Chapter 83: Chapter 83: Perfectly Arranged

The first two treasures had been so perfectly suited to his needs that Qi Yun no longer felt as desperate for this final one.

An added bonus, after all, is never as staggering as a lifeline.

Lifting the lid of the final wooden chest, a rich and tranquil aura of Dao Rhyme, seemingly capable of cleansing the very soul, emanated forth, accompanied by a faint, warm glow that reflected in Qi Yun’s deep pupils.

"A Magical Artifact?"

Shen Qiyun’s expression showed a hint of surprise as he leaned over to carefully examine the item in the box.

It was a Meditation Mat.

Its color was a simple and ancient deep bluish-brown, and its surface carried a warm, jade-like sheen.

The Meditation Mat was not woven from ordinary plants, but from a kind of strange Spirit Grass Qi Yun had never seen before—one that was slender yet resilient. The stems of the grass naturally contained a faint Spiritual Mechanism.

On the front of the Meditation Mat, a complete Taiji Bagua Diagram was embroidered in the center. The Yin Yang Fish Eyes were outlined with silvery-white and ink-black Spirit Silk, and they seemed to slowly swirl.

The Eight Trigrams Talismans circled the diagram, their lines sharp and clear.

And encircling the Taiji Diagram, countless more symbols were densely embroidered—infinitesimal as ants, yet each stroke exquisite—forming Taoist Cloud Seal Secret Text and Mysterious and Profound Magic Patterns.

Merely gazing upon it was enough to calm the mind and make distracting thoughts fade away.

"Great Marvelous True Luo?"

Retrieving the note from the wooden box, Qi Yun scanned it and immediately understood that this Meditation Mat was also likely the handiwork of the Elder Master.

[Great Marvelous True Luo: Made from Spirit Grass, which is naturally imbued with Dao Rhyme from the Great Marvelous True Meaning Hut. For 3,333 days and nights, it was worked on by an enlightened Master who recited scriptures and chanted Curses, inscribing it with the core Magic Patterns for Dharma Guardian and Demon Exorcism and the Condensing Spirit Secret Seal. It was then woven together using an Ancient Skill.]

[Efficacy: When a Cultivator sits cross-legged upon it, it can calm the heart and quiet the spirit, greatly protecting them from the assault of Heart Demons. Furthermore, it can nourish the soul and help a Cultivator’s Innate Divine Rhyme to grow.]

"Help the Divine Rhyme to grow?"

Seeing the last few lines on the note, a light suddenly flashed in Qi Yun’s eyes.

’As expected!’

This Meditation Mat was also the Elder Master’s handiwork.

After achieving Five Viscera Perfection in the Qi Refining Fifth Layer, the next step is the Qi Refining Sixth Layer: Concentrating Spirit and Gathering Qi to comprehend the Innate Divine Rhyme.

This stage requires immense willpower to rein in all distracting thoughts. One must sense and condense that single, ethereal point of Innate Divine Rhyme. Ultimately, this point is used to blast open the Ancestral Acupoint between the eyebrows, thereby opening the Sea of Consciousness. This process gives birth to Divine Sense, granting the profound abilities of Inner Observation of the Self and Outer Perception of Heaven and Earth. One’s control over True Qi will also reach the Micro Realm.

The greatest challenge of this step lies in the chaotic nature of the human mind. With countless thoughts constantly arising, trying to capture and condense that single point of Innate Divine Rhyme from within the mental turmoil is incredibly difficult.

It’s an immense test of a Cultivator’s willpower, mental fortitude, and that elusive, mysterious quality known as comprehension.

But this Great Marvelous True Luo Meditation Mat not only protects a Cultivator from the interference of Heart Demons and helps them calm their mind, it also fosters their Divine Rhyme, lowering the difficulty of breaking open the Ancestral Acupoint.

"A gourd of Jade Containing Juice and a Great Marvelous True Luo... these two treasures alone have boosted my chances of breaking through to the Qi Refining Sixth Layer by at least fifty percent."

This feeling of having everything so clearly laid out, of having every obstacle on the path cleared in advance...

’This feeling of having powerful backing... it’s fucking amazing!’

Ever since he’d arrived in this world, Qi Yun had been forced to rely on himself for everything—dancing on a knife’s edge, surviving by his wits and schemes.

Now, for the first time, he was experiencing with crystal clarity just how exhilarating it was to have connections in high places!

Although he would surely have to repay these favors in the future...

