Chapter 14: Qi Refining
Dream Dao Attainment, Opening Scheme Against Cultivators
Dream-Making Expert
One month later, Yunmeng Marsh.
This was where the nine rivers converged, a stretch of three thousand li of rivers and lakes, vast as an ocean.
Yunmeng Marsh was dotted with countless islands, scattered like stars in the sky, abundant in all manner of catches, pearls, medicinal herbs…
On top of that, it lay at the border where the three nations of Song, Liao, and Jin met.
Its crisscrossing, interconnected waterways had become a golden route for merchants smuggling and trading across the borders.
Under those circumstances, though it was a vast expanse of water and marsh.
Yunmeng Marsh was also densely populated and bustling. Smuggling caravans, fishermen, water bandits, and all sorts of martial experts came and went without end. Its population was no less than ten million.
At this moment, within a fortified town in Yunmeng Marsh called Taihu City.
It was just as the sun set in the west, fishermen’s boats singing in the evening.
Fishermen returning from their catch, merchant ships passing through, and even some nearby water bandits all trod the dying rays of the setting sun as they streamed into Taihu City.
This small fortified town immediately became bustling and clamorous.
Dong, dong, dong.
Before the gate of a quiet courtyard, the chairman of the Taihu Chamber of Commerce, a well-known Innate Realm Grandmaster in the city named Yun Fuyu, held a brocade box and lightly knocked on the door. Then he stood waiting respectfully.
After a moment, a gate boy came to open the door. Seeing Yun Fuyu, he said at once, “Lord Chairman, the master is still in quiet cultivation. Please follow me to the hall to wait.”
Yun Fuyu nodded and followed the gate boy to the parlor with light, careful steps.
If an outsider had seen this scene, they would surely have been shocked.
With Yun Fuyu’s status and martial prowess, across all the various factions of Yunmeng Marsh, anyone who met him would receive him with care. Who would dare slight him so?
Yet Yun Fuyu did not feel he was being slighted by his host. On the contrary, he deliberately lowered his voice, asking the gate boy in soft tones how the master’s mood was today.
The gate boy seemed accustomed to Yun Fuyu’s deference as well. He smiled and said, “The master is in excellent spirits today. He even ate a little more at breakfast.”
“That’s good, that’s good.”
“Serve the master with diligence. Do not be the least bit negligent.”
Yun Fuyu gave a few more instructions, then, neither arrogant nor impatient, quietly waited.
And at this moment, the master the gate boy spoke of was sitting cross-legged in a hidden chamber in the back courtyard.
Robed in blue, face like polished jade, handsome and refined, he looked no more than twenty or so, clearly a pampered young noble of a wealthy house.
It was none other than Lin Qi, after leaving Luojing.
Lin Qi sat cross-legged in the hidden chamber, eyes tightly shut, cultivating Qi Refining, between each breath.
A wisp of sandalwood incense burning in the chamber instantly atomized into light, mixing with the damp vapor unique to Yunmeng Marsh, swirling like mist and clouds into Lin Qi’s mouth and nose.