Chapter 379 - 38: Seven Extremes Celestial Spirit Pill
Ten days later.
One day remains until the Six Peaks Outer Sect Competition.
Divinity Transformation Peak.
Wanshi Peak, where the outer sect disciples reside.
In a room, Qin Gengyun sat cross-legged on the ground, his eyes closed in cultivation.
At this moment, he was practicing the Separating Yang Technique, with spiritual power circulating slowly through his meridians, entering his spirit field, then coming out of the spirit field into his meridians.
Such a cycle continued until he ascended from one realm to the next.
To solidify his foundation, Qin Gengyun had been practicing the Separating Yang Technique inside his room these past days.
From Qi Cultivation First-Layer, to Second-Layer, to Qi Cultivation Peak, and then to Foundation Establishment First-Layer, Second-Layer.....
Retracing his cultivation path with the Separating Yang Technique.
Like a swiftly constructed high-rise with an unstable foundation, each floor needed reinforcement from the ground up.
After a two-hour period, sunlight broke through the clouds, slanting through the window and falling upon Qin Gengyun’s brow. He slowly opened his eyes.
A faint halo of light appeared around him, ethereal like an immortal.
Qin Gengyun exhaled, a smile appearing on his face.
Finally, he had practiced the Separating Yang Technique to the Foundation Establishment Peak, completely solidifying his foundation.
In his storage bag, he contained the Golden Core Spirit Liquid his wife had given him, and now he could break through to the Golden Core Realm at any time.
However, tomorrow is the outer sect competition. If he fails the breakthrough and gets injured, he won’t be able to claim victory in the competition.
Once he enters the inner sect, he can practice higher-level cultivation techniques, solidify his foundation once more, and then breakthrough without haste.
Qin Gengyun took out a brocade pouch from his bosom and from it, he picked out a long strand of hair.
He brought the strand of hair to his nose, inhaling its still-lingering familiar scent.
With floral notes, and a hint of milky sweetness, no matter how many times he smelled it, it reminded him of his wife’s fragrance.
Qin Gengyun stood up, walked out of the room, and in the small courtyard of the outer sect, a half-human tall sapling grew resiliently.
He looked towards the distant mountains, in the direction of Danxia Peak.
Would he encounter the owner of this strand of hair at tomorrow’s outer sect competition?
...
Danxia Peak.
Qiluo Garden, where the outer sect disciples reside.
In a room meant for four people, now with only one occupant, a slim female cultivator sat cross-legged on the bed, eyes closed in her cultivation.
After a long while, she slowly opened her eyes, a sharp and fiery gleam flashed within them.
"Golden Core Third-Layer."
Xia Qinglian’s mouth showed a hint of a smile.
All disciples entering Zhenyang Sect’s outer sect would learn the foundational Separating Yang Technique and Supreme As-Heart Sword.
The latter didn’t have much use for her, but the Separating Yang Technique had an unexpectedly great effect.
When Zhou Man and Xu Chengfang were alive, one glance at their cultivation of the Separating Yang Technique was enough for Xia Qinglian to comprehend it.
Trying it casually, she found that the Separating Yang Technique could perfectly integrate with her reverse cultivation of the Profound Ice and Fire Technique.
As a result, Xia Qinglian had been trying these days to fully integrate the Separating Yang Technique into the Profound Ice and Fire Technique.
The outcome was that her cultivation speed increased significantly, and now she could perfectly switch between the two techniques.
Before the people of Zhenyang Sect, she could perform the Separating Yang Technique enhanced with a trace of Profound Ice and Fire.
To exert full strength, she could unleash the Profound Ice and Fire Technique infused with the Separating Yang Technique.
As for the Supreme As-Heart Sword, she didn’t even have to look. Listening to Lin Qingchou’s lesson at dawn was enough for her to understand it.
In tomorrow’s outer sect competition, using the "Ice and Fire Separation Yang Technique" and Supreme As-Heart Sword would be enough to eliminate her husband’s strong opponents.
But why can the cultivation techniques of Zhenyang Sect and Cyan Lotus Sect integrate so seamlessly?
At this moment, a knock came on the outer door.
Xia Qinglian frowned slightly: "Who?"
"Junior Sister Ruo, it’s me, Feng Tianyun."
