**Since the day he sensed the bottleneck in his cultivation beginning to loosen, Tang Xiaoqi had immersed himself even more single-mindedly in his training, devoting his full attention to cultivation. He could clearly feel the spiritual energy in his dantian growing increasingly abundant, with the energy vortex spinning at a speed and scale far surpassing before.
The thin membrane hindering his further progress seemed just one step away. The fifth layer of Qi Refining represented a small watershed within the mid-stage. Once broken through, both the total amount of spiritual energy and his control over spiritual qi would see significant improvements. After adjusting his condition and feeling his essence, energy, and spirit had all reached their peak, he decided that very night to attempt the breakthrough to the fifth layer of Qi Refining.**
**The night was deep, and all sounds had quieted. Within the disciples' residential area, most were already asleep or immersed in their own cultivation. Xiaoqi set up a simple soundproof barrier in his room; though its effect was weak, it could still prevent unnecessary disturbances. Sitting cross-legged on his bed, adopting the five-points-to-heaven posture, he slowly closed his eyes. The *Basic Qi Introduction Art* flowed through his heart, and he skillfully guided external spiritual qi into his body.**
**Initially, everything proceeded smoothly. Spiritual qi streamed like a gentle flow into his meridians, eventually returning to the dantian, making that energy vortex increasingly condensed and active. He could feel that bottleneck membrane trembling slightly under the constant impact of spiritual energy, as if it might rupture at any moment. However, just as he gathered more massive spiritual energy, preparing to break through the barrier in one go, a sudden change occurred!**
**The originally orderly rotating vortex in his dantian abruptly lost control, becoming frenzied. Spiritual energy surged like untamed wild horses, rampaging through his meridians, no longer providing gentle nourishment but rather tearing, distending pain. The previously peaceful absorption of heaven and earth spiritual qi now seemed drawn, growing chaotic and violent, madly rushing into his body, intensifying the loss of control over his spiritual energy.**
**Xiaoqi's face instantly turned pale, with fine beads of cold sweat appearing on his forehead. He tightly guarded his mind, attempting to re-guide and compress those agitated spiritual energies, but to little effect. That seemingly fragile bottleneck now became incredibly resilient; no matter how fiercely the raging spiritual energy struck, it merely fluctuated violently without the slightest sign of breaking.**
**The backlash from the failed breakthrough attempt began to manifest. Needle-like stabbing pains shot through his meridians, his dantian burned as if scorched by fierce flames, and his qi and blood surged uncontrollably. A sweet, metallic taste rose in his throat, which he forcefully swallowed back down. If he couldn't stabilize the situation quickly, not only would the breakthrough be hopeless, but he might even injure his foundation, with cultivation regression being the least severe consequence.**
**"This is bad..." Anxiety and helplessness welled up in Xiaoqi's heart. He had underestimated the difficulty of the mid-stage Qi Refining bottleneck and overestimated his control over spiritual energy. This situation of spiritual energy running amok was something he had never experienced before, leaving him momentarily at a loss.**
**Just as his mind wavered, almost overwhelmed by that raging torrent of spiritual energy, the jade pendant always worn close to his chest suddenly transmitted a clear sense of heat! This warmth wasn't scalding but rather a gentle, life-filled flow. Almost instinctively, Xiaoqi tightly gripped the jade pendant at his chest.**
**The next moment, a cool, pure essence, like thawing snow water in early spring, flowed from the jade pendant, rapidly moving along his arm's meridians to merge with the out-of-control spiritual energy torrent. This essence was so gentle yet powerful; wherever it passed, those restless, rampaging spiritual energies seemed smoothed by an invisible hand, miraculously calming down and becoming orderly once more.**
**Moreover, this cool essence acted like the most effective soothing agent, calming his mind that had been stirred by pain and anxiety. An indescribable sense of tranquility enveloped him; the previous panic and helplessness instantly dissipated, replaced by a peculiar, almost heaven-and-earth-merging stability.**
**Seizing this rare opportunity, Xiaoqi, inspired by sudden insight, immediately resumed operating his cultivation technique. This time, with the assistance of that cool essence, his control over his own spiritual energy reached an unprecedented level. With the slightest thought, those now-tame spiritual energies obeyed like extensions of his body, being re-gathered and compressed by him into a more refined, concentrated energy torrent.**
**He guided this torrent, no longer charging recklessly like before, but rather like a drill bit, carrying a rotating, penetrating force, accurately striking the weakest point of that bottleneck membrane.**
**"Pop..." An extremely faint sound, like a bubble bursting, came from deep within his body. That resilient membrane shattered in response!**
**In that instant, Xiaoqi only felt his entire body lighten, as if some shackle that had always bound him was completely broken. His dantian instantly expanded, with the amount of spiritual energy it could accommodate skyrocketing. The external heaven and earth spiritual qi, as if finding a release outlet, rushed even more fiercely yet more gently into his body, filling the emptiness after the breakthrough and spontaneously tempering his physical body and meridians.**
**All the previous distending and tearing sensations vanished without a trace, replaced by a feeling of complete clarity, a floating, almost transcendent comfort. Spiritual energy joyfully surged through his widened meridians, like the Yangtze River's great flow, rushing ceaselessly.**
**He had succeeded in his breakthrough! Officially stepping into the fifth layer of Qi Refining, solidifying his mid-stage Qi Refining realm!**
**Xiaoqi slowly opened his eyes, divine light receding within his pupils yet appearing clearer and deeper than before. He exhaled a long breath of turbid air, this breath prolonged and powerful, stirring a breeze in the quiet room. Releasing his grip, he looked down at the jade pendant that had returned to normal temperature, his fingertips still sensing a lingering warmth.**
**His heart filled with lingering fear and gratitude. If not for the jade pendant's timely intervention once more, helping stabilize his spiritual energy and calm his mind, tonight's consequences would have been unimaginable. "Thank you..." he murmured softly, addressing both the mysterious jade pendant and perhaps his parents existing somewhere beyond.**
**This jade pendant was not only a clue to his origins but also a vital protective talisman on his cultivation path.**
**Post-breakthrough fatigue washed over him like tides, yet even more overwhelming was the irrepressible joy and excitement. Mid-stage Qi Refining! This meant he had taken another solid step on the path of immortal cultivation. Unraveling the mystery of his origins, possessing sufficient strength to face unknown dangers—these seemed a little closer now.**
**Gathering his emotions, he didn't rush to experience the power of his new realm but closed his eyes once more, beginning to operate his cultivation technique to consolidate this hard-won breakthrough. He knew the cultivation path was long; breakthroughs were certainly gratifying, but solidifying one's foundation was even more important.**
**Tonight's harrowing yet ultimately safe experience had taught him a profound lesson—never underestimate the barriers in cultivation. One must maintain reverence and prepare thoroughly at all times.**