What do you mean I'm a cultivator?-Chapter 25

Beyond the gate lay a courtyard paved with polished stone, leading up to an imposing hall. Unlike the outer sect buildings, which were practical and somewhat lacking in style, this place exuded an air of refinement and authority. Even the spiritual energy in the air felt richer, denser.

But perhaps, that might be due to the weird feeling he got as he entered into the courtyard. like a prickling sensation on his skin. Was this some kind of array?

The inner sect disciple led Jiang Cheng through the courtyard and into the hall. The moment he stepped inside, a subtle pressure settled over him. It was not outright oppressive, but it was enough to remind him of the gap between himself and those who resided here.

At the far end of the hall, seated upon a raised platform, was Elder Feng. Dressed in deep azure robes embroidered with silver, the elder seemed wholly disinterested in the affairs of the world

His long beard was immaculately groomed, white as snow, and his fingers idly tapped against the armrest of his chair as if this entire matter was beneath him.

Jiang Cheng immediately bowed deeply. "Disciple Jiang Cheng greets Elder Feng."

he spoke, cupping his hands, not daring to sit before being told to do so.

Elder Feng barely acknowledged him with a glance. "You were the one stationed at the mine." he stated, his voice devoid of warmth.

"Yes, Elder."

"Speak."

Jiang Cheng took a steadying breath and quickly recounted everything.

The jade mole's sudden attack, their attempt to flee the mine, the arrival of the wandering cultivators, and his decision to refuse them entry. He detailed how the inner sect disciples arrived and finished the mole.

Elder Feng listened in silence, his gaze half-lidded as though Jiang Cheng’s words were little more than a minor inconvenience. When the report concluded, the elder let out a quiet sigh, as if the entire matter had been a trivial waste of time.

During this time, Jiang Cheng could feel it. The aura of Elder Feng, though restrained, was clearer to him than before. The oppressive, suffocating force that once made him tremble now only set his instincts on edge.

Perhaps thanks to his life having been at stake once, he was able to not tremble like a leaf in the wind, at elder feng's suppressed aura.

His body screamed at him to lower his presence, to submit, to not anger the being before him who could crush him like a mere insect.

Yet, this time, he remained still, calm. Though his heart pounded fast, his breathing stayed even for the most part. He did not shake, nor did his voice crack again and again as he tried to speak.

This was progress—not just in cultivation but in his ability to withstand pressure from the strong.

Of course, that could only be said when elder feng was actively suppressing his aura. If he allowed it to be free, or worse, weaponize it, Jiang Cheng was sure that he'd probably be crushed to the floor or something.

"So you did not allow the outsiders into the mine." Elder Feng mused, his tone neutral.

Jiang Cheng kept his head bowed. "No, Elder. This disciple judged that their entry could have brought problems to the inner sect seniors that would come."

Elder Feng's fingers stopped tapping. "Hmph. At least you are not entirely useless."

Jiang Cheng remained silent, sensing that no response was required. Or wanted for that part.

With a lazy motion, Elder Feng waved a hand, and a small jade bottle floated down toward Jiang Cheng, appearing from nothing. A space ring of some sort? perhaps.

Cheng grasped it carefully, his perception immediately picking up the dense Qi emanating from within.

"Ten Qi Condensation Realm Gathering Pills." Elder Feng said offhandedly. "Higher quality than the garbage you lot typically have. Consider it a reward for not making a mess of things."

Jiang Cheng’s heart leapt, though he kept his expression carefully controlled.

Such pills were far superior to the ones normally distributed to outer disciples. A single one was worth a full month of standard pills. And he had received ten. With these, reaching the seventh stage of Qi Condensation might be far closer than he had expected.

Even if the sect gave them Qi condensation realm pills, they'd be of low purity. These would likely be something like a high purity.

As he held the bottle, another realization struck him. The stronger he became, the more clearly he could perceive the gap between himself and those above him.

The distance he had closed by reaching the brink of the seventh stage was practically nothing compared to what lay ahead. If before, Elder Feng’s presence was like a formless, unknowable mountain, now he could at least glimpse its shape, Albeit hidden by clouds.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

An unfathomable peak, still impossibly distant. But that was fine. Because now, he could see something.

"This disciple thanks Elder Feng for his generosity." he said respectfully, bowing again, cupping his hands.

Elder Feng merely waved him off. "Do not think too much of it. If not for the sect's orders, I would not waste my time on an ant like you. You are dismissed."

Jiang Cheng did not linger. He bowed one final time and turned to leave, keeping his pace steady until he was well outside the hall. Only then did he allow himself a small exhale, his fingers tightening around the bottle in his grasp.

This was likely of no worth to the elder. A meaningless gesture from someone who wielded power far beyond him. But to Jiang Cheng, it was another step forward. Another opportunity to close the gap between himself and those who looked down on him.

Well, not like there were many of those yet, but probably as he climbed, more and more people wouldn't mind ripping him apart and take his place or something.

With the valuable gift of high purity Qi Condensation Realm Gathering Pills in hand, Jiang Cheng returned to his daily routine at the sect.

