Martial Dao: Peace by Force

Chapter 252: Chapter 169: I Know... You Are a Qi Refiner

”Please, elaborate,” Wan Ze said.

Feng Jiuchen gathered his thoughts before speaking slowly. ”The Qi Refiners of today are no longer Qi Refiners in the traditional sense. Traditional ones cultivated the Inner Core, refined True Qi, and followed the orthodox path of the Taoist Sects. But in this world, our Cultivation is of the Divine Soul... As far as I know, there are five realms in total: Spirit Awakening, Soul Condensation, Tribulation Crossing, Divine Transformation, and Returning to Truth.”

Wan Ze silently committed these five realms to memory and couldn’t help but ask, ”The way of the Divine Soul?”

”Correct. The physical body is a ship, and the Divine Soul is the person on board. The ship can be old and battered, but as long as it still floats, the person can continue their voyage... I’ve even heard that some powerful Qi Refiners can switch physical bodies,” Feng Jiuchen remarked. ”This also explains why it’s so hard to encounter Qi Refiners in the real world. It’s not that they don’t exist, but that they hide themselves too well—both literally and through their Divine Abilities.”

Wan Ze drew in a sharp breath. ”So you’re saying a Qi Refiner who is very strong in this world might not be in the real world? That their physical bodies could be quite fragile?”

”You’re right, but not completely.” Feng Jiuchen shook his head, seeming to weigh his words. ”Those with an extraordinary Divine Soul often have quick, agile minds. They also undertake Cultivation in the real world—not just through traditional methods like seated meditation and Breathing, but with a greater emphasis on the Martial Dao.”

He paused for a moment before continuing, ”In Huangliang, most Cultivators practice Dual Cultivation of Soul and Body. They temper their Divine Souls here and forge their physical bodies in the real world. But don’t for a second think their martial prowess is low. As far as I know, most Cultivators are at the Refining Viscera Level, and a few extraordinarily talented individuals have even reached Refining Force in their Martial Dao Cultivation.”

Wan Ze’s expression changed.

’The Refining Viscera Level... In the real world’s Martial Dao Realm, that was already a considerable achievement.’

’After all, it was a great accomplishment for an ordinary Martial Artist to reach the Refining Viscera Early Stage in their entire lifetime. As for Refining Force... that was another matter entirely. Those individuals truly stood at the apex of the Martial Dao.’

”What’s far more terrifying than their Martial Dao Cultivation, however, are the Qi Refiners who have mastered ancient legacies,” Feng Jiuchen said gravely, his expression turning serious. ”The methods at their command may lack the explosive power of the Martial Dao, but they are bizarre and nearly impossible to defend against... They can lie dormant in the real world, completely unnoticed.”

Wan Ze looked at him, confused.

Feng Jiuchen offered an example, his tone regretful. ”I once encountered a Qi Refiner who was a psychology expert in real life. He used unorthodox methods of hypnosis on his patients to amass billions and gather nearly a thousand followers.”

Wan Ze’s brow furrowed.

”Once under his hypnosis, those people were completely subservient to him... His followers came from all walks of life. If another Qi Refiner hadn’t noticed, he could have lived a life of luxury, calling the shots in that circle forever.”

”What happened then?”

”He eventually went down the wrong path, and his body and soul were obliterated,” Feng Jiuchen said, shaking his head. ”He was too greedy and overreached. He provoked someone he shouldn’t have, and that person found his Divine Soul here in Huangliang and killed it on the spot. In the real world, he suddenly collapsed in his office, blood pouring from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. The doctors called it an acute cerebral hemorrhage... No one in the outside world ever knew the real reason.”

Wan Ze was shaken to the core.

’This was no longer a simple case of ”Cultivation can affect reality.” This was manipulating reality from another dimension entirely!’

”So, Cultivation in this world can affect the real world?” he confirmed.

”You could say that, but it’s limited to aspects concerning the Divine Soul,” Feng Jiuchen nodded. ”The specifics depend on the legacy. Some legacies specialize in hypnosis and mind control, some in foresight and divination, and others in Divine Soul attacks... There is a vast array, each with its own strengths. But in essence, they all serve to hone the Divine Soul, making it stronger, more resilient, and harder to destroy.”

He paused, then said with a sigh, ”I have been pursuing Cultivation in Huangliang for ten years, but it’s no exaggeration to say that this world is probably less than one-thousandth explored. Even just Litian City... as far as I know, no one has ever made it out.”

Wan Ze was surprised. He gave a wry smile. ”Then what do you all rely on for your Cultivation?”

”Tombs,” Feng Jiuchen said, his gaze profound.

’Wan Ze’s questions always hit the nail on the head, getting right to the most crucial point.’

”Tombs?” Just from hearing the word, Wan Ze’s mind was already racing with possibilities.

”It’s just as you’re thinking,” Feng Jiuchen said slowly. ”Cultivation here doesn’t grant immortality. Even the most powerful Qi Refiners will one day perish. Everything they leave behind—the fruits of their life’s work, even the Magical Artifacts and Elixir Pills they carried—becomes a Tomb... which draws everyone to fight over it.”

Wan Ze was stunned. ”If an expert from a Major Sect perishes, is their Tomb also plundered?”

”Yes.” Feng Jiuchen’s answer was stunning. ”Big fish eat small fish. In this world, the fall of a powerful expert is a fatal blow to their organization. The Tongchen Pavilion experienced this firsthand. Eighty years ago, one of our Elders passed away. The news got out, and less than three days later, three Sects joined forces to attack us. They almost wiped the Tongchen Pavilion right out of Litian City.”

His tone was calm, but his few words painted a picture of blood and carnage.

”Of course, most of the Tombs that appear are from more distant eras—so ancient you can hardly imagine it,” Feng Jiuchen said slowly, as if lost in recollection. ”The masters of those Tombs might have been powerful Cultivators from a thousand, two thousand, or even more years ago. The legacies they left behind hold a fatal allure. Sometimes, the appearance of a single such Tomb is enough to completely change the balance of power in Litian City...”