Chapter Thirty-Six: Becoming a Spirit

In the backyard encircled by emerald bamboo, Qi Fei concealed all traces of his martial cultivation with the Spirit Rhinoceros Technique. Seated cross-legged in stillness, he emptied his mind of all distractions and practiced the method of transforming qi from the "Treatise of Transforming the Court," continuously drawing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into the Tianchong and Chengling acupoints within his body.

Outside the bamboo grove, a group of inner disciples from the Danxia Sect stood guard, tense and vigilant, protecting Qi Fei as he cultivated. In recent days, Mo Zhanpeng had not flown into a rage over this. For the sake of the sect’s greater interests, he had even begun to secretly hope that Qi Fei might one day instruct the disciples.

For a time, the bamboo grove outside Elder Sun’s abode seemed like a forbidden area atop Qingyang Peak. Outer disciples, oblivious to the true reason, grew curious but dared not trespass to see what great sect treasure might be hidden within.

At first, Qi Fei found the situation laughable, but as days passed and his focus on cultivation deepened, he soon dismissed it from his mind. After several days of arduous training, he finally guided the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to open up the spiritual platform between the Tianchong and Chengling acupoints. The next step was to transform the gathered energy for his own use, to perform the method of concentrating the spirit and gathering the soul.

The Heart Demon Sect manuals left to Qi Fei by his master, the Lord of Blood Shadow, were all supreme and miraculous arts, but for the method of concentrating the spirit and gathering the soul, he still had to rely on the "Treatise of Transforming the Court" taught by Elder Sun to condense his spiritual soul.

The chilling effect of the spirit jade—refined from the Spirit-Linked Jade—was wondrous beyond compare. As soon as the spiritual platform was formed in his body, Qi Fei sensed a current of chilling spirit energy, dormant in his dantian, flowing along with the spiritual energy he drew in, slowly streaming into his spiritual platform.

Within the platform, the chilling spirit energy continuously spiraled, refining the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into greater purity. Qi Fei rejoiced inwardly; his master had spoken true—this Spirit-Linked Jade was worthy of being called a supreme treasure, capable of refining both martial soul and spirit.

Having cultivated in the bamboo grove for some time, Qi Fei finally filled the spiritual platform between Tianchong and Chengling with the energy of heaven and earth. Spurred by the chilling spirit energy, a sudden sharp pain shot through the platform, and the gathered energy instantly condensed into a far purer current.

The shadows of bamboo danced beside the study; all around, the emerald stalks began to sway without wind. In an instant, the spiritual soul within Qi Fei’s platform erupted with astonishing suction, drawing torrents of spiritual energy from the surroundings into his body.

For the past few days, Luo Dingshan had kept an unbroken vigil outside the bamboo grove, hoping his devotion might earn a moment of Qi Fei’s attention.

Suddenly, Luo Dingshan and his fellow disciples' expressions changed drastically. Having all awakened their martial souls, they could clearly sense the surge of spiritual energy in the air. From within the grove where Qi Fei was cultivating, an immense force of attraction arose, as if draining all the spiritual energy from the sect’s outer valley in a single breath.

Mo Zhanpeng and Elder Sun were instructing outer disciples elsewhere when they felt the anomaly. Leaving behind the bewildered disciples, they hurried to the bamboo grove.

Upon arriving, Mo Zhanpeng immediately asked, “What has happened here?”

Luo Dingshan pointed into the depths of the bamboo, exclaiming, “I fear Brother Qi has borrowed the spiritual energy of the valley to form the Profound Gate Spirit Soul!”

Elder Sun, gently stroking a bamboo stalk, suddenly turned pale. “How can this be? How could the method of concentrating the spirit and gathering the soul in the ‘Treatise of Transforming the Court’ be so domineering?”

The others turned to look, aghast. They saw the bamboo in Elder Sun’s hand wither in an instant, and before long, yellowed leaves rained down, carpeting the ground in a blanket of decay.

Elder Sun was shaken to the core, murmuring, “Even the spirit-gathering ward within the grove has vanished without a trace. Could it truly be that Qi Fei has succeeded in forming the Profound Gate Spirit Soul?”

Mo Zhanpeng, well aware of Qi Fei’s importance to the sect, quickly said, “Elder Sun, you must go inside and see to Qi Fei. He is just beginning to comprehend the arcane arts and will need your guidance.”

Startled back to himself, Elder Sun nodded resolutely and dashed into the bamboo grove.

Qi Fei, meanwhile, had entered a state of deep meditation, utterly oblivious to all else—even the technique he practiced faded from his mind as he silently savored the wondrous sensation of spiritual energy pouring into his platform.

It is unclear how much time passed before Qi Fei slowly opened his eyes. Suddenly, a tremendous force burst forth from his body.

Like the eruption of the Eight-Armed Thunderclap Fist, the study rooms behind him were instantly shattered by the explosion, and the entire valley trembled as if shaken by a cataclysm.

Elder Sun, whose cultivation was not deep, barely managed to shield himself with a protective arcane art, but was left battered and disheveled. Alarmed, Qi Fei quickly rose to support the ashen-faced elder.

“Elder Sun, are you alright?”

Elder Sun stared at Qi Fei in terror, and only after a long moment did he regain his composure. “No matter. But your method of concentrating the spirit and gathering the soul is far too violent! How could the ‘Treatise of Transforming the Court’ contain such supernatural power?”

Qi Fei, hearing this, circulated his technique to draw in the residual spiritual energy around him, only to discover that the chilling spirit energy within his platform had vanished completely. In its place was a mass of almost tangible, pure spiritual energy—surely the mysterious Profound Gate Spirit Soul.

Having succeeded, Qi Fei was overjoyed. “Elder Sun, I have finally formed my spirit soul!”

Elder Sun forced a wry smile. “You’ve destroyed my humble abode—had you failed, would you have razed the entire outer court as well?”

Glancing at the devastated courtyard, Qi Fei apologized, “I truly don’t know why the disturbance was so great. I suppose it is only because your teachings are so profound.”

Elder Sun could only shake his head and smile bitterly, at a loss for words.

Eager to cultivate the supreme arts of the Heart Demon Sect, Qi Fei asked, “Elder Sun, now that I have formed the spirit soul, have I reached the first realm of Profound Gate arcana—the State of Focused Spirit? What must I do to reach the second realm, Pure Yang?”

Elder Sun replied, “Forming the spirit soul is the foundation of the Profound Gate arts. Now that you have succeeded, you must stabilize it by channeling the energy of heaven and earth. You must not be greedy for quick progress. I have cultivated for decades and have yet to reach the second realm of Pure Yang. The road of cultivation is one you must comprehend for yourself.”

Qi Fei felt a twinge of disappointment, but then composed himself. “I was impatient. In the future, if I encounter difficulties, I will seek your guidance.”

Elder Sun nodded in satisfaction. “Since you have succeeded, remain in the bamboo grove and focus on your cultivation. Do not be distracted. Once your spirit soul is perfected and you have forged true essence within, I will teach you further arcane arts of the sect. When your cultivation matures, combined with your martial prowess, you will undoubtedly become the foremost master of the Danxia Sect.”

Qi Fei smiled wryly. “Such a title is but an empty name. Now that Xuanzhen Monastery and the Seven Absolutes Sect are so powerful, I must redouble my efforts to be of true service to the sect.”

“It is enough that you have such resolve. Focus on your cultivation; Elder Mo and I will see to all other mundane matters.”

With that, Elder Sun left Qi Fei to continue his training in the ruined courtyard, consolidating his new realm, and hurried off amid the shattered remains of the study.