...even so, Qi Yun didn’t mind at all.

Cause and effect, give and take—it was all fair and reasonable.

By the standards of the Holy Sect, the Elder Master’s actions already made him an exceptionally kind person.

Clutching the cool Jade Gourd and the smooth, warm Great Marvelous True Luo Meditation Mat, Qi Yun didn’t hesitate for a second. He turned and walked into the meditation chamber within his courtyard, the one he normally used for closed-door cultivation.

The meditation chamber was sparsely furnished, containing only a stone bed and an incense table. There was nothing else, giving it an air of cold tranquility.

He shut the stone door behind him, completely sealing off the clamor of the outside world.

He carefully placed the Great Marvelous True Luo Meditation Mat upon the stone bed.

The moment the Meditation Mat settled, the profound Cloud Seal Secret Text upon it seemed to flash with a faint light.

A tranquil Dao Rhyme, one that caused the Heart and Spirit to settle involuntarily, quietly began to permeate the air, changing the entire atmosphere of the chamber.

Once this was done, Qi Yun took a deep breath and sat cross-legged upon the Meditation Mat.

The Meditation Mat was not soft to the touch. Instead, it had a strange resilience and supportiveness. The moment he sat on it, he felt a cool sensation rise from his tailbone straight up to his Celestial Spirit.

It swiftly calmed his agitated mind, which had been stirred up by the recent series of battles and the receipt of such incredible treasures.

His mind became unprecedentedly clear and focused.

’What a treasure!’

Qi Yun praised inwardly, delaying no further.

He pulled out the stopper of the Jade Gourd.

Instantly, an indescribably fresh medicinal fragrance, mixed with a dense, life-giving Qi of the Five Elements, wafted out.

Inhaling just a wisp of it made all his internal organs feel at ease.

Tilting his head back, he drank the entire gourd of light blue Jade Containing Juice, which shimmered with starlight, in a single gulp.

The Spiritual Liquid was cool on his tongue and had a strange texture. It slid down his throat without the slightest resistance.

However, the moment the Spiritual Liquid landed in his stomach—

BOOM!

Like a spark falling into hot oil, a vast yet gentle medicinal power erupted.

But this power wasn’t violent or chaotic. Like a warm tide, it contained an incredibly pure life force of the Five Elements. It instantly surged through his limbs and bones, finally converging toward the core of his internal organs like a hundred rivers flowing to the sea.

Qi Yun dared not be careless. He immediately held his breath, focused his mind, and operated his Dharma Gate at full power to guide the potent medicinal energy.

As the medicinal power was gradually digested and absorbed into his body...

Qi Yun’s body trembled faintly. The pores all over his body opened involuntarily, expelling minuscule, acrid-smelling metabolic impurities.

A faint radiance of five different colors began to shimmer on the surface of his skin.

Corresponding to the red of the heart, white of the lungs, black of the kidneys, green of the liver, and yellow of the spleen, the Qi of the Five Viscera circulated in turn, gradually forming a perfect and stable internal cycle.

The bottlenecks that would have previously required slow, painstaking effort to overcome were now dissolving as quickly as snow under the spring sun.

An unknown amount of time passed—perhaps one hour, perhaps several.

When the very last trace of medicinal power was completely absorbed and refined...

The circulation of the Qi of the Five Viscera within Qi Yun’s body came to a sudden halt.

Then, it began to circulate on its own again, following a new, flawlessly harmonious rhythm—ceaseless and self-sustaining!

He snapped his eyes open, a five-colored radiance flashing for an instant in their depths before vanishing.

Gently clenching his fist, he felt power surging through his body. His Inner Breath was long, deep, and vigorous.

An unprecedented sense of Perfection welled up from the very depths of his being.

Qi Refining Fifth Layer, the tempering of the five viscera—the Realm of Perfection!

Feeling the incredibly resilient and vibrant life force within him, and the flawless internal circulation, Qi Yun couldn’t stop a satisfied smile from spreading across his face.

’One more push!’

’I’ll try to break through to the Qi Refining Sixth Layer!’

Without pausing, Qi Yun fixed his blazing gaze on the Great Marvelous True Luo Meditation Mat beneath him, which exuded a tranquil Dao Rhyme.

His five viscera had already reached Perfection.

The next step was to condense his Divine Rhyme, push for the Qi Refining Sixth Layer, and blast open the Ancestral Acupoint!

...