Demon Blood, Maiden Vail

Spiritual Base Formation – Stage 2: Qi Circulation

This stage focuses on internal flow. Absorbing qi was the beginning. Now, you must guide it—deliberately, precisely, patiently.

Qi Circulation includes:

Lung Flow Initiation – matching breath to energy flow

Meridian Mapping – identifying blockages and natural paths

Qi Loop Creation – forming stable flow cycles

Organ Strengthening – reinforcing internal systems

Pulse and Flow Sync – harmonizing qi with heartbeat

Detox Path Activation – removing latent poison or buildup

Spiritual Core Alignment – preparing for dantian expansion

Flow Acceleration – learning to intensify qi movement

Disruption Resistance – holding form under pressure

Qi Harmony Stabilization – establishing a calm, flowing rhythm

In the quiet of the moonlit cultivation hall, Sect Leader Yuexian unrolled a silver-threaded scroll in front of Lin Yuan. Its runes shimmered like drifting snow, dancing with a soft hum.

"You'll start with Lung Flow Initiation," she said gently. "Inhale slowly. Let the qi rise with your breath. Exhale fully. Let the stale energy go."

She sat beside him cross-legged, her posture poised and serene. "Breathe through your diaphragm. Deep, not shallow. Just like the tides—draw in, release."

Lin Yuan closed his eyes. His chest rose and fell in rhythm with her voice.

"Again," she said softly, counting his breath with the tapping of her fingers on her knee. "One... two... three..."

The spiritual energy around him stirred gently, like wind across water.

"Now, feel it. Let the qi follow your breath into your chest, then to your limbs. Do not rush. Qi resists force."

He nodded, silent but focused.

Minutes passed. Then an hour. The moon shifted in the sky.

She adjusted his posture once, lightly touching his back.

"Your spine must be straight. Qi likes clarity—it follows the truth. Don't slouch, or it will hesitate."

He corrected his position and continued breathing.

Then came a slight tingle in his fingertips.

"I can feel it," he whispered.

Yuexian smiled faintly. "That's good. It's responding. Now don't chase it. Let it return like the tide. Observe it."

His shoulders relaxed. His breath deepened.

"…Thanks," he whispered, voice barely audible.

She didn't speak. She just placed a soft talisman on the back of his hand—a glowing crescent rune.

It pulsed in time with his heartbeat.

"The first step is the hardest," she said quietly. "But you've already taken it. With time, the flow will become your second nature."

Outside, the stars continued their silent journey across the heavens. Inside, the qi within Lin Yuan had begun its own. Leader Yuexian left the cultivation room, Lady An stepped in quietly, her presence calm and steady like water. She knelt beside Lin Yuan and offered him a small smile.

"Let me assist you," she said.

With her guidance, Lin Yuan progressed rapidly. Over the next three days, he mastered the **Lung Flow Initiation** technique. His breathing became deep, rhythmic, and natural. The qi followed smoothly with every inhalation and exhalation, just as Yuexian had taught.

By the fourth day, both Sect Leader Yuexian guide the second step: **Meridian Mapping**.

It was a slow, meticulous process. Each meridian had to be identified, unlocked, and aligned. At times, he felt faint. At times, he burned from within. Lady An used her cooling touch and healing qi to steady his body, guide him .

On the **fifth day**, Lin Yuan completed the meridian mapping stage.

"Now begins **Qi Loop Creation**," Yuexian told him. "This will form the circulatory framework of your inner world."

That evening, as he sat cultivating quietly in the spiritual formation, a sweet aroma drifted into the room.

His eyes snapped open.

"Cake?" he muttered.

He stepped outside—and was greeted by the sight of **Qingxue**, holding a steaming tray of freshly baked spirit cakes, her smile as bright as sunlight.

"I made them for you," she said cheerfully. "You've been working hard."

Touched, Lin Yuan thanked her, shared a few warm words, and returned to his cultivation. He couldn't lose focus now.

---

**Five days later**, just as Lin Yuan was stabilizing his qi loops, he heard a loud crash and a scream.

He dashed out of the room.

Qingxue was *flying* through the air—more accurately, being *thrown* by Xiao Hu, who was now tossing furniture in a frenzy.

"What happened!?" Lin Yuan shouted.

"She stole my money!" Xiao Hu barked.

Lin Yuan raised his hands. "It's okay! I took your money before too. I'll pay it back—one day, I promise!"

Xiao Hu bit Lin Yuan's arm out of frustration, hard enough to draw blood.

Lin Yuan winced. "I've only got 516 spirit stones left. I can return 400 right now."

Xiao Hu blinked, his anger fading as guilt replaced it.

"I'm sorry…" he muttered.

Lin Yuan smiled weakly. "It's okay."

Qingxue rushed over with water and clean cloth, bandaging Lin Yuan's hand with care. "Let's go to the **Pill Refinement Hall**," she said. "They can treat you properly."

The three of them boarded Lin Yuan's flying carriage and headed to the hall.

---

**Three days later**, Lin Yuan completed **Qi Loop Creation**. His body now thrummed with internal energy. It flowed in smooth, pulsing circuits.

