After Master Ji left, Li Yan suddenly felt as if a weight had been lifted from within him. He couldn't help but let out a wry smile—it seemed that whenever his master was nearby, his own qi was somehow held back.
Resolving not to waste any time, Li Yan calmed his mind. The copper furnace burned for about an hour at a stretch—every minute mattered. He stepped in front of the furnace, assumed a firm stance, and reached his hands into the swirling blue-black mists above the copper basin. Silently reciting his incantations, he quickly sensed the energy respond: it split into ten fine, dark threads that crept toward his fingertips. Each thread felt like a scorching needle, prying at his nails as if trying to peel them away, sending an intense pain through his heart and mind.
Even though Li Yan had prepared himself for pain, nothing could have readied him for this. A low groan escaped him as he wavered, taking a few retreating steps. Strikingly, the threads didn't vanish with his withdrawal. Instead, they stretched out, following the gap beneath his nails as they continued their relentless invasion.
His black robe soon became saturated with sweat. Clenching his teeth, Li Yan forced himself forward again, re-establishing his stance. He resumed channeling his inner energy, and the threads surged as though they were burning silver needles in his meridians. With every inch they advanced, his whole body trembled and sweat poured off him in waves.
He wasn't sure how long he could endure this torture, but his resolve was unwavering. Even if things were far from perfect, he always gave his absolute best. As time passed, his nerves grew numb, and soon all that remained was the mechanical repetition of his incantations to guide the roiling energy inside.
Outside, Master Ji sat cross-legged at a stone table, eyes closed in meditation. Yet every now and then, a twitch of his eyelids betrayed his concern. After more than half an hour, he abruptly opened his eyes—and before Li Yan realized what was happening, the stone door to his room seemed to swing open as if pushed by an unseen force.
Inside, Li Yan's face was painted in hues of blue and black, and his arms and hands were shrouded in dark qi. At that moment, he lost consciousness; the rhythm of his incantations faltered. His body began to lean backward, and even as the ten dark threads clung tightly to his fingers, they stretched into eerie arcs as he started to fall. They looked less like simple strands and more like twisting, sinister curves in midair.
Just when he was about to collapse completely, a shadow appeared behind him. With a graceful sweep of a wide sleeve, someone caught him and prevented his fall. At the same time, the other sleeve flicked at the dark threads. With a series of soft "bo bo" sounds, the threads snapped free from his fingers. Even then, they writhed in the air like venomous snakes, as if still trying to pull him back.
Without pausing to inspect the dissipating strands, his teacher gently gathered Li Yan with a flowing sleeve and carried him toward a wooden bed. Once Li Yan was laid down, Master Ji stepped to the bedside, formed intricate hand seals, and sent out a few delicate sparks of blue light that landed squarely on Li Yan's abdomen.
For a moment, Li Yan felt as if he were trapped in the heart of a volcano—unbearable, searing pain overwhelmed him. He tried to cry out, but his voice failed him. It was like being bathed in molten lava, each blistering surge pushing him closer to the brink. Then, unexpectedly, a cooling sensation began to rise in his stomach. As if the raging volcano was slowly subsiding, the intense flames receded. Clarity returned to his mind, and when he finally opened his eyes, he found himself lying peacefully on a bed with his teacher standing by his side.
Even as he tried to sit up, a sharp, burning pain in his chest and abdomen forced him back down. Despite the flickering sparks and the lingering threat of internal heat, Li Yan managed a pained smile and whispered, "Master… my efforts are so lacking. I fear I have disappointed you."
Master Ji smiled warmly and said, "There's no need to blame yourself. Holding on for more than half an hour during your first attempt is truly impressive. You did quite well."
Straining through the discomfort, Li Yan asked hesitantly, "So… does that mean I'm ready to learn our sect's technique?"
"Of course," replied his master gently. "But remember, even though you feel this pain now, you must refine the herbal energy you absorbed. Left unrefined, it will only cause harm. Only after you've transformed it into your own energy have you truly completed a cycle of cultivation."
Li Yan was already familiar with this process. His master had explained that every day's practice involved two steps: first absorbing the herbal energy, and then refining it. After forty-nine days—a cycle of seven sevens—you'd break into the first level, where your internal energy would finally start to manifest. From that moment on, your body would build upon that energy, and you wouldn't need to absorb more herbal energy but would only need to refine your power.
Drawing a deep breath despite the burning pain, Li Yan settled into his posture once again. With his eyes closed, he focused on refining the absorbed energy deep within his body.
