owlsbooks Chapter 12 Qi Refining Level 3
Chapter 12 Qi Refining Level 3
"Yuan-ge'er! Yuan-ge'er!"
Du Jianyuan had just come out of the main hall and was about to return to his cave to cultivate when he suddenly heard a low call behind him. He stopped and turned around, asking curiously:
"Brother Quan, is something the matter?"
Huang Quan jogged over, bending over.
It was worktime, and he didn't dare disturb anyone, so he kept his voice and posture extremely low, and only spoke cautiously when he got close:
"Brother Yuan... have you had a bit more money lately? Could you lend me a few spirit stones so I can buy a cultivation technique to break through... Don't worry, I'll add interest to these spirit stones and pay you back as soon as possible!"
Du Jianyuan looked at the anxious face and didn't know how to answer.
When he first entered the talisman room, he did receive some help from Huang Quan, and he remembered that favor.
But later on, he never missed a meal or drink, and he also sent a lot of rice and wine during festivals, so he had long since repaid the so-called favors.
Now Huang Quan is offering several spirit stones without hesitation... To be honest, even if he could actually afford it right now, he wouldn't lend it out so easily.
After all, no one knows what tomorrow will bring, and no one can predict what will happen next. However, spirit stones can be used to save lives in critical moments.
Out of consideration for their friendship, Du Jianyuan still frankly stated:
"Brother Quan, it's not that I'm unwilling to lend you the money, it's just that I just received a spirit stone, and I'll have to rely on it to barely get by for the next two weeks."
"It's okay, it's okay..."
Huang Quan waved his hands repeatedly, forcing a smile, as if he had expected it, but his eyes still betrayed his disappointment. He sighed and said:
"If you have the time and resources in the future, I hope you can lend me a hand... Sigh, I'm just too scared. I'm afraid that one day I'll lose my value and be used as fertilizer, so I have no choice but to shamelessly ask you for help."
"Don't worry, Quan-ge, I understand."
Du Jianyuan gave him a deep look, responding politely but feeling nothing in his heart.
After exchanging a few more words, Du Jianyuan took his leave.
The mountain path was quiet and deserted, with a cold wind brushing against my face.
As Du Jianyuan walked, he pondered to himself.
"A person trapped in the first level of Qi Refining for over a decade... watching the juniors he once helped break through their cultivation levels and advance to become talisman masters..."
"Some favors were repaid and it was inconvenient to say more, while others weren't repaid and were deliberately distanced... Quan Ge's mindset has probably changed a long time ago."
Now that the other party has asked him to borrow spirit stones, he has become somewhat wary.
In any case, someone who has sought a cultivation method for over a decade without success will inevitably harbor some deep-seated obsession.
"We need to be more careful in the future."
Upon returning to the entrance of the cave, Du Jianyuan carefully examined it.
The talisman at the door was untouched, and the strand of hair in the crack of the door was intact, which reassured him somewhat.
"It seems that after the last investigation, Yan Jun has no more suspicions about me."
……
Several days later, at Cave No. 3, Class A.
Du Jianyuan sat cross-legged on the futon, and the spiritual energy accumulated in the cave flowed into his body like rivers flowing into the sea.
The Yang meridians trembled slightly, the Qi Sea surged continuously, the skin of the whole body turned red and hot, and the muscles, bones and internal organs throbbed like muffled thunder.
"Just one last step!"
Du Jianyuan frowned, gritting his teeth and holding on.
Under the introspection of spiritual awareness, the last barrier of the Yang meridian—the Jade Pillow Pass—was completely filled with the power of the evil fire magic, like a solid dike blocking the way in front of a flood.
This section is the most dangerous, as it is located very close to the skull.
Each time the magic struck, it felt as if countless fine needles were piercing Du Jianyuan's skull, causing him to see stars and feel his mind wavering.
"Just hang in there!"
Du Jianyuan forced himself to calm down and forged his magical power into a red-hot steel needle, which he slowly squeezed into the Jade Pillow Pass.
With each point scored, my mind would wander, and I would feel dizzy and almost faint.
But he still clenched his teeth tightly.
"boom!"
As soon as the magic passed through, a gap appeared in the sturdy embankment, which was instantly breached by the raging evil fire.
The Yang meridians are open!
"It's done!"
"Level 3 Qi Refining!"
Du Jianyuan could clearly feel the magical power that had surged into his Yang Meridian slowly flowing back into his Qi Sea.
The entire process requires no further deliberate effort; the already connected Yin and Yang meridians will operate on their own, allowing magical power to circulate continuously within the body, seeping into every inch of muscle, bone, and flesh like spring water, silently nourishing and endlessly replenishing.
"A seamless integration of inside and out, a transformation of the physical body..."
Within his dantian, the ball of malevolent fire essence suddenly expanded, growing a full size larger.
Du Jianyuan opened his eyes, his pupils were even deeper than before, and his expression had a sharper edge.
