Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation-Chapter 49 - 15: Qi Cultivation 1st Layer

Looking pensively at Li Ji’an, especially at his perpetually calm and composed expression, Chen Qingling sneered slightly at the corners of his mouth, finally finding an opportunity to undermine him.

"Aren’t you out of your mind?"

"I’ve already told you that I can only manage one circulation per day."

"You need to recognize reality. You can only sense two strands of Fire Element Spirit Charm, and you’re already thirty years old—still cultivating the Nine Yang Technique. Wake up, Uncle Li!"

Li Ji’an didn’t respond, he simply focused on sensing the circulation effect of Spiritual Qi within his body.

"Spiritual Qi refines the flesh, but the effect is inferior to Qi and Blood nourishment."

"The Divine Soul also undergoes tempering."

"What exactly is this Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi? Where does it originate? It’s so mystical..."

Having realized the role of Spiritual Qi in cultivation, Li Ji’an again quieted his mind, concentrating spirit, and continued his second circulation of cultivation, aiming to swiftly convert Spiritual Qi into Magical Power.

Expecting to see a disappointed expression on Li Ji’an’s face, Chen Qingling was a bit flushed when Li Ji’an completely ignored his ridicule. However, this time, when he carefully sensed the Spiritual Qi fluctuations of Li Ji’an’s second operation of the Cultivation Technique, he was surprised to find that he had indeed successfully completed a circulation.

"You... you... you, *cough cough cough*~" Holding his breath made him cough endlessly.

Li Ji’an completed his second circulation, looked up at him: "No need to be surprised, your brother should have told you that my body refining skills are also quite strong because of my relatively good comprehension."

"Comprehension..." Chen Qingling swallowed, feeling rather unconvinced.

"I’m not surprised, it’s just... hmm, what’s so special about having good comprehension? The Qi Refining Stage requires the accumulation of Magical Power. Your Spirit Root is poor, and you’re growing old—that’s a fact. Even if you grasp the Cultivation Technique a bit faster, what’s the point? You’ll realize the gap between us once you truly start refining Magical Power."

After saying that, he walked out in a huff.

Li Ji’an nodded silently, agreeing with his statement.

He was self-aware.

"This is indeed the source of energy for releasing magic and displaying Divine Abilities..."

Sure enough, after completing five circulations, sensing almost a hundredfold amount of Spiritual Qi, he eventually refined Magical Power to less than a hundredth of it, finally understanding the feeling of despair that Chen Zhaohu and others had mentioned about being at a disadvantage with their Spirit Roots during cultivation.

Based on what he knew from others’ experiences, an ordinary Lower Grade Spirit Root could refine about five percent of Magical Power at least.

Yet, he could merely refine one percent, and even less.

However, instead of despairing, he felt rather hopeful.

"It won’t be long before I become the kind of immortal I once dreamt of, mastering magic..."

He immediately immersed himself in relentless cultivation again without eating or sleeping.

In the following days, he asked Chen Qingling to accompany him to familiarize himself with the market stalls of Spirit Rice, Spirit Noodles, and Demon Beast Meat—these necessities for life, including some talismans like Dust-removing Talisman, Clear Heart Talisman, etc...

But most were temporarily unnecessary and beyond his budget, he just bought a small amount of Spirit Rice and Spirit Noodles.

Spirit Rice and Spirit Noodles can supplement a small amount of Spiritual Qi directly to the body, omitting the process of absorbing from the world, only needing refining, which is highly useful in enhancing cultivation efficiency.

Yet, a price of ten taels of Spiritual Sand for one dou means he cannot afford to eat them every meal, only every ten to fifteen days.

A month slipped by, during which Li Ji’an rarely left his home, spending all his time, except for sleeping and eating, circulating his Cultivation Technique for absorption and refining.

That day, while having a meal, Li Ji’an again heard Chen Qingling going out from downstairs.

He couldn’t help but shake his head.

His brother worked so hard for him, creating a cultivation environment, yet he didn’t cherish it.

During this month, Li Ji’an clearly noticed that Chen Qingling spent, at most, cultivating for two hours.

Compared to his daily ten-hour cultivation time, it was simply a waste of time.

But he didn’t meddle; each person is responsible for their actions.

