Chapter 96 - 92: Seventh-Layer Qi Refining

Chapter 96: Chapter 92: Seventh-Layer Qi Refining

"Zhou Miaoyun actually went as far as begging Peiyao!"

The first thing Gao Peiyao mentioned in her letter was that Zhou Miaoyun had written to her, hoping she would intercede on her behalf. She wanted to see if she could return to the Jingyue Lake territory, even if it meant settling in the remote Shixia Town. Judging by this, it seemed the Zhou family could no longer survive in Lotus Town. They had already been ostracized by the local Cultivation Families to the point where they had no choice but to leave.

It was not inherently wrong for the Zhou family to flee and seek survival when the Yun family was at their lowest point. However, the Yun family despised this kind of "abandon ship at the first sign of trouble" behavior. As a result, all the Cultivation Families that had previously fled were blacklisted by the Yun family, strictly forbidden from returning to the Jingyue Lake territory to re-establish themselves. Why did the Yun family support the Cultivation Clans within their territory in the first place? Was it not to share risks? When trouble came, they ran. The Yun family didn’t blame them, but they certainly wouldn’t accept them back either.

With Yu Daniu around, it wasn’t entirely impossible for the Zhou family to return, but they would undoubtedly be placed in a remote area. Moreover, the support they received from the Yun family would definitely pale in comparison to other families. As for Zhou Miaoyun’s wish to return to their original Shixia Town? That was a pipe dream.

Shixia Town was already the territory of Talisman Master Chu Lang’s family. As a High-Grade Talisman Master Honored Guest Elder who had stood by the Yun family through thick and thin—and even served as their scapegoat—no one could drive his family out unless the Chu family chose to leave voluntarily. Not even an Elder of the Yun family could force them out. If they were forcibly evicted, the stellar reputation the Yun family had spent centuries building would be shattered.

Furthermore, Shixia Town was by no means a remote backwater. The Jingyue Lake territory now spanned an eighteen-hundred-mile radius, and Shixia Town was only three hundred miles away from the lake. More importantly, it was also just three hundred miles from Qiyun Mountain. It was safe to say that Shixia Town was an unavoidable checkpoint on the route from Jingyue Lake to Qiyun Mountain. Once the Yun family relocated to Qiyun Mountain, Shixia Town would undoubtedly receive massive backing.

"Shixia Town? Isn’t she being delusional?" Chen Jianghe shook his head, feeling that Zhou Miaoyun was overthinking things. Her relationship with Yu Daniu wasn’t even good, yet she dared to aim for such a prime location. No matter who interceded for her, it would be utterly useless!

In her letter, Gao Peiyao had asked if he had also received a letter from Zhou Miaoyun, and whether she should help her lease Shixia Town from the Yun family. Chen Jianghe had no intention of hiding the fact that Zhou Miaoyun had asked him to intercede as well. But as for whether Gao Peiyao should plead with Yu Daniu to secure the Cultivation Town of Shixia for Zhou Miaoyun? He would only explain Shixia Town’s strategic location and the Yun family’s current situation. He wouldn’t interfere in the decision itself; he would leave it entirely to Gao Peiyao’s discretion.

Next, Chen Jianghe continued reading about the other matter Gao Peiyao mentioned. She had already prepared the resources necessary for Foundation Establishment and would soon return to her Sect to enter seclusion and attempt the breakthrough. If successful, she might stay at the Sect for three to five years. During this period, she would be unable to send messages or receive letters from the outside world.

"She’s attempting Foundation Establishment?" Chen Jianghe crushed the letter into dust, letting it scatter in the wind. Though he didn’t know how Gao Peiyao had gathered the necessary Foundation Establishment resources in such a short time, merely reaching the stage to attempt the breakthrough meant she was already halfway to success. With the help of her master, Steward Lan, her chances of a successful Foundation Establishment were likely over fifty percent.

"In three to five years, I should have already left Jingyue Lake," he thought. "Perhaps by the time we meet again, Peiyao will have become a lofty Foundation Establishment Cultivator."

Taking out paper and a brush, Chen Jianghe wrote a reply to Gao Peiyao. He detailed the situations regarding Shixia Town and the Yun family, then wished her success in her Foundation Establishment. As for whether she would receive it before returning to her Sect, that was entirely up to fate.

