Chapter 41 - 37: Qi Cultivation at the Cup Realm (Update Efforts!)
After sharing the information about the sect’s grand ceremony and cultivation practices, Shen Sister excused herself on account of something urgent and left Pure Yang Peak.
Han Ye stared at the vast scenery before him, casually picked a position, and began to cultivate.
The Dragon Sparrow Qi Cultivation Technique was not difficult. It was an enlightenment book for Qi practitioners, so the entry barrier couldn’t be set too high.
“The fundamental of Qi cultivation lies in settling the heart and strengthening the root, adjusting the Dantian. The human body is like a Ding, and if the state of mind is clear, True Qi will be purer…”
“The essence of the sun and the moon gathers in the yellow court, the light of the sun and the moon shines on me…”
At the foot of a verdant mountain, Han Ye was sitting cross-legged, reciting and replicating the lines from memory.
Now, Han Ye was bolstered by being ‘Slightly Versed in Literature and Ink.’ His comprehension ability was not poor, and whatever he heard, he could remember and not forget.
This Qi cultivating stanza was much advanced than the ‘Breathing and Qi Exchanging Technique’ he used previously at the Liu Manor.
‘Dao Heart Like a Rock’ allowed Han Ye to isolate external things and meditate in peace, allowing him to enter a selfless state, observing everything from a bird’s eye view and reflecting on himself.
This was the first stage of the Dragon Sparrow Qi Cultivation Technique: viewing a mountain as just a mountain.
People with pure thoughts, who are free from distraction, are more likely to reach the first stage.
If one’s mind was impure, it would require powerful willpower and concentration to compensate.
Han Ye was of this type.
He heard from Shen Sister that if the disciples of Pure Yang Peak couldn’t break through to the Qi Sea Realm within ten years, they would be sent to Yangshen Peak.
Those disciples who had previously extorted him were old hands at Pure Yang Peak.
They had entered the sect when the assessment was fairly loose in the previous years. They had been lax in their cultivation and had not made significant breakthroughs. This year, the number of people participating in the assessment was several times that of the last decade, so the hurdles set were more difficult and arduous. The disciples who got in had better potential. A main peak’s resources were limited and it couldn’t accommodate too many people, so these dull-witted fellows had to be driven away.
Han Ye had asked at that time – couldn’t one stay in the Dragon Sparrow Sect till death?
However, Shen Sister told him that was not the case.
After entering, disciples with qualifications could report to their sect, determining their future development direction, whether to mainly focus on body cultivation, sword cultivation, tool cultivation, medicine cultivation, talisman cultivation, concealment mastery, or becoming an alchemy master, similar to choosing a career path.
And every year, an internal assessment would be held in the sect, which can provisionally be called the minor sect competition. Han Ye saw it as a final exam. The disciples of each sect would participate to see how much they had improved. The results were graded A, B, C, and D. If one ranked D for ten consecutive years, they would be given a consolation sum and then expelled from the sect. After all, new people joined every three years.
However, Shen Sister also said that there were not many such people. Anyone who could enter the sect must have something commendable about them.
All in all, the matter of cultivation was fairly urgent.
Han Ye used the state of selflessness to visualize the heavens and the earth, feeling the Spiritual Qi around him, forgetting everything around him.
Gradually, the Heavenly Earthly Spiritual Qi slowly gathered towards his Dantian.
At some unknown point, he entered the second stage of the Dragon Sparrow Qi Cultivation Technique: viewing a mountain as not a mountain.
Using his own vitality to deconstruct all living things, producing numerous illusions, his heart enlightened to everything.
In Han Ye’s illusion, a world as black as ink manifested. Nine black dragons appeared, towering and descending, continuously roaring and causing destruction to the world.
Even the surrounding spiritual Qi began to go chaotic.
“Young Master, you look shocked.”
A soft and charming voice rang in his ear.
Han Ye suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze as sharp as electricity, and patted his chest with lingering fear.
He saw a demon fox sitting in front of him, watching him with its green eyes.
