Chapter 56: Breakthrough! Seventh Level of Qi Refinement

The journey that followed was relatively easy, with no sight of beasts and no further ambushes. Bai Yue Ning handed the storage pouch to the market steward, who verified its contents without issue.

Watching the steward mark the completion on the task jade slip, she felt a subtle relief in her heart. The contribution points were safely in her possession; this mission, though fraught with peril, had ended without incident.

Wang Qing Xiao rolled his thick neck, the sound of bones faintly cracking, and grinned, “Finally done.”

“This trip was worth it, got to stretch my muscles.”

He clearly didn’t take the attack too seriously—or perhaps, to him, that level of battle was hardly real trouble.

Lin Shi Xuan, always more meticulous, glanced at Bai Yue Ning, her gaze settling on the hastily-treated wound on Bai’s arm. She spoke gently, “Junior Bai, once you’re back, it’s best to visit the Pill Hall for some Purifying Essence Pills. Clear out the lingering chill in your body completely, lest you suffer hidden injuries.”

“Thank you for the reminder, Senior Lin. I will,” Bai Yue Ning nodded.

Lin Shi Xuan’s thoughtful concern warmed her heart.

“Tsk, tsk, this girl is truly remarkable—careful and generous. Far better than a certain stingy caretaker,” Ye Ming’s voice sounded at just the right moment, launching into his usual comparisons.

Bai Yue Ning ignored him.

Wang Qing Xiao waved his broad hand, his tone hearty, “Junior Bai, if you ever run into trouble in the Inner Gate, or have tasks suitable for collaboration, come find me at Gold Tempering Peak!”

“If nothing else, I’m good at fighting and shouldering burdens!”

Lin Shi Xuan smiled lightly, handing over a petite communication jade talisman. “The Talisman Hall isn’t far from Luoyun Peak. If you need anything, use this to find me.”

It was a clear signal of goodwill.

After fighting side by side, they had acknowledged Bai Yue Ning’s strength and character.

A ripple passed through Bai’s heart as she accepted the talisman.

In the Inner Gate, more friends were always better than more enemies.

She carefully put it away. “Thank you, Senior Wang, Senior Lin.”

After a few more words, the three parted ways outside the mountain gate.

Wang Qing Xiao and Lin Shi Xuan seemed to have other destinations, while Bai Yue Ning went straight back to the Inner Gate steward hall to report her task.

The steward elder verified the jade slip, confirmed the materials, completed the process, and a faint glow fell on Bai Yue Ning’s identity jade talisman.

“Task Ding-7 completed. Two hundred contribution points have been credited.”

Watching the numbers flicker across the talisman, Bai Yue Ning felt a quiet sense of security.

This was the first resource she had earned for herself in the Inner Gate.

“Two hundred points, quick, let’s see what we can exchange for!”

---

“Surely the Forging Hall has the ‘supplements’ I need!”

“No need for anything too high-grade—even some ‘Hundred-Refined Iron’ or ‘Crimson Copper Ore’ would do for a treat!”

“I worked hard this time! My spiritual essence is almost depleted. I really need to replenish!”

“Half,” Bai Yue Ning suddenly replied inwardly.

“...Ah?” Ye Ming was abruptly stunned, seemingly slow to react.

“Contribution points. Half for you—one hundred points,” Bai Yue Ning repeated calmly.

“You choose what you want.”

Ye Ming had been invaluable in both the previous tournament and this task. Without his warnings and precise senses, she might not have detected the ambush so swiftly, nor handled it so calmly.

After this fierce battle, he truly needed proper replenishment.

Ye Ming’s shock turned to wild delight, nearly causing waves in her sea of consciousness.

“One hundred points! You’re finally being generous!”

“I knew you cared about me after all—quick, let me see the list!”

His spirit swept rapidly through the sect’s exchange list, focusing on the forging materials.

