Another six months of cultivation passed.
His master had returned.
—
[Five Elents Reincarnation Skill: Great Success (721/3000)]
—
"Disciple, I’ve returned."
"How are you still in the Qi Cultivation Realm?! Why haven’t you broken through!" Ouyang Mingming had been in high spirits, but her expression soured when she sensed Su Qing was still exuding the aura of the Qi Cultivation Realm.
She frowned, looking at him disapprovingly as she awaited his explanation.
"I’m still building my foundation, Master. It’ll be a while longer before I can break through."
"The Ten Thousand Tribulations Divine Body still needs to build a foundation? Don’t you plan on forging the Ten Thousand Tribulation Dao Foundation?"
"Your Soul Cultivation, on the other hand, is quite good. You’ve actually broken through to the Clarity Realm. That’s acceptable, at least." Ouyang Mingming nodded in satisfaction after observing him carefully.
—
Second-Layer of Clarity [Quasi-Star River Visualization Map: Entry Level (154.3871/500)]
—
The Soul Realm stat had appeared on his panel automatically when his Visualization Map’s Skill Level reached 100.
There hadn’t been any grand phenonon for the breakthrough.
It was a natural, slow process, like water carving a channel where it flows or dripping until it wears away stone.
Only his Qi Cultivation remained at its absolute limit.
Su Qing had since gotten rid of the attribute panel, as it did a poor job of representing his true strength.
This beca especially clear when he temporarily entered the Pseudo-Acupoint Realm, and his Physique attribute skyrocketed from around 30 to 1482.7.
That’s when Su Qing realized that the attribute panel was just a reference.
His cultivation Skill Levels were a much more practical and transparent asure of his progress.
So, Su Qing made a decision and ntally commanded the Synthesizer to remove the attribute panel.
Ouyang Mingming left soon after.
She tossed Su Qing a Spirit Fruit before she went.
[Hundred Yuan Fruit: The fruit of a Thousand Dollar Spirit Tree, bears fruit once every hundred years. Contains vast Spiritual Qi, increases a cultivator’s aptitude by 10%.]
’She’s the best. I absolutely love having her as my master.’ Su Qing silently accepted the fruit.
’A ten percent increase in aptitude! That’s an effect you’d only get from a Top Grade Nourishing Yuan Pill (Evolution).’
’I need to gather more Spirit Fruits. I can really feel that the Spiritual Qi on Cold Extremity Peak isn’t enough for anymore. When the ti cos, I’ll synthesize all the Spirit Fruits at once and use my Evolution Talent. That way, I won’t have to worry about running out of Spiritual Qi when it’s ti for my technique’s Perfection.’
Su Qing tucked it away.
Counting the two he already had, that made only three in total.
’Forget it. I won’t cultivate today. I might as well go eat sothing nice.’
After the interruption from his master, Su Qing decided against continuing his cultivation.
Instead, he headed down the mountain for a trip to the Marketplace.
’When will these days of bitter cultivation ever end?’
Su Qing sighed as he took out the food he’d bought and started preparing it.
He also went to let Liu Linlin know.
Liu Linlin was surprised. ’Did my wish co true?’ she wondered. ’Is my junior brother finally willing to cook delicious als every day?’
Liu Linlin patiently waited for Su Qing to set out all the food before starting to eat with him, not wanting to get in his way while he was busy.
"Well, well. How dare you two sneak a al behind my back?"
"I’m so good to you, Disciple, and you don’t even invite your master when there’s good food? You’re sneaking off to eat with your senior sister instead!" Ouyang Mingming appeared at their side, feigning grievance.
Su Qing jumped in surprise.
"I just thought you were a heavenly Fairy, Master, one who doesn’t partake of mortal food. That’s why I didn’t dare to invite you."
"Please, have a seat, Master." Su Qing quickly pulled out a chair for Ouyang Mingming.
"It slls wonderful! I haven’t eaten mortal food in years. It’s so fragrant; the aroma alone is incredible."
Ouyang Mingming didn’t stand on ceremony. One was her disciple and the other her martial niece, so she felt right at ho.
She picked up her chopsticks and dug in, though she glanced at the copper pot with a flicker of confusion.
As she kept eating, Ouyang Mingming quickly figured out how to eat this dish called "hotpot."
Their chopsticks clashed as they both went for the last slice of at to swish in the pot.
Liu Linlin and Ouyang Mingming’s eyes t.
"Since Martial Aunt fancies it, how could I dare to compete!" Liu Linlin said with a pout.
