rule one

I was forced to resort to regular martial arts as the battle between the awakened monkey beast and myself unfolded. My attempts to manipulate my qi were unsuccessful; whatever toxic properties existed before adamantly refused to emerge.

That didn't mean I was losing the battle. Qi was a potent energy and my every strike was devastating under its influence. Despite that, the monkey beast continued to pound me with a relentless barrage of blows.

Apart from being a spike launcher, its tail was able to smash into me from awkward angles. Fighting with one less limb than your opponent was quite the disadvantage and I fast found myself covered in cuts and bruises.

I tried everything while exchanging blows with the awakened monkey beast. Urging my qi to change had little effect. Physically trying to squeeze the venom from it as I infused my strikes with it only threw me off balance.

After dozens of failed attempts I was losing hope that my idea held merit. Perhaps the toxins my blood essence devoured had been lost during my breakthrough.

With how effectively my physique seemed to refine materials into medicinal energy I wouldn't be surprised, but it would be a disappointment. I winced as the monkey's sharp tail pierced all the way through my forearm, sending hot lances of pain down the limb.

I tried to pull back but it suddenly grabbed hold of my arm, locking us in place. I felt a shiver run down its tail and into my arm. Knowing what was coming I panicked as I stared into the stone spike about to get blasted through my head.

In that moment as I walked the line between life and death, inspiration struck me like a bolt of lightning from the heavens.

The way my blood essence had gained toxic properties during the Body Tempering Realm was by devouring the essence of the spirit snake and during my submersion in the toxic sludge pool. Devouring.

I didn't know all the secrets behind my body or my cultivation and I wasn't going to pretend a single moment of inspiration had changed that, but I felt as though I was onto something momentous.

For now, a small glimpse of understanding was enough. My qi needed to devour; I couldn't just force it to shift without an impetus.

The shiver ran down the monkey's tail, fast approaching where it was embedded in my forearm. At the same moment, it fired a stone spike directly at my head and I flooded it with qi.

It had my arm in a vice grip and I couldn't escape the spike. Instead, I kicked against its legs and managed to nudge my shoulder upwards to absorb the strike.

The razor-point of the spike buried itself deep in my flesh, searing pain radiating from the entry wound. The monkey beast screeched in satisfaction, planting a hardened foot in my stomach as it disengaged.

I doubled over and coughed blood, vision blurring. However, I couldn't stop a radiant smile forming on my face. I'd done it.

Four droplets of qi raced along the monkey's tail. Inside my dantian they were usually a bright green colour that reminded me of pharmacy signs or prairie grass.

That had changed as I created a new technique in the moment, shifting to a darker, more malevolent green. The kind of green that a really cliche bottle of poison might be in a cartoon.

If all I'd accomplished was altering the colour of my qi, it would be a disappointing failure. Trading the integrity of my shoulder for that would be a shitty deal.

Truth be told I wouldn't know exactly what I'd done until the technique ran its course, but I was watching with rapt attention as the monkey started screeching in pain and confusion.

Dark green veins appeared on its tail and the flesh towards the tip began to rot as necrosis took hold. I let out a deep sigh of exasperation.

I wanted to be a healer, but so far I only seemed able to create disturbingly violent techniques. Well, there was my surgically efficient healing technique, but it lacked creativity.

And I'd sort of copied it from the existing qi healing technique. The only real difference was how it helped me cultivate; which for all I knew might have more to do with my physique than the technique itself.

I stood there observing the monkey screech in confusion and hop around as the poison qi weaved its way towards the base of its spine. By now half of its tail had rotted and crumbled away.

Considering the difference in cultivation between the awakened beast and myself I was pleased with the potency. Unfortunately I had been preoccupied with the giant stone spike blasting into my shoulder to notice how I'd pulled off the transformation.

Trial and error seemed to be necessary. A huge pulse of qi was expelled out of the monkey's tail and the poison was eradicated. Less than a second later I realised I'd made a grave miscalculation.

My qi hadn't returned, my dantian now dry and parched like a desert. I'd grown so used to techniques which restored my blood essence and often increased it that subconsciously I'd integrated that into my combat style.

