Chapter Two: The Art of Qi Refinement and Cultivation

Purple Origin Qi Refinement Technique (Intermediate): A mysterious sect's Qi refinement heart method, consisting of fifteen levels.

Each level increase grants +20 Vitality, +40 Mana, +20 Spell Power, and +0.1 Mana Regeneration per second.

Training requirements: Innate Constitution 15 points, Innate Comprehension 14 points.

The basic grade of Daoist arts corresponds to the basic sword manual, with ranks from lowest to highest as follows: Primary, Intermediate, Advanced, Exquisite, Profound, Sect-Defining, Supreme, and Great Dao.

Qi refinement heart methods form the foundation of all cultivation. The guild-provided heart method is only intermediate level. Although not exceptional, free resources require no complaints.

For now, it will suffice; later, when wealth permits or upon joining a sect, a better heart method can be sought.

Next, he took out a red jade slip, its light dissolving into his body, and a new Daoist art called Fire Origin True Understanding appeared on his panel.

Fire Origin True Understanding: Fire-element Daoist art, containing numerous fire spells, spanning ten levels.

Attributes: Each level grants +1% Fire Spell Power, +5% Casting Range, and certain theoretical experience in fire spells.

Training requirement: Innate Comprehension 15 points.

This Daoist art is also a guild benefit; leveling it up allows the understanding of various fire spells, making it very useful for leveling.

His consciousness focused on the Qi Refinement Heart Method; a green plus sign appeared above it. He glanced at the experience pool, which had accumulated 3.2 million cultivation points—also known as killing experience—and 33 Dao Points, equivalent to skill points.

With a thought, he extracted 20,000 cultivation points and 2 Dao Points from the pool, pouring them into the Daoist art.

The next moment, a warm current surged from within, circulating through his limbs and meridians in a full cycle, finally converging in the Qi Sea to transform into mana.

“Notification: Purple Origin Qi Refinement Technique advanced to level one. Vitality +20, Mana +40, Spell Power +20, Mana Regeneration +0.1 per second.”

“Notification: Unknown factors affected attributes. Vitality +40, Mana +80, Spell Power +40, Mana Regeneration +0.2 per second.”

“Notification: Purple Origin Qi Refinement Technique advanced one level, unlocking derivative Daoist art [Protective Qi Shield], which condenses a layer of shield around the body using mana. Each heart method level grants +150 Defense, mana conversion rate 5 points, and shield rupture buffer time 30 minutes.”

“Notification: Unknown factors affected [Protective Qi Shield]. Each heart method level grants +300 Defense, mana conversion rate 10 points, shield rupture buffer time 30 minutes.”

“Indeed!” Su Yu’s eyes brightened, his joy evident.

“My Golden Finger not only enhances experience gains but also boosts Daoist arts. Wonderful.”

“Continue!”

His gaze fell again on the Daoist art; he poured more cultivation points and Dao Points into it, leveling up layer by layer.

With each level raised, a warm current generated inside him.

Each circulation of the warm current through his body increased his mana slightly.

Layer upon layer, the mana steadily rose.

“Notification: Purple Origin Qi Refinement Technique advanced to level five, unlocking derivative Daoist art [Qi Flight]. By commanding mana to ride the qi and soar, the base height is 100 meters, with +20 meters per heart method level; base speed 80 km/h, +10 km/h per level; mana consumption 5 points per second.”

“Notification: Unknown factors affected [Qi Flight]. Base height 200 meters, +40 meters per level; base speed 160 km/h, +20 km/h per level; mana consumption 5 points per second.”

“Finally, I can fly.”

Su Yu willed it, feeling an invisible force envelop him, lifting him slowly off the ground.

At first, he swayed unsteadily, but with a slight adjustment of his mind, he soon stabilized in midair.

A thought forward, and he moved ahead; a thought to stop, and he hovered. With another thought, he flew backward, maneuvering up and down, flexible and natural, far easier than he had imagined.

“Huh, it’s not as hard to master as the teacher said!”

“Could it be that I have a natural talent in this?”

After some practice, the enormous mana consumption caused him to slowly descend. After a brief rest, he continued to cultivate.

Another round of cultivation points poured into the Daoist art, transforming into mana and gradually advancing the heart method’s level.

This is the perverse advantage of the Bianjie’s Heavenly Dao’s digital system: as long as one has enough cultivation points and Dao Points, continuous advancement is possible—something utterly impossible in a normal cultivation world.

