Following his master's instructions, Li Yun Fei searched the graveyard for more stones emitting yin energy. Despite his efforts, he only found two. Disappointed, he decided to head back home.
After 30 minutes, he arrived home and found his parents asleep. He quietly slipped into his room, feeling a mix of exhaustion and anticipation. As he prepared to refine his body using the Abyssal Body Refining Technique, his mind buzzed with questions and doubts.
The technique, an Immortal-level cultivation method, focused on physical tempering through abyssal qi. However, without access to this vital energy, Li Yun Fei's frustration grew. He cursed under his breath, his impatience boiling over.
"You damn old demon! Why didn't you remind me of this? Now I can't even call him for 12 hours to ask. Where the hell do I find abyssal qi?"
In response, an angry voice echoed in his mind. "Brat, how dare you be rude to your master! As for abyssal qi, why didn't you ask earlier? And don't you know what kind of qi is similar and can be used instead of abyssal qi? If you don't even know these fundamentals, what more can you do? Just call your master every time?"
Li Yun Fei was shocked and taken aback by the sudden outburst. He hadn't expected his master to respond so quickly, especially after saying he needed to rest. "Master, I didn't mean to be disrespectful. I was just frustrated. Please enlighten me. What kind of qi can I use instead of abyssal qi?"
"Are you nuts? You can use all sorts of malevolent qi, such as dark yin qi, demonic qi, murderous qi, ghost qi, death qi, and blood qi. Alas, what a dumb disciple," the old demon grumbled.
Li Yun Fei felt a mix of relief and embarrassment. He had overlooked these alternatives in his frustration. "Thank you, master. I'll find one of those qi types to begin my cultivation."
"You better," the old demon snapped. "And next time, think before you speak. Now, let me rest in peace for these 12 hours."
As the voice faded from his mind, Li Yun Fei took a deep breath. He needed to find a source of one of these qi types quickly. Dark yin qi might be the easiest to locate, given his proximity to the graveyard. Yet, he realized he didn't know specific places where this qi existed. Desperate for guidance, he wished there might be a location within the graveyard where he could stumble upon the dense, cold atmosphere, likely rich with normal yin qi. Determined, he got dressed and quietly slipped out of the house, heading back toward the graveyard in Xue Mansion's backyard with his father's car. He yearned to discover such a place, his heart pulsing with anticipation.
(Note: Dark yin qi condenses from many yin qi, so it is located within very dense yin qi areas.)
After 30 minutes, he arrived at the graveyard again and cursed in a low voice, "Damn old demon, if you had told me earlier, I wouldn't have to come again. Making me come here twice."
"Hey, brat, I can hear you! Dare to curse me again?" the old demon's angry voice echoed in his head.
Hearing his master's voice, he quickly closed his mouth and entered the graveyard. He searched everywhere, hoping to find a place with rich normal yin qi. After combing through half of the graveyard without success, he sat down to think about how to search the remaining half. But remembering his goal, he got up and continued his search. After 20 minutes, he finally found a place saturated with yin qi and excitedly ran towards it, hoping to find dark yin qi.
As he approached the area, feeling an extremely cold temperature causing his body to shiver, he dashed into the place and began sensing for dark yin qi.
"Phew, I finally found it," he said with relief.
He then sat cross-legged and reviewed the Abyssal Body technique again. The first stage of the Abyssal Body was Abyssal Body Formation: External Refining. This involved absorbing the dark yin qi and using it to temper and strengthen his physical body. The process required drawing the qi into his body and circulating it through his meridians, allowing it to permeate his muscles and bones to gradually transform them.
With the technique firmly in mind, Li Yun Fei began to focus. He closed his eyes and steadied his breathing, feeling the dense, cold energy around him. Slowly, he started to draw the dark yin qi toward him. It felt like icy tendrils wrapping around his body, chilling him to the bone. He gritted his teeth and continued to draw the qi in, directing it through his meridians.
The process was agonizing. The dark yin qi was harsh and unforgiving, and as it flowed through him, it felt like a thousand needles stabbing into his flesh. Li Yun Fei clenched his fists and fought through the pain, determined to succeed. He visualized the qi moving through his body, strengthening his muscles and fortifying his bones.
Minutes turned into hours as he persevered, sweat pouring down his face despite the cold. The dark yin qi slowly began to integrate with his body, and he could feel a profound change taking place. His muscles felt denser, his bones sturdier. The pain gradually subsided, replaced by a sensation of immense power.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he completed the first stage. He opened his eyes, panting heavily, but with a sense of accomplishment. His body felt different—stronger, more resilient. He knew this was just the beginning, but it was a crucial first step on his path to power.
As he stood up, he couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. He had done it. Despite the challenges and the pain, he had begun his journey to mastering the Abyssal Body. He looked around the graveyard and realized the yin qi was gone, leaving only a plain, unremarkable place.
"Whew, I finally did it. But something feels strange. Why do I feel like I can absorb everything?" Li Yun Fei said, puzzled.
"Well, brat, it took you less time than I expected—not bad," the old demon's voice echoed in his mind. "As for why you can absorb everything, it's because of your body, not just the technique. Your physique might have the ability to absorb qi or something even more unique. You might discover more about your body's capabilities in the future."
"Yes, master," said Li Yun Fei. Then he looked at his watch and realized it was 3 a.m. He quickly got into the car and headed back to his house. Upon arriving home, he felt relieved that his parents were still sleeping and hadn't noticed his absence. He slipped into his room and took another bath to cleanse himself of the graveyard's grime. Exhausted, he finally went to sleep.
In the morning, at 8 a.m., Li Yun Fei woke up and went downstairs. Despite sleeping for less than five hours, he felt refreshed due to his body cultivation. He entered the kitchen and sat down at the table. As he did, his father looked at him with a curious expression.
"Son, what happened to your body?" his father asked, noticing something different.
"Nothing happened, Dad," Li Yun Fei replied, not wanting to delve into details.
Sensing his son's reluctance to talk, his father let it go and changed the topic. "Son, since you want to play the guqin again, how about training with Mei Mei and Lin MengXue? You and they used to love playing the guqin together when you were young. Even though you stopped playing, they never stopped training from me. They both reached the advanced stage. Don't you feel any pressure from them?"
Hearing his father mention them, Li Yun Fei felt a headache coming on. He knew that if he played the guqin with them, his peace would be disrupted. Trying to avoid the situation, he smiled and said, "Dad, it's fine. I want to train alone. And I promise I will surpass them in a few months."
His father raised an eyebrow but didn't push the issue. "Alright, if that's what you want. Just remember that you don't have to do everything by yourself. Sometimes, having friends around can make things easier."
Li Yun Fei nodded, appreciating his father's understanding. "Thanks, Dad. I'll keep that in mind."
Seeing that his son wasn't keen on discussing the guqin, Li Yun Fei's father shifted to a more serious topic. His face darkened as he asked, "Son, how about your school grades? I heard you got zeros in all your exams and skipped many classes. Regarding this matter, do you want me to guide you closely by restricting you from going out again? You need to take your education seriously, Li Yun Fei. Skipping classes and failing exams is unacceptable."
"Dad, but…"
"There is no 'but.' From today on, you have to take extra classes from Professor Yun. That's an order!"
Li Yun Fei's heart sank. Professor Yun was known for her strictness and high expectations. Balancing his cultivation and these extra classes was going to be a monumental challenge. But he knew there was no point in arguing. His father had made up his mind.
"Yes, Dad," Li Yun Fei replied, trying to mask his frustration. "I'll do it."
"Good," his father said, his expression remaining stern. Then he got up and went to the guqin class he taught. Li Yun Fei's father was one of the three legendary masters known as The Harmonic Sage, he earned this title not only for his mastery of the guqin but also for his proficiency in numerous other musical instruments.
Seeing his father leaving, Li Yun Fei quickly finished his breakfast and called out to his mom, "Mom, I'm heading to university now. Today, I'll take the car and might be late."
"Son, be careful on the way. And don't skip classes; the final exams are coming up," his mother reminded him.
"Alright, Mom," he responded, grabbing the car keys before heading out the door. He quickly made his way to the university, feeling a sense of annoyance at the thought of dealing with schoolwork. Balancing his studies, cultivation, and musical training was becoming increasingly challenging.
As he drove through a tunnel, Li Yun Fei suddenly heard a voice. It was the old demon. "Brat, be careful!" the voice echoed.
But it was too late. A group of black cars blocked his path, and men in military uniforms emerged, surrounding his car.