Chapter 172: Misty Profound Qi
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Chapter 172: Misty Profound Qi
This valley was located in a secluded region of the Ghost Dream Mountain Range, surrounded by towering peaks and covered by vast, dense forests teeming with mystic beasts. Even a few kings among the mystic beasts had gathered nearby. As a result, the valley became a forbidden zone for humans, almost completely isolated from the outside world.
The towering mountains were blanketed in pristine snow. As the snow melted, it turned into icy streams that converged into rivulets, flowing through the mountain gullies and into the valley, nourishing the soil below. The valley bloomed with red, white, and purple wildflowers.
Ning Xiaochuan sat cross-legged by the Mystic Spring, cultivating throughout the night. His injuries had nearly healed, and his spirit and energy had reached their peak.
"What cultivation technique are you practicing?" The mysterious woman appeared beside Ning Xiaochuan without warning.
She was always elusive, vanishing the night before and only reappearing now before Ning Xiaochuan.
Ning Xiaochuan retracted his cultivation aura and replied, "Heaven and Earth Profound Qi."
He had expected her to criticize him, as Heaven and Earth Profound Qi was considered a common and low-tier cultivation technique. But to his surprise, she didn’t rebuke him. Instead, she asked, "How many layers have you mastered?"
"The fifth."
The mysterious woman nodded slightly. "Not bad. Did you know that Heaven and Earth Profound Qi is one of the greatest cultivation techniques in the world?"
"Huh?" This was the first time Ning Xiaochuan had heard such a claim.
The mysterious woman continued, "The Yulan Empire once produced an extraordinary individual who cultivated Heaven and Earth Profound Qi to the eleventh layer, achieving an absorption rate of 1,024 times the normal speed—surpassing any other cultivation technique in the empire. That person’s cultivation even transcended the Ninth Level of the Earthly Venerable Realm, reaching a realm beyond Martial Venerable."
An absorption rate of 1,024 times!
Even the Heart Furnace Divine Canon, the foremost divine scripture of the Jian Pavilion Marquis House, only reached a ninetyfold absorption rate at its ninth layer—the absolute limit of the technique. No one in the Jian Pavilion Marquis House had ever been known to cultivate it to that level.
Ning Xiaochuan exhaled deeply. If Heaven and Earth Profound Qi was truly this formidable, even reaching the ninth layer would grant a 256-fold absorption rate. Such a cultivation speed wouldn’t be much slower than devouring the Blood Qi of other martial artists.
Ning Xiaochuan asked, "I only have the first six layers of Heaven and Earth Profound Qi. How can I obtain the subsequent layers?"
The mysterious woman replied, "The Emperor’s Martial Palace’s Scripture Repository contains the seventh layer. As for the rest, you’ll have to seek them out yourself."
Ning Xiaochuan stood up. "Senior, are you going to teach me how to cultivate Heaven and Earth Profound Qi?"
The mysterious woman shook her head. "Those who reach the pinnacle of martial arts are never molded solely by a master’s teachings. I won’t instruct you on how to cultivate, but I will guide you in unlocking your potential. Your current cultivation has reached the peak of the Seventh Level of the Divine Body Realm. Has the Eighth Divine Source manifested within you?"
Ning Xiaochuan nodded. "It has indeed manifested."
The mysterious woman nodded and said, "In the Yulan Empire, only once every few centuries might a martial artist capable of cultivating the eighth innate Divine Ability emerge. Your ability to reach this stage is solely due to your possession of the Seven Orifices Divine Demon Heart Palace and has nothing to do with your efforts. If you continue cultivating as you are now, you will never achieve the 'Ninefold Divine Ability Perfection.'"
The Ninefold Divine Ability Perfection refers to the automatic birth of nine innate Divine Abilities within a martial artist's body, representing the pinnacle of the Divine Body Realm.
Ning Xiaochuan said, "Legends say no one in the Yulan Empire has ever achieved the 'Ninefold Divine Ability Perfection.' It's merely a myth—perhaps no one can truly reach that level."
The mysterious woman glanced at him sideways and said solemnly, "In the ancient Divine Sealing Era, which of the divine beings did not cultivate their Divine Bodies to the 'Ninefold Divine Ability Perfection' in their youth? Among them, some supreme beings even shattered the limits of the Divine Body and unlocked a tenth Divine Ability."
