At the mention of her Cultivation, Xu Qing’s face fell. "I’m stuck at the bottleneck for Gang Qi Great Success," she said, dejected.
With all the Elixirs Xu Yang had given her, she had started trying to break through to the Gang Qi Great Success Realm a month ago, but the bottleneck hadn’t budged at all.
"Don’t worry, I’ll help you in a bit," Xu Yang said with a smile.
Xu Qing had been at the Purple Sun Sect for less than two years, yet she was already trying to break through the Gang Qi Great Success bottleneck. This pace wasn’t slow at all. Although the constant supply of Elixirs from him was a factor, it also proved Xu Qing hadn’t been slacking in her Cultivation.
"How will you help?" Xu Qing asked curiously.
"You’ll find out soon!" Xu Yang didn’t mention the Eight Treasure Lotus Seeds just yet.
An item that could improve one’s Root Bone was far too precious. If outsiders were to hear of it, disaster would surely follow.
After the siblings ate at a restaurant, Xu Yang brought Xu Qing up to Li Fire Peak.
He planned to use the Eight Treasure Lotus Seeds to refine Xu Qing’s Root Bone and improve her talent. The Outer Disciple area wasn’t suitable for this; it was better to bring her to Li Fire Peak, where he could personally stand guard.
"This is where Inner Sect Disciples live? It’s amazing," Xu Qing said, her curiosity piqued as she saw an Inner Sect residence for the first time.
Noticing Xu Yang’s courtyard was covered in dust and fallen leaves, she quickly got to work tidying up.
"Look at you, Xu Yang. Without me, your place is a pigsty! It’s filthy everywhere," the young woman chided, her tone grave.
’Without me, his life is a complete mess. He can’t even keep his own courtyard clean.’
"I haven’t been back in months. I came to see you as soon as I returned, so I haven’t had time to clean. Of course it’s dirty," Xu Yang said.
’I wish she could live here with me,’ he thought. ’With her around, I wouldn’t have to worry about these small things. She’d keep everything perfectly organized.’
Unfortunately, Xu Qing was not an Inner Sect Disciple. Without the proper token, getting in and out was a huge hassle.
Working together, it took them an hour to clean the entire place. Only then did they enter the meditation chamber together.
"Do I... have to take off my clothes?" the young woman asked, her face flushing red.
Xu Yang rolled his eyes. ’I have no idea what goes on in this girl’s head.’ "Yes!" he said.
Xu Qing: ...
Ignoring her, Xu Yang rummaged through a cabinet and pulled out the Jade Box containing the Eight Treasure Lotus Seeds. He plucked one out and handed it to her. "This is an Eight Treasure Lotus Seed, a Spirit Medicine I acquired on my trip. It can refine your Root Bone and improve your talent. After you take it, it should help you break through to the Gang Qi Great Success Realm."
"But its medicinal power is quite fierce, so it will be very painful. The process is like being completely reborn; it will expel impurities and foul blood from your body. Take off your clothes before you consume it. I’ll stand as your Guardian outside."
"So this is a Spirit Medicine?"
Seeing a Spirit Medicine for the first time, Xu Qing was intrigued. She turned it over and over in her hands but couldn’t see how it was any different from an ordinary herb.
"Don’t just look at it with your eyes. Use your senses to feel it," Xu Yang reminded her. "Whether it’s a Spirit Medicine or Spirit Iron, they all emit a kind of Spirituality that the naked eye can’t see."
"You’re right, it does have a special aura." Upon his words, Xu Qing closed her eyes and, sure enough, she sensed the unique characteristic of a Spiritual Object.
"The Eight Treasure Lotus Seeds are precious, so don’t tell anyone. I’m heading out now. If you run into any problems, stop immediately."
After giving his instructions, Xu Yang left the meditation chamber, sat down outside, and began to meditate.
The meditation chamber was designed to block not only auras but also sound, so he couldn’t hear anything from inside. Still, Spirit Medicines like this were generally safe; the intense medicinal power would just cause some suffering, that’s all.
The moon climbed high into the sky, then slowly began to set.
Around the fourth watch, Xu Yang figured enough time had passed and boiled a pot of water.
Just as the water finished boiling, Xu Qing pushed open the door and emerged, her spirits high and her skin even more delicate and fair than before.
As Xu Yang’s gaze swept over her, he noticed a subtle change in her appearance; it seemed her proportions had become even more perfect.
"Bro, I broke through!"
She was practically buzzing with excitement. "This Spirit Medicine is incredible! It broke through the bottleneck to Gang Qi Great Success so easily. I’m now the fourth person in our year to reach Gang Qi Great Success!"
By that count, she was now the fourth genius of the Ten Heroes.
Xu Yang was a little speechless. The main purpose of the Eight Treasure Lotus Seed was to refine one’s Root Bone and improve talent; breaking through realms was just a side benefit.
"I boiled some water for you. Go take a bath first," Xu Yang said.
Xu Qing suppressed her excitement and quickly entered another room to wash off the remaining foul blood.