Now that I'd used a technique which consumed qi with no equivalent reward. I'd thrown myself into the net. A loud screech broke me from my thoughts as the monkey threw itself at me, now even more enraged.

Its strikes were weaker than before, which was perhaps the only reason it didn't squash me like an ant instantly. I assumed that was due to it using most of its qi to expel the poison.

Nonetheless I was still suffering under the heavy strikes of a three-star awakened beast. My bones groaned under the force and I was being overpowered.

It was times like this that I wished I cultivated a normal method… Maybe then I could breathe to restore my-

I was an idiot.

Zhao Dan's notes had a passage about absorbing ambient spiritual energy through breathing. He'd never needed to use that knowledge though, given that he got stuck at four-star Body Tempering.

I wanted to try it out, but it was difficult to enter a focused state akin to meditation while being beaten bloody by a rampaging awakened beast. Then again, did I need to follow the Cloudy Falls Sect's methods exactly?

I remembered my refined lungs produced energy when I breathed, but at a very low rate. Far too low to restore my qi, unfortunately.

What I needed was some kind of medicinal materials to refine into energy. My gaze darted around the basin, only to land on the bloody spirit pond.

Risky…

Jumping into a pond of liquid spiritual energy would devastate my body. As a lowly one-star, my vessel didn't have the capacity to handle that much raw energy.

Then again, the only other alternative was a painful death at the hands of the angry monkey beast. If I was a gambling man, I knew where I'd put my spirit stones…

I timed a dodge to the monkey's next punch, not avoiding it fully but letting it clip me in the side of the chest. That gave me extra momentum as I rolled backwards and gracefully stood up in a single fluid movement.

The agility granted me by breaking through to the Qi Gathering realm was put to full use as I proceeded to dart across the battlefield, dodging corpses, flying weapons, and the erratic misfire of spiritual techniques.

I looked at the few badly injured, but still breathing, cultivators on the ground. If I hadn't used all my qi in a single moment, I could've tried healing them quickly to replenish my reserves.

Hindsight is omniscient after all. The rice had been cooked and now I had to eat my fill. I reached the edge of the spirit pond, at which point I felt a few powerful auras slam into me as the four and five-star cultivators across the basin took notice of my actions.

Unfortunately for them, it was too late to stop me. I threw myself over the edge, soaring through the air for a brief moment before I slammed into the ice-cold spiritual water.

Immediately I felt the sting as a thousand tendrils of spiritual energy attempted to burrow into my body through my skin. It was agonising, though at first I resisted.

Perhaps there were some advantages to reaching eleven-star Body Tempering…

That didn't last long though. Soon the first strand of energy pierced my skin and dug into my flesh like a sentient needle of ice.

I clenched my jaw through the pain. I gasped as my head broke the surface and I wiped a mixture of blood and spirit water from my eyes.

Before my reckless leap, the battlefield had been disjointed and chaotic. Now, I watched as disciples of opposing sects and awakened beasts who'd been slaughtering each other moments before rushed towards the spirit pond with singular purpose.

All of them were glaring at me with undisguised hatred and anger. They thought I was trying to get the jump on them and steal the Ten Ascensions Lily while everyone was distracted…

I'd only wanted to save myself from the damn spirit monkey. I heard a screech followed by a splash. Looking down I saw the monkey in question had thrown itself in after me and was swimming towards me at a rapid pace.

Its technique was horrid, but it was gaining ground—water?—fast. I followed suit, swimming towards the centre of the pond to escape.

About five seconds later I felt a powerful wave of herbal energy wash over me. Powerful currents swirled to life and thick streams of blood slicked over my skin as I fought against the pull.

Surfacing briefly, I saw that the flower bud on top of the lilypad was unfurling, faster and faster as more of the blood was absorbed into the plant. My mouth suddenly filled with water as I was yanked back into the spirit pond.

Bubbles erupted from my mouth as I cursed in pain. My ankle had been crushed by the unrelenting grip of the stone monkey, the awakened beast unwilling to let me escape once more.

