In the world of cultivation, cultivators would first refine their Qi (energy), then build the foundation for cultivation, and keep sharpening their spirit till they ascend to the immortal realm. In that logic, Qi refining is just the very first step to heaven.

At the age of seventeen, Bai already reached level ten of the Qi Refining stage, just about to break through. What a genius!
Three thousand years later, Bai has already reached level 66,664 of Qi Refining... yet... still no sign of breaking through at all.

From Grandmaster to "Grand-Monster", he can still be a bad*ss even when stuck on the newbie stage for three thousand years!