At the third level of Qi Refining, one changed the blood and tempered the marrow. From then on, no illness could invade, and one’s vitality flourished greatly.
Even going several days without food or water would have no effect; even if one’s limbs were dragged by five horses, they would not be harmed in the slightest.
One’s qi and blood could be called fierce as dragons and tigers, one’s physique as solid as a giant cauldron.
“One step closer to the fifth level of Qi Refining.”
Jiang Yi stood in the large communal courtyard, letting the wind blow and snowflakes drift until they covered his shoulders, yet he seemed utterly unaware.
“Not yet eighteen, and my cultivation has reached perfection, allowing me to step into the third level of Qi Refining. Though I can’t compare with noble seeds, among the menial servants of the same level on Chiyan Peak, I’m already several steps ahead.”
He slowly calmed his surging emotions, silently 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, that gave one tremendous satisfaction.
If one could truly remain undisturbed by worldly affairs and unshackled by external things, sitting quietly in the mountains reciting the Huangting, then one would indeed be a carefree wanderer in the mortal realm!
“What a pity that I’ve thrown myself into the demonic path. I’m neither a noble seed from some great sect, nor a promising sprout from a Qi Refining clan.
“For beasts of burden to turn their lives around and change their fate is as hard as ascending the heavens. It is not something one generation alone can accomplish.”
Jiang Yi understood things clearly. Take the Fu clan and Kang clan of the Zhaoyou Sect—only after exhausting the efforts of three hundred years and five generations had they managed to dominate Beimang Ridge.
He absolutely could not aim too high. There was nothing wrong with broadening his horizons and looking upward.
But he also had to watch the ground beneath his feet, stay practical, and move steadily forward!
“Now that I’ve reached the third level, I should be able to refine arts.”
Jiang Yi silently circulated and transformed the green reishi pulp, extinguishing the boiling qi and blood ignited by the tiger-wolf medicinal paste, allowing his bone marrow to generate vital qi and consolidate his third-level realm.
He intended to devote himself to comprehending that “Lesser Origin-Tempering Fire-Commanding Art,” so as to add another safeguard for himself.
Through Yang Xun’s explanation, Jiang Yi had come to understand that refining arts and practicing cultivation were very different.
The latter involved meditating and breathing, guiding true qi, circulating it through the heavenly circuit, and cleansing the hundred bones.
This was “still cultivation.”
Its key lay in the two words: “cultivation and maintenance.”
So long as one was willing to put in effort and toil diligently day and night, one would more or less see improvement.
The former placed more emphasis on comprehension and practical application. One had to thoroughly understand the transformations within, master them one by one, grow skilled through practice, and finally integrate them all.
Simply sitting in dry meditation, exhausting one’s mind and depleting one’s thoughts, brought no benefit and made progress even harder.
“Practicing cultivation is ‘learning the Dao’; refining arts is ‘seeking techniques.’
“Though the Great Dao may lead to the heavens, one still needs techniques to protect oneself.”
Jiang Yi returned to his room and sat cross-legged on the bed.
Facing the cold wind and snow that poured in through the broken opening, he circulated his true qi through his hundred bones and polished the “Lesser Origin-Tempering Fire-Commanding Art” bit by bit.
Ever since obtaining this ninth-grade Qi Refining cultivation method, he had devoted himself to comprehending it every day.
“The so-called yin-yang creation of my body refers to spirit and qi. Spirit is the mother of qi; when spirit moves, qi follows.
“Borrowing the image of heaven, the form of earth, and the nature of sun essence and moonlight, one refines tangible fire.
“When the fire is refined and formed, radiance gives birth to spirit, nourishing essence and brilliance...”
These long passages of the cultivation method were filled with profound meaning in every single character.
Originally, Jiang Yi could not understand them, because Dao studies had never taught him how to dissect, circulate, and transform a cultivation art.
Fortunately, with the Heavenly Book’s assistance, after its analysis, there were illustrations and explanations, with every step detailed.
The complex lines that had been obscure, difficult, mysterious, and profound instantly became much more comprehensible.
