Heaven Refining physique Chapter 5: Qi refinement realm

~8 minute read · 1,945 words
Previously on Heaven Refining physique...
Hu Tian explains the cultivation realms, techniques, and the unique advantage of heavenly physiques. He bestows upon Jiang Hao a Heaven Refining Physique, a powerful storage ring with multiple functions, and a Heaven Grade cultivation technique, while also entrusting him with a promise of revenge against the Sword Harmony Sect before his will fades.
Having organized all his affairs, he then inspected the furnace he had used for his refinement process. He remained uncertain if it qualified as a treasure, as Elder Hu Tian had not provided any details about it. The furnace itself was considerably larger than him, shaped much like an enormous bowl with a designated space at its base for igniting flames. Its distinct design clearly indicated its purpose was specifically for body refinement. "Regardless of its nature, I shall stow it within the ring for the time being," he mused, eager to test the ring's capabilities as well. Focusing his intent on the ring, he willed it to absorb the furnace. Without even a flicker of his eyes, the furnace vanished from his sight. "Incredible..." he breathed, the experience proving overwhelming for someone who had once been a mere mortal. "Now, let's explore its contents," he decided. The instant his will was exerted, his consciousness felt as though it blurred, and his surroundings underwent a transformation. He found himself within an expanse of utter blackness, with numerous objects suspended in the void. The furnace was present, alongside two ancient books, a plentiful collection of herbs, and several stones. These stones, he surmised, must be the spirit stones Elder Hu Tian had spoken of, and one of the books was undoubtedly the heaven-grade cultivation technique. He directed his focus towards a single spirit stone, willing it to materialize before him. As he did so, his consciousness swam once more, and the familiar stone walls of the cave reappeared in his vision. A stone now rested comfortably in his palm. It possessed a distinct bluish-white hue and emitted a bright, captivating luminescence. This particular cave was situated deep within the mountains, a place seldom visited by the local villagers. He resolved to utilize it as a temporary sanctuary for his cultivation, aiming to reach the initial stage of the Qi Refinement realm. Upon achieving this first stage, he felt confident he could easily hunt any of the beasts inhabiting these mountains. Although, even without reaching that milestone, he doubted any creature in this vicinity could pose a genuine threat to him. Following the completion of his refinement, he perceived a significant increase in his overall strength. He approached the cave walls and delivered a punch with moderate force. Thuddddd... As anticipated, his physical prowess had surpassed even his own optimistic expectations. Returning to the center of the cave, he began to contemplate the pathway to achieving stage one of the Qi Refinement realm. Elder Hu Tian had previously instructed him to sense the spirit qi permeating the natural world and attempt to absorb it. He explained that successfully drawing in even a wisp of spirit qi would signify entry into the first stage of Qi Refinement. Despite possessing spirit stones, he opted against using them directly to sense the qi. Instead, he returned the spirit stone to the ring and retrieved the heaven-grade cultivation technique manual. The book appeared ancient, its texture evoking the sensation of touching a relic from a bygone era. The title inscribed on its cover read: Heavenly Lotus Sutra. Upon opening the tome, he discovered that certain pages differed from the rest—these contained annotations and insights left behind by Elder Hu Tian. He scrutinized these notes with great care. They elucidated the initial steps of cultivation and outlined potential pitfalls to avoid. Crucially, they also warned that cultivators were cautioned against using spirit stones for their practice, as these stones contained chaotic and impure qi that could potentially inflict damage upon the meridians. Having absorbed the information from the notes thoroughly, he gained a clear understanding of the necessary steps to attain the first stage of the Qi Refinement realm. Given his possession of a celestial physique, he realized he wouldn't require the heaven-grade technique to commence his cultivation journey. He resolved to study it at a later juncture. Jiang Hao settled himself down and began to focus on his surroundings, attempting to perceive everything as described in the notes. The air within the cave felt humid and somewhat stifling, yet also considerably warmer than the outside environment. He maintained his concentration on the sensations emanating from his environment. Throughout his life, Jiang Hao had consistently been lauded by the villagers for his exceptional maturity and keen intellect, far surpassing others his age. His disposition was characterized by a calm and serene nature, rarely becoming flustered, even when confronted with unavoidable predicaments. In fact, when his mother neared death's door, instead of succumbing to panic expected of a fifteen-year-old, he resolutely took it upon himself to find a cure. He even risked his life venturing into the perilous mountains, where any beast could have easily ended his existence. His willpower was even more formidable; he had once forged a promise that carried immense personal risk, yet he fulfilled it without a shred of regret. Even Hu Tian himself had commended his unwavering resolve. Sensing spirit qi for the very first time proved challenging, but as he immersed himself deeper into the ambient sensations, he gradually lost all track of time. Subtly, his body began to emit a soft glow. Though engrossed in his focus, the moment his body started to radiate light, a faint prickling sensation registered on his skin, prompting him to open his eyes. However, he did not break his concentration. He could distinctly perceive a faint white luminescence enveloping his body. The glow was not intense; in fact, it was rather subtle and almost imperceptible, yet he could clearly see and feel its presence.

