Chapter Forty-Two: The Five Energies Return to the Source

Leaving aside the tense and turbulent atmosphere spreading across the Primordial World due to the actions of the brothers Dijun and Taiyi—where undercurrents surged, waves rose, and a great conflict seemed imminent—in the secret realm of the Crimson Rock Hills, Qingxu had also reached a critical juncture!

The energy contained within a single drop of Primordial Yellow Purifying Water was beyond calculation; even a fraction of it had already propelled Brother Dafeng from the peak of True Immortal of Taiyi straight to the peak of Golden Immortal of Da Luo. What, then, of an entire drop?

Since his Earthly Element Incarnation began absorbing and refining the Primordial Yellow Purifying Water, his cultivation had soared in a straight line, unimpeded, advancing from the Earth Immortal Realm to the very peak of the Profound Immortal Realm. Yet now, an obstacle had arisen: the greatest difference between a Profound Immortal and a True Immortal of Taiyi lay in the manifestation of the Five Qi Returning to the Origin and the achievement of the Superior Immortal’s Dao Fruit of Taiyi. This was a step that ordinary cultivators could not cross, even with a lifetime of effort.

“The Dao Fruit of Taiyi still requires my own insight, but the middle chapters of the Jade Purity Immortal Doctrine, as heard in Yuqing’s Discourse, do discuss many profound methods pertaining to the Five Qi Returning to the Origin. Though incomplete, they suffice to manifest the Five Qi within my chest. It seems, for now, I can only raise the cultivation of my external incarnation to the initial stage of True Immortal of Taiyi. As for what lies beyond, I will have to return to Kunlun Mountain and seek out my master to comprehend the full mysteries of the Five Qi Returning to the Origin in the future,” Qingxu mused helplessly. Although he was a disciple of the Jade Purity Sage, the Primal Heavenly Venerable, and thus found the secrets of the Five Qi Returning to the Origin and the Three Flowers Gathering at the Summit not difficult to grasp, after all, he had only traversed this world for about a hundred years—too short a span to have penetrated more than three or four layers of the Five Qi’s mysteries.

In truth, possessing only the Five Qi Returning to the Origin without the Dao Fruit of Taiyi did not make one a true True Immortal of Taiyi, but at best a false one. Nevertheless, in the Primordial World, most beings failed to comprehend the Dao Fruits of Taiyi or Da Luo; only those primordial gods or those who had entered the Grand Hall of Zixiao through the main gate achieved this. Thus, even if Qingxu’s external incarnation had only reached the initial stage of a false True Immortal of Taiyi, it made little difference.

He recalled the elusive profundities of the Five Qi Returning to the Origin, as heard on days past during the Discourse, and united his spirit with the consciousness of his Earthly Element Incarnation.

Five Qi Returning to the Origin: First, the lungs store the Po; postnatally, it is the ghostly soul; innately, it is righteousness. When anger is emptied, the Po is stabilized—this is the White Emperor’s Metal Qi Returning to the Origin of the West. Second, the liver stores the Hun; postnatally, the wandering soul; innately, benevolence. When joy is emptied, the Hun is stabilized—this is the Blue Emperor’s Wood Qi Returning to the Origin of the East. Third, the kidneys store the essence; postnatally, turbid essence; innately, wisdom. When pleasure is emptied, the essence is stabilized—this is the Black Emperor’s Water Qi Returning to the Origin of the North. Fourth, the heart stores the spirit; postnatally, the conscious mind; innately, propriety. When grief is emptied, the spirit is stabilized—this is the Red Emperor’s Fire Qi Returning to the Origin of the South. Fifth, the spleen stores intent; postnatally, delusive intent; innately, faith. When desire is emptied, intent is stabilized—this is the Yellow Emperor’s Earth Qi Returning to the Origin of the Center.

[White Emperor’s Metal Qi Returning to the Origin, 1%...]
[Blue Emperor’s Wood Qi Returning to the Origin, 1%...]
[Black Emperor’s Water Qi Returning to the Origin, 1%...]
[Red Emperor’s Fire Qi Returning to the Origin, 1%...]
[Yellow Emperor’s Earth Qi Returning to the Origin, 1%...]

Suddenly, the notifications of the Investiture of the Gods System resounded in Qingxu’s mind, leaving him momentarily stunned, for the effects were not limited to his Earthly Element Incarnation—his true self was also affected. At the same time, he felt a tremendous change in his five internal organs, with the five elemental energies brewing within him, radiating brilliance so dazzling one could almost see it shining through his chest.

“How could this be? My own cultivation is barely at the mid-stage of Earth Immortal, still some way from the late stage, yet I can cultivate the Five Qi Returning to the Origin at this level? That’s supposed to be the exclusive domain of True Immortals of Taiyi! Just what is the Investiture of the Gods System? How formidable!” The more Qingxu pondered, the more he sensed the system’s extraordinary nature. The first time he glimpsed the information of the Primal Heavenly Venerable in the Jade Void Palace, then later of the Grand Supreme and Tongtian as well—this was already terrifying enough. In the minds of all beings in the Primordial World, the Hunyuan Sages were the most supreme existences imaginable!

The Investiture of the Gods System was Qingxu’s golden finger upon traversing to this world, but as for its origin, not even he, the host, had the faintest clue; he only felt it harbored earth-shattering secrets.

After carefully reviewing the system’s information regarding this instance of the Five Qi Returning to the Origin, he understood that it all stemmed from his Earthly Element Incarnation. The Five Qi Returning to the Origin of his true self was not genuine but rather a workaround; if the incarnation perished, it would dissipate as well, and it offered no substantial help on the path of the Dao. In future, he would still need to attain the appropriate cultivation and practice the Five Qi Returning to the Origin according to proper methods. Thus, his cultivation remained that of a mid-stage Earth Immortal, unaffected—but with the Five Qi Returning to the Origin, his progress on the Dao would quicken greatly, and he could even use it to impress others.

“It seems the Investiture of the Gods System is powerful, but not to the point of overturning the heavens. Otherwise, if I truly manifested the Five Qi Returning to the Origin, I would immediately attain the realm of a True Immortal of Taiyi. As expected, there are no shortcuts on the path of the Great Dao; clever tricks will not suffice!” He could not help but sigh.

Perhaps it was because the Earthly Element Incarnation was derived from innate Xu-Yi Earth, but the progress of the Yellow Emperor’s Earth Qi Returning to the Origin far outstripped the other four.

After the time it takes to burn three sticks of incense, the Five Qi Returning to the Origin did not advance further. The Metal, Wood, Water, and Fire energies each reached 24%, while the Earth energy reached 35%. The five Qi were thus partially formed and could be manifested externally through the chest!

Boom!

A majestic aura enveloped the entire subterranean space. The Earthly Element Incarnation’s body, once radiating yellow light, now shone with a profound golden hue, as if gilded with gold leaf. Five streams—golden, blue, red, black, and yellow—flowed from his chest, surging and swirling through the air. Though seemingly independent, they were subtly interconnected, embodying the mysterious workings of the Five Elements in transformation.

The initial stage of True Immortal of Taiyi!

“The Primordial Yellow Purifying Water has only revealed about one percent of its power. Judging by this, if its effects were fully unleashed, reaching the peak of Golden Immortal of Da Luo would not be impossible. By then, with my external incarnation, I could freely traverse the vast Primordial World, and as long as the quasi-sages do not appear, I too would be a top-tier powerhouse!” With a rough estimation, Qingxu concluded that once he thoroughly refined a single drop of Primordial Yellow Purifying Water, his Earthly Element Incarnation could be elevated to the peak of Golden Immortal of Da Luo, provided he also comprehended the mysteries of the Three Flowers Gathering at the Summit and attained the Dao Fruit of Da Luo.

The path of cultivation was fraught with countless obstacles, especially beyond the Profound Immortal Realm. Many who failed to enter the true path could waste thousands or even tens of thousands of years without advancing a single step. Magical power could be accumulated over time, but progress in Dao and realm required innate talent, opportunity, enlightenment, and more—none could be lacking. In this, Qingxu was innately advantaged: not only did he possess a remarkable origin, being formed from a lower-grade innate spirit treasure, but he was also a disciple of a Sage. As the saying goes, “The predecessors plant the trees, the descendants enjoy the shade.” With the teaching of the Hunyuan Sage Primal Heavenly Venerable, not only would he avoid losing his way and wasting time, but he could also cultivate smoothly to the realm of Golden Immortal of Da Luo. As for ascending to the quasi-sage level, that would depend solely on himself; when it came to the laws of the Dao, no one could help but himself.

“Now it’s time to claim the treasure—the Primordial Yellow Bowl. I must see for myself what quality it possesses.” Qingxu could sense that this supreme treasure, though stronger than the Jade Void Palace Lamp, still fell short of the Central Xu-Yi Apricot Banner. He could roughly estimate that its innate restrictions numbered forty-three or forty-four layers, but regardless, it was an unparalleled artifact in his hands.

In truth, Qingxu still harbored a question in his heart regarding this Primordial Yellow Bowl. Since the Sages of the heavens had subdued the Yellow Turban Warriors, they could not possibly be unaware of this source spirit treasure. The Three Pure Ones, with their immense wealth, might be indifferent, but given the notorious stinginess of the Daoist Zhunti of the Western Saints, it was unlikely he would forsake it for mere karmic entanglements. Perhaps there was some hidden mystery at play here. Still, as the saying goes, “He who does not accept what heaven gives shall suffer for it.” Since he had encountered this opportunity, he could not let it go; whatever consequences arose could be considered in the future!