Chapter 229: Breakthrough – Spirit Force and Xian Tian Qi

“Master truly possesses unparalleled talent—so swiftly mastering the Lishui Tunsix Fa,” Lu Qing said, sensing the subtle fluctuations in the surrounding Qi.

The Lishui Tunsix Fa was a technique he had personally selected from the Li Hua Zong Chuan Cheng, deemed the most suitable for Master. Its essence was fire and water—Li (fire) and Shui (water)—a cultivation method that harmonized both elements.

And Master had already achieved the Yi Jing of Water and Fire Harmonization, with innate Xian Tian Qi of both water and fire affinities. Practicing this method was thus perfectly suited to him.

After a brief surge of Qi disturbance, the air around them settled once more. Old Doctor opened his eyes, his gaze filled with astonishment.

“How do you feel, Master?” Lu Qing asked eagerly.

“This cultivation method is truly extraordinary. It follows the path of Jingmai Qiaoxue Yunzhuan Zhi Dao—far more refined than the martial arts method of refining Heavenly and Earthly Qi,” Old Doctor remarked.

“Indeed,” Lu Qing nodded. “In the cultivation of Qi, this method surpasses the Xian Tian Method used in martial arts by a significant margin.”

The Xian Tian Combat Technique absorbed and refined Heavenly and Earthly Qi, but its process was straightforward—large and forceful, almost crude. The Qi entered the Qi cavity directly, and the cultivator then used Spirit Soul Power to slowly refine it, bit by bit, until it became their own.

The Shi Qi Zhi Fa, however, was different. Once inside the body, the Qi did not go straight to the Qi cavity. Instead, it first traveled through the meridians, circulating through the body’s network before finally settling in the Dantian, where it was gradually refined into Spirit Force.

On the surface, this seemed only a minor difference—just an extra step of circulation. But it was precisely this step that created a vast divergence between the two methods.

Circulating through the meridians and acupoints involved an intricate, almost mystical system. The entire human body’s meridian network was immensely complex, and the differences in how each Qi cultivation method navigated this system explained why various techniques produced such wildly different results.

“Jingmai Qiaoxue Yunzhuan Zhi Dao—even in our Xian Tian Jing circles, this path is considered profoundly mysterious and nearly impossible to grasp. Yet the ancients had already mastered it, creating countless arcane cultivation methods. The wisdom of the past—truly unfathomable,” Old Doctor sighed in awe.

“Master, we shouldn’t undervalue ourselves,” Lu Qing chuckled. “This Shi Qi Zhi Fa emerged during the golden age of Qi, when immortals capable of flying through the skies and vanishing into the earth were common. With such towering vision, creating techniques was far easier than it is today. Now that Qi is reviving, if we live long enough, we too may one day create methods just as profound.”

“That’s a fair point,” Old Doctor nodded. “The ancients were great, but we modern cultivators aren’t necessarily inferior. Otherwise, how could our medical arts have accumulated so many effective remedies and theories to benefit humanity?”

“By the way, Master, having just grasped the Lishui Tunsix Fa, how do you feel? Are you ready to begin absorbing and refining Qi?”

“Not so fast,” Old Doctor shook his head. “This method is incredibly profound. I’ve only just begun to grasp its essence. To truly master it, I’ll likely need several more days of contemplation.”

“Even so, mastering it in just a few days is astonishingly fast,” Lu Qing said sincerely. “This is cultivation in the true sense of the word. To achieve such insight upon first encounter—Master’s talent would stand out even among the cultivators of ancient times.”

“Even your own disciple teases me now?” Old Doctor laughed, feigning annoyance.

“Old Doctor! Lu Qing! Dinner’s ready!” Ma Gu’s voice rang out from nearby.

The master and disciple paused their conversation.

“Alright, let’s go eat,” Old Doctor said.

Lu Qing nodded, and the two leapt down from Da Shi, walking toward the carriage.

After finishing their evening meal, night had already fallen. They decided to set up camp in the woods for the night.

Once the tent was erected, Old Doctor retired early, entering meditation to further study and internalize the Lishui Tunsix Fa.

Lu Qing and Ma Gu sat by the fire, chatting.

