Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Level 5 Qi Refining
The next morning, He Shou knocked on Li Yuan’s door.
"The notice is here."
He Shou’s tone was a few degrees heavier than usual. He was clutching a document stamped with the Wang family’s seal.
"The day after tomorrow, we’re going with the main force to the Yuanheng Mountain Range."
Li Yuan took the document and glanced at it.
The contents weren’t long—the Guard was to dispatch three patrol squads to form a joint team with the Wang family clansmen. They would enter the outer regions of the Yuanheng Mountain Range to carry out a cleansing mission. The team would be led by the Guard Captain, with two other Wang family Cultivators accompanying them.
"The Guard Captain is leading the team personally?"
"Yep. Qi Refining Ninth Level." He Shou leaned against the doorframe, his arms crossed.
"With Captain Wang and the other two from the Wang family, the top-end combat power should be sufficient. We’re just there to do the grunt work."
Li Yuan folded the document.
"What happened to the last group that went into the mountains?"
"They came back. Two were injured, but nothing serious."
"That group was mainly for reconnaissance. They didn’t go too deep and didn’t run into many Demon Beasts."
He Shou stretched his neck.
"What about us?"
"Not sure. The specifics weren’t mentioned."
He Shou paused, then added,
"No patrols for the next two days. The higher-ups want everyone on the mission to rest up in the market city and get ready. If you need to buy anything, get it done in these two days."
With that, He Shou left.
Li Yuan closed the door and sat back down on the edge of his bed.
’The day after tomorrow... counting today and tomorrow, that’s less than two days to prepare.’
Needless to say, the Yuanheng Mountain Range was dangerous. Even with a Qi Refining Ninth Level captain and Wang family Cultivators providing support, there was no guarantee that everyone from the patrol squads would come back in one piece.
His own Cultivation was currently stuck at the peak of the Qi Refining Fourth Level. The next step was the Qi Refining Fifth Level.
’If I can break through before we leave, my chances of survival will be that much higher.’
His Spiritual Power was already saturated, and he had polished its purity to the extreme.
Unlike his last breakthrough to the Qi Refining Fourth Level, this time Li Yuan had an additional "trait"—Spiritual Power Condensation. He now had a full three traits to aid his breakthrough.
Spiritual Power Condensation made his Spiritual Power far denser than others at his level. Cycle Acceleration sped up his cultivation speed. Spiritual Qi Filtration made his own Spiritual Power even purer.
On top of that, Organ Fortification reduced the damage his organs would take during a breakthrough. The cooldown for the Iron Bull Skill was over, so Li Yuan had re-equipped it and unequipped the Nourishing Essence Skill.
Li Yuan didn’t plan on using the Origin Condensation Skill. He was only moderately proficient with it and feared making a mistake.
’With three traits as a safety net, I’m confident I can break through without needing the Origin Condensation Skill.’
Li Yuan reined in his thoughts, suppressing all stray distractions.
’Time to cultivate.’
Li Yuan sat cross-legged and began circulating the Spirit-Introducing Skill.
Spiritual Qi flooded his meridians, pure as water, as the cycle spun at high speed. With each completed cycle, the Spiritual Power in his Dantian was repeatedly refined, grinding away the last, tiniest remnants of impurities.
「In the afternoon」, Li Yuan made a trip to the market city.
He went to the administration office to register his patrol records and collect his stipend.
Then he stopped by Old Sun’s stall and handed over a few stalks of Cyan Jade Grass and a bundle of Red Root Vine that he had picked up during his patrols.
Old Sun took the herbs at their market price and threw in an extra Evil Essence Pill.
Li Yuan returned to his residence without delay, consumed the Evil Essence Pill, and continued cultivating.
The medicinal power exploded, a searing energy surging through his meridians. Most of the Evil Qi was intercepted by Spiritual Qi Filtration, and what little remained was easily neutralized by Organ Fortification as it passed through his organs.
Driven by the pill’s potency, the Spiritual Power in his Dantian increased by another sliver.
「That night」, Li Yuan sat cross-legged on his bed, circulating the Spirit-Introducing Skill.
