At the Third Level of Qi Refining, Blood Tempering and Marrow Refining. From then on, all diseases were kept at bay, and vitality flourished.
Even going several days without food or water would have no effect, and having five horses pull at his limbs would not harm him in the slightest.
His Qi and Blood could be called fierce as dragons and tigers, his physique as sturdy as a massive cauldron.
"One step closer to the Fifth Level of Qi Refining."
Jiang Yi stood in the Large Compound, letting the windblown snowflakes settle thickly on his shoulders, utterly unaware.
"Not yet eighteen, and my cultivation has reached fruition, bringing me into the Third Level of Qi Refining. Though I can't compare with those of noble stock, I'm already several notches above the mortal laborers of the same level on Crimson Flame Peak."
He slowly calmed his surging thoughts, quietly savoring this tranquil joy that belonged to cultivators alone.
Though the Dao Path was rugged and long, every step taken upward brought tangible gains.
Without question, this gave one an immense sense of satisfaction.
If one truly could remain undisturbed by worldly affairs and unencumbered by external things, sitting quietly in the mountains reciting the Yellow Court Scripture, one would indeed be a carefree soul upon this earth!
"Unfortunately, I've thrown myself into the Demonic Dao, neither noble stock from a great sect nor a promising seedling from a local Qi Refining clan.
"For beasts of burden to turn their fortunes around is as hard as ascending to heaven, not something a single generation can accomplish."
Jiang Yi understood this clearly. The Fu Clan and Kang Clan of the Illuminating Nether Sect had exhausted three hundred years and five generations of effort before they could dominate Northern Mang Ridge.
He must never reach beyond his grasp. Broadening his horizons and looking toward greater heights was certainly not wrong.
But he also had to watch the ground beneath his feet, keep his footing solid, and advance steadily!
"Now that I've reached the third level, I should be able to practice Spell Refinement."
Jiang Yi quietly circulated and assimilated the Green Zhi Pulp, quenching the boiling Qi and Blood stirred up by the Tiger-Wolf Medicinal Paste, allowing his marrow to generate original Qi and consolidate his third-level cultivation.
He intended to devote himself to comprehending the Lesser Forging Origin Fire-Control Art, giving himself another measure of protection.
Only through Yang Xun's explanations had Jiang Yi learned that Spell Refinement differed greatly from cultivation.
The latter involved sitting in meditation and regulating the breath, guiding True Qi through its heavenly circuit to cleanse the Hundred Bones.
This was "still practice."
Its essence lay in sustained cultivation.
So long as one put in the effort and worked diligently day and night, some improvement, great or small, would follow.
The former placed greater emphasis on comprehension and practical application. One had to understand the transformations involved, master them one by one, gain skill through familiarity, and integrate them into a coherent whole.
Simply sitting motionless, taxing the mind and exhausting one's thoughts, offered no benefit and made progress even harder.
"Cultivating is 'studying the Dao,' while Spell Refinement is 'seeking techniques.'"
"Though the Great Dao may reach the heavens, techniques are still needed to protect oneself."
Jiang Yi returned to his room and sat cross-legged on the bed.
Facing the cold wind and snow pouring inside, he circulated True Qi through the Hundred Bones, honing the Lesser Forging Origin Fire-Control Art little by little.
Ever since obtaining this Ninth Grade of Qi Refining cultivation method, he had devoted himself to comprehending it every day.
"The so-called transformations of yin and yang within my body refer to spirit and Qi. Spirit is the mother of Qi; when spirit moves, Qi follows.
"Borrow the images of heaven, the forms of earth, and the burning of sun essence and Moonlight Essence to refine tangible fire.
"When fire is refined into being, its radiance nourishes the spirit, its richness moistens the vital essence..."
Every word in these lengthy passages of the cultivation method carried profound meaning.
Originally, Jiang Yi had been unable to understand them, because the Dao Academy had never taught him how to break down and put cultivation methods into practice.
Fortunately, he had the Heavenly Book's help. Once analyzed, the method came with illustrations and text, its steps laid out in detail.
