Chapter 110: The Ferocious Fifth-Stage Qi [First Update]

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After freshening up and eating, Fang Nian found himself alone at home; everyone else had gone out. Once he had composed himself, he returned to his room, sitting cross-legged on the bed with his eyes closed, circulating the formidable energy within his dantian.

There was no denying the immense benefits of Qi cultivation. Had Fang Nian not advanced to the fourth stage of the "Yi Jin Jing: Yi Qi Chapter" during his time in the hunting grounds, he might not have survived the ordeal. The monsters in the tunnels alone were enough to overwhelm him, and the presence of Guo Ji made the challenge even more daunting. Consequently, Fang Nian placed greater emphasis on his Qi cultivation this time, setting his sights on reaching the fifth and final stage of the "Yi Jin Jing: Yi Qi Chapter."

At the first stage of cultivation, Fang Nian noticed a definite increase in lung capacity. Upon reaching the second stage, his heart rhythm changed—the heartbeat slowed, and the flow of Qi and blood became smoother. By the third stage, he discovered even greater advantages: he could use Qi to move heavy objects and even to deflect attacks from others. It was clear that advancing to the third stage significantly enhanced his combat abilities.

But it was at the fourth stage that Fang Nian uncovered a startling secret: the Qi he cultivated could be transmitted indirectly through physical contact with others, allowing him to injure his enemies remotely. This technique was commonly known as the hidden force.

This hidden force was invisible and intangible yet highly effective when used skillfully—a feature Fang Nian found immensely satisfying.

"However," he mused, "breaking through to the fifth stage is proving difficult. It requires not only a vast accumulation of Qi and blood but also a crucial catalyst. Though I have found the breakthrough point, it still feels like something is missing."

With that thought, Fang Nian pulled out the relic he had purchased at the auction—a luminous, crystalline stone. He examined it from all angles but found nothing extraordinary; it appeared to be nothing more than a beautiful, translucent gem.

He had initially hoped it might function like a magical elixir, instantly transforming him into a superhuman. But it seemed otherwise, having no effect on his body.

Resigned, he placed the relic back into its small box and slipped it into his pocket.

Just as he was about to open the system menu to check for any changes, a sudden agitation stirred within his dantian. The Qi that had long resisted breakthrough seemed to have found its catalyst.

Seizing this signal without hesitation, Fang Nian began circulating his Qi, intent on using this fleeting opportunity to reach the pinnacle.

Time passed slowly, and the sky darkened. The steward of the Xia family came to call Fang Nian for dinner, but seeing the door locked tightly and no sign of movement inside, he quietly turned away.

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Meanwhile, Fang Nian was enduring tremendous torment. The surging Qi within him caused his body to swell slightly; his face flushed a deep crimson, and the air he exhaled felt warm and misty, like steam.

"Stop!" Fang Nian commanded inwardly, but the expanding Qi only paused momentarily before continuing its relentless growth. He sensed his body could no longer bear the strain; if he pushed any further, he feared he might bleed from all his orifices and die.

Determined, Fang Nian resolved to give up and disperse the accumulated formidable energy. Yet at that moment, a pale blue current of energy suddenly surged into his body. This current seemed sentient, suppressing the swelling Qi within him.

Fang Nian did not know the source of this energy or how to control it; all he wanted was to quell the turmoil. Summoning his strength, he fought once more to subdue the formidable Qi.

"Stop..." he muttered.

With the aid of the pale blue energy, Fang Nian sensed a profound difference. The swelling Qi began to shrink rapidly, accelerating its contraction until, within a few breaths, it had entirely vanished, gathering once more in the dantian.

However, this Qi was no longer what it had been before; it had transformed into an entirely different kind—one that was extraordinarily fierce and potent.

"Did it work?" Fang Nian’s excitement grew as he summoned the system menu. Indeed, the "Yi Jin Jing: Yi Qi Chapter" had advanced to the fifth stage, meaning he had reached its zenith.

Regaining his composure, Fang Nian marveled at the changes within his body. This was a sensation he had never experienced. Previously, he had dismissed tales of Qi as mere fantasy—stories of masters shattering rocks with their energy seemed like childish tricks. But now, he could easily manifest the hidden Qi in his body, even condensing it around his form.

Gazing at the bedroom door a short distance away, Fang Nian felt compelled to test his newfound power. He gathered the Qi into his fist and, standing about two meters away, unleashed a punch toward the door.

At that very moment, Xia Moyu, returning exhilarated from the Fatty’s Hunting Cloud Pavilion, was rushing upstairs to share good news with Fang Nian. Just as he reached the door, a muffled explosion echoed, and the door was blasted into splinters by the force of the Qi, nearly causing Xia Moyu to tumble down the stairs in shock.

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Staring dumbfounded at the shattered door, sweat beaded on Xia Moyu’s brow. Fortunately, he had arrived a moment late; had he reached the door sooner, he might have been pulverized just like it.

That door was made of solid ash wood—the sturdiest variety, typically found growing on sparse slopes or gentle valleys between 700 and 2100 meters above sea level.

It was a relic from the Tertiary period, one of Northeast China’s three precious hardwood species, alongside walnut and yellow poplar. Its timber was dense, hard, and beautifully grained, prized for both industrial and domestic use.

To see such a tough wooden door reduced to powder with a single strike made Xia Moyu wonder if his brother-in-law was secretly developing explosives.

With that thought, Xia Moyu cautiously rose and made his way to Fang Nian’s room, eager to discover what mischief was afoot.

Yet it was not only Xia Moyu who was astonished; Fang Nian himself was stunned by what he had unleashed. He had never imagined the fifth stage Qi would be so ferocious. If he ever faced a formidable opponent in the future, this newfound ability might well save his life.

Had he possessed this technique during his battle with Guo Ji, he wouldn’t have needed to resort to cunning hidden strikes; a single punch would have settled the matter.

But now, a new worry crossed his mind: what to do about the ruined door? He dreaded Xia Moyan’s return and the inevitable scolding. He certainly did not want to endure another lesson in the "Deathly Two-Finger Zen" again.