Volume One: The Soul-Gathering Gourd and the Spirit-Igniting Lamp Chapter 25: What Is Qi!

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Under the pure and luminous night, the jade-green pool glimmered with an unparalleled serenity.

Crack, crack, crack, crack!

Gu Mo, his eyes hollow and pitch-black, opened his gaping maw, the rows of razor-sharp fangs grinding together with a chilling, bone-deep rasp.

In an instant, a sinister wind swept through the air, filling the scene with terror.

Within those empty eyes of Gu Mo, there was nothing but endless murderous intent, as if in the very next moment he would dismantle Xiao Yulou, devouring his bones and sucking out the marrow.

Seated cross-legged, Xiao Yulou was suddenly startled. With a twist of his fingers, the yellow talisman flashed, and a blazing fireball the size of a wellhead appeared above his palm.

“Flame of the Three Pure Ones and Zhu Rong!”

He shouted, and the scorching waves radiating from the fireball swept forth.

The ghastly, demonic-faced Gu Mo was instantly shrouded in golden firelight from head to toe.

In a flash, an ear-splitting, harrowing shriek of a ghost echoed through the night.

The moon hanging high above turned a blood-red hue.

A gust of yin wind arose, and the Soul-Binding Chain that had burrowed underground suddenly shot out, streaking straight towards Xiao Yulou’s face.

At that critical moment, the clamor of clanging metal filled his ears.

Seated cross-legged, Xiao Yulou was tightly ensnared by the icy, bone-chilling Soul-Binding Chain.

Crack, crack, crack!

From atop the chain wielded by White Wuchang, a surge of frost, cold to the bone, shot toward Xiao Yulou like a current of electricity.

In an instant, golden light radiated out from Xiao Yulou’s entire body. The sharply-angled golden glow resembled a tortoise shell.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The frigid Soul-Binding Chain was forced apart by the golden tortoise shield, creating a loose gap.

The next second, the unconscious Gu Mo gripped the iron chain at his chest and yanked with all his might.

Xiao Yulou, still seated cross-legged, was stunned, yet the overwhelming force gradually dragged him forward.

Off to the side, the King of the Underworld, Silly Girl, was left utterly dumbfounded, eyes wide and stupefied.

As the distance between the two narrowed,

Xiao Yulou arched his brows in anger, reached for the massive fireball floating in the air, and the roaring flames instantly wrapped around his entire forearm.

Thus began a battle of ice and fire along the Soul-Binding Chain encircling Xiao Yulou.

On one end, chilling cold and terror; on the other, blazing radiance and indomitable force.

The two opposing energies clashed with equal might, neither gaining the upper hand.

After several minutes, a thunderous boom erupted.

A wave of energy swept outward, instantly leveling the surrounding vegetation.

Both Xiao Yulou and Gu Mo, still seated cross-legged, were thrown backwards.

A long while later, the bewildered Gu Mo slowly regained consciousness.

As he opened his eyes, he found Xiao Yulou and the King of the Underworld, Silly Girl, pressed right up in his face.

Gu Mo’s jaw dropped in disdain as he looked at the two.

“What the hell are you two trying to do to me?”

Xiao Yulou leaned back, his voice deep and steady.

“Brother Gu, what were you thinking just now? Why did your eyes suddenly become like that?”

Gu Mo raised his brows in confusion.

“I have no idea~ I just felt a sharp pain in my stomach, then lost consciousness!”

This left Xiao Yulou puzzled as well. But then Gu Mo added,

“Actually, it felt exactly like when I turned into a zombie.”

Xiao Yulou was left completely at a loss.

Gu Mo, now fully recovered, glared at the King of the Underworld, Silly Girl, and blurted out,

“Your Majesty, is there something wrong with your Golden Pill? Could it be expired?”

The King of the Underworld, Silly Girl, brushed aside a lock of hair and gazed at Gu Mo with eyes as brilliant as the Milky Way, her voice sweet as honey.

“If you dare question me again, little minion, I’ll make sure you die a wretched death!”

At these words, Gu Mo tensed, a cold sweat breaking out across his back.

With that, Xiao Yulou was left utterly perplexed.

“Brother Gu, you took a Golden Pill?”

Gu Mo scratched his head, then recounted his bizarre tale involving Black and White Wuchang and soul-reaping.

Finally, Xiao Yulou nodded calmly.

“No wonder there’s a dark aura swirling around you.”

Hearing this, Gu Mo inquired about the technique Xiao Yulou had used.

Xiao Yulou, still sitting cross-legged, flicked his robe sleeve with a casual grace and replied,

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“The cultivation methods I know are as numerous as the hairs on an ox; which one do you wish to ask about?”

Gu Mo, seated across from him, was now completely bewildered, his face a portrait of incredulity.

Seeing Gu Mo’s confusion, Xiao Yulou composed himself and explained,

“Brother Gu, all the gifted in this world cultivate Qi.”

Gu Mo frowned, lowering his voice to ask,

“What is Qi?”

Xiao Yulou laughed and began to expound,

“The Dao De Jing says: The Way gave birth to One, One gave birth to Two, Two gave birth to Three, Three gave birth to all things. All things carry Yin and embrace Yang, and their harmony is achieved through Qi. Qi is the One.

Master Ziyang said: The Way arises from the void, giving birth to the primal Qi. From this Qi come Yin and Yang, their union begets the Three Forces, and from the Three, all things are born. In alchemy, one refines essence into Qi, focuses the spirit, regulates the breath; when Yang arises, the primal essence transforms into primal Qi, which fills all meridians, and through reverse cultivation, returns to the One.”

Here, Xiao Yulou licked his lips and formed a Daoist seal.

“Boundless Heavenly Venerable.”

After the classic invocation, he drew a ‘Mind-Spirit Diagram’ on the ground with a branch.

“The primordial spirit governs the mind, the primal essence forms the body, and the primal Qi links body and soul.

Qi, though invisible outwardly, appears inwardly to the adept as the script of the three lights, a sign of innate truth.

The secret of cultivation is in the phrase from the Mind-Spirit Diagram: When the heart is unmoved, Qi is secure.

Cultivators align the twenty-four vertebrae with the twenty-four solar terms, refining the body with Qi to achieve the inner form of jade bones.

Both Qigong practitioners and Sword Immortals begin with Qi.

Sword Immortals infuse their soul into the sword, moving as one. Cultivation is described thus.

Qi is the great harmony of Yin and Yang, the spiritual brilliance of all things; its cultivation is the perception of all things and merging with nature.”

Hearing these technical terms, Gu Mo was left utterly confused.

After all, Gu Mo was a complete layman; such orthodox Daoist texts were far too profound for him.

It seemed that without scholarly knowledge, everything was as difficult as reaching the heavens.

But Xiao Yulou had no idea Gu Mo was so hopeless.

In the blink of an eye, Xiao Yulou launched into another stream of professional jargon:

“The spirit of the heart guards the soul; the spirit of the lungs, bright and pure, forms from emptiness.

The liver spirit, Dragon Smoke, holds clarity; the spleen spirit, Ever-Present, keeps the soul stable.

The kidney spirit, Dark Mystery, nurtures the infant; the gallbladder spirit, Dragon Radiance, commands awe.

The spirits of the five organs and six viscera move within the heart, circulating the celestial scriptures. Preserved day and night, one attains longevity.”

Having recited this lengthy passage, Xiao Yulou deliberately paused to let Gu Mo digest it.

Regardless of Gu Mo’s willingness, he continued, swaying his head and explaining,

“Internal refinement means irrigating the elixir field with essence and Qi, using the five organs as inner fire to transmute the primordial spirit into the Golden Pill.

Cultivation of the Five Elements is the essence of heaven and earth.

The mind-spirit is called the elixir’s core, so the Golden Pill is the refined body and the symbol of a perfected spirit.

The Great Way is fifty, heaven hides seven, forty-nine remain—leaving a thread of life.

Refining from essence is a threshold open to all, yet as daunting as a carp leaping the dragon gate.

Qi practitioners can cultivate without eating or drinking, but for mortals, refinement must address food and drink.

In the Cold Elixir Hall: ‘If the body does not move, essence is preserved.’ This is described in the internal landscape diagram: essence not leaking downward, rising as spirit; with balanced diet, an empty mind and full belly, hunger transformed into Qi and thirst into saliva.”

All the while, Xiao Yulou sketched diagrams of the Five Elements and Yin-Yang on the ground as he spoke.

“The undivided Qi, also called True One Qi, the innate essence, the primordial Qi of pure emptiness—by whatever name, it is nothing but the true, silent, thoughtless presence, neither within nor without, hidden within the physical form, known as the Dharma Body.

Though so hard to conceive or fathom, it is both distant as the horizon and close at hand.

As Confucius said: ‘If I desire benevolence, benevolence is at hand.’

Thus, this primordial Qi is utterly natural, never ceasing for an instant; without it, there is no life, and how could one be human?

But the moment one seeks it, obstacles multiply.

Only by letting go of all attachments, leaving nothing behind, does this void Qi reveal itself.

After years of practice, this becomes clear.

Know that this void Qi is identical in all beings—rich or poor, noble or humble, in life or death, in hardship or ease, unchanged.

Breath may wax and wane, but primordial Qi is constant.

In my humble opinion, people err in seeking only pure and clear Qi, thinking the void Qi is absent in dull or turbid moments.

Yet this Qi is neither born of clarity nor lost in murkiness; the only obstacle is failing to abandon desire and uphold principle.

In clarity, one lingers and glances about; in turbid times, one succumbs to melancholy.

The primordial Qi is ever-present, illuminating all as the sun and moon, but when the mind clouds, it is obscured as by drifting clouds, the sun and moon hidden.

