The sensation was akin to watching the familiar faint bluish Qi undulate and flow like gentle ripples on a pond. However, unlike the natural life force that typically streamed into his meridian channels with fluid ease, the Wood Qi seemed scattered—having been drawn away, it changed from a spherical form into tendrils drifting erratically.

Ji Wuye's brow furrowed slightly, his eyes closed but moving rapidly beneath their lids as he focused his awareness inward. He could feel the chaotic Wood Qi pulsing against his skin, like a thousand tiny insects skittering across his flesh.

Some wayward strands attempted to dive directly into Ji Wuye's organs, which he deftly guided. His fingers twitched imperceptibly, as if plucking invisible strings to redirect the rebellious Wood Qi.

However, because of this turbulent influx, Ji Wuye also felt a surging vitality course through him, like the reviving gulp of cool water after a parched journey - revitalizing his organs and inner landscapes wherever the verdant Wood Qi trailed or even fleetingly grazed.

A faint sheen of perspiration appeared on his forehead, glistening in the dim light as his body temperature fluctuated with the influx of energy.

From an outside perspective, in the heart of that moonlit night inside the shadowed living quarters, faint slivers of silver light filtering through gaps in the rustling bamboo roof cast a dim glow over Ji Wuye's form.

The occasional whisper of wind through the leaves created a soft, rhythmic backdrop to his deep meditation. His body, faintly haloed in pulsing bluish Qi, manifested a translucent funnel of energy anchored in his Lower Dantian, its wide mouth extending outward to hungrily absorb the untamed Wood Qi.

As his concentration peaked in this profound state of meditation, a verdant emerald aura began to emanate from his being. It pulsed softly, like the gentle breathing of a sleeping forest, casting eerie shadows that danced across the walls of the humble dwelling.

The scent of fresh pine and newly turned earth permeated the air, a tangible manifestation of the Wood Qi's presence, as the tall bamboo swayed gently in the breeze, a symbol of flexibility and strength.

His mouth was slightly parted, nostrils flaring with each controlled inhalation of the crisp night air. Ji Wuye's chest rose and fell in a steady, measured rhythm, each breath perfectly timed to the ebb and flow of the Wood Qi swirling and wandering within him.

The long strands of his scattered white hair trembled faintly around him as he remained unmoving, crossed legs rooting him to the ground like an ancient gnarled tree.

This was the Dantian Concentration - the fifth step.

Under Ji Wuye's influence, the newly absorbed Wood Qi that wandered briefly through his inner body was now being inexorably drawn back, as if by an invisible magnetic tether, toward the confines of his Lower Dantian.

Yet it hovered just beyond that vital center, held at bay by the translucent energy funnel preventing its full absorption. The conflict between the eager Qi and Ji Wuye's iron control manifested as minute tremors running through his body, causing the smallest beads of sweat to form on his skin.

'Now...next step, the Essence Refinement,' Ji Wuye's thoughts in his mind whispered like a mantra, even as frigid beads of sweat traced his temples - a stark contrast to the profound refreshment and renewal blossoming within the lower territories of his body, where the verdant Wood Qi lingered obediently under his command.

Moving to the Essence Refinement step, the lingering Wood Qi inside his body, hovering tantalizingly just outside his Lower Dantian, was once again drawn inward toward the translucent energy funnel anchored there.

However, instead of being directly absorbed or stored, Ji Wuye observed with heightened awareness that the verdant tendrils began to 'spin' in a mesmerizing vortex.

His closed eyelids fluttered rapidly, tracking the movement behind them as if watching an intricate dance. The ethereal funnel operated with its own autonomous intent, filtering and refining the raw energy.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

This time, those verdant tendrils reverted back to their original form. The dimmer, diluted spheres of Wood Qi, glowing with a faint emerald hue, were systematically shredded and torn asunder before dissipating into fleeting wisps.

Only the brilliant, radiant essence imbued with verdant vitality was meticulously retained.

'The impurities,' Ji Wuye's mind grasped the significance, a faint furrow appearing between his brows as he reminisced when he had first opened his Lower Dantian, the familiar scene.

Once this purifying cycle concluded and the spinning vortex slowed to the point where the refined Wood Qi spheres were no longer individually visible, he could feel a profound transformation pulsing through his very meridians.

His Liver and Gallbladder meridians channels, specifically, now throbbed with revitalized vigor akin to the sensations when the unrefined Wood Qi had first roamed wild through his organs.

But this rejuvenating force was of far greater potency - so powerful that it felt as if those vital pathways were brimming with unbridled new life, like vibrant saplings erupting through rich soil to bask in the nurturing rays of the sun.

Ji Wuye's breathing deepened, his chest rising and falling more prominently as he unconsciously adjusted to accommodate the surging Qi. At the same time, a faint, verdant glow seemed to emanate from beneath his skin, pulsing in rhythm with his heartbeat.

