Chapter Thirty-Four: Fourth Level of Qi Refinement

Dao Sansheng had just opened his door when Chao Xiong walked over and handed him four bottles of elixirs. They had been sent by the First Elder’s messenger, who gave them to Dao Sansheng. Dao Sansheng took the bottles, opened one, and found ten perfectly round pills inside. He opened another—again, ten round elixirs. He continued opening them, and when all four bottles were open, he realized something was off: forty pills in total, ten in each bottle. He hadn’t received any elixirs in the past half year, yet there were more than he expected.

Looking at Chao Xiong, Dao Sansheng recalled that this fellow, like himself, hadn’t received any elixirs. They must have been distributed together, but each had received two extra pills. It seemed the First Elder’s influence was considerable.

In truth, Dao Sansheng was unaware that the people in the Pill Chamber, seeing the First Elder requesting elixirs, assumed Dao Sansheng was a relative of an inner sect elder and, fearing a report, had added two extra pills.

Dao Sansheng handed two bottles to Chao Xiong, saying, "These are yours." Chao Xiong gazed at the bottles in his hands, tears of excitement streaming down his face. He hadn’t expected Dao Sansheng to return his share. In the outer sect, everyone was known for grabbing whatever they could, never letting a morsel slip away.

"I, Chao Xiong, swear to recognize Dao Sansheng as my brother for life, come what may, life or death." Since coming to Forge Heaven Valley, no one had treated him so well; those with power and connections in the sect always seized resources from the poor.

Dao Sansheng patted his shoulder. "It’s nothing. Tell me, does the sect have a place to trade or exchange items?"

"There’s a market at the foot of the mountain," Chao Xiong replied. "But it’s a mixed crowd, mostly inner sect disciples. More of them trade there; we outer sect disciples don’t have the strength. I’ve heard there are often rogue cultivators who kill and rob. If you want to go, I recommend seeking things at our sect’s small exchange meetings."

Hearing about murder and robbery, Dao Sansheng couldn’t help but feel a thrill. He remembered that his water-avoiding pearl had been snatched from someone else. Yet, these internal exchanges wouldn’t offer much—better to search the market.

First, he would strive to break through to the fourth layer of Qi Refining and visit the market tomorrow. His divine sense needed to recover quickly, or else, having accepted a task but not leaving the sect, he might be questioned by the elders, accused of being afraid to go.

With the elixirs in hand, Dao Sansheng shut his door once more. Now, eating elixirs was different from before; he opened the bottle, poured out four or five pills, and swallowed them all at once.

The elixirs slid down his throat to his dantian, where the yin-yang fish immediately became lively. The medicinal power of the five pills surged forth, and after the yin-yang fish consumed the elixirs, the excess energy was expelled.

The spiritual energy released flowed through Dao Sansheng’s meridians, circulating again and again according to his cultivation method. Suddenly, the spiritual energy in the meridians thickened, and the surplus energy, unable to find an outlet, rampaged through his veins.

After three cycles, the wild spiritual energy seemed to find a vent. A thin barrier was shattered by this surge. The opening was initially no bigger than a needle’s eye, but as the energy pressed harder, it widened until, like a flood breaching a dam, the spiritual energy burst through, breaking all obstacles.

The energy passed through the barrier into new meridians, nourishing and irrigating them. The previously fragile channels instantly became broad and robust.

Fourth layer of Qi Refining—Dao Sansheng had officially advanced.

A night of cultivation left Dao Sansheng invigorated in the morning. He rose early, needing to visit the market at the foot of the mountain to buy and sell goods. As the saying goes, "The early bird gets the worm," and Dao Sansheng firmly believed it.

After washing up, Dao Sansheng whistled. From the nearby woods flew a luminous white bird—Fat Chirp. Since arriving at the sect, Dao Sansheng had let it fend for itself.

Fat Chirp arrived, clearly displeased. It hadn’t seen Dao Sansheng in half a year; ever since their last meeting, he had vanished, and Fat Chirp had searched for him endlessly. Hearing the familiar whistle just now, it rushed over.

"I’ve guarded this place for half a year. Where have you been? I’ve been searching for you," came Fat Chirp’s disgruntled voice in Dao Sansheng’s sea of consciousness.

Dao Sansheng couldn’t be bothered with it. This silly bird dared to complain? It was the cause of all trouble, nearly burning Young Master Liu’s backside. Who knew if the Liu family could still carry on their lineage?

Seeing Dao Sansheng ignore it, Fat Chirp flew to his shoulder, rubbing its feathers against his cheek in a gesture of goodwill. Dao Sansheng enjoyed the touch, stroking the bird’s plumage.

But then—"Damn! You bird, you smeared bird droppings on my face!" Dao Sansheng saw the droppings on his hand, touched his face, and his good mood evaporated.

"Don’t let me catch you, you scheming bird!" Dao Sansheng cursed at Fat Chirp, who circled overhead.

He went back to wash his face again, but his departure was not delayed. Watching the rising sun, Dao Sansheng made his way down the mountain. The path was long and winding; climbing up had been easy with a senior brother as guide, but descending alone felt much different, leaving a taste he couldn’t describe.

Dao Sansheng was alone on the road, which was rugged and uneven. Yet as a cultivator, he moved as if walking on flat ground, leaping across stones in the stream.

After three hours of arduous travel, Dao Sansheng finally reached the valley entrance, unchanged from before, though the gatekeepers had changed, stirring memories.

"Show your waist token," called four youths standing at the entrance, dressed in Forge Heaven Valley’s inner sect robes, each holding a flying sword, stern and vigilant.

Their blue robes billowed in the wind, each adorned with a small furnace—the kind used by weapon refiners. The weapons in their hands were forged by the sect itself. This attire marked them as capable disciples of Forge Heaven Valley.

Dao Sansheng handed over his waist token and the exit permit from the outer sect. After inspection, they stepped aside, signaling him to pass.

He had already learned yesterday where the market was. This market existed because Forge Heaven Valley was the largest refining sect on Windwalker Continent.

Rogue cultivators from Windwalker often needed refining services or spiritual tools. If they found nothing suitable at local auctions, they came to the foot of Forge Heaven Valley to trade. Over time, a sizable market had formed.

The market was vast and could be seen from afar. Dao Sansheng had barely descended when he saw its sign—Forge Heaven Valley Market, written in bold, red characters, forceful and stiff.

From the entrance, the market was bustling. Dao Sansheng’s purpose was to sell some elixirs, exchange them for herbs to heal his divine sense, and, if time permitted, inquire at the refining materials and tool shops about wages. He needed a way to earn a living.

Observing the market, he saw idle people loitering at the entrance. These were likely the rogue cultivators who preyed on others, watching those who came and went, greed etched on their faces.