A sage master under the pine tree imparted the Dao and taught longevity.

As the year draws to a close, the streams freeze over, and Woniu Mountain is covered in a blanket of white.

Chen Chuan and Xiao Jin had been staying in that blessed land of golden nature for seven days.

The cave was warm as spring. Chen Chuan sat cross-legged by the pool, his gaze fixed on Xiao Jin, who was meditating with his eyes closed opposite him.

"The Six Cycles of Embryonic Breathing involves circulating the spiritual energy of heaven and earth seventy-two times and storing it in the dantian."

Chen Chuan slowly spoke: "The Qi Refining Realm requires fusing these six rounds of true qi into one, condensing them into a spiritual seed, and from then on drawing upon the spiritual energy of heaven and earth for one's own use, rather than passively absorbing it."

Xiao Jin opened his eyes and listened intently.

"As the patriarch said: The six wheels return to their origin, and one primordial energy gives birth to all things."

Chen Chuan took out the white jade bottle containing gathering energy from his sleeve. A faint golden light flowed within the bottle: "This bottle contains the pure golden spiritual energy that your master has collected for you, which is compatible with your spiritual essence and destiny."

Once you have condensed the six chakras of true energy, guide this energy into your dantian, using the metal element as a guide, to cleave through the chaos and form a spiritual seed.

He handed over the jade bottle and then said, "When you break through, remember not to be impatient or afraid."

Chen Chuan stood up, patted his robes, and said, "You can cultivate here in peace. I will protect you outside the cave."

After saying this, he turned and crossed the pool, exiting the cave.

Outside the cave, the wind and snow howled. Chen Chuan stood at the cave entrance, gazing at the vast expanse of white mountains and rivers outside, and couldn't help but sigh.

"What beautiful snow... I wonder if Xiao'er will be able to successfully pass the trial this time..."

The Qi Refining stage is the first life-or-death hurdle on the path of cultivation. Failure to break through it will not only cause a regression in cultivation but also damage to one's physical body.

He returned to the cave entrance, sat cross-legged, and closed his eyes.

"Grandmaster, please bless Xiao'er so she can successfully pass the trial..."

Inside the cave, Xiao Jin placed the jade bottle beside him and closed his eyes to look inward.

Within the dantian, the six chakras of fetal breathing are like six whirlpools, each incompatible with the other.

Following the method taught by Chen Chuan, he used his divine sense as a guide to slowly gather the six chakras towards the center of his dantian.

At first, he tried to control the six chakras of true energy like a wild horse, and fine sweat beaded on his forehead. He gritted his teeth and compressed the true energy in his body inch by inch.

"The six directions return to oneness," using intention to control qi and qi to transform essence. As long as I follow the steps my master taught me, without being impatient or agitated, I will definitely be able to break through the barrier smoothly!

He calmed his mind, forgetting the passage of time, and focused only on the changes in the six clusters of true energy in his dantian.

One day, two days, three days.

Three days later, the six chakras of true energy were finally compressed into one place, rubbing and merging with each other, emitting a faint hum.

Xiao Jin felt as if his dantian was being burned by a raging fire, as if a thousand needles were pricking him, causing excruciating pain.

He took a deep breath, held it, and focused his mind, enduring the excruciating pain to activate the golden spiritual energy within the bottle.

A pure and sharp golden light burst out of the bottle, entered the sea of ​​consciousness, and rushed straight to the dantian along the meridians!

"boom--"

Xiao Jin's mind went blank, only feeling the golden light slash into his dantian like a sharp sword.

The six chakras of true energy shattered under this strike, then reformed into a round, bright golden dot.

The spiritual seed has been formed! Qi cultivation has been completed!

Xiao Jin felt light and agile all over, with sharp senses, as if the whole world had become clear.

The Qi Refining Realm grants a lifespan of 120 years. It allows one to condense true qi into talismans and magical artifacts, and its spiritual energy reserves far surpass those of the Fetal Breathing Realm by several times.

Xiao Jin sat quietly in the cave for several more hours, repeatedly refining the spiritual seed until his aura was stable and there was no longer any risk of his power dissipating, before he finally opened his eyes.

He got up, put away the jade bottle, crossed the pool, and walked towards the cave entrance.

Chen Chuan sat cross-legged at the cave entrance. Suddenly, a warm spiritual energy surged from the depths of his dantian, like a spring breaking through ice, flowing endlessly.

He was startled and looked inward at himself—the barrier between the fourth and fifth levels of Qi Refining had quietly collapsed under the impact of spiritual energy.

Xiao Jin has broken through!

A smile spread across Chen Chuan's lips.

He brushed the snow off his clothes, stood up, and looked into the cave.

Before long, the sound of water could be heard, and Xiao Jin emerged from the cave.

"Master, I have broken through to the Qi Refining stage." Xiao Jin bowed.

