Chapter 9:The Qi Refinement Realm

A deep breath in. Cool, fresh air filled his lungs, clearing his mind. He exhaled slowly, steadying himself.

Seated in a lotus position, Tianming's gaze fell upon the Marrow Cleansing Pill in his palm. The golden-hued pill pulsed with medicinal energy, its faint fragrance filling the room. Without hesitation, he swallowed it.

The moment it entered his stomach, an overwhelming heat spread through his body. A powerful cleansing force surged through his bones, marrow, and meridians, scraping away years of accumulated impurities. His body trembled as a vile, black sludge seeped from his pores, covering his jade-like skin in a repugnant layer. The stench was unbearable, but he remained still, focusing entirely on the changes happening within.

As the final traces of filth were expelled, the Qi of Heaven and Earth surged toward him, flooding his meridians. It flowed more freely than ever, unrestrained, pure, and boundless. His body felt lighter, stronger—cleansed in a way he had never imagined.

He guided the Qi through his meridians, tracing its natural paths, gathering it in his lower abdomen. Slowly, carefully, he compressed it—concentrating every wisp into a singular point.

Then, it happened.

A dantian formed within him.

Just as he was about to celebrate, a sudden, earth-shaking tremor erupted in his sea of consciousness.

The monument glowed.

Golden scriptures blazed to life upon its surface, their radiant brilliance reflecting in his mind. Without warning, those same scriptures etched themselves onto his newly formed dantian—wrapping around it in a sacred, incomprehensible pattern. The golden runes flickered, twisting, writhing—until they were fully absorbed into his dantian.

Tianming's eyes widened in shock. His dantian now emitted a faint golden glow from its very core.

"What… just happened?"

He probed his dantian, trying to decipher the phenomenon, but no matter how much he examined it, he couldn't sense anything wrong. The golden glow was neither unstable nor intrusive—it had simply become a part of him.

His pounding heart finally settled.

But the moment he relaxed, his expression drastically changed.

His dantian, having expanded far beyond its natural limits due to the scriptures, now faced an unimaginable problem—an extreme shortage of Qi.

A dantian was like a vessel. If its foundation wasn't stable, a sudden increase in size could make it collapse inward, leaving the cultivator crippled. And right now, Tianming's dantian was on the verge of breaking apart.

"Not good!"

Panic threatened to overtake him, but he gritted his teeth and acted immediately.

With desperation, he frantically absorbed the Qi of Heaven and Earth, pulling in as much as he could. He even employed the Breath of Life technique—a unique skill of the Seven-Colored Herb Spirit Deer—that allowed its race to absorb Qi with every breath.

It helped.

For a moment, his dantian stabilized.

But the Qi consumption continued to grow, as if an insatiable void had opened within him. No matter how much he absorbed, it wasn't enough.

Just as he reached his limit, something within him shifted.

The monument trembled once more.

From its ancient surface, a golden, honey-like liquid trickled down, descending into his dantian.

The moment it touched him, an overwhelming wave of pure, refined Qi exploded outward. This wasn't normal Qi—this was something beyond mortal comprehension.

The golden liquid merged with his dantian, instantly filling the void and stabilizing it. The overwhelming pressure vanished, replaced by an unprecedented sense of strength.

Tianming felt the change immediately.

He had successfully broken through to the Qi Refinement Realm.

His eyes snapped open, only to be blinded by sunlight.

It was already morning.

He had been in cultivation for the entire night.

A triumphant grin spread across his face, but the moment was short-lived.

A horrid stench filled his nostrils.

He looked down and nearly gagged—black sludge covered his entire body, the impurities expelled during his transformation.

Without a second thought, Tianming leapt out the window.

His bare feet landed gracefully on the soft grass outside his home. He made a mad dash toward a nearby pond, ignoring the few startled villagers awake at this hour.

Without hesitation, he dove in.

The cool water rushed over him, washing away the foul sludge. He scrubbed his skin, cleansing every last trace until his body felt completely refreshed.

As he stepped out, his pants clung to his damp skin, and his raven-black hair dripped with water. Strands of it clung to his sharp jawline and defined cheekbones. The morning sunlight accentuated the perfect contours of his chiseled abs, each muscle gleaming with residual moisture.

Even in the stillness of dawn, his figure exuded a deadly charm.

He smirked, running a hand through his wet hair before putting on his robes. It was time to eat.

---

His aunt was waiting for him outside their home, her wheelchair positioned beneath the shade of an old peach tree. A simple peasant's robe covered her form—cheap, faded fabric that did little to hide her breathtaking beauty.

Even seated, her figure was graceful, elegant, and undeniably alluring. The gentle curve of her waist, the fullness of her chest—there was no denying that time had done nothing to diminish her charm.

Tianming took his place beside her, grabbing a piece of warm flatbread from the wooden table.

"You seem refreshed," Yuyan noted with a teasing smile.

Tianming chuckled, taking a bite. "A new day, a new start."

They ate in comfortable silence, enjoying the peaceful morning together.

But Tianming's mind was already focused on the next step.

---

With a black robe and a mask tucked under his arm, he made his way toward the heart of the city.

The outskirts were alive with morning bustle—merchants setting up stalls, shopkeepers calling out their wares, and villagers engaging in casual chatter. The streets were lined with modest, traditional homes, their wooden frames weathered but well-kept.

A few familiar faces greeted him.

"Off somewhere, Tianming?" an elderly shopkeeper inquired, stacking baskets of fresh fruit.

"Just some errands, Uncle Wu."

A group of young women nearby stole glances at him, whispering amongst themselves. One, a bold girl with bright eyes, stepped forward.

"Good morning, Tianming! You… look different today." She blushed slightly.

Tianming smiled faintly but didn't linger. "Morning."

As he progressed toward the middle district, the scenery changed. The homes became larger, more refined. The roads were cleaner, and the people dressed in finer garments. He wasn't as familiar with this area, having only visited it a few times.

But when he reached the central district, the contrast was overwhelming.

The streets were grand, wide, and bustling with nobles. Towering mansions lined the roads, their elaborate designs flaunting wealth.

And at the very heart of it all—the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.

A colossal structure that exuded magnificence. Golden carvings of mythical beasts adorned its entrance, while towering pillars of jade stood guard. Elegant silken banners fluttered in the wind, marked with the emblem of the Qin family.

Tianming took a deep breath, slipping on his black robe and mask.

He stepped forward, entering the grand auction house.