Ki Meets Qi: Murim Reborn in Cultivation World

Riu Xian stood in the cave, feeling the pulsating energy of his newly awakened powers reverberating through his body. His breakthrough had been monumental—he had reached the middle stage of Foundation Establishment, surpassing the average cultivator of his realm. More than 25% of his meridians had been unblocked, and the surge of power coursing through him was unlike anything he had ever experienced.

His dantian had expanded to an impressive size, holding far more Qi than most cultivators at his stage. His senses had sharpened immensely—he could feel the currents of Qi moving through the cave, hear the faintest whispers in the air, and see the smallest details in the darkness. His body, too, had been transformed. Where once there had been limitations, there was now potential—limitless and untapped.

Most cultivators at the peak of Foundation Establishment could only open 18 to 20% of their meridians. Riu Xian had far surpassed that, with more than a quarter of his channels now fully functional. The feeling of power was intoxicating, but it also came with a realization: "I could take on Core Establishment cultivators, should the need arise, if I am willing to risk my life"

But there was more. After reaching the Foundation Establishment realm, Riu Xian awakened the power of the Qilin within him, a surge of ancient energy coursing through his body. The Qilin's power was not something newly acquired but a part of him since birth. The Qilin, a legendary divine beast, carried immense abilities: healing, purification, and mastery over the five elements—Water, Fire, Wood, Earth, and Metal. These powers were not fully accessible yet, but the breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment realm unlocked the first stages of this dormant potential.

For now, he could feel the soothing energy of the Qilin's healing ability flowing through his meridians. His injuries, no matter how grievous, could now be mended with a thought, making him a force to be reckoned with in prolonged battles. Alongside healing, the elements of Fire and Water answered his call, surging to his command like loyal soldiers. These abilities allowed him to use fire and water-based techniques, unleashing fiery strikes or cascading torrents of water that could both overwhelm his foes and defend against their attacks. With further mastery, he could foresee manipulating fire to a granular level—shaping flames to dance at his will or enveloping an area with searing heat. Similarly, his connection to water could evolve to harness its adaptability, creating intricate techniques that balanced offense and defense. Even at this early stage, these elemental powers made him a formidable cultivator in the Foundation Establishment realm.

But Riu Xian knew this was just the beginning. The remaining powers of the Qilin—purification and mastery over Wood, Earth, and Metal—remained sealed, waiting for him to advance further. And beyond that lay an even greater mystery: the abilities of the other divine beasts—Dragon, Phoenix, and Bixi—that Wang Wei had infused into him. With each breakthrough, fragments of their powers would awaken, making him an unparalleled force in this world. For now, the healing and dual-elemental control of Fire and Water were more than enough to push his cultivation journey forward.

Reflecting on his progress, Riu Xian acknowledged the limitations of his current Qi-absorbing technique. The Qi absorbing technique he was using was a mix of his Murim techniques and the basic Qi gathering methods from this world. It worked well enough, but he knew it wasn't strong enough for his needs. If he could find a rare Qi absorbing technique and combine it with his Murim knowledge, it would become far more powerful.

Riu Xian's body, strengthened by the powers of the divine beasts, needed a huge amount of Qi to fully unleash its potential. The energy he was absorbing now wasn't enough for him to grow quickly or to handle intense battles. He realized he needed a much stronger technique to gather Qi faster and in larger amounts. Finding such a technique became one of his top priorities.

He also knew he needed better fighting and sword skills. His Murim techniques gave him an edge, but they weren't perfectly suited for the powers and battles of this cultivation world. Riu Xian decided he would search for powerful combat and sword techniques to learn. Once he found them, he planned to combine them with his Murim skills, creating a unique style that no one else could match. With these clear goals in mind, he felt ready to take the next steps on his path to power.

Riu Xian turned his attention to the obsidian-black boat before him. Its surface gleamed faintly under the soft light of the cave, ancient runes etched into its sides exuding an aura of mystery and power. "How do I even use this thing?" he muttered, running his fingers along the cold, smooth metal. Then, a thought struck him. "Wait... the jade slip Xiao Ming gave me!"

Pulling the jade slip from his belongings, he channeled a trace of Qi into it, recalling the information she had shared. "If a treasure is ownerless," he read aloud, "you can claim it by dropping your blood onto it. Once recognized, the treasure will bind to your soul." His eyes lit up as realization dawned. "Now that Wang Wei is dead, this boat should have no master. I can claim it for myself."

Without hesitation, Riu Xian bit his finger, letting a drop of blood fall onto the boat's surface. The runes flared to life, glowing bright gold as the entire structure shuddered. Before his eyes, the massive boat began to shrink, folding in on itself until it transformed into a small, intricate ring. The ring floated toward him, slipping onto his finger and fitting perfectly.

He held up his hand, marveling at the transformation. "So, this is a spatial treasure," he murmured, feeling a faint connection through his soul. "It's bound to me now." A grin spread across his face as he realized the possibilities this artifact offered. "With this, I can traverse underground without being noticed. And it's not just a mode of transport—it's a storage space as well."

Riu Xian examined the ring on his finger, a faint smile playing on his lips. "So, it's true," he muttered. "This spatial treasure is now bound to my soul. I can travel underground without anyone noticing, as long as I have enough spirit stones to fuel it." He channeled a wisp of Qi into the ring, feeling its unique energy resonate with his own.

"It can also store two living sentient beings and any type of plants or beasts," he continued, marveling at its versatility. "Now, let's see what treasures Wang Wei left behind."

Closing his eyes, Riu Xian extended his spiritual sense into the ring's internal space. What he saw made his breath catch. Piles of spirit stones—low, middle, and high grade—glimmered like miniature mountains. Shelves filled with techniques, pills, and weapons stretched out in an orderly fashion. He scanned through the techniques, but his excitement waned slightly. "No rare or supreme-grade techniques," he said with a sigh. "Just low, middle, and high-grade ones. Still, this is an incredible haul."

His eyes gleamed as he thought ahead. "I'll need to find rare or supreme techniques elsewhere—perhaps in an auction or a major sect," he reasoned. "Speaking of sects, Xiao Ming's jade tablet might be my next step. If I join the Immortal Jade Sect as her disciple, I can gain access to their knowledge and resources while learning more about this world."

He clenched his fist, resolve hardening. "That's my next goal. I'll become her disciple, grow stronger, and uncover the secrets of this world."

Focusing on the ring again, Riu Xian discovered he could traverse up to five kilometers underground without needing to transform the ring back into its boat form. For longer distances, however, the transformation would be necessary. "This treasure is truly incredible," he murmured, "perfect for moving unnoticed and storing anything I need."

Determined to not leave anything of value behind, Riu Xian made a quick hand seal. The jade essence embedded in the walls of the cave shimmered and flowed into his ring, disappearing into its spatial storage. "These are precious," he said. "I can sell them for spirit stones later."

With one last glance at the now barren cave, Riu Xian formed another hand seal, channeling Qi into the ring. Moments later, he felt the ground shift above him as he ascended. A few minutes passed, and he emerged above ground, finding himself in the middle of a dense forest, blinking against the sudden sunlight filtering through the canopy.

Before he could catch his breath, he realized he was in the midst of a conflict. Two groups of cultivators in matching robes faced off against each other, their weapons drawn and their eyes locked in a fierce standoff.