Second floor of Heshui Cave.
The group returned to that premium room, though this time Jiang Yi was among them.
Wang Heng voluntarily yielded the seat of honor, seating himself and Lu Yun on either side as companions.
Li Ruohan seemed somewhat absent-minded, as if she had suffered some kind of blow, her whole person appearing dazed.
"Junior Brother Jiang possesses truly outstanding talent. Reaching the Qi Refining Fourth Layer isn't something just anyone can achieve. Back then, the organ tempering and viscera refinement, harmonizing the internal body—this hurdle nearly killed me!"
Wang Heng was worldly and smooth. His previous contempt and coldness toward Jiang Yi seemed as if they had never happened:
"Come next spring, when the Inner Peak supplements its roster, a disciple's seat will surely have yours among them!"
Lu Yun chimed in:
"Absolutely, absolutely. Once past the Fourth Layer, one is no longer 'expendable.' Even if one offends an Inner Peak senior brother, the other party would have to weigh their own financial resources.
From then on, life in the Outer Sect becomes secure, no need to live in constant fear! This is truly worthy of celebration, Junior Brother Jiang!"
Such is the rise and fall of life, the warmth and coldness of human relations.
Indeed, how quickly things change!
Jiang Yi secretly mused that being invited back to this premium room, his circumstances were already vastly different.
No one mentioned his rural clan background anymore. Everyone was warm and cordial, as if they were close friends who had known each other for years.
"The two senior brothers overpraise me. The path to the Blue Clouds of the Inner Peak is not easy to walk; it's not something one can be certain of just by reaching the Qi Refining Fourth Layer."
Jiang Yi smiled:
"This smooth breakthrough, reaching the Fourth Layer by luck, was fortune. Thinking back on it now, I still feel it was perilous, with lingering fear."
Well, after all, it was only ninety-nine percent perfection.
Hardly absolutely secure!
Jiang Yi thought thus.
"He's Inner Peak material!"
Wang Heng and Lu Yun exchanged glances, their internal appraisal of Jiang Yi rising by several degrees.
Just this unarrogant, unimpetuous disposition was already rare.
Unlike the direct descendants of rural clans, especially the young ones, who grew up in luxury without having suffered hardship. Upon entering a mystic sect, they tended to be somewhat flighty and arrogant.
To be fair, the Qi Refining Fourth Layer wasn't enough on its own to make them treat him this way, fawning and boosting him up here.
But this Junior Brother Jiang's progress was rapid—a potential seed worth betting on!
Moreover, Senior Brother Xiao Tongquan most admired those with outstanding natural talent.
Recruiting such a person would bring nothing but benefits!
"Junior Brother Jiang is too modest."
Wang Heng was the most perceptive. Seeing that Jiang Yi was not the frivolous sort who enjoyed boasting, he said:
"Senior Brother Lu, let's first have Junior Brother Jiang drink molten copper and consume iron pellets to properly refine his viscera and strengthen his fundamental origin."
"Thanks to Junior Brother's reminder, I nearly delayed Junior Brother Jiang's cultivation. Once the molten copper cools, it becomes difficult to drink. Junior Brother Jiang, please go ahead."
Lu Yun nodded, indicating that Jiang Yi should help himself and need not mind them.
When a cultivator steps into the Qi Refining Fourth Layer, their internal organs become stable and whole as one. They can then swallow gold and consume jade, chew iron and drink copper.
Through circulating their cultivation to refine these materials, they decompose and absorb the coalesced "vital essence" to consolidate their fundamental origin and increase their cultivation.
"Haha, thank you for your understanding, Senior Brothers and Senior Sister. I am indeed eager to fill my five viscera temple."
Jiang Yi cupped his hands, then picked up the scalding round bowl. Below it was beast charcoal, keeping the molten copper from solidifying into chunks.
Gulp, gulp!
He tilted his head back and drank freely. The boiling molten copper turned into a scarlet red flow, sliding down his throat into his hundred bones.
Had this been a mortal fleshly body, it would inevitably have been scorched black, burning holes through flesh.
But Jiang Yi had completed organ tempering and viscera refinement. His fundamental origin was robust and pure. Furthermore, he had transformed his sinews, bones, blood, and marrow. His physical vitality was inconceivably powerful.
Thus, he drained the molten copper without changing expression, completely unharmed, as if he had swallowed a piece of scalding tofu—merely finding it a bit hot on the tongue.
Immediately, he began circulating his cultivation to refine it.
The Minor Origin-Refining Fire Control Art activated his true qi, moving like a coiling dragon or snake, wrapping around the molten copper.
One could faintly hear a sizzling, smoking sound as the scarlet red flow was evaporated into smoke, transforming into warm "vital essence."
This process lasted a full two incense sticks' worth of time. The entire bowlful of molten copper was completely dissolved, causing the fundamental origin surging in his viscera to grow.
Jiang Yi felt as if he had consumed a great tonic. His youthful face gained a ruddy complexion, brimming with vibrant vitality ready to burst forth.
He opened another bowl, grabbed a handful of rounded iron pellets the size of peanuts, and popped them into his mouth.
Crunch, crunch!
