Cultivation: Starting from a Mortal Bone

When Yan Zhi brought it up, that all-powerful Empress at first thought Qin Yu had already broken through to the Lotus Platform Realm.

But that can’t be right.

She distinctly remembered that just yesterday, she’d heard Qin Yu’s cultivation hadn’t made any progress at all—so how did he Enlighten today?!

The Empress cast her gaze toward Yan Zhi standing outside her bedchamber.

Yan Zhi hesitated a bit, ’polished’ her wording slightly, and then recounted the process and result of Qin Yu’s Enlightenment.

”He suddenly had Enlightenment—in the middle of... intimacy?!”

The Empress’s eyes clearly betrayed a trace of bewilderment.

This is way too ridiculous, isn’t it?

But Yan Zhi would absolutely never fabricate such an absurd lie to deceive her.

Although in recent days Yan Zhi’s words were quite tactful, just saying what time it was and which Dao Companions Qin Yu was spending time with.

How could the Empress not know what exactly that so-called ’company’ meant.

This was also the main source of her disappointment in Qin Yu.

Indulging in women and neglecting cultivation—he’s doomed to accomplish nothing big!

But who could’ve guessed this guy managed to have... Enlightenment while ’accompanying’ his Dao Companions?

However, that so-called Enlightenment happened in just a fleeting moment.

What exactly Qin Yu grasped was still hard to say, but the changes Yan Zhi described afterward left the Empress puzzled.

Even while in the midst of ’companionship’, his cultivation was growing rapidly too?!

What the hell is the cause?

Sure, there are cultivation techniques that can run automatically, but that counts more as a divided-mind technique—you still need to focus part of your attention to run the technique.

The effect, naturally, can’t compare to actual, focused cultivation—otherwise, who would ever bother with secluded meditation?

Though who knows if Qin Yu’s cultivation is really advancing that quickly, but in the region he’s in, at best you can find Earth Level cultivation techniques.

If it’s like he’s running an Earth Level technique every second of every day, that really starts to sound a bit unbelievable.

Unless... Qin Yu really once gained some extraordinary opportunity?

What could it be?

Looks like it’s best if Yan Yu continues observing Qin Yu for a while, then decides whether to cultivate him... or give up entirely.

...

[Emotion Point +10 from Yin Qinghe]

Looking at the beauty of his exhausted Master, Qin Yu gathered her into his arms and didn’t go for another round.

At his side, Lin Qianqian and Zhao Mengli had already fallen asleep.

Qin Yu closed his eyes as well, beginning to sense the Free Creation Divine Technique.

The rhythm of its operation was already carved into his heart; that feeling of Enlightenment was still vivid, almost like a brand.

This wasn’t his first time Enlightening, after all.

Just like when his Lifebound Divine Technique leveled up, he attained Sword Intent, or comprehended Sword Momentum... In those moments of sudden realization, he felt as though he’d lived for hundreds or thousands of years. So when he performed these moves, everything flowed effortlessly, without the slightest hinderance.

The Free Creation Divine Technique was the same—it was, after all, his own, heartfelt insight into the laws of the world, so naturally he understood its operational rhythm inside and out.

As the Divine Technique circulated, Qin Yu quickly became aware of a few issues.

Now, if he wanted to cultivate quickly, relying on Medicinal Baths or just refining Spirit Stones didn’t really cut it anymore.

Luckily, with his Pure Yang Divine Body, Essence Qi was no concern for him; Spiritual Power could still be improved with refining Spirit Stones or by using Medicinal Baths for a speed boost.

But when it comes to Spiritual Power... that was obviously a weak point now.

His middle-tier Refining level Spiritual Power was actually pretty strong, so the shortcoming didn’t look obvious at the moment.

But for people like Su Xiyue, who never deliberately trained their Spiritual Power, even if they mastered the Free Creation Technique, their own Spiritual Power would seriously slow down the advancement of their cultivation.