"Is this... due to the influence of the cultivation technique?"
He was slightly surprised, not expecting that after achieving a minor success in his cultivation technique, even his own temperament had subtly changed.
Then he opened his palm, and the evil fire silently appeared in his palm.
With a slight thought, the flames suddenly burrowed into the ground and then disappeared into the heavy stone table.
"call!"
Not long after, Du Jianyuan gently blew out a breath.
The heavy stone table cracked open with a thud, turning into thin stone slabs that collapsed layer by layer...
The stone inside had long been burned away, leaving only a brittle shell.
"The speed and power of the burning effect have been significantly improved..."
"With the magic power circulating throughout the body, the regenerative ability of the flesh and blood is far greater than before."
His joy didn't last long; he quickly suppressed it and began to think about his next move.
"To advance to the fourth level of Qi Refining, one absolutely needs the spiritual energy of heaven and earth that is compatible with the cultivation method."
He had read in ancient books that the spiritual energy of heaven and earth is divided into two types: righteous energy and impure energy.
Those who cultivate mixed qi may easily break through to higher realms, but they will find it difficult to establish a foundation for immortality, and the quality of their magical power will be far inferior to that of cultivators who cultivate righteous qi.
"Both the Earthly Fiend Yin Fire and the Heavenly Thunder Embers belong to righteous energy, but there are no related energy gathering methods to be found in the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall... It seems I'll have to ask someone."
Du Jianyuan sighed softly. The fact that the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall was not releasing the Qi Gathering Method clearly meant that people had to go and ask the head servant or manager for help.
No matter what kind of Qi gathering method someone gives you, you can only use that kind of spiritual energy to break through, and your life is still firmly in their hands.
"Without that breath of spiritual energy from heaven and earth, even if I slowly cultivate the 'Heart-Burning Fiery Technique' to perfection, I will not be able to transform my magical power, let alone break through the Crimson Palace and Golden Gate..."
He was stuck by the cultivation technique when he reached the first level of Qi Refining.
Having finally reached the third level of Qi Refining, I'm about to be choked by a Qi Gathering Technique.
Thinking about this, Du Jianyuan couldn't help but feel a little depressed.
But there was no point in thinking about it any further, so he simply dismissed his distracting thoughts, let his spiritual consciousness sink into his dantian, and two lines of text slowly appeared.
【Fiery Heart-Burning Technique: 1/400 (Minor Success)】
[Talisman Skill: 100/100 (Low-grade Qi Refining)]
"My low-grade talisman skills are now maxed out; drawing more Fiery Talismans won't advance me... To reach the mid-grade level, I still need to draw a mid-grade talisman."
Du Jianyuan pondered this in his heart, but he was not anxious.
The recipe for a mid-grade talisman can be purchased at the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall; I'll find an opportunity to buy it later.
As night fell, the seal at the entrance of the cave suddenly trembled slightly.
"It's already this late... and someone's still coming to visit?"
Du Jianyuan was slightly surprised.
He then concealed several Fiery Talismans in his sleeve, activated the concealing effect of his protective armor, and suppressed his aura to the second level of Qi Refining. Only then did he walk behind the door and speak:
"Who?"
"Young master, my name is Qin Mo."
The stone door slowly slid open.
The alluring woman in the red dress, with her voluptuous figure and broad-mindedness, stood in front of the door, holding a small celadon jar in her hands, smiling radiantly.
"I went to the miscellaneous affairs hall a few days ago and bought a few extra ounces of 'Refreshing Tea'..."
Qin Mo smiled and handed the porcelain jar forward, saying softly:
"This tea is quite effective in restoring magical power and calming the mind, and it is much milder than elixirs... I thought that you must be working hard drawing talismans lately, so I specially sent some over to express my gratitude."
Du Jianyuan declined without hesitation:
"Fellow Daoist Qin is too kind. I absolutely cannot accept this can of spiritual tea."
"It's nothing valuable, young master, why be so formal?"
As Qin Mo spoke, she directly placed the porcelain jar into his hand, smiling as she pursed her lips:
"We are neighbors and serve the same master, which is quite a rare coincidence... If you refuse such a small amount of tea, sir, it would be disrespectful to me."
Du Jianyuan couldn't refuse any longer, so he had no choice but to accept it for the time being.
Just as he was about to express his gratitude, he suddenly caught sight of a figure standing not far away, and said apologetically:
"A friend is visiting; I will entertain the fairy another day."
Qin Mo followed his gaze and saw a thin young man standing awkwardly by the roadside. She curtsied and politely said:
"Then I won't bother you any longer, young master. If you need anything, you can come to my place next door at any time."
After saying that, she gracefully returned to her own cave.
Huang Quan hurried over, his lips moving for a long time, but he stammered, unsure of how to begin.
Finally, he sighed deeply, bowed deeply in a gesture of respect, his voice filled with an almost desperate plea:
"Brother Yuan... please help me!"