Chapter 71: Chapter 54: Refining the Spirit in the Pool of Fire and Water, Burning the True Lead to Strike the Celestial Gate

Two days passed in a flash.

The muffled winter thunder that had rumbled for days had, at some point, quietly ceased.

The dark clouds lingering over Sanhe District gradually dispersed, and the heavy snow finally let up.

Warm sunlight spilled down, melting the chill into droplets of water that dripped from the eaves. DRIP. DRIP. DRIP.

Inside Zhizhen Garden, Jiang Yi gently pushed open the window lattice, revealing his youthful, boyish face.

He was dressed in a clean, simple white robe today. With his refined features, he looked like a young master from a Village Clan Direct Lineage.

’A mind as still as water, free of distracting thoughts, and as calm as a placid lake can add another twenty percent to my chances.’

Jiang Yi sat silently, waiting for the auspicious time.

For the past two days, he had neither meditated for Cultivation nor practiced any Breathing exercises.

Other than petitioning the Celestial Book to deepen his understanding of his inherited Opportunity, he had simply eaten well and slept well to harmonize his spirit.

’Now, I should have a ninety-seven percent chance of success.’

The sun climbed to its zenith, and the Yang Qi was at its peak.

Jiang Yi said softly:

“As the saying goes, ’While all other creatures rest, only the horse stands.’ The sun is at its highest point at noon, the sky is clear and cloudless—the cosmic energies are at their most vibrant. My chances are ninety-nine percent now!”

He slowly rose and headed for Quiet Chamber Earth-7.

His Grandpa, Yang Xun, was already waiting. For those on the path of Cultivation, Breaking the Realm was of paramount importance. He was afraid of disturbing Jiang Yi and causing his efforts to fail at the last moment.

So, he only gave a few simple instructions:

“The Pool and Fire Swamp was originally a set of Ninth Grade Rituals. But because we gathered more high-quality Spiritual Resources and Main Materials this time, we were able to upgrade it to the Eighth Grade.

When you sit inside, remember to guard your spirit. The water refines and moistens to produce Essence, and the fire refines with light to produce spirit… As long as your spirit remains unshaken, you will not be destroyed by the water and fire.”

Jiang Yi nodded slightly.

“I understand, Grandpa.”

He had already petitioned the Celestial Book about how to perform the Eighth Grade Rituals, asking about every process and key point. He had committed every word to memory and could perform them perfectly even with his eyes closed.

“Go on.”

A rare look of apprehension appeared on Yang Xun’s face. The step from the Fourth Layer to the Fifth Layer was a critical juncture in the Qi Cultivation Twelve Floors. Failure to make the leap would result in a crushing setback.

This was nothing like Li Ruohan’s failed breakthrough, which only required a few dozen days of recovery. If something went wrong here, it could take a year or more to repair the damage to his Cultivation Furnace.

But despite his anxiety, he couldn’t say another word now. He could only force a kind smile onto his long, bald-browed face.

“Don’t be nervous. Grandpa is here for you, no matter what.”

Jiang Yi didn’t say much either. With ninety-nine percent certainty and the aid of the Eighth Grade Pool and Fire Swamp Rituals, he felt that if he still failed, he might as well die of shame.

He pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Pure, refined Spiritual Qi enveloped the room like a light veil, gathering into wisps of mist.

Jiang Yi felt refreshed with every breath, and it seemed as if every pore on his body was opening up.

’You get what you pay for. Zhizhen Garden really runs an honest business.’

This Quiet Chamber was far more expensive than the one at Heshui Cave.

It cost eight thousand talisman coins for twelve hours. Yang Xun had paid fifty thousand upfront, just in case Jiang Yi lost track of time during his seclusion and was disturbed by outsiders.

’Practicing meditation and Breathing in a place like this every day, it’d be hard *not* to make progress in your Cultivation.’

Jiang Yi cleared his mind of stray thoughts and looked at the Eighth Grade Pool and Fire Swamp Rituals his Grandpa Yang Xun had painstakingly prepared.

The so-called rituals were ceremonies passed down the Immortal Dao to pray for blessings and ward off disasters.

Over time, they evolved and were used for many different purposes, yielding various effects such as “harmonizing the spirit to preserve life” or “accumulating merit to absolve transgressions.”

As for the Pool and Fire Swamp, its purpose was simple: a purification rite to “bathe the body and refine the spirit.”

’First step: disrobe completely.’

Jiang Yi slipped out of his wide robe. His body, once conditioned by long days of labor in the Quenching Room on Red Flame Peak, had transformed significantly through several breakthroughs involving Muscle and Bone Transformation and Blood Exchange and Organ Refining. It was now well-proportioned and defined, with a faint, jade-like luster.

