Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Gap Among Qi Cultivators

At this moment, the rising sun had just climbed above the horizon, the clouds had parted and the mist had dispersed, leaving only a faint veil of white haze that shimmered gently beneath the warm, ruddy sunlight, revealing layers of dazzling colors.

The Cloud-Striding Flying Vessel was itself a low-grade talismanic artifact, fully revealed to be three or four zhang in length, with two tiers of cabins above and below, able to accommodate more than a dozen people.

Back when they were still at the Embryonic Breath stage, attempting to drive such a flight talisman would have been a strenuous task. But now, having achieved the first level of Qi Cultivation, the Embryonic Breath within the body had grown many times over, and with the aid of talismanic coins and ambient spiritual energy, such burdens were now bearable.

As soon as they boarded the Cloud-Striding Flying Vessel, Tu Mountain Ge and Tu Mountain Zhuang escorted the one-armed Tong Yi to the lower deck. Leaning against the railing, Chen Heng gazed down to see countless currents of wind whistling fiercely below like silver threads, all blocked by the vessel's crimson aura, disappearing as though sinking into the sea.

Although it was not exactly the soft light of dawn, the sky was still dim, and the once towering mountains and hills below looked small and humble. In the distance, a few farmers could be seen walking along the ridges of the fields—mere tiny black dots. Without the extraordinary eyesight nourished by Embryonic Breath, the original Chen Heng would scarcely have made them out.

He only glanced briefly before losing interest and returning to the cabin, closing the door behind him.

The cabin was, by and large, clean enough. With a point of his finger, Chen Heng sent a ripple of energy through the air, sweeping away the scant dust, then found a tidy spot to sit.

"Now that I've reached the first level of Qi Cultivation, it truly feels like a world apart from the Embryonic Breath stage..."

Chen Heng gently clasped the golden cicada hidden in his sleeve. With a thought, his consciousness entered the Realm of True Law.

It was still that vast, empty, boundless space.

With a gesture, Chen Heng summoned his own attributes.

...

Mahasattva Sublime Light Meditation

Name: Chen Heng

Techniques: Chen Clan Archery (Mastery), Qi Armor Technique (Proficient), Minor Scarlet Dragon Sword Scripture (Proficient), Green Pouch Medical Scripture (Novice), Blood Armor Technique (Initiate), Aurora Grand Escape (—).

Magical Treasures: Thunderfire Pearl (mid-grade talisman), Green Bamboo Needle (low-grade talisman), Essence Jade (low-grade talisman), Cloud-Striding Flying Vessel (low-grade talisman), Universe Pouch (low-grade talisman), Combat Register (secret treasure).

Cultivation: Third Level of Qi Cultivation (Divine Chamber, Pivoted Splendor, Lord of the Supreme Origin Scripture).

...

"At last, I’ve shed my former self and donned a new visage."

Seeing the words "Mahasattva Sublime Light Meditation" appear, Chen Heng couldn't help but smile, wiping away the page of dense golden script.

This duel with Tong Yi had yielded four new talismanic artifacts: the Green Bamboo Needle, the Essence Jade, the Cloud-Striding Flying Vessel, and Tong Yi’s own Universe Pouch.

The Green Bamboo Needle was precisely that wisp of green light Tong Yi had wielded—swift and formless, difficult to seize. It was a flying needle in shape, a low-grade talisman, and inferior to Chen Heng’s own Thunderfire Pearl.

However, now Chen Heng had reached the third level of Qi Cultivation, and the Embryonic Breath within him was more than ten times what it once was. He could simultaneously command two, even three or four artifacts, so long as he did not fall into a protracted battle.

The Essence Jade was Tong Yi’s protective talisman; it had blocked several blasts of thunderfire, proving useful and well-matched with Chen Heng’s Qi Armor Technique.

The Cloud-Striding Flying Vessel needed no further mention—a flight talisman of considerable value.

As for Tong Yi’s Universe Pouch, aside from talismanic coins and a few women’s undergarments, it held little else of note. After taking the coins, Chen Heng simply gifted the pouch to Tu Mountain Ge—the fox had always been desperately poor, hardly better off than Xu Zhi.

"To think a single duel would yield so many talismanic artifacts—I've made quite a profit. By the standards of most Qi Cultivators, I’m no longer destitute."

But then he shook his head. "Still, the Supreme Origin True Law requires a vast amount of Embryonic Breath for cultivation..."

Not all Qi Cultivation arts were created equal; the quality of the art determined the nature of the True Qi produced. True Qi is refined from Embryonic Breath.

Some low-grade True Qi required little Embryonic Breath—like filling a small pond, once full, it naturally transformed into True Qi.

But the Supreme Origin True Qi was as deep as an ocean!

He had scoured all the spiritual energy around Mount Yang and depleted all the talismanic coins he’d acquired, barely managing to reach the third level of Qi Cultivation.

Had he practiced the "Golden Ingot True Qi" of the Xuan Zhen Sect, with such resources, his cultivation might already have reached the fifth or even sixth level.

Because each type of True Qi requires different amounts of Embryonic Breath to refine, Qi Cultivators vary widely in strength unless they practice the same art.

Those cultivating higher-tier True Qi often have Embryonic Breath several times, even ten times, that of those cultivating lower-tier arts!

If such individuals duel at the same level of Qi Cultivation, the one with greater Embryonic Breath could crush the other with a single gesture, regardless of their opponent’s methods—a clean and decisive victory.

This was why, though Chen Heng was only at the third level of Qi Cultivation, he dared challenge Tong Gaolu at the seventh level.

This supreme art, capable of refining the Supreme Origin True Qi, was his greatest reliance!

"And then there are the talismanic registers my predecessor’s father left behind—are they called Combat Registers? The Mahasattva Sublime Light Meditation only reveals their origin, but not how to activate them."

Chen Heng withdrew his thoughts, no longer dwelling on it.

He sent a surge of Embryonic Breath through his body, then slowly guided it toward the "Frost Dou True Qi" within.

Though his third level of Qi Cultivation was now only slightly inferior to Tong Gaolu’s seventh level, there was no harm in being cautious.

Now, the "Frost Dou True Qi" that had tormented him for so long could instead serve as a killing blow.

As his Embryonic Breath seeped in, the formerly dormant Frost Dou True Qi suddenly rampaged, as if determined to freeze his meridians to pieces and shatter his internal organs.

Even with his Embryonic Breath protecting his viscera, Chen Heng’s face turned blue, cold mist rising from his skin as the temperature around him plummeted...

...

...

While Chen Heng was struggling to subdue the Frost Dou True Qi within him, hundreds of miles away in a secluded valley, Zhou Chuyu knelt reverently before Master Yin Gonghao, her eyes glittering.

"Master, is my cultivation considered strong among Qi Cultivators now?"

"That depends on whom you compare yourself to." Yin Gonghao, his long brows drooping, glanced at her and replied coolly, "The art I’ve taught you is the 'Calamitous Mother Essence,' a lower-ninth tier Qi Cultivation method. Ordinary disciples of the great sects cannot obtain such profound techniques—only the true heirs can. Still, do not grow arrogant; you have only the cultivation method, not the foundation. Any random disciple from a great sect could easily defeat you."

"I dare not compare myself to the great sects. But what about among mortals?"

"In that world, you are incomparable!" Yin Gonghao chuckled.

"That’s wonderful," Zhou Chuyu lifted her delicate face, a pure, beautiful smile appearing. "Then I’ll go capture Chen Heng right away, and strip his skin for the ritual?"