Chapter 72: Chapter 55: A Single Breath Cleaves Open the Inner Mansion’s Gate, Mortal Roots Are Cleansed and the Dao Body Remains

His mind had been a dim, formless chaos, like the universe before heaven and earth separated.

Until that perfectly round, egg-like Qi Pill crashed open the Celestial Gate, connecting the inner and outer worlds and illuminating everything within!

The vast, profound darkness was cleaved apart in a single stroke, revealing countless hidden and subtle places in perfect detail.

Formless Essence and matterless spirit condensed into substance, leaping with life as they nourished the Brain God.

’It truly feels like I’m becoming an Immortal!’

Jiang Yi felt a profound comfort in body and mind. Streams of Purifying Qi surged and rays of Spiritual Light erupted from within him, giving him the sense that he was about to sprout feathers and ascend.

He felt as if he’d swallowed a large bottle of Nourishing Essence Pills. His seven apertures flew open, his shackles fell away, his senses sharpened, and his comprehension soared!

Many points of cultivation he’d long struggled to understand, points that had required him to beg the Celestial Book for answers, were now perfectly clear at a glance.

’So, this is what the world is really like.’

Jiang Yi’s gaze became steady, his eyes like the still depths of an ancient well, betraying no hint of light. The last traces of childishness on his face were worn away, leaving only a profound calm.

When he looked at the spacious Quiet Chamber again, it appeared completely different. He could now see clumps of qi of all sizes filling the space, gathering and dispersing, rising and falling in constant change.

’The Primordial Gate is open, and the Inner Mansion is established. I can now collect and refine Spiritual Energy. I’ve finally achieved entry-level Cultivation!’

The text of the *Little Refining Yuan Fire Control Technique* surfaced in his mind. The Chapter on Qi Collection was now self-evident, its once-obscure phrases suddenly simple and clear.

Especially when compared with the annotated version he had obtained by begging the Celestial Book, it was so simple even He the Venerable could understand it.

“Spiritual Energy and Spiritual Qi are not the same. Spiritual Qi is the ’Purifying Qi’ born from the heavens, earth, mountains, and rivers. It can be absorbed into the body through breathing to enhance one’s Merit, regardless of the Cultivation Technique one practices.

Spiritual Energy, however, is the Primordial Essence of the universe, existing between the tangible and intangible. It is of the most supreme and pure nature.

It must be gathered slowly, in accordance with the Secrets of the Technique, then gradually refined, drawn into the Primordial Gate, and assimilated into the Inner Mansion.”

Jiang Yi began to taste the exhilarating joy of Cultivation that was exclusive to geniuses.

This experience of one insight leading to a hundred, of thoughts flowing with perfect clarity, was truly exquisite!

It surpassed the pleasure between a man and a woman, the intimacy of the bedroom, a hundredfold!

It was as if the principles of the universe were within his grasp and the transformations of the sun and moon filled his very being!

’Marvelous, simply marvelous!’

Jiang Yi did not rush into Qi Collection. Only Loose Cultivators without a proper lineage would impatiently seize and refine Spiritual Energy the moment they reached the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer.

In truth, a Magic Lineage Cultivator belonging to a Daoist Lineage, no matter how minor their sect, knew that refining Spiritual Energy was not to be taken lightly.

Because its properties and attributes vary, it must be compatible with one’s own Cultivation Technique to properly strengthen one’s Merit.

Take Jiang Yi, for example. His foundation was the *Little Refining Yuan Fire Control Technique*, so the Spiritual Energy he required had to be of the Fire Element.

However, Ding Fire is of the Yin attribute. Therefore, he could not absorb brilliant yang or turbid yin energies. He could only gather types like Zhao Rong, Mingtang, and Inner Softness.

’No wonder the first lesson in Daoism is that Loose Cultivators and Wild Cultivators have no future.

’If you have no way to learn the secrets and just start practicing a technique the moment you get it, you’re practically asking to die.’

Jiang Yi’s thoughts drifted. ’Could the division into nine grades for Cultivation Techniques be based on this very process of refining Spiritual Energy?’

He carefully pondered the *Little Refining Yuan Fire Control Technique* and realized the types of Spiritual Energy he could absorb were extremely limited—fewer than five in total.

’There are a full seven hundred types of Spiritual Energy that fall under Ding Fire… So that’s why this technique is only Ninth Grade. And that’s why cultivation is so difficult.’

A flash of understanding lit up Jiang Yi’s eyes. He seemed to grasp why his Grandpa, Yang Xun, had been stuck before the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer for most of his life.

’He must have been held back by the Cultivation Technique, wasting ages on the step of refining Spiritual Energy.’

’Daoist Lineage and Dharma Lineage… there really are pitfalls everywhere. I wonder if I can beg the Celestial Book to help me over this hurdle.’

