Chapter 6: Qi Refining and Revenge

“Through subtraction comes poverty and depletion. Misfortune follows. All avoid it, yet punishment and disaster come. The lucky shun it, cursed stars bring it, and when the calculation is complete—death awaits.”

“Not by the deeds of others, but by one’s own karma do consequences arise. All beings are bound to this truth.”

As Lu Yan visualized the Heart Sutra chapter of the Crimson Lotus Karma Scripture, his five senses gradually faded into silence. Within his consciousness, only the mantra echoed ceaselessly.

The world around him began to blur and dim, as if reality itself peeled away—revealing a boundless, hollow void.

Then suddenly, a faint speck of light appeared in the darkness. More and more followed, clustering like an endless galaxy of stars.

These countless points of light converged into a stream of invisible energy that drifted before Lu Yan.

He instinctively began channeling the Qi Drawing method, guiding that invisible flow into his body.

In that instant, he felt every cell in his body tremble. Just a single breath of spiritual energy was enough to begin transforming this body of flesh he had lived in for over twenty years.

There wasn’t even time to follow the Zhoutian Meridian Map—the energy had already been fully absorbed by his physical body.

Exiting the cultivation state, Lu Yan opened his eyes.

“That was spiritual energy…?”

A flicker of curiosity surfaced in his gaze.

Though he’d used Spirit Stones and Grade-less Talismans before, without a cultivation method, he’d never truly harnessed spiritual energy.

This was the first time he had drawn in spiritual energy through his own cultivation.

Afterward, he didn’t expel any filth as one might expect. There were no visible transformations. He merely felt… lighter—likely because the amount of energy absorbed was still too little.

When he glanced at the time, he frowned. It had taken him three hours just to complete that one cycle of drawing in Qi.

The flicker of joy he had felt immediately vanished.

“Drawing in Qi is only the first step. Afterward, I’ll need to continuously absorb large amounts of spiritual energy to cleanse the body and shed my mortal shell. Once my body can no longer absorb any more, I’ll then be able to circulate the energy using the Zhoutian path.”

“And once the energy completes a full circuit, it will condense into the first trace of true spiritual power—that’s when I’ll truly step into the Qi Refining Stage!”

“The Zhoutian Meridian Map in Crimson Lotus Karma Scripture is way more complex than something like Everlasting Spring Technique. Completing a full cycle is going to take a lot of time…”

But if just drawing in a single breath of spiritual energy had taken him three hours, he was still miles away from body refinement—let alone completing a circulation cycle.

Back at the Talisman Shop, those assistants who secretly practiced Everlasting Spring Technique were able to achieve Qi Refining. There was no reason Lu Yan, with better methods and resources, should progress slower.

“…Unless… the spiritual energy in the Urban Version is just too sparse?”

That was the only explanation he could come up with.

What Lu Yan lacked most right now was time. Based on the version update timeline, he estimated that each version lasted about three months.

Three days had already passed—and he had only just begun cultivating. If the next update arrived before he broke through, the risks would skyrocket.

Most other versions likely wouldn’t offer a safe and stable environment for cultivation like this one.

“If that’s the case… then it’s time to pay to win.”

Without hesitation, Lu Yan pulled out the Spirit Stones he had prepared in advance. He formed a full circle around himself with thirty Spirit Stones and even held two more directly in his hands as he began his second cultivation session.

During his first attempt, Lu Yan had visualized a void, searched for scattered lights, and waited for them to gather into spiritual energy.

But this time, the moment he entered that state, he found himself already surrounded by countless glowing points. With just a thought, spiritual energy surged into his body—easily absorbed by his physique.

For the first time, Lu Yan understood: cultivation can be easy.

And so, he began cultivating without rest. Waves of spiritual energy refined his body, steadily increasing his affinity for spiritual energy each day.

The impurities in his body were gradually expelled. Old pains and minor injuries from his three months of suffering vanished entirely. His physique was restored to an unprecedented peak.

On the eleventh day of formal cultivation, after consuming eight Spirit Stones, Lu Yan completed his body refinement.

Then came the most critical step—circulating Qi through the meridians.

Lu Yan had considered the body refinement phase to be a grind. As long as one could draw in Qi and had enough resources, it could be brute-forced.

But circulating Qi through the meridians involved far more: clarity of mind, strength of will, and precise mastery of the Zhoutian path. None could be lacking.

Even manipulating the spiritual energy within the body was already difficult—let alone guiding it through a complex network of inner channels.

It took Lu Yan an entire day just to learn how to control the Qi inside him.

Under normal circumstances, one couldn’t even begin circulating Qi without meditating on the Heart Sutra.

In fact, most people learning a High-Grade cultivation method would do so under a sect, where a master would help guide their meridian flow.

Lu Yan had no such luxury. He could only rely on Spirit Stones and relentless perseverance.

Time continued to pass, and by the third month of the Urban Version—Lu Yan finally saw a glimmer of light.

The guest room, once filled with furniture, had been cleared out and remodeled into a dedicated cultivation chamber.

Lu Yan sat cross-legged on the floor, palms facing upward, operating the Crimson Lotus Karma Scripture.

After over two months of grinding cultivation, his body had undergone a profound transformation. He had even grown a few centimeters taller. Though he lacked the chiseled muscles of a gym-goer, his body now held strength far beyond any ordinary person.

His once-handsome features now radiated a serene brilliance. His skin was flawless like that of a newborn, and his entire being exuded an ethereal, unworldly aura.

As the technique circulated, a milky white glow enveloped his body, making him look like a transcendent figure ready to ascend to immortality.

Inside his body, the final leg of the Zhoutian path was about to be completed.

When the Qi flowed through the last meridian, the energy loop completed in an instant. A thread of spiritual power condensed inside him.

At that moment, a gust of wind swept through the cultivation room. From the surrounding Spirit Stones, torrents of spiritual energy surged into Lu Yan’s body, following the newly opened pathways and refining into pure spiritual force.

As two Spirit Stones were drained completely dry, the wind finally died down.

Lu Yan opened his eyes.

In that instant, the dim room seemed to turn to daylight—before quickly returning to stillness.

“Qi Refining Stage.”

Lu Yan extended his right hand. With spiritual power flowing through him, his Storage Pouch automatically opened, sending Spirit Stones and Talismans flying into his palm.

At last, Lu Yan had truly stepped through the gate of cultivation.

He was now, without a doubt, a true cultivator.

His heart stirred with emotion as he glanced toward the translucent screen before him. The version update progress had already reached 72.3%—the Urban Version was nearing its end.

“Now that I’ve reached Qi Refining… it’s time to settle a few scores.”

His gaze grew sharp and distant.

“Letting that demonic cultivator behind Chu Hao roam free… isn’t my style.

If the next version brings back supernatural powers, there’s a chance he’ll surpass me again.

I’d rather deal with him now—while he’s still just a mortal in the Urban Version.”

(End of Chapter)