The Spiritual Power in his Dantian felt heavy, like a sponge saturated with water that couldn’t absorb another drop.
The barrier was right there—a thin, flimsy layer.
Li Yuan could feel its texture; it was much more fragile than the one he’d faced when breaking through from the Qi Refining Third Level to the Fourth.
’My condition is perfect. My meridians aren’t fatigued, my organs are stable, my Qi Blood is abundant, and my mind is sharp.’
’It’s time.’
Li Yuan took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and regulated his breathing.
His breaths became slow, even, and steady. He focused his consciousness on his Dantian.
The saturated Spiritual Power lay dormant in the center of his Dantian—pure, condensed, and far denser than that of his peers.
The barrier lay just beyond the boundary of his Spiritual Power, within arm’s reach.
With a thought, Li Yuan activated the Spirit-Introducing Skill.
The Spiritual Power in his Dantian, like a clenched fist, swelled outward with force, slamming into the barrier—
The instant his Spiritual Power hit the barrier, Li Yuan felt an extremely subtle "CRACK."
It wasn’t a sound, but a sensation.
The barrier shattered cleanly before his Spiritual Power.
Just like his breakthrough to the Qi Refining Fourth Level, the barrier offered almost no resistance.
The density and impact of his Spiritual Power far exceeded the barrier’s tolerance. Like thin ice shattered by a hammer, the entire wall collapsed in an instant.
At the same time, Spiritual Qi from the outside world surged madly into his body.
Spiritual Qi Filtration activated automatically, stripping all impurities from the incoming Spiritual Qi. Only the purest energy flowed through his meridians and into his Dantian. Cycle Acceleration drove his Spiritual Power to circulate at high speed, rapidly integrating the new influx of Spiritual Qi into his Dantian.
His Dantian expanded, and the total volume of his Spiritual Power soared.
A short while later, the influx of Spiritual Qi finally began to slow.
The Spiritual Power in his Dantian settled down from its turbulent state, becoming stable and dense, like a pool of still water with no discernible bottom.
The total volume of his Spiritual Power had surged by nearly fifty percent compared to before the breakthrough.
Circulating it felt profound and powerful. The flow of Spiritual Power in his meridians was on a completely different level than during the Qi Refining Fourth Level, with every wisp feeling solid and heavy.
Li Yuan slowly opened his eyes.
He was soaked through. His patrol uniform clung to his skin, but his Cleansing Body was already starting to eliminate the sweat stains bit by bit.
His breathing shifted from ragged gasps to long, steady breaths, and the rise and fall of his chest gradually slowed.
A panel appeared.
[Current Realm: Qi Refining Fifth Level]
’Qi Refining Fifth Level.’
Li Yuan clenched his fist.
The moment his knuckles tightened, Spiritual Power naturally flooded into his joints and wrist bones, feeling full and solid.
Compared to the Qi Refining Fourth Level, the most immediate change, besides the total volume, was the texture of his Spiritual Power.
Every wisp of Spiritual Power was heavier, denser, and more responsive than before.
The thought to mobilize his Spiritual Power had barely formed before it reached his fingertips. The response time was a notch faster.
Li Yuan stood up and stretched his limbs.
There was no soreness in his muscles or bones, no fatigue in his meridians, and his organs were perfectly stable.
The violent rush of Spiritual Power during the breakthrough had caused no damage under the dual protection of Organ Fortification and Scale Armor Body.
Outside the window, the sky had not yet brightened; there was still some time before dawn.
Li Yuan sat cross-legged on the bed again and circulated the Spirit-Introducing Skill.
His newly expanded Dantian was far from full, and every cycle brought a considerable increase in Spiritual Power. Spiritual Qi surged into his meridians—pure and swift—before sinking heavily into his Dantian to settle.
The effects of Spiritual Power Condensation continued to work, automatically compressing every wisp of newly added Spiritual Power.
His cultivation efficiency was now significantly higher than it had been at the Qi Refining Fourth Level.
Li Yuan didn’t stop cultivating until the sky was fully bright.
He pushed open the wooden door. The morning breeze blew against his face, and his clothes were clean and dry.
’Tomorrow, we set out.’
