Volume One, Chapter Three: The Supreme Mystery Scripture

"The Primordial Mystery: Qi Condensation Manual," Ji Die murmured.

Fortunately, his mother had taught him to read when he was little, so he could recognize the characters on the cover.

He quickly finished leafing through the booklet, his heart pounding wildly.

This truly was a manual for cultivating immortality. It detailed the method for reaching the very first realm of cultivation—the Qi Refining Stage!

According to what was written, as long as one assumed a specific posture—sitting cross-legged—and coordinated it with a particular breathing technique, one could absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into the body.

And when the accumulated spiritual energy within the body reached a certain threshold—becoming like a vast ocean and forming a magnificent sea of qi—one could break through to Foundation Establishment!

Ji Die had no idea what Foundation Establishment was.

He only knew that once he became an immortal, no one would ever be able to bully him again!

Who cared about that Yang landowner? They were all nothing!

He would reclaim the land his parents had left behind!

With excitement thrumming through him, Ji Die sat cross-legged on his bed and began cultivating according to the method described in the "Primordial Mystery: Qi Condensation Manual."

A day passed quietly by, and before he knew it, night had fallen.

At last, Ji Die felt a faint warmth begin to flow within him, lingering just above his lower abdomen.

It was so faint, like a candle in the wind, liable to be snuffed out at any moment.

"So this is spiritual energy..." Ji Die was thrilled to feel the fruits of his cultivation. He got out of bed to find something to eat, then continued to practice on his bed.

According to the booklet, the Qi Refining Stage had nine levels.

His current amount of spiritual energy was still some way off from reaching the first level.

But Ji Die was in no hurry.

Soon, another night passed, and Ji Die was surprised to find himself not the least bit tired; on the contrary, he felt invigorated.

The spiritual energy within him had nearly doubled since the previous night—roughly as thick as three strands of hair!

He was one step closer to the first level of Qi Refining!

He also discovered that holding that white stone in his hand allowed him to cultivate much faster.

He didn’t know that the white stone was called a spirit stone, that it contained the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, which was why it could speed up cultivation.

But this discovery filled Ji Die with even more enthusiasm. Over the next few days, he hardly left his home, clutching the spirit stone day and night, neglecting food and sleep as he cultivated according to the "Primordial Mystery: Qi Condensation Manual."

On the fourth day,

the stream of warmth in his lower abdomen had grown to about the thickness of a finger.

While cultivating, Ji Die suddenly heard a muffled boom from within his body. Waves of warmth washed over him, leaving him feeling incomparably comfortable. He even grew a little taller and his eyes shone with renewed vigor.

"I must have reached the first level of Qi Refining, as described in the ‘Primordial Mystery,’" Ji Die thought joyfully, opening his eyes. Having just broken through, he was in no rush to continue cultivating.

He looked with excitement at the spirit stone in his hand, which had lost its spiritual energy and crumbled into powder.

"It's a shame that after these days of cultivation, I've already used up five stones.

There were only eleven stones in total—once they're gone, there’s no way to replace them..."

He shook his head, but he wasn’t particularly worried. After all, he could still cultivate without the stones.

Ji Die took out one of the herbs from the bag, holding it up for inspection.

The herb was entirely purple, over a foot tall, with three round leaves.

"These herbs are different from ordinary ones—they must be used by cultivators. I wonder if their quality can be improved," Ji Die mused, curiosity stirring in his heart. He summoned the bronze cauldron and placed the purple herb inside.

Under his expectant gaze, the cauldron emitted a burst of emerald green light, followed by a faint fragrance that filled the entire room!

"What a wonderful scent! I wonder if it’s edible!" Ji Die's eyes lit up as he saw that the herb he'd placed inside now had an extra leaf, and its aroma was even more intense.

He felt an almost irresistible urge to eat it!

But Ji Die managed to restrain himself.

Not knowing the effects of these herbs, he dared not consume them recklessly.

He put both the herb and the bronze cauldron away, then turned his gaze to the shoes he’d bought for Binbin.

He wondered what that little girl had been up to lately—she hadn’t come to see him in days.

Ji Die shook his head and headed out toward her home.

"You wicked girl, you’ve learned to steal now! Who taught you this?" In a courtyard at that moment, a middle-aged man stood with a stern expression, a wooden stick in his hand.

Before him, Li Binbin timidly held out her palms. "No one taught me. I just thought Brother Ji was too pitiful, so I gave him the things. Father, go ahead and punish me!"

Seeing her willingly admitting her guilt, Li's father felt both frustrated and helpless.

He had only just today discovered that the ginseng root he kept in his cupboard was missing. On questioning, he learned that his daughter had given it to that boy from the Ji family.

Just then, he spotted Ji Die outside the courtyard.

"Get out," Li’s father said coldly, his face showing clear displeasure.

As for the boy, he felt neither liking nor dislike, but he didn’t want any entanglements with him.

Raising Li Binbin on his own was hard enough; he didn’t want to take on another burden.

"Uncle Li, a few days ago Binbin gave me the ginseng root. I sold it, and here are ten copper coins. I intended for her to give them to you, but she hasn’t come to see me, so I brought them myself." Ji Die hastily took out ten copper coins and placed them on the table.

"And this is a gift I bought for Binbin."

"Thank you, Brother Ji!" Binbin’s face broke into a joyful smile as she accepted the red embroidered shoes.

"Go on, try them. I only guessed at your size," Ji Die said, smiling as he ruffled her hair.

"If they don’t fit, I’ll exchange them."

"Okay!" Li Binbin clutched the shoes and ran happily into the house. She’d only ever worn straw sandals—finally, she could have cloth shoes.

"Wait, put those shoes down—" Li Yi tried to stop his daughter, but he was too late.

Children were innocent and never thought too much, but he knew Ji Die’s circumstances. Where did the boy get so much money all of a sudden? Had he done something wrong?

"Don’t worry, Uncle Li. The money is clean—I found some savings my parents left behind," Ji Die explained, giving the answer he’d prepared in advance.

"I see. Still, don’t spend money carelessly. Take it back—you may need it in the future," Li Yi sighed. That ginseng root couldn’t possibly fetch so much, let alone pay for a pair of shoes.

"It’s all right, I have more," Ji Die replied, waving his hand as he took his leave.

He knew Binbin’s shoe size well enough and wasn’t worried about them not fitting.

After that, life returned to its usual rhythm. Ji Die continued to cultivate and eat as before. The six spirit stones he had left soon dwindled away.

His cultivation was just short of breaking through to the second level of Qi Refining.

Until one day, Li Binbin burst through his door, her face pale as she threw herself into his arms.

"Brother Ji, my father—my father was taken away by bad people..."

Seeing her choking up, Ji Die held her in confusion and comforted her gently: "Binbin, it’s all right. Tell me slowly—what happened?"

Just then, two burly men in tight-fitting clothes appeared in the doorway, sneering coldly: "Here’s one—come with us!"

"Those are the ones who took my father," Li Binbin whimpered, shrinking further into his embrace.