Great Void Mountain, the wind stirred!
Within a radius of ten thousand miles, the currents of spiritual energy swept up countless fallen leaves, converging toward the Spiritual Energy Platform!
Above the platform, a gigantic vortex of spiritual energy seemed to have formed, with the worldly spiritual energy rushing toward the sect’s main gate vanishing visibly at the center of the whirlpool.
In an instant, the entire Great Void Sect was thrown into an uproar!
“What’s going on?”
“A celestial phenomenon… Someone triggered a celestial phenomenon!”
“Which mighty cultivator is breaking through?”
“It’s coming from the direction of Wenxuan Peak!”
“Wenxuan Peak? That’s Elder Linghe’s residence. Could it be him?”
“Impossible. When has Elder Linghe ever returned to the sect? It must be someone else.”
“Could it be one of his disciples?”
“No doubt about it—it has to be Lin Ci, Chief Disciple Lin!”
“No wonder he’s the sect’s top disciple…”
…
The disciples of the Great Void Sect chattered away, each adding their own speculation until they pieced together a conclusion:
The one who caused this celestial phenomenon was undoubtedly the sect’s Chief Disciple, Lin Ci!
Everyone knew that Chief Disciple Lin had secluded himself to comprehend the Dao and seek a breakthrough. It wasn’t surprising if his cultivation had advanced over time.
But a celestial phenomenon?
Bro, going all out, huh?
So reckless!
Staring at the spiritual energy storm at the heart of Wenxuan Peak, the disciples were shaken to their core, finding it hard to believe such a feat could be accomplished by someone of their generation.
But then again, this was the famed Sword Dao prodigy who learned cultivation before even learning to walk—Chief Disciple Lin!
It made sense, after all…
At the same time.
In a pavilion somewhere on Great Void Mountain.
“Yueyue, Yueyue… look over there!”
A beautifully dressed female cultivator shook the arm of another stunning young woman beside her, pointing excitedly toward Wenxuan Peak.
“Mm, I see it.”
The exquisite woman wore a long cyan dress that accentuated her graceful figure. Her delicate, fair skin gave her the aura of a pampered noble lady.
She stretched her swan-like neck to glance at the phenomenon outside the window, then smiled serenely at her companion before taking a sip of tea from the table.
As if nothing outside concerned her.
This woman’s rare three-character compound surname was Buliuguyue.
Her companion, still excited, said:
“Yueyue, they say that celestial phenomenon is because Chief Disciple Lin is breaking through—it’s truly magnificent!”
“Mm, quite beautiful.”
Buliuguyue’s tone was neither enthusiastic nor dismissive, perfectly balancing not to spoil the mood.
Then the female cultivator changed the subject:
“By the way, Yueyue, I heard you have an engagement with Lin Ci—is that true?”
“That was arranged when we were kids, back in our mortal families. But now that things are different and we’re both cultivators, that engagement shouldn’t count anymore.”
Buliuguyue cupped her tea lightly, smiling softly as her smooth hair swept down her back, her curves enchanting.
“What do you mean it shouldn’t count? Yueyue, you’re also a chief disciple; you’re a perfect match. I think that engagement could very well continue.”
“I envy you so much! Chief Disciple Lin isn’t just gifted, he’s also handsome. How great it would be if I were engaged to him!”
The other cultivator swooned theatrically.
“If you like him so much, you can go chase after him—I wouldn’t mind at all.”
Buliuguyue teased.
The girl’s eyes lit up, but looking again at the spiritual energy vortex outside, her confidence faltered:
“Sigh… forget it. How could Chief Disciple Lin possibly like me? I have to think of the bigger picture; I can’t share a man with Yueyue.”
“Cheeky!”
Buliuguyue laughed and scolded her, then said no more. She hummed thoughtfully, brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, and opened an ancient book on the table, immersing herself in reading.
…
The spiritual energy storm lasted continuously for three days and nights before gradually calming down.
At the Spiritual Energy Platform.