Over the past two years, the bottleneck preventing his breakthrough to Late-Stage Qi Refining had noticeably loosened. He estimated that in less than a year, he could attempt the breakthrough. Therefore, Chen Jianghe planned to spend an extra hour each day on seated Cultivation from now on.

He cast a streak of Magical Power onto the "In Seclusion" sign erected at the bow of his boat, making its characters glow a little brighter. It wasn’t that he was afraid of being disturbed. Mainly, it was because he didn’t want to see anyone—not even Yu Daniu or Yun Xiaoniu.

Even though he was already Fifty Years Old, he still looked as youthful and in his prime as he did years ago. In contrast, other Cultivators who had reached Fifty Years Old had, more or less, gained weight, developed frown lines and crow’s feet, and grown white hairs. Although Cultivators only began to experience a decline in vitality and show signs of aging after turning sixty, a man in his fifties certainly shouldn’t retain the image of a youth in his prime. If he ran into any acquaintances now, they would definitely notice the anomaly.

During the dog days of the sixth month.

Chen Jianghe suddenly opened his eyes. A flash of Divine Light darted across his pupils, and a smile crept onto his lips. Stepping out of the cabin, he leapt directly into the lake. He dove to the bottom and released Little Black from the Spirit Beast Circle.

"Little Black, stand guard for me," Chen Jianghe instructed. He then sat cross-legged and placed twenty Spirit Stones beside him, just in case he needed them.

Having just emerged from the Spirit Beast Space, Little Black was still a bit dazed, but upon hearing Chen Jianghe’s words, it immediately perked up. It crouched down about a hundred feet away from him, fully alert.

Ever since the Yun family’s last fish collection, Chen Jianghe had stopped making Little Black breed Little Cyan Fish. It spent most of its time resting in the Spirit Beast Circle. Moreover, he planned to leave Jingyue Lake right after this upcoming fish collection.

EXHALE.

Chen Jianghe picked up a Spirit Stone and luxuriously absorbed its Spiritual Qi, adjusting his physical state to its absolute peak.

The next moment.

Driven by the Returning Origin True Water Technique, the Magical Power in his Qi Sea Dantian surged madly through his meridians, causing his bones to emit a dense series of cracks and pops. This was the Magic Power Tempering Body process that accompanied a breakthrough. Clenching his teeth, he endured the immense pain and circulated his Magical Power to complete the Circulation.

Two hours later, the Magical Power flowed back into his Qi Sea Dantian, instantly churning like boiling water. The once gossamer-thin strands of Magical Power merged amidst the boiling and gradually underwent liquefaction.

Another day passed.

The instant his Qi Sea Dantian settled, he used his Divine Thought to direct the semi-liquid Magical Power to bombard his Guanmen Acupoint.

BOOM.

A dull thud echoed, like a massive boulder crashing to the ground. The Guanmen Acupoint that had sealed off his Divine Sense Detachment was blasted open by the semi-liquid Magical Power.

At that very moment, the dark gray, semi-liquid Magical Power flowed calmly back into his Qi Sea Dantian. Peace was restored, as if nothing had ever happened. The only differences were that his Magical Power was now a dark gray semi-liquid, and the barrier of his Guanmen Acupoint had been completely cleared.

"Is this the world under the observation of Divine Sense?" he thought. Chen Jianghe extended his Divine Sense through the Guanmen Acupoint, projecting it outward into a ten-foot radius. Everything within that area was presented crystal clear in his mind.

Under his Divine Sense, the various gases drifting between heaven and earth were distinctly differentiated, and the Spiritual Qi actually took on colors. There was black Water Attribute Spiritual Energy, red Fire Attribute Spirit Qi, green Wood Attribute Spiritual Energy, brown Earth Attribute Spiritual Energy, and golden Gold Attribute Spiritual Energy. There were other colors of Spiritual Qi as well, but they were exceedingly rare and far less dense than the Five Element Spiritual Energy. When he wrapped his Divine Sense around a Spirit Stone, he could see that the Spiritual Qi inside was white and attributeless.

Having satisfied his curiosity, he shifted his Heart and Mind, pushing his Divine Sense outward to its absolute limit.

"Thirty feet?"

"That far? It’s almost on par with Eighth-Layer Qi Refining!"

Chen Jianghe revealed a look of astonishment.