"But the ancient Divine Sealing Era is long past. Everything from that time has become legend, and no one can verify its truth. Moreover, those were divine beings in their youth—can humans reach such heights?" Ning Xiaochuan questioned.
The mysterious woman replied, "To contend with men, at best, you become a Human Venerable; to contend with gods, you become a Divine Venerable; to contend with heaven, you become a Celestial Venerable."
"Understood. I will strive—to contend with men, with gods, and with heaven." Ning Xiaochuan's gaze grew resolute.
The mysterious woman said, "Your early cultivation was too hasty, leaving your foundation unstable. Starting today, suppress your cultivation and first refine the Martial Arts Profound Qi within your body to the level of 'Misty Profound Qi.'"
Ning Xiaochuan was surprised. "Profound Qi has grades?"
"Profound Qi is the foundation of a martial artist. But ordinary martial artists blindly pursue higher realms, increasing the quantity of their Profound Qi while neglecting its quality."
"The lowest grade is 'Martial Arts Profound Qi.'"
"The next is 'Misty Profound Qi.'"
"And the highest is 'Dragon-Tiger Profound Qi.'"
The Profound Qi within Ning Xiaochuan's body was currently the lowest-grade "Martial Arts Profound Qi." In truth, nearly all martial artists in the Yulan Empire remained at the "Martial Arts Profound Qi" level, with almost none reaching the "Misty Profound Qi" level.
The mysterious woman continued, "Martial artists in the Divine Body Realm can only refine their Profound Qi to the 'Misty Profound Qi' level at most. Once you reach the Transcendent Realm, you can then refine it further to 'Dragon-Tiger Profound Qi.' The potency of Dragon-Tiger Profound Qi can already rival the Martial Qi of a Martial Venerable."
The Profound Qi Realm, Divine Body Realm, and Transcendent Realm—these three realms all revolve around the cultivation of "Profound Qi," divided into three grades: Heaven and Earth Profound Qi, Misty Profound Qi, and Dragon-Tiger Profound Qi.
Upon reaching the Earthly Venerable Realm, a martial artist's Profound Qi transforms into "Martial Qi."
"Once you've refined your Profound Qi into Misty Profound Qi, come find me again." With that, the mysterious woman moved, flying up to the golden silk nest above the Mystic Spring and sitting cross-legged.
She, too, began cultivating.
Ning Xiaochuan carved out a cave in the valley and sat inside, clearing his mind of distractions as he began refining the Martial Arts Profound Qi within his body.
Ning Xiaochuan's Martial Arts Heart Palace was like an ocean of Profound Qi, suspended within his heart.
Since the power of a single strand of Misty Profound Qi was comparable to a hundred strands of Martial Arts Profound Qi, could twisting a hundred strands of Martial Arts Profound Qi together refine them into one strand of Misty Profound Qi?
Ning Xiaochuan decided to condense his first strand of Misty Profound Qi first.
"Whoosh—"
Under Ning Xiaochuan's control, a hundred strands of Heaven and Earth Profound Qi flew out from the Profound Qi sea, twisting and intertwining like strands of hemp rope, becoming incredibly thick.
Ning Xiaochuan used his Heart Flame to begin refining the Heaven and Earth Profound Qi.
"Bang!"
Failure.
As Ning Xiaochuan forcibly suppressed the Profound Qi, the hundred strands rebounded and scattered back into loose strands.
Undeterred, Ning Xiaochuan continued his efforts.
This time, he gathered two hundred strands of Profound Qi, twisted them together, and began refining once more.
Failure. Again and again.
After hundreds of failures, Ning Xiaochuan finally stopped, calmly contemplating.
"Ooooh!"
The Small Red Dragon crawled into the cave, perched on a stone stool, and handed Ning Xiaochuan a green fruit.
Having cultivated nonstop for six days, Ning Xiaochuan was indeed hungry. He took the fruit and said, "Thank you."
The fruit was sweet and juicy. After eating it and drinking some mountain spring water, Ning Xiaochuan returned to his cultivation.
Condensing Misty Profound Qi was truly difficult. Even after six days of relentless effort, he had yet to produce a single strand.
No wonder no warriors in the Yulan Empire bothered refining their Profound Qi—it was far too time-consuming and exhausting. By the time one refined their Martial Arts Profound Qi into Misty Profound Qi, others would likely have already reached the Transcendent Realm.