“To take spirit as the master means to concentrate the mind, control true qi, and let it circulate accordingly. After that, draw the heart fire downward and raise the kidney water upward. Through fire descending and water ascending, temper the original qi within the body and refine a trace of fire nature.”
Jiang Yi carefully sorted through it. Gradually, understanding dawned on him, and he suddenly became enlightened.
Within his body, a rushing sound rang out as his vast true qi, like surging rivers, moved through his hundred bones according to the art’s essential method.
“How is fire spoken of? It is acquired breathing. How is fire used? Exhale to descend, inhale to ascend. The mystery of using fire is like something absent yet present...”
Comparing it against 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 ascends. This is ‘using fire.’”
The more he comprehended, the more Jiang Yi felt that cultivation methods were vast and profound, a great field of learning.
Every step required repeated deliberation. Without a wise teacher to point the way, it was very easy to take a wrong path.
“Before, I only understood the surface meaning, but couldn’t chew through the true essence and apply what I learned.
“That was why my true qi lost momentum halfway through circulation. I thought my accumulation was insufficient, but thinking about it now, it was actually because I lacked experience and had not grasped the proper timing.”
This ninth-grade Qi Refining art was called “Origin-Tempering Fire-Commanding.”
Its most crucial point lay precisely in “timing.”
The rhythm of breathing was the mystery of using fire; the entering and exiting of breath was the method of moving fire!
If one could not comprehend this layer of technique, then no matter how diligently one bitterly cultivated, in truth, it would all be useless effort.
“Thirty-six breaths, gathering and advancing upward; twenty-four breaths, retreating and descending to refine and cook...”
Jiang Yi could hardly restrain his excitement, as though he were solving a difficult question on an exam, feeling joy from the bottom of his heart.
But he forcefully suppressed the agitation of his mind, smoothed away all stray thoughts, and continued immersing himself in “refining the art.”
As his use and movement of fire grew increasingly practiced and natural, his vast true qi seemed to be condensed. From its state of countless fine threads twisted together like rope, another transformation unexpectedly emerged.
“A hair-light!”
Jiang Yi was startled inwardly, then immediately overjoyed.
“I’ve refined it!”
His true qi had been tempered into fire nature and condensed into the form of a hair-like light!
This was minor accomplishment!
One had to know that when first entering the doorway of the “Lesser Origin-Tempering Fire-Commanding Art,” there was nothing mysterious to speak of.
Only after reaching “minor accomplishment,” refining a trace of fire nature from the boundless true qi, could its power first be displayed.
“Refining qi into form, gathering and condensing it like a needle—this is indeed the level of minor accomplishment.”
Jiang Yi opened his eyes, formed a hand seal with his right hand, and pointed sharply.
With a hiss, his deep true qi, which had originally been vast like a great river, suddenly transformed into a straight line of fire. It pierced through the sturdy door plank that had fallen to the ground, burning a charred black hole into it!
“If it landed on human flesh and blood, it would immediately turn someone into a torch...”
And this was under the circumstance that Jiang Yi had still held back and not used his full power.
If he held nothing back, even three layers of iron armor could be pierced open.
Now that this art was complete, among the many menial servants of Chiyan Peak, there were probably few who could be his match.
“No wonder all Dao cultivators must refine arts, and all of them learn some flying sword, talisman, palm thunder, or the like, regarding it as required coursework for true disciples of great teachings.
“The gap between minor accomplishment in an art and merely possessing cultivation is truly as vast as heaven and earth.”
Jiang Yi considered it inwardly. After cultivating the “Lesser Origin-Tempering Fire-Commanding Art” to minor accomplishment, even if he faced four or five versions of himself at the third level of Qi Refining,
he could still kill them!
“I wonder when I’ll be able to be like those sword immortal experts in storybooks, exchanging moves and competing in spell techniques!”
Jiang Yi tried several more times. His true qi condensed into a hair-thin glimmer, faintly carrying searing fire nature, enough to burn and melt iron and stone.
If he went a step further and refined it to “middle accomplishment” or even “great accomplishment,” it could undergo further changes.
