Chapter 68 - 66: Thick Earth True Qi
’Thirty-two years old, and I’ve broken through from the Qi Sensing Realm to the True Qi Realm of an Inner Cultivation Martial Master.’
’This progress is pretty good.’
Wei Tu performed Introspection. Under his gaze, he saw strands of white Inner Qi as fine as silk threads gradually gathering in his meridians, then intertwining, compressing, and condensing.
After a few breaths, a pale yellow strand, tougher than the original and enveloped by several strands of pure white Inner Qi, was born.
’So this is the True Qi of Martial Arts,’ Wei Tu thought.
He had progressed from External to Internal Cultivation, entering the Qi Sensing Realm. According to the path of the External Martial Dao, the next step was to use Inner Qi to stimulate the body, achieve Refining Strength into Marrow, and then cultivate a breath of Innate Qi to reach the Innate Martial Master Realm.
However, nothing was set in stone.
External and Inner Cultivation Martial Dao were deeply intertwined.
The two were not clearly distinct.
He had generated Inner Qi through the External Martial Dao. Now, he could follow either the External path or the Inner path to reach the Innate Realm.
For him, both paths were wide open roads to the top.
The transformation of Inner Qi into the higher-level True Qi marked the True Qi Realm of the Inner Cultivation Martial Dao.
(External Cultivation Realms: Qi Sensing, Refining Strength into Marrow, Innate, Grandmaster. Inner Cultivation Realms: Qi Sensing, True Qi, Innate, Grandmaster.)
He had been practicing the Bone Marrow Cultivation Scripture for over a decade. In the process of Refining Strength into Marrow, he had also tempered his Inner Qi, prompting its transformation into True Qi.
’According to rumor, the True Qi of most Martial Artists is pure white, just like Inner Qi. Why is my True Qi... pale yellow?’
’Could it be...?’
Wei Tu’s thoughts subconsciously turned to the Five Elements Spirit Body, the Immortal Skill he was practicing, and the Thick Earth Body it required him to form.
He suspected the reason his new True Qi was pale yellow was related to his cultivation of this Immortal Skill.
He couldn’t think of any other factor that could alter the color of his True Qi.
’This Immortal Skill must have subtly altered the properties of my True Qi, just as it influenced... Fu Zhizhou and Kou Liang, allowing them both to achieve Qi Sensitivity and enter the Qi Sensing Realm...’ Wei Tu speculated.
Furthermore, he could feel a dense, earth-like aura emanating from the pale yellow True Qi.
This aura made him feel as if his Constitution had been tempered and enhanced.
Although the change was subtle, his mastery of the Pile Skill gave him near-perfect control over every inch of his body.
’I should test it.’
’Perhaps this pale yellow True Qi can accelerate my progress in Refining Strength into Marrow.’ An idea struck Wei Tu.
Refining Strength into Marrow was a delicate process that couldn’t be rushed. Even with a shortcut, it would still require more than a decade of Hard Work.
If rushed, a failure in any part of the marrow refining process could lead to a sudden death, just like his grand-teacher, Shii Ming. Losing all one’s progress would be the least of one’s worries.
However, if one’s Constitution was significantly enhanced, the body could withstand more force during the marrow refining, and the process could be shortened accordingly.
Some Martial Artists with formidable Martial Arts Root Bones didn’t need ten or twenty years for marrow refining; a few years was sufficient.
At this thought, Wei Tu didn’t hesitate. He willed the pale yellow True Qi to circulate throughout his body.
A moment later, Wei Tu discovered that wherever the pale yellow True Qi flowed, his organs, limbs, and bones were indeed being tempered, becoming tougher and more resilient than before.
For the next half a month, Wei Tu acted on his theory, persistently using the pale yellow True Qi to temper his body and enhance his Physique.
Afterward, Wei Tu attempted Refining Strength into Marrow again. He discovered that the process was now a good thirty percent easier than before.
