"That’s the way it is. In ten days, you need to produce 10 Blood Coagulation Pills, 10 Vessel Continuation Pills, and 10 Replenishing Essence Pills. You must refine three pills each day. Taoist Friend Susu, you’ll have a hard ti during these ten days."
"No way! I just finished overti, and now you want to go another ten days? This kind of tornting is too much!"
"Susu."
"...Yes, miss."
At night, in Qin Gengyun’s ho, the familiar dialogue played out once more.
Under Qiu Zhihe’s orders, Liu Su had to put down her bowl and follow Qin Gengyun into the Alchemy Room.
Qiu Zhihe returned to the bedroom, took out seeds, and planted the Spirit Grass needed for Blood Coagulation Pills, Vessel Continuation Pills, and Replenishing Essence Pills in five spirit plant pots, even sowing seeds of ordinary herbs that weren’t worth much.
Qin Gengyun was to seclude himself for alchemy during these ten days, while also practicing and partaking in dual cultivation, so naturally, he wouldn’t have ti to go out.
Continuing to channel Spiritual Power into the five spirit plant pots, after one two-hour period, Qiu Zhihe stopped, slightly out of breath.
Coming out of the bedroom, she heard Liu Su’s excited, hoarse shouts from the Alchemy Room.
She shook her head and went into the bathroom, carrying her clothes.
Filling a large iron pot with water, she extended her jade palm, a fla bursting forth from her hand, quickly heating the water in the pot.
With a flick of her hand, waves ford in the pot, and hot water traced an arc, flying into the bathtub.
She removed her clothes, revealing a perfect figure, lifted her small foot, and stepped into the bath.
Slowly sitting down, she tilted her head back, resting the back of her head on the edge of the bath.
She closed her eyes.
Instantly, the water in the bath began to boil, then froze over.
Qiu Zhihe’s figure grew taller, with shoulders and peaks erging from the water, long hair flowing, half of it turning fiery red, the other half snow white.
The air in the bathroom beca both scorching hot and freezing cold.
After a mont, Qiu Zhihe’s figure gradually returned to normal, and her long hair turned back to black.
The surrounding air also cald.
She opened her eyes, cold light flashing in her almond-shaped eyes.
"Reached the Fifth-Layer of Qi Cultivation... still too slow."
Four two-hour periods later.
Qin Gengyun returned to the bedroom, to find that the room was still lit with candles, and Qiu Zhihe was sitting cross-legged on the bed, still cultivating.
Hearing Qin Gengyun enter, Qiu Zhihe opened her eyes. Qin Gengyun approached the bed:
"Why are you cultivating so late today?"
Qiu Zhihe looked at him; her almond eyes were cold, but her words were surprising:
"From today onwards, we’ll... do it twice more."
If they were a deeply affectionate couple, this would be understandable, but Qiu Zhihe said it coldly, lacking the emotional warmth of a couple.
It was like a routine task.
"Zhihe."
Qin Gengyun thought for a mont and finally asked:
"I still don’t understand, I have nothing, why did you choose to marry ?"
Qiu Zhihe didn’t answer, she just said indifferently: "It’s ti to cultivate."
"Zhihe, you..."
Qin Gengyun still wanted to ask, but Qiu Zhihe waved her delicate hand, and the candlelight went out.
...
...
Three days later.
For the seventh ti, the hundred breaths were completed.
[Cultivation: Fourth-Layer Qi Cultivation, 1000/1000]
[Skills: Second Tier Alchemist, 1/500]
[Spirit Root: Fire Series Middle Grade Spirit Root (450/1000), Ice Series Middle Grade Spirit Root (457/1000)]
[Available Cultivation Points: 2]
[Cultivation can break through, breakthrough imdiately?]
Qin Gengyun turned his head to look at Qiu Zhihe, who had her back to him, knowing she was still awake. He said softly:
"Zhihe, it seems I’m about to break through, I’ll go cultivate for a bit longer."
Qiu Zhihe responded with a hum, and Qin Gengyun got up and walked out of the bedroom.
The room door closed, Qiu Zhihe turned over, her eyes sparkling.
