The camp was silent, save for the crackling of the dying fire and the distant hum of insects. The battle had taken its toll, and the exhausted disciples had collapsed into sleep.

  But Juwon sat cross-legged by the river, his breathing calm, his wounds already sealing as Qi surged through his body.

  The Qi Crystal rested in his palm, faintly pulsing with stored energy. Juwon exhaled, rolling it between his fingers.

  "Let’s try this," he muttered, curiosity flickering in his gaze.

  This method of cultivation was unknown—there had never been Qi Beasts in this world before, and no one had attempted to cultivate using their cores. He closed his eyes, guiding his Qi to interact with it.

  His dantian started absorbing the Qi within the crystal.

  The moment the energy surged into him; his entire body screamed in protest. His meridians burned, his muscles tightened painfully, and a sharp ache spread through his bones.

  The sheer density of Qi was too much for a normal body to handle—his blood vessels strained, his meridians threatened to tear apart, and blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.

  But Juwon gritted his teeth, refusing to stop.

  His vision blurred, but his determination remained unshaken. “Do your worst,” he growled under his breath. “I’ve had much worse.”

  With sheer willpower, he forced the raging Qi into submission, refining the foreign Qi, grinding his way through the torment as his foundation expanded.

  Each second felt like an eternity of agony, but the result was undeniable—his Qi surged, stabilizing at an entirely new level.

  Refining Qi from external sources is not a lossless process. Just like how a motor engine leaves residue after utilising the fuel, no matter the quality of the fuel. Also, the quality of the fuel does not make the engine of the same quality even though it can make it better. The same is the case with one's body.

  The system that comprises of one's body, meridians and the dantian does not refine the fuel that is the Qi from external sources fully and a good amount of Qi is lost in nature. Nor does the quality of the external Qi create the body anew.

  However, Juwon had the perfect martial body and a dantian which is already refining the purest form of Qi. Juwon could refine the qi of the beast without any losses.

  And then it happened.

  A surge of power erupted within him, his Qi condensing, breaking through five levels in a single leap. From the Third Layer, he skyrocketed straight to the Eighth Layer—Peak Foundation Establishment. His foundation grew stronger, his meridians expanded, and deep within his dantian, he felt something stir—a small white core beginning to take shape.

  Peak Foundation Establishment (8th Layer).

  He exhaled, opening his eyes. He was close. Too close to Core Formation. But he needed more. It seems all the Qi in the world would not get him to form a full core. He requires something else. Something more substantial.

  Juwon stood, activating Qi Sense, "What the-?" His perception range has even expanded than before. He could sense everything within the range of his qi sense, but even more surprising was that he could even sense the qi circulation circuits within the earth, the trees, the plants and all types of creatures.

  The traces of other mutated beasts lingered on the air, though none were as majestic as the one they had just fought.

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  His smirk widened.

  "Haha i guess I was right! It's time for a hunt."

  He tried to sense the camp. All the disciples were already asleep.

  Juwon gave out a big sigh "Huh? Look at those guys. Sleeping on their bellies."

  "You better pray to God for what comes next, you bozos"

  Luo Qing was having a great dream—probably about robbing someone blind—when a rough shake on his shoulder jolted him awake. He blinked blearily, only to see Juwon standing over him, looking completely refreshed despite the brutal fight from before.

  "Get up. We’re going hunting."

  Luo Qing stared. "We’re… what?"

  "Get up all of you"

  Across the camp, Yan Huai groaned, burying his face in his arms. "I swear, if this isn’t an emergency, I’m throwing you into the river."

  Zhen Yu sat up, rubbing his temples. "Juwon, it’s the middle of the damn night."

  "And?" Juwon crossed his arms. "You wanted more battle experience, didn’t you?" He gestured toward the darkened forest. "There are still Qi Beasts out there. We can’t let them roam freely."

  Xu Weishan grunted as he stretched, his massive frame still sore from before. "This is insane."

  Yan Huai complained, "Cant we do this in the morning?"