“Lu Qing, I’ve reviewed the route,” Ma Gu said. “We’ll reach the Yun Zhou territory within two days at most. Yun Zhou is under the control of the Liu Yun Zong. What are your plans?”

“No plans needed,” Lu Qing replied. “We’ll head straight to the Liu Yun Zong, following the location marked by Fang Zhuangzhu.”

“Just… go straight in?” Ma Gu blinked in surprise.

“Mm-hmm.”

Ma Gu inhaled sharply, then let out a dry laugh. “No wonder you’re the one they call fearless. You really don’t hold back, do you?”

He’d expected some elaborate strategy from Lu Qing and Old Doctor, but instead, they were going in headfirst.

Yet then he remembered Lu Qing’s past—how, barely a few months after beginning martial arts, still at the Qi Xue Jing stage, he had single-handedly stormed Kuai Hua Village and slaughtered every last one of its inhabitants.

Now, the thought made sense. This was Lu Qing’s way.

A spark ignited in Ma Gu’s chest. He, too, despised the Liu Yun Zong’s actions—slaughtering ordinary civilians was no different from the deeds of demonic sects.

If they could teach the sect a lesson, the thought alone sent a thrill through him.

As for Wei Zian—youthful, brash, and recently proven his strength—fear was a foreign concept. Knowing they were targeting a major sect, he felt nothing but exhilaration.

After all, if the sky fell, Lu Qing and Old Doctor would bear the weight. All he had to do was follow.

That was, after all, the instruction given by the Ancestor at the start of their journey.

After a while, the group dispersed to rest.

No further words were spoken that night.

The next morning, after breakfast, they resumed their journey.

For the next two days, the carriage traveled nonstop.

Fortunately, none of them were ordinary people. Even Xiao Yan, with her unusual constitution, endured the strain.

Had they been weaker, such relentless travel would have broken them.

On the third morning, Lu Qing had just finished preparing breakfast when he noticed Old Doctor hadn’t emerged from the tent.

He walked over and began practicing the Nourish Body Fist to stretch his limbs.

Xiao Yan, also up early, joined him, mimicking his movements with quiet focus.

Over the past two years, though Lu Qing had never formally taught her cultivation, he had passed down a simplified version of his own Nourish Body Fist—a gentle, breath-synchronized routine perfect for children.

It required no complex movements or blood activation—just rhythm and breath. Yet its benefits were profound, ideal for laying a strong foundation.

It was a technique specially tailored for Xiao Yan.

The two siblings practiced diligently. Xiao Li lounged lazily on a tree stump nearby, watching them.

Meanwhile, Ma Gu and his disciple trained on the other side of the forest.

“Since refining the Soil Spirit Pearl, my body and soul have been steadily strengthening under its nourishment. My vitality is nearly doubled—and still, there’s no sign of slowing. I can’t even imagine how powerful I’ll become when this process reaches its peak,” Lu Qing mused as he continued his form.

For days now, the constant, gentle infusion of the Pearl’s energy had greatly enhanced both his physical strength and Spirit Soul Power—nearly doubling his former capacity.

And even now, the growth showed no signs of plateauing.

Lu Qing couldn’t help but wonder: when this transformation reaches its limit, just how strong will he become?

At that point, he might not even need to enter the Perfect Burst state—his mere physical strength could match that of a Xian Tian Jing.

After a few rounds, just as Lu Qing began to wonder why Master was so late in rising, he suddenly felt the Qi in the air stir.

It surged rapidly toward a single point—the tent where Old Doctor stayed.

“Master is breaking through?” Lu Qing’s eyes lit up.

He immediately stopped his practice and rushed to the tent.

In his spiritual awareness, the Qi within a one-li radius was being drawn in, funneling into the tent.

Inside, a powerful aura pulsed—suppressed, yet immensely intense.

After a while, the aura faded, returning to stillness. The tent flap parted, and Old Doctor stepped out.

The moment Lu Qing laid eyes on him, his expression brightened.

Master’s aura was now elusive, indistinct—ethereal. There was a new, mysterious quality to him.

“Master… you’ve broken through?”

“Indeed,” Old Doctor nodded. “After days of contemplation, I’ve finally achieved it. I can now absorb and refine Qi, and—finally—produce a strand of Spirit Force.”

Lu Qing’s heart surged with joy.

