Chapter Eighty: The Sublime Arts of Yin and Yang Forge the Primordial Spirit

Deep within the tranquil cave, Qi Fei sat with his eyes closed, quietly regulating his breath, slowly drawing the surging spiritual energy from the source of the mountain’s ley line into his body. Before long, he sensed a vast surge of true energy from the Mystic Gate rising behind him. In the next moment, Zhuo Jin’er’s delicate hand pressed gently against his back.

As Zhuo Jin’er activated the Mystic Gate’s secret arts of the Yin-Yang Path, Qi Fei felt the true energy she injected into him rapidly spiraling through his meridians. At that instant, his dantian and spiritual platform both generated immense suction, and the abundant spiritual energy from the source of Qingyang Peak’s ley line surged madly into his body.

Qi Fei was utterly shocked. This was no method of healing; clearly, Zhuo Jin’er intended to pour all the ley line’s spiritual energy into him. His earlier worries had become reality—he feared this would harm Qingyang Peak’s ley line, and his mind was thrown into chaos.

“If you don’t want to die, you’d better absorb this spiritual energy and make it your own. If you try to divide your focus and end up suffering a backlash, don’t blame me,” Zhuo Jin’er warned, worried that a lapse in Qi Fei’s concentration would cause disaster.

Qi Fei silently cursed Zhuo Jin’er for her recklessness, but knew full well the peril of distraction at this moment. He hurriedly cleared his mind and continuously guided the pure spiritual energy from the ley line into his body.

Zhuo Jin’er kept infusing true energy into Qi Fei, transforming it into the supreme Yin-Yang Path method for absorbing spiritual energy. Soon, beads of crystalline sweat gathered on her brow.

At this moment, Zhuo Jin’er noticed something strange about the innate energy within Qi Fei. She was astonished: though he was a martial arts expert of pre-heaven rank and could use the Blood Shadow Escape—a demonic sect technique—he had cultivated both Mystic Gate spiritual soul and true energy. Yet now, there was no distinction within him between martial energy and Mystic Gate’s true energy.

In cultivation, no matter how abundant the spiritual energy, it is impossible to ascend instantly.

Zhuo Jin’er had brought Qi Fei here tonight only to use the secret arts of the Yin-Yang Path, with the mighty spiritual energy of Qingyang Peak’s ley line as a catalyst, to help Qi Fei advance his Mystic Gate cultivation and transform it into pure yang energy.

If Qi Fei could reach the second stage of the Mystic Gate’s divine arts—pure yang—tonight, and further advance with the Yin-Yang Path, he would stand a far better chance against Chu Yanran, the martial master, in the future.

Yet Qi Fei’s martial soul was odd, and the martial energy he’d cultivated had merged completely with his Mystic Gate’s true energy. Zhuo Jin’er, though surprised, was secretly delighted, suspecting such fortune must be due to chance events from Qi Fei’s past. With this in mind, she exerted herself fully, unleashing the Yin-Yang Path’s divine arts, drawing torrents of spiritual energy into Qi Fei.

Previously, Qi Fei used the method of martial arts to return energy to its source, combined with the wonders of the Dan Ding Sect’s spiritual elixirs, to refine his merged martial energy and Mystic Gate’s true energy into a complete innate energy. In the fierce battle at Qingyang Peak’s main hall, breaking through the pre-heaven barrier amidst life and death, he perfected his new innate energy. Now, as the spiritual energy from the ley line poured in, Qi Fei could not help but feel a sense of dread.

He activated the “Mystic Heaven Heart Scripture,” continuously converting the incoming spiritual energy for his own use. Soon, the surging innate energy repaired his damaged meridians and acupoints, not only restoring them but making them even stronger.

Yet now his innate energy was saturated; any further influx might bring disaster. Blood trickled from his lips, and he groaned, “I can’t hold on, Zhuo Jin’er, stop!”

Sensing the anomaly within Qi Fei, Zhuo Jin’er immediately sent her true energy into his spiritual platform.

In an instant, all the spiritual energy entering Qi Fei was guided by Zhuo Jin’er directly to his spiritual platform. Qi Fei felt a sharp pain in his head, as if it might split apart.

This agony tormented him for some time. Suddenly, he sensed a warm current emerging from his spiritual soul, and as it flowed through his meridians, it was as though a great burden was lifted from him, replaced by an indescribable sense of comfort.

Could Zhuo Jin’er have helped him cultivate pure yang energy in his spiritual soul? Before Qi Fei could ponder this, the newly born warm current slowly merged into his vast innate energy.

Qi Fei’s body, tempered by the Eight-Armed Thunder Fist, had undergone bone and sinew purification. Even after cultivating innate spiritual awareness, it was impossible to further refine the body. Yet now, with the warm current circulating in his meridians, his channels were broadened once more.

With Zhuo Jin’er’s help, the spiritual energy flooding into Qi Fei was transformed by his spiritual soul into streams of warmth, continually refining his spiritual platform. After a long while, Qi Fei suddenly felt his spiritual soul explode, and found himself floating weightlessly.

He was startled—then realized, in the dim cave below, two seated figures were visible: Zhuo Jin’er and himself.