The brief loss of control also allowed the endless tendrils of spiritual energy trying to pierce my skin to make rapid progress. Icy burns took hold all over my body as the potent natural treasure began to devour my flesh.

I coughed blood as a heavy fist smashed into my stomach. My vision was dark, but I couldn't tell if that was just being underwater or my consciousness genuinely fading.

The monkey's grip loosened and then vanished entirely as a pillar of flame erupted nearby, catching the tips of its right arm and leg in the explosive technique. I wondered how a pillar of fire could burn underwater. Cultivator bullshit no doubt.

Actually that had a lot of merit. This was spiritual water after all, so it was sort of like throwing water on an oil fire. The flames spread like a nasty virus and the monkey was forced to release me as it scrambled to put them out.

I only had one good leg, but I swam like a fish from a shark as I raced towards the centre of the pond. I wasn't sure what I hoped to accomplish. I doubted I could steal the Ten Ascensions Lily with so many powerful cultivators and beasts surrounding me, but what other choice did I have?

Glancing back to see the monkey, I noticed it had managed to put out the flames. Its right limbs were both crippled in the process but it had wasted no time in racing after me.

Its other limbs flailed in the water and somehow it was gaining on me. The benefit of its higher cultivation or the fact beasts had more muscles, perhaps.

I'd come this far so there was only one way out. I would claim the Ten Ascensions Lily as it bloomed or die trying.

The most likely outcome was my death at the hands of Sun Deng or one of the other powerful disciples present. However, there was a sliver of hope that burned within me. A tiny chance I might succeed.

Unfortunately the rampaging monkey didn't share my hope. I felt a heavy hand grasp my calf and pull me away from my goal when I was almost touching the edge of the lily pad.

Spiritual energy burned into my flesh as the beast dragged me back. I felt something splash inside my dantian and chuckled inwardly.

The heavens were cruel indeed. I'd recovered a single drop of qi due to the sheer quantity of spiritual energy entering my body; exactly as I'd hoped when I leapt into the spirit pond.

Unfortunately it came a moment too late. I stared into the monkey beast's bloodshot eyes as it raised its fist sluggishly, the water slowing its movements. Even so it still had the strength to end my life in a few blows. Or maybe just one.

I felt like giving up. Giving the beast the satisfaction of vengeance. Consider it reparations for all the other monkey beasts I'd beaten within an inch of death during my visit to the Jagged Sword Mountains.

Honestly I'd been doing more of the punching and less of the healing than I'd intended. This world forced me onto a path I wasn't sure I liked. Even so, it felt right in more ways than one.

I knew I was just being pessimistic as the shadow of death hung over me once more. Maybe I shouldn't have tried to stubbornly stick to healing… Oh.

I had a reckless idea, but when one is on the line between life and death, any ideas are worth exploring. Maybe a bit of healing would be enough of a shock to the monkey that it would let me slip away.

All I needed was a few seconds to reach the Ten Ascensions Lily, assuming none of the other cultivators killed me first. I turned my focus inwards, gathering the single drop of qi that splashed around in my dantian.

I knew my healing technique still functioned in the Qi Gathering Realm—even more effectively than it had before, albeit with less cultivation gains. The monkey had a firm grip on my leg, so I tried something I hadn't done before.

Rather than use my hand, I figured if all I needed was skin contact to perform the technique, it should work just as well through any part of my body. Luckily my hypothesis proved correct when the drop of qi seamlessly flowed into the monkey's wrist.

At the last moment before I activated the technique I had another miniscule flash of inspiration, remembering how I'd performed the poison qi technique. I really needed proper names for these techniques; it was getting hard to remember them all.

My qi seemed disposed to devouring other forms of energy, so why not infuse that intent into my healing technique as well? If it aimed to devour afflictions rather than simply cure them, it might be even more potent.

The effect was explosive.

The drop of healing qi was lethargic at first, meandering down the monkey's arm. However, the moment it reached the first wound it swirled and increased in speed, the wound closing at a visible rate as the qi split into two and continued into the rest of its body.