Without hesitation, he activated his Abilities and focused his gaze on Old Doctor.

Normally, out of respect, he rarely used his Abilities to probe Master. But this breakthrough was monumental—too significant to resist.

And what he saw made his breath catch.

A dense golden glow erupted from Old Doctor’s body.

[Chen Song Qing: Medical Skills Masterful, Kind-hearted, Revered by All—A Most Esteemed Elderly Physician.]

[Cultivation Level: Xian Tian Xiao Cheng Fengdian, Water and Fire Affinity True Qi.]

[Possesses Merit Power, capable of attracting fortune and avoiding misfortune—Blessed with Great Fortune.]

[Exceptional Insight—Xian Tian Ling Yu Xiao Cheng.]

[Achieved the Water and Fire Harmonization Yi Jing, Master of Water and Fire Xian Tian Qi—mutually reinforcing, drastically accelerating cultivation and amplifying power.]

[Dao Ji Chu Xian: Possesses Water and Fire Affinity Spirit Force.]

It was real! Spirit Force had been cultivated!

And not only that—Master’s cultivation level had also advanced to Xian Tian Xiao Cheng Fengdian. He was now just one step away from Xian Tian Great Completion.

“Master, what’s the difference between Spirit Force and Xian Tian Qi?” Lu Qing asked.

Old Doctor paused, pondering.

“On power alone, Spirit Force surpasses Xian Tian Qi by a significant margin. But the cultivation difficulty is also far greater. Moreover… I sense something different. The connection between Spirit Force and the Laws of Heaven and Earth is stronger now.”

“Ah… so that’s it,” Lu Qing murmured, thoughtful. “The Carefree Hermit once wrote in his notes that when Qi vanished, the world became trapped—martial cultivators could only reach Xian Tian Perfection. Any further breakthrough was nearly impossible.

Now, with Qi returning, you feel a deeper link between Spirit Force and the laws of nature. It suggests that to ascend beyond Xian Tian, we must look to Spirit Force.”

He then thought of Li Weitian.

Li Weitian had once studied the runes within the Jade Transformation Cave Chamber, reaching a higher level of understanding—only to die attempting to break through.

In his final moments, he lamented that if only he had more time, if only he hadn’t wasted years in petty conflicts, he could have perfected the runes and succeeded.

Now, Lu Qing realized—Li Weitian was wrong.

The failure wasn’t due to lack of knowledge or time.

It was the world itself—the ancient barriers—had sealed off that path.

Even if he had understood the final layer, he could never have stepped through.

But Li Weitian never knew. Whether that was a blessing or a curse… he could never know.

“Master,” Lu Qing suddenly asked, “now that you possess both Xian Tian Qi and Spirit Force, does it cause any conflict?”

“Not at all,” Old Doctor shook his head. “Both are born from my cultivation—shaped by my soul and will. They are of the same origin. There’s no clash. In fact, I can sense that once I master the Lishui Tunsix Fa even deeper, I might even use Xian Tian Qi to nourish Spirit Force—accelerating its growth without harming my cultivation.”

“Can it really be done?” Lu Qing’s eyes widened.

“If so, even with Qi still thin, couldn’t you still break through quickly—reach Qi Fullness and enter Zhu Ji Qi?”

No—then he paused.

It couldn’t be that simple.

If it were, the Carefree Hermit wouldn’t have been so hopeless. The great cultivators of old wouldn’t have vanished without a trace.

“No,” Old Doctor chuckled. “It’s not that easy. We are all born of the world. Even cultivators depend on it. If I were to convert Xian Tian Qi into Spirit Force too rapidly, yes—short-term gains would be real. But over time, I’d lose control. The Spirit Force would leak out. Because the world’s laws haven’t yet evolved to support such a transformation.”

“I see,” Lu Qing nodded. “So it’s like being in a dry, scorching desert. No matter how much water you drink, the lack of moisture in the air and the heat will eventually drain you.”

Old Doctor gave a slight nod. “Not perfectly accurate, but the principle is sound.”

So perhaps the ancient cultivators didn’t vanish due to failure—but because the world could no longer sustain them.

After their conversation, Lu Qing felt deepened understanding.

And Old Doctor’s breakthrough was a welcome surprise.

With this new strength, their journey into Yun Zhou would be far more secure.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end