Chapter 239

On Tianyun Peak, in a quiet courtyard.

Jiang Ye sat cross-legged beside the Qingyan herb field, eyes closed, his body enveloped in a thick veil of celestial and terrestrial spiritual energy.

The energy circled slowly around him, glowing with a sharp, golden-white radiance that, under the sunlight, resembled countless fine blades gliding silently.

In his dantian, the golden-white dantian orb rotated at an excruciatingly slow pace, drawing in a thread of sharp golden qi from the surrounding celestial energy with each full turn.

This process had lasted for an unknown duration; most of the orb’s surface had been refined into true gang, leaving only a tiny core still in its original true qi form.

“It’s time.”

Jiang Ye, eyes still closed, uttered a low command in his mind.

The next instant.

The dantian orb shuddered violently.

The scattered golden elemental energy in the heavens and earth was suddenly seized by an invisible hand, surging from all directions into Jiang Ye’s body, converging into a torrent of golden-white energy within his dantian.

The torrent, unstoppable, slammed directly into the last unrefined core of the orb.

Like the final hammer blow on a red-hot sword blank, sparks flew in all directions.

The orb erupted in a blinding golden-white light, illuminating the entire dantian with radiant clarity.

Golden-white true gang churned and flowed across the orb’s surface, its sharpness more than several times fiercer than before; each breath seemed to make invisible blades hum silently within the dantian.

Hss! Hss! Hss...

At this moment, the air around Jiang Ye was sliced by invisible sharpness, producing fine, hissing sounds; the Qingyan herbs, brushed by the unseen golden qi, saw several leaf tips fall silently, their cuts smooth as mirrors.

The courtyard walls, too, bore numerous gashes as if slashed by swords and knives.

Moments later.

Jiang Ye suddenly opened his eyes, and a shard of solid golden-white light flashed through his aged gaze.

Shh!

A sharp, piercing sound tore through the air.

The Golden Element true gang—completed.

He slowly raised his right hand, fingers slightly spread; golden-white true gang surged from his palm, no longer scattered like mist, but dense and heavy as a true blade.

He did not swing his palm—only aimed it at the half-broken green stone left behind after he had smashed it with his staff, then gently closed his fingers.

Shh—

A thread of golden-white gangqi shot from his palm, silent and unseen, sinking into the green stone.

The stone’s surface remained utterly unchanged, not even a crack appearing.

Jiang Ye withdrew his hand and stood with his hands behind his back.

The next instant.

The half-stone suddenly exploded from within.

Its cut surface was smooth as a mirror, a half-inch-deep fracture glowing with a cold, faint light—as if pierced from within by an invisible blade.

Jiang Ye gazed at the mirror-smooth fracture, and a slow smile curved his lips.

This was the Golden Element true gang.

Sharpness contained, killing intent hidden!

Thus, the Five Elements true gang were all fully refined.

Host: Jiang Ye

Lifespan: 70/228

Cultivation: Gangqi Realm (Mid-stage)

Destiny: Ascend to Divine Stairway【Effect 1: Extraordinary Comprehension!】

Constitution: Five Elements Chaos Body (Beginner, 1/5)

Cultivation Methods mastered: Great Sun Heavenly Flame Qi Cultivation Method (Mastery, 3688/10000); Canglan True Water Qi Cultivation Method (Mastery, 2689/6000); Qingmu Longsheng Qi Cultivation Method (Mastery, 1989/6000); Houtu Zhenyue Qi Cultivation Method (Mastery, 1869/6000); Taibai Zhenjing Qi Cultivation Method (Mastery, 1368/6000); Seven Kill Scripture (Partial Mastery, 218/1000)

Martial Arts mastered: Five Animal Fist (Perfected); Blood Moon Blade (Perfected); Golden Body Refinement Technique (Mastery, 3789/10000); True Fire Eye Refinement Technique (Partial Mastery, 1169/5000); Five Elements World-Sealing Seal (Beginner, 769/1000); Shadow-Dividing Illusion Step (Partial Mastery, 2899/3000); Spirit Monkey Shaking Heaven Staff (Beginner, 108/1000)

True Intentions mastered: Tiger Walks Like Illness, Spirit Monkey Thousand Transformations, Startled Deer Leaves No Trace, Wind-Riding Soaring Sky, Blood Moon Illusory Kill, Old Bear Embracing Simplicity

Jiang Ye glanced at the system panel and nodded in satisfaction.

With the Five Elements true gang fully refined, he had entered the mid-stage of the Gangqi Realm.

To his surprise, his lifespan had increased by another ten years.

“Probably because of the Five Animal Fist and the Qingmu Longsheng Qi Cultivation Method.”

Jiang Ye mused in his mind.

At that moment.

A light yet hurried set of footsteps sounded outside the courtyard.