When she emerged again, she was absolutely radiant, and Xu Yang’s eyes lit up.
"Can you feel the improvement in your talent?" Xu Yang asked.
Xu Qing nodded. "Yes. My Gang Qi is purer and more potent than before. I feel full of spiritual energy, and my Gang Qi circulates much more smoothly."
Xu Yang was very pleased. "The effects of the Eight Treasure Lotus Seeds only stop after the third one. Come back again tomorrow night. I’ll wait for you at the foot of the mountain."
「At dawn」, he escorted Xu Qing down Li Fire Peak.
Over the next two days, he had Xu Qing take the second and third Eight Treasure Lotus Seeds, respectively.
Once she finished absorbing the medicinal power of all three Eight Treasure Lotus Seeds, Xu Qing’s Cultivation reached Gang Qi Perfection, and she was now ready to break through to the Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm.
Xu Yang estimated that her Root Bone, even if it hadn’t reached A-class Lower, was now very close. It might have even reached the Below A-class level.
However, for someone who had already begun martial arts training, their bones were different from an ordinary person’s, making it impossible to measure their true Root Bone grade.
"Go to the Hidden Skills Hall and exchange for a Body Refining Technique!"
Xu Yang gave Xu Qing some more contribution points. Added to what she had already saved, it was enough to exchange for a decent Body Refining Technique.
As for a technique to condense Gang Qi, her Cyan Wood Technique was already an Anomalous Gang Qi Technique, so there was no need to exchange it for another.
With her improved Root Bone, practicing a Body Refining Technique would be much easier for her. The higher Xu Yang’s own realm became, the more he understood the importance of a solid foundation. That was why he parted with some of his contribution points—so Xu Qing could start a Body Refining Technique as soon as possible and temper her physical body.
He told Xu Qing not to rush her breakthrough to the Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm. She should first adapt to her sudden surge in power, and only then begin the Marrow Cleansing process.
After sending Xu Qing down the mountain, he went to the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall.
In the same side hall as last time, he met with Duan Changji.
"What would Junior Brother Xu like to exchange for this time?" Duan Changji asked with a smile.
Xu Yang didn’t answer right away. Instead, he asked, "Can you keep what I exchange for here confidential?"
’If Elder Huoyun finds out I’m using my contribution points to trade for Spirit Medicines instead of Elixirs, he’ll probably fly into a rage again.’
’What kind of trouble are you stirring up now?’
Duan Changji paused, then shook his head. "Ordinarily, your exchanges are known only to you and me. However, the Elders sometimes audit the records, and they would be able to see what you’ve exchanged for."
"Under normal circumstances, the Elders only check the books at the end of the year," Duan Changji added.
’The end of the year?’
’As long as they don’t find out right away, it’s fine.’ Xu Yang nodded. "How many contribution points for a Dragon Beard Root?"
"Six hundred!" said Duan Changji.
’Same as the Tiger Soul Red Sun Fruit,’ he thought. "I want one Dragon Beard Root and one Tiger Soul Red Sun Fruit," Xu Yang said aloud.
Duan Changji’s pupils contracted!
Though he wasn’t a Pill Master, he had worked in the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall long enough to know that Dragon Beard Root and Tiger Soul Red Sun Fruit were the two primary Spirit Medicine ingredients for the Dragon Tiger Great Golden Pill. ’He’s going to refine a Dragon Tiger Great Golden Pill!’
’No wonder he asked about confidentiality right away. He’s afraid Elder Huoyun will find out he’s neglecting his duties to mess around with this kind of thing.’
"Junior Brother Xu..." Duan Changji started to speak, but then stopped himself, ultimately saying nothing.
’It wasn’t his place to lecture Xu Yang. If Xu Yang didn’t even pay heed to Elder Huoyun’s words, what could he possibly say?’
"Senior Brother Duan, please count them." Xu Yang placed the contribution points on the table.
"The amount is correct. Please come back for the medicine tomorrow, Junior Brother Xu," said Duan Changji.
"Please keep this a secret for me, Senior Brother Duan."
Xu Yang cupped his fists, then left the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall. After putting the remaining four hundred contribution points back in his meditation chamber, he began practicing the Unmoving Bright King Body in the courtyard.
For the past few days, he had been standing guardian for Xu Qing at night and resting during the day. He hadn’t had much time to cultivate, and his progress had stagnated.
「A day passed quickly.」
「The next day」, he went to the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall and successfully collected the Dragon Beard Root and the Tiger Soul Red Sun Fruit.
Without hesitation, Xu Yang headed straight for Cyan Yang City at the foot of the mountain, quickly arriving at the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion.
"Greetings, Master Xu!"
As he stepped into the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, Zhou Yong greeted him with a smile.
"Can you gather all the herbs on this list?" Xu Yang asked, handing over a list he had prepared earlier.
’The last time I made a Dragon Tiger Great Golden Pill, many of the ingredients were gifts. This time, I have to buy them myself.’ He wasn’t sure if the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion would have everything on his list. If they didn’t, his only option was to return to the Purple Sun Sect and use his contribution points.