Chapter 31 : The Path of the Qi Realm

Chapter 31: The Path of the Qi Realm

As the carriage had just entered the Outer City, Li Yunqing heard a surge of noisy commotion.

Through the carriage window, she could see groups of soldiers clad in iron armor, holding long spears.

Yamen runners with horizontal blades hanging at their waists, and Demon Suppression Guards dressed in black robes patterned with cloud motifs, were patrolling everywhere.

There were also many commoners being escorted under guard.

Sharp scoldings, loud shouts, and cries of injustice blended together into a continuous uproar.

The entire Qingzhou City had fallen into chaos.

“They are arresting members of the God-Worship Sect?”

Li Yunqing spoke in surprise, for among those being captured, very few were ranked martial artists—most were ordinary civilians.

“What God-Worship Sect? Just a bunch of believers!”

As soon as Li Yansong finished speaking, his expression tightened slightly. He turned to Li Yunqing and asked, “Do you know why the God-Worship Sect attacked you?”

“I don’t know!” Li Yunqing shook her head.

She did not reveal her innate spiritual wisdom; some things even she herself could not clearly explain.

“You must be more careful when going out in the future!”

Li Shuo’s expression also turned serious, his tone grave. “The real members of the God-Worship Sect hide very deeply, and their cultivation is no weaker than some Demon Suppression Guards.”

“Some of their core members are even comparable to squad leaders, captains, or commanders of the Demon Suppression Division.”

“In such arrest sweeps, the ones who suffer are always the common people.”

“And these sects that worship evil gods can never truly be eradicated.”

Hearing her elder brother’s words, Li Yunqing slightly frowned and instinctively asked, “Why?”

“You have already begun practicing martial arts, so there is no harm in telling you some things!”

Li Yansong spoke, “You should be able to feel how difficult martial cultivation is—tempering blood and qi, refining the body, and generating force. Not a single step can be neglected.”

“But even reaching Initial Realm Perfection does not count as truly entering the martial path.”

Li Yunqing fell briefly silent. She did not find it particularly difficult—after all, in just over ten days, she had already generated force.

Li Yansong continued without pause, “A true martial artist only counts as having entered the path upon reaching the Qi Realm.”

“The Great Yu Imperial Dynasty was founded upon martial strength. There are countless martial practitioners under heaven. Initial Realm martial artists number in the tens of millions, but Qi Realm martial artists are few.”

“Out of a thousand who practice martial arts, if even one reaches the Qi Realm, it is already a blessing granted by heaven. Do you know why?”

Li Yunqing shook her head. She did not know the reason.

Even in books and biographies, it was rarely mentioned.

However, she knew that in Qingzhou, reaching Initial Realm Perfection already made one a skilled expert, while those in the Qi Realm were considered important figures.

Within Qingzhou City, the known Qi Realm experts were only members of the top great families, as well as the top ten martial halls.

Additionally, there were the commanders of the Demon Suppression Division and the four chief commandants.

As for the Demon Suppression captains and lieutenants, most were not in the Qi Realm.

The thirty thousand Demon Suppression Guards were merely ranked martial artists.

The Qi Realm was rare, but in her view, Qingzhou was not the prosperous capital, which was why it seemed scarce.

“Then you probably also do not know why those small families would go to any lengths to attach themselves to great families!”

Li Yansong sighed slightly.

Some small families, in order to cling to great families, would not hesitate to sacrifice ninety percent of their clan.

There were only so many great families in Qingzhou City, but small families would destroy each other within just a few years through constant strife.

“Because of the Qi Realm?” Li Yunqing frowned slightly, already forming a guess.

“Correct!” Li Yansong nodded. “To be precise, it is because of the Concept Fundamental Diagram required to break through to the Qi Realm.”

“Concept Fundamental Diagram?” Although Li Yunqing’s expression remained calm, a trace of astonishment flashed in her eyes.

She had concept.

Although she had not yet discovered any practical use for it, while cultivating the Frost Sword Art, she had indeed comprehended a trace of Sword Intent.

“The Concept Fundamental Diagram is formed when martial artists at the Upper Tier of the Qi Realm, Qi Realm Perfection, or even Profound Realm Grandmasters imprint their own comprehension onto Zither, Chess, Calligraphy, and Painting.”

“Cultivation in the Initial Realm strengthens the body and generates Internal Force—this is the foundation!”

Li Yansong’s tone carried a hint of yearning as he continued, “But to condense True Qi and break into the Qi Realm, one must comprehend concept.”

“The power of True Qi is immense. A single strand can pierce iron armor, split mountains, and shatter rocks.”

“The most fundamental reason for this lies in concept!”

“Without qi, there is no root; without concept, qi disperses. Only by using qi as the root and concept as the bridge can True Qi be condensed and the Qi Realm be reached.”

“To condense True Qi, one must comprehend concept.”

“All phenomena of heaven and earth can become concept. Even if seen with one’s own eyes, very few can truly comprehend it. One must rely on the Concept Fundamental Diagram.”

“Father means that these Concept Fundamental Diagrams are all controlled by those great families?”

Li Yunqing suddenly understood.

While cultivating the Frost Sword Art, she had indeed comprehended Frost Sword Intent, but its power was limited.

Now she roughly understood—only when Sword Intent merged with True Qi could it unleash truly terrifying power.

“Not only that!” Li Yansong shook his head. “These Concept Fundamental Diagrams are indeed the key to breaking into the Qi Realm, and they are indeed controlled by the great families.”

“But those sects that worship evil gods also have methods to break into the Qi Realm.”

“In the past, when the founding ancestor of the Great Yu rose to power, had he not also once believed in evil gods before rising step by step and establishing the territory of the Great Yu?”

“Evil gods are transformed from immortals and deities. Powerful immortals can split mountains with a thought, boil seas with a thought, and freeze all things with a thought. That kind of power—how is it not a powerful form of concept?”

“You should now understand why evil god sects can never be eradicated.”

Hearing her father’s words, how could Li Yunqing not understand?

The reason immortals and deities were powerful lay in their spells, and those spells originated from comprehending heaven and earth.

The weak relied on hand seals and magical power to cast spells.

They knew how, but not why.

But immortals who grasped the fundamental true meaning of those spells could cast them with a single thought.

That true meaning of spells and the concept in martial arts were perhaps the same thing.

Thus, people worshiped evil gods, all for the chance to comprehend concept.

And the reason she could comprehend that trace of Frost Sword Intent was also because of the Frost Sword Art.

“In that case, those who worship evil gods will definitely not let me go!”

Having understood the reason, a sense of urgency rose once more in Li Yunqing’s heart.

Great families controlled the diagrams, driving countless small families into madness and slaughter.

Evil gods controlled the ability to comprehend concept, likewise driving countless beings into frenzy.

If the God-Worship Sect had targeted her, it must also be for breaking into the Qi Realm—how could they easily give up?

“Father wanting me to marry into the Jiang Family… it must be for this as well!”

Li Yunqing understood.

A single Concept Fundamental Diagram, if preserved, could ensure a family’s prosperity for generations.

If she married into the Jiang Family, her father could rely on their diagram.

By comprehending concept and condensing True Qi, he could become an important figure and lead the family to rise.

Seeing Li Yunqing fall silent, Li Shuo clearly knew what she was thinking.

His younger sister was not only quiet but also extremely intelligent—she understood many things at a single hint.

Thinking of this, he gently comforted her, “Little sister, you need not worry. If I join the Demon Suppression Guards and accumulate enough merit, I will also have a chance to comprehend a Concept Fundamental Diagram.”

Upon hearing this, Li Yansong remained silent for a moment before saying, “Yunqing, I should not place all the pressure on you.”

Yet in his heart, how could he not understand?

The Demon Suppression Division answered directly to the emperor of the Great Yu and wielded immense power—even outranking officials by one level.

Naturally, they possessed various Concept Fundamental Diagrams.

But obtaining them required fighting demons and evil gods, exchanging one’s life for opportunity.

It seemed like a chance, but it was equally slim.

It was also a method by which the Great Yu Imperial Dynasty controlled martial artists across the realm to oppose demons and evil gods.

Especially demons—they possessed powerful demon kingdoms.

Their strong individuals were not inferior to those of the Great Yu Imperial Dynasty in the slightest.

Even though the current emperor had already reached the level of a Profound Realm Grandmaster, he still did not dare to truly clash head-on with the demon kingdoms.

Hearing this, Li Yunqing gathered her thoughts.

As long as she was given time, what was a mere Concept Fundamental Diagram?

Once she comprehended enough concept, she could simply draw one herself.

In Zither, Chess, Calligraphy, and Painting, she claimed second place in Qingzhou—no one would dare claim first.

The marriage—she would definitely break it off. No one could stop her.

She did not need some random man to ruin her. What she lacked now was only time.

Thinking of this, she spoke softly.

“Father, rest assured. I know what to do.”