The Tenth Layer of Qi Training

Wang Jianqiang shuddered, instinctively taking a step back as he forced a smile. "Private fights are forbidden within the Joy Union Sect. I assume you wouldn’t want to break the rules here."

"Teehee, since you’re so good at assumptions, why don’t you guess whether anyone would even know if I killed you?"

Yan Qingxuan giggled softly.

Suddenly, Wang Jianqiang noticed his surroundings growing indistinct.

The walls, the bed, the tables and chairs—everything began to fade, dissolving into nothingness.

It was as though this space was being violently torn away from reality.

In the blink of an eye, he found himself standing in an endless void, surrounded by absolute emptiness.

The only constant was the crimson-robed figure before him, who hadn’t moved an inch the entire time.

Wang Jianqiang stared at her, his expression a mix of shock and unease.

Was this an illusion, an array, or some kind of spell?

Whatever it was, it made one thing abundantly clear—her strength far surpassed his.

Swallowing hard, Wang Jianqiang finally spoke. "This junior doesn’t recall ever offending you, Senior. May I ask why you’ve come here?"

"Orders? Not quite. I just found you... interesting. Thought I’d take a closer look."

Yan Qingxuan studied him with an odd glint in her eyes.

Ever since she’d noticed Dong Yue’s unusual favor toward Wang Jianqiang, she’d begun keeping tabs on him.

Her investigations over the past while had yielded shocking results.

Wang Jianqiang, nearly 96 years old, possessed talent so abysmal it was practically legendary—a bottom-tier Five-Element Waste Spirit Root, the trash among trash.

Seventy years of cultivation, yet his cultivation base had only reached Qi Refining Level Three.

But that was merely the common knowledge among most outer sect disciples.

From a select few, she’d learned something far more intriguing: Wang Jianqiang had somehow awakened a bizarre talent in alchemy, enabling him to craft flawless, toxin-free pills.

Flawless pills—items of legend.

Even the most accomplished alchemist in the Joy Union Sect couldn’t produce them.

Yet this so-called outer sect waste could do so with ease.

How?

Wang Jianqiang squirmed under her scrutinizing gaze, feeling utterly exposed.

Just then, Yan Qingxuan finally looked away.

With a wave of her hand, the surroundings snapped back to normal.

Her eyes fell upon a jade vial on the nearby table. She beckoned, and it flew into her palm.

Tapping the vial lightly, a perfectly round pill emerged, hovering in the air.

"Rumor has it you can refine flawless pills without a trace of toxicity. This must be one of them, no?"

She plucked the pill from the air, examining it closely before letting out a soft exclamation.

"How peculiar."

"The medicinal efficacy is perfectly contained. Even at my level, I can sense its potency, yet I can’t discern its exact effects!"

Without waiting for Wang Jianqiang’s response, she moved to pop the pill into her mouth.

"Senior, wait!"

Wang Jianqiang’s heart lurched as he hastily called out.

"What?"

"Can’t even spare a single first-grade pill?"

Yan Qingxuan shot him a sidelong glance.

"That’s not it."

Wang Jianqiang shook his head.

"It’s just a first-grade pill. Even if it were poisoned, it wouldn’t matter."

Yan Qingxuan scoffed and raised the pill to her lips again.

"Hold on!"

Gritting his teeth, Wang Jianqiang stopped her once more.

This time, Yan Qingxuan’s brow furrowed as she fixed him with an icy stare.

Clearly, his repeated interference had begun to wear on her patience.

Wang Jianqiang’s heart tightened, and he forced a dry laugh. "Senior, this pill was obtained by chance, and its effects are unknown."

As he spoke, he took out another flawless Cloud Radiance Pill. "Take this one instead. Not only is it more potent, but the taste is also better."

"No need. This one will do."

Yan Qingxuan smirked disdainfully.

Without hesitation, she swallowed it whole.

What a joke.

Did she take his pill for its effects?

A mere first-tier pill meant nothing to her.

Even if it was flawless, it wouldn’t have the slightest effect on her.

She just wanted to savor the taste of a perfect pill, that was all.

Yan Qingxuan sneered inwardly, about to lecture Wang Jianqiang, when suddenly she sensed something amiss.

Realization struck—she understood what she had just consumed.

"How could this be?"

Her eyes snapped open as she barked at Wang Jianqiang, "Give me the antidote. Now!"

Wang Jianqiang gulped nervously and replied bitterly, "I already told you—this pill’s formula was something I stumbled upon. I had no idea what it did before this."

"You bastard!"

Yan Qingxuan gritted her teeth, then turned to flee.

But she underestimated her current state. The moment she spun around, her legs gave way, and she stumbled backward.

Wang Jianqiang, standing behind her, instinctively caught her.

To his shock, Yan Qingxuan immediately clung to him in return.

He froze, arms stiffly outstretched, not daring to move—his mind screaming in distress.

A stunning beauty throwing herself into his arms? Normally, a dream come true.

But when said beauty could crush him like an ant?

Thrilled?

Not in the slightest.

He didn’t dare move, but that didn’t stop Yan Qingxuan.

All he could do was endure—equal parts agony and reluctant pleasure.

...

Half an incense stick’s time later.

Yan Qingxuan finally regained a sliver of clarity.

Her fingers flicked across her body in rapid succession, spiritual light shimmering around her.

A suppressed, overwhelming pressure made Wang Jianqiang’s scalp prickle.

Moments later, the terrifying aura receded.

Only then did Wang Jianqiang dare glance at her. Yan Qingxuan had already changed out of her torn dress, now clad in a fresh crimson gown.

Her icy gaze locked onto him.

"What happened today never occurred. If word gets out... you know the consequences."

With that, she vanished in a blur.

Once Yan Qingxuan was gone, Wang Jianqiang exhaled in profound relief.

What kind of mess was this?

Wasn’t he the victim here?

His pill had been stolen, his fingers cramped from overexertion, and he’d nearly been drained dry.

Yet somehow, he ended up the villain.

At least the woman had some reason left.

If she’d been truly furious, she could’ve smacked him dead on the spot—and who would he complain to then?

When it came down to it,

weakness was the original sin.

If he were a legendary Nascent Soul Ancestor, would he need to tread so carefully?

What if he’d manhandled her?

What if he’d offended her?

Wouldn’t it all be at his whim?

If anyone dared act unreasonably with him, he’d make sure they learned reason—the hard way.

"Cultivate!"

Wang Jianqiang gritted his teeth.

His determination to grow stronger burned fiercer than ever.

...

Ten days later.

Wang Jianqiang’s body trembled as his aura surged violently, foul impurities expelled from his pores.

His eyes snapped open, brimming with joy.

"Qi Refining Level Ten!"

With a pulse of spiritual energy, he purged the remaining filth from his skin.

After savoring his newfound power for a moment, he closed his eyes again, resuming cultivation.

An hour later,

he reopened them.

"My cultivation speed has slowed again."

At this rate, reaching the peak of Qi Refining Level Ten—perfection—would take at least three months of grueling effort.

However, he had anticipated such a situation and wasn’t overly surprised.

Though three months was a bit long, it wasn’t entirely unacceptable.

Afterward, he didn’t continue cultivating but instead sank into deep thought.

Qi Refining Level Three’s perfection was within reach, and the most crucial task now was preparing for Foundation Establishment.