Volume 1 Chapter 10

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Volume 1 Chapter 10: Inedia Stage

And so, Xu Qingfan and Jin Qinghan became acquainted.

After that night, Xu Qingfan discovered that the Wood-type Spirit Qi in the back mountain was plentiful, and the environment was nice, with fresh air and peaceful surroundings. Therefore, he chose to meditate there for a few hours every night.

Although Xu Qingfan was still at the Qi Refining Stage and could not absorb the Wood-type Qi from the surroundings all the time to nourish himself, practicing in this environment helped him deepen his connection with the Wood-type Spirit Qi, which was beneficial for the flow of Wood-type Spirit Qi within him.

Since Xu Qingfan saved Jin Qinghan, Jin Qinghan often came to practice Taoist spells there. The two of them rarely spoke, one meditating and the other practicing, but they still spent time together peacefully.

Xu Qingfan knew that with Jin Qinghan’s proud personality, his decision to come here to cultivate with him, even without much conversation, meant that he had accepted him. So, every time Xu Qingfan saw him, he would smile and nod in greeting, and Jin Qinghan slowly started to learn how to respond to Xu Qingfan’s nods, at least his expression became less stiff when he nodded back.

And so, time unknowingly passed for more than two months.

One night, after a whole day of cultivation, Xu Qingfan arrived at the back mountain again and found that Jin Qinghan had not yet come. Looking up at the sky, he saw that the moon was still in the west, realizing he had arrived too early. He smiled to himself but didn’t mind. Instead, he went to his usual sitting spot and settled down. Taking a deep breath of the fresh night air, he began his nightly meditation routine.

For Xu Qingfan, coming to the back mountain to meditate every night was more about resting and relaxing than actual cultivation. When he practiced in Changchun Residence, he always tried to maintain the flow of his two Spirit Qis according to the cultivation method described in "The Formula of Wither and Flourish," working hard to improve his skills.

However, when Xu Qingfan meditated at the back mountain every night, he simply closed his eyes to relax, letting the Spirit Qi within him flow naturally, experiencing the mysteries of its movement. In comparison, this was much easier.

But today, things are a little different from usual.

Xu Qingfan was just like always, feeling the Wood-type Spirit Qi in the world around him while letting the two Spirit Qis in his body flow freely. Suddenly, he felt a flicker in his heart, and the two Spirit Qis inside him began to push against his veins. Places that used to be blocked during his practice slowly started to feel smooth.

This time, the self-moving Spirit Qi was very different from the last time when he almost had a Qi deviation. Because Xu Qingfan could feel that, even though the Spirit Qi was moving by itself and pushing against his veins, he could easily regain control of them if he wanted. In other words, this time, the Spirit Qi was pushing against his veins under his control. So, Xu Qingfan relaxed and began to observe the state of his body comfortably.

With the Spirit Qi pushing, the flow of Spirit Qi in Xu Qingfan’s body became smoother and his veins sturdier and wider. Amid all these changes, the thousand-year-old Wood-type Qi stored in his body was being refined quickly. After only a few cycles, Xu Qingfan’s Spirit Qi had actually doubled.

Finally, as the Spirit Qi in his body increased, even the now much wider dantian and veins could not hold it anymore. Xu Qingfan felt that the Spirit Qi was growing more and more, making his body feel full, while the impact of the two Spirit Qis on his veins became stronger, as if they were about to burst out!

"Boom…" Just as Xu Qingfan couldn’t help but start to control his true energy, he suddenly heard a loud sound in his head, followed by a dizzy feeling, as if his whole soul fell into emptiness.

He did not know how long it took, but Xu Qingfan finally woke up from his daze. He felt refreshed and full of energy.

Slowly opening his eyes, two bright lights flashed in Xu Qingfan’s eyes. One was emerald green, full of life; the other was dark, full of silence.

After waking up, Xu Qingfan noticed that the sky had started to light up; he had been meditating for an entire night. Inside him, the Spirit Qi had calmed down but grown much stronger and purer. He could sense even the slightest movement of wind or grass within ten feet of him.

But none of these were the most important. The most important thing was that Xu Qingfan discovered his connection to the Spirit Qi between heaven and earth was much stronger than before. The speed at which he absorbed the Spirit Qi was also much faster. Xu Qingfan even felt that the Spirit Qi inside him faintly resonated with the Spirit Qi outside.

"Could it be…?" Faced with the sudden change, Xu Qingfan suddenly thought of a possibility. "Could it be that I have finally broken through the Qi Refining Stage and reached the Inedia Stage?"

Thinking of this possibility, even Xu Qingfan, who was good at controlling his emotions, couldn’t help but feel overjoyed. You see, the gap between the Qi Refining Stage and the Inedia Stage is a significant hurdle for cultivators, and since Xu Qingfan entered the late stage of the Qi Refining Stage three years ago, his level had been stuck for a full three years.

Although the late stage of the Qi Refining Stage and the early stage of the Inedia Stage are only one level apart, they are worlds apart!