Outside, Qin Gengyun sat cross-legged and silently chanted in his heart:
"Gengyun, breakthrough!"
The familiar tearing pain of the ridians assaulted him, but having been through this many tis, Qin Gengyun remained calm, even as his body trembled and sweat poured down like rain.
Half a two-hour period later, the raging Spiritual Energy within him was finally tad, obediently following the path of his Cultivation Technique.
Not far behind Qin Gengyun, a small figure stood quietly.
Seeing that he was unhard, the figure moved slightly and returned to the bedroom.
Qin Gengyun opened his eyes, his expression calm.
[Cultivation: Fifth-Layer Qi Cultivation, 0/2000]
He had broken through to the Fifth-Layer Qi Cultivation.
However, unlike the previous tis when his cultivation level improved, Qin Gengyun was not elated or lost in excitent.
The Fifth-Layer Qi Cultivation only barely afforded him so protection from harassnt in Yunling Town.
But his Longevity Technique was too basic, and he lacked any experience in Magical Combat, making him vulnerable against soone of equal cultivation level.
Once he refined thirty Spirit Pills, he planned to sell them at the Pill Talisman Tower and inquire of Shopkeeper Tong if there were any combat-oriented Cultivation Techniques available.
As his cultivation increased, he would no longer be dealing only with low-level cultivators, and he anticipated greater dangers ahead.
After all, any Great Cultivator with profound cultivation would have blood on their hands.
Though he had lived two lifetis, he had never encountered any bloodshed.
The greatest Heart Demon and obstacle on his path upward was yet to co.
He wondered when he would face a life-threatening Magical Combat.
When that ti cos, will I have the resolve to face life and death unflinchingly?
...
Another seven days later.
With thirty pills in his possession, Qin Gengyun returned to the Pill Talisman Tower.
Seeing him, Tong Jinjin smiled slightly, and without saying much, both of them tacitly walked into the inner hall.
Qin Gengyun handed over a fine jade bag containing the pills to Tong Jinjin:
"Ten Blood Coagulation Pills, ten Vessel Continuation Pills, and ten Replenishing Essence Pills. Please inspect them, Shopkeeper Tong."
Tong Jinjin received them, examined them briefly, then closed the jade bag and picked up a teacup:
"Taoist Friend Qin, thank you for your hard work."
Qin Gengyun also picked up a teacup: "It’s my duty. Thank you, Shopkeeper Tong, for the opportunity."
"Haha, you’re welco."
Soon, an attendant brought in 2400 Spirit Stones.
In the past, this was an unimaginable fortune for Qin Gengyun.
With an unchanged expression, Qin Gengyun placed the Spirit Stones into his Spirit Crystal.
His hands trembled slightly under the table, but he operated his Cultivation Technique to calm his excited emotions, then asked Tong Jinjin:
"Shopkeeper Tong, do you have any Ice Heart Rejuvenation Pills in the Pill Talisman Tower?"
Tong Jinjin was montarily stunned, then replied with a wry smile and a shake of his head:
"Taoist Friend Qin, you must be joking, right? In the market, the highest grade pills are Third Grade. The Ice Heart Rejuvenation Pill is a Fourth Grade Spirit Pill, reserved for the elders of the Three Great Sects... Why does Taoist Friend Qin need such a pill?"
Qin Gengyun smiled and said, "Just asking. Oh, and one more thing: does Shopkeeper Tong have any combat-use Cultivation Techniques for sale?"
Tong Jinjin pondered for a mont and finally said, "Taoist Friend Qin, follow ."
He led Qin Gengyun upstairs to a small room, where several shelves were arranged, one of which held books.
Demon Slaying Sword Technique, Thunder Immortal Technique, Fire Cloud Immortal Technique, Water Dragon Technique, Ice Moon Technique, Joyful Swordsmanship, Golden Dawn Fist...
All were Magical Combat manuals.
"Taoist Friend Qin, you should know that such Cultivation Techniques are typically prohibited from being sold. Were it not for our connection, I couldn’t sell them to you. Given the risk I’m taking, the price is..."
Tong Jinjin smiled slightly:
"One thousand Spirit Stones each."
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