Chapter Two: Breakthrough

Chen Yi also noticed that, aside from the change in his temperament, his mind had become far more agile than before. Questions that once baffled him now became clear with a single thought—this was a sign of his greatly heightened comprehension.

Standing atop the mountain peak, gazing at the boundless sea of clouds, the confusion on Chen Yi’s face faded, replaced by a look of growing determination. He swung his arm forcefully and murmured under his breath, “Whether as the immortal cultivator Chen Yi or the modern man Chen Yi, I am myself, and myself is Chen Yi. In that memory, life on Earth was so brilliant and vivid. In this life, I shall also live as splendidly as those on Earth—free from the constraints of others, rising above the ordinary. The past life has ended; in this life, I must shine anew.”

After speaking these words, Chen Yi felt a wave of relief wash over him. His headache vanished without a trace, and a sense of indescribable comfort filled his entire being. He faintly sensed that the memories of his previous and current lives had completely merged, granting him a rebirth of a different sort.

With this new beginning, the true energy within him stirred to life. He felt the moment to break through to the second level of Qi Refinement had arrived. He began to circulate the Five Elements Codex, the foundational technique of the Five Elements Sect, and true energy rapidly coursed through his body.

As the true energy cycled within him—once, twice, three times...—when it reached the twelfth circulation, Chen Yi’s nerves tensed.

The hurdle from the second to the third level of Qi Refinement was precisely at the thirteenth cycle of true energy. The last time he attempted to break through, he failed to let the twelfth cycle flow smoothly, and forcing it led to a backlash, leaving him unconscious for a long while.

A soft “boom” sounded. The spiritual energy around him surged toward Chen Yi, and the troublesome twelfth cycle that had caused him so much grief days ago was instantly surpassed. His cultivation broke through from the second to the third level of Qi Refinement.

As true energy coursed through his body, Chen Yi felt his meridians expand by a third, and the speed of his energy circulation increased significantly.

He exhaled sharply—a stream of white breath, like a three-foot sword, shot into the air.

Breath like a sword: the sign of reaching the third level of Qi Refinement.

At last, Chen Yi had achieved the third level.

According to his recollections, reaching the third level meant one could lift two thousand pounds. Not far away, he spotted a boulder the size of a table.

That massive stone must have weighed two thousand pounds.

Chen Yi grasped both sides of the stone, gathered his true energy, and hurled it far into the distance. Watching the stone land, he felt a rush of excitement.

The Qi Refinement stage is divided into nine levels, each with its own hallmark: first level, spiritual energy enters the body; second level, true energy tempers the body; third level, breath becomes a sword; fourth level, true energy can be projected outward; fifth level, energy transforms into streams; sixth level, energy forms a wall; seventh level, energy condenses into a force field; eighth level, energy liquefies; ninth level, liquid energy becomes true essence.

Each level of Qi Refinement is a difficult obstacle to overcome. It took Chen Yi several months to reach the first level from an ordinary man, a full year to reach the second, and typically two to three years to reach the third. Thanks to this opportunity, Chen Yi had ascended to the third level, saving himself years of hard cultivation compared to his peers.

It’s clear how arduous cultivation is—more difficult than ascending to the heavens itself. Each level is a world apart.

Because his soul had grown stronger and his understanding much deeper, Chen Yi’s true energy became lively, allowing him to break through to the third level with ease. His energy flowed steadily and vibrantly within him, his foundation solid without the slightest flaw. This, too, was nothing short of miraculous.