"Perhaps the imbalance in the number of Profound Qi strands is causing the failures. Let me try refining with four hundred strands."
After calming his restless heart, Ning Xiaochuan resumed his cultivation. He failed over two thousand more times.
Half a month later, Ning Xiaochuan gathered three hundred and sixty strands of Martial Arts Profound Qi, twisted them together, and refined them with his Heart Flame. The strands compressed, growing thinner and brighter.
"Boom!"
The first strand of Misty Profound Qi was born.
Three hundred and sixty strands of Martial Arts Profound Qi condensed into a single purple strand of Misty Profound Qi.
Like a purple lightning bolt, it darted through the Profound Qi sea, forcing other strands to retreat.
Success!
But this was only the first step. Ning Xiaochuan needed to convert all the Martial Arts Profound Qi in his body into Misty Profound Qi to achieve true success.
The process was time-consuming, but everything proceeded smoothly.
After three months, Ning Xiaochuan finally converted all his Martial Arts Profound Qi into Misty Profound Qi.
Where his Martial Arts Heart Palace once held an ocean of Profound Qi, now there was only a purple lake—hundreds of times smaller in quantity.
Yet, when Ning Xiaochuan circulated his Profound Qi, the speed of his blood flow doubled.
"Bang!"
With a casual flick of his finger, a streak of purple light shattered a 10,000-kilogram boulder ten meters away, reducing it to fragments.
Ning Xiaochuan wanted to test just how much stronger he had become.
"Lightning Divine Beast!"
Ning Xiaochuan activated his Martial Arts Divine Abilities, summoning dozens of purple lightning bolts around his body and forming a purple cloud above his head. A purple Lightning Giant Beast emerged from the cloud.
The Lightning Divine Beast's body did not grow larger, but it became far more solid, with distinct eyes, nose, mouth, claws, and teeth—just like a real divine beast. Even its fierce expression was clearly visible.
Previously, when Ning Xiaochuan summoned the Lightning Divine Beast, it would shatter instantly upon encountering a powerful foe. But now, its solidity was ten times greater than before, naturally enhancing its combat power.
Though he remained at the peak of the Seventh Level of the Divine Body Realm, Ning Xiaochuan could sense that his battle prowess had grown even stronger.
This valley was located in a secluded region of the Ghost Dream Mountain Range, surrounded by towering peaks and covered by vast, dense forests teeming with mystic beasts. Even a few kings among the mystic beasts had gathered nearby. As a result, the valley became a forbidden zone for humans, almost completely isolated from the outside world.
The towering mountains were blanketed in pristine snow. As the snow melted, it turned into icy streams that converged into rivulets, flowing through the mountain gullies and into the valley, nourishing the soil below. The valley bloomed with red, white, and purple wildflowers.
Ning Xiaochuan sat cross-legged by the Mystic Spring, cultivating throughout the night. His injuries had nearly healed, and his spirit and energy had reached their peak.
"What cultivation technique are you practicing?" The mysterious woman appeared beside Ning Xiaochuan without warning.
She was always elusive, vanishing the night before and only reappearing now before Ning Xiaochuan.
Ning Xiaochuan retracted his cultivation aura and replied, "Heaven and Earth Profound Qi."
He had expected her to criticize him, as Heaven and Earth Profound Qi was considered a common and low-tier cultivation technique. But to his surprise, she didn’t rebuke him. Instead, she asked, "How many layers have you mastered?"
"The fifth."
The mysterious woman nodded slightly. "Not bad. Did you know that Heaven and Earth Profound Qi is one of the greatest cultivation techniques in the world?"
"Huh?" This was the first time Ning Xiaochuan had heard such a claim.
The mysterious woman continued, "The Yulan Empire once produced an extraordinary individual who cultivated Heaven and Earth Profound Qi to the eleventh layer, achieving an absorption rate of 1,024 times the normal speed—surpassing any other cultivation technique in the empire. That person’s cultivation even transcended the Ninth Level of the Earthly Venerable Realm, reaching a realm beyond Martial Venerable."
An absorption rate of 1,024 times!
Even the Heart Furnace Divine Canon, the foremost divine scripture of the Jian Pavilion Marquis House, only reached a ninetyfold absorption rate at its ninth layer—the absolute limit of the technique. No one in the Jian Pavilion Marquis House had ever been known to cultivate it to that level.
