Just one glance, and I felt like I was going to explode.

Outside the Daoist temple, Hu Zhao, who had previously been frail and on the brink of death, beamed with smiles as he escorted Lu Ge and Shen Dao out.

The fact that he was able to comprehend a spell from the incomplete stone tablet was proof enough that he possessed the aptitude of a Qi refiner, and an extraordinary one at that. Under Lu Ge’s brief guidance, he had already stepped across the threshold into Qi cultivation. Although he had not yet recovered the vitality he had lost over the years, he was no longer in immediate danger of dying. His steps had regained vigor, and he could now easily finish an extra bowl of rice at meals.

Upon returning to the guesthouse, Shen Dao smiled and said, "The Patriarch is truly benevolent to have bestowed that Qi-refining method upon old Hu. He has certainly landed a massive windfall."

Lu Ge shook his head. "It is hardly a windfall. His heart is not malicious, and he has long desired to propagate the Daoist lineage and become one of the philosophers of the Hundred Schools of Thought. And I happen to want to spread and glorify the Qi-refining lineage. One might simply call it a win-win."

Hearing this, Shen Dao asked with some puzzlement, "Spread and glorify the Qi-refining lineage? Why does the Patriarch wish to undertake this?"

Lu Ge pulled over a woven straw mat and sat down casually. "There are many reasons. The first is that the cultivation of divine powers is simply too arduous. Through the centuries of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the number of sentient beings has been immeasurably vast, yet those capable of comprehending divine powers are altogether too rare. If things continue this way, a day will inevitably come when no one in the world possesses divine powers."

Deeply moved, Shen Dao nodded in agreement.

"While the Dao of Qi refining also demands high prerequisites for entry, it is, after all, vastly simpler than cultivating divine powers," Lu Ge continued. "The cultivation of divine powers requires profound wisdom, immense perseverance, an affinity with the Dao, and perfect harmony with it. The Dao of Qi refining, however, is much more relaxed; one merely needs to align oneself with the vital energy of heaven and earth. In the coming century, the cultivation of divine powers is destined to wane, while the Dao of Qi refining will inevitably replace it and flourish across the world."

Lu Ge went on, "There is yet another reason. Ever since I perused that Qi-refining manual, a thought has lingered in my mind: if I can thoroughly comprehend the Dao of vital energy, I might once more derive a divine power from it. Regrettably, that Qi-refining manual is merely an introductory foundation, grasping only the superficial furrows of the Dao of vital energy. Even if I went to great lengths to seek out subsequent manuals, it would likely remain difficult to comprehend a divine power. It was only today, upon meeting Hu Zhao and observing his spells..."

"...that the thought crossed my mind to widely disseminate the art of Qi refining throughout the world, allowing all living beings to cultivate it," Lu Ge concluded. "Should this come to pass, the lineage of Qi refining will inevitably blossom with a hundred flowers blooming in competition. By then, a vast array of Qi-refining methods and spells will emerge."

At this, Shen Dao fully grasped Lu Ge's intent. "Does the Patriarch wish to borrow the collective wisdom of all beings under heaven to evolve the thousands of methods of the Qi-refining lineage, and thereby comprehend the divine power of vital energy from them?"

Lu Ge nodded with a smile. "Precisely so. Moreover, once this endeavor succeeds, comprehending divine powers in the future may become somewhat easier. At present, when you and I comprehend divine powers, our methods are exceedingly singular—nothing more than contemplating heaven and earth and reading the classics. This is like viewing flowers through mist or gazing at the moon reflected in water. The Dao of spells, however, extracts a law from the Dao and a technique from the law. If we begin with spells and trace them back to their origin, using them as a foundation to restore them into divine powers, it will perhaps prove much simpler."

Spells were, after all, simplified versions of divine powers. Some spells originated from a divine power that was subsequently simplified into a technique, while others were created when individuals failed to comprehend a divine power yet managed to pioneer a spell. Regardless of the path, Lu Ge believed one could use this as a starting point to ultimately comprehend divine powers. Was this not vastly superior to staring blankly at the sky and earth day after day in a daze?