Xia Qinglian’s expression was icy. Since the day the list of ten names was announced, Feng Tianyun had been frequently finding excuses to approach her.
It should be said, to approach Ruo Mei.
This person evidently was a scoundrel, comparable in roguishness to Zhenyangzi.
If it weren’t for being in Zhenyang Sect, such a person would have been killed the first time he bothered her.
"Junior Sister Ruo, there’s no need to be shy. Tomorrow we will be fighting side by side for Danxia Peak, and I have brought some healing holy medicines specifically for you."
Outside, Feng Tianyun continued knocking with full confidence, speaking presumptuously.
Evidently, he didn’t sense Ruo Mei’s aversion, mistaking it for shyness.
A flicker of cold light flashed in Xia Qinglian’s eyes; this is your own doing, there will be one less disciple from Danxia Peak participating in tomorrow’s outer sect competition.
She was about to open the door when Lin Qingchou’s voice emerged outside:
"Feng Tianyun, tomorrow is the outer sect competition, why aren’t you cultivating properly? What are you doing here?"
"Senior Sister Lin, I gained some insights during cultivation and wanted someone to verify them."
"Really? Do you want me to verify them for you?"
"No, no, Senior Sister Lin, I’m going back to cultivate."
Feng Tianyun scurried away, while Lin Qingchou gently knocked on the door:
"Junior Sister Ruo, are you there?"
Xia Qinglian raised her hand, the door opened, Lin Qingchou swiftly slipped inside, closed the door, and the cold and stern face instantly turned fawning and subservient.
Clinging to the ground, crawling on all fours, she licked Xia Qinglian’s shoes once on each, her tail wagging like a dog, and she flattered,
"Master, this slave greets you."
Today was the day the Heart-devouring Pill took effect.
Xia Qinglian extended her finger, a surge of spiritual power entering Lin Qingchou’s body, causing Lin Qingchou to feel blissful, kneeling and repeatedly bowing:
"Thank you, Master."
Xia Qinglian said indifferently, "What about the matter I tasked you with?"
Lin Qingchou hurriedly replied, "The Western Empress has already arrived with Fang Xue in Zhenyang City. The Golden Snake Guard escorting Si Minglan will arrive in three days. The Western Empress is likely waiting for the Golden Snake Guard to arrive before proceeding to Zhenyang Mountain, where Junior Martial Uncle Leng Jing of Sword Tomb Peak will preside over the examination, and all disciples are required to attend."
Xia Qinglian asked, "What is the attitude of the Six Peaks Peak Masters?"
Lin Qingchou replied helplessly, "Master, I am just a steward disciple. How am I supposed to know the thoughts of senior uncles and teachers?"
Xia Qinglian asked again, "Will all the Five Peaks Peak Masters be present tomorrow?"
"Yes, they will all be there."
Xia Qinglian took out a blue pill from her bosom and handed it to Lin Qingchou: "Take it."
Lin Qingchou was taken aback: "Master, what is this?"
Xia Qinglian coldly looked at her, prompting Lin Qingchou not to dare ask further. Tearfully, she slowly accepted it and swallowed it.
After a moment, joy flashed in her eyes, and she touched her dantian incredulously.
"My Spirit Root... has become a Top-grade Spirit Root?! Master! Thank you, Master!!"
Lin Qingchou was so excited that she bowed repeatedly. Xia Qinglian’s lips curled into a cold smile.
That blue pill was called "Seven Extremes Celestial Spirit Pill," uniquely refined by Xia Qinglian’s master.
The pill’s effects were highly unique. The person who consumed it would maintain a Top-grade Spirit Root state for three months. However, it concealed an extremely subtle poison within the spirit field.
If the person who consumed the pill engaged in dual cultivation with someone, the hidden poison would enter the partner’s body, destroying their meridians and spirit field.
Xia Qinglian gazed out the window, noticing the sky suddenly darkening as storm clouds gathered over the city.
She said to Lin Qingchou in an indifferent tone, "Don’t you have a fondness for Chun Ningzhi? I will teach you a way to make him pay attention to you."
"Master, what way?"
Lin Qingchou swiftly raised her head, and Xia Qinglian replied:
"Get close to Chun Ningzhi’s master, Zheng Shengmo. Let Zheng Shengmo discover your Top-grade Spirit Root, and he will naturally arrange for Chun Ningzhi to be your Dao companion."