I Cultivate in a Government Office

Chapter 165: Chapter 107: Fourth Refinement Perfected, Entering the Fifth Refinement

His organs were indeed more resilient, their Spiritual Light more brilliant, and the Five Qi Cycle was nearly perfect. Still, he always felt like one final, crucial piece was missing. It was like an exquisite Array Map where all the runes were lit, yet it lacked the core spiritual catalyst that would activate and fuse them all into one.

During Introspection, the Spiritual Light of his five organs was dazzling, yet there was a faint sense of detachment, as if each was acting independently. They had not yet truly become a single, seamless whole. He had no choice but to quiet his mind and carefully study the final Chapter of the Nine Refining Secret Skill concerning the Fourth Refinement, "Viscera Nurturing Brilliance":

"The five organs are where essence is stored, the hub of transmutation. The Five Qi are the spirits of the Five Elements, the embodiment of circulation. Nurturing brilliance is not merely about tempering their form or strengthening their substance, but more importantly, about achieving harmony.

Metal is sharp but not harmful. Wood flourishes but is not overbearing. Water moistens but does not flood. Fire illuminates but does not incinerate. Earth is thick but not stagnant. The Five Qi each rest in their proper place, each performing their duty. However, for the circulation of Qi, the most precious qualities are unimpeded flow and fusion.

Unimpeded flow is not just about the openness of the meridians, but about the mutual aid of the Five Qi, like a ring without end, generating endlessly. Fusion is not a forced union, but the natural process of Five Elements Mutual Generation and transformation—I am in you, and you are in me. Only as a seamless whole can the true meaning of brilliance be revealed.

When this is achieved, the Inner Scene of the organs will be bright, self-sufficient without seeking external aid. This is the sign of great success in Nurturing Brilliance, and also the foundation for opening and expanding the meridians."

This explanation of "unimpeded flow and fusion" sparked a flicker of understanding in his heart. After reading it several times, he murmured to himself:

"Once a certain critical point is reached, what’s needed is no longer a forceful impact, but harmony. It’s about letting the already immensely powerful Spiritual Light of the five organs truly achieve a state of perfect integration, forming a stable and internally unobstructed cycle."

Just as he was immersed in this profound insight, trying to grasp that flash of inspiration, his younger sister Yang Wenning’s clear yet slightly cautious voice called out from outside the Quiet Chamber: "Big Brother? Time for breakfast! It’s almost seven-thirty!"

Yang Wenqing was jolted back to his senses, only then realizing that it was already broad daylight outside, the sun shining intensely.

He called out in reply, collected his thoughts, and stood up to cast the Dust Clearing Skill. After changing his clothes, he went to the front hall dining room. His younger brother, Yang Wenjian, had almost finished eating and was using the time to look over a thin review booklet. His younger sister, Yang Wenning, was sipping her congee in small mouthfuls, her gaze distant, lost in thought.

"Big Brother," Yang Wenjian said, looking up in greeting.

Yang Wenqing gave a simple acknowledgment and sat down for breakfast. As he ate, his mind remained preoccupied with those two concepts: flow and fusion.

After breakfast, he headed to the City Defense Bureau as usual. After sitting down at his desk and handling a few urgent documents, the thoughts about his Cultivation still lingered, refusing to fade.

After much deliberation, he stood up and left his office. He told Liu Qin, "I’m heading over to Vice Director Gao’s," and went straight to the top floor.

He knocked on Vice Director Gao’s office door. After receiving permission, Yang Wenqing pushed the door open and entered.

Vice Director Gao had just finished a round of meditation. The aura around him was calm and deep. Seeing Yang Wenqing enter, a questioning look flickered in his eyes.

"Vice Director."

Yang Wenqing closed the door, and after a moment’s consideration, got straight to the point. "It’s about a point of confusion in my Cultivation. I’ve reached the final stage of the Fourth Refinement, ’Viscera Nurturing Brilliance,’ but I’m having trouble with the integration. The Secret Technique mentions ’the mutual aid of the Five Qi, fusing into a seamless whole,’ but I can’t seem to grasp the key to it."

Upon hearing this, a trace of surprise flashed across Vice Director Gao’s face, but it quickly gave way to an understanding smile. The surprise was because he hadn’t expected Yang Wenqing to reach this stage so quickly; the understanding was because he felt that with Yang Wenqing’s talent, it wasn’t all that remarkable.

So, he began to explain, "The so-called ’seamless whole’ hinges on the harmony between your spirit and your qi. Since you’ve progressed in your Cultivation so quickly, you’ve most likely been tempering your organs with potent medicines and fierce fire. You need to carefully comprehend the subtlety of the Five Elements’ generation and subjugation cycles. This is about guiding the process, letting the Spiritual Qi of the five organs naturally converge until their boundaries blur."

He paused, then looked at Yang Wenqing. "This cycle must not only be unimpeded, but also natural, like breathing. When, during seated Introspection, you no longer need to consciously maintain it, that is when you will have achieved great success in Nurturing Brilliance. At that point, your vital energy and Spiritual Qi will resonate with your five organs, and stepping into the Fifth Refinement will be a natural consequence."

Vice Director Gao’s words pulled him from the abstract descriptions of the ancient Secret Technique text to a more concrete and actionable level. Yang Wenqing recalled his previous Cultivation; he had indeed focused more on the infusion of power and the tempering of form, and had been lacking in the aspects of harmony and integration.

"Thank you for your guidance, Vice Director!" Yang Wenqing quickly stood up to express his thanks.

"In matters of Cultivation, one must strike a balance between tension and relaxation. Sometimes, being too fixated is counterproductive. Your foundation is already solid; perhaps all you were missing was this moment of clarity," Vice Director Gao replied with a smile. As he spoke, a gentle stream of Divine Sense quietly extended, enveloping Yang Wenqing.

This was a common gesture for a senior checking on a junior’s Cultivation progress, a way to show concern and offer more precise guidance. With a slight shift in his thoughts, Yang Wenqing let the Nine Refining Secret Skill circulate naturally within him, calmly accepting the probe.

Vice Director Gao’s Divine Sense focused on the region of his organs, where his vital energy was surging. Upon this inspection, the casual smile on Vice Director Gao’s face froze slightly. An unconcealable flash of astonishment appeared in his eyes, which then immediately transformed into a deeper contemplation.

In his perception, the foundation of Yang Wenqing’s organs was far more profound and stable than he had anticipated. It was even more solid and complete than that of many veteran Fourth Refinement Cultivators who had been polishing their skills in this realm for over a decade.

More importantly, Yang Wenqing’s current state was exactly as he himself had described it. The Spiritual Light of his five organs was brilliant, and the Five Qi were abundant and surging. It was like five treasure-filled reservoirs, lacking only a single channel to connect them completely and unleash a monstrous flood.

A thought flashed through Vice Director Gao’s mind like a bolt of lightning, quickly growing sharp and clear.