Chapter 59: Chapter 44: Going Down the Mountain, Sanhe Fang

’Let’s see what this Nourishing Essence Pill, a treat reserved for Inner Peak Disciples, actually tastes like.’

This afternoon, Jiang Yi arrived at the “optimal cultivation spot” previously indicated by the Celestial Book: a Snow Forest north of Red Flame Peak.

With the Nourishing Essence Pill in hand, he had no intention of saving it for later.

His Grandpa had specifically told him that Cultivators of the Demon Dao Dharma Lineage must remember the principle of using things to their fullest.

Spend what you have, use what you’ve got, and worry about everything else only after you’ve climbed to the top.

Thus, back in ancient times, the hierarchy of the Demon Dao was strict. There was little conflict between those of the same Realm; they much preferred to bully those beneath them.

Upper Cultivators never saw Lower Cultivators as people, only as materials to be harvested and refined at a whim.

However, a subsequent shift in the Dharma Lineages of the Ancestral Sects brought another round of changes, altering their methods.

Jiang Yi had only heard a few vague, scattered rumors of these old events, mostly from Yang Xun.

He gathered his wandering thoughts, sat down right where he was in the snow, and prepared to begin his Cultivation.

According to Li Ruohan’s explanation, the greatest use of the Nourishing Essence Pill wasn’t to raise one’s Cultivation or strengthen their Primordial Essence, but for “Bright Qi Awakening Spirit, Nourishing the Brain with Essence.”

The effects were especially potent the first time one took it!

’The most difficult part of the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer is the Primordial Inner Mansion.’

Jiang Yi had once begged the Celestial Book, asking about it in detail, and had gained a general understanding of its mysteries.

That was why he understood just what made the Nourishing Essence Pill so valuable.

’According to the Daoist Scripture, the Primordial Inner Mansion is not an ordinary aperture, but is formed by the union of Qian and Kun.’

’If I analyze that carefully, it basically means the Primordial Inner Mansion is a “cavern of nothingness”—formless, shadowless, and difficult to find.’

Jiang Yi gripped the small vial, his chaotic thoughts sinking like a stone in water as he entered a state of focused concentration.

’The Little Refining Yuan Fire Control Technique’s description is extremely vague. It only says “to create something from nothing” and “it contains the natural true master.”’

’Grandpa’s annotations were also vague, stating that the wonder of the Primordial Inner Mansion lies in “in stillness, it gathers the nebulous and nurtures the true to rest and recuperate, mastering the origin of all life and transformation; in motion, it draws out Essence and diffuses it outward, serving as the connecting hub for all openings and closings.”’

’Sigh, Cultivators really don’t speak like normal people. I still have to rely on the Celestial Book!’

Jiang Yi shook his head and sighed. Without the Celestial Book’s help, he didn’t know how many detours he would have taken or how many pitfalls he would have stumbled into.

’Could anyone really master these Secrets of the Technique, with every word so obscure it seems to hold a hundred meanings, without a teacher?’

’Good thing I had some free time to study up beforehand, so I’m not completely in the dark.’

Jiang Yi tipped the small vial, and a smooth, round pill the size of a longan rolled into his palm. He gently picked it up, tilted his head back, and swallowed.

The moment the Nourishing Essence Pill went down his throat, he began his Cultivation, circulating his energy to slowly refine it.

’To advance from the Fourth Layer to the Fifth Layer, the secret lies in “refining Essence from qi and blood, and condensing the spirit with True Lead. The two gather, grind against each other, and ignite.” From there, the Primordial Gate opens, and the Inner Mansion is established!’

’Then, intertwine Kan and Li, establish the Furnace Cauldron, turn the Bellows, and build the Dipper Handle!’

Jiang Yi quickly “tasted” the Nourishing Essence Pill. At first, it was like a gentle stream, nourishing his flesh and blood.

But as his Circulation of the Meridians completed and his Primordial Essence strengthened, it gradually became a boiling torrent that scoured his entire body, enveloping chunks of condensed True Lead and transforming into a surge of energy that rushed straight to his head.

THUMP! THUMP!

Jiang Yi’s temples suddenly throbbed, and the spot between his eyebrows grew scorching hot, as if branded by a red-hot iron.

’Bright Qi Awakening Spirit, Nourishing the Brain with Essence… it truly lives up to its name!’

Thinking about how his Merit would greatly advance, increasing by another ten percent, Jiang Yi no longer found the agony unbearable.

’No matter how bitter Cultivation is, can it be more bitter than the life of a Mortal Servant, treated like Cattle and Horses with no hope of ever turning things around!?’

’To achieve Fourth Layer Perfection, it’s not just about increasing True Qi, but also about opening a path to the Brain God and accumulating Spiritual Light.’

’The Nourishing Essence Pill allows qi and blood to condense into Essence and merge with True Lead, creating an opportunity to focus the Heart Spirit and shake the Brain Barrier.’

The searing power felt like a red-hot iron rod being repeatedly driven into his skull, giving Jiang Yi the bizarre sensation that he was “growing a new brain.”

He patiently endured, suppressing the illusory, excruciating pain of bursting blood vessels and a splitting skull, and absorbed the medicinal power of the Nourishing Essence Pill.