Watching him, Master Ji quietly withdrew. Returning to his seat outside on the stone table, he murmured softly to himself, "This child is indeed resilient, but I wonder if he'll ever be able to keep calm once his refined energy takes hold."
From that day on, Li Yan embarked on a grueling daily journey—absorbing herbal energy and painstakingly refining it to strengthen his meridians. At the beginning, the pain was almost unbearable, but with each passing day, he managed to stay conscious for longer periods during the process. Every seven days, the potency of the energy nearly doubled, while the relentless pain slowly diminished. His once fragile meridians began to grow robust, like thin tubes thickening into strong channels, easing the suffering significantly.
After a long, quivering sigh, Li Yan concluded his training for the day. Yet as he sat there, he suddenly felt a surge of vexation welling up from within—a burning agitation that made it increasingly difficult to focus during his cultivation sessions.
He recalled asking his master about this inner turmoil. Master Ji had explained that such restlessness was a sign of the powerful herbal energy purifying his body. Only strong energy could forge resilient meridians, which in turn were essential to mastering the sect's formidable techniques. He had promised that once Li Yan reached the first level, the turbulent feelings would gradually subside.
Still troubled, Li Yan eventually rose and left the room. That night, unable to contain his mounting frustration, he wandered aimlessly through the valley. Though he normally dedicated every moment to cultivation, tonight he craved an escape—a chance to release the tension he could no longer bear indoors.
As he meandered through the valley, the cool autumn breeze brushed gently against his face, and with every step, his inner turmoil seemed to lessen. After a leisurely walk, he found himself at a small pool. The sharp, refreshing chill of the water instantly revitalized him. Over the course of half an hour by the pool's edge, the stifling heat within him finally dissipated, replaced by a deep drowsiness that later carried him into a peaceful sleep.
Dawn broke, and Li Yan awoke feeling revitalized. After more than twenty days of relentless training, the gradual transformations within him had finally granted him a truly restorative sleep. In the early morning light, as he stood by a table gazing at the mist rising from the pool, his eyes began to sparkle with newfound clarity. Eagerly, he made his way toward his teacher's stone house. When he reached the door, he heard Master Ji's familiar, gentle voice calling, "You're here—come in."
Ever since beginning his rigorous cultivation, Li Yan rarely entered his teacher's home. Usually, Master Ji would prepare the herbal concoctions and stand outside, silently watching over him. Yet now, as he entered, Li Yan couldn't shake the feeling that every time he met his teacher's gaze, something inside him felt constrained.
"Yes, Master," Li Yan replied, his expression momentarily tight as he stepped inside. There, he found his teacher seated as usual behind a stone table, holding an enigmatic book that shimmered like something caught between gold and jade. Master Ji smiled warmly at him, but Li Yan couldn't help noticing that his own energy felt strangely stifled in those quiet, steady eyes.
Master Ji broke the silence with a gentle smile, "Today, you seem much better. It looks like you've begun to notice some of the valley's secrets."
Curious, Li Yan asked, "Do you mean the pool? I felt that its coolness helped clear the heat inside me."
"Exactly," replied Master Ji. "One reason I chose this valley as our home was because the pool's water has a rare, chilling quality. It can dispel excess internal heat. But…" He paused, studying Li Yan's face.
Hesitantly, Li Yan asked, "Then why didn't you let me cultivate by the pool right away?"
Master Ji chuckled softly. "Our method is rigorous. In the beginning, you need to rely on your own endurance to build a strong foundation. If you immediately depend on external aids like the pool, you might weaken your inner resolve. I held back these details because I feared you might become too tempted to lean on external comforts and miss the opportunity to cultivate your inner strength."
Understanding the wisdom in his master's words, Li Yan bowed his head, murmuring, "I understand, Master."
Later that day, as Li Yan once again sat to absorb and refine his herbal energy, he felt the familiar surge of inner heat and agitation. Just then, a soft zither melody wafted in from outside—gentle notes that felt like an autumn moon's reflection on a still lake or the tender murmur of a spring breeze. The music's cool, soothing quality slowly washed over him, easing the burning tension and clearing his troubled mind.
In that moment, Li Yan realized what his master had intended all along. Master Ji's mastery of the zither was profound; he could transform music itself into a healing, tranquil space where one's inner turmoil was calmed. Embracing the gentle harmony, Li Yan allowed himself to simply be—letting go of the struggle and becoming one with the soothing sound.