He stepped into the Pool and Fire Swamp, which was arranged in the formation of the Nine Palaces. Eight blocks of Top-Grade Cold Jade formed the base, with Fire Cloud Stones placed inside and balanced by Vermilion Spirit Water.

This way, the Water Attribute wouldn’t be too intense, which could stiffen his muscles and bones and stagnate his qi and blood. Nor would the Fire Attribute be too fierce, which could scorch his organs with excruciating pain and cause smoke to pour from his seven orifices.

’Second step: apply the Golden Ointment.’

Jiang Yi picked up a ceramic jar containing a thick, amber-colored paste.

He scooped out two handfuls and applied it carefully, making sure to cover every inch of his body evenly.

When activated by True Qi, this substance could generate muscle, invigorate blood, and strengthen tendons and bones.

Under the dual pressure from the Pool and Fire Swamp, both internal and external, it would further temper his Cultivation Furnace, increasing his chances of breaking through to the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer.

’I’ve reached Tenfold Perfection, with even a little to spare.’

Jiang Yi’s confidence soared. He immediately crossed his legs, sat down, and his face became as serene as still water.

He allowed the amber paste to be baked dry and hard, forming a pale gold layer over his skin.

The process was indescribably agonizing, like being placed in a steamer or pressed against a hot iron plate, enduring the torment of suffocating heat.

But Jiang Yi’s mind and spirit remained calm and unmoving. He focused solely on circulating his True Qi and assimilating the Fire Attribute, allowing his entire body and all his organs to nurture a robust Primordial Essence, which slowly enveloped the lead-like substance that was Gathering into a Ball.

’Third step: burn the True Lead and strike the Celestial Gate!’

A Daoist Scripture once said: qi and blood refine into Essence; True Lead condenses the spirit.

Now, as his spirit was being refined by the Pool and Fire Swamp, Jiang Yi’s Merit rose like a tide, instantly surging upward from around sixty percent.

Seventy percent, eighty percent, ninety percent… all the way to Tenfold Perfection!

Within his body, the Lead Block, as heavy as silver and dense as mercury, was forged and refined, transforming into a flawless, perfectly round pill.

Initially, it was only the size of a grain of rice. But under the refining power of the Pool and Fire Swamp, its surface became lustrous and began to glow with a growing brilliance.

’No wonder Grandpa went through so much trouble to arrange these rituals to help me. If I had relied on steady, hard Cultivation, it would have been considered fast to burn the True Lead and condense the Qi Pill in three to five years.’

Only now did Jiang Yi realize how ignorant he had been to vow that he would break through to the Fifth Layer before the start of next spring.

This was because the condensed True Lead was like a ball of Silver Mercury, as hard as a solid iron ball. It required both Essence and spirit to burn and refine it.

However, a person’s essence and spirit, unlike True Qi and Merit, are not endlessly regenerating or easily controlled. This is why even many members of the Village Clan Direct Lineage, with their ample supply of resources, were hopelessly stuck at this stage.

’When the True Lead condenses into a pill, it can strike the Celestial Gate.’

An unknown amount of time passed. Jiang Yi took a deep breath, his gaze resolute. The Qi Pill floating within his body had been refined by the water and fire until it was the size of a chicken egg.

At the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer, his Merit had reached Perfection. He could advance no further!

The Cultivation methods passed down by the Daoist Lineage and Method repeatedly stated that to shed one’s mortal coil, transcend the mundane, and undergo a qualitative transformation, one must open the Primordial Inner Mansion.

The Primordial Gate is above, also known as the “Brain God”; the Inner Mansion is below, also called the “Aerial Roots.”

When the True Lead Condensing Pill smashes through the Celestial Gate, the Primordial Gate opens.

When True Qi sprouts and fetal breathing begins, the Inner Mansion is established.

Grandpa Yang Xun’s detailed guidance and the various secrets obtained from petitioning the Celestial Book flowed through his mind.

With all doubt gone, Jiang Yi’s incomparably firm will merged with the Qi Pill forged from burning True Lead. It suddenly broke through the restraints of his body, soaring upward, layer by layer, rushing straight for his head!

BOOM!

The Qi Pill, saturated with the essence of the pool and tempered by the essence of the fire swamp, instantly unleashed an infinite radiance!

Supported by his Perfection of Merit at the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer, it smashed through the Celestial Gate with ease!

In a daze, Jiang Yi saw an ancient gateway that was neither round nor square, its surface covered in ravined patterns.

The Qi Pill passed through it, illuminating the crown of his head. Endless light pulsed outward, dispelling the darkness and shining upon the Brain God!

The Primordial Gate was open!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep