Cultivation: Starting from a Mortal Bone

”Empress Dowager, are you feeling unwell?”

Little Ling’Er noticed the Empress Dowager’s odd expression, her tender little hand covering the back of her hand, her face full of concern.

The Empress Dowager gently shook her head, followed by the Great Phoenix’s gentle sway, unable to hide the frustration within her heart.

Qin Yu seemed to have understood.

The Empress Dowager’s discomfort was in her heart.

If he wanted to help her relieve it...

He couldn’t very well press on the Great Phoenix, could he?

Perhaps because of this, she had refused so decisively.

”How hateful, even with such a large master wife, he still dares to peep at me!”

The Empress Dowager didn’t even glance at Qin Yu but bit her silver teeth lightly.

”I am not experiencing any discomfort.”

The Empress Dowager took a deep breath, her gaze falling on the little Ling’Er beside her.

Petite as she was, like a flower with dewdrops, fresh and refined, delicate and alluring, her innocence and flawlessness conjured affection.

How could the Empress Dowager bear to do anything that would let down such a tiny figure?

Yet, just thinking about this pure flower facing such brutal scenes in the future, the Empress Dowager felt heartache that was breath-taking.

”Empress Dowager, last night I saw Brother Qin Yu ease his wife’s worries. Why don’t you give it a try too?”

Little Ling’Er blinked her eyes, as bright as stars, with a face full of innocence.

She saw with her own eyes that after Qin Yu pressed, Yin Qinghe’s complexion became much rosier, evidently showing effectiveness.

”What? He...”

The Empress Dowager was stunned; Qin Yu actually did such a thing in front of Little Ling’Er?

How could this be?!

Was he not afraid of frightening Little Ling’Er?

Previously submerged in inescapable sadness, the Empress Dowager grew more worried.

She saw it with her own eyes, really...terrifying, so terrifying!

And Ling’Er looked so petite and frail.

Completely incapable of enduring it!

”I refuse.”

The Empress Dowager shook her head repeatedly.

She refused!

Just thinking about it made her uncomfortable, not knowing why, but there was an inexplicable feeling of congestion, almost...

Sweltering?

This was a feeling she, as an omniscient being, had never experienced.

Even she didn’t know why she suddenly felt this way.

”Is the Empress Dowager afraid?”

Little Ling’Er noticed the change in the Empress Dowager’s expression and wondered why such a thing was unpleasant. Why was the Empress Dowager afraid?

”Why don’t I try it first, and then you, Empress Dowager?”

Little Ling’Er tentatively asked.

”You want to try?”

The Empress Dowager’s mouth opened slightly.

It would...

cause injury!

She completely didn’t understand why Little Ling’Er was so...brave?!

Oh dear, her Little Ling’Er.

It was probably because she knew nothing; it was truly pitiful.

Not knowing what she would face, that’s why she was so courageous.

Thinking of this, the Empress Dowager heartbrokenly gathered Little Ling’Er into her arms, nearly suffocating the little one inside the Great Phoenix.

Moreover, her gaze was one Little Ling’Er could not comprehend at all.

Empress Dowager...what happened?!

Fallen ill?

”...”

Qin Yu was bewildered; just these few short exchanges, the Empress Dowager had at least looked at him with a strange expression three times.

Not understanding what had happened to the Empress Dowager, he did not dig deeper.

He just sat quietly to the side, watching Little Ling’Er and the Empress Dowager’s interaction.

Speaking of which, he had never before seen the Empress Dowager in such a melancholy state.

Along with the constant changes in her emotions, that face as beautiful as a Fairy from the cold palace faintly revealed a bit of mortal sorrow, adding a touch of earthly warmth, no longer so unattainable.

”Why does he keep staring at me? Does he know about my peeping?”

The Empress Dowager absent-mindedly chatted with Little Ling’Er, unease growing from the sidelong gazes.

She even secretly noted for the first time, this fellow, looked at her Great Phoenix thirty-two times, looked at her Jade Foot twenty-seven times...

The Empress Dowager didn’t know what was wrong with herself. Previously, when reading storybooks, she was indignant when someone peeped at the heroine.

Yet.

Qin Yu’s peeping counts had become numerous, but she felt no anger.

As if, inwardly, she didn’t reject this feeling.

”Empress Dowager, how about I tell you a new storybook?”

After a long silence, Qin Yu decided to break it by saying.

”A new storybook?”

The Empress Dowager was somewhat conflicted.

She dared not look at Qin Yu; upon seeing him, certain images uncontrollably surfaced in her mind, yet, thinking about the Journey to the West Storybook told before, she couldn’t resist wanting to hear.

Under the gentle urging, the Empress Dowager was led into the stone pavilion by Little Ling’Er.

Qin Yu did not sit down; instead, like a storyteller, he stood in front of the stone table and began to narrate slowly.

Even without deliberately looking, the elevated view always offered a scenery within sight.