The white radiance enveloping him was absorbed by his body, a sensation he could distinctly feel. Normally, when a cultivator attains the ability to sense spirit qi, they must precisely regulate their breathing according to their specific cultivation technique to draw in even the smallest wisp. Upon successful absorption, the qi must be circulated following the chosen method. If this circulation is achieved, the spirit qi will continuously enter their body as long as the process can be sustained.

However, Jiang Hao's experience was remarkably different. He only needed to focus his mind to perceive the spirit qi; thereafter, his body handled the rest passively.

"So, this is why physiques are considered cultivation techniques in themselves," he mused.

This realization implied that cultivation was exceptionally straightforward for individuals possessing a special physique. They merely had to sense the spirit qi, unlike others who were required to both sense and circulate it in accordance with their techniques.

He could already detect a significant increase in his strength as his body commenced absorbing the spirit qi. This signaled his successful entry into the initial stage of the Qi Refinement realm.

At last, in the eyes of the mortal world, he had ascended to the status of an immortal—the kind revered by everyone in his village.

Glancing outside the cave, he noted that merely a couple of hours had elapsed. Recalling the contents of the notes he had studied, he remembered that even the most gifted cultivators in the upper world typically required about ten days to begin sensing qi. Only paramount geniuses could achieve this within a single day. Jiang Hao had mentally prepared himself to attempt sensing qi daily, even if it took longer than ten days. The fact that he accomplished it in just a few hours was astonishing.

The ability to sense qi, he understood, was not dictated by cultivation techniques or physiques, but rather by an individual's innate talent.

"To think my talent would be on par with the supreme geniuses of the upper world," he contemplated.

Despite this thought, he refrained from becoming conceited. After all, the speed of cultivation was not solely determined by how rapidly one could absorb spiritual qi from the environment. It was also profoundly influenced by the availability of resources.

Indeed, resources were often considered more critical than any other factor. Nevertheless, this did not render talent useless, particularly when abundant resources were at hand. There was a distinct reason why every Sect and faction actively sought to recruit talented cultivators.

Firstly, individuals with exceptional talent could master secret skills and techniques at a significantly faster rate than others, a crucial factor in defining a cultivator's combat prowess.

Secondly, only those with inherent talent could smoothly advance to higher realms. Without sufficient talent, even an abundance of resources might prove insufficient to achieve even a single step forward.

All these points were detailed within the notes. While Jiang Hao did not fully grasp every nuance yet, he was confident he would understand them as he progressed through different levels.

Another significant piece of information he gleaned was that once a cultivator achieved the Qi Refinement stage, they would no longer experience hunger unless they expended a substantial amount of qi, as their bodies would sustain themselves through absorbed qi.

However, cultivators still consumed food, though it differed from ordinary sustenance. This specialized food was prepared using spirit herbs and the meat of spirit beasts. Such meals actively complemented and aided the cultivation process.

Having already bid farewell to his mother, he resolved to remain in the cave to cultivate rather than returning to the village for the immediate future. He also felt an urgent need to ascertain the unique properties of his physique.

He harbored a strong suspicion regarding its capabilities, informed by the very name of his physique, and now was the opportune moment to confirm whether his intuition was correct.

As its name implied, this physique possessed the potential to refine even the heavens themselves. While he might not be able to achieve that at the current Qi Refinement stage, what about spirit herbs or spirit stones?

Ordinarily, cultivators could not directly draw power from spirit stones or herbs, but what about him?

Given that his physique had the capacity to refine anything, did this not mean he could effortlessly refine spirit herbs and spirit stones directly?

He wouldn't even need to go through the process of creating pills from the herbs—he could simply consume them whole.

"There's no point in getting lost in speculation. Let's simply give it a try. If it proves successful, all the better. If not, I can always revert to the conventional methods of cultivation," he reasoned.

Yet, deep within, an unshakeable confidence settled in his heart. After all, his physique was of celestial grade; it would be a betrayal of its name if it couldn't refine these comparatively common herbs and spirit stones.

He retrieved a spirit herb; it was vibrant red, its leaves resembling large lotus pads, and it emanated a gentle warmth upon touch. He then took out the other book stored within his storage ring. From the notes, he had already learned that this particular book contained comprehensive information on all the herbs residing within his ring, alongside details on renowned spirit herbs.

He had previously made a plan to meticulously study this book at a later time, recognizing that knowledge was an ever-expanding resource. A highly informed individual could adeptly navigate numerous perils, whereas an ignorant one might not even perceive the cause of their demise.

He opened the book and proceeded to locate the name of the herb he held in his hand. After a short while, he found the relevant entry.This plant is known as Earth Fire Grass. It is an ingredient in pills taken by cultivators in the Core Formation stage. Consequently, it is packed with potent Qi, rendering it too dangerous for those in the Qi Refinement realm to handle.