Qi Refining Third Layer

"Master, what's that?"

Xu Changshou pointed at the little cloth pouch at Zhang Zhengyuan's waist and asked curiously.

This was the second time he had seen Zhang Zhengyuan take something out of the little cloth pouch. Last time, it had been a yellow talisman; this time, it was a Jade Slip.

To Xu Changshou, producing something with a mere pat of the pouch was still a wondrous feat.

Zhang Zhengyuan gave an inscrutable smile. "This is called a Storage Bag. It may look small, but it holds a world within. The space inside mine is as large as a room."

"That's amazing!"

Xu Changshou was green with envy.

Zhang Zhengyuan said proudly, "This is nothing. The Green Immortal Sect has plenty of treasures. You'll have ample chances to broaden your horizons. Once you enter the sect, you'll have a Storage Bag of your own."

"Master, when can we enter the Green Immortal Sect?"

Xu Changshou was beside himself with joy, and his heart yearned for the Green Immortal Sect all the more.

"Enough chatter. Close your eyes and concentrate."

"Yes!"

Zhang Zhengyuan's face grew stern, and Xu Changshou hurriedly closed his eyes.

Then Zhang Zhengyuan pressed the Jade Slip in his hand against the spot between Xu Changshou's eyebrows.

A profound cultivation method slowly flowed into Xu Changshou's mind:

The essence of the supreme Dao is distant and obscure; the pinnacle of the supreme Dao is dim and silent.

See nothing, hear nothing; embrace the spirit in stillness, and the body shall right itself. Be pure, be still.

Do not toil your body, do not exhaust your essence; abandon your restless cares, and you may attain everlasting life...

Something stirred within Xu Changshou. He immediately sat cross-legged on the ground, embraced his primal essence, and held fast to unity. With his soul settled in perfect alignment, he once again sensed the golden speck of light at the origin pass point in his abdomen.

At the same time, the warmth in his body gathered at the hundred convergences point atop his head, once again condensing into a golden filament.

The golden filament then traveled through the meridians throughout his body, completing a circuit before finally stopping at the origin pass point and merging with the golden speck of light.

After they merged, the speck of light seemed to grow a little larger.

Xu Changshou felt as vigorous as a dragon and fierce as a tiger. His strength seemed to have increased again. Though the change was less obvious than last time, it had undeniably grown.

He opened his eyes and glanced at the sun. It was already high in the sky.

Good grief, had two whole hours passed?

Xu Changshou was astonished. No wonder people said that time held no meaning in immortal cultivation. He had felt as though less than fifteen minutes had passed while he cultivated with his eyes closed, yet it had actually taken a full two hours.

Fortunately, after practicing a genuine immortal cultivation method, he felt no fatigue at all. Instead, he felt exceptionally comfortable.

Meditating in cultivation also replenished his energy and vigor.

"This is a cultivation method for the qi refining realm, containing only the first three layers. Cultivate diligently and do not be lazy. You must practice for at least two hours every day."

Beside him, Zhang Zhengyuan spoke solemnly, looking every inch an immortal sage.

"Thank you, Master!"

Xu Changshou inwardly regretted that it contained only the first three layers, feeling that was far too little. Still, since his master had only given him those three layers, he did not dare ask for more.

In the days that followed.

Zhang Zhengyuan said, "Once you can draw qi into your body, you're already a cultivator at the qi refining first layer. When you can condense qi into a pearl, you'll have reached the qi refining second layer."

"I understand, Master!"

Xu Changshou cultivated even harder. Apart from eating and relieving himself, he devoted practically all his time to cultivation, even replacing sleep with meditation.

As his cultivation sessions accumulated, the speck of light in Xu Changshou's abdomen grew a little larger with every full circuit of the cultivation method.

Xu Changshou was thrilled. His strength increased every day.

Ten days later.

Boom...

When a filament entered the origin pass point, Xu Changshou's whole body shuddered violently. He felt as though his body had undergone some sort of transformation, and his strength surged.