How far Divine Sense could detach from the body was inextricably linked to the strength of one’s Soul Essence. The farther it could detach, the stronger the soul. Most Cultivators who had just broken through to Seventh-Layer Qi Refining could only extend their Divine Sense out to ten feet. Very few could reach twenty feet.

"Could it be because I draw Spirit Talismans?" he wondered. Drawing Spirit Talismans consumed mental energy. Over time, the constant cycle of depletion and recovery could indeed enhance the strength of his Soul Essence, thereby allowing his Divine Sense to reach further out. "Since I practice the Talisman Dao, once I obtain a Spiritual Cultivation Technique in the future, my Cultivation will yield twice the result with half the effort."

Chen Jianghe retracted his Divine Sense, extremely satisfied with the strength of his Soul Essence. Afterward, he felt his Magical Power. Now in a semi-liquid state, it was more than twice as strong as its previous gaseous form. Although the total volume of his Magical Power remained the same, it had undergone a qualitative transformation. He could now wield Magical Artifacts and cast Magic with far greater efficiency, amplifying the power of his spells.

"It’s time to leave Jingyue Lake," he thought, opening his eyes with a complex expression.

He had stayed at Jingyue Lake for a full thirty-eight years. At age fourteen, he had achieved Energy Introduction. At twenty, he broke through to Second-Layer Qi Refining. At twenty-three, he reached Third-Layer Qi Refining. At twenty-nine, he advanced to Fourth-Layer Qi Refining, becoming a Mid-Stage Qi Refining Cultivator. He spent another five years to reach Fifth-Layer Qi Refining at age thirty-four. Then, it took him six more years to cultivate to Sixth-Layer Qi Refining at age forty. At forty-six, he reached Sixth-Layer Qi Refining Perfection, and he spent the next six years polishing that bottleneck before finally breaking through to Seventh-Layer Qi Refining at the age of fifty-two.

He had become a Late-Stage Qi Refining Cultivator.

As a bottom-tier Cultivator in this cruel Cultivation World, he finally possessed a sliver of strength to protect himself. He could now leave Jingyue Lake to find a new place to settle down.

"Little Black, we’re leaving," Chen Jianghe said to the beast, a hint of emotion in his voice.

"Master, can I say goodbye to my father?" Little Black stared at Chen Jianghe with eager, pleading eyes.

"Yes, you may. Go into the Spirit Beast Space for now. I’ll let you out when we pass by the outer 512 Waters."

Chen Jianghe stored Little Black into the Spirit Beast Circle. He then swam up to the surface and returned to his fishing boat.

First, he wrote two letters: one for Yu Daniu and one for Zhou Miaoyun. Since he was leaving Jingyue Lake, it was naturally impossible for them to keep sending letters to Zone A No.6 Water Area.

As for Gao Peiyao, she should have returned to her Sect by now to enter seclusion. Even if he sent a letter, she wouldn’t receive it. He decided it would be better to establish a new base first, then re-establish contact with her through Yu Daniu. Furthermore, Chen Jianghe didn’t plan to meet Yu Daniu in person to say goodbye before leaving. Once they met face-to-face, his unchanging appearance would be discovered. He trusted Yu Daniu, but he didn’t trust other Cultivators. It was better to just send a letter. Once he left Jingyue Lake, he would have an excuse to explain why his appearance hadn’t aged. After all, the Cultivation Realm possessed Youthful Pills; though exorbitant in price, they weren’t impossible to buy.

After finishing the two letters, he spent twelve grains of Spiritual Sand to have a White Egret deliver them. For the letter to Yu Daniu, one grain of Spiritual Sand was enough, and it would arrive on the very same day. However, the letter to Zhou Miaoyun required eleven grains of Spiritual Sand: one for the White Egret and ten for the Flying Post.

Having done all this, Chen Jianghe changed into a fresh outfit and put on a bamboo hat with a veil to obscure his face. With his current Late-Stage Qi Refining Cultivation, as long as he wasn’t probed by Divine Sense, no one would be able to see the face hidden beneath the hat. Even if someone did try to probe him with Divine Sense, he would sense it in advance and block it out—unless the gap in their realms was far too vast. Besides, fighting was strictly prohibited in the Jingyue Marketplace, and no foolish Late-Stage Qi Refining Cultivator would dare to recklessly send out their Divine Sense.

Once everything was ready, he didn’t steer his boat toward the Jingyue Marketplace; instead, he chose to depart via Qi Manipulation Flight.