Chapter Sixty: Transforming Qi into Origin, The Great Achievement of Vital Energy

The unparalleled elixir of the Dan Ding Sect melted instantly upon entering the mouth. Qi Fei hurriedly circulated his newly awakened twin martial energies to refine the medicine’s power, attempting to repair the constantly rupturing meridians throughout his body.

With the help of the spiritual energy from the jade treasure within, Qi Fei barely managed to protect his heart meridian and sea of qi. Yet, these two martial energies formed through the method of transforming qi and returning it to its origin were too domineering. Even after consuming an entire bottle of the Dan Ding Sect’s elixir and halting the rupture of his meridians, the apertures and channels throughout his body remained severely damaged.

Temporarily suppressing his injuries, Qi Fei slowly opened his eyes and suddenly spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.

Returning to his senses, Qi Fei felt a lingering fear in his heart. Had he not possessed this elixir as a safeguard today, he would surely have been crippled, if not killed.

Though he had used the wonders of heaven and earth’s vital energy to break through his cultivation barrier, successfully refining his martial energies via the method of transforming qi and returning it to its origin, reaching the sixth realm of martial arts, these injuries left him uncertain whether he could recover in time for the upcoming ceremony to appoint the new master of Qingyang Peak. Moreover, medicine always carries a degree of toxicity; taking so much elixir at once would inevitably leave hidden ailments within his body. From now on, ordinary medicines would likely be ineffective.

Thinking of this, Qi Fei couldn’t help but feel regretful, fearing he had lost more than he gained this time.

He sighed softly, and, with no other recourse, once again used the spiritual energy from the transformed jade treasure to merge his two martial energies and profound true essence into one. Slowly, he circulated the even purer and more abundant vital energy of heaven and earth, continuously dissolving the elixir’s medicinal power in his damaged meridians.

The Dan Ding Sect’s elixir truly possessed miraculous properties. As Qi Fei circulated his vital energy, his previously ruptured meridians steadily repaired themselves. Furthermore, his internal vital energy was now far stronger than before, bringing him a secret joy. He mused that once he had fully absorbed the elixir’s power, with a few days of careful recuperation, it might not be impossible to attend the Qingyang Peak succession ceremony.

Feeling reassured, Qi Fei seized the time to regulate his breathing and circulate his energy. After several hours, he finally succeeded in absorbing all the medicinal power. Cool streams of energy gently flowed into every limb and bone, gradually healing the ruptured meridians.

An overwhelming fatigue swept over him. Exhausted in mind and body, Qi Fei could no longer hold on and collapsed unconscious in the courtyard.

He did not know how much time had passed before a startled cry woke him.

“Brother Qi, what happened to you?” Seeing Qi Fei unconscious on the ground, Xu Yi was alarmed, hurriedly dropping the food box in his hands and rushing forward to help the weakened Qi Fei up.

Qi Fei slowly lifted his eyes and said feebly, “It’s nothing serious, just some minor injuries.”

Xu Yi quickly replied, “I’ll go ask Elder Mo and Elder Sun to come.”

Qi Fei grabbed Xu Yi’s sleeve and shook his head gently. “No need to disturb Master or Elder Sun. My injuries occurred during my breakthrough to the sixth realm of martial arts. Even if Master and the elders came, they could do nothing.”

Xu Yi’s eyes widened in shock. “Brother Qi, did you really break through to the sixth realm of martial arts in just half a day?”

Qi Fei sat up slowly, forcing a bitter smile. “Yes, I broke through the barrier, but my meridians are injured. I need to retreat and heal for some time. In the coming days, just leave meals outside the courtyard. Do not disturb me within.”

Upon hearing Qi Fei’s cultivation had advanced again, Xu Yi was deeply astonished. Recalling his own struggles to form martial energy, he felt even more admiration for Qi Fei’s extraordinary talent.

“A few days from now, on Qingyang Peak, Xuan Zhen Temple will support Yang Zheng’s succession as sect master. This will surely draw the involvement of Xuan Zhen Temple, the Seven Absolutes Sect, the Weiwu Marquis Estate, and other forces. Go inform Master that Xuan Zhen Temple certainly does not wish our outer sect to meddle in Qingyang Peak’s affairs. We must be vigilant these days—take no chances.”

Seeing that Qi Fei was no longer in grave danger, Xu Yi was relieved and quickly responded, “The disciples of our outer sect, grateful for the two elders’ kindness, will surely share in the sect’s honor and disgrace. I will report this to Elder Mo at once.”

After hastily gathering the scattered food box, Xu Yi hurried out of the courtyard.

Looking up at the night sky, Qi Fei couldn’t help but smile bitterly. In just a few days, Qingyang Peak would witness a thrilling battle. He wondered whether he could help his master reclaim the foundation of Danxia Sect.