“Black Sand? No, too many impurities. Cold Iron? Doesn’t suit my attributes...”

“This ‘Molten Flame Core’ is nice—the fire energy is quite pure.”

“Though it’s only a lower grade, it’s exactly one hundred points. That’s it!”

Ye Ming locked in his choice eagerly, afraid Bai Yue Ning might change her mind.

Following his instructions, Bai Yue Ning found the ‘Molten Flame Core’ in the exchange list, worth one hundred contribution points, and confirmed the trade.

A glow signaled the deduction, and soon, a fist-sized, dark red, slightly hot ore appeared on the table.

Bai Yue Ning stored it in her pouch, using the remaining hundred points to purchase the Purifying Essence Pills recommended by Senior Lin, along with several bottles of Qi Gathering and Harmonizing Pills for her upcoming breakthrough.

Back at her small residence, Ye Ming cheered and urged her on.

“Finally home! Put that thing on me, quick!” Ye Ming’s excitement was palpable.

Bai Yue Ning picked up the Molten Flame Core and gently pressed it against the blade of her sword, which lay across her knees.

The moment the ore touched the sword, the dark red glow flared.

Streams of searing crimson light surged out of the ore like rivers returning to the sea, pouring into the sword.

The Molten Flame Core dimmed visibly, eventually crumbling into a pile of charred, lifeless fragments that slid off the blade.

Meanwhile, a blazing crimson glow erupted on the sword’s surface.

The temperature of the entire blade soared, as if freshly drawn from the forge, a wave of fiery energy radiating outward.

---

“Exhilarating!” Ye Ming’s voice brimmed with satisfaction after his feast.

“The Inner Gate’s goods are really something! My spiritual essence is not only replenished, but... there seems to be something extra?”

Before he finished, Bai Yue Ning felt a surge of pure, scorching energy backflowing through the sword’s hilt, flooding her meridians.

This energy wasn’t merely spiritual power—it carried a fierce fire intent, not fully compatible with her cultivation method, yet it was immense.

She didn’t dare waste time; swallowing a Purifying Essence Pill, she activated the Basic Qi Refining Technique to guide the energy.

The blazing torrent swept through her meridians, causing a slight burning pain, but it also dispelled the last traces of residual chill.

It battered against the barrier at the peak of her sixth layer of Qi Refining.

Bai Yue Ning immediately took the Qi Gathering and Harmonizing Pills she had exchanged earlier, and focused her efforts.

And so, two days and nights passed.

Bai Yue Ning felt a barrier within her break suddenly; spiritual power surged, circulating faster and more densely.

Her dantian and sea of qi expanded, allowing her to hold more spiritual energy than ever.

Seventh layer of Qi Refining!

Her aura soared, impurities seeped from her skin only to be evaporated by the remaining fiery energy.

She had broken through! And moreover...

Bai Yue Ning opened her eyes, gently grasped the sword hilt, and willed the new ability to activate.

A faint crimson glow flickered across the blade, distorting the air around it and radiating a subtle heat.

“It must have fused with the ‘Earth Fire Spirit Paste’ absorbed in Sword Valley—now the blade carries a burning effect!”

“This ability is excellent—no need to fear cold poison ambushes anymore.”

“I say, let’s name this new power ‘Flame Scorch!’” Ye Ming was delighted, his spirit lively.

“One hundred points—worth every bit! You should invest like this more often, it’s a sure win!”

Suppressing her joy, Bai Yue Ning flicked off the last charred fragment from the blade.

She savored the advancement brought by the seventh layer of Qi Refining, and the even closer, more agile connection with her sword.

Those hundred points were truly well spent.

She placed the sword back on its ebony rack, sat cross-legged, and began stabilizing her newly broken-through realm.

Night had deepened; moonlight streamed through the bamboo window into her quiet chamber.

The small courtyard was tranquil, with only the gentle flow of spiritual energy winding around one person and one sword, silently drifting onward.