Refine Qi to Perfection

Chapter 17

"Sun Er, why haven't we seen the Spiritual Boy for several months?"

In the Taoist Lord Temple of Mingguan Post, Yang Ji'an, Wang Hu, and Sun Er, several Mimen Spiritual Officials, had gathered together.

As they calculated the time, it was already nearing the end of the year. Naturally, as Spiritual Officials, they felt the need to have a gathering.

"The Spiritual Boy listens to the will of the gods and is extremely busy. How could he meet with us often?" Sun Er said.

"That's right. We just need to focus on doing our own jobs well," Wang Hu added.

Wang Hu nodded, understanding the situation. It had indeed been a long time since they had last seen the Spiritual Boy. 

In the past few months, they had been working in the temple, guiding pilgrims and developing several followers.

One of the purposes of their gathering this time was to figure out how to select the Leaders and Disciplinarians.

Each of them was in charge of a temple and had the autonomy to select the Leaders and Disciplinarians under their command.

However, they couldn't choose randomly. Selecting someone with weak faith would be a joke. 

Moreover, they couldn't simply rely on personal preferences. There should be clear guidelines.

"Since the Spiritual Boy hasn't summoned us, we better discuss a temporarily feasible method first. We can't rely on the Spiritual Boy for everything," Wang Hu said, lightly tapping the table as he looked at the others.

"Select from the Followers. We need to test both their abilities and their faith," Yang Ji'an proposed, suggesting his idea while shivering in the cold winter air. Wang Hu and Sun Er were both wearing thin clothes.

It was said that they had received the Taoist Lord's reward, which extended their lifespan and made them immune to cold and heat. Yang Ji'an was extremely envious. If only his old mother could drink it, she would surely benefit greatly.

Yang Ji'an had already begun thinking of ways to show his abilities, hoping to obtain such a reward for his mother.

He then took out a piece of paper filled with densely written notes.

Wang Hu and Sun Er exchanged glances, unsure of what to do since neither could read.

Yang Ji'an, aware of their illiteracy, smiled awkwardly. In these small mountain villages, there were very few people who could read.

Fortunately, Yang Ji'an had studied for two years when he was young and could read.

"First, for the Followers, according to their contributions to the temple and their faith in the Taoist Lord, we can divide them into nine ranks from one to nine. Once they reach the first rank, they can be promoted to higher positions, such as Leaders, Disciplinarians, and other future roles. What do you think?"

"I think it's worth a try. But in the end, we still need to report it to the Spiritual Boy," Wang Hu nodded. He and Sun Er had no formal education and had only been promoted because of the Spiritual Boy's trust in them.

The Spiritual Boy had not held their past mistakes against them and had entrusted them with significant tasks, so their faith in the Taoist Lord was unwavering.

As for Yang Ji'an's idea, they agreed to give it a try. If it worked well, they could ask the Spiritual Boy for approval, proving that the people he appointed were not idle.

While the three discussed, the Spiritual Boy they were thinking of was in a much different situation.

"Finally! I've reached the Great Perfection of Qi Refining!" Li Changmeng shouted in excitement.

Behind him, more than a dozen tentacles writhed wildly in his overwhelming emotions. Along his bare arms, a row of vertical eyes were neatly arranged, their slits connected by a black line.

Fortunately, after he retracted the tentacles and put on clothes, he could pass as human, albeit in a strange form.

Looking inside his body, nine hundred wisps of spiritual power were flowing and intertwining in his Dantian.

In the past few months, Li Changmeng had focused entirely on increasing his cultivation. Both his body and spiritual embryo worked nonstop, and he had even allowed Wang Hu and the others to make decisions regarding temple affairs on their own.

As a result of this intensive cultivation, he had broken through to the Great Perfection of Qi Refining, filling his Dantian with nine hundred wisps of spiritual power.

The next step was preparing for the Foundation Establishment stage.

However, Li Changmeng had no intention of using this cultivation method for Foundation Establishment.

