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Chapter 17 - Impurities (杂质, Zázhì)

Impurities are the undesirable substances and residual waste that accumulate in a cultivator's body due to various factors such as consuming worldly food, practicing flawed techniques, absorbing impure spiritual energy, or taking pills that leave behind unwanted residues. These impurities are seen as obstacles in the path of cultivation, hindering the flow of qi (气, qì) and reducing the overall efficiency and potential of the cultivator's progress.

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Sources of Impurities:

Worldly Foods and Mortal Consumption:

Ordinary food and drinks consumed by mortals contain substances that are not compatible with the pure flow of qi. While these are essential for survival in the early stages of cultivation, they introduce impurities into the body, which must later be purged as the cultivator advances.

Impure Spiritual Energy:

Spiritual energy in the environment is not always pure; it often contains traces of negative or chaotic energies, pollutants, or other contaminants. Cultivators who absorb energy without proper filtration techniques risk accumulating these impurities within themselves.

Pill Residues and Erysipelas (丹毒, Dāndú):

Pills (丹药, Dānyào) are commonly used to enhance cultivation, recover energy, or provide specific benefits. However, poorly refined pills or overuse can leave behind erysipelas—dangerous toxins that are hard to eliminate and can damage the body and meridians over time.

Flawed Cultivation Techniques:

Cultivators practicing inferior or incomplete techniques may inadvertently draw impurities into their bodies, especially if their methods lack the refinement to cleanse or protect their internal systems from harmful energies.

Emotional and Mental Turmoil:

Negative emotions such as anger, jealousy, and fear can create mental impurities that manifest physically. While not as tangible as physical impurities, these mental contaminants disrupt a cultivator's inner harmony and qi flow.

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Effects of Impurities on Cultivators:

Blocked Meridians and Qi Stagnation:

Impurities clog the meridians, the pathways through which qi flows, leading to stagnation and reduced efficiency in cultivation. This blockage can cause difficulty in advancing realms and hinder the overall strength of techniques.

Weakened Physical Body:

Cultivators burdened by impurities are more susceptible to illness, fatigue, and injuries, as their bodies are not operating at peak condition. Impurities weaken the body's resilience and can lead to long-term health issues if not properly managed.

Slowed Cultivation Speed:

With impurities present, the body and mind cannot fully integrate absorbed qi, slowing down the cultivation process. The rate of progress diminishes significantly, making it difficult for the cultivator to achieve breakthroughs.

Unstable Foundation:

For those at the Foundation Building stage (筑基, Zhùjī) and beyond, impurities threaten the stability of their cultivation base. An unstable foundation leads to future risks during breakthroughs, increasing the likelihood of failure or qi deviation (走火入魔, Zǒuhuǒ Rù Mó).

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Expelling Impurities:

Expelling impurities is a crucial aspect of cultivation, especially during breakthroughs when the body is in a heightened state of transformation and cleansing. Various methods are employed to purify the body:

Breakthrough Cleansing:

During major breakthroughs, such as advancing from the Qi Training Period (炼气, Liànqì) to Foundation Building (筑基, Zhùjī), cultivators experience an intense purging of impurities. This often manifests as a foul, black slime that oozes from the skin, leaving behind a cleaner, more refined body.

Meditation and Qi Circulation Techniques:

Regular meditation and circulation of qi through the meridians help flush out minor impurities over time. These practices keep the body's internal systems clear and functioning optimally.

Specialized Pills and Elixirs:

Cultivators often use cleansing pills or elixirs specifically designed to target and remove impurities. These are usually refined by skilled alchemists and contain ingredients like Spiritual Plants (灵草, Língcǎo) and Spiritual Fruits (灵果, Língguǒ) known for their purifying properties.

Spiritual Baths:

Spiritual baths infused with rare herbs and minerals can draw out impurities through the skin, providing a rejuvenating effect on the body and spirit. These are often used as a supplementary method alongside other cleansing techniques.

High-Level Cultivation Methods:

Advanced cultivation techniques can naturally cleanse impurities more efficiently, continuously refining the body. For example, certain high-level body-tempering methods burn off impurities with spiritual flames or purify the blood and bones.

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Benefits of Removing Impurities:

Enhanced Qi Flow and Power:

A purified body allows qi to flow unobstructed, significantly enhancing the cultivator's power, speed, and efficiency in techniques.

Improved Physical Appearance:

Expelling impurities not only strengthens the body internally but also improves external appearance. Cultivators often find their skin becoming fairer, scars fading, and overall beauty or handsomeness increasing as a reflection of their refined state.

Stronger Constitution and Longevity:

A cleansed body has a stronger constitution, better resistance to toxins and diseases, and a longer lifespan. This solid foundation is essential for achieving higher cultivation realms.

Greater Potential for Breakthroughs:

Cultivators free of impurities are more likely to succeed during breakthroughs, as their bodies are in an optimal state to handle the increased flow of qi and spiritual energy.

Example

As Li Wei sat in meditation, his qi surged, pushing against the boundaries of the Qi Training Period. Sweat beaded on his brow as a strange sensation gripped his body—like a fever burning from within. Suddenly, his skin prickled, and a thick, black sludge oozed from his pores, reeking of decay and rot. These were the impurities accumulated from years of consuming ordinary food, tainted energy, and the burden of imperfect cultivation.

As the sludge seeped away, his skin gleamed, smooth and radiant like polished jade. He felt lighter, unburdened by the grime that had clogged his meridians for so long. The air around him seemed clearer, his senses sharper, and his qi flowed like a river unbound, potent and pure. Li Wei had crossed the threshold into the Foundation Building Period, shedding the impurities of his past and stepping into a new realm of power and potential.

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