Chapter 25

Chapter 25: The Great Dao of the Golden Core

“Inheritance of Medicine King Valley from the Immortal-God Era!”

Li Yunqing quickly organized the memories in her mind.

The Medicine King Scripture—an ancient scripture from the Immortal-God Era.

It contained the Cultivation Chapter, Spiritual Herbs Chapter, Spiritual Pills Chapter, Needle Application Chapter, and Epidemic Diseases Chapter.

“The Great Dao of the Golden Core in the Cultivation Chapter.”

“Thirty-seven thousand types of heavenly and earthly spiritual herbs.”

“Three hundred and sixty types of medicinal and cultivation pill formulas.”

“And the Seven Absolute Needles for healing and treatment.”

“Wait… the Ghost Gate Needles are actually just a fragmentary inheritance of the Seven Absolute Needles?”

“And that jade slip!”

After absorbing all the knowledge from the Medicine King Scripture, she subconsciously looked at the powder of the jade slip before her.

“A jade slip made from Profound Yin Cold Jade can condense one drop of Profound Yin Jade Marrow every ten thousand years.”

Li Yunqing murmured, her eyes filled with regret.

According to the jade slip, Profound Yin Jade Marrow could strengthen divine sense and was a primary ingredient in many soul-nourishing and spirit-condensing pills.

Those nine drops—if refined into pills—would have been enough for her to consume one daily for over a month, and her divine sense would have improved far beyond merely four or five times.

A powerful divine sense was invaluable for cultivation, alchemy, artifact forging, formations, and more.

Now, however, it had only strengthened her Yin Spirit—it was an enormous waste.

But at that moment, she had no choice but to prioritize survival.

As for the jade slip inheritance, it was clearly a one-time-use item—an even greater extravagance.

It was likely used to avoid the backlash of heaven and earth.

Otherwise, jade slips inscribed with magical power and divine sense would probably have their contents erased by that backlash.

“Can the Great Dao of the Golden Core still be cultivated in this era?”

“Qi Refinement, Foundation Establishment, Core Formation… the first step of Qi Refinement is drawing qi into the body.”

“Only those born with spiritual intelligence can cultivate?”

“What exactly is spiritual intelligence?”

Li Yunqing fell into thought, suddenly recalling the words of the Ghost Granny.

Those demons and evil gods were all former immortals unwilling to perish, surviving by devouring living beings.

“Could it be that the God-Worship Sect targeting me is related to this?”

“Am I someone born with spiritual intelligence? Or is it because of the ‘Naturally Spiritual Grace’ trait?”

Naturally Spiritual Grace was a trait derived from achieving perfection in Painting among Zither, Chess, Calligraphy, and Painting. She had never truly felt its effect.

If there was anything about her related to innate spiritual intelligence, it could only be that trait.

“I’ll know once I try!”

After thinking it through, Li Yunqing began examining the method of drawing qi into the body.

“The qi of plants and medicinal substances, the spiritual qi of heaven and earth, and even the qi of disease can all be used.”

“Drawing qi into the body, refining and transforming it through the Medicine King Scripture into life-infused magical power—also known as Life Force.”

“Life Force is unique to the Medicine King Scripture, differing from the five elements or yin-yang attributes. It can both extend lifespan and aid cultivation, as well as heal illnesses and save lives.”

She quickly flipped through the Cultivation Chapter, carefully deciphering its profundities.

After a long while, Li Yunqing sat cross-legged and began attempting the method step by step.

Her mind became tranquil, sensing the spiritual qi of heaven and earth and the qi of vegetation, guiding it with intent and circulating the method to draw qi into her body.

“Buzz!”

After an unknown amount of time, Li Yunqing felt a slight coolness at the top of her head.

It was as if a strand of icy energy descended from above, passing through the thirty-three heavenly pillars and slowly settling into her dantian.

“There is spiritual qi!”

Her heart rejoiced. But before she could guide that strand of qi to circulate through her body and refine it into Life Force—

It silently dissipated.

“Medicine King Scripture experience +1.”

“Medicine King Scripture (Beginner 1/1000)”

“So it really can be cultivated.”

“So the God-Worship Sect targeted me because I possess innate spiritual intelligence?”

Li Yunqing’s heart tightened, a sense of crisis instantly rising.

If that were true, the God-Worship Sect would never give up—they had even dared to attempt killing the Jiang Family’s young master.

These people who worship evil gods were all madmen.

Especially since the God-Worship Sect operated in the shadows—impossible to guard against.

And there were also other sects like the White Lotus Sect. Once her spiritual intelligence was exposed, without sufficient strength, she might not even be able to protect herself.

“I must be cautious in the future. Once I am strong enough, I must eliminate all future threats!”

“And this Medicine King Scripture must be cultivated.”

“But why does the spiritual qi dissipate inside the body?”

Li Yunqing frowned, suddenly recalling the inscription in the chamber.

“Spiritual energy has dissipated, heaven and earth have backlashed, the immortal path is severed, the Five Decays of Heaven and Man have arrived, immortals and gods have perished—where lies the path ahead?”

“Immortals cannot cultivate magical power because it is devoured by the backlash of heaven and earth?”

“Is that why immortals perished?”

“Or is it due to the so-called Five Decays of Heaven and Man?”

There was too little information—she could not fully understand.

Spiritual qi still existed in the world—perhaps very thin—but cultivation was possible. Only the resulting magical power would dissipate.

“Or is it that only someone like me, with the Longevity (Immortality) panel, can cultivate, yet still cannot resist the backlash of heaven and earth?”

After pondering, she closed her eyes again and activated the method of drawing qi into the body.

Soon, another strand of icy energy descended into her dantian.

But the moment it entered—

It dissipated once more.

“Medicine King Scripture experience +1.”

This time, she paid no attention to the text. All her focus was on that strand of energy.

“It’s not dissipating… it’s merging into the body.”

“Why is that?”

“Could it be because of my Longevity (Immortality) body?”

Carefully sensing it, she discovered that as the two strands of energy merged, her organs, bones, muscles, and blood all strengthened slightly.

Even Ice-Like Skin and Jade-Like Bones seemed to undergo subtle changes.

The change was extremely slight. To confirm, she continued experimenting.

“Medicine King Scripture experience +1.”

“Medicine King Scripture experience +1.”

After more than ten repetitions, Li Yunqing suddenly opened her eyes.

At this moment, she was completely certain—the spiritual qi had not disappeared but had fused into her body, gradually strengthening it.

The qi that dissipated within her also nourished her Yin Spirit, making the Ice-Like Skin and Jade-Like Bones physique even more pronounced.

“I can’t cultivate magical power, but the experience still increases.”

“And it can nourish both body and spirit.”

“It’s somewhat similar to martial body tempering… has the world’s laws changed?”

“Is this what it means that the immortal path is severed?”

Li Yunqing could not determine the exact cause.

But with the panel, she could indeed cultivate—she just could not accumulate true magical power.

However, the Medicine King Scripture did not only gain experience through cultivation. Every chapter could increase experience.

Including alchemy, medicine-making, and needle techniques.

When refining pills and medicines, the technique could absorb medicinal power and pill energy to strengthen magical power.

When healing illnesses or treating epidemics, it could convert disease energy into magical power.

The only question was whether magical power gained through these methods would also dissipate.

“I still know too little about this world.”

“But I can try.”

Even if the magical power dissipated, it still tempered the body—similar to martial cultivation.

If she combined spiritual qi with martial force to temper her body, not only could she cultivate faster, but she could also become stronger.

Especially since the Medicine King Scripture could nourish the Yin Spirit. At a certain level, it might even surpass the Frost Sword Art in tempering the mind.

Or rather, the Medicine King Scripture nourished the Yin Spirit, while the Frost Sword Art tempered the spirit—they complemented each other.

“Perhaps when the body is fully tempered, there will be further changes.”

“Or when the Medicine King Scripture reaches full experience, there may be transformation.”

With that thought, Li Yunqing formed hand seals. Two silver needles flew out from her waist pouch and shot straight into the clear pool.

In a short moment, two fish weighing two to three jin were pierced through the head by the needles and, under the control of her spiritual power, fell before her.

“Martial cultivation must continue, and the Medicine King Scripture cannot be neglected.”

“And the traits, as well as the pills recorded in the Medicine King Scripture, must also be attempted.”

“If I want to become stronger quickly, I cannot neglect any of them.”

Having made her decision, she slowly stood up, picked up the fish, and began cleaning them.

Since eating a few pastries at noon yesterday, she had not eaten anything until now.

The presence of fish in the pool was good news.

At least she could hold on for ten days or half a month.

Turning her head slightly, her gaze fell on the recessed area beneath the cliff. Jiang Yu was still leaning against the rock wall, but there was now a hint of color returning to his body.

His entire posture had relaxed.

Seeing Jiang Yu’s miserable state, Li Yunqing frowned slightly.

Being trapped in this valley with a man was highly inconvenient—especially since a woman’s body was different from a man’s.

“I hope they come soon. I don’t want to stay here for ten or half a month.”