Bone Marrow Cultivation Scripture (43/100): Fifteen sessions a day, completion in thirty years.
Just then, Wei Tu immersed his consciousness in his Golden Purple Destiny Chart to check the progress of his Bone Marrow Cultivation Scripture.
’From 41% half a month ago to 43% now... my guess was right. The pale yellow True Qi really can accelerate my progress with the Bone Marrow Cultivation Scripture...’
A look of delight spread across his face.
He also decided on a name for this pale yellow True Qi: Thick Earth True Qi.
He took the name from the Thick Earth Body of his Immortal Skill.
...
「Several days later.」
Wei Tu sent a messenger, inviting Kou Liang and the other two to a gathering at Xuanhe Tower.
At this meeting, neither Wei Tu nor Fu Zhizhou had changed much. They were still their usual selves—calm, composed, and as enthusiastic about Cultivation as ever.
The other two, however, had changed considerably.
Having not seen him for several months, Kou Liang was now full of life and high spirits. All traces of his former dejection were gone from his speech and mannerisms.
Weii Fei, in contrast, looked desolate. He hid in a corner, drinking by himself, carrying the lingering scent of women’s perfume.
Seeing this, Wei Tu frowned and secretly shook his head.
He still remembered Weii Fei’s high spirits at their gathering just a few months prior.
Four years ago, after learning that Fu Zhizhou had achieved Qi Sensitivity through the Immortal Skill, Weii Fei had sworn off women to focus on his martial practice.
But then—at this critical juncture—Kou Liang had managed to take that step before him, achieving Qi Sensitivity and entering the Qi Sensing Realm.
Weii Fei, however, had yet to make a breakthrough.
In terms of age, Weii Fei was only a year younger than Kou Liang. They were practically peers.
Failure itself isn’t what’s frightening.
What’s frightening is when someone just like you, of a similar age, succeeds where you have not.
Weii Fei had lost his drive!
Fu Zhizhou saw this and his eyes met Wei Tu’s, as if to ask, ’Should we invite Weii Fei to the next gathering?’
In response,
Wei Tu did not answer.
He withdrew his gaze from the others, pondered for a moment, and then revealed what he had discovered after his own breakthrough to the True Qi Realm.
"Thick Earth True Qi?"
Hearing this, Fu Zhizhou was stunned for a moment before his face lit up with joy. He urgently questioned Wei Tu about the specific characteristics and changes related to the Thick Earth True Qi.
This was perhaps the best news the four of them had heard in the dozen or so years they had been cultivating the Immortal Skill.
If Wei Tu had now formed Thick Earth True Qi, didn’t that mean they might also have a chance to form the Thick Earth Body later on?
Immortality was within reach!
Wei Tu chose his words carefully as he answered Fu Zhizhou’s questions one by one.
After generating his Inner Qi, Fu Zhizhou had not continued down the path of External Cultivation. Instead, he had chosen to practice an Inner Family True Skill to accumulate Inner Strength.
The True Qi Realm was the very next realm that Fu Zhizhou, as an Inner Cultivation Martial Master, needed to break through.
As Wei Tu answered, Fu Zhizhou took out a brush and recorded every detail.
When it came to the True Qi Realm, Kou Liang and Weii Fei clearly couldn’t contribute to the conversation. They could only listen as Fu Zhizhou and Wei Tu went back and forth.
Fortunately, Fu Zhizhou’s questions were thorough and addressed the doubts they had as well.
After the banquet, the four of them said their goodbyes.
Wei Tu watched Fu Zhizhou and Kou Liang ride off into the distance, then spurred his horse and caught up with Weii Fei on the road back to Qingshan County Town. "Second Brother, hold on a moment."
"Third Brother, what is it..."
Weii Fei reined in his horse. He glanced back at Wei Tu and asked with feigned surprise.
’He knew Wei Tu had stopped him to comfort him—the second brother who had fallen behind.’
After more than a decade of friendship, he knew Wei Tu’s character well.