Chen Chuan looked him up and down, then nodded with a smile: "Good disciple, you have completed Qi Refining. You have taken the first step in the path of cultivation. From now on, you will be able to stand on your own!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jin's face lit up with joy: "I owe my success today entirely to Master's guidance."

Chen Chuan waved his hand and said gently, "Let's go back to the temple. Your senior sister and junior brother must be getting impatient after not seeing you for several days."

The master and his disciple returned through the snow and arrived at Songjian Temple.

Inside the temple, wisps of smoke rose from the kitchen.

Shu'er was squatting on the threshold, her hands supporting her chin, gazing longingly at the fire inside the stove, thinking to herself:

"What happened to Master and Junior Brother Xiao? I wonder how they are..."

Hearing a noise outside, she jumped up, ran out of the kitchen, and ran forward, crunching through the snow.

"Master! Junior Brother! You're finally back!"

She circled Xiao Jin twice, looking him up and down, and asked eagerly, "Junior Brother Xiao, have you broken through yet? Have you broken through yet?"

Xiao Jin nodded slightly.

Shu'er beamed with joy, clapping her hands excitedly, "That's wonderful! That's wonderful! Junior Brother Xiao is a Qi Refining cultivator just like Master!"

Suddenly, her eyes lit up, and she looked up at Chen Chuan, cautiously asking, "Master, Junior Brother Xiao's breakthrough is such a great thing! So... can we celebrate the Spring Festival this year?"

Chen Chuan was taken aback, his face showing surprise.

Shu'er grew up in a Taoist temple from a young age, living a life of quiet cultivation with him, and never celebrated any mortal festivals.

Why would this girl suddenly bring this up?

"Spring Festival?" Chen Chuan asked.

"Where did you hear that from?"

Shu'er grinned: "Junior Brother Shen said it! He said that in the mortal world, every household puts up Spring Festival couplets, sets off firecrackers, and eats a reunion dinner at the end of the year. It's so lively! Master, shall we celebrate it this year too?"

Looking into her bright eyes, and then at Xiao Jin beside him, Chen Chuan felt a sudden surge of emotion.

These children have followed him in his spiritual practice for years, living a frugal life. It's time to give them a break...

He looked up at the swirling snowflakes and said slowly, "This year's snow is heavy; a good omen for a bountiful harvest. Since that's the case, let's celebrate the New Year this year!"

Shu'er cheered and turned to run towards the kitchen, calling out as she ran, "Junior Brother Shen! Junior Brother Xiao! Master said it's New Year's! Quickly help me prepare the ingredients!"

Watching her cheerful figure disappear into the distance, Chen Chuan smiled and shook his head.

The first Spring Festival for Songjian Temple is coming soon.

……

Before we knew it, it was New Year's Eve.

Shu'er was busy in the kitchen.

Shen Mo stood on a small stool and tiptoed to paste red paper-cut window decorations onto the window frame.

Chen Chuan spread out red paper, picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, pondered for a moment, and wrote: "The bright moon among the pines remains the same, and the clear stream below the ravine flows the same year after year."

Summon Xiao Jin and have him take it to the door and stick it there.

Before long, a table was filled with food, the spirit rice was crystal clear, and the spirit vegetables were emerald green.

The four sat around a table, and Shu'er raised her glass first: "May Master enjoy eternal bliss! May Junior Brother Xiao achieve great mastery of swordsmanship! May Junior Brother Shen soon attain the stage of embryonic rebirth!"

Chen Chuan smiled, shook his head, and drank his cup in one gulp.

As they were eating, a clear male voice suddenly rang in their ears: "How lively! I guess I've arrived at the right time."

Everyone looked up and saw a figure in a green robe standing on a white crane, gracefully descending into the temple amidst the wind and snow—it was Bai Pu, the peak master of Guanyun Peak of the Qingyuan Sect.

Shu'er exclaimed in surprise, "Uncle Bai!"

Bai Pu brushed the snow off his shoulders, stepped into the courtyard, took out a jar of spirit wine from his storage bag, and said with a smile, "Senior brother, you have such refined tastes. Come to think of it, it's been almost fifty years since I've celebrated a mortal festival. Consider this jar of fine wine a gift I prepared for you."

Chen Chuan rose to greet him, his eyes full of smiles: "Junior brother, you've come at the right time! Quickly, take a seat and drink three large cups of wine with your senior brother!"

Bai Pu's gaze lingered on Xiao Jin for a moment, then he clasped his hands in a fist salute to Chen Chuan and said, "Of course, we won't leave until we're drunk!"

After a few rounds of drinks, the three children carried firecrackers to the ancient pine tree to set them off.

Bai Pu tugged at Chen Chuan's sleeve and said, "Senior brother, actually, I've come today because I have something important to tell you..."

Upon hearing this, Chen Chuan solemnly put down his wine glass.

Bai Pu changed his demeanor from before and said seriously, "Senior brother, things might be a bit unsettled in the Great Wilderness Mountain area lately..."