Chapter 37: The Qi Refining Limit Not Classified Within the Qi Refining Stage

Treasure Gathering Market has caves specially opened for cultivators; there is no spirit vein here, only because of its special geography can a market form.

But this place has abundant underground fire, with many caves for artifact refining, making it the first choice for some loose cultivator artifact refiners.

So Wang Ping came to Treasure Gathering Market to refine artifacts.

However, the place he currently lives in is just a temporary cave opened up by Treasure Gathering Market.

Just like a mundane inn.

After leaving Virtue Cloud Pavilion, within three days he stayed in the cave in closed-door cultivation.

Now, having reached late Qi Refining, his cultivation speed further slowed; without pills, without the aid of spiritual energy from the spirit realm, the absorption speed of the Spirit Wood Longevity Technique at this point is so slow it's horrifying.

So Wang Ping simply stopped cultivating and instead got used to his newly obtained Azure Gleam Sword.

From the moment the Azure Gleam Sword came into being, Wang Ping took a liking to it at first sight.

As expected, in just three days he could already achieve mutual understanding with the Azure Gleam Sword.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Three azure sword lights continuously circled and swirled around Wang Ping.

An upper-grade Azure Gleam Sword can fully withstand Wang Ping's spiritual energy.

It can also withstand his formidable mental strength.

Now, the new azure sword light is not only faster but also far more powerful.

Wang Ping estimates that each individual sword light's power now matches that of the previous three sword lights combined; if the three sword lights were combined, they would likely exceed his newly created azure light circle by several times or more.

As for the new azure light circle, he has not yet mastered it, for its power is simply too great.

In a short time, Wang Ping still cannot master it.

When forming an azure light circle with low-grade magic artifacts, its power is three times greater than that of the three sword lights combined.

Thus he could repel Jia Li three steps with a low-grade sword technique, but that was all.

Now, with an upper-grade Azure Gleam Sword, the bonus from an upper-grade magic artifact, plus full-output spiritual energy and mental strength,

Facing Jia Li again, Wang Ping is confident he can defeat him by relying on the azure light circle.

As for a one-hit kill, that seems impossible, but combined with a mid-level Azure Light Sword Technique it becomes possible.

Strangely, Wang Ping thought of Jing Wu Ming's Nine Yin Bow; he wonders whether the azure light circle formed by an upper-grade Azure Gleam Sword plus a mid-level Azure Light Sword Technique could clash head-on with the Nine Yin Arrow.

That night, the Nine Yin Arrow's peerless piercing power left a deep impression on him.

The arrow that killed Tie Xiong did not fully reveal its power; the arrow aimed at Tie Lanshan is where its true power lies.

That night, though far away, Wang Ping's mental strength clearly sensed that the blue shield's defense far exceeded the limit of Qi Refining, likely able to block an attack from a Foundation Establishment cultivator—a strange treasure.

Tie Lanshan, possessing such protection, still fled in haste; one can imagine how great the power of the Nine Yin Arrow shot by Jing Wu Ming is.

In this world, Wang Ping heard clearly that Tie Lanshan said this is just a single-yin arrow; if two yin could fuse, he would die here resentfully.

What does this indicate?

A Nine Yin Arrow with fused two yin is comparable to the attack power of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Since Tie Lanshan said that, Jing Wu Ming, upon hearing it, flew into a rage; obviously this possibility still exists, only Jing Wu Ming cannot achieve it.

That a Qi Refining cultivator can actually emit the attack power of a Foundation Establishment cultivator opened Wang Ping's eyes.

Originally Wang Ping thought that possessing an upper-grade sword artifact combined with a mid-level Azure Light Sword Technique would let him walk sideways in the Qi Refining stage; now it seems this idea is somewhat laughable.

Collecting his thoughts, Wang Ping gestured with his right hand; the three sword lights vanished, and the Azure Gleam Sword appeared in his hand.

Just now, the invitation given to him by Huang Tai, the shopkeeper of Virtue Cloud Pavilion, suddenly vibrated, indicating that the gathering had already begun.

Wang Ping took out the invitation, which displayed an address.

Putting away the invitation, Wang Ping resumed the appearance of Lan Gongzi and walked out of the cave.

Treasure Gathering Market has crisscrossing eighty-five streets; Wang Ping weaved through them all until he arrived before an inconspicuous shop.

On this street most shops are closed; only this one is open.

Standing at the door, Wang Ping extended his mental strength; the interior situation was laid bare.

Until his mental strength seeped into the ground, he actually encountered resistance.

A formation?