Qi Fei composed his mind and circulated the vital energy within, examining the ruptured and damaged meridians. Thanks to the vital energy and the Dan Ding Sect’s elixir, the injuries weren’t as severe as he had feared.

Heaving a sigh of relief, Qi Fei slowly circulated his vital energy, eager to test the martial arts abilities after his significant advancement.

As the thought arose, a faint red-and-white light began to gather in his palms. The martial energy, further refined by the method of transforming qi and returning it to its origin and merged with profound true essence, made his vital energy even more abundant. No matter how he manipulated it, he could no longer separate martial energy from true essence.

Puzzled, Qi Fei raised his palm and struck the ground.

Instantly, a dull tremor shook the earth, and a terrifying force burst from Qi Fei’s palm. Centered on his right hand, a layer of thin ice spread visibly across the courtyard floor. Suddenly, the entire ground exploded, shards of ice-like stone blasted into the air, accompanied by waves of searing heat, and shattered in midair.

Having achieved the sixth realm of martial arts and mastered the transformation and return of qi, the two energies of his ice-fire martial soul merged with profound true essence, producing vital energy of heaven and earth with incredible power.

Qi Fei let the winds from the exploding stones whip his cheeks, unable to restrain his excitement, laughing aloud.

If, that night on Wangyue Peak, he had possessed such majestic vital energy, even Sima Yan in the innate realm would have been vulnerable—Qi Fei believed he could break through Sima Yan’s innate protective aura.

Qi Fei’s laughter and the commotion in the courtyard finally alerted the disciples of Danxia Sect in the valley. In recent days, thanks to Mo Zhanpeng’s teachings on some body-tempering techniques from the “Eight-Armed Thunder Fist,” all the disciples had made substantial progress.

Luo Dingshan rushed to the courtyard and called out, “Elder Qi, what happened?”

Qi Fei returned to himself, sensing the activity outside, and quickly went out. “Senior Brother, I had a breakthrough and couldn’t resist testing my abilities. I didn’t realize I’d cause such a disturbance.”

“Elder Qi, please don’t call me Senior Brother—I dare not accept the title,” Luo Dingshan said, gazing at the ruined courtyard in astonishment, wondering if Elder Qi had once again advanced his cultivation.

The disciples behind Luo Dingshan all greeted “Elder Qi,” leaving Qi Fei blushing.

“By the way, Senior Brother, how are your studies in the body-tempering techniques progressing?” Qi Fei sighed, but could do nothing about his senior brothers, letting them be.

Luo Dingshan’s face lit up. “Thanks to Master’s guidance in the body-tempering techniques, though there are only a few fist forms, they are ingeniously crafted. After a few days, I feel close to breaking through to the fourth realm, and even Master’s cultivation has advanced. I believe this was a fortunate opportunity granted by Elder Qi. I am grateful and will repay you with my life someday.”

Qi Fei shook his head with a bitter smile. “No need for such thanks, Senior Brother. To be honest, these internal martial techniques are used by major martial sects for body tempering. Here in Cangyun Mountain, I have yet to secure my own safety, so I could only pass some body-tempering arts to Master. Once the turmoil on Qingyang Peak is settled, I promise to teach all of you the martial arts techniques.”

Luo Dingshan was overjoyed, and the disciples behind him cheered.

Watching his fellow disciples of Danxia Sect, Qi Fei sighed inwardly. The Eight-Armed Thunder Fist was not an exclusive skill of the Xuanxin Sword Sect, so it should not bring future disasters upon them. If the Xuanxin Sword Sect were not so powerful, Qi Fei would have liked to gather these forces to oppose them.

After sending off his senior brothers, Qi Fei, still dizzy from the repeated greetings of “Elder Qi,” returned to the courtyard with a wry smile.

Looking toward the distant Qingyang Peak, now that he had broken through to the sixth realm and perfected his vital energy, Qi Fei felt a faint unease.

In a few days, he would face the experts of Xuan Zhen Temple, including Daoist Cangsong, who had mastered the fourth stage of profound spiritual transformation. Having experienced Guo Huai’s mystical abilities firsthand, Qi Fei knew he would never underestimate the experts of Xuan Zhen Temple.

Though he would have the help of the unfathomable Zhuo Jin’er and the masters of the Seven Absolutes Sect, the latter had once conspired with Xuan Zhen Temple to seize the foundation of Danxia Sect. Now, the two sects were bitter enemies, and the cunning Sima Yan had allied himself with demonic forces to counter Xuan Zhen Temple—surely there was more to it.

There was also the innate peak expert hidden in the Seven Absolutes Sect, as Zhuo Jin’er had mentioned, and Chu Yanran, the sister of the Weiwu Marquis, whose presence made Qi Fei’s heart tremble.

Qi Fei was not afraid—his fighting spirit, as when he stormed Wangyue Peak that night, had returned. He was eager, wondering when he might reach the innate realm and meet those top experts at the peak of martial arts.

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