The next morning.
For the first time since transmigrating to this world, Wang Ping slept in. He didn't open his eyes until the sun was high in the sky. He let out a comfortable stretch, a pleasant, bone-deep languor making him hum aloud. For a moment, it felt like he had returned to the vibrant life of his previous world.
Soon, the winter chill swept in, making Wang Ping shiver. As the Qi Force inside him began to circulate on its own, he sat up on the edge of the bed and exhaled, driving the cold from his body. After he got up and dressed, Yu Lian's small head poked out of his sleeve.
"I'm a little hungry..."
Wang Ping glanced at the sky outside before pushing the door open. Yu Cheng Taoist was sitting beside the Stone Table, reading a book. On the table, a porcelain bowl held steaming buns, and next to it sat a familiar clay pot.
"Master!"
Wang Ping greeted him with a bow.
"Time to eat."
Wang Ping nodded and walked briskly to the well, drawing a bucket of icy water to wash his face. He then took some dried toad meat from a corner of the courtyard and fed it to Yu Lian.
"This is so gross. When can we have shrimp again?"
Yu Lian complained in a small voice.
Wang Ping ignored her and ate with Yu Cheng Taoist—or rather, Yu Cheng Taoist kept him company while he ate.
"I performed a divination this morning. You will reach the peak of Qi Refining within ten days."
"I felt it as well when I woke up."
"Mm."
After their brief exchange, Yu Cheng Taoist stood and walked out of the courtyard toward the front hall of the Daoist Temple. Many people came to visit him around the Spring Festival. To keep Wang Ping's state of mind from being disturbed, he always received his guests in the front hall.
Wang Ping, meanwhile, walked to a large bluestone at the edge of the rear cliff. He gazed down at the faint outline of the village below, cleared his mind, and began to meditate. Half an Hour later, he rose and performed a set of the Chang Chun Technique. When he finished, he could feel the qi surging within him, but he lacked the confidence to attempt a breakthrough. Annoyed, he lay down on the bluestone and stared blankly into space.
In the afternoon, just as the sun was about to set, Wang Kang arrived with dinner and some interesting stories from the village below.
Just as they finished dinner, Yu Cheng Taoist entered the courtyard, silhouetted by the last rays of the setting sun. Wang Kang quickly bowed, then hurriedly packed up the bowls and meal box and left.
「9 p.m.」
Wang Ping was meditating in his room, cultivating stillness. In the quiet, Yu Lian's voice suddenly echoed in his Spirit Sea. "Such a chaotic aura... It's the big guy from last night..."
The "big guy" she mentioned was Mao Yulong.
Wang Ping opened his eyes just in time to hear the door to Yu Cheng Taoist's room open.
He pushed his own door open...
Their eyes met, and Yu Cheng Taoist said coolly, "Your third senior brother has run into a problem with his cultivation. Come with me. It will serve as a cautionary tale."
With that, Yu Cheng Taoist flicked his left sleeve and formed a spell sign with his right hand. Wang Ping felt his body engulfed by a suction force, as if he were traveling through space and time. In the blink of an eye, he found himself outside a small courtyard on the edge of a cliff.
Inside the small courtyard, Mao Yulong was on all fours on a straw mat. Qi Force roiled around him, his eyes were bloodshot, and a trickle of blood ran from the corner of one eye.
"Aah, hahaha, waaaah!"
Mao Yulong let out strange cries, his face contorting with rage when he saw Yu Cheng Taoist and Wang Ping outside the courtyard.
Just as he was about to leap up and attack, Yu Cheng Taoist formed a magic formula with his hand, pointed at Mao Yulong, and shouted, "Dispel!"
The next moment, a Talisman shimmering with cyan light struck Mao Yulong on the forehead. His body trembled slightly as countless streams of Qi Force seeped out from his pores, accompanied by trickles of blood. Then, like a deflating ball, he collapsed onto the straw mat. In moments, the mat was stained blood-red.
Just then, Li An Tian and Liu Zixiu arrived under the cover of night, landing behind Yu Cheng Taoist. They were both shocked to see Mao Yulong's miserable state in the courtyard.
"Go in and wake up your junior brother," Yu Cheng Taoist said, his tone detached.
Li An Tian and Liu Zixiu didn't dare to delay. After entering the courtyard, they first checked Mao Yulong's vitals. His life force was still strong; he just looked terrifying. Both of them breathed a sigh of relief.
