Chapter 108: One Qi Transforms into Three Purities!

These animals had been following Ye Qin for a long time, absorbing the leaked heavenly and earthly Qi, as well as the postnatal Qi left over from alchemy; over time they also developed a faint spiritual awareness.

But they were not truly refined essences; they had not yet fully reached that level.

So, they merely imitate Ye Qin's movements and behavior subconsciously, feeling it beneficial to them, just like monkeys learning from humans.

Actually, whether reading books or sitting in meditation, it has no effect at all.

Unless they one day truly gain wisdom, they can only embark on cultivation under Ye Qin's guidance.

But even so, such behavior is already extraordinary, surpassing most worldly animals.

Inevitably, the group couldn't help rubbing their eyes, thinking they were hallucinating.

"What's going on with these animals?"

Everyone's faces showed strange expressions; it was really too weird, these animals gave them the feeling of being like humans.

"Not right!"

"It seems like they're imitating something!"

Even Zhao Brother, who had seen many storms, had a momentary lapse.

Only saw that the animals' fur was oily and smooth, each hair glistening under the sunlight's refraction, and their builds were much larger than usual.

In every gesture they differed from ordinary animals.

These animals were immersed in their own world and did not notice Zhao Brother and the others spying on them.

"Really strange, these animals seem to have become essences; don't you feel their movements are too human-like? It feels a bit off."

"Stop joking, what era is this? You wouldn't really believe those sayings about animals becoming essences, would you?"

"Exactly, they're just beasts; do you still believe they could do anything to us?"

"We've seen everything traveling south and north; we wouldn't be frightened by a few animals."

"It must be that these animals learned the movements from people who entered the mountains; they're imitating."

Someone in the team seemed to have discovered something: "Wait, look at those few animals' books in their hands; they don't seem like ordinary things."

Those books had an aged feel, pages somewhat yellowed; how could such a thing appear in the deep mountains and old forests, not even possible in the village at Mountain Base.

Then there is only one possibility: could it be that these animals, taking advantage of inattention, took them out from the tomb?

Upon careful thought, this possibility is quite high.

Zhao Brother gave a glance: "You flank from the left, Huzi you and he go flank from the right."

Soon a group of people took tools and moved to flank the animals.

After a moment, the net bag was full of squeaking, struggling small animals; however this net bag is special, its ropes especially sturdy, and the more they struggle the tighter it gets.

But it's also strange that they are not medium-to-large creatures, yet their strength is unbelievably great; two or three people grabbing the net bag still can't hold it, expending the strength of nine oxen and two tigers, almost slipping from their hands.

"What have these beasts been eating to grow so heavy and strong, just a few of them?"

The companion beside him couldn't help mocking, not taking his words to heart: "Huzi, you're done for; looks like you have kidney deficiency, just a few animals, look at you sweating profusely."

After saying that he casually took it over, the result was his hand suddenly dropped, his whole body staggered a few steps, nearly losing balance, then he realized the words were not false.

"Good fellow, it's really quite heavy."

The animals in the net bag kept struggling; they were few in number, and with Zhao Brother's group being many, they inadvertently fell into the trap.

Zhao Brother looked at the fallen books on the ground, picked them up and examined them carefully, discovering they were indeed cultural relics, and moreover they came from Zuoci's tomb.

"This trip isn't totally fruitless; these few ancient books should be worth some money; even if we find nothing else, we can at least give an account to the big boss."

Zhao Brother's face was full of astonishment: "These beasts still have some ability; they actually managed to take these things out while people weren't paying attention."

"So, should we keep searching or not?"

Zhao Brother glanced at the sky, pondered a moment, then said: "Let's look a bit more; if we really can't find anything, we'll head back to report."

"So, what should we do with these beasts?"

"Also bring them back; these beasts mimic humans so closely, they even found these ancient books; back home we can study them well, who knows there might be something strange about them."

"Moreover, bringing them back gives us something to report; the boss might be interested."

Earlier the animals had been making a ruckus nonstop, but now they have calmed down, seeming somewhat fatigued, finally giving up resistance, and Zhao Brother's group also let down their guard.

But they didn't know this was merely an illusion; the animals' eyes were dim, emitting a faint human-like glow.

Just as they were about to move these animals, in the blink of an eye one of them leapt out.

The other few also cooperated perfectly, using their claws to tear at the net bag, as if trying to open a survival passage.

For a moment, those gripping the net bag were in a panic, hands and feet scrambling.