He now possessed nearly two hundred jin of strength, almost twice that of an adult.

Xu Changshou examined himself inwardly. At the origin pass point in his lower abdomen was a golden vortex of qi the size of a thumb. Viewed from within, it resembled a golden pearl.

Just as his master had said, his qi had condensed into a pearl. He must have reached the qi refining second layer.

"The qi refining second layer. Good, good. A promising pupil indeed."

Zhang Zhengyuan nodded slightly. An ordinary person needed roughly half a month to advance from the qi refining first layer to the qi refining second layer.

Xu Changshou had taken only ten days, which was fairly fast.

However, Xu Changshou spent more than twice as much time cultivating as an ordinary person. Taking that into account, his talent was nothing special.

Time flew.

Another month passed.

"Qi refining third layer!"

Xu Changshou opened his eyes as he sat cross-legged, a golden glint flashing through them.

By now.

The vortex of qi in his dantian had grown to the size of an egg yolk.

His bodily strength had also reached more than three hundred jin.

The qi refining realm had twelve layers in total. There were two signs of reaching full mastery of the twelfth layer: qi surging through the internal organs, and possessing a thousand jin of strength.

Of course, cultivators did not compete in brute strength. They placed greater emphasis on attacks using magical power, divine abilities, magical artifacts, and the like.

Upon reaching the twelfth layer of the qi refining realm, a cultivator would possess immense strength. Strength increased quite noticeably in the early stages, but after the qi refining eighth layer, those gains became very small. Improvements were mainly in cultivation.

"Master, Master, I've reached the qi refining third layer..."

Xu Changshou sought out Zhang Zhengyuan, hoping to obtain the next part of the cultivation method.

Zhang Zhengyuan looked somewhat surprised. He said solemnly, "My injuries are almost healed. Once I've recovered, I'll take you back to the sect. Only disciples of the sect may practice cultivation methods for the qi refining fourth layer and above. You aren't a disciple of the Green Immortal Sect yet. We'll discuss it once you've joined."

"I see."

Xu Changshou nodded dejectedly.

Zhang Zhengyuan said, "You have cultivation, but no spells to protect your life. I'll teach you a palm technique so you won't be left staring helplessly when danger comes."

"What palm technique?"

"Withered Wood Palm."

Withered Wood Palm: channel spiritual qi into the palm, making it resemble withered wood and become exceptionally hard, capable of splitting mountains and shattering stone.

Withered Wood Palm was not difficult. Xu Changshou grasped its essentials after just three days of practice.

"Let's test its power!"

Xu Changshou went to the village entrance and channeled spiritual qi into his palm. His entire right hand took on the appearance of withered wood.

Xu Changshou raised his palm and slammed it down hard on the Lying Ox Stone at the village entrance.

Crack!

The Lying Ox Stone shattered into pieces.

"Good heavens!"

Wang Xu-shi happened to witness this while urinating in the fields. She was so frightened that her stream cut off, and she stared at Xu Changshou with terror in her eyes.

If that palm struck a person, wouldn't it kill them outright? Never mind a person-even an ox couldn't withstand it.

What am I going to do?

After the way I treated that boy, will he take revenge on me?

"Good, good! Ordinary wild beasts probably can't do anything to me now."

Glancing at the shattered Lying Ox Stone, Xu Changshou headed home happily.

"What? Changshou shattered the Lying Ox Stone at the village entrance with one palm strike!!!"

In the cowshed, Wang Yuanwai was both astonished and envious after hearing Wang Xu-shi's account.

Xu Changshou had become so formidable after only a few months with the immortal. That proved the immortal possessed genuine abilities.

"Oh, husband, that little bastard has become an immortal! I want to become one too. Hurry and ask the immortal for a chance at immortality."

"I... I don't dare!"

"What are you afraid of? The exalted immortal has been eating our food and living under our roof for months. What's wrong with asking him for a chance at immortality?"

"All right, let's go together!"

Wang Yuanwai gritted his teeth, took Wang Xu-shi by the hand, and headed toward the front courtyard.