Chapter 23: Refining Qi! Refining Qi!

Shen Yan suppressed the excitement surging in his heart and, following the path of spiritual energy described in the Water Origin Technique, guided the innate purple qi through his body. Soon, just as when he had practiced the Primordial Harmony Art before, the innate purple qi circulated through his body for a complete cycle and finally converged in his dantian, transforming into a cluster of pure magical power.

Not only that, but the true qi cultivated from the Primordial Harmony Art was also enveloped and gradually devoured by the magical power, eventually vanishing without a trace.

“With only half a measure of innate purple qi, I’ve already reached the early stage of Qi Refinement!” Shen Yan clenched his fist fiercely. He was truly surprised that all it took was half a measure of innate purple qi to complete the first stage of Qi Refinement.

“Is it that the Water Origin Technique is lacking, or did the Primordial Harmony Art waste too much innate purple qi? Or perhaps the Primordial Harmony Art didn’t actually consume any innate purple qi at all, and what was used back then was spent repairing my body?” Shen Yan pondered in silence, but soon cast these thoughts aside. Now that he had entered the path of cultivation, there was no need to concern himself with martial arts techniques any longer.

“The Water Manipulation technique now covers a range of a hundred feet. After becoming a cultivator, my Water Manipulation has grown even stronger!” Shen Yan closed his eyes, sensing the changes within himself, then suddenly extended a finger.

“Water Wall Technique!”

In the next instant, a wisp of magical power vanished from his dantian, and a massive wall of water appeared before him.

“It’s not only harder and larger than before, but this is exactly the transformation cultivation brings—truly astonishing!” Like a child receiving a new toy, Shen Yan tried it again and again, reveling in the delight.

“The Water Origin Technique states that a disciple of average aptitude needs about three years to achieve Qi Refinement. Does that mean it would take three years of absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to obtain just half a measure of innate purple qi?” Shen Yan calculated inwardly, unable to contain his amazement.

“To progress from early to mid Qi Refinement takes another five years, so at most, one would use a single measure of innate purple qi.”

Given this, Shen Yan naturally chose to continue cultivating. Drawing another measure of innate purple qi from the Celestial Emperor’s Divine Seal, he once again sat cross-legged in meditation.

After about the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, he opened his eyes, his body trembling uncontrollably.

“It’s just as I thought! As long as I have enough innate purple qi, even reaching the perfection of Qi Refinement would be a breeze for me.”

Unfortunately, the Water Origin Technique in his possession only contained the methods for the early and middle stages of Qi Refinement; the methods for later stages required contribution to obtain.

“No need to rush, I mustn’t be hasty. For a mortal to reach the mid-stage of Qi Refinement within a single day—anyone with sense would know there’s something seriously wrong.”

Suppressing the elation within him, Shen Yan quickly realized a potential danger.

“I must hide my cultivation, or if discovered, I would surely be doomed without a grave.”

Sitting atop a rocky outcrop, Shen Yan racked his brains for a way to conceal his cultivation from others. Soon, an idea struck him: back when he practiced the Primordial Harmony Art, Yang Yun hadn’t noticed anything. Perhaps now that he was a cultivator, she still wouldn’t be able to tell?

But just to be safe, Shen Yan decided to channel all his cultivated magical power into the Celestial Emperor’s Divine Seal.

As far as he knew, Qi Refinement cultivators, except those at the peak of the stage, could not regenerate magical power endlessly. Even for late-stage cultivators, magical power had to be replenished by absorbing the energy of heaven and earth after being depleted.

By pouring his magical power into the Divine Seal, he might be wasting some, but it would allow him to hide his cultivation.

And if anyone tried to ambush him, he could instantly draw innate purple qi from the Divine Seal and convert it into magical power.

Though this method would result in some loss, it would keep him safely hidden in the shadows.

He acted without hesitation. After pouring all his magical power into the Divine Seal, a wave of weakness swept through his body. He spent a long time adjusting before finally rising and stretching.

Now, with his realm concealed, Shen Yan appeared no different from an ordinary mortal. He rode his immortal crane back to the Tranquil Heart Lodge.

Time passed. Each day, Shen Yan would head out early and return late. Aside from cultivation, he spent his days searching for innate spiritual objects within the restricted area of Jingyun Island.

In two months, he had replenished the innate purple qi in the Celestial Emperor’s Divine Seal to ten full measures. Within the restricted area, only a few spiritual objects containing scant amounts of innate purple qi remained.

Since he no longer had access to the advanced methods of the Water Origin Technique, he shifted his focus to refining Heavy Water of Profound Origin.

While Shen Yan was busy cultivating, on the Gold Miao Peak of Jingyun Island, another true disciple, Yu Qing, was hatching a plan.

An outer sect disciple named Sun Mingshuo was conspiring with the same group who had previously tried to intimidate Yang Yun. Their target this time was not Yang Yun herself, whom they dared not confront directly, but rather the servant disciple she had brought with her—Shen Yan.

Their motive was not only to embarrass Yang Yun but also because the immortal crane belonging to Gold Miao Peak had somehow ended up in Shen Yan’s possession.

“Sister Xu, have you found out about the other party’s background?”

“Brother Sun, I’ve investigated thoroughly. The person Yang Yun brought back is named Shen Yan, currently just a servant disciple.”

A female cultivator beside Sun Mingshuo spoke excitedly.

“A mere servant disciple, yet he dared to blood-refine our Gold Miao Peak’s immortal crane, and has the audacity to ride it around the island as if showing off. He clearly has no respect for us at all,” Sun Mingshuo said darkly, then turned to another disciple.

“Brother Liang, have you tracked Shen Yan’s movements?”

Brother Liang nodded. “Though Shen Yan is only a servant, with Yang Yun backing him, he never does any chores on Yunxiu Peak. In fact,” he paused and sneered, “that fellow rides his immortal crane between Yunxiu Peak and Jinchou Bay every day. We don’t even need to deal with him on the island—just wait until he’s in Jinchou Bay, and I alone can easily take care of him.”

Sun Mingshuo relaxed at these words. Within the Jade Immortal Sect, disciples were strictly forbidden to kill each other; any disputes were to be settled in the dueling arena. Otherwise, if caught, one would be expelled at best, or executed at worst.

“This must be done quickly. As far as I know, Yang Yun has been in seclusion to consolidate her realm these days,” Sun Mingshuo’s eyes flickered coldly. “Even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit. Today, the three of us will act together—who knows if that brat has some protective treasure from Yang Yun on him?”

“Brother Sun, wise as always.” Upon hearing this, Sister Xu and Brother Liang were both startled and looked at Sun Mingshuo in admiration.

If Shen Yan truly did have some protection from Yang Yun, and only one of them acted, things could easily go awry. If Shen Yan escaped and reported to Yang Yun, they would be in serious trouble.

After all, they were only mid-stage Qi Refinement outer disciples. To deal with a servant who might secretly be protected by Yang Yun, there was always a risk of failure.