Wang Ping's eyes widened with surprise; his current mental strength, after training in the Soul Refining Heart Sutra, is not only formidable but also more delicate.

Ordinary cultivators cannot detect it; only a formation can block it—this is also the result of Wang Ping's experiment that night.

Interesting!

Wang Ping curled the corner of his mouth into a slight smile; for this gathering he now felt a hint of anticipation.

Entering the shop, Wang Ping directly produced the black invitation; the attendant leaning on the counter immediately opened his eyes.

Seeing the invitation, he immediately came out, checked it thoroughly, then silently nodded, leading Wang Ping to a wall; after knocking lightly and heavily in succession, a door appeared soundlessly in the wall with no visible seam.

Inside was a secret passage.

That attendant then handed Wang Ping a white fox mask.

Wang Ping reached out to take it, felt it; the material is unknown, but it can block mental probing.

He smiled, put it on; this blocking effect is ineffective for him.

After Wang Ping entered, the secret door closed again, and lights lit up on both walls.

The secret passage is not long; after walking less than half a cup of tea's time, another doorway appeared ahead.

After entering, Wang Ping appeared in a hall excavated underground.

At this time, the light was dim, the number of people small—only three: a female cultivator wearing revealing attire, lazily reclining on a grandmaster chair with eyes closed in rest, her posture alluring, exuding a moving charm; her cultivation is late Qi Refining, nearly great perfection.

One is a burly man with a scar on his face, currently closing his eyes to nurture his spirit; likewise late Qi Refining, nearly great perfection.

As for the last one, he is gently stroking the ring-pommel great blade in his hand, as if caressing his lover; his cultivation is Qi Refining great perfection.

That blade is an upper-grade magic artifact, but compared to his black blade it is still lacking a bit.

A sweep of spiritual power made the three people's situation completely clear.

Upon Wang Ping's arrival, the three cultivators gave him only a glance before resuming their own affairs.

Wang Ping walked calmly to an empty chair, sat down quietly, and likewise closed eyes to cultivate.

After waiting like that for a quarter hour, eight cultivators arrived one after another; plus Wang Ping makes four, for a total of twelve cultivators.

Perhaps the crowd had already gathered; from behind the hall's screen walked out an elderly cultivator with half-white hair.

As soon as this elder appeared, the previously calm scene instantly became lively.

Bai Lao! What good stuff do you have this time? I specially flew back from the Capital just because I heard Hu Lao Guai say there's good stuff this time—I can't let my family down!

The speaker was a young cultivator who had entered later.

Yes! Old Bai, nowadays the West Pavilion Cultivation Realm is constantly turbulent; if we could have a good thing to protect the body, or a treasure that enhances strength, that would be best.

It's obvious that most of them are old customers, seemingly quite familiar with each other.

Only Wang Ping, the blade-touching man, and the veiled woman seemed to be first-timers, so they remained seated.

The cultivator known as Bai Lao laughed, clasped fists in a salute, and said smilingly:

This time there are several newcomers, so I will briefly introduce the rules; I hope the new fellow cultivators will give this old man a little time.

Wang Ping found it strange—how could an octogenarian elder, even having achieved Grand Completion in artifact refining, come to serve as the gathering's host?

However, someone soon gave Wang Ping an answer.

The cultivator who spoke at the beginning now spoke again:

Bai Lao once failed Foundation Establishment, yet nevertheless underwent a smooth transition!

Wang Ping's heart jolted—Foundation Establishment failure yet smooth transition—he knew what that cultivator's words meant.

Generally, a Foundation Establishment failure causes major vital energy loss, though only in varying degrees.

But there is a kind of Foundation Establishment failure that proceeds smoothly, not only avoiding major vital energy loss but also retaining the state at the time of breakthrough.

The state of breakthrough is precisely the condition of having one foot already stepped into Foundation Establishment.

Such cultivators are called Qi Refining Limit Cultivators, unattainable through mere training, hence they are not classified within the Qi Refining realm.

The blade-touching man and the veiled woman also shuddered in body, evidently startled as well.

Unless, like Jing Wu Ming, wielding a Supreme Grade Nine Yin Bow and firing an Arrow of United Yin, can it be slain.

Wang Ping secretly wondered whether the Intermediate Azure Light Sword Technique could prevail against a Qi Refining Limit Cultivator.

Unless like Jing Wu Ming, holding the supreme Nine Yin Bow and firing an arrow that unites the two yin into one, only then can it be slain.

Wang Ping secretly wondered whether the intermediate-stage Azure Light Sword Technique would stand a chance against a cultivator who had reached the limit of Qi Refining?