46: Chapter 46 Qi Refining Stage

The system panel floated before his eyes, the characters more solid than before Foundation Establishment, glowing with a faint jade luster.

Chen Zhen sat in the chair in his room, reading through the lines:

[Name: Chen Zhen]

[Realm: Qi Refinement Stage (0.01%)]

[Spiritual Qi Value: 10 / 10 (Daily natural recovery 5 points, refreshes at the Hour of the Rat)]

[Cultivation: 50 / 500 (Qi Refining Stage 1)]

[Title: Qi Refining Cultivator (All-dimension growth speed +10%)]

Below were the detailed dimensions, all with light golden borders, clearly upgraded:

[Health Dimension: Lv.3 (228 / 300) Status: Physical Optimization (Passive)]

[Learning Dimension: Lv.4 (177.7 / 800) Status: Literary Perception (Passive)]

[Social Dimension: Lv.1 (118 / 200) Status: Affinity Field (Weak, Passive)]

[Skill Dimension: Cooking 58/100, Organizing 72/100, Hand-drawing Lv.2 (150/300), Structural Drafting Beginner (60/100)]

[exploration dimension: Lv.1 (185 / 200) Status: Anomaly Perception (Passive, radius 10 meters)]

The new area was [Spell Bar], concisely listing three icons:

[Cleaning Spell (Lv.1)]: Consumes 1 point of Spiritual Qi, cleans surface dirt on non-living objects within a 1-meter radius. Casting time: Instant. Mastery: 0 / 100.

[Water Condensation Spell (Lv.1)]: Consumes 2 points of Spiritual Qi, condenses approximately 500 milliliters of pure drinking water from the air. Casting time: 3 seconds. Mastery: 0 / 100.

[Eye-Brightening Spell (Lv.1)]: Consumes 3 points of Spiritual Qi, temporarily boosts vision to the theoretical limit (approximately 5.3), lasts 30 minutes. Casting time: 5 seconds. Mastery: 0 / 100.

Behind each Spell was a line of small text: "Increasing mastery can reduce Spiritual Qi consumption, shorten casting time, or enhance effects."

At the very bottom was [Storage Space]: 1 cubic meter, only for storing System-produced items and items containing Spiritual Qi. Current status: Empty.

Chen Zhen finished reading and let out a long breath.

Qi Refinement Stage.

Spiritual Qi.

Spells.

These words had transformed from empty concepts into real data on the system panel, into that warm, solid energy flowing through his body.

With a thought, he opened his palm, focusing his intent on his center.

A trace of faint, almost invisible white light appeared in his palm, and the surrounding air seemed to distort slightly.

He could clearly feel a thin wisp of Spiritual Qi separating from his Dantian, flowing along his arm meridians to his palm.

This was the Foundation of externalizing Spiritual Qi.

He didn't cast a Spell immediately, but instead felt this power first.

It was very gentle, but contained an inner "malleable" characteristic, as if it could change form and achieve effects according to his intent.

He looked at the room.

The math notes he had organized last night were spread out on the desk, a half-drunk water glass sat nearby, and there was some dust on the floor brought in from outside.

The leaves of the pothos on the windowsill were covered in a thin layer of dust.

Very good, a testing ground.

He walked to the desk, extended his right hand toward the tabletop, and locked his intent on "clean."

1 point of Spiritual Qi was drained from his Dantian.

A white light flashed gently in his palm.

There was no sound, no special effects, but the tabletop changed instantly.

The tiny creases at the edges of the paper were smoothed out, the ink looked clearer, and even the wood grain appeared clean and lustrous.

All dust, fingerprints, and even water stains accidentally spilled earlier on the desktop had vanished without a trace.

It was as if it had been handled by the most professional cleaner with top-tier tools, and completed in an instant.

Chen Zhen picked up a piece of draft paper and touched it.

The paper was dry and crisp, with no residue of any cleaning agent.

He looked at the pothos on the windowsill again.

The dust on the leaves was gone, the green was brighter, and there was even a tiny droplet of water condensed at the leaf tip.

Not a Spell effect, but exhaled by the leaves themselves.

Cleaning Spell, true to its name.

He walked to the water glass.

There was a mouthful of overnight water left at the bottom, and he didn't want to drink it.

This time, he cupped his hands together and locked his intent on "condense water from the air."

2 points of Spiritual Qi consumed.

Between his palms, the air fluctuated slightly, and the temperature seemed to drop a little.

Three seconds later, a fist-sized, clear, and transparent water sphere appeared out of thin air, hovering between his palms.

The water sphere was stable, its surface tension keeping it in a perfect spherical shape.

Chen Zhen could feel he had weak control over this mass of water.

He could move it and change its shape, but it was very strenuous.

With a thought, the water sphere drifted slowly above the glass, then "splashed" and dispersed, landing accurately into the cup.

The water in the cup instantly became clear, merging with the mass of water just condensed, the water level reaching just to the rim.

Chen Zhen picked up the cup and took a sip.

Cool, sweet, without any strange taste; it tasted better than bottled water, and even better than the effect of the Water Condensation Spell the old man gave him.

The System-produced Water Condensation Spell condensed the theoretically purest H₂O.

He put down the cup and felt his remaining Spiritual Qi: 7 / 10.

1 point for Cleaning Spell, 2 points for Water Condensation Spell, 7 points left.

Eye-Brightening Spell required 3 points, so he wouldn't use it for now.

He had to save some Spiritual Qi just in case; after all, it only naturally recovered 5 points a day now, so every point used was one less.

He began to understand the importance of "Spiritual Qi management."

This wasn't a blue bar in a game to be squandered, but a real, tangible Cultivation resource that needed careful calculation.

However...

He looked at the excessively clean desk and windowsill, and that cup of sweet water, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but lift.

The convenience and satisfaction brought by this "extraordinary power integrating into daily life" was just too real.

...

The next morning's run felt completely different.

It wasn't that his physical strength had improved.

That had already been optimized before.

It was the improvement in "control."

Chen Zhen could clearly feel every subtle change in the contact between his soles and the ground with every step:

Which muscle exerted force first, how the force traveled from his ankle to his knee and then to his thigh, and how his breathing coordinated with the rhythm of his steps.

He could even "fine-tune."

Discovering his right foot was slightly turned outward upon landing, with a thought, the muscle group at his ankle adjusted automatically, and the next step was straight.

Discovering his breathing was a bit rapid, he sank his intent into his Dantian, and his breathing immediately became deep and steady.

This wasn't deliberate control; it was his body "knowing" what to do and being able to "execute" it better.

When he ran to the Riverside, he wasn't red-faced or panting, and he hadn't even broken much of a sweat.

The old man was already waiting under the willow tree, and his eyes narrowed when he saw him running over.

"Broken through?" the old man asked.

"Yeah," Chen Zhen stopped. "Last night."

"The complexion can't be hidden," the old man stepped closer, reaching out to press on his shoulders and arms. "Hmm... the tendons are relaxed, the bones are moistened, and the Qi is much more active. Not bad, no mishaps."

"The calming incense you gave me was useful," Chen Zhen said. "Holding it in my mouth, my mind was especially steady."

"Good that it's useful," the old man nodded. "Since you've broken through, today I'll teach you some things you should practice in the Qi Refinement Stage."

He let Chen Zhen set up the stance for standing meditation.

Chen Zhen followed suit, feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, hands held in front.

"You can feel the 'Qi'—oh, you call it 'Spiritual Qi' now—flowing in your body, right?" the old man asked.

"Yes."

"Good," the old man placed a hand on his lower back. "When standing, don't just stand there. Use your intent to guide that Spiritual Qi along your spine—from the coccyx here, move it up section by section, to the top of your head, then down along your face, chest, and stomach, returning to the Dantian. Completing one cycle counts as one time."

Chen Zhen tried to do it.

The sensation of Spiritual Qi flowing in his body was very clear. He concentrated his intent, guiding that warm energy from the Dantian and moving it slowly along the route the old man described.

At first, it was very rough, like pushing a heavy stone mill.

But after finishing the first cycle, it felt smoother.

The second cycle was smoother, and by the third, the Spiritual Qi could almost cycle along the route by itself, only needing a little bit of intent to guide it.

After cycling five times, the old man called a stop.

"How does it feel?"

"Hot," Chen Zhen withdrew his stance. "My whole body is hot, but not dry. It's like... warming up from the inside."

"This is a simplified version of the 'Microcosmic Orbit'," the old man said. "In your Qi Refinement Stage, the Spiritual Qi is still weak, and you can't complete a full cycle. But doing this a few times while standing every day can nourish your meridians and stabilize your Foundation."

He paused: "Remember, just keep it smooth, don't be greedy for speed. Five minutes of standing meditation a day, doing five to ten cycles, is enough. Any more will hurt your spirit."

"Understood."

"That's it for today," the old man waved his hand. "Go back, consolidate it."

When Chen Zhen left the Riverside, he felt warm all over, as if soaking in a hot spring.

That warmth wasn't the heat on the surface of his skin; it was seeping out from his bones and internal organs, solid and lasting.

[First time running 'Simplified Microcosmic Orbit' in Qi Refinement Stage]

[Health Dimension Experience +55]

[Cultivation +8 (Bonus for first practice after Breakthrough)]

[Spiritual Qi recovery speed slightly increased: Daily natural recovery +0.5 points (Currently 5.5/day)]

There was an unexpected gain.

Chen Zhen's mood improved even further.

Breaking through to the Qi Refinement Stage not only unlocked Spells but also improved the efficiency of daily Cultivation.

This was a virtuous cycle.

...

Back home, his father had already gone to work. His mother was cooking porridge in the kitchen and turned back when she heard him: "Running longer today?"

"Yeah, practiced a bit more with the old man." Chen Zhen washed his hands, "Mom, Dad's assessment yesterday..."

"Passed, the results were quite good," his mother smiled. "He said the team leader specifically praised him, and told him to prepare well for the skill competition next month."

"That's great."

"Yeah," his mother dished out the porridge, "Our family recently... everything has been going quite smoothly."

Chen Zhen drank the porridge, agreeing in his heart.

...

For his morning study, Chen Zhen decided to test the Eye-Brightening Spell.

He sat at his desk, closed his eyes, and concentrated his intent.

"Eye-Brightening Spell, activate."

3 points of Spiritual Qi consumed.

A cool sensation came to his eyes, like putting in the best eye drops.

He opened his eyes.

The world had changed.

It wasn't that it became blurry or exaggerated, but it became... extremely clear.

He could clearly see the fiber texture of the clothes drying on the balcony of the building opposite.

He could clearly see the veins on the leaves outside the window.

He could clearly see every tiny pore in the wood grain on the desk.

And it wasn't tiring for his eyes; it was as if his eyes were supposed to be this good.

He opened his physics workbook.

The tiny formula subscripts that usually required him to lean in to see, and the component labels in the circuit diagrams, were now clear at a glance.

His reading speed increased again.

It wasn't that his brain was spinning faster, but the efficiency of information intake was higher; with one glance, all details were taken in.

Combined with [Literary Perception], the understanding efficiency was frighteningly high.

For a complex comprehensive electromagnetic field problem, after reading the question, the 3D field distribution model and solution steps appeared directly in his mind, and he wrote rapidly.

He finished an hour's worth of problems in half an hour, all correct.

[Efficient learning with the help of 'Eye-Brightening Spell']

[Learning Dimension Experience +120]

[Cultivation +0.88]

[Special Note: The synergy between Spells and learning ability produces extraordinary results]

Chen Zhen stopped writing and checked his Spiritual Qi: 4.5 / 10 (it had recovered a bit naturally).

The Eye-Brightening Spell still had over twenty minutes of effect left. It couldn't be wasted.

He took out the copy of Engineer Gu's dark green notebook and flipped to those complex hand-drawn observation charts.

Before, when looking at these charts, some detail lines were too thin, and his eyes would get tired after a while.

Now, under the enhancement of the Eye-Brightening Spell, every line was as clear as if carved on the paper, and the tiny handwriting next to it was also perfectly legible.

He flipped through them quickly, combining them with the data he had already entered into the clue network, and made new discoveries:

In an observation record from 1983, Engineer Gu mentioned a detail: "Half an hour before the strange light appeared, the portable Geiger counter detected a slight rise in ambient radiation values, peaking at about 0.2 microsieverts/hour, then returned to normal. Possibly unrelated to the phenomenon, doubtful."

A slight rise in radiation values?

Chen Zhen noted this detail.

If Spiritual Qi leakage was accompanied by trace radiation changes, then perhaps modern instruments could be used to assist in observation or even early warning.

He flipped through other records, but didn't find similar descriptions for now.

It might just be a coincidence, or perhaps Engineer Gu didn't use radiation detection equipment in the later stages.

He kept this new clue in his mind, waiting to enter it after the exploration dimension upgraded.

The effect of the Eye-Brightening Spell ended, the cool sensation in his eyes slowly faded, but his vision seemed a little better than before using the Spell—not a permanent improvement, but a kind of refreshed feeling as if they had been "cared for."

It seems that using Spells well is also beneficial to oneself.

...

Before going to the Bookstore in the afternoon, Chen Zhen went to the Secret Base first.

Opening the door, he thought for a moment, then extended his hand toward the whole room:

"Cleaning Spell."

1 point of Spiritual Qi consumed.

An invisible fluctuation swept across.

Dust, debris, and even the musty smell in the air vanished instantly.

The entire basement was as clean as a newly renovated house ready for handover, and even the pile of jade scraps in the corner looked more lustrous.

Chen Zhen nodded with satisfaction.

Cleaning would be done in a second from now on.

He walked to the pot of Mint.

It was ordinary Mint the old man gave him; he had transplanted a small plant here and nourished it with Spiritual Qi for a few days.

He was just trying it out at first, not expecting real changes.

The Mint plant was a size larger than ordinary ones, the leaves were thicker, and the color was a deep green with a faint, imperceptible luster.

He picked a leaf and put it in his mouth.

The cooling sensation was much stronger than ordinary Mint, and it lasted a long time, with a significant effect on clearing his mind.

[Spiritual Qi Nourished Mint]

[Quality: Mortal · Excellent (Slightly permeated with Spiritual Qi)]

[Effect: Refreshing effect +300%, duration +100%]

[Can be further cultivated]

The system panel provided an appraisal.

Chen Zhen's eyes lit up.

Sure enough, Spiritual Qi could affect plant quality.

Although it was only "slightly permeated with Spiritual Qi" for now, it was already several times stronger than ordinary Mint.

If he continued to nourish it, or used more Spiritual Qi and better methods to Cultivate it, would it undergo a qualitative change?

For example, medicinal herbs at the level of the "calming incense" the old man gave him?

He seemed to see a vague path: using Spiritual Qi to Cultivate high-quality plants → selling or using them himself → exchanging for resources → assisting in Cultivation.

Of course, it was just a prototype now.

A pot of Mint, no matter how well it grew, wasn't worth much money. And shipping in large quantities would arouse suspicion.

But this was a direction.

He kept it in mind, then left the Secret Base and headed to the Bookstore.

...