fire Eternal Radiance Scripture.
He refined the strand of [celestial fire qi] and silently circulated it along the pathways prescribed by the method. His Qi Sea gradually opened, his Spirit Platform became clear and lucid, and his Consciousness Sea formed. Everything proceeded smoothly.
Liu Xiaowen felt the nature of his magical power change. His awareness rose, and he dimly sensed something supremely vast and bright. A golden flame descended from above and settled upon him, and his breakthrough was complete.
Xu Xuan was waiting on the peak for Liu Xiaowen to emerge from seclusion. Within his Qi Sea, the ancient seal script for [Sun-Flint Descent of Fire] on the White Jade Ancient Stele trembled incessantly.
The sky was clear, the sun blazing brilliantly as ten thousand shafts of golden light streamed down.
Liu Xiaowen had officially broken through to Qi Refining. The sect now had five Qi Refining cultivators. Once Xu Xuan reached Foundation Establishment, it would be able to recover the flourishing prosperity of its former days.
A red cloud descended before the True Abode Hall. Liu Xiaowen had emerged from seclusion, clad in black Daoist robes, his figure vigorous and his brows bright with joy.
"Master, I've broken through to Qi Refining, and I've begun cultivating the Heavenly Fire Eternal Radiance Scripture."
Liu Xiaowen stepped forward and bowed. Over the years, he had grown as tall as Xu Xuan, and he handled many of the sect's affairs on his master's behalf. These days, most of the monsters that came from Eastern Secret were slain by Liu Xiaowen.
"Your breakthrough to Qi Refining is a joyous occasion for the sect. Come with me to the Founders' Hall to offer incense. There are a few things I need to tell you."
He intended to bestow the seal script for [Sun-Flint Descent of Fire] upon Liu Xiaowen, but he needed to disguise the process somewhat.
The two made their way to the Founders' Hall. Xu Xuan merely told Liu Xiaowen that something unusual might happen shortly and instructed him not to make a fuss.
Once inside, Liu Xiaowen stepped forward to burn incense and bow. Meanwhile, Xu Xuan activated the seal script and guided it into Liu Xiaowen.
There was nothing outwardly wondrous about the process. The ancient seal script for [Sun-Flint Descent of Fire] merely vanished from Xu Xuan, carrying a mass of clear qi with it. The next instant, it appeared within Liu Xiaowen's Consciousness Sea.
Xu Xuan felt some sort of connection form between himself and Liu Xiaowen. He seemed able to glimpse the changes within Liu Xiaowen's Consciousness Sea.
The ancient seal script first became a torrent of golden fire, then transformed into a concave bronze mirror engraved with a golden sun. It drew down heavenly light, gradually producing a brilliant golden flame.
"[Sun-Flint Descent of Fire]: affinity with all flames, gathering light and concentrating fire. Cultivation through bathing in sunlight. Accompanied by [great sun radiant flame], which burns wickedness and refines evil, advancing with cultivation."
Understanding arose within both Xu Xuan and Liu Xiaowen. They naturally comprehended the seal script's functions: it granted affinity with all kinds of flames, allowing fire to be gathered and controlled at will. Bathing in sunlight would accelerate cultivation.
The ancient seal script had given rise to a strand of great sun radiant flame, much like an intrinsic treasure bound to Liu Xiaowen's life. It was still only at the Qi Refining level, but its wondrous properties already far surpassed those of earth baleful fire.
Spirit waters and spirit flames that combined combat and cultivation were exceedingly precious in this world, let alone a spirit flame that could grow alongside its wielder's cultivation.
If Liu Xiaowen broke through to Foundation Establishment, the power of this spirit flame would rival the finest magic artifacts of that realm, while possessing even more wondrous properties.
At that moment, the seal script within Xu Xuan's Consciousness Sea also brightened. More precisely, the four ancient characters of [Dark Flood Dragon Commands Thunder] lit up. Once somewhat indistinct, they now manifested fully, and Xu Xuan understood their functions as well.
The seal script for [Sword Rises from the Deep Abyss], however, remained indistinct. Clearly, its functions had yet to manifest in full.