Those animals, like humans, actually understood cooperation better; since they couldn't escape, they exerted all their strength to let a companion run out, which was no problem.

Zhao Brother heard the commotion, walked over, saw their appearance, and couldn't help frowning: "What's going on with you lot, you can't even watch a few animals properly."

Before the words finished, a black shadow came straight at them; indeed an animal had truly broken through its restraints.

Zhao Brother hastily picked up the nearby tool, intending to strike it back, but that black shadow was even faster, turning its head and biting his wrist.

"Ah!"

Zhao Brother cried out in pain, the tool in his hand also fell; looking at his wrist bleeding profusely, there was a deep tooth mark on it.

The few people nearby also reacted, subduing the animals, and hurriedly asked: "Zhao Brother, are you alright?"

Seeing his wrist bleeding nonstop, Zhao Brother's features twisted from pain, his expression turned grim, he kicked the net bag hard several times, hearing the animals' wails and sobs, then he felt somewhat relieved.

"Damn these beasts, they actually dared to bite me."

The yellow weasel heard the sobbing of its companion behind it, its back paused, then it swiftly turned its head to look at Zhao Brother and the others, its animal eyes emitting a dim light, as if trying to engrave their faces deeply.

Its gaze swept over each person's face; that feeling was strange, making people extremely uncomfortable, as if they were being targeted by something.

I don't know if it's their illusion, but even the surrounding temperature dropped a few degrees, and gooseflesh appeared on their skin.

"Still looking!"

Zhao Brother kicked the nearby animals several more times, while signaling those beside him to hurry and capture the yellow weasel that bit him.

That weasel seemed to have noticed their intentions, had been on guard beforehand, finally glanced at them, and then quickly disappeared into the bushes.

"Brother Zhao, that beast got away."

Only a few scattered yellow hairs remained on the ground.

For some reason, recalling the weasel's gaze toward them, everyone felt somewhat uneasy.

"Brother Zhao, I always feel that beast looks a bit off; that weasel earlier learned to read like a person, and it's so smart—back home there's some lore about weasels being able to put a spell on people, very evil."

Someone else nodded in agreement: "Yeah, weasels are known to hold grudges."

Brother Zhao dismissed it: "What era is this? Do these beasts really cultivate into spirits? Besides, people used to say there were zongzi in tombs, yet we've dug so many graves—have we ever seen any?"

Even if we retreat ten thousand steps, even if the yellow-skinned ones come after us, they'd only bring their own kind—no matter if it's a dozen or double, we wouldn't be afraid.

Supernatural rumors were a dime a dozen, and none ever came true; although these animals' behavior is a bit odd, slightly different from ordinary, it doesn't prove anything.

After thinking, they agreed: beasts are just beasts, they can't stir up any trouble.

At this moment, Ye Qin was still studying near the Daoist temple, unaware that his little brother could actually be kidnapped.

His spiritual sense spread throughout the vicinity; anyone approaching or any change in the surrounding terrain's magnetic field would be felt immediately.

White Bone remained seated cross-legged, with no change to the Shangqing Temple in his hand.

Night fell gradually; the Daoist temple, bustling all day, gradually grew quiet, boundless darkness spreading around it, adding a lingering echo.

As the last sunset sank into the horizon, the whole temple nearly merged with the night, even its outline becoming faint.

There are hardly any lodgings nearby, and the temple has few side rooms, so basically no one stays overnight.

After the last visitor left, the temple gate slowly closed.

A hum—

From inside the temple came a resonant bell tone, drifting between heaven and earth; at the same time, the last light on the horizon finally faded.

This sound was somewhat similar to what he had heard before.

At that moment, Ye Qin even thought the sound came from within the Daoist temple on White Bone's hand, his mind gave a slight jolt, but nothing around changed.

If listened closely, one would notice the bell tone was somewhat clear, lacking the heavy historical feel and the ethereal sensation heard before.

Ye Qin's expression inevitably showed some disappointment.

Lights lit up inside the temple; from his angle, the warm yellow glow in the darkness resembled fireflies, emitting light and warmth.

Everything around fell into darkness; only the temple retained a bit of light, which soon dissipated into the long night.

Only Ye Qin's verdant snake-like pupils remained, like lanterns, unblinking as he gazed into the distance; his expression was somewhat disappointed.

It seems this place lacks the mottled traces of time; thus, not every location has them—perhaps retaining such traces requires unknown specific conditions?

This result was also within his expectations; after all, such temporal power is truly special and extremely rare, obviously not something that can arise just anywhere.

