Chapter 97: Qi Refining Level Four

If she doesn’t want me to look, then I won’t look—I didn’t take it to heart. My wife’s cultivation is far too high, towering over mine like layers of floors apart; even if I stared a hundred times, it wouldn’t help my own cultivation. The only regret was that I could no longer admire her supple waist.

Reluctantly pulling his gaze away from Su Wuniang’s waist, Liu Xiaolou followed Susu back to the rear hall. He pondered: wasn’t he never such a lecher before? Why did he keep thinking of it, with that restless fire stirring in his chest? Was his wife’s slender waist somehow different from others’? Unlikely.

Just back in the room, an uncontrollable fire surged up from his abdomen. Liu Xiaolou seized Susu’s wrist and stared at her fixedly.

Susu blinked, puzzled: “Master?”

Liu Xiaolou pulled her toward the bedroom, but at the bedside, he released her wrist and waved his hand: “Go out. I’m going into seclusion.”

Confused, Susu hurriedly withdrew, lowered the bedroom curtain, shut the outer door, and quietly guarded beside the study, listening intently to every sound from within, not daring to let her attention waver.

The fire rising from his abdomen suddenly shifted to the Pericardium Meridian, raging through the meridians, unable to dissipate, and began violently striking the last unopened Zhongchong point.

He had tried to break through Zhongchong several times before, spending two spirit stones, but made no progress. Yet today, under the force of this fire, he sensed a faint loosening—so he sent Susu away and devoted himself entirely to opening this point.

In Qi Refining, one cannot simply complete each meridian and naturally open all pathways to ascend; instead, one always gets stuck at the final point, unable to pass without the right opportunity.

His breakthrough from Level Two to Three had come during the siege at Jinping Manor, when he faced three inner-disciple attacks from the Three Yang Sects, surviving terror and death to gain that opportunity. Now, for the transition from Three to Four, he had been searching for the right moment.

He had thought the moment might be tied to the jade hairpin falling—but now he realized the opportunity lay right here, on his wife’s slender waist.

A moment’s thought brought him clarity: his Xuanzhen Scripture was complementary to the Yin-Yang Scripture. He had already confirmed this when discussing Yin-Yang cultivation with Qingniang—though back then, it was only theoretical.

His master had once said: “Do not practice the Yin-Yang Scripture until you reach Level Four of the Xuanzhen Scripture.” So this fire must be the catalyst for his breakthrough—the link connecting the two scriptures, the turning point between them.

Liu Xiaolou had no time for further thought. He threw himself onto the bed, still wearing his shoes, and gripped a spirit stone to begin.

Spiritual power flowed as fine threads of true qi into his meridians, merging with the fire—its effect was astonishing, gradually loosening the once-solid point.

Another unexpected surprise: under the fire’s stimulation, his rate of converting spiritual power tripled—an experience unlike any before. The surging true qi brought fiercer pressure; the point began to yield, like a mountain soaked by rain, showing signs of imminent collapse.

Liu Xiaolou was utterly absorbed in the breakthrough, unaware of day or night, heedless of time. When hungry or thirsty, he simply reached for food and water on the table. He didn’t remember what he ate, only that food and drink were always waiting there. This was the advantage of training in a high-ranking family: no worries over eating, drinking, or excretion—only cultivation.

Then, at some moment, the mountain could no longer bear the torrent. It collapsed, swept away by the flood, pouring into the valley below and pooling into a basin.

Zhongchong point opened. Liu Xiaolou officially entered Qi Refining Level Four.

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But he did not leave seclusion immediately. Seizing the chance while the fire still lingered, he continued converting spirit stones’ energy. This fire had no known origin or destination, yet it tripled true qi conversion efficiency—if he didn’t use it now, he’d never recover it.

The Fourth Level of the Xuanzhen Scripture cultivates the Triple Heater Meridian, which begins at the ring finger, runs along the outer arms, over the shoulders, to the head and face—twenty-three points on each side, forty-six in total. Cultivating this meridian refines the eyes, ears, throat, and face; once complete, water intake greatly decreases, laying the foundation for future fasting.

Liu Xiaolou pulled out more spirit stones and began targeting Guanchong.

The Triple Heater Meridian had more points than the Pericardium Meridian, but each was far easier. The nine points of the Pericardium Meridian each required three or four spirit stones to break through. Yet for Guanchong, he spent only two—and broke through in one go.

These were his last two spirit stones. Now, he could finally end his seclusion.

He searched the room and found the chamber pot in the corner. He expelled the accumulated waste, feeling lighter by a third than before his seclusion.

As soon as he finished, Susu entered, covered the pot, and carried it out. Liu Xiaolou felt embarrassed. He vaguely recalled that during his seclusion, Susu always came to remove and clean the pot, returning it promptly. He was deeply grateful.

Such a beautiful girl, with cultivation no lower than his own, served him without disgust—his meals, his waste, his every need. Truly, he could not bear such kindness. He resolved: he must treat Susu twice as well in the future, if he were to repay her.

When Susu returned, she brought in a bucket of hot water to bathe him. Earlier, with the fire raging, he had wanted to pull her into bed. Now, the fire gone, he felt ashamed—he was naked, while she was fully dressed. Anyone would feel awkward. Only if both were naked would it be fitting.

Susu scrubbed his skin thoroughly, rubbed him with scented soap, wiped him clean with her own hands, then dressed him in fresh clothes. “Master, if you don’t change and wash, you’ll stink to high heaven.”

Liu Xiaolou let her tend to him, savoring the comfort, and said sincerely: “Susu, if you keep this up, I’ll never be able to live without you.”

Susu smiled: “Caring for Master is my duty. When you no longer have me, there will be new maidservants—you’ll still live in comfort.”

Liu Xiaolou smiled bitterly: “I’m not meant for comfort. My life is only for cultivation.”

Susu asked: “Master, you secluded yourself for nearly half a month—your cultivation must have risen greatly?”

“Nearly half a month? How many days?”

“Twenty-four days.”

Six spirit stones for twenty-four days? Far fewer than expected. Such opportunities are rare—this fire came and went like mist, impossible to grasp.

After a moment’s thought, he grasped Susu’s wrist again, trying once more.

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