Chapter 194: Chapter 160: Delving into the 9 Ramparts for an Elixir, Capturing the Yangshen Taisui

The days in Chuxiu Palace had always been desolate.

Or perhaps it was more accurate to say that all of [Fengdu] was never lively.

Ever since ascending to the Eighteen-Layered High Platform, Jiang Yi was like an unfavored "concubine" of the inner court, gradually cast aside and completely forgotten.

The plump girl, Gui’er, and the young maiden in green, Xiaoqiao, had never come to visit.

The only beings he saw each day were the two gate-keeping ghosts responsible for his meals and daily care.

But Jiang Yi himself was perfectly content. He didn’t feel the slightest bit stifled or bored; in fact, he reveled in it.

This was the very "freedom to cultivate" he had always dreamed of. He could focus without distraction, completely immersing himself in accumulating Merit and comprehending his Dao Inheritance, savoring the infinite fascination of it all. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Within the side chamber.

Seated cross-legged on the dais, Jiang Yi performed a full Circulation. His physical body, the so-called Furnace Cauldron, trembled incessantly, letting out a series of faint pops.

Large, dense clouds of fiery, glowing qi swirled slowly with the rhythm of his Breathing, drawn in and out of his mouth and nose.

The Black Shadow Magical Robe billowed noisily, rising and falling erratically like ocean waves.

Threads of liquid flame shot out from his seven orifices, gathering into brilliant, condensed clusters of light.

At this moment, Jiang Yi no longer had the pale, almost effeminate appearance of before. His skin was now smooth and radiant, like an exquisite jade statue fired in an imperial kiln.

’A golden body and jade-like substance. My Dao Embryo has reached Great Success.’

Jiang Yi opened his eyes. The Divine Sense residing in his Primordial Gate flickered, and his Qi Mechanism abruptly contracted inward.

’To refine fire until it flows like water! My *Mixed-Refining Spirit Brilliance Sun Lord Divine Technique* has also made significant progress!’

He closed his eyes and sensed his own state. His True Qi hadn’t grown much thicker, but the foundation of his Cultivation was far more solid and firm.

He immediately summoned the golden paper.

[I beg the Celestial Book, show me my current Cultivation progress.]

[Analysis Results:]

[Celestial Book Owner: Jiang Yi]

[Realm: Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer (Eighty-six Percent)]

[Techniques: *True Meridian Qi Flowing Technique* (Ungraded), *Mixed-Refining Spirit Brilliance Sun Lord Divine Technique* (Second Grade)]

[Daoist Skills: *Long-term Nourishing Daoist Embryo Skill* (First Layer, Great Success), *Embrace Thought Nourishing Spirit Seven Emotions Curse* (Great Success), *Cloud Soaring and Flame Riding Skill* (Great Success), *Red Sky Void True Qi* (Small Success), *Bingding Crimson Divine Light* (Entry-level)]

’The *Mixed Refining Origin* is my core technique. Most of my other Daoist Skills and abilities are derived from it.’

Jiang Yi’s eyes narrowed slightly in contemplation.

Breaking through to the Eighth and Ninth Layers wouldn’t be very difficult. It was just a matter of grinding, strengthening his Primordial Essence until he had accumulated enough Merit to cross the threshold.

Condensing the One Qi at the Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer, however, would require special effort.

’First, I have to comprehend my own personal "Qi Refining Technique." Since every Cultivator gathers and refines Spiritual Energy differently, their methods for condensing True Qi also vary. It’s said there are a thousand techniques for a thousand people; it’s nearly impossible for any two to be exactly the same.’

Jiang Yi’s mind raced. Even though he practiced the *Mixed Refining Origin*—the supreme secret art known as the Commander of Ten Thousand Truths—the "True Qi" he would ultimately condense wouldn’t necessarily be the same as that of [Shao Yang].

’So far, Cat Master has only mentioned two types: the First Grade *Six Yang Harmonious Bright True Qi* and the supreme-grade *Miro Wondrous True Qi*.’

’Jiang Yi pondered. According to his Dao Inheritance, the general outline of the Mixed Refining technique, which controlled the One Element of Spiritual Energy, could condense a full twelve types of First Grade True Qi. As for the legendary supreme-grade ones, there were as many as four.’

Supreme-grade True Qi would not only be a massive help in achieving Flying Foundation Establishment, but it would also lay an unprecedentedly strong foundation and increase one’s chances of achieving true Ascension.

’According to Cat Master, there’s a primary and secondary distinction between ’ascending’ to a rank and ’validating’ a rank. It seems like a subtle difference, but they are worlds apart—like the difference between the clouds and the mud.’

A torrent of chaotic thoughts flooded his mind, but Jiang Yi incinerated them all.

Those who Cultivate Ding Fire have the least to fear from such fleeting, deluded thoughts.

’Comprehending the art of Qi refining won’t be that difficult for me. After all, I have the Celestial Book to help me, not to mention my own world-shaking Dao Wisdom.’

’The only thing I’m still clueless about is how to ’extract the Great Medicine’ from my physical ’Furnace Cauldron,’ then mix it with the right Spiritual Energy to undergo ’Body Transformation and Essence Refining.’’

Whenever he ran into a problem like this, Jiang Yi couldn’t help but lament that the Loose Cultivators of the Yanfu Vast Land really had no chance of success.

Unless they were blessed with heaven-defying fortune, stumbling their way to the Twelfth Layer and then reaching the Flying Foundation Establishment Realm was practically a fairy tale.

Thinking of it like that, the "True Master Tangshi" from Sanhe District was truly incredible. To think he had reached Foundation Establishment as a Loose Cultivator.

Back when he had first heard the rumors, he hadn’t been deeply moved, but looking back on it now, he was filled with nothing but admiration.

"Xiao Jiang! Xiao Jiang!"

Seeing that Jiang Yi had finished his cultivation session, True Master Xuanmiao, who was sprawled nearby, immediately grew restless. He began rolling around, three times to the left and three times to the right.

"Where are those health tonics you promised me! This True Master has been waiting for a long, long time!"

Jiang Yi gave a helpless smile, knowing that the Cat Master, stuck with him in Chuxiu Palace, was probably bored out of his mind.

After all, True Master Xuanmiao couldn’t pass the time with Cultivation, and there was no one else for him to talk to besides Jiang Yi.

’My foundation is pretty much consolidated after these past few days of focused cultivation.’

’A quick calculation tells me... after so much stillness, it’s time for some action. I really should get out!’

Jiang Yi stroked the Cat Master’s head and scooped it into his arms.

"I’ll have Ah Da and Ah Er gather some precious flowering plants. I’ll pound them into a paste for you when I get back."

True Master Xuanmiao was satisfied upon hearing this. He proactively nuzzled Jiang Yi’s palm and chuckled.

"This Liugu Heavenly Palace... I heard long ago that it was the cultivation ground for the highest True Masters of [Fengdu]. Even the Yamas who rule the Yin Department find it nearly impossible to set foot here. They must burn incense to announce their visit and petition the Earth Emperor of the Nine Layers."

"You should take the opportunity to look around, Xiao Jiang. Broaden your horizons."

Holding the Cat Master, Jiang Yi stepped out of the side room and strode from Chuxiu Palace. [Fengdu] had no sun or moon, no morning or evening.

However, for Cultivators, it was easy enough to tell the time by relying on the rhythms of their internal organs and the ebb and flow of their senses.