“Notification: Purple Origin Qi Refinement Technique advanced to level ten, unlocking derivative Daoist art [Purple Origin Qi Force], which condenses a qi force with mana to attack enemies. Base damage equals 100% of the Qi Refinement Technique’s base spell damage; each heart method level increases attack range by 20 meters; mana consumption 120 points; cooldown 15 seconds.”

“Notification: Unknown factors affected [Purple Origin Qi Force]. Base damage equals 200% of Qi Refinement Technique’s base spell damage; each heart method level increases attack range by 40 meters; mana consumption 120 points; cooldown 15 seconds.”

Su Yu spent 660,000 cultivation points and 20 Dao Points in one go to raise the Purple Origin Qi Refinement Technique to level ten.

This granted a total increase of 400 Vitality, 800 Mana, 400 Spell Power, and 2 Mana Regeneration per second. Ten levels equaled the attribute bonus of a twenty-level newcomer in the Qianyu Guild.

There were still plenty of cultivation points left—2.54 million—but only 13 Dao Points.

He did not continue leveling and instead turned his attention to the Fire Origin True Understanding.

This upgrade was simpler: 10,000 cultivation points and 1 Dao Point invested, conjuring a flaming Daoist spirit in his mind, who spoke fiery lotuses. In a half-awake, half-understanding state, fire spell knowledge was infused into his consciousness.

When the vision faded, Su Yu opened his eyes to see a basic fire spell—Fireball—had emerged on his panel.

“Continue!”

Half an hour later, having spent 330,000 cultivation points and 10 Dao Points, he raised Fire Origin True Understanding to level ten.

It should have granted a 10% increase in fire spell power and 50% casting range, but thanks to the Golden Finger bonus, these doubled to 20% fire spell power and 100% casting range.

Moreover, several fire spells had been derived.

Level 1: Fireball.

Level 3: Fire Wall.

Level 5: Fire Shield.

Level 10: Fire Rain.

He extended his right hand, fingers spread, and tiny flickers of flame gathered into a ball of fire hovering in his palm.

This was not a spell per se, but fire spell theoretical experience condensed with mana from just ten levels of Fire Origin True Understanding.

It had little power—at most useful for lighting a fire.

After inspecting it briefly, he extinguished the fireball.

This was not the right place to test spells; the battleship was unsuitable. He would wait until tomorrow.

For now, he left the cabin and saw the sun dipping westward; the battleship was heading home.

Though the waters around seemed boundless, this was not the open sea but the Yuan River, one of the three great rivers on Blue Mountain Island.

The Yuan River originates west of Blue Mountain Island, winding through the island’s center for over 80 million kilometers, with more than 4,000 tributaries, flowing eastward into the sea.

The narrowest point is at Longlu Gorge upstream, where the river is over 500 kilometers wide.

The widest point is at the downstream estuary, spanning tens of thousands of kilometers.

The Qianyu Guild headquarters lies in the mid-lower reaches of the Yuan River, where the river is nearly 3,000 kilometers wide, broad as an ocean, with winds stirring waves rolling toward the shore.

Through the clear water, one could occasionally see shadows swimming beneath—various fish spirits, crab and shrimp demons, aquatic insects, and other water spirits.

Under the influence of the Bianjie Realm’s Heavenly Dao rules, monsters abound everywhere; they are endless, continuously respawning.

Players awakened to the Data Daoist Law gain killing experience by defeating these monsters; killing elite bosses grants Dao Points and loot. These ever-present monsters thus serve as an infinite resource.

Dense monster spawn points or locations where bosses appear become fiercely contested resources among guild teams.

The battleship sailed downstream, often passing groups of players near the shore, teaming up to exterminate aquatic monsters.

Most soared through the air riding qi, while some wealthy players rode exquisite flying boats or mounts, hovering dozens of meters above the river, wielding flying swords and various magical treasures to kill monsters and accumulate killing experience.

After about half an hour’s voyage, the giant ship rounded a small hill protruding from the riverbank, and the view suddenly opened up.

On the other side of the hill was a tributary of the Yuan River named the Chen Sha River, merging here into the Yuan. Across the wide river mouth of over 300 kilometers stood a vast city covering hundreds of square kilometers, surrounded by stone walls hundreds of meters high, topped with countless thunderfire towers. At the city center rose an enormous pillar of light piercing the sky.

This was Qianyu City, the Qianyu Guild's headquarters, located east of the confluence of the Chen Sha and Yuan Rivers, with the Taihu Mountain range's branch to the north.

To the southwest and west, the city was surrounded by water; to the northeast and east, by mountains. Access was only via waterways or aerial routes.

Two large docks lay on the city's riverfront: the civil dock near the Chen Sha River for private ships of legion members and small to mid-tier player teams active in Qianyu City; and the military dock near the Yuan River, where the guild’s large warships were berthed.