His full set of white teeth easily crushed the iron pellets, chewing them like snacks, and swallowed them all down.
This scene made Li Ruohan watch with envy. This was the wonder of the Qi Refining Fourth Layer's organ tempering and viscera refinement.
It was equivalent to the mortal body undergoing transformation from inside out. The organs were no longer fragile and easily damaged; instead, they sprouted fundamental essence, merging with true qi, like a great furnace in a quenching chamber capable of smelting iron, stone, gold, and jade.
Such cultivation efficiency far exceeded that of sitting in meditation and breathing exercises.
Take Jiang Yi drinking molten copper and chewing iron pellets, for example.
The vital essence he obtained was something Li Ruohan couldn't match even after sitting in meditation for several hours daily and bitterly cultivating for over a month.
"No wonder the elders in my clan say, in the Twelve Layers of Qi Refining, if one step is fast, then every step is fast."
Li Ruohan's bright eyes gleamed with unusual light, thinking:
"Junior Brother Jiang is younger than me, yet has steadily entered the Qi Refining Fourth Layer. Presumably his talent is quite extraordinary. I must consult him more later and ask for some guidance."
Not to mention the Outer Sect, even for Inner Peak disciples, unless they had a definite master-disciple relationship, it was difficult to receive answers and guidance on cultivation matters.
Most had to explore on their own, repeatedly mulling over and comprehending summaries.
As for the Transmission Elders' side, asking questions was allowed, but to obtain detailed answers required giving "gifts."
"Another improvement."
An hour passed in a flash. Jiang Yi reined in his true qi, restraining his fundamental origin. His eyes shone brightly, full of spirit.
His Minor Origin-Refining Fire Control Art at minor accomplishment was perfectly suited to smelting and refining copper, iron, gold, and stone, making the refining process doubly effective with half the effort.
"I've kept the senior brothers and senior sister waiting."
Jiang Yi smiled.
"Junior Brother's skill is so profound! Ordinary cultivators newly entering the Fourth Layer must drink molten copper and consume iron pellets cautiously, lest they damage their viscera and scorch their hundred bones."
Wang Heng laughed and praised:
"But you, Junior Brother, are at ease and leisurely, completely unperturbed! I have only seen such composure among Inner Peak senior brothers."
Lu Yun was half praising, half envious:
"Junior Brother Jiang is accomplished in youth, with unlimited prospects! Since fate has brought us together today, why not let us host a feast to celebrate Junior Brother!"
Li Ruohan, who had been silent for a long time, also composed herself and said gently:
"Senior Brother Lu's proposal is excellent! Senior Brother, please don't decline. This little sister also wishes to consult you on the principles of how to coordinate and harmonize the viscera!"
So she was already calling him senior brother?
Wang Heng smiled at the corner of his mouth. Junior Sister Li truly lived up to being a daughter of the Li Clan of Bojun, Zhaoguo—her skill at being socially adept was no less than his own.
"The word 'consult' is something I absolutely don't deserve."
Jiang Yi suppressed the fluttering pride in his heart and said solemnly:
"Taking advantage of this place at Heshui Cave, let us sit and discuss the Dao, advancing together, sharing our insights."
After Jiang Yi finished speaking, he couldn't help but feel somewhat ashamed.
Being fawned over and flattered by these direct descendants of rural clans who had previously been far beyond his reach, he had nearly lost himself.
But he couldn't be blamed for this. For a country bumpkin like him from Guniu Town, if he had encountered people like Wang Heng and Lu Yun outside the mountain gate, he would probably have had to kneel and fawn upon them.
As for a noble lady like Li Ruohan, whose ancestors had been ennobled, she was like the bright moon in the heavens—being able to observe her up close was already a wild dream. Yet now they were calling him "senior brother" one after another, their words full of praise. It truly made one feel as if drinking fine wine, body and mind completely at ease.
"My disposition still needs more tempering."
Jiang Yi thought to himself. No matter how steady he was at his core, he still had to personally roll through the temptations of wine, women, wealth, and fame, to truly know their taste and grow his own resolve.
Just as the old leaders often said, those who claim to be unwavering and unchanged in their original heart without having experienced temptation are speaking empty nonsense.
"Senior Brother Lu, quickly have Heshui Cave send over some good stuff! Spirit rice from the Purple Mud Fields, aged herbs of good quality—bring them all out!"
Wang Heng was a master at enlivening the atmosphere. After giving his orders, before long, bowls and dishes of spirit meals and precious medicines filled the table.
Everyone ate and chatted, the atmosphere warm and enthusiastic.
Just as host and guests were enjoying themselves, Li Ruohan suddenly said:
"Senior Brother Jiang, permit this little sister to be presumptuous—do you have any means of earning money?"
Jiang Yi shook his head. Unlike those seated here, he had no clan to support him.
As for Steward Yang's "assistance," that old man had nearly spent his "coffin money" to construct the water pond and fire marsh, establishing the ritual setup.
How could he be greedy and ask for more?
"Senior Brother Jiang, have you heard this saying: 'Without wealth, one cannot become accomplished!' This is a true principle applicable to both the Immortal Dao and the Demon Dao."
