Chapter 16 – Pill-Aided Refinement and Future plans
After sleeping and waking up, the next morning sunlight filtered weakly through the cracked shutters of Haushan's small room. Dust motes floated lazily in the narrow beams, stirred occasionally by the faint morning breeze. Hao Tian stretched slightly, feeling the residual warmth of the first blood-condensing pill still moving through his body. His muscles ached pleasantly, and the subtle hum of Qi coursing through his dantian and lower meridians reminded him that his body had already begun adapting to a slightly higher standard.
He sat cross-legged on the rough wooden floor, bottle of remaining pills at his side. The first pill had done its work—pushing his body from mid-fifth stage toward low-sixth, filling more meridians than before. Now, the challenge was to sustain that growth and continue the cycle, making careful use of the two remaining pills over the coming days. Each pill, once consumed, would accelerate the filling of his 108 meridians, starting from his dantian and advancing outward along the main sequence of body-refining meridians. The process was slow, measured, and painful at times, but each circulation of Qi was deliberate, precise, and necessary.
For the next three days, Hao Tian maintained a steady rhythm. Morning, noon, and night, he adjusted his breathing, allowing the Qi to swirl through his meridians like a whirlpool drawing subtle energy from the surroundings into his body. His low-grade mortal cultivation technique was crude, but with the pill's aid, the Qi accumulation rate was noticeably faster. Pain accompanied progress—bones stretching slightly, sinews tightening, and a faint burning sensation coursing through his skin—but he welcomed it.
By the second day, his body had adapted enough to complete more circulations in a single session. Each cycle left him slightly more exhausted, yet more attuned to the subtle rhythms of his own meridians. He monitored his progress carefully, noting which meridians were still empty or partially filled and adjusting the focus of his breathing accordingly. The Qi now hummed in several of the primary meridians beyond the dantian, a sign that his body container was gradually accommodating the new energy.
On the third day, he decided to consume one of the remaining blood-condensing pills. Its effect was immediate—the Qi in his body surged, almost like a flood pushing through narrow channels. Hao Tian gritted his teeth, guiding the energy patiently through the meridians, feeling each one stretch and pulse with the growing Qi. Within hours, he could feel the last few Major meridians approaching full capacity. His dantian had become a stable reservoir, and the Qi circulation now spanned nearly the full meridian network.
By the morning of the fourth day, Hao Tian had consumed the last of the blood-condensing pills. The energy within his body surged as each remaining meridian gradually filled, his dantian stable and fully charged. Pain lingered, but it was tempered by a deep, steady pressure—the unmistakable sign that his body had grown stronger and his meridians could now hold more Qi than ever before.
Hao Tian leaned back against the wall, sweat dampening his clothes, and exhaled slowly. His muscles, bones, and skin felt denser, more resilient. The low-7th stage of body-refining had been achieved. He could sense the subtle flow of Qi through his internal network, the whirlpool-like circulation drawing in tiny amounts of energy from the surrounding air. There was no ability yet to release Qi beyond his body—only a clear, tangible awareness that his container was nearing capacity.
For the next several hours, he rested, letting the pill's residual effects settle fully. Each circulation of Qi now required more focus, more care, and patience. The empty pill bottle lay at his side, a quiet reminder that he had used the last external aid for this stage. Hao Tian allowed himself a brief sense of satisfaction, knowing that his body was prepared for future refinement. The coming days would be spent consolidating strength and ensuring that every meridian remained fully charged before he could consider stepping toward the next threshold of cultivation.
By the time the sun dipped low and shadows stretched across the narrow room, Hao Tian had already completed several slow and careful circulations. The restless heat left behind by the blood-condensing pills had finally settled, and the soreness in his muscles had faded into a deep, manageable ache.
His breathing was steady.
The Qi within his body moved in smooth, obedient paths through his meridians, no longer surging or colliding. It flowed like a quiet river, guided by his will and the rhythm of his breathing.
Only after confirming that everything had fully stabilized did he finally allow himself to relax.
He lay back on the wooden bed, staring at the cracked ceiling, watching a spider crawl slowly along one of the beams. The room was silent, broken only by the faint sound of wind outside and the distant noise of the town.
Low-seventh stage body-refining.
He repeated it silently.
Just a little over a week ago, he had still been struggling at the fifth stage. Even reaching the sixth had felt like a distant dream. Now, his body was denser, tougher, heavier in a way that could only be described as solid. His bones felt sturdier, his muscles carried more strength, and even his skin seemed slightly tighter, more resilient.
And yet…
It was still not enough.
Hao Tian slowly sat up.
His gaze fell to the small, empty pill bottle resting on the rough wooden table beside the bed.
That little container had held everything he had.
Months of dangerous foraging. Risking his life in the mountains. Scraping together every last coin. All of it had been poured into those three pills.
Now, it was empty.
A quiet, cold reality settled over him.
If he wanted to continue cultivating, he would need more resources.
Qi did not come from nowhere. Pills, herbs, beast materials, spiritual food—everything cost money. And money was something he did not have.
He thought about the town.
Blackstone Town was small. Poor. Isolated.
Even if he worked himself to exhaustion every day, hauling ore, carrying goods, or doing odd jobs, it would take months—maybe a year—just to afford a single low-grade pill.
That path was too slow.
Far too slow.
Four months.
That number surfaced in his mind again.
Four months until the recruitment of the Blazing Forge Sect.
Four months to reach high ninth stage body-refining.
Hao Tian exhaled slowly.
From low-seventh to high-ninth in four months.
Under normal circumstances, that would be nothing but a fantasy.
Even with a better cultivation technique, even with some talent, such a leap would take at least a year or two. And his cultivation technique was only a low-grade mortal one—barely enough to be considered proper.
But…
He clenched his fist slowly.
Normal circumstances had never applied to him.
He had no backing. No clan. No teacher. No resources.
If he walked the normal path, he would die before ever reaching real cultivation.
So he needed an abnormal path.
His gaze shifted toward the small, grimy window.
Beyond the town walls lay the mountains.
And beyond the mountains…
The forest.
The outer forest surrounding Blackstone Town was not famous. It was not some legendary land filled with ancient beasts or heaven-defying treasures. But it did have low-level demonic beasts.
It did have spiritual herbs.
And it did have value.
Beast hides, bones, meat, blood, occasionally even a beast core. Low-grade herbs that could be sold to alchemists or merchants. None of them were priceless—but together, they could become resources.
Money.
Pills.
Progress.
Of course, it was dangerous.
Even low-level beasts could kill an unprepared body-refining warrior.
Even a single mistake could mean death.
But Hao Tian did not look away from the risk.
He had already lived on the edge for years.
This was no different.
After sitting in silence for a long time, he finally reached a conclusion.
He would go into the forest.
Not recklessly.
Not deep into the dangerous regions.
Only the outermost areas.
He would hunt the weakest beasts.
Search for the most common herbs.
Slowly.
Carefully.
He would survive.
Once the decision was made, his mind felt strangely calm.
He stood up, stretched his body, and walked a few steps around the room. His movements were steady, controlled. He could clearly feel the difference in strength between his current body and his old one.
Not powerful.
But no longer fragile.
Then his thoughts returned to the sect.
The Blazing Forge Sect.
He had heard of it many times in the town.
It was not a great sect.
Not even a medium one.
Just a small sect that leaned heavily toward flame and metal cultivation techniques. They were known for body-refining methods, forging, and straightforward combat styles.
But to someone like him…
It was a gateway to the real world.
The Blazing Forge Sect accepted outer disciples once every three years.
The requirement was simple and cruel:
High ninth stage body-refining.
No background checks.
No family name needed.
No recommendations required.
Just strength.
Just talent.
Just proof.
Hao Tian sat back down slowly.
Four months.
If he failed…
Nothing would change.
He would still be here.
Still struggling.
Still crawling forward inch by inch.
But if he succeeded…
His life would finally leave this dead-end town.
He would gain access to real cultivation techniques.
Real resources.
A real path forward.
It was a gamble.
But it was the only one worth taking.
He closed his eyes.
In his mind, he began to calculate.
From low-seventh to high-ninth.
Three major stages.
Each one harder than the last.
Each one requiring more Qi, more refinement, more pain.
And as his body grew fuller, cultivation would only get slower.
Which meant…
He could not rely on time alone.
He needed resources.
Many resources.
His eyes opened again.
The forest.
That was the answer.
But before he could go, he needed to prepare.
He stood and began checking what little he owned.
A simple sword.
A few sets of clothes.
Some dried food.
Very little else.
Not enough.
If he went into the forest like this, he would be gambling his life every single day.
He needed:
– Wound medicine
– Basic healing salves
– Bandages
– Insect repellent powder
– Simple detoxifying herbs
– A few emergency supplies
None of them were expensive.
But together, they would still cost a noticeable amount.
Fortunately, he still had some silver left.
Not much.
But enough to prepare once.
Tomorrow, he would go to the market.
Buy what he needed.
Ask around about the current situation in the forest.
Learn which beasts were being hunted.
Which areas were safer.
Which areas were death traps.
Then…
He would step out.
That night, Hao Tian did not sleep immediately.
He sat on the bed, silently circulating Qi, stabilizing his realm.
Every cycle felt heavier than before.
Slower.
More resistant.
His body was becoming fuller.
Denser.
Closer to its limits.
Which only confirmed one thing:
Without new resources, his progress would soon crawl to a stop.
When he finally lay down, his mind was clear.
Not hopeful.
Not fearful.
Just… resolved.
Tomorrow was the first step.
Toward the forest.
Toward the Blazing Forge Sect.
Toward a future that did not end in this broken house.