The giant wooden Divine Ship slowly docked at the shore. Numerous newcomers either rode qi or summoned flying artifacts to soar into the city.

Su Yu produced a delicate paper crane, exhaled spiritual energy, causing it to rapidly expand into a paper crane with a wingspan of about three meters.

He mounted the crane, sitting in the saddle. With a thought, the paper crane lifted smoothly into the air.

Paper Crane (First Rank): Wooden flying crane capable of flight.

Size: Wingspan 3 meters, can carry one person.

Durability: 200.

Attributes: Flight height 100 meters, flight speed 50 km/h.

As the most basic flying artifact, the paper crane cost only 500 copper coins—cheap and practical, perfect for a newcomer of average background like Su Yu.

The paper crane rose leisurely into the sky, where countless sword lights zipped past, and large flying boats flew in from afar or emerged from the city. His slow paper crane crawled among them like a turtle.

He gradually passed over the hundred-meter-high city walls into the city, revealing a vast metropolis blending modern and ancient styles.

The city was built on a standard cross layout, with two main streets intersecting at the center, where a huge plaza stood. Alongside were street-facing shops with advertising signs and merchants calling out nonstop, creating a commercial bustle comparable to any modern city’s business district.

Pedestrians crowded the streets, wearing Daoist robes, brocade garments, and various exotic ancient costumes, though they preferred to be called players.

They either flew by on flying boats, rode strange flying artifacts, or mounted rare birds and beasts. Even those with nothing rode air currents with flowing sleeves and feet barely touching the ground.

“Wind and Rain Tower Studio recruiting newcomers, requirements: Constitution and Comprehension above 15 points, signing a contract grants 5 million cultivation points and 50 Dao Points, free intermediate Qi Refinement Heart Method, choose one Five Elements True Understanding spell, monthly salary 2 gold for the first three months with room and board, 5 gold thereafter plus commission.”

“Leveling team seeking 3 temporary teammates, requires basic Qi Refinement Technique level 20+, third-rank or above flying artifacts; loot auctioned internally.”

“Newcomer training, full transport, 1 gold for 100,000 experience or 1 gold for 10 Dao Points.”

“Cloud Sea Pavilion accepts custom orders for exquisite flying swords below fifth rank, contact privately if interested.”

“Qianyu Pavilion Announcement: Due to unforeseen circumstances, this month’s auction is postponed to next month’s first day at 2 p.m. New and old customers are welcome.”

The regional chat was lively. Su Yu, seated on the paper crane, leisurely flew while scanning the rapidly streaming messages.

The Qianyu Guild was a well-established guild, founded over 180 years ago, with about 45,800 official members and over 300,000 affiliated members. Nearly one million players operated in the surrounding area using Qianyu City as a supply base.

Such strength made it a mid-tier force in the Blue Mountain Archipelago.

The huge population fostered a thriving economy, where nearly all cultivation-related resources were available for purchase.

The paper crane entered the city, flying toward the northern sector, where dense high-rise buildings stood. Each floor had balconies over ten meters wide, large enough to accommodate small flying boats.

The paper crane passed through floors and stopped on a balcony halfway up one building.

This was the guild member residential district. As an official member, Su Yu was allocated a three-hundred-plus square meter flat.

Qianyu City spanned hundreds of square kilometers; with fewer than fifty thousand guild members, living space was ample.

The apartment was empty, the floor smooth as a mirror, beneath which were intricate spirit runes. Su Yu lay on the sofa; the floor faintly glowed, and a light spiritual mist rose from it, gathering toward him.

He closed his eyes to rest, not minding the slowly flowing spiritual energy entering his body.

Beneath the guild headquarters lay an enormous formation covering hundreds of square kilometers, capable of drawing the land veins’ primal energy to power the city’s protective array. When no war threatened, surplus energy was distributed to guild members as a basic welfare.

Staying here required no effort to continuously gain cultivation points.

About an hour later, he had gained a bit over one hundred points.

Though not much, it was extra income.

After resting about the duration of a stick of incense, Su Yu opened his eyes and checked the regional chat again.

First, he ordered a fresh river seafood banquet from a merchant, costing only 20 copper coins.

In the Bianjie World, currency was gold, silver, and copper—not common metals, but refined from primal copper into copper coins, star iron replacing standard silver, and golden refined metal replacing gold. These materials were also raw materials for crafting flying swords and magical treasures, their value serving as currency.

One tael of gold equaled 100 taels of silver.

One tael of silver equaled 1,000 copper coins.

Thus, one tael of gold equaled 100,000 copper coins.