Chapter 4: New Year’s Eve in the Snow, the Immortal of Baiyun Guides the Way
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Spiritual energy converged in Yu Xian’s dantian, condensing from the size of a grain of rice, to a soybean, to a peanut, to a pea, then to the size of an egg, and finally a goose egg!
Yet Yu Xian’s expression remained unchanged—calm and composed.
Beads of sweat began to form on his forehead.
Opening the Qi Sea in the dantian was a painful process.
But pain was the least of the challenges.
The real difficulty was controlling the spiritual energy—compressing it without letting it go berserk!
So even amidst the pain, he had to proceed with extreme caution.
A fist-sized mass of spiritual energy, glowing faintly, spun within his dantian.
At this moment, Qi Condensation was actually already complete.
Still, Yu Xian sat cross-legged, drawing in more spiritual energy into his body.
He refused to accept such a small amount of Qi.
The foundational Qi Refining technique from the Elmheart Sect clearly stated: the larger the Qi Sea when it is first opened, the stronger the foundation and the greater the potential!
A fist-sized Qi Sea? Far too small.
That amount of Qi wouldn’t even be enough to cast two spells.
The Qi Sea continued expanding.
Palm-sized. Bowl-sized. Eventually a full foot across!
But once it reached the size of a washbasin, the surrounding spiritual energy stopped flowing into his body.
Not because Yu Xian couldn’t absorb more—but because his green spirit root had reached saturation.
Spirit roots—whether innate or acquired—were divided into six grades:
Inferior
Low
Medium
High
Excellent
Perfect
The difference between each grade was like the difference between heaven and earth.
What Yu Xian didn’t know was—his spirit root, which stopped at one foot of Qi Sea, was… of low grade.
But at this moment, Yu Xian was content.
The corners of his mouth lifted in a smile as he formed a hand seal and said slowly, “Open Qi Sea, form Qi Condensation!”
The spiritual energy in the Qi Sea immediately spun rapidly, merging with his dantian—from that moment on, they were one and the same.
Thus it was called Dantian Qi Sea, Qi Sea Dantian!
Yu Xian opened his eyes, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and sensed the cloud-like energy within his dantian, his face full of joy.
Qi like clouds—this was the early stage of Qi Condensation.
Qi like flowing water—the middle stage.
Qi like silver mercury—the late stage.
Qi like metal or stone—peak Qi Condensation.
And beyond Qi Condensation was Foundation Establishment!
The Foundation Establishment realm was profoundly mystical. Upon reaching it, one could be said to have transcended the mortal body, gaining hundreds of years of lifespan and great power with every gesture.
But having just entered early Qi Condensation today, thoughts of Foundation Establishment were premature.
While the iron was still hot, Yu Xian took out a jade slip and began reading the next part.
“Qi Condensation Chapter”
Expansion of the Qi Sea is the foundation of Qi Condensation. Refine heaven and earth’s spiritual energy, convert it into boundless might, temper the muscles and bones, strengthen the physique, and prolong lifespan…
According to this chapter, Yu Xian learned that within the Qi Condensation realm, while refining Qi to raise one’s stage was important, expanding the Qi Sea was equally crucial!
For example, if Yu Xian’s Qi Sea was one foot, and someone else’s was ten feet, then even if both were at the early stage with Qi like clouds, that other person could easily overpower Yu Xian.
Where Yu Xian could cast three spells, the other could cast thirty!
Thus, from Qi Condensation onward, the difference in spirit root quality would become increasingly pronounced—eventually becoming an uncrossable chasm.
Still, Yu Xian didn’t dwell on that.
Cultivation is cultivation—focus on oneself and improve oneself!
Once one reaches Qi Condensation, progress slows significantly.
Even after an entire night of drawing in spiritual energy, refining it, and storing it in the Qi Sea, the change was minimal.
But Yu Xian had time—and a simple mind. He didn’t overthink things.
He had many tasks ahead of him.
First of all, he needed to comprehend that spell.
Lesser Fireball Technique.
Watching that man casually toss out fireballs with a wave of his hand—when Yu Xian tried, it was difficult.
The incantation, hand gestures, the amount and speed of spiritual energy required—all had to be carefully practiced and mastered.
Yu Xian immersed himself in cultivation. Every day he trained. Sometimes he’d create a spark—and feel overjoyed.
Half a month passed in a flash.
Snow fell thick and fast. Every household hung red lanterns, pasted couplets, spring flowers, and the character “Fu” for good fortune.
It was the New Year.
“Go!”
Inside the house, Yu Xian shouted lowly, raised his hand!
A fireball the size of a walnut shot out, striking a large wooden stump in front of him.
The stump was already scorched from enduring countless hits.
“Go!”
Another fireball flew. Yu Xian quickly formed another hand seal and shouted again!
Boom! Another fireball struck the stump.
“Go!”
Three times in a row—Yu Xian didn’t stop. He made a seal and shouted once more—releasing a third fireball!
Lesser Fireball Technique: Triple Cast!
Hahaha!
Though his face was pale, Yu Xian laughed aloud, filled with pride.
After more than half a month of diligent cultivation, he had finally mastered the Lesser Fireball Technique.
Though his realm was still too low and his Qi Sea just a single foot in diameter, so his fireballs were only walnut-sized—they still packed a punch.
