Chapter 197: Mastering the Art of Qi Observation

The Spirit Herb Sect had never produced a Tribulation Stage cultivator, but it was still an ancient pill-crafting sect with a history nearing ten thousand years.
Though their original intent was to expand competition, increase their influence, and surpass the Pill Refining Peak by offering cheap pills affordable even for low-level cultivators—
It couldn’t be denied that these inexpensive pills had made an enormous contribution to the Nine Provinces. Even Jiang Li, before reaching the Golden Core Stage, often bought pills produced by the Spirit Herb Sect.
Therefore, Jiang Li merely gave them a small nudge in the right direction without any intention of punishment.
He believed the Spirit Herb Sect Master was smart enough to understand his message.
“Spiritual treasure gaining a human form? Now that’s a wild idea.” Jiang Li clicked his tongue. He really thought the cultivators of the Nine Provinces had some seriously bizarre thought processes.
Besides the Spirit Herb Sect trying to make spiritual treasures take form, Jiang Li had also seen the Master of Ten Thousand Beasts trying to tame people with beast-taming techniques, some shameful cultivators willingly becoming spiritual treasure slaves, a certain Zhou Emperor using double pupils to peek at test answers during his academy days, and a dream-service customized by the One-Dream-Per-Era Sect…
Fortunately, even though Nine Provinces cultivators were bold in imagination and execution, very few caused actual chaos across the land—otherwise, Jiang Li would be overwhelmed.
【Accept mission reward?】
“Accept.”
【Please accept a moment of Sudden Enlightenment】
A stream of pure energy emerged from an unknown source, trying to surge into Jiang Li’s body. Jiang Li, of course, refused.
He couldn’t perceive the system’s form of existence, and so couldn’t shake it off either. At the same time, Jiang Li had no way of judging whether it was good or evil, nor what its purpose was. Therefore, he only used features of the system that posed no threat to him.
He wouldn’t let something he didn’t understand enter his body, even if this energy didn’t seem abnormal.
“It’s probably enough to boost a Golden Core Stage cultivator by one tier—from early to mid, or mid to late stage.” Jiang Li assessed the energy’s strength.
A blue-green energy hovered above Jiang Li’s index finger in a ring-like liquid form. He gave it a light blow, and it disappeared without a trace.
Even a yawn from Jiang Li contained more power than that.
【Please accept fifty pieces of Star Silver Stone】
A small pile of silver stones glittering with starlight appeared before Jiang Li.
Jiang Li recognized them—excellent for drawing a trace of starlight into a spiritual treasure. If a Golden Core cultivator could possess such a treasure, their combat strength would shoot through the roof.
Correspondingly, the price of Star Silver Stone was outrageous, far beyond the means of any Golden Core cultivator.
Naturally, Jiang Li had no use for them. Not to mention that the Desolate Heaven Halberd didn’t even need starlight— even if it did, could Jiang Li not just directly refine the stars? Why bother siphoning off a trace at a time?
He tossed the Star Silver Stone into his storage ring, adding another member to the collection titled “Useless Stuff Given by the ‘Counterattack My *ss’ System.”
【Please accept a manual of “Qi Observation Art”】
Finally! Jiang Li was delighted. This mission had been all about acquiring the Qi Observation Art.
He read the preface aloud: “This Qi Observation Art is the culmination of a poor Daoist’s lifelong studies and insights, touching upon the ultimate principles of heaven and earth and the secrets of life. This art is difficult and bitter to comprehend. One must endure solitude for over a decade before attaining minor success. If someone is fated to receive this book, I hope you can remain calm, comprehend qi with your heart, and unveil the secrets of the universe never seen before.”
“Judging by the tone, could the author have been self-taught, maybe even the founder of Qi Observation?” Jiang Li felt a sudden respect.
He flipped through the aged book. Within three minutes, he had completely mastered the technique.
“Qi Observation Art!” Jiang Li closed his eyes tightly, then snapped them open—and indeed, he saw “qi.”
Nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen—everything in the air was clearly visible.
“This is oxygen, this is nitrogen, this is hydrogen—oxygen makes up 21% of air, nitrogen 78%…”
“…”
“…It really is the Qi Observation Art. Literally.”
All of Jiang Li’s respect for the author vanished instantly.
“Thanks a lot, for making me relive middle school chemistry.” Jiang Li meant every word, teeth clenched.
He could swear the author hadn’t even reached the Fusion Stage.
Once at the Fusion Stage, a cultivator’s senses could outmatch even microscopes with the slightest bit of magic power. Who needs Qi Observation for that?
Among Fusion Stage cultivators, the composition of air wasn’t a mystery—it’s just that no one had bothered to research it.
After all, manipulating air content or oxygen levels was utterly useless against Fusion cultivators—maybe good for dealing with those below Soul Formation at best.
After some thought, Jiang Li found a scenic and peaceful location, laid down multiple traps, and placed the Qi Observation Art at the very end, waiting for some fated person to discover it.
Jiang Li imagined someone lucky enough to pass the traps, obtaining this legendary art, and training day and night in ecstatic excitement.
He was very much looking forward to seeing the expression of whoever mastered the technique.
Of course, Jiang Li wasn’t entirely heartless. He wouldn’t let some poor fool waste years of their life for nothing.
Inspired by the Qi Observation Art, he spent a full ten minutes crafting a new cultivation technique, Qi Manipulation Technique, which could be trained all the way to the Fusion Stage.
Cultivators of this art could adjust air content, density, and composition—break gases into atoms, rearrange them, and even alter the composition of other cultivators’ bodies. That, at least, qualified it as a Fusion Stage technique.
It took every ounce of brainpower to come up with something that would pair with the Qi Observation Art.
Otherwise, a Fusion-level technique? He could write one in three minutes.
The prerequisite to cultivate Qi Manipulation Technique was to first learn Qi Observation Art.
Jiang Li placed both books together, then left, feeling satisfied.
“Commander Mu, you don’t need to look for Heartcalm Herb anymore.” Jiang Li contacted him.
To his surprise, Commander Mu on the other end looked like he’d seen his savior and dove toward Jiang Li’s image.
Only to grab nothing.
“Brother Jiang, save me! I’m getting married!”
Jiang Li paused in silence for a moment. “…I don’t have any experience with that. I’ll go ask Commander Liu later how much gift money a Human Sovereign has to give when attending a subordinate’s wedding.”
“No, Brother Jiang, I’m being forced!” Commander Mu shouted.
Jiang Li thought, yeah, I could tell from the ‘save me’ that you’re being forced—but what’s it got to do with me? Maybe getting married is good. Someone should keep him in check, stop him from pretending to be a low-level cultivator and running off on adventures all the time.
Wait, why did he feel like marriage would somehow make Commander Mu more reliable?
The only married commanders in Human Sovereign Hall, Marshal Ma and his wife, certainly hadn’t made his life easier.
“Huh? Mu-ge, how are you able to contact Jiang the Human Sovereign?” A familiar face popped up on the other end—it was Qin Luan.
“Show some respect! This is Commander Mu of the Human Sovereign Hall!” Yuan Wuxing scolded him.
Originally, Yuan Wuxing hadn’t known Mu’s identity either, assuming he was just a genius Golden Core cultivator. But the moment Mu used the communication talisman to call Jiang Li, Yuan figured it out.
“Hey everyone, what a coincidence. Long time no see.” Jiang Li greeted Qin Luan and the others.
They were all familiar faces: Qin Luan, Yuan Wuxing, Song Ying, and the warm-furred little fox.