Looking at his current appearance—tentacles, eyes—was he still human?

And this didn't even resemble the appearance of a god!

He was neither human, nor immortal, nor a god.

If it weren't for the fact that upon reaching the Great Perfection of Qi Refining, he could see the subsequent cultivation method for the Foundation Establishment stage, he would have long abandoned this path.

And if it weren't for the Taoist Baiyun, who could verify his situation and provide a breakthrough, Li Changmeng would have stopped his cultivation entirely. He longed to receive a righteous cultivation method and free himself from the influence of incense power, which seemed to be turning him into a monster.

He took out the *Mysterious Technique of Building the Spirit and Changing the Embryo*. Sure enough, the content of the Foundation Establishment stage appeared.

Unlike the Qi Refining stage, the Foundation Establishment stage was when one could truly be considered a cultivator. 

One could fly in the sky and hide in the earth, experiencing all kinds of transformations. Countless immortal techniques and marvelous methods were revealed. Even Li Changmeng, who had already decided to abandon this cultivation method, felt momentarily tempted by the promises of the Foundation Establishment stage.

But he quickly regained his composure, skipping over the previous content and moving ahead to the section about forming the Golden Core.

"Those who form the Golden Core are the messengers of immortality. They use the power of incense to purify the spiritual power, making it infused with the essence of incense wishes. From then on, they break free from the shackles of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Wherever there is the power of incense, one can seek the path of immortality.

The so-called Jade Liquid Returning to the Golden Core means condensing the spiritual power in the body. When it reaches its peak, it solidifies into a Golden Core. The Golden Core is the fruit of the Tao. If there is only a Golden Core without the Tao, it is a false Golden Core. Therefore, to form the supreme Golden Core, one must first establish the foundation of the Tao, build it with method, seal it with spirit, and let the spirit enter the Golden Core as an egg. Only then can one emerge from chaos and become a divine being..."

The record was profound. Li Changmeng wondered if this would help Taoist Baiyun when the time came.

At his current level—Great Perfection of Qi Refining—it was difficult for him to fully comprehend many parts of the Golden Core formation described in the Foundation Establishment stage.

He simply hoped that, when the time came, he could repeat what he had read, providing Taoist Baiyun with some inspiration. This could also give him the opportunity to seek a righteous cultivation method and finally escape the fate of becoming a monster due to the influence of incense power.

Li Changmeng was truly afraid.

Under the intense cultivation, his changes had become increasingly more drastic.

First, the tentacles on his back had grown from four to eighteen. He felt that if he curled up, he could pass for an octopus in the sea.

Then, the eye in his palm—now truly a Hundred-Eyed Hand—had expanded, with more than a dozen eyes neatly arranged from his palm to his wrist and arm. When closed, they appeared as a black line. But when opened, golden light shone brightly, allowing him to see objects with extreme clarity.

Now, the only thing Li Changmeng could be thankful for was that, for now, his body was still recognizable as human. It had only gained a few strange additions. But this was merely temporary. The tentacles and eyes were still growing, and there was no telling how far this would go.

This was a manifestation of his supernatural powers' growth. Before they reached their limit, they would continue to absorb the power of incense wishes and strengthen themselves.

Li Changmeng feared that if this growth didn't stop, and he continued to cultivate toward Foundation Establishment and the Golden Core, he might end up completely covered in tentacles and eyes.

At that point, a powerful cultivator might pass by, notice him, and, disliking his monstrous appearance, easily destroy him as a demon.

Such a tragic end terrified Li Changmeng. He desired immortality and freedom, not monstrosity.

Having reached the Great Perfection of Qi Refining, he had no time to waste. He took his natal spiritual embryo and several jars of the Immortal Ganoderma Longevity Brew he had prepared earlier.

With everything in place, Li Changmeng did not want to wait any longer. Taking advantage of the wind and snow that night, he left Tieniu Town and headed straight for Baiyun Mountain.

It was time for him to return to the mountain!