Chapter Twenty-Five: Rapid Progress

Two months later, as night fell, Liang Yan sat cross-legged within the Spirit Spring Cave, his internal spiritual power surging wildly. His presence was dense and profound, and faint traces of blue and gold light flickered around him. Suddenly, a muffled rumble echoed from within his body, and the air currents in the cave began to shift. Spiritual energy from all directions rushed madly toward him, as if drawn into an invisible vortex centered on his form, swallowing up every trace of aura within the cave.

Sun Qianli was startled by this spectacle, hastily halting his own cultivation. His face revealed both shock and uncertainty as he glanced anxiously toward Liang Yan. Yet Liang Yan remained oblivious, eyes tightly shut, allowing the frenzied spiritual energy to flood into him unchecked. The once tranquil cave was abruptly swept by a fierce gale, which only intensified with time, eventually coiling into a heart-stopping tornado.

Sun Qianli looked up and saw that the eye of this whirlwind was precisely where Liang Yan sat. Yet Liang Yan, like a meditating monk, seemed utterly unaware of the danger. Sun Qianli wanted to call out in warning, but no matter how loudly he shouted, his voice was smothered by the howling wind, unable to reach Liang Yan at all.

Just as anxiety gnawed at him, a blinding golden light erupted from Liang Yan’s body, so intense that it stung Sun Qianli’s eyes. He quickly shut them, steadying his mind in the clarity of meditation. The golden light pulsed around Liang Yan, accompanied by the faint chanting of Buddhist sutras—a majestic, awe-inspiring presence, as if a wrathful golden Buddha had manifested in all its solemnity.

Yet amid this solemnity, a streak of blue light darted beneath the golden glow. Compared to the overwhelming gold, the blue seemed insignificant, as though it could be snuffed out at any moment. And yet, it darted about like a lively fish, weaving joyfully through the golden light, the two a perfect harmony rather than a contradiction.

However, Sun Qianli could not see these marvels, his spirit dazed by the golden radiance. He had long since sealed his senses, deaf to the world, eyes tightly closed.

Fortunately, he did not have to endure for long. After the time it takes for half a stick of incense to burn, a humming sound resonated from Liang Yan’s body. Instantly, the golden radiance dispersed, and the blue fish vanished into Liang Yan. The wild auras and fierce winds gradually subsided, and all signs of the phenomenon faded.

Sun Qianli slowly opened his eyes to find Liang Yan had finished, standing calmly, his eyes bright with energy and a smile upon his lips.

Even the slowest mind would know what had happened. Sun Qianli cupped his hands and laughed, “Congratulations, Daoist friend, on your successful breakthrough and great advancement! With your current cultivation, you could easily be promoted to an outer disciple!”

Liang Yan smiled faintly. Just moments ago, he had overcome the first great barrier that hinders countless cultivators, advancing as he wished to the fourth level of Qi Refinement. The breakthrough was extraordinary and had so absorbed him that he hadn’t thought to use the Celestial Pearl to conceal his cultivation, so his true strength was now laid bare before Sun Qianli.

Yet even as he’d thrown himself into the breakthrough, he had kept a sliver of awareness on Sun Qianli, noting his every action and confirming the other harbored no ill intent—indeed, he had even considered helping. This realization warmed Liang Yan’s heart.

“It was but a small step ahead,” Liang Yan said, “the path of immortal cultivation is fraught with hardship, and future fortunes are determined by fate—no one can say what the future holds. Let me wish you, Brother Sun, an early and successful breakthrough as well!”

Sun Qianli was delighted to see Liang Yan’s attitude remain so cordial despite his newly superior cultivation. He took the chance to ask several questions about overcoming the third-layer bottleneck of Qi Refinement. For outer disciples like themselves, guidance was hard to come by, and the Hall of Transmission was closed to them; cultivation was a lonely and arduous journey.

Liang Yan was generous, sharing his own insights and experiences from breaking through the third level. The two sat together on the floor, discussing at length. Though Liang Yan’s knowledge was limited, his recent experiences closely matched Sun Qianli’s current situation, and his words brought much-needed inspiration.