Sect Leader Yuexian offered him a choice. "You can refine your loops slowly, or use the **practicing arena** for combat-based training—or try **body exercises** to accelerate flow."

Lin Yuan chose the **body cultivation training hall**.

But when he entered and saw the tight-fitting uniforms worn by the female disciples… he froze.

Fear twisted his heart.

*If I get another… dream,* he thought, *I'll break down…*

His instructor, a firm and muscular senior sister, guided his movements and corrected his posture with confident hands. But each time she touched his waist or back, Lin Yuan's skin burned—not from lust, but from anxiety.

That night… the dream returned.

The instructor was correcting his pose in the dream—and suddenly, a massive fist struck him from behind. He screamed.

He woke up in a cold sweat, screaming aloud.

But this time, **Lady Mingyan** was already beside him.

She pulled him into a hug.

"It's okay," she whispered. "It was just a dream. I've placed a sound-isolation formation around your room. No one heard."

Lin Yuan trembled for a while, but slowly calmed.

Still holding her hand, he walked with her to the bathhouse.

As she reached for his robes, he gently stopped her.

"I… I can wash my clothes myself."

Mingyan smiled gently and nodded.

After cleaning himself and changing, Lin Yuan quietly wrote a note explaining that he would be away for some time.

Then he took his flying carriage and returned to the **rented grassland** outside the city.

There, beneath the stars, lady mingyan activated the **Soul Condensing Formation** once more.

This time, he wasn't fighting a dragon.

He was fighting **himself**.

Add some fighting seen. Here is a revised and expanded version of your scene, now including a **soul battle** segment where Lin Yuan faces his internal fears and past in a dramatic, emotionally charged way:

Lady Mingyan stood quietly as the **Soul Condensing Formation** flared to life on the grassy plain. Moonlight filtered through the clouds, refracting off the swirling lines of soul runes etched into the ground. Lin Yuan knelt in the center, his breathing steady but his heart trembling.

"This time, you won't be facing a monster," Mingyan said softly. "You'll face **yourself**."

She placed a glowing **soul jade** on his forehead. "When you're ready, close your eyes."

Lin Yuan nodded.

Darkness.

Then—

A flash of silver.

He opened his eyes to find himself in a vast void. This was not like before. There was no sky, no ground—only endless space reflecting fragments of memory.

Suddenly, he stood in a shadowed version of the village from his youth. But something was wrong.

The buildings were warped. The sky bled red.

And before him stood a mirror version of himself—dressed as a girl, hair tied in ribbons, eyes cold and judging.

"You're a fake," the shadow said. "You wear a mask. You lie to everyone. You lie to yourself."

"I did it to survive," Lin Yuan replied, clenching his fists.

The shadow smiled cruelly. "You think survival justifies everything?"

It attacked.

A burst of **shadowy qi** surged forward like a serpent, snapping at his limbs. Lin Yuan barely dodged, rolling across the spectral dirt. He countered with a pulse of moonlight qi, forming a blade in his hand.

*Clash!*

Their swords struck. Sparks of yin energy burst from the contact.

"You let others suffer while you play the hero!" the shadow yelled. "You're just pretending—pretending to be righteous, pretending to be kind!"

"I've done everything I could!" Lin Yuan roared. "I saved thousands—I gave them food, shelter—"

"And yet you still hide your truth!" The shadow laughed. "You still fear women, still fear your own bloodline!"

Lin Yuan's sword wavered.

The shadow leapt forward, blade arcing toward his chest—

*CLANG!*

Lin Yuan caught it with both hands, the impact ringing in his soul.

But he could feel it—his spiritual form was weakening.

"Do you even know who you are?" the shadow whispered in his ear.

And suddenly—

A **dragon's roar** echoed from the void.

*No—not again!*

But Lin Yuan stood his ground. "You're not my enemy," he said softly.

The dragon descended behind the shadow, but instead of attacking, it watched.

Lin Yuan looked his reflection in the eye. "You are me. All my fear, shame, pain—wrapped into one."

The shadow hesitated.

Lin Yuan took a breath. "I'm not proud of everything I've done. But I'm still standing. I'll keep walking forward."

He plunged his sword into the ground—not the shadow.

The qi rippled out like a wave.

The shadow flinched… then dropped its blade.

The village faded. The shadow dissolved into light. The dragon lowered its head… and transformed into a baby beast with six wings, curling up at Lin Yuan's feet.

In the center of the void, a **silver lotus** bloomed—just like before. But this time, it didn't just bathe him in moonlight. It accepted him.And embraced him.

Lin Yuan gasped as his eyes snapped open. He was soaked in sweat, body trembling. Moonlight shone over him, pure and cleansing. Lady Mingyan knelt beside him, a faint smile on her face.

"You endured the trial," she said. "Not with strength—but with **understanding**."

Lin Yuan looked down at his hands. They still trembled.

"I saw everything," he whispered. "The pain… the fear… the mask."

Mingyan handed him a **soul-restoring pill**, cradling his head gently.

"It's okay now. Every cultivator has demons. You're just brave enough to look yours in the eye."

He closed his eyes, tears streaming down his face.

"Thank you, Mom…"

Would you like the next chapter to include his breakthrough into the next phase of Qi Circulation or a return to the sect to rer