Despite the healing being rather beneficial to the awakened beast, it was blinded by rage and acted without thinking. I saw a wave of qi explode from where I assumed its core was, the same method it had used to expel my poison.

Apparently even awakened beasts were still just that. Beasts. The sliver of intent I'd infused into my technique at the last moment showed its worth as the pulse of qi smashed into my swirling medicinal qi.

However, instead of my qi being extinguished, it was like throwing more fuel on the fire. The pulse of qi crashed into my own and the swirling green qi seemed to dance around it, growing in size and speed as the two energies clashed like raging waves and roaring thunder.

My initial plan had been to unleash the healing technique and immediately make a break for the lotus, sacrificing the qi and any potential gains to ensure my survival. But I found myself entranced by the mysterious technique I'd given birth to, even going so far as to grab hold of the monkey's arms while it was struck by confusion.

Suddenly I felt woozy, my vision blurring for a breath's time as a mystical sensation took hold of my mind. Flower petals danced in the corners of my eyes and I heard the tinkling of wind chimes in my ears.

I broke free from the illusion a moment later, noticing that the monkey's eyes were still glazed over. My healing technique had yet to run its course. There was only one thing that could've caused such a phenomenon.

Without surfacing I would have no way to know for sure, but if I wasn't right about this then the heavens had turned upside down; the Ten Ascensions Lily had bloomed.

My mind was torn between two enticing options. Watching my healing technique to completion would grant me more insight into how it worked and perhaps allow me to increase my comprehension of my own physique and path. However, that might mean giving up the opportunity to claim the Ten Ascensions Lily for myself.

The part of my brain that loved the learning process wanted me to stay, not wasting the precious drop of qi and discovering the outcome of my technique. However, I had to be rational. The lily wouldn't quite allow me to ascend to the heavens in a single leap, but it would go a long way towards improving my cultivation.

I also suspected that the potent herbal treasure would possibly benefit my physique as well, perhaps allowing me to further refine my stomach. I was curious to see how my abilities progressed if I accomplished the full refinement of a second organ.

All this deliberation happened in a single moment as I was torn by indecision. In the end the choice was stolen from me by the monkey beast.

It was already wild with fury before the illusion of the lily, but not suicidal. So I was shocked when I felt a rampaging storm of qi from within the monkey's core. I had no basis for my suspicions but with my qi inside its body I felt what was coming.

The beast had decided to detonate its core, taking us both down in an act of suicidal desperation. I wasn't sure my healing technique was potent enough to overcome that…

With only one choice left to me, I kicked the monkey's wrist hard enough to free my calf for just enough time to swim away. I struggled through the viscous spirit water, pulling myself towards the Ten Ascensions Lily.

Somehow I reached the edge of the lily pad at the same time as I breached the surface. I felt a dozen gazes and even more presences lock onto me at the same time. The pressure was suffocating.

Even knowing it could spell my early death—for a second time—I had no other choice. The Ten Ascensions Lily was breathtaking; purplish-pink in colour with every petal sparkling like starlight.

Even a single whiff of its scent soothed my body and I felt a primal hunger from within; the void in my dantian urging me to claim this natural treasure for myself. Right before I could reach the lily, I felt a blistering wave of heat slam into my back from beneath the pond.

The monkey had detonated its core and I felt my consciousness slipping as the skin on my back was burnt away. Consuming the lily whole was reckless.

The energies contained within a single petal allowed Qi Gathering cultivations to ascend a single star in one go, but the entire flower at once could just as easily burst one's dantian.

But I had no other choice. I felt cultivators and beasts across the basin launch spiritual techniques, weapons, and curses at me as the explosion began to incinerate my flesh.

I grasped hold of the Ten Ascensions Lily, plucking it from the lily pad in a single fluid motion. My vision went dark as I tossed it into my mouth and swallowed it whole.

The mystical herbal energies exploded outwards as soon as the Ten Ascensions Lily entered my body. I realised immediately that I wouldn't be able to handle the sheer quantity of energy.

It was like feeding a whole cow to a kid and expecting them not to burst. Even so, there was no other choice.

I was uniquely suited to this task and hoped that my Fivefold Medicine Forge Physique might help me to survive this ordeal and perhaps come out the other side with some substantial gains. I'd be happy to simply survive.

My consciousness faded in and out. I only remembered flashes. Searing heat of the explosion melting my flesh and blood, only for it to be immediately restored by the boundless medicinal energy.

My lungs flooded with power, medicinal qi expelled with every choked breath. I felt as though I was consuming more energy than I'd done all the way until this point with every second, but the Ten Ascensions Lily showed no signs of diminishing.

I passed out again, waking up to find a sword buried in my stomach. I heard the clash of steel and felt the tremors in the world as spiritual techniques were unleashed one after the other.

The roars of beasts and the shouts of cultivators were like an orchestra of asuras playing out in hell as I struggled. The constant pain of the spiritual water trying to burrow into my flesh was another agony, but of all the pains it was the least of my concern.

I felt a familiar feeling. The void within my dantian awakened and for the first time I felt the energy of the Ten Ascensions Lily take a noticeable dive as it was absorbed by the void. A single petal withered away, the remainder of its herbal energy being absorbed by my lungs.

As I exhaled, the energy was infused into my stomach and I took control, directing the refining process for the first layer of the Fivefold Medicine Forge Physique. And then another burst of herbal energy exploded from the lily, knocking me out once more.

****

Sun Deng had been one of many Middle Qi Gathering cultivators to sense the blooming of the Ten Ascensions Lily. He'd been one of the first to notice Wang Ren's acquaintance right beside it.

A one-star, clawing to rise above his station by stealing the treasure from under their noses. He could respect the ambition, but would not allow the bastard to achieve his goals.

He was joined by many others as he launched a series of techniques at the flailing cultivator, but all were disrupted by a sudden explosion from under the surface of the spirit pond. The detonation of a beast's core.

He was forced to watch as the explosion consumed everything in its path. Spiritual techniques, weapons, and even the arrogant one-star cultivator weren't safe from the detonation.

A conflicting mess of emotions threatened to consume him. His rage at having the opportunity of a lifetime stolen from his grasp clashed with the satisfaction of seeing the whelp fail in his attempted theft.

Wang Ren would be upset, but he was only a genius; they were as common as the clouds. Finding another talented disciple to draw to his side wouldn't be difficult.

Natural Treasures such as the Ten Ascensions Lily were sturdy and it was possible the detonation of the beast's core hadn't destroyed it entirely, but it was too risky to check now.

Besides, there were still gains to be made on a battlefield. The Soaring Sword Sect had sent plenty of elites to try and steal the Cloudy Falls Sect's opportunity and Sun Deng had no qualms alleviating them of their treasures.

It might be a good opportunity to remove a few obstacles in his own sect if the chance arose. For now though he would cooperate with anyone wearing the red robes that marked the inner disciples of his sect.

As the explosion cleared, he stood up and wiped the ash and sweat from his brow. He frowned when he looked towards the spirit pond, seeing that the Ten Ascensions Lily was nowhere to be found.

He hoped it had only sunk into the depths of the spirit pond, but even he knew that was a naive hope. His gaze turned to the disciple who'd approached him from the left.

"That one-star tried to steal my lily," he said, an icy sharp edge to his tone that made Wang Ren pause. "Your… Junior Brother, was it?"

Wang Ren had burns down one side of his body, nasty seeping blisters and charred skin that somehow made him look more heroic than before. They would soon heal, the vitality of a cultivator as potent as it was, but for now he had the ferocious presence of a cornered tiger.

"It was my fault, Senior Brother Sun. I failed to protect him and it seems his desperation led to a rather foolish decision," he replied, watching the man's gaze for a hint of his true feelings. "Nonetheless, we can still make some meagre gains by claiming the treasures of these bastard sword cultivators."

"Among other things, I am a sword cultivator, Wang Ren," Sun Deng snapped, turning a cold glare on the man that made his spine tingle. "However, I was thinking the very same thing. The heavens always provide a path to enlightenment, even when they slam another door in your face. You are not forgiven, but I will spare you for now."

Wang Ren felt like punching the older disciple in the face almost every time they spoke. He was self-important to a fault, but then again he couldn't blame him for his upbringing.

Being the prized descendant of one of the sect's more influential Elders instilled a measure of pride that meant he valued face and strength above all else. At least he was a useful way of climbing the ladder of the Cloudy Falls Sect.

"I will endeavour to regain your favour, Senior Brother Sun. Starting with their heads," he replied, pointing his glaive at a pair of cultivators in blue robes who were clashing with a wounded awakened beast.

Sun Deng didn't answer as the man rushed off to begin fighting once more. He looked towards the spirit pond as he felt the fluctuation of the ambient spiritual energy—a breakthrough. "It is not you who needs to seek my forgiveness, Wang Ren. If I can't have the Ten Ascensions Lily, no one can," he sneered.

When they had been waiting for the Ten Ascensions Lily to bloom, there had been a standoff between the strongest cultivators present. Held back by the other elites, they couldn't make a move on the natural treasure without preparation.

None of them dared to act first, lest they find the others joining hands to strike them down. One couldn't reap the harvest they'd sown if they weren't alive to do so.

Now however, with the lily gone, the only reward left to claim was the glory of killing their rivals and claiming their treasures. Instead of having to be wary of a dozen opponents, each of the elites now focused on the enemies nearest to them.

Sun Deng's eyes finished taking in the entirety of the rocky basin and landed on a small outcropping nearby, where another inner disciple of the Cloudy Falls Sect stood tall, his robes fluttering in the wind.

Huo Ze Qiang leaned lazily on his spear as he locked eyes with Sun Deng, both men narrowing their eyes as a flicker of hatred bubbled up and was squashed in an instant. Their rivalry was as old as their time in the sect, but now was not the moment to settle it.

Neither wanted to be the first to break the staring contest, their gazes simultaneously falling to a point beneath them. A six-star gorilla beast was beating its chest after turning a disciple into a bloody pulp, the woman's mangled remains trampled underfoot as it roared and rushed towards another terrified disciple.

The beasts of the Jagged Sword Mountains were going all out. They too had been after the Ten Ascensions Lily. Without a goal to unify them, the most powerful awakened beasts were going on a bloody rampage.

A six-star beast was a troubling opponent. Sun Deng wanted nothing more than to slice Huo Ze Qiang's throat, but if they didn't cooperate the beast would tear them apart.

Sun Deng drew his sword as he darted down the sloped rocks, Huo Ze Qiang twirling his spear theatrically as he did the same, flames dancing around him like miniature stars. The two men attacked in unison, qi empowering blade and spear as they engaged the savage beast in battle.

****

A heavy object crashing into me broke me from unconsciousness, but my focus was instantly drawn inwards. The faint metallic scent of blood mixed with the burn of the spiritual water, but I ignored it in favour of the chaos unfolding inside my body.

Since it had greedily devoured a portion of the Ten Ascensions Lily's energy, it had been dormant—as far as I could tell anyway, given I'd been unconscious. Eight drops of vibrant qi splashed around in my dantian, uncontrolled and running rampant.

I'd heard cultivation described as pursuing inner purity, but I had to wonder whether that particular fellow had actually cultivated himself. This was nothing of the sort!

My body seemed to have managed not to implode under the assault of the lily's seemingly endless abundance of spiritual energy but it was not benefiting me. Like a beautiful garden required a guiding hand, so too would I need to take control of the situation to make any gains.

It was hard to ignore my surroundings when a dead body had fallen on my head, but leaving the spirit pond now wouldn't be safe. Any of the elite cultivators could reap my life with the ease of a farmer harvesting cabbages.

First, I guided one stream of spiritual energy from the lily towards my lungs. I tried to ensure a constant flow at the limit of what my lungs could convert to medicinal energy.

I briefly wondered what the difference between that energy from my lungs and my qi was, but there was little time for distraction. There was every chance I would discover such a thing naturally as I progressed, so I wasn't dismayed by my current lack of knowledge.