"[Dark Flood Dragon Commands Thunder]: driving thunder and wielding lightning, affinity with thunderlight, blood and qi abundant as a flood dragon's. Forming an [upper firmament thundercloud], awakening spiritual essences, guiding kindred beings, emulating the Thunder Ministry."
Only now did this seal script fully display its functions. Previously, it had merely granted Xu Xuan some affinity with thunder; now, its full nature was revealed.
First, it increased Xu Xuan's ability to summon and control thunder. It also tempered every bone and sinew in his body, making his physique sturdy and his blood and qi abundant, like a flood dragon's. He was already the equal of certain lineages devoted specifically to body cultivation.
As for the upper firmament thundercloud, it differed from spirit flames. It could draw in any thunder-aligned spiritual essence, spirit creature, or monster, forming a Thunder Ministry from them and manifesting various mystical powers.
The first to enter this thundercloud was, surprisingly, [Cinnabar Thunder]. The Dharma Sword had received a breath of immortal qi from the True Person of Peak-Lifting Mountain and now possessed spirituality. It transformed into a thunder sparrow and vanished into the upper firmament thundercloud.
As [Cinnabar Thunder] was drawn in, Xu Xuan felt the strand of purple thunder within his Qi Sea merge with his Sword Qi. The realm his master had called "Sword Qi entering one's life" was attained just like that. Now he could unleash Sword Qi through thunder at will, the two united as one.
Next came the thunder-sleeping insects. They entered the thundercloud and drew forth thunderlight, linking with Xu Xuan's thoughts as though he had gained many extra hands with which to command thunder. These gu insects had regained the wondrous capabilities recorded in the Witchcraft Treatise on Gu, and had even advanced a step further.
It seems I underestimated this ancient stele.
The seal script's wonders far exceeded Xu Xuan's expectations. Even a Purple Mansion spirit artifact would likely struggle to compare. He was now confident that, if he continued cultivating, once he reached Foundation Establishment he could contend even with the direct heirs of Purple Mansion lineages by relying on the upper firmament thundercloud.
"What is this, Master?"
Feeling the strange changes within him, Liu Xiaowen looked toward Xu Xuan in some alarm. Xu Xuan said softly:
"A secret treasure passed down in the sect. You must never reveal it, or you could bring death upon yourself."
Xu Xuan now felt that the ancient stele was bound to Liu Xiaowen's life. Through it, he could conceal unusual manifestations. Even if someone searched Liu Xiaowen's soul and seized his spirit, he would be unable to speak or even think of it, so there was little fear of others prying into the secret.
Liu Xiaowen asked no further questions. His expression solemn, he agreed. He had come to the mountain to cultivate as a child and placed complete trust in Xu Xuan's words. This matter would stay buried in his belly until it rotted.
"Now that you've reached Qi Refining, have you decided which peak you wish to go to?"
After giving a few more instructions, Xu Xuan asked which peak Liu Xiaowen intended to take charge of.
As a True Disciple, once he reached Qi Refining, he could choose a peak in Green Luo on which to cultivate. Wang Qiyun had taken charge of Rosy Dawn Peak on Wang Xiwei's behalf. Several peaks in Green Luo remained vacant, and Liu Xiaowen should be entrusted with one of them.
"I decided long ago. I intend to go to Frostreturn Peak."
Frostreturn Peak had been the residence of Wen Fuyi, the former disciplinary elder. These days, Xu Xuan personally oversaw the sect's rules.
"A fine choice. Consolidate your cultivation first, and take a red fruit to consume. In the future, you may well be asked to inherit the position of disciplinary elder."
Having said this, Xu Xuan told Liu Xiaowen to first visit his elders and see his senior brother.
"Speaking of Qiyun, isn't Shen Shu about to give birth? If it happens in the next few days, we'll have two joys arriving at our door."
Liu Xiaowen departed on a cloud, while Xu Xuan returned to the hall to continue studying the wonders of the thundercloud.
Only after his delight subsided and he looked inward once more did Xu Xuan discover that a strand of clear qi had settled upon the uncanny blood flower at some unknown point.
Black specks appeared again, gradually spreading throughout his Qi Sea.
(End of chapter)
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