Listening to Lu Ge's words, Shen Dao found the reasoning increasingly sound. Comprehending a divine power originally resembled a young child attempting to read the classics of the Hundred Schools directly—forget about understanding them; the child would likely not even recognize the characters and could only guess blindly bit by bit. Yet following Lu Ge's proposal, starting with spells was akin to learning characters first, then reading books, and finally studying the classics. The process would be infinitely more straightforward.

With that, Lu Ge turned his gaze to Shen Dao. "Have a copy of that Qi-refining manual sent back to the Jixia Academy. Let Yin Wenzi teach it on our behalf; any among the philosophers of the Hundred Schools who wish to study it may do so. They are all brilliant minds and will undoubtedly be able to pioneer even more Qi-refining methods and spells from it."

Shen Dao nodded. "I shall attend to this immediately."

With these words, he turned and stepped outside. In this era, transmitting messages across thousands of miles remained quite difficult, but fortunately, the Mohist School existed. The Mohist Hall of Justice did not merely handle assassination contracts. From upholding chivalry and righteousness down to finding lost cats and dogs, guarding households, and delivering letters—provided one paid the fee, they would undertake any task.

Shen Dao directly visited the Hall of Justice in Daliang to place an order, leaving behind the bamboo slips inscribed with the Qi-refining manual. In due course, Mohist disciples would carry them and deliver them to the Jixia Academy in the State of Qi. Naturally, he chose cash-on-delivery.

Once Shen Dao departed, only Lu Ge remained in the room. Only then did he have the leisure to contemplate the spell he had just acquired: the Fire Control Spell.

The spell originally had no name; Lu Ge had coined it himself. The principle behind it was remarkably concise: using one's own essence, breath, and spirit as a catalyst to stir the fire-attribute vital energy between heaven and earth. The larger the resulting flame, the higher the temperature, and the longer it persisted, the greater the energy consumed.

Lu Ge cared little for the destructive power of this spell. For him, this technique served merely as a key—a key capable of unlocking the treasury of the Ruyi True Yang Rod.

As is well known, the Ruyi True Yang Rod was originally a branch of the ancient Fusang tree, representing the fragmented Great Dao of the deity Taiyi. And Taiyi was the master of the solar divine pantheon, a true deity of fire. Previously, because Lu Ge was unversed in the Dao of fire, the Ruyi True Yang Rod had sat right before him, yet after multiple bouts of contemplation, he had struggled to grasp its inherent Daoist rhythm. After much deliberation, Lu Ge concluded that his own spiritual attainment was simply insufficient and his perception of fire far too superficial.

Yet now, things were different. Lu Ge had mastered the Fire Control Spell, marking his official entry into the Dao of fire.

Retrieving the Ruyi True Yang Rod once more and sinking his consciousness into it, he found that the barrier, previously as impregnable as a fortress, had now grown much softer and yielding.

Time flowed slowly by, with the sun rising and the moon setting in an endless cycle. Even after Shen Dao returned from completing his errand, seeing Lu Ge sitting cross-legged with the Ruyi True Yang Rod laid across his knees, he did not dare to disturb him.

Tick, tock—how much time passed, none could say. Until finally, on a certain day, as the sky broke and the morning sun began to ascend, Lu Ge's eyes, closed for many days, snapped open. Vast divine radiance abruptly burst forth, as if contending with the great sun in brilliance.

In the adjoining room, Shen Dao felt as though daylight had suddenly grown overwhelmingly bright.

"Strange," Shen Dao muttered to himself. Then, as if realizing something, he hurried out of his room and made a beeline for Lu Ge's quarters.

Arriving at the threshold, he saw that Lu Ge was still seated cross-legged in the exact same spot. Yet at this moment, Lu Ge seemed to have transformed into a blazing sun. Boundless brilliance radiated from his entire body, and a supremely scorching might flowed unrestrainedly, causing the very void to warp and twist under the heat.

Curiously, however, the furnishings within the room remained entirely undamaged.

Shen Dao merely glanced at it, and he felt as though he were about to combust. What on earth was this? Had the Patriarch comprehended a brand-new divine power once more? Yet why did it look as though he were ascending to become an immortal?

With his eyes tightly shut, Shen Dao did not dare to look directly.

After a long while, the radiance surrounding Lu Ge gradually subsided, and the scorching might dissipated into nothingness. As a gentle breeze swept past, Lu Ge appeared just as he always had.