Chapter 21: The Peculiar First Stage of Qi Refinement
[Your martial cultivation has broken through to the Innate Realm.]
Zheng Yi’s expression was a mixture of surprise and confusion. He had intended to refine his spiritual energy into magical power, so how had his martial cultivation advanced into the Innate Realm instead?
This was… unexpected.
“Innate Realm, Innate Realm…” Zheng Yi muttered. “According to the martial path of this world, the so-called Innate Realm is achieved when one’s body and blood are tempered to their utmost, transforming the acquired into the innate, thus returning to the state at the moment of birth and attuning oneself to the primal energies of heaven and earth…”
“Is this primal energy the same as spiritual energy?”
“So, the Innate Realm is equivalent to the first level of Qi Refinement?”
He had wanted to condense magical power, yet his martial cultivation had instead stepped into the Innate Realm. It was indeed an unexpected boon.
Withdrawing his consciousness from the Ledger of Worldly Beauties, Zheng Yi was instantly enveloped by a peculiar sensation.
A mysterious energy surged through his flesh, meridians, and bones, permeating his entire being. Warm currents appeared out of nowhere, flowing in accordance with the circulation method of the Longevity Nourishment Art, coursing through his body.
He could clearly feel these gentle streams moving through his flesh, meridians, and bones. At first, they wandered aimlessly like headless flies, barely governed by the Longevity Nourishment Art. But as time went on, the spiritual energy began to nourish his flesh, meridians, and bones, thoroughly merging into his body.
He felt as though he were soaking in a hot spring, his body radiating warmth. His spirit, too, floated in a blissful daze, soon utterly intoxicated.
He had no idea how much time passed before he finally regained awareness. In the darkness, his eyes flashed with a trace of divine light, and his breath grew heavy.
“My martial cultivation is at the Innate Realm… No, not Innate. This is… the first layer of Qi Refinement!” Zheng Yi’s voice rang out, tinged with both strangeness and doubt.
“No, my Qi Refinement is peculiar.”
“Ordinary cultivators form a vortex of magical power in their dantian at the first layer of Qi Refinement, and casting any spell consumes the magical power within that vortex.”
“But in my case, the first layer of Qi Refinement is achieved by nourishing my flesh and body with spiritual energy, storing it throughout my entire body, completely unable to be mobilized.”
“To condense spiritual energy into magical power, I must have a true cultivation method!”
In the darkness, Zheng Yi shook his head once more.
How difficult it was to obtain a true cultivation method!
Several years ago, when he tried to win over those two itinerant cultivators, he had asked them about cultivation techniques. But no matter how hard he tried, he could not exchange even a single genuine cultivation manual from their hands.
They simply treasured them too dearly.
“Cultivation methods, cultivation methods…”
In the darkness, Zheng Yi suddenly wrinkled his brow.
A foul stench reached his nose. Looking down, he saw his imperial robe was smeared with black, sticky filth. His skin itched unbearably as well. It was clearly the impurities from his body, expelled while the Longevity Nourishment Art was cleansing him.
He rose and opened the secret chamber’s door, calling softly, “Attend me!”
Two young palace maids quickly hurried in. “Your Majesty, the Retired Emperor.”
“Prepare the hot springs. I wish to bathe.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!” The two maids hastened to comply, escorting Zheng Yi to the bathhouse.
Over half an hour later, with the two maids—cheeks flushed—attending him, all the impurities were washed away. Sitting cross-legged in the warm spring water, Zheng Yi calmed his mind and meditated.
To cultivate, one must possess a spiritual root.
Now, having obtained a spiritual root from Qin Yuyao—even if only a five-element pseudo-spiritual root—it was still a spiritual root, allowing him to sense and absorb spiritual energy.
The next crucial step was to transform spiritual energy into magical power.
This required a true cultivation method.
But… where to find such a method?
From the itinerant cultivators? Or from the Changhe Sect?
He had already tried with the itinerant cultivators, to no avail.
As for the Changhe Sect… They considered the Yu Kingdom nothing but a puppet, just like all the neighboring nations, each controlled by a cultivation sect behind the scenes; there was no hope of being granted a true method.
Unless he could obtain some cultivator’s legacy, or find the so-called “market towns” spoken of by the itinerant elders.
According to Huang Zhu, one of the itinerant cultivators, these market towns were informal bazaars established by rogue cultivators and disciples of various sects when away from their schools—a place where one could buy anything related to cultivation.
Unfortunately, he had no idea where such a market might be. Even if he did, without spirit stones in hand, he could purchase nothing, let alone barter.
“If I were still Emperor, I could secretly organize loyal agents to search for cultivators and their treasures for me,” he mused. “But alas… I am but the Retired Emperor!”
Zheng Yi shook his head. The title sounded lofty, but in truth, he was confined to Xingqing Palace for life, powerless to leave, and his edicts could not reach beyond its walls—nothing but added frustration.
Yet he was not discouraged, quickly adjusting his frame of mind.
He possessed the Ledger of Worldly Beauties and unlimited longevity; he could afford to wait.
Just then, one of the young maids whispered, “Your Majesty, you look so much younger, and your skin is so smooth…”
Zheng Yi turned with a sudden laugh. “Truly?”
The maid dropped her gaze at once. “Y-yes…”
He glanced at the other maid. “And you?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. You are the true Son of Heaven, blessed by the immortals. Naturally, you become ever more youthful.”
Zheng Yi burst into hearty laughter, while the two maids blushed deeply. Both harbored the hope that something might happen between them and the Retired Emperor—just like the famous beauty, Cicada.
It was said that simply sharing a bath with the Retired Emperor could be a windfall: one might ascend to the dragon bed and become a favored beauty. Even if only a concubine of Xingqing Palace, her status and privileges far outstripped those of ordinary maids.
If only…
While the two girls nursed their secret hopes, Zheng Yi suddenly rose from the pool, his robust form on full display. He strode to the edge, gazing at the row of enormous bronze mirrors.
His entire body was reflected there.
His physique was well-proportioned, muscles flowing with natural power, each one sculpted like marble—a vision of strength and beauty. His skin shone with a rare, luminous whiteness, as if he were a flawless work of art.
Even his face had transformed, no longer that of a man in his seventies, but more like a vigorous man in his forties. The crow’s feet at his eyes had faded, his hair was jet-black, and his gaze was piercing and magnetic.
Most striking of all was the “single-horned dragon” below, fearsome and majestic, towering like a pillar supporting the heavens.
Gazing at his nearly perfect body, Zheng Yi’s eyes suddenly gleamed.
“If the Longevity Nourishment Art can sense spiritual energy, can I not adapt it into a true cultivation method?”
“Previously, I focused my efforts solely on sensing spiritual energy. If, next time, I pour my efforts into developing a genuine cultivation art based on the Longevity Nourishment Art, perhaps I may receive a pleasant surprise!”
Behind him, the two maids, entranced by the Retired Emperor’s nearly perfect figure, were momentarily spellbound. Recalling the secret techniques taught by their elder mentor, the two girls edged closer to him from behind.
“To deduce a true cultivation method is no task for a single day,” Zheng Yi mused, feeling the two delicate forms approaching behind him, yet remaining motionless.
“The aura of worldly affairs—I need vast amounts of it to deduce a true cultivation method!”