Chapter 44: Refining Essence into Qi

Chapter 44: Refining Essence into Qi

On the Cliff of Reflection, Zheng Jian’s expression gradually became distorted...

Though he was still immersed in the system, Zheng Jian’s composure was slowly reaching its breaking point...

He refreshed at a cost of 200 points each time, five times in a row, yet failed to draw the “Innate Arts” infusion option, only seeing a slew of odd items appear instead.

It seemed as though his luck had been entirely spent on acquiring the “Innate Arts.”

Watching his balance of resentment points shrink rapidly, Zheng Jian felt miserable.

“One more refresh, just one more—if it doesn’t show up this time, I swear I won’t try again!” Clenching his fists, gritting his teeth, Zheng Jian muttered before clicking refresh once more.

The items in the exchange store changed instantly. Zheng Jian looked on, full of hope, but his heart sank.

“Internal Power Fruit (Second Tier), price: 1500 points.”

“‘Star Absorption Technique’ manual, price: 2000 points.”

“Attribute Fruit: randomly increases insight, constitution, or luck by 1 point, price: 2000 points.”

...

Zheng Jian was truly speechless. He had less than three hundred points left, and still no “Innate Arts” infusion. Only the Attribute Fruit offered a slight comfort. As for the “Star Absorption Technique,” he had no desire for it; its flaws were abundant, the internal power absorbed from others was impure and messy, far inferior to his own refined internal energy...

“Forget it, forget it... Even though I’m the host, I ultimately can’t control what the system offers...” Zheng Jian resignedly exited the system.

Though disappointed, as he thought it over, he realized that just obtaining the “Innate Arts” was already a great stroke of luck.

Calming himself, Zheng Jian reflected that, based on his understanding of the system’s exchange store, the “Innate Arts” absolutely should not appear at this stage. The martial arts ceiling in the world of “Laughing Proudly” was quite limited; even with superlative techniques like the “Sunflower Manual” or the “Dugu Nine Swords,” they were nowhere near innate level.

One must remember—the “Dugu Nine Swords” was only the early-stage skill of Dugu Qiubai, belonging to the realm of sharp swords, not even reaching the domain of the heavy black iron sword, let alone the ultimate realm of swordlessness in his later years.

The “Sunflower Manual” was indeed formidable, but upon careful consideration, it couldn’t compare to arts like the “Nine Yin” or “Nine Yang,” much less a method capable of breaking through to the innate level like the “Innate Arts.”

In other words, drawing the “Innate Arts” was a freak occurrence; by the normal process, arts of this caliber should not appear at this stage—at best, they might show up in the next world.

To have drawn it now meant the system had already suffered a loss; even if he refreshed a hundred more times, the system would never offer the infusion exchange for it.

Otherwise, if an innate master could be created so easily, what would be the challenge? The likes of Master Dongfang or Zuo Lengchan would pale in comparison...

Having figured it out, Zheng Jian felt at ease. To obtain the “Innate Arts” manual at this stage was already a fortune. Though he would have to train step by step, if he truly mastered it, it would be his own achievement, wouldn’t it?

...

In the afternoon, it wasn’t Lu Dayou who brought up his meal, but rather Ruan Qiuqiu.

“You came back and didn’t tell me at all! If not for that new little sister I met, I wouldn’t even have known you’d returned...” Ruan Qiuqiu complained as soon as she saw Zheng Jian.

Zheng Jian chuckled, “Even if I didn’t tell you, you still found out, didn’t you?” Toward Ruan Qiuqiu, Zheng Jian harbored a trace of guilt. Over these years, he’d been well aware of her feelings. Precisely because her affection was so sincere, Zheng Jian dared not accept it.

If he left one day, wouldn’t he leave her heartbroken for a lifetime?

Better to not accept it at all; a brief sadness is much easier to bear than sorrow that lasts a lifetime.

Nowadays, Ruan Qiuqiu seemed to realize that Zheng Jian didn’t feel that way about her, and had let go quite a bit. She smiled lightly, “And what if I know? Will you accept me just because I know?”

Zheng Jian: “...On a serious note, I may need to enter seclusion for a while. Once a day is enough for you to bring my meals. If I don’t come out, just leave them here.”

Ruan Qiuqiu nodded, “Understood. Now hurry and eat while it’s hot.” She’d grown accustomed to the ways of martial artists and knew that seclusion was common.

Once Zheng Jian finished eating, Ruan Qiuqiu took the lunchbox and went down the mountain.

Zheng Jian returned to the cave and began his secluded cultivation of the “Innate Arts.” Truth be told, the last time he’d trained so seriously was when he’d studied the “Dugu Nine Swords” under the Grand Martial Uncle...

Zheng Jian first regulated his breathing, guiding the Purple Mist True Qi through his meridians in a full cycle, adjusting his state to its peak before attempting to circulate his energy according to the “Innate Arts” manual.

It must be said, the “Innate Arts” truly surpassed the “Purple Mist Arts” as a superior Daoist internal method; its breathing techniques were far more refined.

One must know—the “Purple Mist Arts” were best practiced at dawn, when the sun first rises, as only then does purple energy exist in the world, which can be drawn in and gradually strengthened. Thus, the technique consumed much time; had Zheng Jian not reached mastery, it would have taken decades of bitter cultivation to reach this point.

By contrast, the “Innate Arts” had no such prerequisites—one only needed to breathe and circulate energy as prescribed.

Heaven, earth, and man form the Three Powers. Each has its Three Treasures: for heaven, sun, moon, and stars; for earth, water, fire, and wind; for man, essence, qi, and spirit.

Among these, the Three Treasures of man can be divided into acquired and innate. The acquired treasures are conscious mind, breath, and reproductive essence; the innate treasures are primordial spirit, primordial qi, and primordial essence. The core of the “Innate Arts” is to revert the acquired back to the innate, progressing through three stages: refining essence into qi, refining qi into spirit, and refining spirit into emptiness. Thus, the “Innate Arts” divides into three levels.

Zheng Jian’s mind gradually descended into clarity and tranquility. Before his eyes, a vast whiteness appeared. In his lower abdomen, the swirling Purple Mist True Qi, under his control, began to circulate according to the “Innate Arts” pathway.

As it flowed, the vast and pure Purple Mist True Qi began to subtly change—empty and clear, with the heart remaining independent.

When a full cycle was completed, Zheng Jian sensed that the Purple Mist True Qi returning to his lower abdomen had already transformed into a strand of genuine innate qi: lingering and diffuse, neither coming nor going, rising directly to the crown, turning into sweet dew, penetrating the governing vessel, leaving a fragrant taste in his mouth and a clear mind.

At this, Zheng Jian slowly opened his eyes, delight surging within. Indeed, with the foundation of the “Purple Mist Arts,” he’d easily entered the threshold of the “Innate Arts.”

A single strand of Purple Mist True Qi had just condensed into a thread of innate true qi, attesting to the high quality of the “Innate Arts,” worthy of its reputation for reaching the innate level. Its purity far surpassed the “Purple Mist Arts” by a hundredfold.

Zheng Jian had a premonition—once he converted all his Purple Mist True Qi into innate true qi, the first stage of refining essence into qi would be complete!

...

(End of this chapter)