That trace of fire nature would grow sturdy and full, taking the forms of serpents, pythons, great flood dragons, flying sparrows, and heavenly eagles, adding a sense of agility and spirituality.
“What is released is called ‘outer fire,’ and can subdue enemies. What is nurtured within the hundred bones is called ‘inner fire,’ and can temper true qi, making it purer.”
Jiang Yi finally realized just how enormous the difference was between ungraded cultivation methods and graded cultivation methods.
“The marvels of the ninth grade are already astonishing. I wonder how profound the first grade must be.”
He could not help feeling regretful. If he had a first-grade Qi Refining spiritual object in his hands,
then relying on the Heavenly Book to inspect cause and effect, he would probably only need to spend around seventeen years to comprehend a first-grade Qi Refining cultivation method.
“Breaking through to the third level, refining an art to minor accomplishment—this deserves celebration!”
Jiang Yi suddenly felt empty in his stomach. He simply stepped over the door plank, rushed out of the large communal courtyard, and headed straight for the Ice-Fire Cave.
In any case, there was nothing valuable in his shack, so he was not worried about thieves coveting it.
A few bowls of spiritual rice and several plates of good dishes later, he ate until his belly was round.
By the time Jiang Yi returned to the large communal courtyard, it was already the hour when work ended.
“Brother Yi is back...”
Widow Qin called out in greeting, but her expression was somewhat strange, as though she wanted to say something but stopped herself.
Jiang Yi frowned slightly and was just about to ask when Old Li beside her deliberately changed the subject.
“Tomorrow’s payday. We’ve survived another month. That means we’re one step closer to finishing our term and going down the mountain.”
Old Li’s wife chimed in from the side.
“That’s right, that’s right. I wonder if Erlengzi has grown taller or stronger. Last time I saw him, he was dark and skinny. It hurt my heart to look at him!”
With the old couple starting the conversation, Widow Qin followed along, making the atmosphere in the large communal courtyard lively.
Jiang Yi knew something was off, but he did not press them face to face. Without batting an eye, he swept his gaze around.
When he discovered that He Laohun, who usually loved shouting the most, had not appeared, he immediately had a guess.
“Why don’t I see Brother He?”
Jiang Yi asked.
“Him? He said work wore him out, so he’s curled up in his room sleeping!”
Widow Qin forced a smile.
“The quenching room is hard work.”
Jiang Yi casually answered, then shifted the topic to something else.
“My door plank isn’t sturdy. It shook loose just now...”
“Brother Yi, carpentry’s what I’m best at! I’ll install a new one for you later!”
Everyone gathered together, chatting and laughing, while ink-dark night covered the wilderness.
Jiang Yi did not go to sleep. Hearing movement outside the room, he figured someone must have quietly slipped out.
His feet seemed not to touch the ground as he drifted lightly to the kitchen and spoke toward the sneaking figure.
“Brother He, slept enough?”
The sudden voice frightened He Laohun so badly that his hand trembled, and he nearly failed to hold on to the cornbread Widow Qin had specially left for him.
Jiang Yi narrowed his eyes. The bright moonlight shone upon the icicles under the eaves and the snow before the door, also illuminating his young face.
Though his brows still carried a hint of immaturity, an austere coldness had arisen across them.
It intimidated He Laohun, who was many years his senior, making him feel inexplicably guilty, as if he had suddenly become a head shorter.
His lips twitched for a long while before he asked dryly,
“Brother Yi, why aren’t you asleep yet?”
Jiang Yi stared at He Laohun, who had turned his body sideways as if trying to conceal something. Without a word, he stepped into the kitchen.
The moment he drew close, He Laohun tried to shrink backward.
“Brother He.”
Jiang Yi called him to a stop, raised his hand, and pressed it on his right shoulder, making him turn his body straight.
As expected, he saw that the right side of He Laohun’s face was swollen high, clearly bearing a crimson palm print.
A slender yet scorching thread of fire-natured hair-light rose from the depths of Jiang Yi’s eyes.
“Who hit you?”