In addition, this surging tidal wave of verdant essence also triggered Ji Wuye's Large Intestine meridian, associated with the contrasting Metal element, to harmonic resonate in answer - its channels thrumming with palpable excitement as they channeled the expansive, unstoppable force of Wood's vernal, springtime energies as if being deeply nourished.

'Now, the next step is...' Ji Wuye's thoughts churned, his brow furrowing in concentration. Just then, an entirely unexpected transparent screen shimmered into being before his consciousness, its sudden appearance causing a slight twitch in his otherwise still form.

image [https://i.ibb.co.com/k36CPjH/Notif-1.webp]

The jarring notification caught him completely off guard, abruptly interrupting his reverie at the Wood Qi coursing through and revitalizing his meridians with its vivifying essence.

'It's trying to rise?' Ji Wuye muttered inwardly, his brow furrowing slightly. The muscles around his eyes tightened, creating a web of fine lines as he concentrated. The refined Wood Qi that had been steadily nourishing his Liver and Gallbladder meridians with vivifying essence suddenly became still, even distancing itself.

He attempted to command the Wood Qi with an exertion of his will, but they refused to bend to his influence. His fingers twitched involuntarily, as if trying to grasp the elusive energy. 'Has it already finished nourishing?'

Once again, he tried to control it, and it successful; however, this time, instead of feeling the invigorating essence, he felt bloated, like someone who had eaten too much food.

Which mean...If that was indeed the case, then this spontaneously triggered Qi Training skill...

'Was really quite helpful,' Ji Wuye allowed himself an inward smile, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

Next, he then mentally prepared for the next pivotal steps: the Upper Dantian Transfer.

Taking a grounding breath, Ji Wuye centered himself, his chest rising and falling in a slow, controlled rhythm. His focus sharpened in preparation to initiate the process - when suddenly...

image [https://i.ibb.co.com/k36CPjH/Notif-1.webp]

Once again, the skill unexpectedly activated, this time manifesting as a jolting inner "rewiring" sensation - as if his neural pathways were being systematically recalibrated. Ji Wuye's body jerked slightly, his serene expression momentarily disrupted by a grimace.

The abrupt shift broke his meditative trance like a harsh slap, forcing Ji Wuye to physically massage his temples.

However...

RING!

THUMP!

Before he could reorient, his body began quaking, producing a piercing reverberation like a ringing bell coupled with a profoundly resonant thumping - as if something deep within his core was symphonically awakening in response to the skill's influence.

With his eyes now open, revealing a mix of confusion and intense concentration, Ji Wuye swiftly inspected his Upper Dantian's energies, only to find...

'An Elemental Seed,' he muttered inwardly, scarcely able to process what his senses relayed.

The refined Wood Qi that had previously suffused his sea of Upper Dantian had vanished completely. Yet in its place, a tiny sapling - an emerald seedling tree - now floated serenely, its verdant aura anchoring it within the faintly azure-tinged sea of his intrinsic Qi.

The miniature tree emitted undulating pulses of vibrant green essence, slowly "pollinating" and contaminating the surrounding bluish energies until they too transformed into shimmering verdant hues, as if the sapling's phenomenal power was perpetuating an unstoppable cycle of growth and renewal.

After bearing witness to the spontaneous manifestation of the verdant Elemental Seed, Ji Wuye's expression grew inscrutable - a complex blend of surprise, doubt, and an underlying confliction.

The deep lines around his eyes and mouth deepened, etching a story of internal struggle onto his face.

'Could it really be this straightforward?' A seed of doubt took root, his crimson eyes narrowing as he scrutinized the tiny sapling pulsing with uncanny vitality within his Upper Dantian.

His gaze bore into the ethereal vision with an intensity that could almost be felt physically. And yet, the high keening ring and rhythmic humming resonating from the depths of his very being - the unmistakable clarion call of elemental attunement - provided undeniable proof emanating in fluctuating waves from a Wood elemental resonance.

Sigh...

A heavy exhalation escaped Ji Wuye's lips. His shoulders slumped slightly, the tension in his body releasing in a wave as resignation and acceptance warred within.

Despite this monumental achievement of knowing his element so readily, his gaze reflected no elation - only an indecipherable intensity simmering beneath furrowed brows. For some reason, no satisfaction graced his features.

His mind remained in turmoil, struggling against the reality that the verdant Wood was indeed his elemental affinity. Deep down, denial still flickered, like a stubborn ember refusing to be extinguished.

"There's no way it could be this straightforward," he muttered again, his voice barely above a whisper.

Another sigh escaped him as the truth catalyzed a transformation in the faint bluish Qi shrouding his form - the energies slowly transmuting into verdant emerald hues, reflecting the seedling's vibrant pollinating influence.

In that moment of acceptance's birth, a jian - an elegant blade - materialized with a subtle thrumming before him, dropping with a muted thud onto the wooden floor.

Ji Wuye's gaze fell upon the awaiting sword. He took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling slowly as he centered himself.

"Shall we...proceed to the final stage?"

It was time for Weapon Bonding, manifesting one element to the jian.