One pill after another, without a moment’s rest!

For a full eight hours, Red Flame Peak was shrouded by a dark, heavy sky.

Sweat poured off Jiang Yi like rain. His Daoist Robe was soaked through, then steamed dry, becoming a wrinkled mess.

It wasn’t until the third quarter of the Zi hour that a deep chill settled, enveloping the young man’s figure, who sat as still as a clay statue.

’I did it!’

Suddenly, Jiang Yi’s eyelids lifted. His lashes trembled, and a sharp glint seemed to flash in his eyes.

His ears felt as if celestial drums were being struck, a few rumbles of DONG DONG DONG reverberating through his body.

It felt as if some kind of blockage had been cleared, and a feeling of pure relief washed over him!

Immediately after, his sturdy physique, which had already undergone tempering of the sinews, bones, blood marrow, and organs, felt as if it had shed a shell, becoming as light as a feather.

When the cold wind blew, it felt as though he could float into the air!

’Unfortunately, to truly fly, you have to reach the Tenth Layer. Even after the Fifth Layer, when you can gather and refine Spiritual Energy, it’s just “cloud climbing,” not true “flight.”’

Two Nourishing Essence Pills had allowed Jiang Yi to grow a great deal; his gains were significant.

The surge of qi and blood reaching his Brain Barrier not only made him as light as a swallow and incredibly agile but also sharpened his hearing and vision, bringing a new clarity to his mind.

’If the Celestial Book were to show my progress, my Cultivation would definitely be past “Fifty Percent.”’

Jiang Yi waited another moment, savoring the heartfelt joy welling up from his body and mind. The afterglow was enough to wash away the memory of the skull-splitting pain from before.

To use the phrase He the Venerable was always saying, it was, more or less—”Absolutely wonderful!”

’Treasure Medicine is always most effective the first time. The effects diminish with each subsequent use.’

Jiang Yi felt both regret and relief. After all, the greater the benefits of the Nourishing Essence Pill, the wider the gap between him and the Direct Lineage of the village clans, or even the scions of the Dao Race.

’In less than two short months, everything has turned upside down! I imagine if the Inner Peak saw me now, they’d have to call me “a fine talent of the Demon Dao.”’

Jiang Yi stood up and suddenly felt a tickle in his throat. He coughed twice and spat out a glob of bloody phlegm, which was mixed with extremely fine, dark particles.

’Those must be the “impurities” I accumulated from years of hard labor in the Quenching Room, breathing in acrid smoke and swallowing ash and dust.’

Jiang Yi felt even more invigorated. If he hadn’t expelled that bloody phlegm, it would have eventually built up in his lungs, likely forming the root of a chronic illness that would have made him suffer in old age when his qi and blood weakened.

’I’m in high spirits, maybe I should compose a poem… nah, I’ll wait until I break through to the Fifth Layer.’

Jiang Yi began to walk with a relaxed stride, his thoughts drifting. Tomorrow, he was supposed to go down the mountain with his Grandpa.

He had heard the place they were going this time was called “Sanhe Market.”

It was a rather famous spot on Beimang Ridge.

…

…

“This is the ’Seven Evils Needle.’ There are seven needles in total. I’ll bestow one upon you!”

Inside a workshop on Sewing Peak, all was quiet. Only Zhou Can and the man with the triangular eyes were present.

“When Luo Tong goes down into the Heart-Stealing Forest with you, use this to kill him! The Seven Evils Needle will pierce the crown of his skull and kill him instantly, and it won’t even leave a wound!”

Zhou Can explained everything in detail, making sure the man with the triangular eyes, whose name was Zeng Shun, didn’t forget a single word.

“Servant, if I secretly kill a Mortal Servant of the sect… if an Inner Peak Senior Brother finds out and we can’t offer compensation, we’ll be punished…”

Zeng Shun’s throat bobbed, his expression hesitant.

He had been flattering and fawning over Zhou Can to get easier work and survive his twelve-year term of labor.

Naturally, he was reluctant to get his hands dirty with something like murder.

“Don’t worry. Senior Brother Xu has use for me right now, so he definitely won’t say a thing.”

Zhou Can said sinisterly,

“If you don’t do it, there are plenty of others who would want to. You’d better think this through carefully.”

“I recall you still have five years left on your labor term. We’ll have plenty of opportunities to interact in the future.”

Zeng Shun shuddered violently, then immediately dropped to his knees, raising his hands high above his head.

“I beg you, Servant, bestow upon me the Seven Evils Needle!”

Zhou Can nodded in satisfaction. He handed the silver needle, as fine as an ox’s hair, to Zeng Shun, explained its use in detail, and then swaggered away.

In the vast, snowy night, his heart burned with ambition. Senior Brother Xu had said that as long as Sewing Peak’s output tripled by the start of next spring, he would be rewarded with a “Complete Magical Artifact” personally refined by Elder Sui.

’If I get a White Bone Magical Sword, I can return to my village and establish a clan. Who would be my rival then?’

’Haha, an Elder Ancestor! I, your father, can also become the Elder Ancestor of a Qi Cultivation Clan and make the Tenant Farmers kneel and kowtow to me!’

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep