Chapter 46: Harmony in Motion and Stillness

Within the quiet chamber, waves of heat surged relentlessly.

With the final vestiges of the Wolf King's blood essence utterly consumed, Jiang Chen's already robust vitality soared to new heights. At that very moment, his entire body resounded with a deep humming as his muscles and bones swelled, his form expanding like an overinflated balloon.

Sensing this transformation with acute clarity, Jiang Chen unleashed the formidable power of his spirit.

“Suppress!”

With an iron will, he forcibly quelled the rampaging energy within, guiding it with the force of his mind to bring it under control.

As time passed, the crimson lightning coursing around Jiang Chen grew ever more intense, each bolt refining his flesh, bones, and sinews as though they were being tempered by true thunder.

In this crucible, his swollen body gradually returned to normal, yet its very essence had been altered. He had developed a genuine copper skin and iron bones. When the last trace of scarlet electricity faded, Jiang Chen opened his eyes.

“So this is the power of a martial grandmaster? Remarkable indeed. I wonder if my current physique can rival the Iron Butcher now.”

Feeling the changes within himself, a smile touched Jiang Chen’s lips as his thoughts drifted to the Iron Butcher.

Thanks to the Bloodflame Art, he had already invigorated his vitality, but before reaching the grandmaster realm, his body had not undergone a qualitative transformation. In terms of raw energy, he had perhaps equaled the Iron Butcher, but when it came to the strength of muscle and bone, or the resilience of his skin, he was far inferior to that prodigy.

Yet now, with his ascension, that gap was finally bridged. The tempering of true force had solidified his once-shaky foundation, bestowing extraordinary qualities upon his once-ordinary flesh and blood.

“With the power of a martial grandmaster, I now truly possess the means to protect myself in this lawless stretch along the Dangjiang. And this breakthrough has brought even more unexpected gains.”

Satisfied with his transformation, Jiang Chen left the quiet chamber.

Stepping into the courtyard, he paused and let a flood of insights fill his mind. He immediately began practicing the Willow Down Vitality Art. Over time, he had drilled this set of movements countless times, mastering them thoroughly—his execution now utterly fluid.

Yet, unlike before, there was now an ethereal grace to his movements. Jiang Chen seemed to truly become a drifting willow flake, moving with the wind, free from any trace of deliberation.

“The human body is a small cycle, ever in motion. My task is to align my own cycle with the rhythm of spiritual energy.”

Immersed in his own insights, Jiang Chen lost himself in the practice. Only after reaching the grandmaster realm did he finally comprehend what he had been lacking.

At that moment, the spiritual energy in the courtyard was fully roused, forming phantasmal shapes of willow down. At first, they were sparse, but as time passed, they multiplied until it seemed as if snow was falling throughout the courtyard.

As the willow down drifted about, the spiritual aura surrounding Jiang Chen grew ever richer. In this process, he silently completed the refinement of his head.

When the final trace of spiritual aura took shape and the energy around him became whole, Jiang Chen at last ceased his movements. In an instant, all the drifting willow down vanished as if it had been nothing more than an illusion.

“With my ascension to grandmaster, my control over myself has reached a new level, unveiling the true meaning of movement—the very foundation of the Willow Down Vitality Art.”

Eyes deep and contemplative, Jiang Chen extended his palm to catch the last flake of willow down.

“Now, I have truly grasped the essence of the Willow Down Vitality Art.”

As the flake lingered in his palm, a surge of joy rose in Jiang Chen’s heart.

With mastery of both the Willow Down Vitality Art and the Pine Breath Meditation—cultivating both movement and stillness—his affinity with, and command over, spiritual energy had reached even greater heights.

“No need for the Wolfbane Flower anymore. For me now, the path of Qi Refinement is no longer a difficult one. Should I wish, a mere month or two of diligent effort will see me ascend to Qi Refinement with ease.”

He exhaled softly, dispersing the flake of willow down and letting it return to the world. A new clarity dawned within him.

From the information he had gathered, Jiang Chen knew that for most cultivators, advancing to Qi Refinement was far from simple. Beyond cultivation methods, external aids such as spiritual herbs or sacred sites were often required.

Previously, he had sought such aids, but now he realized he needed nothing else. This was the extraordinary quality of his Breathing Technique—so long as one grasped the mysteries of movement and stillness, entry to Qi Refinement would follow as a matter of course.

“Movement and stillness each hold profound meaning. The White Crane Daoist once instructed my predecessor to diligently cultivate the Breathing Technique with a calm heart—clearly, there was a hidden purpose.”

“From my current perspective, even without grasping any true intent, diligent cultivation and reaching perfect spiritual resonance, combined with aids like the Wolfbane Flower, could allow one to achieve Qi Refinement.”

“But if one attains a true intent, the chance of advancement is far greater. If both are mastered, then Qi Refinement comes as naturally as water flowing downhill.”

Reflecting anew on the Breathing Technique, Jiang Chen gained fresh insight.

“Though all three methods may lead to Qi Refinement, their merits vary greatly, directly affecting the quality of the true qi produced, and even the entire course of Qi Refinement. After all, in Qi Refinement, what is cultivated is a single breath of true qi.”

Recalling the cryptic records in the Daoist texts, Jiang Chen suddenly saw many things clearly. His thoughts spread outward as he began preparations for the next stage of cultivation.

“Having grasped the true intent of both movement and stillness, my understanding of the Breathing Technique is now profound. Yet this is not its ultimate state—only when movement and stillness are perfectly balanced can its highest potential be realized.”

With his cultivation at this stage, Jiang Chen newly appreciated the subtle hints left in the Daoist writings. They were likely left vague to prevent students from aiming too high and thus hindering their own progress.

“Perfect harmony between movement and stillness brings great fortune. Yet how am I to achieve this blending?”

Standing in place, Jiang Chen sank into deep thought.

“No matter. I will leave it to fate. After all, with my current progress, I still need a month or two of diligent practice before reaching Qi Refinement. If inspiration strikes during this time, so much the better. If not, there’s no need to force it. Sometimes, obsession can be detrimental—perhaps this was the founder’s intention in leaving things unsaid.”

After a while, finding no answers, Jiang Chen set aside these thoughts.

“My advancement to Qi Refinement is now assured. There is no need to wait for a second Wolfbane Flower to bloom. I should begin my research into the Wolfbane Flower; if it truly can enhance the soul’s foundation, it would be a great boon for me.”

In quiet contemplation, Jiang Chen laid his plans for the path ahead.

The Wolfbane Flower could aid a cultivator’s breakthrough to Qi Refinement. Though he had obtained one, he had hesitated to use it for research, fearing to waste its precious qualities and impede his own progress. But now, such caution was no longer necessary.