Chapter Five: True Qi Formed, Conspiracy Unveiled

In the heart of the valley, Qi Fei enjoyed a hearty meal, a happiness long absent finally gracing his face. Having dwelled in the mountains for several months, he had never tasted such delicacies; even on Cangyun Mountain, the herbal apprentices’ daily fare was little more than coarse tea and plain rice.

After honoring his “Temple of Five Viscera”—satisfying his hunger—Qi Fei recalled that the valley lay at least several hundred miles from the market at the foot of the mountain, and yet, the Bloodshadow Immortal, gravely wounded, could make a round trip in less than half a day. In comparison, the mystical arts of the Danxia Sect disciples seemed utterly trivial. He wondered if, after imparting his martial heart method, the Bloodshadow Immortal might also teach him that unfathomable Daoist magic.

In the dimness of the valley, Qi Fei steadied his mind, took a deep breath, and once again sat cross-legged to cultivate the “Xuantian Heart Scripture.”

With a mere thought, he began to circulate the abundant inner energy within his body through all his meridians. Following the secret methods recorded in the “Xuantian Heart Scripture,” when the inner energy reached each major acupoint, it would swirl and nourish it, tempering his body.

Time passed swiftly and unnoticed; Qi Fei had been cultivating in the valley for three days.

After this period, his inner energy was not only abundant, but a tingling and numbing sensation rose throughout his acupoints—a clear sign that the tempering was complete. Next, he had to use his inner energy to strike through the acupoints, refining it into true martial energy, thus reaching the first stage of Martial Dao: Forming Qi.

After several days of recuperation, the Bloodshadow Immortal’s pale face regained some color. Watching Qi Fei exhale a mouthful of stale air after finishing his cultivation, the Immortal said in a low voice, “Not bad. Although your talent is average, you benefit from the supreme ‘Xuantian Heart Scripture.’ After these three days, your acupoints are well nourished. There’s no time to lose—let me use my remaining true energy to help you transform your inner energy into martial true energy.”

“Thank you, Master,” Qi Fei replied without delay, immediately circulating his inner energy and practicing the method of refining true energy.

The Bloodshadow Immortal came before Qi Fei and placed a palm on his forehead. “I was once a master of the innate realm in martial arts. Though only a trace of my true energy remains, it is still extremely fierce. When it enters your body, it will surely cause great harm to your meridians and acupoints. You must endure the pain and not let your mind waver.”

Qi Fei closed his eyes tightly and nodded. In an instant, he felt an immense force surge from his forehead’s ‘Divine Court’ acupoint into his body.

The Immortal’s residual true energy poured into Qi Fei like a tidal wave. Before this overwhelming martial true energy, Qi Fei’s own inner energy was like a lone boat amidst a raging sea—instantly swallowed.

Clenching his teeth, he endured excruciating, searing pain, focusing his mind to guide the mighty martial true energy through his meridians.

With this tyrannical assistance, Qi Fei’s inner energy broke through all his major acupoints like a hot knife through butter. After a complete cycle, his inner energy transformed into strands of pure true energy. At last, he had achieved the first stage of Martial Dao: Forming Qi.

The Bloodshadow Immortal withdrew his palm from Qi Fei’s forehead, ceasing to inject true energy into him. By then, blood was already streaming from Qi Fei’s eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.

Struggling to open his blood-blurred eyes, Qi Fei suddenly coughed up another mouthful of blood and fell unconscious.

There is no shortcut on the path of cultivation; even the supreme “Xuantian Heart Scripture” cannot speed one to the Martial Dao’s first stage in days. Even the most talented would need months. Qi Fei’s talent was ordinary, and the Immortal’s impatient use of tyrannical true energy to force a breakthrough in mere days was fraught with dangers beyond the comprehension of a novice like Qi Fei.

Fortunately, ignorant though he was, Qi Fei’s fate was strong—he survived. Whether this was a blessing or a curse, however, no one could predict. The Bloodshadow Immortal’s malice was fitting for a figure of the demonic path.

After a night, under the Immortal’s care, Qi Fei slowly regained consciousness. Though he had forged his martial true energy, he was gravely weakened, his meridians badly damaged.

Seeing Qi Fei awaken, a trace of relief appeared on the Immortal’s face. After a moment’s hesitation, he took out a small jade bottle, carefully poured out a fragrant red pill, and handed it to Qi Fei.

“Take this Essence-Gathering Pill and use your true energy to circulate it through your body; it will help you recover.”

With a parched throat and wracked by pain, Qi Fei dared not hesitate and swallowed the pill at once.

The pill melted in his mouth, releasing a cooling energy into his abdomen. Gritting his teeth, Qi Fei used his true energy to refine the medicinal power.

The “Essence-Gathering Pill” truly lived up to its reputation. After one full cycle of true energy, Qi Fei’s damaged heart meridians began to heal.

Martial cultivation is the art of drawing in the world’s spiritual energy, refining one’s flesh until the body becomes indestructible. Only now did Qi Fei truly understand the Bloodshadow Immortal’s words. The refined martial true energy within him far surpassed his former inner energy. As it flowed through him, he could feel his body strengthening.

It took several hours for Qi Fei to fully absorb the pill, circulating his true energy dozens of times before its coolness faded. Thanks to its power, not only were his damaged meridians and acupoints restored, but his cultivation increased, faintly reaching the threshold of the second stage: Gathering Soul.

Elated, Qi Fei could not resist testing his strength; he gathered his true energy and delivered a punch into the air. The force was astonishing, the wind from his fist roaring like the sea, carrying the weight of a thousand pounds. He recalled once secretly watching a Danxia Sect elder practice fist techniques on Cangyun Mountain—now, he could unleash an even fiercer punch.

Once, in the chaos of war, Qi Fei’s parents perished, leaving him with hatred and nowhere to vent it. In the Danxia Sect, there was an old grudge he could not forget. Now, with new martial power, he swore to make his enemy’s life a living hell.

Yet, alongside his joy, a sense of unease grew. The residual true energy of an innate master was too overpowering; forming true energy had nearly cost him his life. Refining his martial soul and reaching the second stage would be even more dangerous.

Steadying himself, Qi Fei began to suspect the Bloodshadow Immortal’s sinister intentions. The so-called step-by-step cultivation the Immortal once preached seemed contradicted by his actions—using tyrannical true energy to force open Qi Fei’s acupoints was anything but gradual; it was urgency borne of desperation to join forces against a looming enemy, with no regard for Qi Fei’s survival.

Qi Fei thought himself lucky, having gained martial true energy and enhanced his strength through the Essence-Gathering Pill. Yet with the Immortal investing so much in him, could he ever escape his clutches?

He hesitated, and as expected, the Bloodshadow Immortal’s hoarse voice sounded in his ear again.

“Now that your acupoints are open, and with the aid of the Essence-Gathering Pill, your true energy has grown. I shall use this momentum to help you refine your martial soul.”

This was madness—his meridians were still fragile; how could he endure more of the Immortal’s tyrannical energy? Qi Fei hated him, yet was helpless; outmatched, he could only pretend compliance.

Reasoning that the Immortal would not harm him after investing so much, Qi Fei mustered his courage and said softly, “Master, you once said cultivation must be gradual. Your disciple has not yet mastered the use of true energy; rushing to refine my martial soul may not be wise.”

The Immortal’s eyes narrowed, a wary glint appearing. “You are right. I was careless.”

Qi Fei was delighted, about to flatter his master, when the Immortal’s next words sent a chill through his heart.

“I underestimated you, little mountain boy. Who would have thought you’d guess my true intentions in helping you forge martial true energy? But what does it matter? To me, you are nothing but a pawn.”