If it wasn’t for Tushan Qingli’s reminder, he would probably have been contaminated by the black dragon’s demon Qi, losing himself.
‘Dao Heart Like a Rock’ was quite useful, but after all, it was only one-fifth of the way complete. If he wanted to truly ward off heart demons, he had to gather some more attribute abilities.
However, he was somewhat puzzled not to have seen the little demon fox for a very long time.
“Qing Li, why haven’t you come out before?”
The white fox transformed into a young girl in a green gauze dress, sullenly said as she sat on a rock, propping up her head, “Don’t mention it, young master, you are not aware of it. The two old men you met a few days back, and the middle-aged man you met this morning are too strong in cultivation. I didn’t dare to release a hint of my presence, dare not to say a word.”
Hearing that, Han Ye knew she was talking about the founder Yunxu, Elder Jiang, and Elder Gai, he couldn’t help but ask curiously:
“What is their cultivation level? You, who have been cultivating for three hundred years, are not their match?”
Tushan Qingli was disdainful, “What’s the big deal about three hundred years? In our demon race, unless you’ve cultivated for eight hundred years, you’re too ashamed to call yourself a big demon. Those three old men must have cultivated for at least five hundred years, and they are definitely above Deity Transformation.”
“Above Deity Transformation… that’s amazing.”
Han Ye sighed quietly.
Tushan Qingli seemed to think of something and reminded, “Young Master, when you cultivate in the future, remember not to be overly engrossed. Keep some consciousness outside, or else the Demon Qi will naturally arise.”
“What exactly are Demon Qi and Heart Demon?”
Tushan Qingli pondered a while, “Well… Demon Qi is the impurity in Heavenly Earthly Spiritual Qi. When accumulated over a long time, it forms a substantial mass. As for Heart Demon, it is the most dreadful evil deep in a cultivator’s body. Demon Qi can lure this evil out, then amplify it. If one is not careful, they will lose themselves, their personality will greatly change, being occupied by the heart demon, they will become unrecognizable, and they would ultimately become demon cultivators.”
“Understood.”
Han Ye nodded, realizing he could only refine Qi now. If he wants to continue advancing to the third level of the Dragon Sparrow Qi Cultivation Technique, he has to gather more ‘Dao Heart Like a Rock’ properties.
“Young master, you carry on with your cultivation. I’m a little tired after these days of escorting you through the challenges. I’ll sleep for a few days within you. You better be careful.”
Soon enough Tushan Qingli yawned cutely, said so, then turned into a wisp of green smoke and slipped into his sleeve.
Han Ye repositioned himself cross-legged, closed his eyes, adjusted his state, and silently recited the True Brahman Calming Mantra.
This was the calming mantra that Chu Xianyu had passed on to him.
It surprisingly worked incredibly well.
His inner heart, which had been previously affected by illusions, gradually settled down, and his state of mind became peaceful again.
This time, he did not pursue the cultivation of the Dragon Sparrow Qi Cultivation Technique, but instead went to sense the spiritual Qi around him.
Half a day passed, and his Dantian contained more strands of ethereal, silky Qi. This Qi intertwined faintly into a ball, rotating slightly, circulating, and starting to circulate through the universe.
Han Ye mobilized the Spiritual Qi in his Dantian. At first, the sluggish, slow True Qi was instantly ignited by the flames, swiftly circulating!
He could faintly hear the rumbling sound coming from his own Dan Tian. The Heavenly Earthly Spiritual Root was converted into True Qi through the Spiritual Root, entering the Dan Tian, splitting it more and more!
The overall erupt has flipped several times, finally forming the size of a bowl of water.
“Phew!”
Han Ye opened his eyes, let out a long breath, detached from the wonderful state. There was a flash of brightness in his eyes.
This should be the cup of water in cultivation of Qi that his senior sister mentioned which is the Cup Realm!
He had actually been successful with his Qi cultivation in a single day!