"Hmph! Good that you know your place, Niece." Ouyang Mingming said, very satisfied as she snatched the last piece of at and ate it.
"Why would I, your martial aunt, squabble with you over sothing so small, Linlin? Here, a gift for you. It’s a Hundred Yuan Fruit."
"It’s a trade, see?" Ouyang Mingming said proudly as she gave the fruit to Liu Linlin.
Liu Linlin happily caught it. "Thank you, Martial Aunt!"
Liu Linlin hadn’t actually been upset at all. It was just one little slice of at, and besides, she was already full. She had only been pretending.
"Er..." Su Qing was left speechless.
"I didn’t know you were coming, Master, so I only prepared enough for Senior Sister and , with just a bit left over."
"I’ll prepare more next ti."
Su Qing hadn’t wanted to waste food. Since he’d made this al so many tis, he’d planned on buying just enough for the two of them, with a small amount extra.
He never expected Ouyang Mingming to show up.
"Well, that’s your fault, Disciple. You knew your master was right here, yet you didn’t prepare more food."
Ouyang Mingming said, "For ignoring your elder, I, your master, will punish you: you are to participate in next year’s Sect Grand Competition!"
"You haven’t participated in the Sect Grand Competition for two years. Are the resources I give you really enough for you?"
"I guess you don’t want any more Spirit Fruits."
After huffing a bit, Ouyang Mingming conjured a film of water in her hand and elegantly wiped the grease from her lips.
"Disciple, your house is so warm. How did you manage it? I want mine to be like this, too."
"They sell special Heating Magical Artifacts in the Marketplace," Su Qing explained. "The sellers can even co and install them for you. They’re all gadgets from the Zhengxuan Sect."
"Those unorthodox magical artifacts from the Zhengxuan Sect can do sothing like this? How amazing. I’ll go look for one later."
"Oh, right. Next ti you make sothing delicious, co find on the peak. Or else!"
"Don’t bla your master for being cruel!" Ouyang Mingming humd happily before vanishing from sight.
"I’m heading back too, Junior Brother." Elated with her new Spirit Fruit, Liu Linlin didn’t even bother walking, using an Escape Technique to leave Su Qing’s ho.
Su Qing shook his head with a smile and began to clean up.
...
Habits are powerful things.
Su Qing made a fine al once every month.
「Nine months passed.」
[Five Elents Reincarnation Skill: Great Success (1878/3000)]
Su Qing looked helplessly at his master.
"Oh, Disciple, those puppy-dog eyes won’t work on ," Ouyang Mingming said, growing even more delighted at Su Qing’s crestfallen expression.
"You *have* to go to the Sect Grand Competition this ti. Otherwise, your master will have to find a nice, fertile girl for you and arrange a marriage!"
Having eaten with Su Qing so many tis, Ouyang Mingming had figured out that he had no real desire to find a Dao Companion.
Ouyang Mingming had been suspicious at first. She had even gone so far as to draw out Su Qing’s soul, create an Illusion Realm, and have a seductive woman use a Charm Technique on him. But in the end, Su Qing only took so minor advantages; he never made a move to cross the line.
This had prompted Ouyang Mingming to suddenly appear within the soul’s Illusion Realm and give Su Qing a vicious beating just to vent her frustration.
The most infuriating part was that her Charm Technique was ineffective against Su Qing, even inside the Illusion Realm.
The painful mory of that beating was still fresh in Su Qing’s mind. ’My master is truly ruthless,’ he thought.
Ouyang Mingming had co to a conclusion: aside from his gluttonous desires, Su Qing was exceptionally like a true seeker of the Dao, steadfastly adhering to his own principles.
"Master, you don’t have to threaten . I was going to participate anyway."
Su Qing looked at Ouyang Mingming, exasperated.
"Hmph! So my disciple has finally seen the light. You understand the need to compete for the Sect’s resources. I’m so pleased. But if I don’t see you there tomorrow, you just wait and see what I’ll do."
With another threat, Ouyang Mingming departed proudly.
’I’m only halfway there, but I should be able to place high enough to get a Spirit Fruit. That’s all that matters.’
Even without Ouyang Mingming’s threats, Su Qing had planned to participate. Placing in the top one hundred would earn him a Spirit Fruit.
Su Qing was after the Spirit Fruits for his Synthesizer. Otherwise, he was afraid that when his technique reached Perfection, the Spiritual Qi on Cold Extremity Peak wouldn’t be sufficient.
....
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