Once I had stabilised that flow, my body felt more intact. The combination of spiritual water burrowing in from the outside and the rampant energies of the lily inside had been tearing my body apart like a pack of starving hyenas, but now the medicinal energies kept the damage at bay.

It didn't prevent it entirely but it would delay it long enough for me to focus on what came next. I gathered the eight droplets of qi in my dantian, forcing them into my control.

It took me a few tries but eventually I had a singular stream of qi that swirled around my dantian like a kite dancing in the wind. It was a strange feeling. I felt so powerless and weak compared to those around me, but every single drop of qi in my dantian had enough power to eradicate a mortal in moments.

The scale of power in this world was skewed to a ridiculous degree. I took the time to remind myself that my accomplishments were worthy of admiration, even though I had a long way to go before I would have the luxury to feel safe.

I circulated the stream of qi through my first meridian, my body humming with power as I did. The concept of the meridians still intrigued me; eastern medicine on Earth had similar concepts but here it was far more tangible.

The typical path of progression through the Qi Gathering Realm required one to open eight meridians. The quantity of qi required to do this was actually standardised, which surprised me given the huge variation in methods and techniques used by the various cultivators and sects.

However, outliers were commonplace too. Mostly it was the talented cultivators with unusual methods who deviated from the standard path, sailing past bottlenecks that other cultivators would struggle with for decades in a matter of months or even weeks.

From Zhao Dan's notes I knew that the second meridian could usually be opened once a cultivator had gathered 9 droplets of qi. A pleasant flowery scent wafted out from the void in my dantian.

Not a second later a ninth drop of qi splashed out from the empty abyss into the base of my dantian. As the stream of qi finished circulating my meridian I guided it to gather the new droplet.

It joined the stream seamlessly and I probed my second meridian with my mind, feeling the blockage for weakness. It felt similar to the first, like a drainpipe clogged with leaves and dirt for decades.

I knew the most efficient method for opening it already, having experimented the first time around. That didn't mean I couldn't try to optimise it further, but I had a better starting point than before.

Imposing my will on nine drops of qi was more strenuous than doing the same with a single droplet, but I soon transformed the fluid stream of qi into the shape of a surgical scalpel. I almost began cutting away the blockage immediately, but something held me back.

With my new perspective I already saw improvements I could make to the process. With one drop of qi I'd been limited, but with nine at my disposal my method could be refined further. It was the same with any surgery; the first time you performed it was nerve wracking, while each additional iteration was smoother and more efficient.

Three drops of qi formed the handle of the scalpel, ensuring it was stable and easy to control. Four droplets seamlessly fused into a razor sharp blade, able to slice through any blockage and clear the second meridian with ease.

The final two droplets, I attempted to infuse with the devouring toxic intent and coated the blade, hoping my idea would work. They turned a darker shade of green and clung to the blade, making me satisfied with my work.

All that came next was to break through. I guided the scalpel towards the clogged meridian and in a single fluid motion, sliced through the opening.

The impurities offered little resistance to my qi, falling apart and then being expelled out of my dantian. And that wasn't all.

My experiment worked well, the devouring qi coating the blade burning away large swathes of impurities at a time. That single stroke opened almost a third of the meridian in one go.

A few seconds later I had unblocked the entire thing, except for a few stubborn clumps that refused to budge. The scalpel having done its job, I let it fall apart. Before the nine drops of qi could escape my grasp I reformed the flowing stream as a tenth droplet fell from the dark void.

Quickly scooping it up, I merged it together as I circulated my qi through the second meridian. The remaining impurities burned away under the onslaught and I soon completed a full circulation.

Next I cycled my qi through both the first and second meridians before returning it to my dantian. A wave of rejuvenating energy washed over my body, healing my injuries and purging the spiritual water from under my skin.

It lasted a short moment, but that brief respite was like rain falling from the heavens while stranded in a desert. More drops of qi began falling from the void, as I continued to absorb and refine the energies of the Ten Ascensions Lotus.

After my breakthrough the intensity increased, but so did the rate at which I could absorb the spiritual energy contained in the treasure. I felt more objects striking my body from outside, but it was mostly corpses and falling weapons—nothing to worry about yet.