The reason why cultivators at the Inedia Stage can cut off ties with worldly food is that they are already able to absorb the Spirit Qi from heaven and earth to nourish themselves, so they no longer need ordinary food for energy.

Besides not eating worldly food, the combat ability of a cultivator at the Inedia Stage also greatly increases due to the abundant Spirit Qi. Generally speaking, a cultivator in the early stage of the Inedia Stage can easily defeat three or more cultivators in the late stage of the Qi Refining Stage.

Most importantly, because cultivators at the Inedia Stage are constantly absorbing Spirit Qi from heaven and earth, their training speed is much faster than that of the Qi Refining Stage, and they also gain an additional sixty years of lifespan.

With so many benefits, how could Xu Qingfan not be happy? How could he not be excited?

Ever since the last time Xu Qingfan nearly had a Qi deviation, which unexpectedly improved his strength, he was now just a step away from the Inedia Stage. Plus, with his continuous training these days, he finally made a great leap and broke through to the Inedia Stage.

"Congratulations!" Just as Xu Qingfan felt a secret excitement, a cool voice suddenly sounded next to him. But if you listened closely to this voice, you would find a hint of joy in its chilly tone.

Xu Qingfan turned to look and saw Jin Qinghan.

This was the first time Jin Qinghan had spoken to Xu Qingfan since the last incident. He was sitting nearby, with a few droplets of dew on him, clearly having protected Xu Qingfan throughout the night while he broke through.

Seeing Jin Qinghan’s actions, Xu Qingfan felt his heart warm slightly, knowing that Jin Qinghan truly considered him a friend. The earlier silence was just because Jin Qinghan was not good at interacting with others.

"Hehe, there’s nothing much to congratulate. I have been training for ten whole years, and only now have I made a little progress. I don’t even know when I will break through again. The path to immortality is long and uncertain; all I have gained is a few more years of life," Xu Qingfan replied calmly, not continuing to feel happy after Jin Qinghan’s congratulations.

I must say, Xu Qingfan has been influenced quite a bit by his master, Lu Huayan, over the past ten years, often sharing his musings on life.

"Though the path to immortality is long, at least there is a path; though longevity is uncertain, at least there is a clear goal," Jin Qinghan countered Xu Qingfan’s words, saying, "Since there is a path and a goal, we should keep moving forward. Every little progress is a reason to celebrate. How can you look down on your own achievements like this?"

Xu Qingfan was slightly taken aback by Jin Qinghan’s response and suddenly asked with a smile, "How old are you now? How many years have you been cultivating?"

"I am twenty-four this year and have been training for six years," Jin Qinghan hesitated for a moment but still answered Xu Qingfan’s question.

"I am twenty-seven years old this year, almost thirty. I have been learning for ten years, so how about I call you junior brother?"

Jin Qinghan nodded quietly.

"Everyone has their own opportunities. Because opportunities are different, views on things are also different," Xu Qingfan said softly. "For example, junior brother Qinghan, you are naturally gifted. You have only been cultivating for five years and have reached a level that many people can’t achieve in their whole lives, so you surely have confidence in longevity. As for me, senior brother, my talents are ordinary. I have been cultivating for ten years but reached the Inedia Stage later than you. Although I am happy to succeed, I mostly feel lucky. Do you understand what I mean, junior brother?"

"Senior Brother Xu, you reached the Inedia Stage in ten years; your talent isn’t bad at all. If you work a bit harder, you can still hope for longevity," Jin Qinghan said to comfort Xu Qingfan upon seeing his expression.

"You don’t know my situation, junior brother." Xu Qingfan then began to tell him how he had accidentally gained the accumulated Wood-type Qi from the Mountain Spirit Wood Monster and the inner core of the Green Snake Dragon, and how he became Lu Huayan’s disciple. After finishing, he looked at Jin Qinghan, who seemed a bit dazed, and said, "So do you understand? I am not naturally talented. Although I can absorb Spirit Qi from the world, I cannot keep it for myself. I can only use it to refine the Wood-type Qi in my body. That’s why I can make progress now; I’ve been refining the Wood-type Qi that has long existed in me. Once I finish refining it, I probably won’t be able to advance further in this life."

"How can that old guy Lu Huayan use you as a test subject? That’s terrible! What if you have Qi deviation?" After hearing Xu Qingfan’s story, Jin Qinghan became upset about how Xu Qingfan was treated by Lu Huayan.

"Junior brother, please don’t say that. Although Master may have his own plans for me, he saved my life, and he has taught me diligently over the years. So, I have always respected him greatly," Xu Qingfan replied seriously to Jin Qinghan’s words.

After ten years of getting along, Xu Qingfan’s view of Lu Huayan was not as strong as it used to be.

"Since you say that, fine," Jin Qinghan replied with a pout, clearly unconvinced. He then comforted Xu Qingfan, saying, "Don’t be discouraged by your talent; maybe you will have an opportunity in the future, and your skills will improve rapidly."

