Third Level of Qi Refining

It was another day for the instruction session.

Bai Qingxue looked at the scenery outside her window and suddenly remembered that the day she first arrived at Xueji Peak, she was also at the third level of Qi Refining.

Back then, her third level was a result of the original host’s ten years of bitter cultivation using the 《Cold Jade Art》. While the spiritual power could be considered pure, she had to endure the agony of cold poison every time she circulated her energy.

Today, Bai Qingxue was once again at the third level of Qi Refining.

However, the spiritual power in her dantian had condensed into a near-solid state, and the frost marks clinging to its periphery faintly exuded an extraordinary aura.

As for the chill that had once kept her awake at night, it had long since been completely transformed into nourishment for the Mystic Frost spiritual power within her body.

The two were, quite literally, worlds apart.

She withdrew her gaze and continued her walk up the mountain.

Her footsteps paused slightly as she passed the courtyard gate. The flower buds on the old plum tree had bloomed overnight on the day of her breakthrough. Now, the branches were covered in silver-white, releasing a cold fragrance into the snowy wind.

Bai Qingxue snapped off a single branch to place in a vase, leaving the rest to bloom as they pleased.

...

Inside the hall, most of the disciples had already arrived. Bai Qingxue found a corner to sit in as usual, closing her eyes to rest her mind.

“Junior Sister Bai.”

Someone beside her called out softly. Bai Qingxue opened her eyes to see a disciple from her same induction group. She possessed Water and Wood dual spiritual roots and was currently at the middle stage of the first level of Qi Refining.

“Did you... break through again?” the girl asked cautiously, her gaze sweeping over Bai Qingxue.

Bai Qingxue did not deny it. “Yes.”

The girl sucked in a sharp breath and wanted to ask more, but Liu Ningshuang had already walked in.

The hall fell silent instantly.

The first half of the session remained a Q&A for cultivation techniques.

Bai Qingxue listened very intently. Although the 《Mystic Frost Heavenly Heart Art》 was different from the techniques others practiced, the principles of spiritual power circulation were universal.

Many of the details Liu Ningshuang discussed were equally useful to her.

The second half was the cultivation assessment. Liu Ningshuang inspected each disciple one by one. When it was her turn, Bai Qingxue extended her wrist.

Spiritual sense probed into her meridians. After a few breaths, Liu Ningshuang’s brow twitched slightly.

“The third level of Qi Refining?”

Her voice was not loud, but it was enough for the disciples in the front rows to hear. Several gazes shot toward her. After all, she had only just broken through to the second level during the last instruction session. It had only been half a month, and she had advanced another level? This speed was simply too fast.

“Yes,” Bai Qingxue answered calmly.

...

After the instruction session ended, Liu Ningshuang called out to her.

“Follow me.”

Bai Qingxue followed her out of the main hall, through a corridor, and to a secluded training ground.

The area was not large, with several ice-encrusted wooden stakes standing around the perimeter. The bluestone floor was covered in sword marks and cracks.

“Since you have reached the third level of Qi Refining, you can begin learning offensive techniques.” Liu Ningshuang took a jade slip from her sleeve.

“Xueji Peak has three basic ice-attribute sword forms. Take a look at them first.”

Bai Qingxue took the jade slip and sent her spiritual sense inside.

Frost, Ice Seal, and Shatter Ice. Three sword forms, each building upon the last.

“I will give you three days to master Frost first,” Liu Ningshuang said.

Bai Qingxue did not respond. She closed her eyes, running the spiritual power circulation paths for the three sword forms through her mind three times. Then, she drew the Frost Condensation Sword.

The first strike: Frost.

Bai Qingxue’s spiritual power surged from her dantian, flowing along the path dictated by the sword manual and injecting into the blade through her arm.

The tip of the sword lit up with a pale blue light. Bai Qingxue swung the sword forward, and her spiritual power erupted, turning into a thick frost mist that enveloped a ten-foot radius in front of her.

Liu Ningshuang’s brow twitched slightly.

She had successfully triggered the first strike. Although there was room for improvement in the density and range of the frost mist, the path of spiritual power circulation was perfectly correct.

“Continue.”

Bai Qingxue did not stop. For the second strike, she controlled the density; for the third, she practiced moving while releasing it; for the fourth, she expanded the range.

In less than an hour, she could already manifest the frost mist at will—thick enough to obscure vision or as thin as a mere layer of frost.

“Try Ice Seal,” Liu Ningshuang said.

Hearing this, Bai Qingxue walked up to a wooden stake and thrust her sword forward.

The sword tip tapped against the stake, and a strand of pale blue spiritual light sank into it.

The surface of the wood quickly developed a layer of white frost, spreading outward from the point of contact to cover an area the size of a palm.