Lin Ci sat on the ground, bored, tapping his fingers impatiently.
Not over yet? After all this time?
Does Xia Xiaochan’s talent really suck that much?
At the center of the celestial phenomenon, the spiritual energy had actually grown calmer, and Lin Ci barely noticed the changes around him, only sensing that the howling cold wind seemed stronger.
He recalled a cultivation novel from his past life that said, “The poorer a cultivator’s talent, the longer their first breakthrough takes.”
If that was true, then Xiaochan’s talent really was mediocre.
Of course, it might also be because she was cultivating his self-created heart method, but Lin Ci definitely wouldn’t take the blame for that.
No way, it’s definitely unrelated to the heart method!
Just then.
Xia Xiaochan finally stopped her cultivation at the platform’s center.
She exhaled deeply, her long eyelashes trembling slightly like a butterfly about to break free from its cocoon.
After a while, she opened her eyes.
“Thank you, Senior Brother! Chan’er has entered the Dao!”
The moment she opened her eyes, she saw her Senior Brother nearby, never leaving her side.
Moved and excited, she announced the joyous news.
Oh?
She actually succeeded in entering the Dao!
Looks like no need to sever ties now…
“Hmm, not bad at all.”
Lin Ci said coolly, arrogant as always.
“Yes, all thanks to Senior Brother’s Nine Revolutions Heaven-Burning Technique. This heart method is truly profound and miraculous!”
Xia Xiaochan expressed her admiration without holding back.
“At first, when I tried to draw in the spiritual energy, I wasn’t used to it—it was like a baby learning to walk, fumbling all over the place. But after several tries, I realized my mistake…”
“That I wasn’t supposed to learn walking like a baby, but rather learn to ride a horse directly!”
“Once I figured that out, everything went smoothly.”
She waggled in front of Lin Ci like a dog waiting for praise.
“Senior Brother, Senior Brother, just now during the last mini-cycling of the Nine Revolutions Heaven-Burning Technique, my operation speed was already a hundred times faster than when you demonstrated!”
Hearing this, Lin Ci slowly formed a question mark in his mind.
A hundred times?!
Chan’er, are you trying to mess with me?
Do you think I don’t know how this heart method works? You’re faster than me, the creator, by a hundred times?
Lin Ci found it hard to believe…
It was like a failed web novel author who wrote a lousy book that made no money, but after a plagiarism dog reposted it on a big platform, it earned hundreds of thousands in royalties.
Probably this silly girl just miscalculated, but he didn’t feel the need to crush her enthusiasm.
Lin Ci: “Release some spiritual power. Let me see your current cultivation.”
Xia Xiaochan agreed and stretched out her palm, where a ripple of spiritual power appeared.
Lin Ci roughly measured it and compared it to his own strength.
It was three realms lower.
The realm sequence was Spirit Movement, Qi Refinement, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core…
He was at Golden Core, so Xiaochan should be at Spirit Movement.
As for early or late Spirit Movement, he couldn’t tell, being only halfway there himself.
But considering her talent, early Spirit Movement was certain.
“Spirit Movement Realm. You really have entered the Dao.”
“You’re now a bona fide cultivator.”
Lin Ci gently patted her head, speaking in a softer tone.
“That’s great, Senior Brother! Really… so great…”
Only then did Xiaochan truly relax.
Chan’er was a cultivator now.
Her Senior Brother wouldn’t abandon her!
“Senior Brother, do you think it’s possible… that maybe I’m a hidden genius?”
Having unburdened her heart, Xiaochan suddenly became playful.
Hmm? You?
Lin Ci rolled his eyes inwardly, turning away slowly as he said:
“When I was seven, I stepped into Spirit Movement in half a day, but you, with my ultimate heart method, still took three days…”
“Ah? Three whole days already!”
Xiaochan’s spirit deflated.
She had been too focused on cultivation to notice time passing and now realized three days had gone by.
Looks like even if she had some talent, it was far inferior to her Senior Brother’s.
Senior Brother really is amazing!