The drops coalesced in my dantian and I gathered them up as they splashed against it. Twelve drops, then thirteen. Fifteen. Twenty.

All this time I hadn't neglected to continue refining my stomach and I suddenly felt a metallic clang alongside a rising heat. The Ten Ascensions Lily suddenly released another burst of its alluring aroma, then tried to escape my stomach!

However, my stomach suddenly flared with heat and green chains burst forth to seal the lily. I marvelled at the development, but it wasn't over yet.

Under the pressure and heat, the energies of the lily were being absorbed even faster and the second petal withered before my eyes. Truly, it lived up to the name of Fivefold Medicine Forge Physique. Even potent natural treasures such as this were unable to escape.

With this increased speed, I had to focus more intently. The amount of energy surging in my dantian grew and even the void seemed indignant at the development of my physique, suddenly devouring more energy as a third petal withered.

The number of qi droplets coalescing in my dantian was now a torrential downpour. The twenty seventh droplet appeared and I immediately went to work as my dantian swelled, smashing through another bottleneck as I broke through to three-star Qi Gathering.

The third meridian was open and after a few circulations of qi I felt far more powerful, like I could decide the life and death of anyone below peak Body Tempering with a wave of my hand. Still though, it wasn't enough.

After the stomach, the third step of the first layer of my physique was to refine the liver. I suspected that would give me some kind of ability to resist or more efficiently absorb toxins, but I couldn't be sure.

I split the spiritual energy from the lily between refining my liver and continuing to gather qi, multiple forms of energy clashing and winding through my body. However, like a skilled conductor I was orchestrating the vast majority of this controlled chaos.

Qi was condensing so fast that a mortal mind would lose track, but my thoughts had gained more clarity with each breakthrough. It was as though I had been trudging through mist and darkness all my life and only now entered the sun.

With the speed of my thoughts I had no issues keeping track. Once I had gathered fifty-four drops of qi I wasted no time in clearing the fourth meridian, my body brimming with power as I entered the middle stage of the Qi Gathering Realm by breaking through to four-star.

There were still two petals left on the Ten Ascensions Lily. Each petal represented another breakthrough, putting me at six-star Qi Gathering. I had no reason to stop, as there was no threat to my life.

The chaos of the battle had hopefully drawn attention away from me, but with my consecutive breakthroughs I wasn't sure how long that would last. I continued refining the energy as the fourth petal withered away.

I waited for eighty-one droplets to condense so that I could open the fifth meridian, but as the eightieth splashed into what was now a small lake of qi, a tingle ran down my spine as my senses exploded with danger.

My eyes snapped open, but the lily was restrained by my refined stomach and it didn't break free of my control. My gaze darted around until it landed on a rapidly approaching awakened beast; a huge five-star bear. Unfortunately this one didn't seem as friendly as the last bear I'd encountered.

I clenched my fist. Absorbing the rest of the energies would have to wait, but with the lily restrained for now that wasn't a problem. Besides, I'd just broken through three consecutive times, now a four-star Qi Gathering cultivator.

I was eager to test my new strength and this beast gave me a perfect opportunity. I had been contemplating my path while meditating at the bottom of the pond and had come to a realisation.

Healing was about taking control of other people's fate. You had their life and death in your hands while guiding them back to health. Thus, as a man who had decided to step on the path of healing, how could I allow others to decide my fate.

I'd been forced into the schemes of others all this time, but I refused to continue in this manner. While I was still far from the peak of this world, I at least had the strength to contend with those gathered here.

The water vibrated and I dodged to the left as a blade of ice shot past my cheek. Above me, a female disciple of the Soaring Sword Sect had entered the pond and was also racing towards me, her sword glowing with frost as she prepared to use her technique once more.

Clenching my fists, I stood up in the thick water. It offered less resistance to me now. Where there was carnage, there was opportunity to heal.

In my case, that meant gains to be made. I couldn't help but shiver in anticipation of the coming battle as the awakened beast and the female disciple rushed towards me.