After another five months passed, on this day, Li Ji’an inspected his Dantian, "seeing" the final spot on the Dantian’s inner wall being permeated by Magical Power, he delightfully opened his eyes.

"Qi Cultivation 1st Layer!"

This result indeed surprised him.

Chen Qingling with his nine strands of Fire Spirit Root sensation, and cultivating Middle Grade Cultivation Technique, managed Qi Cultivation 1st Layer in four months.

Yet he himself took only six months to reach Qi Cultivation 1st Layer.

"Nine strands of Fire Spirit Root versus my two strands, refining efficiency is at least fifty percent higher, plus the Cultivation Technique being Middle Grade adds another ten to twenty percent..."

Initially, he was mentally prepared to spend two years reaching Qi Cultivation 1st Layer.

Moreover, from the beginning, he intended to spend six months experiencing the Qi Cultivation process, then find a job to survive here.

Unexpectedly... a pleasant surprise!

"Could it be that cultivation also follows the saying ’Heaven Rewards Diligence’?"

"Is it just because I practiced five times more every day than him, that my cultivation speed caught up?"

"No!"

The next moment, Li Ji’an realized something was wrong.

Remembering last year when Chen Qingling reached Qi Cultivation 1st Layer, becoming a real Qi Cultivator, Chen Zhaohu and several Qi Cultivators praised him lavishly, saying Chen Zhaohu’s efforts for Chen Qingling were worthwhile.

This clearly showed Chen Qingling’s four-month progress to Qi Cultivation 1st Layer aligning with his talent and the Middle Grade Cultivation Technique.

"Is the issue with me?" Li Ji’an felt uncertain and suspicious.

That evening, he again approached Chen Qingling.

After indirectly probing, he identified the reason, feeling both amazed and thrilled. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

He had misunderstood Chen Qingling; it wasn’t that he was not diligent, but that in the typical process of Qi Cultivators absorbing Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi and refining Magical Power, the physical body has a limitation to withstand the Spiritual Qi wash—it reaches overload by two hours, and the body feels as if it’s being cut.

Besides the physical limits, the Divine Soul also consumes energy, exceeding limits causes the Sea of Consciousness to feel pricked.

Forcing more absorption of Spiritual Qi leads to minor physical damage or major shock in the Sea of Consciousness.

"In this case, maybe in this lifetime I can slightly anticipate... set a small goal, Foundation Establishment!"

Returning to his small room again, Li Ji’an was full of spirit.

"With this Magical Power, I should be able to perform magic..."

"No wonder it can communicate with the Spirit of Heaven and Earth, able to suppress Qi and Blood Power beneath it."

After numerous attempts to activate Magical Power, Li Ji’an chose to abandon it.

He comprehended more than ordinary people, indeed, but faced with this requirement to communicate with the Spirit of Heaven and Earth’s magic, he couldn’t grasp it, possibly due to lacking a foundation in this area.

After cultivating several more types of magic, maybe he could understand its essence and innovate.

Satisfied, he finished his cultivation, planning to pause cultivation for the next half-year.

Six months passed, his Spirit Stones dwindled to eighteen, without new income, he’d be strapped for next year’s rent.

Taking a break, he picked up the letter he received today.

Half a year ago, upon initially arriving at the market, he wrote to Zhao Shuyao, Zhang Tiezhu, and Zhu Linxian, informing them of his situation and address.

As for Dong Jiangling, since his departure he hadn’t returned nor been heard from, so there was no way to send a letter.

Zhao Shuyao had accompanied a business firm to the northern branch within the first three months of Li Ji’an’s arrival at the market, and since then only replied once with a letter, words showing a hint of apathy.

Zhang Tiezhu was more enthused, his words filled with hope, mentioning he received the Yan Family’s Cultivation Technique last August, stepping into cultivation, having reached Qi Cultivation 1st Layer four months ago.

Zhu Linxian, always taciturn, simply stated he had stepped into cultivation, everything progressing smoothly.

Today’s newly received letter was from Golden Splendor Immortal City, from Zhao Shuyao.

Upon opening the letter, Li Ji’an frowned slightly.

"Brother Li, cultivation is arduous, the immortal path hopeless, we..."