Ning Xiaochuan exhaled deeply. If Heaven and Earth Profound Qi was truly this formidable, even reaching the ninth layer would grant a 256-fold absorption rate. Such a cultivation speed wouldn’t be much slower than devouring the Blood Qi of other martial artists.
Ning Xiaochuan asked, "I only have the first six layers of Heaven and Earth Profound Qi. How can I obtain the subsequent layers?"
The mysterious woman replied, "The Emperor’s Martial Palace’s Scripture Repository contains the seventh layer. As for the rest, you’ll have to seek them out yourself."
Ning Xiaochuan stood up. "Senior, are you going to teach me how to cultivate Heaven and Earth Profound Qi?"
The mysterious woman shook her head. "Those who reach the pinnacle of martial arts are never molded solely by a master’s teachings. I won’t instruct you on how to cultivate, but I will guide you in unlocking your potential. Your current cultivation has reached the peak of the Seventh Level of the Divine Body Realm. Has the Eighth Divine Source manifested within you?"
Ning Xiaochuan nodded. "It has indeed manifested."
The mysterious woman nodded and said, "In the Yulan Empire, only once every few centuries might a martial artist capable of cultivating the eighth innate Divine Ability emerge. Your ability to reach this stage is solely due to your possession of the Seven Orifices Divine Demon Heart Palace and has nothing to do with your efforts. If you continue cultivating as you are now, you will never achieve the 'Ninefold Divine Ability Perfection.'"
The Ninefold Divine Ability Perfection refers to the automatic birth of nine innate Divine Abilities within a martial artist's body, representing the pinnacle of the Divine Body Realm.
Ning Xiaochuan said, "Legends say no one in the Yulan Empire has ever achieved the 'Ninefold Divine Ability Perfection.' It's merely a myth—perhaps no one can truly reach that level."
The mysterious woman glanced at him sideways and said solemnly, "In the ancient Divine Sealing Era, which of the divine beings did not cultivate their Divine Bodies to the 'Ninefold Divine Ability Perfection' in their youth? Among them, some supreme beings even shattered the limits of the Divine Body and unlocked a tenth Divine Ability."
"But the ancient Divine Sealing Era is long past. Everything from that time has become legend, and no one can verify its truth. Moreover, those were divine beings in their youth—can humans reach such heights?" Ning Xiaochuan questioned.
The mysterious woman replied, "To contend with men, at best, you become a Human Venerable; to contend with gods, you become a Divine Venerable; to contend with heaven, you become a Celestial Venerable."
"Understood. I will strive—to contend with men, with gods, and with heaven." Ning Xiaochuan's gaze grew resolute.
The mysterious woman said, "Your early cultivation was too hasty, leaving your foundation unstable. Starting today, suppress your cultivation and first refine the Martial Arts Profound Qi within your body to the level of 'Misty Profound Qi.'"
Ning Xiaochuan was surprised. "Profound Qi has grades?"
"Profound Qi is the foundation of a martial artist. But ordinary martial artists blindly pursue higher realms, increasing the quantity of their Profound Qi while neglecting its quality."
"The lowest grade is 'Martial Arts Profound Qi.'"
"The next is 'Misty Profound Qi.'"
"And the highest is 'Dragon-Tiger Profound Qi.'"
The Profound Qi within Ning Xiaochuan's body was currently the lowest-grade "Martial Arts Profound Qi." In truth, nearly all martial artists in the Yulan Empire remained at the "Martial Arts Profound Qi" level, with almost none reaching the "Misty Profound Qi" level.
The mysterious woman continued, "Martial artists in the Divine Body Realm can only refine their Profound Qi to the 'Misty Profound Qi' level at most. Once you reach the Transcendent Realm, you can then refine it further to 'Dragon-Tiger Profound Qi.' The potency of Dragon-Tiger Profound Qi can already rival the Martial Qi of a Martial Venerable."
The Profound Qi Realm, Divine Body Realm, and Transcendent Realm—these three realms all revolve around the cultivation of "Profound Qi," divided into three grades: Heaven and Earth Profound Qi, Misty Profound Qi, and Dragon-Tiger Profound Qi.
Upon reaching the Earthly Venerable Realm, a martial artist's Profound Qi transforms into "Martial Qi."
"Once you've refined your Profound Qi into Misty Profound Qi, come find me again." With that, the mysterious woman moved, flying up to the golden silk nest above the Mystic Spring and sitting cross-legged.