Just one of these fireballs could kill a wild wolf from the mountains!
Since his mother’s passing, this was Yu Xian’s happiest New Year.
After laughing for a while, Yu Xian stopped, exhaled, and began tidying up.
Even if he was the only one in the house, the New Year had to be celebrated properly.
He had prepared dumplings the night before, boiled a pot, and placed three plates on the table.
He set out three sets of chopsticks, then kowtowed three times toward the two empty seats.
“Dad, Mom—Happy New Year!”
He sat down and began eating the dumplings.
But as he ate, his hands slowed, and two teardrops fell into his plate.
“Dad… Mom… I miss you so much…”
On New Year’s Eve, every household left their lights on.
Yu Xian’s home was no exception.
After eating and cleaning up, he sat cross-legged on his bed, looking out through the window at the gently falling snow—peaceful and calm.
At this moment, he wasn’t cultivating or practicing spells.
Just like in previous years—he sat there, quietly waiting for the new year to arrive.
There was no one else to stay up through the night, so he would do it.
Beside his bed were a short dagger and a wooden plaque inscribed with “Immortal Ascension – Baiyun Sect.”
The dagger was unchanged—but at some point, that Baiyun Sect Ascension Token had begun to move slightly.
It trembled gently—and then began to shake more violently.
Just as Yu Xian gazed out the window, awaiting the New Year, he finally noticed the vibration.
He frowned, turned his head—and saw the Ascension Token leaping like a frog on the bed!
“What the heck?”
Yu Xian reached out and grabbed it.
The moment he touched it, it stopped moving.
But the next second—a sharp pain pierced his palm. Yu Xian flinched and immediately threw the token away.
A few drops of blood leaked from his hand.
The token lay silently on the floor. The five characters “Immortal Ascension – Baiyun Sect” glowed faintly—then returned to normal.
“What are you? Are you alive?”
Yu Xian wiped the blood from his hand, crouched beside the token, and stared at it, hesitant to pick it up again.
This thing bit him?
The token gave no response. It lay still—just a regular object.
Yu Xian thought for a moment, then grabbed a pair of chopsticks, picked it up, and examined it closely. It looked… completely inanimate.
“Jumping for no reason, even biting… Looks like you’re no ordinary item. Someday, once my cultivation is high enough, I’ll probably uncover your secrets.”
Yu Xian smiled and put it back on the bedside.
Then he propped his head on one hand and looked back out the window.
Time passed. The snowfall grew heavier.
And gradually, the falling snow seemed to form the silhouette of a person—flying toward his courtyard.
Yu Xian blinked, thinking he was seeing things.
After all, he was still only at Qi Condensation’s early stage—mortal flesh, needing food, water, and sleep.
He rubbed his eyes.
But the figure didn’t vanish—on the contrary, it became more distinct.
And under the heavy snowfall—it landed directly in his courtyard!
“Hmm!?”
Yu Xian snapped fully awake.
A person descending from the sky in the dead of night—on New Year’s Eve!
A ghost? A god?
No time to think—Yu Xian grabbed his short blade, leapt off the bed, flung open the door and shouted, “Who’s there!?”
The figure grew clearer—a middle-aged man in white robes, blending into the snow.
The man looked at Yu Xian and spoke coldly, “So you’re the one who awakened the Ascension Token?”
Yu Xian replied warily, “Who are you? What Ascension Token?”
“You possess a wood-element spirit root, and the token has chosen you. This is fate. As promised a hundred years ago, I have come to bring the descendant back to Baiyun Sect.”
There was a hint of disdain in his eyes—but he simply raised a hand.
Inside the room, the token immediately turned into a streak of white light and flew into the man’s hand.
At the same time, the writing on the token transformed—now reading just three characters: Ascension Token.
Just that one move—and Yu Xian said no more.
The man hung the token on his waist and said plainly, “Aren’t you curious?”
“Immortal Elder, your powers are vast. I shall simply obey. As for the rest—I’m not curious.”
Yu Xian was respectful in expression—but his body was taut, ready to unleash three fireballs at a moment’s notice!
After the life-or-death experience with the man in the mountain, he was wary of everyone.
So he treated this man the same—guarded, but without showing it.
The man clasped his hands behind his back and said, “I am Quan Dao, an inner sect elder of Baiyun Sect. Today, I fulfill a promise made by Baiyun Sect to your ancestor—a hundred-year vow: if any descendant awakens the Ascension Token and possesses potential, they shall enter Baiyun Sect without selection. Today is the last New Year of the hundred-year span.”
Yu Xian’s brow twitched.
Just from this explanation—he understood almost everything.
To think… the man he had killed on the mountain—his ancestor had left behind such a connection?
Unfortunately, that man was not chosen by the token.
He must have worn it for years, never awakening it—thus never drawing a guide from the sect.
And now—this chance had fallen to Yu Xian.
He had always planned to leave Great Elm Village someday!
The path of cultivation—if done through hard work alone—might take an entire lifetime to reach late-stage Qi Condensation!
He had already planned to leave after this year, when he turned sixteen and officially became an adult.
But now—a powerful figure had come to escort him…
Baiyun Sect…
It must be a major sect in the cultivation world!