“She’s here.”

Before turning, Jiang Ye already knew who it was.

He had already caught the faint, spring-rain-like fragrance.

As expected.

The next instant.

Liu Qingyu’s slender figure, clad in a plain white robe, appeared at the courtyard gate.

Seeing Jiang Ye standing within the courtyard, no longer in seclusion, Liu Qingyu instantly relaxed, opening her mouth to speak.

“Liu Fengzhu, the primordial qi atop the peak is about to form, isn’t it?”

Jiang Ye turned, his expression calm.

He had naturally heard the loud boom from the peak moments ago.

But at that moment, he had been in the critical phase of refining the Golden Element true gang and could not afford distraction.

Liu Qingyu nodded gravely, her tone heavier than usual:

“Yes. I just reached the area near the peak and saw the celestial energy condensed into its final stage—within a single incense stick’s time, the primordial qi will be born.”

“We just don’t know how many threads will form.”

As she spoke, she pulled out a slender jade vial, three inches long, carved entirely from pale green jade, and offered it to Jiang Ye:

“Jiang Lao, this is the Qingyu Vial for collecting primordial qi—I exchanged two hundred merit points for it at the Tianshu Hall.”

Since Jiang Ye was so confident he could seize the primordial qi, she naturally had to ensure every auxiliary measure was perfect.

Jiang Ye took the vial; it felt cool and smooth in his hand. He examined it briefly, then smiled faintly:

“You’ve thought of everything, Liu Fengzhu.”

To be honest, he hadn’t even considered how to store the primordial qi once he obtained it.

Liu Qingyu’s gesture had removed a major concern.

“Since everything is prepared, let’s go collect the qi.”

Jiang Ye smiled faintly and stepped calmly out of the courtyard.

Watching his calm, composed demeanor, Liu Qingyu’s days of anxiety gradually melted away, as if by miracle.

As they stepped out of the courtyard.

Jiang Ye realized that all the disciples of Tianqing Sect had gathered beside his courtyard, though he hadn’t noticed them before.

Each face bore varying degrees of unease and worry.

The moment they saw Jiang Ye emerge, their spirits lifted instantly, eyes brightening.

Everyone vaguely guessed why Liu Fengzhu had come to summon Jiang Lao out of seclusion.

To compete with primordial cultivators for primordial qi...

Merely imagining the thought.

Made their bodies tremble involuntarily.

Especially Lu Ming and Chen Lili, their faces etched with unmistakable tension and concern.

Xu Qinghuan had also been visibly anxious.

But then she saw the long, thick tungsten-gold staff in Jiang Ye’s hand.

For some reason, she shuddered, her long legs tightening instinctively.

Jiang Ye calmly scanned the crowd and said softly: “What are you all doing gathered here?”

At that moment,

“Jiang Lao! You and Liu Fengzhu must be careful...”

Wen Yueyao stepped forward, her face grave, lowering her voice:

“If it’s hopeless... don’t force it...”

“We’re lucky just to train at the Upper Sect for half a year.”

“We can always return to Tianqing Sect!”

The girl spoke plainly and decisively, radiating a carefree air.

Though the Upper Sect was excellent,

she did not want Jiang Ye or Liu Qingyu risking their lives to seize the primordial qi.

“Yes, Jiang Lao, we can always return to Tianqing Sect.”

Lu Ming, Chen Lili, and others hurried forward, their faces filled with anxious concern.

Their opponents were three primordial cultivators!

Those closest to Jiang Ye did not wish him to be injured because of this.

Jiang Ye smiled faintly, pulled a token from his sleeve, and handed it to Lu Ming: “Go to the Yunfu Peak Enforcement Hall right now and ask Elder Lu to come watch a show.”

Lu Ming accepted the token with both hands, nodded firmly, and turned to sprint down the mountain.

Jiang Ye scanned the group once more, his gaze slowly passing over the young faces filled with worry.

His voice was quiet, yet each word rang clear as a stone hitting ground:

“Rest easy, all of you.”

“We will return to Tianqing Sect.”

“But not in shame!”

“Today, this primordial qi—we and Peak Master Liu will seize it!”

With that, he spun on his heel, gripping the all-black tungsten staff, and strode up the mountain path toward the summit.

Liu Qingyu turned back to glance at the group, then looked at the slender yet upright gray figure ahead, drew a deep breath, and followed like a gentle breeze and fine rain.

Behind them, the disciples watched the two ascending the path to the summit, their eyes reddening, faces alight with emotion.

“May Elder Jiang and Peak Master Liu strengthen Tianqing Sect!!!”

No one knew who shouted it first.

The next instant,

“May Elder Jiang and Peak Master Liu strengthen Tianqing Sect!!!”

Every voice merged into a roaring tide, echoing endlessly along the mid-slope of Dongfeng.