The current Han Ye could hear the slight noise of falling leaves between the mountain peaks, vibrating vigorously, not sleeping, or eating for three days and three nights, he could still maintain his spirits. The transformation brought by the breakthrough in the Qi Cultivation Realm was comprehensive.
The True Qi in his Dantian was even more solid and refined than before, calm as still water, full of vitality.
He had a familiar sense of the True Qi in his body.
“Let’s test the effect.”
After Han Ye’s breakthrough, he was very excited. He restrained himself and wanted to see how strong he was now.
He was facing the hard gray-white rock at the foot of the mountain, making a fist and circulating his True Qi. The Qi flow surged from his meridians, muscles, and pores.
– Whoosh!
A punch in mid-air, which didn’t seem to use much power, but it made a sound of explosion and splitting the air. The Qi burst forth.
“Boom!”
The gray-white rock ten steps away shattered loudly.
It was hard to imagine the strength of this punch, even if it just brushed past the enemy, the strong wind it created could tear the opponent’s skin.
Breaking the rock in the air, the fist wind tears the body.
Han Ye thought to himself: “This is Qi cultivation… The quality of True Qi greatly improved, the mastery of power became more meticulous and subtler, it saved energy, and the True Qi could be exuded from the pores. Just pressing the palm, the strength comes in and out, which can harm people invisibly.”
He looked at his palm, and couldn’t help but admire.
Normal people have to get through to Qi cultivation in three to five years.
But he only spent half a year.
Although he couldn’t compare with the genius Chu Xianyu, it wasn’t bad either, he was considered slightly above average.
“I don’t know if I can compete with the practitioners of the Qi Pool, River, and Sea Realms with my Dragon-Tiger Physique and a solid foundation.”
Han Ye feasted on the solid power between his fingers and pondered.
In order to break through the Foundation Establishment, one must reach the Qi Sea Realm.
Such Outer Sect disciples must be very common in the Dragon Sparrow Sect. After all, once they break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, they can become Inner Sect disciples.
So, cultivation is endless, and one must be eager to learn.
Suddenly, he saw a black dot appearing in the sky above the Pure Yang Peak.
Heading towards the Great Hall, the figure gradually became clear.
“Senior sister?”
Han Ye looked surprised.
Sister Shen in a green dress, flying through the air, brought a burly man to the Pure Yang Peak. The man covered his eyes, daring not to look down.
She’s already back.
Sister Shen saw Han Ye and paused in mid-air, laughing and saying:
“It’s only been almost a day, and you’ve already cultivated Qi? Not bad kid, you’re fast.”
“It’s okay…”
Being praised like this, Han Ye smiled brilliantly, but he quickly noticed the familiar face of the man behind Sister Shen.
“Da Niu? You are also at Pure Yang Peak now?”
Now he had figured it out. So the busy work that Sister Shen mentioned was to receive new disciples.
Wang Da Niu covered his eyes, dared not look at the ground, until he heard someone calling him. He opened his fingers slightly, saw Han Ye, and said joyfully:
“Hey! Brother Han, you are here too!”
“We are assigned together, hahaha!”
“What, aren’t you afraid of heights anymore?” Sister Shen joked as she watched Da Niu’s cheerful look.
“So, you guys already know each other.”
“That makes things easier. Wang Da Niu has already been chosen by the sect master, and is now a disciple of Pure Yang Peak. Can you take care of him, and help me ease some of the pressure? I still have some disciples to pick up.”
Sister Shen handed Han Ye Da Niu’s Identity Jade Plate and Storage Ring.
Han Ye took them and nodded, “Sister, you go ahead. I’ll take care of Da Niu.”
He turned his head and saw Wang Da Niu, who was relieved after landing, and asked curiously, “Da Niu, why did Sister Shen bring you here? I remember there are Immortal Cranes to ride.”
“Um…”
Wang Da Niu laughed embarrassingly, scratching his head, and hesitated to speak.
“Pfft!”
Sister Shen chuckled at Han Ye, “He didn’t dare to ride the Immortal Crane, insisted that he was afraid of heights, so I had to go to pick him up.”