Chapter 19: The Ninth Layer

Construction changed the rhythm of Wandering Cloud Tavern.

For the next three days, the sound of tools began shortly after breakfast and continued until evening.

Master Han handled the workers. Su Mei and Xiao Lan took care of most of the dining hall, leaving Lin Yuan free to stay in the kitchen during busy periods instead of running between every part of the tavern.

More importantly, the quieter hours belonged to him again.

On the third afternoon, Lin Yuan finished preparing the ingredients for dinner and looked into the dining hall.

Only two tables were occupied.

Xiao Lan was behind the counter while Su Mei carried fresh bedding upstairs.

Lin Yuan untied his apron.

"I’m going to cultivate."

Xiao Lan glanced toward him.

"Do you need me in the kitchen?"

"Not unless more customers arrive."

"Then go."

Lin Yuan headed upstairs.

It was strange how quickly having another pair of hands had changed things.

A few weeks ago, leaving the kitchen for an entire afternoon would have been difficult.

Now the tavern could manage without him for a while.

Lin Yuan closed the door to his room and sat cross-legged.

Spiritual Qi flowed steadily through Wandering Cloud Tavern.

Since Blackstone’s spiritual environment had advanced from Barren to Faint, the tavern’s Minor Qi Gathering effect had become noticeably more useful.

Lin Yuan settled his breathing and began circulating his cultivation technique.

Spiritual Qi entered his body.

The first cycle passed smoothly.

Then the second.

He had spent the past several days approaching the limit of Qi Refining Eight.

Today, the barrier ahead felt closer than ever.

Lin Yuan continued.

By the time an hour passed, the sounds from downstairs had faded from his awareness.

His spiritual Qi gathered and pressed against the barrier.

It resisted.

Lin Yuan released the pressure and returned to steady circulation.

There was no reason to damage his foundation for the sake of saving a few hours.

Another cycle.

Then another.

The afternoon slowly passed.

Outside, the sound of construction continued.

Lin Yuan attempted the barrier again.

It shifted slightly before stopping him.

Close.

He steadied his breathing and continued cultivating.

The spiritual Qi gathered by the tavern entered his body little by little. Each circulation added to the pressure already accumulated within him.

Sunlight moved across the floor.

By late afternoon, Lin Yuan’s robes were damp with sweat.

He gathered his spiritual Qi for a third attempt.

This time, the resistance felt different.

The barrier moved.

Lin Yuan maintained the circulation of his technique and pushed steadily forward.

A moment later, the obstruction finally gave way.

Spiritual Qi flowed through him with new freedom.

Lin Yuan’s breathing deepened as he maintained control of the circulation.

He remained completely still.

Several cycles passed before the spiritual Qi inside him gradually settled.

Only then did Lin Yuan open his eyes.

Qi Refining Nine.

He remained seated for several minutes, allowing his newly advanced cultivation to settle before standing.

Dinner would be starting soon.

When Lin Yuan came downstairs, the dining hall had begun filling again.

Xiao Lan hurried past carrying a tray.

Su Mei was behind the counter.

She looked toward Lin Yuan.

Her attention remained on him for a moment longer than usual.

"You broke through?"

"Just now."

"Qi Refining Nine?"

Lin Yuan nodded.

A smile appeared on Su Mei’s face.

"Congratulations, Owner Lin."

"Thanks."

Xiao Lan returned in time to hear the last part.

"What happened?"

"Owner Lin reached Qi Refining Nine."

Xiao Lan looked at him.

"So that’s why you disappeared upstairs."

"I told you I was cultivating."

"I thought cultivation took longer."

"It did."

Xiao Lan considered this before asking the question that apparently mattered more.

"Are we celebrating?"

Lin Yuan looked at her.

"Celebrating how?"

"Better food."

Su Mei immediately nodded.

"I agree."

Lin Yuan stared at the two of them.

Xiao Lan had been here for three days.

Somehow, that had been enough.

"After closing."

Xiao Lan smiled and picked up another tray.

"I knew this was a good place to work."

"Go serve table four."

She left immediately.

Su Mei followed her with a quiet laugh.

Lin Yuan shook his head and entered the kitchen.

The dinner rush lasted nearly two hours.

Once the busiest period passed, Lin Yuan finally stepped outside.

The sun was already low.

He circulated his spiritual Qi as he crossed the courtyard.

The difference became apparent immediately.

His control felt smoother, and the amount of spiritual Qi responding to him had increased.

Lin Yuan drew his sword.

He began with the same basic sequence he had practiced countless times.

A thrust.

A turn of the wrist.

A horizontal cut.

The blade moved faster than he expected.

Lin Yuan adjusted his footing and repeated the sequence.

This time he controlled the additional force.

His inherited sword technique hadn’t changed.

He had.

During the fight several days earlier, the Qi Refining Nine cultivator had held an obvious advantage in raw spiritual Qi. Lin Yuan had been forced to rely on timing, technique, and redirection to keep up.

If they fought again now, that advantage would no longer be so large.

Lin Yuan repeated the sequence once more.

His sword stopped cleanly at the end of the final cut.

A worker carrying timber had slowed nearby.

Lin Yuan noticed him.

The worker immediately continued walking.

Lin Yuan looked at the sword in his hand.

Perhaps practicing beside an active construction site wasn’t the best idea.

He sheathed it.

Then he noticed how much the eastern side of the tavern had changed.

The foundation was complete.

Heavy wooden supports rose from the ground, connected by horizontal beams.

The rough frame of the new dining hall had begun to take shape.

Lin Yuan walked closer.

Three days ago, there had only been trenches here.

Now he could stand beneath the future second floor.

Master Han was on a ladder directing two workers as they positioned another beam.

"Left."

The workers shifted it.

"A little more."

The timber moved.

"There."

They lowered it into place.

Master Han climbed down.

He noticed Lin Yuan standing nearby.

"Starting to look like a building."

"It is."

"Give us another seven or eight days."

Lin Yuan looked upward at the growing frame.

"You’re still on schedule?"

"Unless you plan on ordering rain."

"I’ll try not to."

Master Han gave him a brief look before returning to his workers.

Lin Yuan stayed beneath the new frame for another moment before returning inside as another group of customers entered.

After closing, Lin Yuan kept his promise.

He prepared several dishes that weren’t normally served to customers, and the three of them ate together before heading upstairs.

Lin Yuan remained in the quiet dining hall with a cup of tea.

He circulated a trace of spiritual Qi through his body.

Qi Refining Nine.

There was still a long way to go before reaching its peak, but Lin Yuan had finally reached the last layer recorded in his inherited cultivation technique.

Beyond it was Foundation Establishment.

His current technique couldn’t take him there.

Lin Yuan took another sip of tea.

There was time.

Green River City might have what he needed. If not, he would search somewhere larger.

Outside the window, the unfinished frame of the expansion rose beside Wandering Cloud Tavern.

Before he reached the peak of Qi Refining, he would find the road forward.