Li Ruohan raised her cup and said:
"This little sister still has some family assets. If Senior Brother Jiang is willing to spare some time to explain to me the secrets of coordinating viscera and harmonizing the hundred bones, this little sister can appoint you as an 'instructor,' providing ample monthly 'tuition.'"
Jiang Yi was somewhat moved upon hearing this, but didn't immediately agree:
"My shallow comprehension is hardly worth Junior Sister Li's expense. Since we are acquainted and discuss the Dao together, talking about money would seem too distant. If there is free time in the future, we can simply exchange pointers and verify our understanding."
He neither refused nor promised.
The reason was quite simple.
First, no matter how much tuition Li Ruohan paid, it would be a drop in the bucket for the expenses required for Qi Refining Fourth Layer cultivation.
Take molten copper, iron pellets, and ground jade powder, for example—none of them cost less than several thousand to ten thousand talisman coins.
Second, social associations were ultimately formed by interests, brought together by benefits.
Having people like Wang Heng, Lu Yun, and Li Ruohan owe him a favor was actually more cost-effective than talisman coins.
"Senior Brother's magnanimity is admirable; it is this little sister who has been vulgar. I punish myself with a cup!"
Li Ruohan's cheeks were slightly flushed. Whether from the wine rising or some other reason, her already beautiful appearance gained a few more degrees of charm.
Until the sun sank in the west, the group dispersed after enjoying themselves to the fullest.
Jiang Yi slowly arrived at the bluestone plaza, not hurrying to summon a flying crane.
He stopped and gazed into the distance. Though heavy snow covered the mountains in silver wrapping, the daylight was not gloomy today. The afterglow shone upon the peak of Guanlan, dyeing the cliff faces with a fire-like orange-red.
"So viewing the sunset from the Inner Peak gives a completely different state of mind than from the Outer Sect."
Jiang Yi laughed freely, then summoned a flying crane and rode it back.
...
...
"Sister Luo? Why are you here?"
When Li Ruohan returned to her standalone courtyard at the peak of Seamstress Peak, it was already deep into the night, the wind and snow heavy.
Yet there stood a figure outside the courtyard gate—it was actually Luo Qian'er from the laundry room. From the looks of it, she had been waiting for quite some time.
"Has Junior Sister Li forgotten? The other day I asked you to bring my younger brother into the Inner Peak to broaden his horizons. You said you would give me a response today..."
Facing Li Ruohan, Luo Qian'er's attitude was extremely low, completely devoid of her usual arrogance, as docile as a maidservant.
There was no other reason. The other party was the direct daughter of the Li Clan of Bojun, Zhaoguo—a status far nobler than the Luo Clan of Lianxi.
With her family's full support, entering the Inner Peak was only a matter of time. She absolutely could not afford to offend her.
"Oh, right, right. Look at my memory." Li Ruohan suddenly realized, smiling, "I was just having a banquet and drinking wine with Senior Brother Wang, Senior Brother Lu, and the others, so my head is a bit muddled.
Senior Brother Wang has already agreed. Next time I go to the Inner Peak, I will bring your younger brother along."
Luo Qian'er was overjoyed upon hearing this, thanking her repeatedly.
But Li Ruohan seemed completely unconcerned, her expression indifferent, with no intention of deep conversation.
Suddenly, she seemed to remember something. Her tone turned intimate as she said softly:
"Right, Senior Sister Luo, you work in the laundry room. Could you help me find a good bolt of cloth? This little sister wants to make a cape to complement this snowy scenery."
Luo Qian'er frowned slightly, then smiled and agreed: "That is not difficult. What color does the Junior Sister prefer? Do you have a familiar seamstress?"
Li Ruohan detailed her requirements, her voice carrying excitement:
"Senior Brother Jiang presumably likes bright colors. Senior Sister, you must help me pick carefully."
Luo Qian'er agreed readily. While Li Ruohan was in a good mood, she mustered her courage and asked, as if teasing between sisters:
"Senior Brother Jiang? I wonder which Senior Brother Jiang has caught Junior Sister's eye to receive such favor?"
Li Ruohan said with a smile:
"Senior Sister, don't talk nonsense. I simply admire Senior Brother Jiang Yi's cultivation talent. There are no other thoughts."
"Senior Brother Jiang Yi?"
The smile on Luo Qian'er's face instantly froze, her entire person rigid on the spot as if frozen solid.
"He's the Senior Brother Jiang from the Quenching Chamber of Scarlet Flame Peak." Li Ruohan said prettily, "Senior Brother Wang, Senior Brother Lu, and I all feel that when the Inner Peak supplements its roster next spring, his chances of being selected are extremely high."
The wind and snow swirled and rustled down.
Luo Qian'er stood frozen outside the courtyard gate, completely unaware of the bone-piercing cold.
When Li Ruohan had gone inside, she could no longer remember.
In her mind, only those five words remained: "Senior Brother Jiang Yi."
They exploded like thunderclaps again and again, shaking her heart and soul into chaos, leaving her spirit scattered and lost.
...
...
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PS: Two updates presented, still posting them together for a satisfying read~
PS2: I respectfully beg you, esteemed readers, to show me the way to advance on the new book rankings!