"Chance is something that no one can understand," Xu Qingfan said, shaking his head slightly. He then told Jin Qinghan, "You don’t need to worry about me, Qinghan. I’ve come to terms with it. Even though I can’t reach the highest level, being able to take revenge for my family and live a few more hundred years makes me very happy."

Seeing Jin Qinghan relax a little after hearing his words, Xu Qingfan felt touched, knowing he had found a true friend.

At first, Jin Qinghan seemed very proud and distant. But now Xu Qingfan understood that he simply lacked experience with friends. He didn’t know how to connect with others, so he put on a proud face to protect himself.

Of course, it was also possible that he felt too talented, thinking he didn’t need friends in his life.

But no matter what, someone like Jin Qinghan will never betray you once he considers you his friend, unless you betray him first.

Xu Qingfan was very happy to have such a friend.

And so, the two of them talked for a long time that day.

In their conversation, Xu Qingfan learned many things about Jin Qinghan. Jin Qinghan originally came from a family of officials, but because his father lost in a political struggle, their family quickly fell into ruin. Just when the family was declining and others were taking advantage of them, his master, Li Huabo, discovered him and, impressed by his talent, took him as his direct disciple.

Jin Qinghan also did not disappoint his master’s expectations and grew quickly. In just five short years, he reached the Inedia Stage, which many cultivators cannot achieve in their entire lives. He was recognized as a once-in-three-hundred-years genius in the cultivation world and, along with another well-known genius, Feng Qingtian, they were collectively known as the Jiuhua Twin Talents. Even the Master of Jiuhua, Zhang Hualing, and the Supreme Protector, Zhou Huahai, held high hopes for them, believing that they would be the hope for the revival of the Jiuhua Sect.

The young man who duelled Jin Qinghan that day, using fire magic, was Feng Qingtian, who was known alongside Jin Qinghan and was actually one year younger than him. Feng Qingtian’s background, however, was quite extraordinary.

Within Jiuhua Gate, there is a family with the surname Feng. This family has its own training system and unique Taoist spells. Rumor has it that the descendants of this family possess the bloodline of the ancient mythical beast "Flame Phoenix". Although that bloodline has become very thin over time, members of this family still cultivate fire magic much faster than ordinary cultivators.

Although this family is officially part of the Jiuhua Sect and usually lives on Jiuhua Mountain, they have a high degree of autonomy. Even the Master of Jiuhua cannot easily command them. Only when Jiuhua Gate faces great danger do the members of this family come to help.

Unfortunately, Feng Qingtian is the last descendant of the Feng family. Eighty years ago, the traitorous "Heavenly Snake Star Lord" Zhang Xusheng suddenly attacked this family, and except for Feng Qingtian’s father, who managed to escape, all other family members were killed. Though Feng Qingtian’s father survived, he was seriously injured and could not heal. He passed away shortly after Feng Qingtian was born.

Originally, Jin Qinghan and Feng Qingtian, who shared similar experiences and personalities, both being rare geniuses seen once every few hundred years, should have become great friends. But life is strange, as they have disliked each other since their first meeting, especially when others compared them.

Finally, the long-standing conflict erupted, and the two arranged to duel on the back mountain, resulting in a crushing defeat for Jin Qinghan.

"Next time! I will definitely not lose to him again," Jin Qinghan said, clenching his hands into fists with a determined look.

"I believe you will," Xu Qingfan replied with a faint smile. He had no interest in matters like fighting, but seeing Jin Qinghan’s determination, he could only offer encouragement.

Time flew by quickly. After their conversation, it was already noon. The two, now considering each other as close friends, parted ways reluctantly and returned to their masters’ caves. After all, this is Jiuhua Sect, and cultivation is the main priority.

…

When Xu Qingfan returned to Changchun Residence, he saw his senior brother Yue Qingru waiting at the door. After seeing Xu Qingfan, Yue Qingru looked at him in surprise and then smiled as he said, "Congratulations, junior brother, on entering the Inedia Stage. Your strength will greatly increase from now on."

Xu Qingfan did not find it strange that Yue Qingru could see his breakthrough. Yue Qingru had entered the Inedia Stage thirty years ago and had now reached the late stage of the Inedia Stage.

"There’s no reason to be happy. I am still far from Master’s requirements," Xu Qingfan said softly. "Who are you waiting for here, senior brother?"

"Of course, I am waiting for you, junior brother. Just now, Master suddenly told me to wait for you here. I think he already knows about your situation," Yue Qingru replied with a smile.

A cultivator at the Condensed Core Stage, especially one who has reached the Golden Core Stage, can clearly understand things within a hundred miles with their Divine Sense, so it’s not difficult for them to notice Xu Qingfan’s increased strength in advance.

"Does Master have something to discuss with me?" Xu Qingfan asked eagerly after hearing Yue Qingru’s words.

"I’m not sure, but Master wants you to go to his room to see him right after you return."