One must realize that primordial Qi has no signs or form; it is the root of all postnatal essence, Qi, and spirit, and the sovereign of the prenatal.

Thus, the void Qi is born with Yin and Yang in the prenatal, and is stored in Yin and Yang in the postnatal.

In summary, if one can sweep away all idle thoughts and distractions, keeping the mind pure and untainted, it is enough...”

By now, Gu Mo’s mind was a complete, blank muddle.

Yet Xiao Yulou, oblivious as ever, showed no sign of stopping.

Gu Mo cleared his throat, quickly raising his hands to interrupt,

“Master Xiao... Master Xiao!”

Xiao Yulou looked at Gu Mo in bewilderment and asked,

“What is it, Brother Gu?”

Gu Mo wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said, with considerable embarrassment,

“Master Xiao, your long dissertation has my head buzzing!”

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“Ah...?”

Gu Mo looked at the clueless Xiao Yulou and began to explain.

“Master Xiao, I may have attended university before, but I’m just a little incense shop owner... This is all too abstruse for me!”

Hearing this, Xiao Yulou was so astonished he nearly forgot to breathe, his jaw slack with disbelief.

Seeing Xiao Yulou’s dumbfounded look, Gu Mo felt uneasy.

No matter what, Xiao Yulou had shown himself to be deeply loyal and righteous.

Though he and Gu Mo had only just met, at the first sign of danger, this eccentric Daoist did not hesitate to stand before him.

Such camaraderie, truly, was beyond words.

After pondering for a while, Gu Mo took a deep breath and said awkwardly,

“Master Xiao, was I too rude...?”

Xiao Yulou waved his hand dismissively.

“You overstate it, Brother Gu. I was simply taken aback for a moment.”

Seeing Xiao Yulou’s sincere expression, Gu Mo finally felt the weight in his heart lift.

At this moment, Xiao Yulou sighed and looked earnestly into Gu Mo’s eyes.

“Brother Gu, you were born with an extremely Yin fate and cultivate ‘Ghost Qi Techniques,’ which seem to be the polar opposite of my ‘Celestial Gang Vital Energy.’ Yin and Yang, perfectly complementary!”

Gu Mo was startled, then asked,

“So what should I do? Will practicing ghost Qi make my beard fall out, or make me speak in a weird, effeminate voice like some kind of pervert?”

Xiao Yulou was taken aback, then looked at Gu Mo and replied,

“Rest assured, Brother Gu, such things will not happen!”

With that, Gu Mo was much relieved.

“Master Xiao, what stages must one go through in cultivation?”

Faced with this new question, Xiao Yulou pressed his palms together and intoned, “Boundless Heavenly Venerable.”

“That’s simple. The first step in cultivating to immortality is to strengthen the body and fill it with energy.

Only then can you sense the presence of Qi.

When you master Qi cultivation, you begin to build the foundation; once the foundation is firm,

the path continues through: Internal Elixir, Divine Transformation, Nascent Soul, Reverse Infant, Void Breaking, and Sudden Emptiness. Each stage is as difficult as ascending to heaven!”

Gu Mo rubbed his hands together with a delighted grin, his spirits lifted by the answer.

“Master Xiao, that’s more like it! Now I understand. What comes after Foundation Building?”

Xiao Yulou broke out in a cold sweat, gradually petrifying in the breeze.

After a moment, he pursed his lips and replied,

“Strengthening the body, Qi cultivation, Foundation Building, Internal Elixir, Divine Transformation, Nascent Soul, Reverse Infant, Void Breaking, Sudden Emptiness.”

Hearing these almost fantastical terms, Gu Mo continued to ask,

“Master Xiao, are the steps of your Daoist cultivation any different?”

Indeed, when discussing topics he was interested in, Gu Mo’s intelligence finally shone through.

“Boundless Heavenly Venerable, of course my path of cultivation is different…”

As he spoke, Xiao Yulou gazed toward Jade Void Peak, his eyes filled with longing—perhaps the little Daoist was missing Five Villages Monastery.

Collecting his thoughts, Xiao Yulou continued,

“My old master said the path of cultivation is as follows: Qi cultivation, Foundation Building, Opening Light, Fusion, Heart Movement, Golden Pill, Nascent Soul, Out-of-Body, Divine Division, Union, Cave Void, Great Accomplishment, and Tribulation Crossing!”

“Huh...?”

Gu Mo paused, then asked,

“How can the path to immortality differ so much between the two schools?”

Xiao Yulou sighed gently, looking at Gu Mo as he spoke,

“Brother Gu, if I tell you the truth, you won’t hit me, will you?”

Gu Mo waved his hand grandly.

“Master Xiao, don’t be so formal! Why would I ever hit you?”

Relieved, Xiao Yulou finally exhaled.

“That’s good! The previous steps to cultivation are indeed rather peculiar; this method was told to me by one of my martial uncles. And…”

At this, Xiao Yulou hesitated, as if it was difficult to continue.

But Gu Mo, sitting across from him, looked on with eager anticipation…