Chapter 13: Second Level of Qi Refinement

Jiang Min’s words trailed off, but the old woman understood her meaning.

Then, Jiang Min bowed deeply once more, her gratitude sincere. “Thank you. If you hadn’t come to uphold justice, I wouldn’t have known what to do today.”

The old woman offered only a faint smile before turning away, returning to her duties at the library.

A mountain wind rose, chilling the courtyard abruptly.

Jiang Min stood alone, gazing toward the path where Jiang Ziyi and the others had left, her small fists clenched tight.

“I only blame myself for not being strong enough…”

Elsewhere.

At the Cloudstream Peak ferry point.

After the Discipline Hall members took their leave, Jiang Ziyi was about to depart when Luo Lei hurriedly called out to her. “Senior Sister Jiang, I am certain that girl killed Li Mao. But she’s too cunning—if we investigate her directly, we’ll get nowhere.”

“Why are you so sure it was her?” Jiang Ziyi glanced at Luo Lei, her tone cool.

In truth, Jiang Ziyi’s instincts also pointed to Jiang Min as the culprit, but lacking evidence, she couldn’t just haul someone away from Cloudstream Peak on a whim, even if she wielded authority.

Luo Lei, inwardly grumbling at Jiang Ziyi’s question, thought: How am I so certain? Because, as Li Mao’s friend, he knew Li Mao was always plotting against Jiang Min.

On the day they collected their yearly stipend, he and Li Mao queued together and both saw Jiang Min. After receiving their money, Li Mao didn’t return with him. Luo Lei suspected Li Mao might have gone to target Jiang Min, but unexpectedly, that was the end for Li Mao.

Yet Luo Lei would never reveal any of this to Jiang Ziyi. He could hardly admit his cousin was ruthless and scheming, especially before Jiang Ziyi. He had to praise Li Mao and paint him as the victim.

“Time, place, motive—all line up. How could it be such a coincidence? She’s clever, knew someone would come after her, so she covered every trace of her crime and hid the spoils.”

“Senior Sister Jiang, Li Mao’s death must be avenged. There’s a golden opportunity ahead.”

Luo Lei, having gauged Jiang Ziyi’s temperament, pressed on without delay. “Your cultivation talent is outstanding—soon you’ll achieve Foundation Establishment. Surely, an inner sect elder has already taken notice and wishes to accept you as a disciple?”

He watched Jiang Ziyi’s expression closely. Seeing her tacit approval, he grinned. “Heh, when you enter the inner sect, you’ll have the privilege of choosing a personal attendant from the servant ranks. If you select that troublesome girl, Jiang Min, you’ll have her at your side, free to deal with her as you wish.”

“After all, if anything happens to a personal attendant, you can always choose another.”

Jiang Ziyi listened to Luo Lei’s suggestion, and as the ferry returned with the Discipline Hall members, she replied coolly, “We’ll speak of this again once I’ve established my foundation.”

Though Jiang Ziyi’s attitude was noncommittal, Luo Lei bowed eagerly, beaming. “Of course! May your Foundation Establishment go smoothly. When the time comes, I’ll help you handle this matter—you can rest assured.”

Luo Lei’s heart was full of malice. Since he had already antagonized Jiang Min, he might as well let Jiang Ziyi finish her off. And with this, he could also curry favor with the soon-to-be inner sect disciple.

Now, all that remained was to await news of Jiang Ziyi’s Foundation Establishment.

…

Late night.

In her room, Jiang Min sat cross-legged with a copy of “Spirit Communion Technique” open before her, turned to the second volume.

She remembered the humiliation suffered during the day, refusing to let it slip from her mind. More importantly, she needed to improve her strength swiftly. Only then could she rely on herself and not be bullied.

Otherwise, no matter how angry or resentful she felt, she would be nothing but a clown, the butt of others’ jokes.

“One day, you’ll be stronger than all of them. For now, begin your cultivation!”

Her gaze fell upon the cultivation manual. Before nightfall, she had read several hours of the second volume of “Spirit Communion Technique,” mastering its contents and calming her heart.

The preface of the second volume read:

“Yin and yang arise, the five energies flow, the four seasons turn, thus begins the Path.

Now is springtime; all spirits follow wood, the year is governed by the Heavenly Stems Jia and Yi, numbers of two and three.

Yang sinks, yin ascends, the two principles harmonize; the five elements converge, and grass and trees awaken.

As for the five elements, all transform into wood spirits, nurturing the source, awaiting spring’s birth.”

The “Spirit Communion Technique” divided the Qi Refining stage into twelve layers. Aside from the first and twelfth layers, the other ten corresponded to the five elements, four seasons, and ten Heavenly Stems.

Qi Refining, first layer: the entry stage, requiring accumulation of spiritual power to build a foundation and form the atmosphere of yin, yang, and the four seasons.

Qi Refining, second and third layers: wood element, spring season, paired with Jia and Yi. To pass from the first to the second layer, one must transform all spiritual power in the dantian into wood energy, focusing on wood spirit cultivation.

Upon reaching the fourth layer, one uses wood energy to generate fire energy—marking the end of spring and entering the growth of summer. With enough spiritual power stored in the dantian, one can begin learning magical formulas…

Now.

Jiang Min’s task was to transform all her internal spiritual power into wood energy, nurture her spiritual roots, and stabilize her divine consciousness.

This step was crucial, touching upon the very source of life and determining her future foundation. One misstep could irreparably damage her roots.

After confirming she had no lingering doubts, Jiang Min calmed herself and entered a state of cultivation.

Turning her consciousness inward, she saw her spiritual power in the dantian, consolidated over several days, circulating with distinct patterns, wondrously profound.

“The liver is the green child spirit, wood element, responsible for growth.”

“Next, I’ll channel spiritual power through the liver to transform it. It must be done in one uninterrupted effort—if broken, vital energy will suffer, and I’ll have to start over.”

Jiang Min memorized these cautions, using her divine sense to guide a thread of spiritual power, beginning the transformation process.

…

She didn’t know how much time had passed.

Suddenly, her aura fluctuated violently. She opened her eyes slowly, her face pale and wan.

“…I failed.”

Jiang Min’s face fell, as wilted as a frostbitten eggplant.

There was too much spiritual power to refine. She lost focus and failed to stabilize her newly transformed wood roots, ending in defeat.

But she quickly rallied, took a Vitality Pill, and began to regulate her breath.

“Luckily, I still have Vitality Pills to stabilize my power and restore my energy. Let’s try again!”

However.

Without a teacher’s guidance, even the most detailed manual led her astray. Her second attempt also failed.

“Again!”

And again she failed.

Jiang Min looked down at the last Vitality Pill in her palm, reviewing her failures, wondering whether to make one more push. A sudden flash of inspiration made her recall a few lines from a book borrowed from Ming Ruoshui—it seemed directly related to her recent mistakes.

“Qi retained as perfect unity, like a seed’s protective coat in spring.”

“Earlier, the transformed wood energy was always unsettled, leading to chaos. Perhaps, as the formula suggests, I should condense it into a seamless unity, like the seed’s coat.”

“Once more!”

Jiang Min swallowed her last Vitality Pill and tried again.

This time, following the formula, it worked. The spiritual power in her dantian gradually transformed into verdant wood energy, and as the final trace changed, all wood energy gathered in her dantian.

Whoosh!

Within her dantian, the wood energy, much more refined than the first layer, rippled gently, bringing a sense of peace and comfort.

At last.

Qi Refining, second layer.