This instantly made the obscure, abstruse, and difficult wording much easier to understand.
"To take spirit as the master means to concentrate the mind, control True Qi, and circulate it accordingly. Then draw the heart's fire downward and raise the kidneys' water upward. Through fire descending and water ascending, temper the Primordial Essence within the body and refine a thread of fire nature."
Jiang Yi carefully sorted through it all, gradually gaining understanding until enlightenment suddenly dawned.
A rushing sound arose within his body as his immense True Qi, surging like rivers, traveled through the Hundred Bones according to the formula.
"How is fire worked? Through acquired breathing; how is fire employed? Exhale to descend, inhale to ascend; the mystery of employing fire lies in seeming absent, seeming present..."
Consulting the Heavenly Book, Jiang Yi gradually grasped the essentials.
"What this means is that the innate is original Qi, while the acquired is the Qi of breathing, also called mother Qi and child Qi.
"When exhaling, original Qi descends; when inhaling, original Qi rises. This is 'employing fire.'"
The more he studied it, the more Jiang Yi felt that cultivation methods were vast and profound, a great field of learning.
Every step required repeated consideration. Without an insightful teacher to guide the way, it was all too easy to take a wrong turn.
"Before, I only understood the surface meaning, without being able to chew over its essence and put what I learned into practice.
"That's why my True Qi ran out of momentum halfway through circulation. I thought I hadn't accumulated enough, but now that I think about it, I actually lacked experience and hadn't mastered the timing."
This Ninth Grade of Qi Refining cultivation method was named "Primordial Tempering Fire-Wielding."
Its most crucial point lay in the "timing of the fire."
The rhythm of breathing was the mystery of employing fire; the passage of breath in and out was the method of circulating fire!
Without comprehending this key, no matter how diligently one cultivated, all that effort would in fact be wasted.
"Thirty-six breaths, gather and advance upward; twenty-four breaths, retreat and descend, refining and simmering..."
Jiang Yi could not suppress his excitement, feeling the heartfelt delight of solving a difficult problem on an exam.
But he forcibly restrained his stirring mind, smoothed away his distracting thoughts, and continued immersing himself in "Spell Refinement."
As he grew adept at employing and circulating fire, the motions becoming second nature, his immense True Qi seemed to condense. From fine threads twisted together like rope, it underwent yet another transformation.
"A fine gleam!"
Jiang Yi was startled, then overjoyed.
"I've done it!"
Fire nature had been tempered out of his True Qi, condensing into the form of a fine gleam!
This was minor mastery!
One had to understand that merely entering the Lesser Forging Origin Fire-Control Art offered nothing wondrous.
Only upon reaching "minor mastery," refining a thread of fire nature out of the vast expanse of True Qi, could one begin to display its power.
"Refining Qi into form, gathering it into a needle. This is indeed minor mastery."
Jiang Yi opened his eyes, formed hand seals with his right hand, and thrust a finger out.
With a hiss, his deep reserves of True Qi, originally vast as a river, abruptly became a straight line of fire. It pierced the sturdy door plank that had fallen to the ground, burning a charred hole through it!
"If that struck human flesh, it would instantly light the person into a torch..."
And this was with Jiang Yi holding some power back, rather than exerting himself fully.
If he held nothing back, he could pierce even three layers of iron armor.
With this art mastered, few among Crimson Flame Peak's many mortal laborers would likely be his match.
"No wonder Dao cultivators all practice Spell Refinement, all learn something like flying swords, talismans, or palm lightning, treating them as required study for the promising disciples of great faiths."
"The difference between minor mastery of Spell Refinement and merely possessing cultivation truly is like heaven and earth."
Jiang Yi reckoned that after attaining minor mastery of the Lesser Forging Origin Fire-Control Art, even if he faced four or five versions of himself at the Third Level of Qi Refining-
He could kill them all!
"I wonder when I'll be able to trade moves and compete in magical arts like the sword immortals and masters in storybooks!"