The Empress Dowager was initially absorbed in the storybook and soon noticed Qin Yu walking to and fro, his robe billowing without any wind.

In the past, the Empress Dowager had a simple mind and understood nothing, finding nothing amiss, but now...

The Empress Dowager glared at Qin Yu angrily, only to find him focused on recounting the story, not sneaking a glance at her.

This...

For a moment, the Empress Dowager couldn’t find a reason to scold.

During this session, the Empress Dowager hardly listened to much of the storybook, her mind muddled, unclear of her thoughts.

Until dusk fell, a message sounded, compelling the Empress Dowager to reluctantly stomp away.

In the ensuing days.

The Empress Dowager gradually improved, transitioning from initial worry to slow adaptation.

They were Qin Yu’s wives, propagating offspring, which seemed understandable behavior.

In contrast, her act of peeking...

Pah!

This empress was not peeking!

Although occasionally worrying about Little Ling’Er’s future experiences, the Empress Dowager reverted to her carefree state, except for feeling uneasy when Qin Yu spoke of storybooks; everything seemed normal once more.

...

In a blink, half a month quietly passed.

Within the Lifebound Space.

In a corner of the courtyard along the mountainside, a branch thought to be dead quietly underwent subtle changes.

The once curled bark cracks unbeknownst tightened a bit.

Despite its appearance of desolation, a close observation revealed vitality in the surrounding soil, akin to creeks merging into a sea, slowly permeating the dried branch.

However.

This absorption was exceedingly slow, even Qin Yu, who held absolute control over the Lifebound Space, failed to detect the faint anomaly.

”Boom!”

On this day, while Qin Yu was absorbing Spirit Stone refinement, a powerful energy surged from the mountaintop.

”The Sect Leader Master has made a breakthrough!”

Qin Yu opened his eyes and moved, appearing at the mountaintop courtyard.

Indeed, within moments, a figure emerged leisurely.

Her garments fluttered as though walking upon clouds, revealing a pair of exquisite Jade Feet beneath her skirts, fair as snow, akin to Yángzhī Jade carvings, emitting a faint radiance, with toes round and lovely like pearls adorning them, ankles slender and graceful, each step stirring ripples in Qin Yu’s heart.

”Hmph!”

Su Xihe gazed at the man captivated by her Jade Feet with an arrogant expression, yet not bothering to conceal, feeling sweet inside.

She initially feared prolonged seclusion might alienate her from Qin Yu, but unexpectedly, this rebellious disciple...

remained superficial.

His demeanor suggested he might pounce and devour her.

”Congratulations on your release, Master.”

Qin Yu respectfully saluted.

”Hmm.”

A haughty noise issued from Su Xihe’s nasal passage.

The Sect Leader now achieved the Lotus Platform Realm!

No longer would she be bullied by this rebellious disciple.

”Ah!”

Before Su Xihe could assume a posture to instruct, instantly she was lifted by a force, descending weightlessly into the rebellious disciple’s firm embrace. Her Jade-like delicate feet at the moment were gently enveloped by warm and strong hands.

”Shameless, you... let go of me!”

Su Xihe scolded softly, her body making minimal symbolic struggle, but her tender lips were soon tightly kissed.

Renowned as the first beauty, Su Xihe underwent a difficult-to-describe transformation post-breakthrough, gaining a captivating charm beyond previous elegance.

Paired with such arrogance, Qin Yu could hardly resist, tempted to lightly...

torment her.

”Master must have missed soaking in the hot springs, let me assist you, disciple.”

”I don’t need it!”

Moments later, Su Xihe donned a bright white outfit, her Jade Feet lightly resting on the water’s surface, crystal clear, as the most impeccable artwork.

”You... don’t fixate on one place looking.”

A reddish blush crept onto Su Xihe’s delicate cheeks; although having previously seen naked, her heart remained unavoidably shy.

”Oh? I understand.”

Pure white, flawless.

Soon, splashes erupted in the hot spring.

On this day, Su Xihe determinedly vowed to catch up on nearly a month’s seclusion cultivation progress.

Over two days, even Su Xihe, bearing the White Jade Sacred Body, felt weak and couldn’t muster strength, persevering solely through stubborn pride.

This rebellious disciple seemed fiercer!

Initially, she thought breaking through to the Lotus Platform Realm would suppress the rebellious disciple, yet Qin Yu was approaching Golden Core Peak fast; he might soon catch up.

”My Lotus Platform...”

Upon absorbing another Warm Current, Su Xihe thoroughly surrendered, turning the topic to the Lotus Platform.

Qin Yu gently clasped the white jade, nearer to the Dantian.

Su Xihe hung her head in shy anger; this rebellious disciple was growing worse!

Upon sensing, Qin Yu found the Sect Leader Master’s Lotus Platform akin to chaos, with more than Liu Zixiao, presumably due to the White Jade Sacred Body bearing more.

Subsequently, Qin Yu recounted the circumstances he previously discussed with Liu Zixiao.