Liu Ningshuang stepped closer to inspect it. She reached out to touch the frost and was surprised to find that Bai Qingxue’s spiritual power had penetrated exactly the right amount, without a single trace of waste.

“Practice more.”

Bai Qingxue practiced a dozen more strikes, each one more precise than the last. By the end, she could even tap out the shape of a frost flower on the stake.

“What about Shatter Ice?” Liu Ningshuang was now somewhat curious. She wanted to see exactly how far Bai Qingxue’s talent reached.

Hearing Liu Ningshuang’s words, Bai Qingxue slowly sheathed her sword, then closed her eyes to adjust her breathing, pressing all her remaining spiritual power into the blade.

The Frost Condensation Sword began to tremble, and the frost patterns on the blade glowed with a piercing blue light.

Then, with a low shout, she swung the sword toward the stake.

A pale blue sword qi shot out, letting out a dull boom the moment it struck the wood.

The stake split down the middle, the upper half flying off while the break was covered in a thick layer of ice.

Liu Ningshuang looked at the severed wooden stake and remained silent for a moment.

“Have you studied the sword before?”

“No. This is my first time.”

Liu Ningshuang glanced at her but did not ask further.

She turned and walked toward the main hall, stopping after a few steps without looking back. “You have already mastered the three sword forms. But sword forms are only the foundation; true combat relies on experience. Go back and continue practicing. During the second instruction session next month, I will assess your practical combat skills.”

“Yes.”

Bai Qingxue sheathed her sword and looked down at her palm. Her spiritual power was exhausted and her arm felt sore and numb, but the exhilarating feeling of transforming spiritual power into sword qi gave her a faint thrill.

Afterward, Bai Qingxue turned and returned to her own courtyard.

As she pushed open the courtyard gate, the cold fragrance of the old plum tree greeted her.

The silver-white branches shimmered with a faint light in the twilight, looking as if they were covered in a thin layer of snow. Bai Qingxue stood beneath the tree for a moment, reaching out to lightly touch the nearest petal.

A crisp, clear chill seeped from her fingertip.

She suddenly thought that a month ago, she was still suffering from cold poison, yet now she could make this old plum tree, which hadn't bloomed in centuries, blossom for her.

The changes in the world were truly unpredictable.

Bai Qingxue withdrew her hand and entered her quiet room.

At the same time, on Qingyun Peak.

Ye Qingyao came out of the Administration Hall, clutching a small porcelain bottle in her hand.

Inside the bottle was a Qi Gathering Pill... she had spent two days completing tasks to save up enough contribution points to exchange for it. She had been stuck at the peak of the first level of Qi Refining for three days now.

Returning to her room, she closed the door and placed the Qi Gathering Pill in her mouth.

As the medicinal power dispersed, the spiritual power in her dantian began to surge. A pale green spiritual light shone from her body, flickering on and off.

She bit her lip, holding her mind steady as she circulated the 《Green Wood Art》 over and over again.

Finally, a soft pop echoed from her dantian.

The second level of Qi Refining.

Ye Qingyao opened her eyes, panting heavily. Sweat had soaked through her clothes. She looked down at the pale green spiritual light glowing on her fingertips, and the corners of her mouth curved up slightly.

She had finally broken through.

The next day, the results of the cultivation assessment for Qingyun Peak were released.

Lin Xiaoxi ran over with the register, laughing as she patted Ye Qingyao’s shoulder. “Breaking through to the second level in less than a month—this speed counts as a genius even in our Xuantian Sect.”

Hearing this, Ye Qingyao’s eyes crinkled with a smile, and a thought quietly surfaced in her mind: If I’m not mistaken, Sister Bai also dispersed her power to re-cultivate, starting from the first level of Qi Refining, right?

Now that I’ve reached the second level, is she around the same? Maybe... she’s even a bit slower than me?

At this thought, Ye Qingyao couldn’t help but clench her fists. The corners of her mouth curled high, but fearing Lin Xiaoxi would see, she quickly pressed them down and lowered her head to pretend to read the register. Only her slightly reddened ears betrayed her.

“By the way,” Lin Xiaoxi leaned in and lowered her voice, “the Seven Peaks Competition will be held next year. New disciples from every peak will be able to spar with each other then. Xueji Peak will be participating too.”

Ye Qingyao looked up, her eyes lighting up slightly.

“What, do you want to go see your Sister Bai?” Lin Xiaoxi looked at her meaningfully.

Ye Qingyao neither denied nor confirmed it.

She handed the register back to Lin Xiaoxi and turned toward the sword practice field.

“I’ll practice a bit longer.”

Sword light flashed within the bamboo grove as sweat slid down her cheeks.

Ye Qingyao bit her lip, swinging her sword strike after strike.

In her mind, she saw Bai Qingxue’s profile at the testing altar, the reflection of that lonely peak, and that person’s cool, indifferent “Yes.”