Jiang Yi tried several more times. His True Qi condensed into a faint, needle-fine gleam, carrying a trace of scorching fire nature sufficient to melt iron and stone.
If he advanced further, cultivating it to "Intermediate Mastery" or even "Great Mastery," it could undergo further transformations.
That thread of fire nature would grow strong and full, taking the shapes of snakes, pythons, great flood dragons, flying sparrows, or soaring eagles, gaining a measure of liveliness.
"What's released outward is called 'External Fire' and can subdue enemies; what's nourished within the Hundred Bones is called 'Internal Fire' and can temper True Qi, making it pure."
Jiang Yi finally realized just how enormous the gulf was between unranked cultivation methods and graded ones.
"The wonders of the ninth grade are already astonishing. I wonder how profound the first grade must be."
He could not help feeling regret. If only he had a First Grade of Qi Refining spiritual object in his possession.
Using the Heavenly Book to examine its karma, he would probably be able to glimpse a First Grade of Qi Refining cultivation method in around seventeen years.
"A breakthrough to the third level and minor mastery of Spell Refinement. This calls for a celebration!"
Jiang Yi suddenly felt an emptiness in his belly. He simply stepped over the door plank and dashed out of the Large Compound, heading straight for the Ice and Fire Cave.
There was nothing valuable in his shack anyway, so he was not worried about thieves setting their sights on it.
A few bowls of spirit rice and several plates of good food left his belly round and full.
By the time Jiang Yi returned to the Large Compound, it was already time to finish work.
"You're back, Yi..."
Widow Qin greeted him, though her expression was somewhat strange, as if she wanted to speak but hesitated.
Jiang Yi frowned slightly and was about to ask when Old Li beside her deliberately changed the subject:
"Tomorrow's payday. We've made it through another month, one step closer to finishing our term and going down the mountain."
Old Li's wife chimed in beside him:
"Yes, yes. I wonder whether Erlengzi's grown taller or stronger. Last time I saw him, he was so dark and thin, it hurt to look at him!"
With the couple taking the lead, Widow Qin continued along the same topic, livening up the Large Compound.
Jiang Yi knew something was wrong, but did not dig into it in front of everyone. Without showing anything, he glanced around.
Discovering that He Laohun, usually the loudest of them all, was absent, he immediately had a guess.
"Where's Brother He?"
Jiang Yi asked.
"Him? He said work wore him out, so he's holed up in his room, fast asleep!"
Widow Qin forced a smile.
"The Quenching Room is hard work."
Jiang Yi replied casually, then turned the conversation to something else:
"My door plank wasn't sturdy. It came loose and fell down earlier..."
"Yi, carpentry's what I do best! I'll fit you a door later!"
Everyone gathered together, talking and laughing as ink-black night blanketed the land.
Jiang Yi had not gone to sleep. Hearing movement outside, he thought someone must be sneaking out.
Lightly, as if his feet never touched the ground, he came to the kitchen and addressed the furtive figure:
"Brother He, had enough sleep?"
The sudden voice startled He Laohun into shaking his hand, nearly dropping the coarse steamed bun Widow Qin had specially saved for him.
Jiang Yi narrowed his eyes. Bright moonlight shone on the icicles beneath the eaves and the snow before the door, also illuminating his young face.
Though a trace of immaturity remained in his features, a stern chill had emerged.
It intimidated the much older He Laohun into feeling uneasy, as though he had suddenly become a head shorter.
His lips worked for a long while before he asked stiffly:
"Yi, why aren't you asleep yet?"
Jiang Yi watched He Laohun, who stood sideways as if concealing something, and entered the kitchen without a word.
As soon as he approached, He Laohun tried to shrink back.
"Brother He."
Jiang Yi stopped him, raising a hand to press his right shoulder and turn him squarely around.
As expected, he saw that the right side of He Laohun's face was badly swollen, bearing a glaring red palm print.
A slender yet scorching gleam of fire rose in Jiang Yi's eyes.
"Who hit you?"
Before you continue