Once again, Qin Yu found himself wrestling with that old doubt.

The cultivation methods of this world... can they really work?!

No one can cross the Celestial Tribulation—maybe that already tells us something.

But!

Is it really that all the cultivators here have chosen the wrong path?!

Qin Yu had believed that, once upon a time.

But now, he wasn’t so sure everything was that black and white.

He felt the Spiritual Qi entering his body.

Spiritual Qi doesn’t nourish the mind or the body; instead, it acts like blades, spears, clubs and swords, wrecking a cultivator’s body and meridians. That means: if someone’s born with poor Root Bone, they basically have no hope of becoming a cultivator at all.

And because of their Root Bone, some people hit a dead end and can’t move an inch further.

Could there be something wrong with the very Spiritual Qi of this world?

Or is there something off about heaven and earth themselves?

Is that even possible?!

Qin Yu didn’t know. But, just as the Hall Master had said—just like the hidden dangers within that Secret Realm—those issues weren’t limited to one spot. Plus, you had these ’Ruins Rifts’ cropping up everywhere.

Clearly, none of this is normal.

Maybe the current cultivation methods are just a last resort born of necessity.

Good thing Qin Yu has his Pure Yang Divine Body to fall back on.

”Looks like I’ve gotta boost my Spiritual Power.”

Fortunately, for him, cultivating Spiritual Power isn’t actually all that difficult.

But for other cultivators, after having to cultivate Qi, then having to develop Spiritual Power, and if they wanted to do Body Refinement too...

Even with top talent in all fields, in a limited lifespan, how far can you really get?!

And Qin Yu, at least, finally looks like a semi-normal cultivator...

Daytime.

Qin Yu, as usual, entered the Sect Leader’s Cave Mansion.

Liu Zixiao didn’t show up today.

Looks like he really went at it a bit too hard yesterday—probably still resting now.

Once he started cultivating, the Sect Leader arrived dressed primly, wrapped up tightly, sitting in the courtyard reading a storybook.

Guarding against her disciple as if he was a thief!

Gotta admit, storybooks with illustrations—are on another level!

[Illustration]

Some of those illustrations are just... so embarrassing!

She feigned disdain but still eyed them critically.

”Heh, look at this exaggeration—not realistic at all!”

She muttered under her breath.

But for some reason, looking at those shameful illustrations, the Sect Leader started thinking of her own rebellious disciple.

Even though she refused to consciously dwell on it, that little rascal...

Was honestly pretty over-the-top!

”Hmph, all for show,” she said.

Still, every time she saw her bestie stumbling out of the Alchemy Room holding onto the wall, the image left a deep impression.

Which goes to show—Qin Yu isn’t someone who just looks good and can’t deliver where it counts.

Who knows what image flashed through her mind, but an unmistakable flush appeared on Su Xihe’s devastatingly beautiful cheeks. Maybe it was her altered breathing, but her chest was rising and falling sharply.

Stifled.

She snapped her storybook shut.

”Phew!”

She took slow, deep breaths, but the heat in her heart just wouldn’t dissipate.

”Where on earth does Zixiao find these storybooks? How on earth... how on earth...”

The Sect Leader muttered to herself.

It’s obvious—these storybooks are absolutely full of shameless, sketchy plotlines!

She acted annoyed, but she couldn’t deny... they were enticing—enough that she couldn’t tear herself away.

”I’m going to the hot spring!”

Perfect—Qin Yu is still in cultivation, probably won’t finish until night. The Sect Leader was reassured and headed for the hot spring courtyard.

Along the way, she sent a transmission to her bestie Liu Zixiao, telling her to hurry up and get over here.

There’s no problem that can’t be solved by a good soak in a hot spring!

Liu Zixiao, just like usual, readily agreed in one breath.

Thinking of her bestie’s massage technique, the Sect Leader hastened her steps. Once in the side courtyard, she stripped down and slipped into the water.