What was happening? Was this an out-of-body experience? Impossible—even if the warm current was pure yang energy, he had only reached the second stage of the Mystic Gate’s divine arts, barely forming a Mystic Gate primordial spirit. Achieving an out-of-body state was far from easy.

Zhuo Jin’er sensed Qi Fei’s anomaly and her expression changed markedly.

She had helped Qi Fei cultivate pure yang energy in his spiritual soul, but had not anticipated that the primordial spirit formed by this energy would leave his body so strangely. Since Qi Fei had not yet mastered the out-of-body stage, restoring his primordial spirit could be dangerous.

Zhuo Jin’er hesitated, a troubled look crossing her face.

As Qi Fei floundered, a great suction suddenly pulled him downward, his consciousness plunging violently back into his body.

He felt dizzy and nauseated, as if his insides were churning.

By now, Zhuo Jin’er’s face had grown pale. She desperately injected true energy into his spiritual platform, her hand on Qi Fei’s back trembling.

After some time, Qi Fei slowly opened his eyes. He noticed the jade-colored pillar had lost its sheen, and the surrounding spiritual energy had dissipated completely.

Zhuo Jin’er withdrew her hand, quietly wiped the blood from her lips, and breathed a long sigh of relief. “You nearly lost your soul just now, almost departed for the blissful realm.”

Qi Fei gradually recovered, recalling what had happened, and was somewhat annoyed. “Zhuo Jin’er, you nearly killed me. What happened to the ley line’s spiritual energy? Did you really ruin Qingyang Peak’s ley line?”

Zhuo Jin’er, pale-faced, replied slowly, “Don’t worry. The ley line’s source has not been destroyed. It will recover in time.”

Qi Fei stood, turned to Zhuo Jin’er, sighed softly, then said solemnly, “Thank you.”

Zhuo Jin’er was taken aback. She’d expected Qi Fei, upon seeing the depleted ley line, would not believe her and would surely blame her for acting on her own. Unexpectedly, his response was gratitude.

“Do you really believe the ley line isn’t destroyed?” Zhuo Jin’er was surprised and wondered why Qi Fei trusted her.

“I believe you,” Qi Fei sighed, “I’m not a stubborn man. Though I disagreed with using the sect’s ley line to heal my wounds, now you have acted selflessly to help me absorb its spiritual energy. How could I not trust you?”

Upon hearing this, Zhuo Jin’er smiled, a hint of pride in her expression. “Impressive, aren’t I? With the power of spiritual energy and the Yin-Yang Path’s secret arts, I helped you cultivate your Mystic Gate primordial spirit. Now you owe me another favor.”

“So, the warm current I felt in my spiritual soul was pure yang energy from the Mystic Gate? But why did I experience such a strange feeling, almost as if my primordial spirit left my body?” Qi Fei was delighted, but still puzzled.

Zhuo Jin’er did not answer, but countered, “Let me ask you: how did your martial energy merge completely with your Mystic Gate true energy? Was it a fortune you gained from Blood Shadow Lord?”

Qi Fei did not hide it, but nodded slowly. “Yes. When Master gave me a spirit jade, by chance, I merged my martial energy and Mystic Gate true energy into what is now my innate energy. Later, I dueled Cheng Feng and broke through the pre-heaven barrier, finally achieving today’s innate energy.”

“I really have stumbled upon a treasure,” Zhuo Jin’er rejoiced, her eyes full of delight.

“Hey! Zhuo Jin’er, you’re not planning to seize my fortune, are you?”

Zhuo Jin’er was momentarily stunned, then grew angry. But in the soft glow of the luminous pearl, she caught a fleeting look of mischief on Qi Fei’s face.

“So! You dare mock me? Let’s see if I let you off easily.” Zhuo Jin’er stood, her brows furrowing.

“You’re hurt?” Qi Fei was surprised, concern in his eyes.

“No,” Zhuo Jin’er bit her lip, firmly denying it.

“If you say so, what about the blood on your lips and sleeve?”

Zhuo Jin’er was at a loss, lowering her head and murmuring, “It was for your sake.”

Qi Fei glanced at her, a teasing light in his eyes, and sighed, “Miss Zhuo, I know you risked your life to restore my primordial spirit with the Mystic Gate’s divine arts. But I’m curious—why did you keep shaking your blood-stained sleeve while talking to me, drawing my attention? Also, you didn’t bother to wipe the blood from your lips cleanly. I get it—you wanted to remind me that tonight you risked your life for me, and that I now owe you a debt I can never repay. Is that what you meant?”

“Nonsense! I saved you out of kindness, yet you tease me. Fine! If you’re so capable, figure out how to break the cave’s barrier yourself. Tonight you can reflect here, and I’ll let you out at dawn.” Flushed with embarrassment at having her little scheme exposed, Zhuo Jin’er hurried toward the cave’s entrance.

In the empty cavern, Qi Fei’s frustrated calls echoed.

“Zhuo Jin’er, you haven’t told me yet about Chu Yanran’s connection with the Yin-Yang Path! And tonight, you went to such lengths to help me cultivate my Mystic Gate primordial spirit—surely you have other plans?”