But the pattern of it, Ye Qin couldn't fathom; he would have to wait for another chance to investigate.

But surely the world is vast; there must be other places retaining such mottled fragments of time.

The long night passed in a flash; the clouds and rosy hues on the horizon reflected in Ye Qin's pupils, as if myriad stars.

Rosy clouds suffused the air, mist swirling; Ye Qin then noticed a thin layer of fog had arisen around him at some point.

Night had not yet fully retreated; at the juncture of day and night, when the qi of heaven and earth is most abundant, even without deciphering the temple's mysteries, Ye Qin did not give up cultivation.

Cultivation seemed to have become second nature.

Ye Qin could feel his internal qi pellet slowly turning, continuously inhaling and exhaling the surrounding qi, like an endless infusion of vitality, making the once dormant qi pellet active again.

Strands of mist seeped into Ye Qin's body, as if possessing their own life; his dark green scales seemed veiled in a thin gauze, giving a hazy feeling.

Since condensing the pellet, Ye Qin's connection with heaven and earth has grown closer, and he senses his absorption of heavenly qi has sped up considerably.

Gazing at the clouds drifting not far on the horizon, sunlight brilliant, drawing out ten thousand zhang of golden light; even ordinary clouds seemed to become somewhat extraordinary.

They floated leisurely beneath the azure sky; regardless of external changes, that patch of pure white remained unchanged.

In an instant, Ye Qin seemed to grasp something, like a sudden enlightenment, and an idea sprang forth:

"Perhaps I can comprehend a technique."

As the thought arose, the surrounding mist seemed drawn to something, swirling around Ye Qin, faintly conveying a sense of intimacy; he felt a strange wonder, as if he could freely control the mist.

The mist contains very little spiritual qi, barely a trace, yet it can still be considered a kind of heaven-and-earth qi.

After forming the qi pellet, Ye Qin always sensed a vague, almost imperceptible connection with these gases, a feeling hard to describe.

He had felt this haziness before, but it became clearer after the qi pellet formed.

As the saying goes, quantitative change leads to qualitative change.

Ye Qin has already absorbed much acquired qi, then fused them all together, with innate qi lending support; thus, for the gases of this world, he naturally produced an inexplicable resonance.

In Daoism there is a saying: the Dao, when dispersed becomes qi, when condensed becomes the Supreme Elder Lord.

The Supreme Elder Lord is the ancestor of primordial qi, the source of myriad Dao, the foundation of heaven and earth, the essence of the universe.

Thus, qi holds an important position in Daoism; the most renowned Daoist Divine Ability is 'One Qi Transforms into the Three Pure Ones.'

In the early Daoist classic Taiping Jing it says:

"Laozi is the great sage who has attained the Dao, teacher of both the seen and unseen. When stimulated, he transforms accordingly; when his work is complete, he remains hidden yet ever-present. He dwells nowhere, his constancy absent. He circulates through the six empties, teaching the three realms."

Some say it is the transformation of Yuanshi Tianzun, others say it is Laozi transformed; though the subject differs, the content is essentially the same.

In the San Tong Bing Xu it is said: 'Moreover, the origin of the Three Caverns originally shares the Dao's qi; Dao qi is singular, its application divided into three, all to entice the masses to cultivate immortality, from mundane to Dao realization, they gradually differ, hence the three names.'

Another view holds that the Daoist Three Pure Ones are formed from the three qi—mysterious, primordial, and beginning—of the Great Luo Heaven.

This is recorded in the Taizhen Ke: 'The highest heaven is called Great Luo, the extreme of the Dao realm; the wondrous qi is one; only from this Great Luo are born the three swallows of mysterious, primordial, and beginning qi, which transform into the Three Pure Ones heavens. One day: the Qingwei Heaven of the Jade Clear realm, formed from beginning qi; two days: the Yuyu Heaven of the Upper Clear realm, formed from primordial qi; three days: the Dachi Heaven of the Great Clear realm, formed from mysterious qi.'

Due to the many differing accounts, even causing some sectarian contradictions within Daoism.

'One Qi Three Pure Ones' is even more marvelous; the wondrous method within the pot penetrates Sumeru.

'Moving a log brings life to me; sending forth a doppelgänger, do not doubt the waves.'

In the mythological novel Fengshen Yanyi, there is a concrete description: it tells the story of when the Supreme Elder Lord and the Sect Master of the Way of Heaven dueled with magic, and the Supreme Elder Lord used One Qi to transform into three divine bodies.