She, too, began cultivating.
Ning Xiaochuan carved out a cave in the valley and sat inside, clearing his mind of distractions as he began refining the Martial Arts Profound Qi within his body.
Ning Xiaochuan's Martial Arts Heart Palace was like an ocean of Profound Qi, suspended within his heart.
Since the power of a single strand of Misty Profound Qi was comparable to a hundred strands of Martial Arts Profound Qi, could twisting a hundred strands of Martial Arts Profound Qi together refine them into one strand of Misty Profound Qi?
Ning Xiaochuan decided to condense his first strand of Misty Profound Qi first.
"Whoosh—"
Under Ning Xiaochuan's control, a hundred strands of Heaven and Earth Profound Qi flew out from the Profound Qi sea, twisting and intertwining like strands of hemp rope, becoming incredibly thick.
Ning Xiaochuan used his Heart Flame to begin refining the Heaven and Earth Profound Qi.
"Bang!"
Failure.
As Ning Xiaochuan forcibly suppressed the Profound Qi, the hundred strands rebounded and scattered back into loose strands.
Undeterred, Ning Xiaochuan continued his efforts.
This time, he gathered two hundred strands of Profound Qi, twisted them together, and began refining once more.
Failure. Again and again.
After hundreds of failures, Ning Xiaochuan finally stopped, calmly contemplating.
"Ooooh!"
The Small Red Dragon crawled into the cave, perched on a stone stool, and handed Ning Xiaochuan a green fruit.
Having cultivated nonstop for six days, Ning Xiaochuan was indeed hungry. He took the fruit and said, "Thank you."
The fruit was sweet and juicy. After eating it and drinking some mountain spring water, Ning Xiaochuan returned to his cultivation.
Condensing Misty Profound Qi was truly difficult. Even after six days of relentless effort, he had yet to produce a single strand.
No wonder no warriors in the Yulan Empire bothered refining their Profound Qi—it was far too time-consuming and exhausting. By the time one refined their Martial Arts Profound Qi into Misty Profound Qi, others would likely have already reached the Transcendent Realm.
"Perhaps the imbalance in the number of Profound Qi strands is causing the failures. Let me try refining with four hundred strands."
After calming his restless heart, Ning Xiaochuan resumed his cultivation. He failed over two thousand more times.
Half a month later, Ning Xiaochuan gathered three hundred and sixty strands of Martial Arts Profound Qi, twisted them together, and refined them with his Heart Flame. The strands compressed, growing thinner and brighter.
"Boom!"
The first strand of Misty Profound Qi was born.
Three hundred and sixty strands of Martial Arts Profound Qi condensed into a single purple strand of Misty Profound Qi.
Like a purple lightning bolt, it darted through the Profound Qi sea, forcing other strands to retreat.
Success!
But this was only the first step. Ning Xiaochuan needed to convert all the Martial Arts Profound Qi in his body into Misty Profound Qi to achieve true success.
The process was time-consuming, but everything proceeded smoothly.
After three months, Ning Xiaochuan finally converted all his Martial Arts Profound Qi into Misty Profound Qi.
Where his Martial Arts Heart Palace once held an ocean of Profound Qi, now there was only a purple lake—hundreds of times smaller in quantity.
Yet, when Ning Xiaochuan circulated his Profound Qi, the speed of his blood flow doubled.
"Bang!"
With a casual flick of his finger, a streak of purple light shattered a 10,000-kilogram boulder ten meters away, reducing it to fragments.
Ning Xiaochuan wanted to test just how much stronger he had become.
"Lightning Divine Beast!"
Ning Xiaochuan activated his Martial Arts Divine Abilities, summoning dozens of purple lightning bolts around his body and forming a purple cloud above his head. A purple Lightning Giant Beast emerged from the cloud.
The Lightning Divine Beast's body did not grow larger, but it became far more solid, with distinct eyes, nose, mouth, claws, and teeth—just like a real divine beast. Even its fierce expression was clearly visible.
Previously, when Ning Xiaochuan summoned the Lightning Divine Beast, it would shatter instantly upon encountering a powerful foe. But now, its solidity was ten times greater than before, naturally enhancing its combat power.
Though he remained at the peak of the Seventh Level of the Divine Body Realm, Ning Xiaochuan could sense that his battle prowess had grown even stronger.
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