The two brothers fetched a bucket of cold water and washed Mao Yulong's face, but he still didn't wake up. Li An Tian glanced at Yu Cheng Taoist and saw his master's dark expression. He then lifted the bucket and poured it over Mao Yulong's head, which was followed by a fit of coughing.
At the courtyard gate, Yu Cheng Tao-ist watched coolly the entire time, stopping Wang Ping whenever he tried to step forward and help.
When Mao Yulong came to his senses, he met Yu Cheng Taoist's gaze and immediately prostrated himself on the ground. "This disciple was reckless. Master, please forgive me!"
"I've told you all before that marrow washing requires a certain level of innate aptitude. If your aptitude is insufficient and you force it, at best, you will become a madman who knows only slaughter. At worst, your body will explode and you will die. Did you think I was being deliberately biased, unwilling to teach you marrow washing and Foundation Establishment?"
Yu Cheng Taoist's gaze swept over the three senior brothers.
"We wouldn't dare!"
The three replied in unison. Then, perhaps because he felt he had nothing left to lose, Mao Yulong gritted his teeth and asked, "Master, dare I ask... is there any way to improve one's innate aptitude?"
Yu Cheng Taoist was silent for a few seconds before saying, "Even if you improved your aptitude, with your level of talent, you still wouldn't be able to achieve Foundation Establishment before your lifespan runs out. Why create needless trouble for yourselves? If you follow the Minor Dao Technique I taught you and cultivate it to the Great Success Realm, I can guarantee you a lifespan of 180 years."
After two breaths of silence, Liu Zixiu shouted, "Thank you, Master!"
Li An Tian and Mao Yulong echoed him.
Yu Cheng Taoist said no more. He formed a magic formula with his hand and left the courtyard, taking Wang Ping with him.
...
Back in his room, Wang Ping sat meditating on his bed. 'From Master's tone, I can tell he knows a way to improve innate aptitude,' he thought. 'But perhaps he didn't use it on my three senior brothers because he truly considered it a waste.'
The resentful looks on his senior brothers' faces as they knelt and gave thanks flashed through his mind. This was the first time he had truly felt the cruelty of cultivation.
And yet, he was fortunate enough to be able to undergo marrow washing, Foundation Establishment, and even cultivate Secret Techniques later on.
'What incredible luck!'
Perhaps sensing the change in Wang Ping's mood, Yu Lian poked her small head out and nuzzled his finger.
"I'm fine..."
Wang Ping gently stroked Yu Lian's small head.
That night, Wang Ping had a dream. He dreamt he was his third senior brother. After spending the requisite time at the Daoist Temple, he descended the mountain and searched the entire world for a way to improve his innate aptitude. In the end, his cultivation was delayed, and his lifespan ran out in less than 120 years. He closed his eyes for the last time in a desolate cave.
After waking from the dream, Wang Ping couldn't get back to sleep. He thought about how he was stuck at the final stage of Qi Refining.
「After a long while.」
Wang Ping took a deep breath, stood up, and pushed open the door. He walked to the center of the courtyard, first glancing up at the waning moon, then moved to the small training ground at the side and performed a set of the Chang Chun Technique.
This time, Wang Ping didn't hesitate. While the Qi Force was abundant within him, he sat cross-legged on a straw mat and began to circulate the Guiyuan Technique. At that moment, a stream of Spiritual Qi shot out from Yu Cheng Taoist's room and channeled into Wang Ping's body. The next instant, Yu Cheng Taoist appeared beside the Stone Table. He wasn't holding his usual hand stove.
Wang Ping's face showed neither joy nor sorrow. The Qi Force in his body quickly completed the first Grand Circulation. This time, a barely perceptible vortex formed in his Dantian, completely absorbing the Spiritual Qi that had gathered on the surface of his skin.
He couldn't rush now. Wang Ping continued at his usual Qi Cultivation speed, beginning a second Grand Circulation. During this process, the Qi Force in his Dantian transformed into true Spiritual Qi. At the same time, the Spiritual Qi that had once again gathered around him was absorbed completely.
Still, he could not rush. When the third Grand Circulation finished, Wang Ping felt his Dantian had become more solid, and an indescribable feeling of release spread through his entire body. But he still couldn't be hasty; his Qi Cultivation was not yet stable and could dissipate at any moment.
When the fourth Grand Circulation ended, Wang Ping felt the flow of Spiritual Qi in his Dantian stabilize slightly. A cool sensation spread through his Spirit Sea and then throughout his body.
By the time the fifth Grand Circulation was complete, the Spiritual Energy Vortex in Wang Ping's Dantian had finally, truly formed.
Qi Refining... was complete!