The Yunji Qiqian also uses this to write about the birth of the Three Purities: "Originally, the Dao arises from beginnings, starting from the nonexistent, traces appear in response, it is born from the Marvelous One, follows the Marvelous One, divides into three primal origins, and from these three primal origins, the three qi are generated..."

Regardless of how it is said, there is no denying that the existence of "One Qi Transforms into Three Purities" is extremely special and possesses tremendous power; it is a Divine Ability with unfathomable transformations.

Of course, these fabrications in ancient texts are merely an exposition of ideological theory, or one could say they are the wild imagination of the ancients.

But no matter what, this imagination is grounded; its origin lies in the ideological theory of "the qi of heaven and earth, one transforms into myriad things".

Ye Qin gazed at the mist swirling around him; that feeling kept deepening, and in an instant he had a silent understanding, as if he had grasped something.

If he had any thoughts, since these gases could be shaped, why not deepen the connection and make use of them?

The mist around him surged, becoming ever denser, enveloping him; if anyone passed by, they would surely be startled.

Only this place was surrounded by clouds and mist, while elsewhere was quite normal, as if all the mist had been inexplicably drawn here, gathering and constantly churning.

Clouds rise, mist surges; gathering and dispersing take form.

It was as if an invisible pair of giant hands were manipulating everything before him.

The mist had no fixed nature; it seemed it could be shaped into any form.

Countless fine horses came galloping, racing through the mountains and forests, their hooves flying up, kicking up countless dust.

Their four hooves leapt into the air, chasing the clear breeze; white clouds frolicked, their appearance and movements no different from real horses, yet their speed was as swift as wind and lightning.

But upon closer inspection, these horses were actually made of mist; the hazy white mist at this moment was given life, reborn, they raised their heads and neighed, even their cries were lifelike.

This was not what Ye Qin wanted.

The fine horses slowly dissipated, the mist surged and returned to its former state.

A bird landed not far away, tilted its head to observe Ye Qin, flapping its wings with a hint of probing and flattery.

Accompanied by clear cries, in an instant countless birds wheeled overhead, casting large shadows, as if they were showing Ye Qin their ability.

The flock of birds chirped, bringing vitality and liveliness, but in fact they too were merely made of mist, yet they were vivid, exceptionally lively and energetic.

Through the birds' eyes, Ye Qin seemed able to see everything around him clearly.

But this too was not what Ye Qin wanted.

Just as Ye Qin had guessed, the mist could transform into all things in the world, possessing great plasticity, but he always felt something was missing in the artistic conception.

The mist churned and boiled, yet this time it did not condense into form; it seemed not to know what shape to take to satisfy Ye Qin.

It is not that these creatures are not good enough; ultimately they are not top-notch.

Ye Qin's gaze fell upon the primal white bone beside him; his thoughts stirred slightly—what could be more suitable to transform than the source itself?

A tiny qi pellet spun incessantly within his body, invisible white qi emanating outward, soon permeating Ye Qin's surroundings.

This qi spread over the white bone on the spiritual level, then gradually wrapped it; the mist surged, faintly revealing endless profundity, like a deep vortex.

Within the primal white bone, various gases swirled, as if flesh and blood had filled it; the two interacted harmoniously, after all both originated from Ye Qin and were under his control.

"One Qi gives rise to all things, spell, manifest!"

As Ye Qin's thought moved, the spell took initial form and was released by him.

Instantly, in the real world the mist dissipated, and where he stood appeared a white bone condensed from mist.

This is the white bone formed by using the qi pellet as a basis and employing the spell to transform it!

And this white bone is not merely a mental illusion; it is condensed and transformed from the primal qi of reality.

It belongs to the category of spell‑crafted objects!

Because it has the primal source as a reference, it also seems to have acquired a hint of mysterious, unfathomable power; unlike the previous phantom horses and birds, it appears much more real.

Probably because it relies on the primal source, the power it emanates is also the greatest.

Ye Qin finally nodded in satisfaction; this was what he wanted.

"When you deliberately plant flowers they won't bloom; when you casually insert willow twigs they grow into shade."

He originally intended to study the mysteries of the Daoist temple, but perhaps the time was not ripe; in short, he gained nothing and did not feel the power of the ages within.

No matter how Ye Qin tried to communicate, he could not successfully connect.

Yet unexpectedly, through a fortunate mishap he grasped this Divine Ability, which can be said to be the most rudimentary, simplified version of the One Qi Transforms into Three Purities.

"Then let this spell be called 'One Qi Transforms White Bone'!"

(End of chapter)