Jiang Yi pondered for a moment before calming his mind once more. He closed his eyes and began breathing in Spiritual Qi to nourish his Brain God.

He had many questions that needed answers, but the most pressing one right now was—

[I beg the Celestial Book, show me the progress of my Cultivation!]

[Realm: Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer (13% complete)]

’After five days of seclusion to fully absorb the Eighth Grade Pool and Fire Swamp Rituals, I might reach 18%.

’It’s a shame I lack the nourishment of Ding Fire-attribute Spiritual Energy. Otherwise, if I could just draw a single wisp into my Inner Mansion, my Cultivation would surely jump significantly!’

…

…

Outside the Quiet Chamber, Yang Xun had sat vigil for five days, eating and drinking on the spot without moving an inch.

On this day, Master Lu happened to come for a visit, bringing his grandson, Lu Xuan, with him.

He asked with a smile,

“Brother Yang, why hasn’t Nephew Jiang emerged from his seclusion?”

Yang Xun answered curtly,

“There’s been no movement.”

He was in no mood to chat with Master Lu. ’If I hadn’t been held back by a Ninth Grade Cultivation Technique for decades,’ he thought, ’I would’ve reached the Sixth or even Seventh Layer long ago. Why would I need to put up with his attitude?’

“With the protection of the Pool and Fire Swamp Rituals, there’s no danger to his life even if he fails the breakthrough. You can rest easy, Brother Yang.”

Master Lu said with a broad smile,

“Half the disciples from the Village Clan Direct Lineage who’ve opened their meridians stumble at the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer. If they fail once, they have to recuperate for several years before trying again.

“This old master wasted three years myself before I finally broke through the Celestial Gate. But my Xuan’er’s talent is quite high, so he should be able to avoid such a winding path…”

’This old dog never shuts up. So damned annoying!’

Yang Xun’s brows furrowed deeply. For the first time, he found the babbling Master Lu so detestable that it stirred a murderous impulse within him.

Agitated, he even had a vicious thought. ’My remaining years are hopeless and my lifespan is almost up anyway. Why not just take this old dog down with me!’

“He couldn’t even break through with the help of Immortal Dao Rituals. Hundreds of thousands of talisman coins down the drain. What a complete waste…”

Lu Xuan glanced at the Quiet Chamber, feeling a great sense of satisfaction. ’By what right does a worthless commoner cultivate faster than someone from a Village Clan Direct Lineage like me?’

’He deserves to fall flat on his face. That’ll teach him that the hierarchy of the Daoist Lineage and Dharma Lineage is rigid and not so easily overcome!’

Yang Xun was not a good-tempered man to begin with. Hearing Lu Xuan’s remark, his eyes snapped open, glaring like a starving eagle that had just spotted its prey, ready to tear someone apart.

But before he could unleash his suppressed, chilling killing intent, the Quiet Chamber—silent for five days—suddenly erupted with the sound of a great river, a ceaseless, roaring RUSH.

Yang Xun whipped his head around, joy breaking across his face, though his tone was laced with hesitation.

“Ah Yi… did he make it?”

Master Lu’s smile froze on his face. He stared intently at the door of the Quiet Chamber, which seemed to be battered by crashing waves.

’Could that Jiang kid really have broken through the Celestial Gate and opened his Primordial Gate on the first try?’

’That’s something even disciples from the Village Clan Direct Lineage struggle to achieve!’

The Spiritual Qi began to boil like a rising tide. Wave after wave surged outward, shattering the sound-dampening wards on the Quiet Chamber.

The commotion attracted the Steward of Zhizhen Garden, but before he could investigate, the swarming Spiritual Qi abruptly fell silent. Like a vast ocean condensing into a single point of clear light, it retracted in an instant.

“This…”

The Steward was stunned.

’Could one of the Village Clan Direct Lineage have broken through to the Fifth Layer?’

’A Spiritual Qi surge this powerful could only mean one thing: someone has opened their Primordial Gate and is absorbing energy!’

“He really did it!”

Yang Xun shot to his feet.

The door to the Quiet Chamber finally swung open. A young man in a wide robe stepped out with unhurried grace. His features were calm, and his posture was ramrod straight.

With each step, he recited a line of a poem:

“The Pool and Fire Swamp refines the soul,

Burning True Lead to breach the Celestial goal;

One breath to break the Inner Mansion’s seal,

To wash away all dust and make the Dao Body real!”

As the last word fell, he had already arrived before Yang Xun.

Jiang Yi lightly flicked his sleeves and clasped his hands in a formal salute.

“I have not failed your expectations, Grandpa. I have reached the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer!”

Yang Xun threw his head back and laughed, a long, loud laugh that seemed to expel decades of pent-up frustration from his chest!

He exclaimed three times,

“Good! Good! Excellent! The heavens have taken pity and granted this old man a true Dao Material!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep