Chapter 2: Qi Refining, Entering the Abyss World

On his way home, Qin Shu passed by Ye Yunqing’s house, now empty and abandoned.

The Nine Provinces Holy Court was vast, with abundant land resources. Both Qin Shu and Ye Yunqing lived in standalone houses they built themselves, located beyond the fifth ring road.

This world had advanced technology; taking an unmanned aerial train, even traveling thirty kilometers to the fifth ring took only about ten minutes.

Qin Shu’s parents were ordinary people. In their family, there were three older sisters, two younger brothers, one younger sister, making a total of nine members.

There were also many uncles and elders.

The Nine Provinces Holy Court encouraged ordinary people to have more children. From birth to adulthood, all food expenses, medical fees, education, etc., were borne by the Holy Court. Moreover, the more children one had, the higher the subsidies for the parents.

As a result, most ordinary families had over ten siblings.

Qin Shu’s family with seven children was considered small.

For example, Ye Yunqing’s family, like most others, had over ten children.

Father Qin, Qin Wei, and Mother Qin, Wang Yurou, ran a fruit shop. They sold fruits grown by Qin Shu’s grandfather and other family members, with business being fairly good.

One day, the fruit shop didn’t open. Instead, Qin Shu’s family anxiously awaited the results of his divine soul awakening.

Seeing Qin Shu return, his second sister, Qin Rou, immediately asked, “How did it go? How did it go? Success or failure?”

The family was on edge, dreading both the failure of Qin Shu’s awakening and the possibility that he had awakened a Bronze divine soul.

At this moment, even Qin Shu didn’t know what to say. Acknowledging the Bronze divine soul would worry his family, but the manifestation of the Cyan Lotus Seed was unmistakably bronze.

After a moment of silence, he nodded with a complex expression. “I’ve successfully awakened.”

“What level?” Qin Wei asked, his gaze fixed on Qin Shu, betraying equal parts anxiety and hope.

Qin Shu reasoned that they’d eventually learn from the school anyway, so he decided not to withhold information. Instead, he directly manifested the Cyan Lotus Dao Seed.

Dajie Qin Yu asked, “What is this?”

“It looks like some kind of lotus seed,” Wumei Qin Qing said, her voice trembling slightly.

“L-lotus seed!” Wang Yurou exclaimed. “Doesn’t that mean it’s a Bronze-ranked divine soul?” Her face paled instantly.

The other siblings reacted similarly; a Bronze-ranked divine soul meant there was less than a ten percent chance for Qin Shu to return from the Abyss World safely.

“Actually, it’s not just any Bronze-ranked divine soul—it’s slightly stronger than average,” Qin Shu admitted candidly.

“A sigh escaped as everyone fell silent. Only Qin Wei let out a soft sound of exasperation. “Little Shu, your mom and I aren’t much help in matters like these. But if there’s anything you want to eat or do over these next three days, just tell us. We’ll do our best to make it happen.”

Wang Yurou’s eyes welled with tears as she embraced Qin Shu tightly. “Oh, my poor little Shu, why must you suffer so?”

Qin Shu felt awkward; even if he tried to explain that his was a Daoseed-level divine soul, no one would believe him.

On the surface, the highest level of divine souls was the nine-colored Mythical grade—like Tai Chi Monarch, Two Rites Monarch, Xuanyuan Sword, Kunlun Mirror, Nine Claws Golden Dragon, Yuanshi Phoenix, or Zhenyu Qilin.

A Daoseed-level soul? What kind of level was that?

Forget his family—even if he told anyone else, they wouldn’t believe it either.

He couldn’t do much about that.

However, he still needed to prepare properly. He said, “Alright, Mom, I’m fine now, aren’t I? Give me some money—I need to get ready for the Abyss training in three days.”

“That’s right—if we prepare well enough, there’s no reason not to survive,” Wang Yurou agreed, turning to Qin Wei. “Honey, how much savings do we have left? Let’s use it all.”

“Okay!” Qin Wei started reaching for his bank card.

“No, wait!” Qin Shu had to stop them. “Mom, Dad, you don’t need to spend that much. My divine soul comes with innate abilities, so all I really need is some seed capital.”

The initial ability of the Cyan Lotus Dao Seed, Divine Dispensation, could bestow blessings upon all things. Currently, it could be used to enhance plants—as long as there was sufficient power of Divine Dispensation.

“Bring your own divine ability?” Qin Wei’s eyes lit up. “Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Your chances of surviving in the Abyss World will greatly increase this way. A plant-based divine ability, is it? Let me take a look.” Then he turned to his other children. “All of you, help search for information on plants with strong capabilities.”

“Yes!” The entire family sprang into action, using their wrist computers to scour data.

Qin Shu was deeply moved but couldn’t help feeling torn between laughter and tears.

“I found one!” Sixth Brother Qin Gui exclaimed. “Golden Thread Vine - a Bronze-ranked plant with incredibly resilient vines. Its seeds cost only 3000 yuan each.”

“I have something too,” Third Sister Qin Ying said, turning to Qin Shu. “Little Shu, does your divine ability allow you to animate plants?”

“Pretty much,” Qin Shu nodded. “It might even be stronger than that.”

“That’s good,” Qin Ying said. “Look at this Iron Cantaloupe; if we could grow it, it’d be like having a cannon in our arsenal.”

“I’ve got one too.” Five-year-old Little Brother Qin Hao raised his hand high. “These Golden Apples look absolutely delicious.”

Everyone nearly fell over from laughter!

Wang Yurou picked up Qin Hao. “Little Hao, don’t make trouble now.”

Soon, they had gathered all the required plants.

There were five types in total: Golden Thread Vine, Iron Cantaloupe, Giant Banyan Tree, Gold-skinned Thorny Tree, and Ghost Parasol Tree.

All these could be purchased within Yangzhou City.

Wang Yurou worriedly asked, “Are just these five really enough? Shouldn’t we pick more? We still have money available.”

“Yes, yes!”

“No need for too many, just these five will suffice,” Qin Shu said as he left home for Yangzhou City’s largest spirit plant center. There, he purchased seeds of each of these five plants, acquiring five of each variety at a total cost nearing one hundred thousand yuan.

For the Qin family, this sum was neither substantial nor trivial.

However, both Qin Wei and Wang Yurou hoped that Qin Shu would spend as much money as possible. They believed that only with ample preparation could his chances of survival be maximized.

Nightfall found Qin Wei and Wang Yurou so anxious they couldn’t sleep.

In their bedroom, Qin Shu sat cross-legged on the floor. From the Cyan Lotus Dao Seed emerged a cultivation technique:

The Grand Fortune Primordial Scripture - Qi Refinement: Transforming Essence into Qi.

Having already mastered the Mental Visualization Method, Qin Shu could now sense the vital energy around him, allowing him to skip directly to the stage of perceiving qi.

Only those who had awakened their spiritual souls could begin cultivating qi, which meant that Qin Shu was just starting out in this phase.

Soon, he felt a cool stream of energy enter his body through the Baihui acupoint at the top of his head. It flowed through the Ren and Du meridians and the twelve primary channels before settling in his dantian, where it transformed into true primordial qi.

The first level of Qi Refinement came easily to him.

Within his sea of consciousness, the Cyan Lotus Dao Seed emitted a green glow. Qin Shu felt like a colossal beast, hungrily devouring the surrounding vital energy and transforming it into his own true qi.

In merely one night, he progressed from the first to the second level of Qi Refinement, the speed of his advancement almost too incredible to believe.

The vital energy around him rippled intensely.

However, few awakened beings were nearby.

And even if there were, what could they do? Qin Shu was merely at the Qi Refinement stage; no matter how fast he cultivated, his absorption of vital energy couldn’t match that of the Foundation Establishment realm.

In the Nine Provinces Holy Court, cultivation levels progressed as follows: Essence Refinement (Qi Refinement, Foundation Establishment), Qi Transformation (Core Formation, Golden Core), Spirit Condensation (Nascent Soul, Primordial Spirit), and Void Fusion (Void Piercing, Transcendent).

Above these lay the immortal realms, where one could attain eternal life.

A Bronze-tier spiritual soul reached its limit at the Golden Core stage. Silver-tier souls could ascend to the Primordial Spirit stage, while Gold-tier souls achieved Transcendent transformation.

As for the Abyssal Calamity, the threshold to immortality—none below Star Radiance level dared attempt it.

Yet, a spiritual soul’s potential was not fixed. However, the cost of enhancement was impossibly high.

Three days flashed by. Thanks to the relatively low concentration of vital energy in the area, Qin Shu had only advanced to the third layer of Qi Refinement.

Outside the bedroom, Wang Yurou cradled Qin Hao, silently praying:

“O Lady Nüwa, please bless our little Shu with a safe return.”

Inside, Qin Shu felt an abrupt force enveloping him.

In the next instant, heaven and earth transformed. He found himself in a gloomy world, where dark clouds obscured the sky. Above, tendrils of abyssal essence flowed—a miasma of evil, destruction, chaos… every manner of negative aura imaginable.

“Is this the Abyss World?”

He found himself atop a small hill overlooking a village, surrounded by a world that was half-black and half-white, an oppressive shade of gray.

The Abyss World he now inhabited was once part of the realm where the Nine Provinces Holy Court stood. After being tainted by Abyssal essence, this fragment had fallen into the Abyss, forming a shattered piece of the old world.

It was a place from long ago.

Vastly different from the complete Abyss World where high-tier awakened beings undergo their tribulations.

Typically, the first Abyss World experienced by an awakened being is no larger than a small town.

Qin Shu couldn’t fathom how many awakened beings had perished here, but even the surrounding vital energy made him feel uneasy.

Without hesitation, he manifested the Cyan Lotus Dao Seed. The ground cracked open, allowing the Cyan Lotus Core to sink deep. In moments, it took root and sprouted, unfurling a tender green shoot.

The gray vital energy in the vicinity swiftly transformed into a turquoise force of good fortune, coalescing into a circle about three feet wide and expanding rapidly.

Next, Qin Shu planted the Golden Thread Vine seeds and, combining his spiritual soul power with the force of good fortune, initiated the Destiny Transformation on the vines.

In an instant, five Golden Thread Vine seeds sprouted and grew vigorously. Before long, they covered an area spanning over ninety feet, creating a golden expanse as both leaves and tendrils shimmered like pure gold.

The entire process took less than fifteen minutes.

Meanwhile, the Cyan Lotus seeds continuously absorbed this world’s essence, transforming it into nourishment for their own growth.

Sensing the impending crisis, the world began to tremble.

Roar!

From a nearby village, one after another, humanoid yet monstrous creatures emerged from dilapidated houses, swiftly making their way towards Qin Shu.

As they approached, Qin Shu finally got a clear look at them.

They were human-shaped, but covered in coarse fur, with long black hair all over. Their mouths, resembling those of Lei Gong, brimmed with sharp fangs. Their clawed hands bore at least ten centimeters of vicious talons, shrouded in swirling black mist – an ominous sign that these beings were no ordinary threat.

One by one, they charged at Qin Shu with bloodcurdling cries.

These were Black Rat Poison Stiffs, among the lowest-tier creatures found in the Abyssal World. Created through the fusion of Abyssal energy with both human and rodent forms, these monsters boasted toxic claws and teeth, along with skin as hard as diamond yet incredibly resilient.

Such information was readily available in schools, forming part of the mandatory curriculum for every student of the Nine Provinces Holy Court.

Qin Shu sat cross-legged amidst the Gold Thread Vine, its thirty-meter radius effectively extending his reach like a second set of limbs.

The Black Rat Poison Stiffs had entered striking distance.

“Rise!” Qin Shu bellowed, channeling his spiritual energy outward. The Gold Thread Vine sprang to life, ensnaring each Black Rat Poison Stiff before tightening mercilessly around them.

The Golden Thread Vine, transformed by the power of destiny, had become even more resilient. No matter how the Black Rat Poison Stiffs struggled, they couldn’t break free.

Qin Shu knew this was only the first wave of Abyss monsters and didn’t dare to take things lightly.

He then planted five Iron Cantaloupe seeds, each just ten meters away from the Dao Seed of Cyan Lotus.

The Iron Cantaloupes grew rapidly, quickly becoming trees nearly ten meters tall. They began to bear fruit, each about the size of a regular cantaloupe but pure black, like iron balls.

Each Iron Cantaloupe was enveloped by branches shaped like cannon barrels, their muzzles pointing outward. Every Iron Cantaloupe tree had five such cannon-like structures.