They talked until dawn, finding much in common. At last, Sun Qianli stood, bowed, and said, “Many thanks for your guidance, Brother Liang. I have nothing of great value to offer in return, but please accept this obsidian jade ring as a token of my gratitude.”

Liang Yan accepted it, seeing it was an ordinary antique with no trace of spiritual power. Though it looked valuable, Liang Yan cared little for such external things and politely declined, “You’re too kind, Brother Sun. A few words of advice are hardly worth mentioning.”

But Sun Qianli shook his head vigorously, “This gift is not merely thanks. I may be lacking in many ways, but I trust my judgment. Brother Liang, you are destined for greater things, and consider this an early investment on my part.”

Then, with an air of mystery, he added, “Don’t underestimate the obsidian jade ring. Today it may be worthless, but who knows—one day it might be priceless.”

“Oh?” Liang Yan turned the ring over in his palm, considering, then finally accepted it, saying, “In that case, I shall not refuse your kindness. My thanks, Brother Sun.”

Seeing Liang Yan accept the gift, Sun Qianli was clearly pleased. He waved a hand and laughed, “No need for such formality between us. The sun is up—we should prepare to report to Wang Yuan.”

Liang Yan nodded, “Indeed.”

The two left the cave and made their way toward the Apricot Grove Pavilion. Wang Yuan was already seated at a square wooden table. As he saw the two approach, his brows knitted faintly, as if sensing something different about Liang Yan, though he could not say what. Outwardly, Liang Yan seemed still at the first level of Qi Refinement, yet his bearing had subtly changed.

Wang Yuan cleared his throat and addressed Liang Yan, “Though you are a friend of Senior Brother Zhuo Bufan, you must still mind your conduct. You’ve skipped work several times lately, and now you’re late again this morning. If word got out, it’d put me in a difficult position.”

Liang Yan felt a pang of embarrassment. The six-year term was nearly up, and he did not wish to create trouble now. He replied, “Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother Wang. I will be more diligent from now on.”

Wang Yuan nodded, apparently satisfied, then glared at Sun Qianli, “What are you gawking at? Get to work!”

Sun Qianli and Liang Yan exchanged a wry smile, then set off to their respective duties.

From then on, Liang Yan’s life returned to its prior rhythm: working in the mornings, studying formations in the afternoons, and cultivating in the Spirit Spring Cave at night. Once a month, he would help Zhuo Bufan refine pills, or spend an evening playing chess with Old Timber on Azure Wood Peak.

Time passed unnoticed in the mountains; winter faded and spring arrived, and a year had gone by.

One evening, Liang Yan sat cross-legged in his dormitory, his presence deep and unfathomable. Should a master at the Core Formation stage have been present, they would have seen through the Celestial Pearl’s concealment and known his cultivation had reached the fifth level of Qi Refinement!

Since comprehending the Twin Fish Formation, Liang Yan had begun focusing on Old Timber’s “Heart Unbound Method.” The considerable Buddhist spiritual power he already possessed did not hinder him; on the contrary, the formation’s operation actually accelerated his progress in the Heart Unbound Method.

In the year since, his cultivation advanced like a tiger leaping from its cage, like the Yangtze bursting its banks—from the fourth to the fifth level of Qi Refinement in just one year. To call it meteoric would be no exaggeration.

Yet once he reached the fifth level, his rapid progress slowed and returned to the previous pace.

Not only had his cultivation improved, but he had also learned many secret techniques and spells from the Heart Unbound Method, all useful in actual combat. This was just what he needed. After all, he dared not use the old monk’s vagabond arts openly, but the Heart Unbound Method was a legacy of his own sect’s elder Old Timber—no one could object to that.

Before, he had spiritual power but lacked techniques, like a strong man ignorant of martial arts, always at a disadvantage in a fight. Now, that problem no longer existed.

Just as he was feeling pleased, an untimely voice sounded outside the courtyard gate:

“Where’s that brat Liang Yan? Get out here, now!”