Days flowed into weeks as he settled back into the familiar rhythm. working menial tasks from dawn until early afternoon at the Tower of Records, then spending his evenings browsing the precious books and manuals on the second floor until nightfall.

But it was the nights that truly mattered to Jiang Cheng. Each night, he would sit on his now weathered straw mat in the familiar lotus pose, cultivating. Absorbing the ambient Qi in his surroundings.

Nearly a month after his return from the mine, Jiang Cheng decided it was time. That night, he returned to his small quarters earlier than usual, sat down mat, and withdrew the jade bottle from his robes.

The bottle felt cool against his palm as he carefully removed the stopper. A faint, sweet aroma wafted from within, catching him by surprise. They smelt nice. They had a smell ,unlike the pilsl he was used to in the outer sect.

The scent of concentrated spiritual herbs and refined Qi. Even this small whiff sent a pleasant tingle through his senses. These were indeed far superior to the standard pills distributed to outer disciples.

It almost reminded him that sweet scent that was tied to the Jade moles' meat.

And so, he extracted a single pill. It glowed with a soft azure light, pulsing gently as if alive. Without hesitation, Jiang Cheng placed it on his tongue and closed his eyes.

He gulped it down after chewing once or twice, and he smiled as it had quite the pleasant aftertaste.

The moment the pill settled in his stomach, a surge of Qi flooded his system. Unlike the thin, almost watery energy he was accustomed to from standard pills, this Qi was thick and potent.

Like comparing a mountain stream to a raging river. It coursed through his body with frightening intensity, threatening to tear him apart from within.

Jiang Cheng's breath caught in his throat as he struggled to control the wild energy. Where lower quality pills almost no concentration, being far too easy to gather, this one seemed determined to force its way through him regardless of his wishes.

But it was also much harder to control. sure it gathered near his dantian, but it didn't really enter, as it was much denser than His Qi in it, the pull not strong enough on it's own. His skin grew hot, then cold, then hot again as the Qi sought pathways through his flesh.

With practiced discipline, he guided the turbulent energy toward his dantian. Even this proved challenging, as the dense Qi resisted his control like a wild horse bucking against its rider.

Several times, errant streams of energy threatened to spill into other parts of his body, which could have resulted in injury or worse. Qi deviation.

The process of Qi destroying His connection with his dantian, essentially stripping one's cultivation ability. Of course, it was more and more difficult to do so on purpose as the higher the realm, the more interconnected the cultivator was to their dantian.

This was definitely by far, the most intense pill he had ever eaten.

This was not simply a difference of stages. It was more potent than it should, the ingredients being mashed and improved into the pill. This. This was why pills were by far the best way to improve cultivation, when one was rich enough.

But Jiang Cheng was nothing if not persistent. Gradually, with unwavering focus, he guided the rampaging Qi into his dantian. His dantian filling to capacity far more quickly than he had anticipated.

The pressure built until it felt as though his dantian would burst. A sensation both exhilarating and terrifying.

This was the critical moment. His dantian was now filled to its absolute limit, bulging with spiritual energy far denser than what he normally worked with.

Perhaps that's why it hurt. Sure, it was far faster, but it was stronger than what his dantian was able to hold naturally.

Now came the most delicate part of advancing to the seventh stage of Qi Condensation. Or any of it's stages for that matter. Condensation. Hence the name.

Drawing on techniques he had studied in the Tower of Records, Jiang Cheng exerted his will upon the dantian, pushing inward from all directions. It was like trying to fold the ocean. Seemingly impossible, yet necessary. The pain was immediate and intense, radiating outward from his core and setting every nerve ending aflame.

Unlike all the other times, here he was working with energy stronger than one of his own level. It was definitely High stage Qi condensation Qi. perhaps close to the fifteen stage or something.

He gritted his teeth, refusing to yield. Sweat poured down his face and back, soaking through his robes as he continued to press inward, compressing the Qi further and further.

And then he felt a subtle shift. Like ice finally cracking under pressure.

The Qi within his dantian began to change state, becoming less gaseous and more substantial. As this transformation occurred, the painful pressure eased, replaced by a profound sense of expansion. not of his dantian itself, but of its capacity.

His dantian adjusted to the new pressure, adapting and strengthening.

The walls of his dantian thickened and grew more resilient, accommodating the concentrated Qi now residing within. The energy that had once threatened to tear him apart now coursed through him in controlled streams, responsive to his will in a way it had never been before.

This content is taken from fгeewebnovёl.com.

He had advanced to the seventh stage of Qi Condensation.

Testing his new power, he extended his hand, And he clenched it, hearing a satisfying snapping sound, as his palm clasped the air, Qi running through his arm.

A smile spread across his face as he closed his eyes once more. One pill had been enough to push him across the threshold he had been approaching. Nine more remained in the bottle. Nine more helping hands to further his cultivation.

Though exhausted, Jiang Cheng felt a deep satisfaction settle within him. The gap between himself and those like Elder Feng remained vast—an ocean compared to the puddle he had just crossed—but he was moving forward. Each step, no matter how small, brought him closer to his goal.