Immortal Destiny

Chapter 9: Absorbing Qi

“Hm… Then why is this Nine Heavens Manual the answer to my Spirit Root condition?” 

Li Hao actually felt even more confused after hearing Xiao Fan and Fang Mu’s long explanation. He felt that there was no answer that had not been sought before.

“In this Nine Heavens Manual, there is a technique that has the ability to change destiny…” Fang Mu opened the Nine Heavens Manual and showed a page in the book. 

On the page was an explanation—when someone practiced in the Nine Heavens Manual and reached the limit due to Spirit Root quality, that person could use the written technique to reshape his Spirit Root so it could have better quality. 

“You can form a single elemental Spirit Root with this technique, which is also known as Pure Spirit Root…” 

Among the various types of Spirit Roots, the best was the one that has one element. Only one in a million cultivators had it. 

“Not only that, but this technique also makes you have the possibility of forming more than one Pure Spirit Root. In the world of cultivators, there is one in about a hundred million cultivators who have Dual Spirit Root.”

Fang Mu explained enthusiastically to Li Hao, who didn’t really understand it that much. 

“Fang Mu, you just said the sweet things. He must know everything.” Xiao Fan, who was silent earlier, finally sighed. 

Li Hao turned his head towards Xiao Fan before turning it back to Fang Mu, who was now smiling awkwardly and had nothing to say. 

Xiao Fan shook his head and then said, “This technique is not without risk. The process of reshaping Spirit Root is so painful; it’s more painful than the tribulation that cultivators have to face when ascending to the next cultivation stages. Since Heaven Mountain Sect obtained the Nine Heavens Manual, three people had already tried to use that technique, but all ended up dying miserably.”

Even though Heaven Mountain Sect tried to cover up the information, in the end, the news spread throughout the world, making everyone finally judge that the Nine Heavens Manual is actually not that great. 

Xiao Fan’s explanation made Li Hao frown. He turned to Fang Mu. “Uncle, did I do something to you? Why do you want to kill me?” 

“Hao’er! Don’t misunderstand!” Fang Mu panicked a little. “The world of cultivators is always full of danger and risk. Moreover, you don’t have to practice this technique if you don’t want to…” 

Fang Mu tried to explain that he did expect a lot in the technique of changing destiny but also understood the risks. 

On the other hand, Fang Mu thought that the Nine Heavens Manual was the best manual. Maybe if Li Hao trained based on the manual, he could cross the line of Forging Qi level 9 despite having five elemental Spirit Root.

“Hao’er, you don’t need to rush to decide. If you’re not willing, no one will force you.” Xiao Fan patted Li Hao’s shoulder before giving a sharp look to Fang Mu, signaling not to discuss this issue further. 

Li Hao became silent and pondered for quite a while after that. 

***

“Have you made up your mind?” 

Two days after Fang Mu introduced the Nine Heavens Manual, Li Hao finally decided to study it. According to Li Hao, there’s nothing wrong with trying new things, especially since there was no necessity for him to perform dangerous techniques that risked his life. 

After Li Hao conveyed his decision and promised to train hard, Fang Mu handed over the Nine Heavens Manual to him. 

Li Hao started turning page after page of the Nine Heavens Manual, asking Fang Mu and Xiao Fan when he found something he didn’t understand. 

“The essence of being a cultivator is absorbing qi that is around us into the body. There are those who said it was world energy or the universe energy, but we called it qi.” Fang Mu raised his hand and channeled his qi to his hand, his fist instantly emitting purple light.

Li Hao’s eyes widened. “Is this what is called qi?”

“That’s right. In general, the qi that goes into one’s body will emit bluish light, but when a cultivator learns a certain technique or manual specifically, the color of his qi will change. Mine became purple because I practiced Alchemy …” Fang Mu glanced at Xiao Fan. 

Xiao Fan raised his hand and showed a reddish qi. He explained, “Righteous cultivators mostly have blue qi and evil cultivators are commonly found to have blood-red qi or black qi because of the manual they use to practice…” 

The breathing technique was the most basic way to absorb qi into the body. Li Hao practiced for a few hours according to the instructions in the Nine Heavens Manual, but had no signs of qi entering his body. 

“The amount of qi present in this place is too thin. I don’t know how many days he will take before he manages to absorb qi…” Fang Mu shook his head as he looked at Li Hao, who sat and closed his eyes for a few hours. 

Peach Blossom Mountain had conditions that were strange; apart from a meager amount of qi, someone couldn’t recover qi using spirit stones and pills. This also applied to someone trying to increase qi in his body. 

“Everything takes time. We ourselves need a few days before finally absorbing the qi to the body, right?” Xiao Fan patted Fang Mu’s shoulder. 

Right after Xiao Fan spoke, Li Hao’s body experienced a change. Li Hao opened his eyes and checked his body. “I feel something in my body… Uncle, is this what is called qi?” Li Hao turned to Fang Mu and Xiao Fan. 

Fang Mu then checked Li Hao’s body and found qi in the form of a thin, golden thread. “This is… Qi that’s very pure…” Fang Mu had never encountered golden-colored qi before. 

Xiao Fan checked Li Hao after Fang Mu, and his face showed the same shock. “Fang Mu, does Li Hao really have a five elemental Spirit Root? Isn’t his talent too high?” Xiao Fan whispered. 

In general, people with five elemental Spirit Root required seven to ten days of breathing practice before they can absorb some of the qi in their bodies. 

Fang Mu was actually astonished too but did not think too much about it because it’s a good sign. Li Hao proved to be a good match for Nine Heaven Manual. “Hao’er, if the inner qi thread in your body grows and becomes ten times more thicker than now, then you can be said to have reached Forging Qi level one and officially become a cultivator…” 

As Fang Mu gave some input regarding the breathing technique, he looked enthusiastic because Li Hao’s development exceeded his expectations. On the other hand, Xiao Fan was actually immersed in his mind as he looked at Li Hao. Many things crossed his mind.