Infinite Fire Record

Chapter 9: Cultivation

The peach blossoms had bloomed in April, and the scent of early spring still carried a faint chill in the air. The lingering cold mixed with the fragrance of the flowers, created an atmosphere of quiet seclusion.

Within the Peach Blossom Forest, the blossoms trembled, their petals releasing waves of delicate fragrance. Amidst the sea of pink, a lone figure stood—a man dressed in white, his black hair flowing like ink. His dark, gem-like eyes gleamed with spiritual light, and his lips remained pressed in a faint, indifferent line, exuding an air of cold detachment. His jade-like skin shimmered subtly under the soft light, while at the center of his forehead, a silver-colored flame flickered as though burning within the void.

This man was none other than Imperial Sky.

His gaze rested upon his right hand, where a black dragon-shaped ring encircled his smooth, jade-like fingers. This was the Dragon Devouring Ring—originally the Nascent Ring of the Pill Elder. With his left hand, he gently traced the air, and a jade platform slowly emerged before him.

At the center of the jade platform, a blood-red pill trembled slightly, exuding a dense, medicinal fragrance. This was the Red Gold Dragon Marrow Pill, a seventh-grade elixir refined from the bloodline of a dragon-type magical beast, combined with rare treasures of heaven and earth. Its effects were formidable—enhancing physical strength, fortifying the body, and even bestowing a trace of true dragon bloodline upon the user. Those who successfully absorbed it would awaken draconic power within them, paving the way for the mastery of techniques such as the Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms.

This pill was one of the most valuable treasures within the Dragon Devouring Ring. Yet, during his journey through the void, Imperial Sky had consumed a vast number of elixirs—especially lower-grade ones—leaving behind only the highest-quality pills. He often regretted this loss, sighing at his helplessness. The high-grade pills were beyond his ability to consume; attempting to do so would result in an immediate bodily rupture and death.

The gap between the auras of the Divine Eagle World and the Doublestar World had created an insurmountable difference in physical constitution. The average person in the Doublestar World was born with a physique comparable to an accomplished martial artist in the Divine Eagle World. This disparity forced Imperial Sky to exercise extreme caution. He could do nothing but stare at the powerful elixirs in his possession, unable to make use of them.

The jade platform before him was a tool used by the children of the Medicine Clan to subdue intelligent high-grade pills during alchemy practice. Now, Imperial Sky had placed it before himself, preparing to refine the medicinal energy of the Red Gold Dragon Marrow Pill.

Slowly, he closed his eyes, resting his hands over his Dantian. His lips parted and closed in rhythm with his breath—one inhalation, one exhalation—each cycle deliberate and measured. A thin wisp of pill fragrance drifted into his mouth, flowing down through his meridians before dispersing into his body as a warm current. The residual impurities—the dan poison qi—were exhaled with each breath.

Using the Qi of Fighting technique recorded in the Pill Clan’s secret manuals, Imperial Sky refined the medicinal essence within himself, allowing it to nourish his body. One breath in, one breath out—repeating nine times in succession.

Shortly after, he ceased his breathing exercise. His eyes remained closed, hands clenched tightly. The moment he did so, a dazzling light flickered across his gaze, sharp as a sword piercing through the Peach Blossom Forest.

Then, as another wave of rich pill fragrance surged into his body, a sudden eruption occurred—

BOOM!

His entire being trembled as a thunderous sound reverberated outward, traveling through the forest before fading into silence.

With a flick of his right hand, the jade platform vanished into thin air.

As he straightened his posture, his cold eyes gazed into the distance. He clenched his fists, feeling the surge of newfound power within his body.

“The Qi of Fighting technique consists of eighty-one cycles, divided into nine sections,” he murmured. “I have now completed the tenth cycle. The Qi of Battle section has been cultivated.”

A deep sense of satisfaction welled up within him. He had spent an entire year to reach this stage—an achievement that paled in comparison to someone like Xiao Yan.

The people of the Divine Eagle World are born like fragile tofu, while those of the Doublestar World are like tempered diamonds from the very start.

This vast difference forced Imperial Sky to be overly cautious in his cultivation. One extra breath of medicinal qi could have easily caused his body to rupture. But now, having completed the Qi of Battle section, he had undergone a qualitative transformation. His body pulsed with power—at least a hundred pounds of raw strength surged through his limbs.

Yet, physical strength was secondary. The true benefit was the transformation of his body itself. His sinews had grown resilient, his bones as smooth as jade, his flesh thoroughly refined.

This body… is like a treasure waiting to be unearthed.

His lips curved slightly, a rare flicker of joy passing through his heart. The impulse to throw back his head and shout surged through him—but he quickly calmed himself, suppressing the exhilaration.

Sitting cross-legged once more, he directed his Dantian’s qi through his meridians.

In the Doublestar World, even the lowest yellow-rank techniques required one to reach the ninth stage of Qi of Fighting and condense a Qi Cyclone before they could be cultivated. The reason was simple—the raw power generated by these techniques was overwhelmingly violent, requiring an exceptionally sturdy physique to withstand the impact.

In contrast, the techniques of the Divine Eagle World could be practiced even by ordinary people. This was due not only to the thinness of spiritual energy but also to the inherent stability of those techniques.

As Imperial Sky guided his qi through his meridians, he soon exhaled a deep breath and slowly opened his eyes.

A sharp brilliance flickered within them, akin to lightning piercing the darkness.

“The Bi Bo Gong technique has reached a high level of mastery. The twelve main meridians are fully opened. In the Divine Eagle World, I am now considered a Houtian expert.”

He analyzed his progress.

“A third-rate expert opens four meridians. A second-rate expert opens eight. A first-rate expert connects all twelve. Those who pass through the eight extraordinary meridians reach the peak of the Houtian realm. Finally, breaking the two bridges between heaven and earth leads to the Xiantian realm.”

Now that his twelve meridians were fully connected, he had stepped into the early Houtian stage. However, raw power alone was not enough. To be a true expert, martial techniques were essential.

“It is time to seek a suitable martial art. The Bi Bo Gong is ultimately a foundational technique, and the energy cultivated from it is not particularly pure.”

He sighed lightly. There were no advanced cultivation techniques available to him at the moment. His only option was to wait for his grandfather, Huang Yaoshi, to visit again and request one from him.

“As for the Nine Yin Manual in Guo Jing’s possession… it is impossible to obtain directly. But through Mother Huang Rong… that might be a different matter.”

Though he felt somewhat disappointed, he pushed the thought aside. He was unaware that his understanding of qi refinement differed greatly from others. Despite the Bi Bo Gong being a basic technique, the Qi of Fighting within him was incomparably pure, strengthening his foundation in ways even he had yet to realize.

With a flick of his right hand, he turned on his heel and walked toward the nearby bamboo house.

Built by Huang Yaoshi, it had become his solitary residence—secluded, surrounded by peach blossoms, and protected by a five-element formation. Apart from Huang Rong and Huang Yaoshi, no one could enter.

Here, he was isolated from the world.