  Juwon's expression unreadable, "No"

  Bai Xueling sighed, already standing up. "It’s also logical. If we leave them alone, they might attack a village or two."

  Luo Qing groaned, pulling himself up. "Fine, fine. But if I die from exhaustion, I’m haunting you."

  Yan Huai, still half-asleep, muttered, "Not even the demons work like this…"

  The forest soon became a battleground.

  Juwon led the charge, tracking Qi Beasts with near-pinpoint accuracy. The team faced smaller but uniquely mutated creatures—each requiring different strategies to take down. Some bat-like beasts had hardened scales, some emitted toxic mist, and a few tiger like beasts possessed minor elemental Qi abilities. Some attacked in packs while some were lone rangers.

  One after another, they hunted them down. Fangs clashed against steel, claws met reinforced bracers, Qi techniques illuminated the night.

  Each Qi beats was of atleast 7th or 8th rank. These were not on the same level as the panther before, however each one was capable of handling an early core formation practitioner with ease.

  But the real horror wasn’t the fight—it was what Juwon did afterward.

  Luo Qing wiped sweat from his brow as Juwon knelt beside a fallen Qi Beast and, with practiced ease, ripped its heart open with his bare hands.

  "Oh, come on!" Yan Huai gagged. "Do you have to do it like that?!"

  Zhen Yu looked mildly horrified. "We are martial artists, not butchers."

  "Correction—he is a serial killer," Luo Qing said, watching in disgust as Juwon retrieved yet another glowing Qi Crystal. "Look, he's collecting trophies of his kill."

  Juwon didn’t even flinch. "If you want to throw away priceless resources, be my guest."

  Yan Huai threw up his hands. "You know, most people use bags. Normal people."

  "Bring the sacks." Juwon deadpanned.

  Xu Weishan sighed. "Why do I feel like we’re on a criminal operation?"

  The complaints continued, but not once did anyone refuse. Trust had already begun to form. Even if they protested, they followed Juwon’s lead.

  By the time they returned to camp, the team was battered and exhausted, but their haul of Qi Crystals was substantial. Juwon sat down, examining one of them under the firelight, its glow pulsing faintly.

  "Alright, gather around. Pour your Qi into it."

  Luo Qing frowned. "What exactly are we doing?"

  "Just do it."

  One by one, the Wudang disciples hesitantly observed the crystal.

  Juwon watched as it pulsed faintly, its glow dimming ever so slightly with each passing moment.

  The Qi within was slowly dissipating, being drawn into the world as if it had never existed.

  Bai Xueling’s eyes widened. "It’s… pure Qi crystallized."

  Juwon nodded, "I also noticed recently. When a Qi beast dies, its Qi expels impurities, leaving behind only this."

  Yan Huai leaned in, suddenly intrigued. "So, if we cultivate this…we get stronger in return, it just disappears?"

  Zhen Yu’s gaze flickered between Juwon and the crystal. "You knew this would happen."

  Juwon smirked. "Had a hunch. Once it’s absorbed, it won’t exist anymore—like refining raw Qi straight into the body."

  Luo Qing exhaled, shaking his head. "First, you rip these out of beasts’ hearts, now you’re telling us they’re basically portable energy banks?"

  Juwon shrugged. "Told you, Muddy hands often bring great fortune."

  The realization settled over the group. Qi Crystals weren’t just rare—they were a game-changer.

  A resource that could potentially alter the future of cultivation itself.

  "So what do we call these things?" Yan Huai asked.

  "Qi Beast Cores?" Xu Weishan suggested.

  "Too crude," Bai Xueling murmured.

  Zhen Yu tapped the crystal thoughtfully. "Qi Crystals. Simple, elegant, and fitting."

  Juwon nodded. "Qi Crystals it is."

  And thus, an era-defining resource was officially named.

  As the embers of their campfire flickered in the night, Juwon leaned back, gazing at the darkened sky. They had made history tonight.

  But deep down, he knew—this was only the beginning. The world he knew before is ceasing to exist.

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