[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-path-of-immortality":3,"chapter-the-path-of-immortality-the-path-of-immortality-chapter-9":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Path of Immortality",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2271159,4436,"Chapter 9: Chapter Nine: Chen Ying","the-path-of-immortality-chapter-9",9,"\u003Cp>In the cave, Chen Hang slowly opened his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two beams of uncontainable brilliance shot forth from his pupils, extending over three feet, blazing brilliantly, dimming the several oil candles burning on the cave walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after dozens of breaths did\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the brilliance in his eyes gradually fade, his gaze returning to its usual deep, still darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The fetal breath is complete; the nature-root has surfaced. Next, I must seek a Qi-condensation technique to refine essence into Qi.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stretched his shoulders and arms, and his entire skeleton erupted with a series of sharp, resonant cracks like bamboo shoots growing—crackling, popping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the command of his will, the furnace-like, elephant-like blood and Qi within him vibrated once, shattering and expelling all dust and debris within three zhang, as if a great wild beast were twisting its claws and fangs, ready to pounce.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Hang had never felt better than he did now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His blood and spirit were both vigorous and scorching, like starlight in the night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every gesture, every punch, every finger movement carried terrifying, immense power—piercing wood and stone, bending metal and iron, all trivial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the divine strength of one arm shaking, surpassing three horses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, the cave held no bell or tripod weighing a thousand jin that Chen Hang could use to test his strength; if he wished to do so, he must go to the great pool beneath Yangqi Peak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the bottom of that great pool lay hundreds of five-thousand-jin stone spheres, each carved by Gu Jun himself, specifically for use by Qi-condensation Daoists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the subtleties of the Qi-condensation realm, they differ greatly from fetal breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fetal breath realm—the faint, constant innate Qi sensation that sustains the body and boosts strength—will gradually decay over time, eventually vanishing entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is why martial masters who have attained fetal breath, though they live to one hundred and fifty, still grow old and sick, ultimately returning to a handful of yellow earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Daoist cultivators are different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They use Qi-condensation techniques to forge a bridge between their small body and the vast external world, thereby reaching the Qi-condensation realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once in the Qi-condensation realm, they can refine the boundless spiritual energy of the outside world to replenish their limited fetal breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the external world’s spiritual energy as supplement, the innate fetal breath within the body does not decay; instead, it grows stronger with the refinement of the Qi-condensation technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eventually, it leaps like a carp ascending the dragon gate, transforming the innate fetal breath into true Qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Precisely because of the endless external spiritual energy as replenishment, Qi-condensation cultivators appear even more extraordinary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They can freely withdraw or release fetal breath, manipulate magic treasures, levitate, spit flame, dispel light…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even lifting the five-thousand-jin stones from the depths of Yangqi Peak’s pool into the air is no great feat for a deeply accomplished Qi-condensation Daoist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Qi-condensation technique, Qi-condensation technique.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Hang lifted a finger and summoned the longsword he had dwelled with in the Zhen Fa Realm for many days:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If fetal breath still counts as self-sufficient, then Qi-condensation is borrowing from heaven and earth?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Borrowing spiritual energy, borrowing pills, borrowing external medicines, borrowing all means to strengthen the innate fetal breath—to once again refine the body, and ultimately, according to the depth of the Qi-condensation method, manifest different true Qis—this is called building the Dao foundation?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gazed at the sword for a moment, then slashed it toward himself—but this time, no blood flowed; only a faint white mark remained on his palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two breaths later,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>even that white mark vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fetal breath complete—now I have left the mortal body behind; my form is like gold and iron. Indeed, no lie.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Hang swung the sword several more times, each strike stronger than the last, until he wrapped his fetal breath around the blade—only then did a deep wound, bone-showing, appear on his palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And with this swing,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>he faintly sensed that a thread of his fetal breath had diminished, vanished entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No wonder, though fetal breath grants a lifespan of one hundred and fifty, martial masters in the military rarely live past sixty… Without Qi-condensation, one cannot strengthen one’s fetal breath; this fetal Qi is spent with every use.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Hang casually bandaged his hand, then pushed open the door and stepped out of the cave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the mountain wind surged like a tide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damp, chilly mist curled like a colossal serpent around half of Xiao Ganshan, the air tinged pale white; sunlight danced unpredictably within the mist, its golden hue dazzlingly radiant, shifting with the clouds into cascading fire-gold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rivers and mountains painted, rippling like an ocean.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recalling the misery of his past life and the struggles of his arrival in this world, Chen Hang felt immense exhilaration, longing to grasp the hundred-thousand-li sky in his palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After today, I’ll go to Rong State and return my predecessor’s elder brother’s body, while avoiding Yan Feichen’s notice,” Chen Hang thought to himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the world is currently peaceful, bandits and river pirates are never fully eradicated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, having attained fetal breath, he now possesses some measure of self-defense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among mortals, unless a large army is deployed to surround and kill him, few situations can harm him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This descent from the mountain will be a journey of wandering, seeking Qi-condensation techniques, while honing my combat skills within the Fa Realm, awaiting the opening of the Earth Abyss next year.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now that Yan Zhen is dead, surely no one in Xuanzhen Sect will obsess over me like a madman anymore?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Hang pondered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>two streaks of fire plummeted from the sky toward the cave; before he could dodge, they transformed into two handsome young men, standing midair, stepping on true Qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Which two senior brothers am I addressing?” Chen Hang stepped forward and greeted them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of the two young men,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>one wore a purple cloud-and-rain robe, crowned with a lotus hat carved from precious jade, resembling a young nobleman—his attire splendid, his expression haughty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior brother? Who is your senior brother, you of a petty lineage?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing Chen Hang’s question, he instinctively sneered—but then remembered something and abruptly changed course:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You? Chen Hang? Hmph, you do have some beauty. Come, I’ll take you to see the Lord.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord?” Chen Hang frowned slightly, recalling Yan Zhen’s past coercion of his predecessor’s body, and asked: “May I ask what the elder Lord wishes with me? Could you be more specific?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Be specific? Why so much talk! Do you think your looks entitle you to arrogance? Just obey!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dressed-up youth grew impatient, unleashing true Qi that coiled into a rope, lashing toward Chen Hang to bind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before the rope reached him,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the other youth beside him raised his palm and dispersed the first youth’s true Qi with a single strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Lord is a noble lady of the Ai clan of Shangyu. During her visit to the Southern Region to pay respects to your sect’s Master, she happened to hear tales of your noble bearing and was deeply drawn to you—hence, she sent us to invite you for a meeting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other youth bowed slightly and smiled at Chen Hang, his voice warm and mellow:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yuan Xing acted improperly and rashly. I apologize on his behalf.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph! You’re always the good one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his true Qi effortlessly scattered, Yuan Xing’s face flushed red and white with anger, shouting loudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“May I ask your esteemed name, elder?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Hang suddenly felt an odd sensation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His heart stirred inexplicably, as if he and the youth who had just saved him were naturally drawn to each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Elder? I dare not accept such a title. As for my humble name, it’s unworthy of your ears.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The youth smiled:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I too am surnamed Chen, single character ‘Ying’.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1304,"2026-06-19T22:29:59.276Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","7a0f6797b49bbc469439cd2742a38ec568a6a83fcccd4565e178de38cc56cfd5","the-path-of-immortality-chapter-10","the-path-of-immortality-chapter-8",545,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-path-of-immortality-cover.jpg"]