“How was it? My senior brother didn’t bully you, right?”
Seeing Lu Qiancha emerge from the cave dwelling, Xuanmo, who was waiting outside, immediately approached with a trace of concern in her tone.
Lu Qiancha just shook his head, but his thoughts churned restlessly. He grew somewhat wary of Xuanping.
“As long as nothing happened, that’s good. Let’s go; Shigu will escort you back to Tianquan Peak.”
Xuanmo sighed in relief, her slender fingers lightly tapping the air as a small boat shaped like a drifting cloud silently appeared.
“After a whole day of fussing with the Danlu, you should get some proper rest.”
“Thank you, Shigu.”
Lu Qiancha indeed felt utterly exhausted, nodding in acknowledgment.
The cloud boat pierced through the air and soon arrived at the peak.
After bidding farewell to Xuanmo, Lu Qiancha entered the new residence in the back mountain courtyard alone.
The south wing door creaked softly as he pushed it open, and with a flick of his hand, he shed his disguise.
With a soft thud, she threw herself onto the plush bed, consciousness instantly enveloped by overwhelming fatigue.
The chaotic events of the day seemed only resolvable through confrontation with Zhugong…
The door.
The next morning.
APAPAP!
The rhythmic yet slightly hurried knocking sounded like stones tossed into the still waters of her Sea of Consciousness, shattering Lu Qiancha’s sweet dream.
“IS……….”
Still groggy, Lu Qiancha buried her face deeper into the pillow, trying to block the annoying noise, clawing half-heartedly at her sleepy eyes.
“Really, who’s knocking so early?”
After struggling for a moment, she begrudgingly got up, skillfully slipping into Lu Qiancha’s identity, wearing a lazy and still-drowsy expression as she opened the door.
In the dim morning light, the moon-white Daoist robe made the figure appear even taller and more elegant. It was none other than her Shifu, Xuanya.
“Shifu…….. so early, is something wrong?”
Lu Qiancha tried to muster some energy, her voice still tinged with morning haze.
Xuanya looked radiant, celestial aura lingering between her brows. Seeing her disciple in such a state, she smiled gently, “I’ve come to bring you something.”
“Bring me something?” Lu Qiancha blinked, a bit puzzled.
Xuanya didn’t answer immediately but changed her tone to a serious one, “Qiancha, you have advanced to the Huashen Realm, and within a few years, you have a good chance to break through to Void Refinement. But the cultivation method you’re currently using…”
With a flick of her finger, an ancient, warm black jade token quietly appeared in her palm. “…is already insufficient for your future cultivation. You must keep this item safe.”
“Thank you, Shifu.”
Lu Qiancha stopped being polite and accepted the token as instructed. The token felt cool in her hand, faint Grand Dao Runes flowing beneath the deep black surface.
Xuanya nodded, “This is the Return to Origin Record. It contains the essentials you need to comprehend on your own. If you encounter anything obscure or difficult, you can always come to me with questions.”
Pausing briefly, her gaze swept over the tranquil courtyard, “I plan to enter seclusion for a few days to stabilize my soul. The affairs on the peak will temporarily be entrusted to you.”
“Yes, Shifu, you can rest assured.”
Lu Qiancha bowed in acceptance, watching as Xuanya drifted away like flowing clouds.
Closing the door, Lu Qiancha immediately shed her disguise. Ling Power was something best conserved; no need to waste it unnecessarily.
She sat cross-legged and lightly touched the black jade token with her spiritual sense.
Boom!
A massive flood of information surged into her Sea of Consciousness. The golden ancient script formed by the three Grand Dao Runes spelling “Return to Origin Record” burned vividly into her mind.
The lower half of the Heavenly Origin Mantra?! Lu Qiancha was somewhat surprised.
This was the core sect inheritance. It seemed that after Shifu’s recent promotion, her status within the sect had truly risen.
Embracing the One and maintaining focus, Lu Qiancha sat cross-legged, allowing her Ling Power to circulate slowly through the paths described in the Return to Origin Record.
In an instant, her mind sank into a profoundly mysterious state.
Her Dan Tian resembled a chessboard’s Heavenly Origin, vast and serene. The hundred meridians transformed into intricate, interlacing chess routes.
Each natural flow of Ling Power invisibly drew the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy. It was like lifting a star chess piece, purifying, refining, and taming the otherwise scattered and diluted energy.
With every breath and exhalation, the scattered Ling Power within was invisibly guided to converge toward the Dan Tian’s core.
The resonance between Ling Power and the Dan Tian barrier was clearer than ever.
The absorbed Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy flowed like a stream into the sea, rapidly assimilated, compressed, and condensed.
Buzz!
Inside the Dan Tian, a massive, pure Ling Power vortex spun wildly, its density skyrocketing. At its center, a nearly solidified point glimmered faintly.
A dazzling “Lingxuan” was about to take shape.
At that moment—
A sudden flash of insight struck her mind. Lu Qiancha released the suppression on the Ling Power vortex.
Crack—!
A barely audible yet soul-piercing cracking sound.
The invisible barrier composed of the Void Refinement Realm’s defenses shattered like spring ice under this inevitable accumulation.
The amassed Ling Power surged forth like a floodgate opening, rushing into her new realm.
***
Lu Qiancha exhaled a long breath of stale air, her blue eyes shining brightly, a pure smile of satisfaction curling on her lips.
Even the fluffy tail behind her wagged proudly a few times, “Early Void Refinement Realm! Made it!”
“Hm? You broke through?”
Canxin’s lazy yet slightly surprised voice sounded timely in her Sea of Consciousness.
“Yes, thanks to Shifu’s cultivation method.”
Lu Qiancha was in great spirits.
“Uh… that’s good timing.”
Canxin’s tone turned oddly playful, “I’ve got good news and bad news. Which do you want first?”
That opening immediately tensed Lu Qiancha’s nerves again. What mischief was this Demonic Sword remnant spirit up to?
“…Good news first.”
She chose to play it safe.
“Well… the good news is, congratulations—you’ve successfully advanced to Void Refinement!”
Lu Qiancha’s mouth twitched, silently cursing: Thanks for repeating that after I just celebrated.
“What’s the bad news?”
She forced herself to ask.
“The bad news…” Canxin’s tone suddenly grew subtle, tinged with irritation from disturbed sleep, “There’s a pink little thing that broke into your Sea of Consciousness! It’s fighting me for space on the sword!”
“?!”
Lu Qiancha’s sapphire pupils shrank to pinpoints.
Her spiritual sense dove without reservation deep into her Sea of Consciousness.
Sure enough,
Above the vast, star-lit purple Sea of Consciousness, besides the towering, gloomy great sword that stretched across the sky, there was now an incongruous splash of—pink.
“What is that thing?”
The little wolf cub opened its mouth in shock, its mind instantly filled with question marks.
“You’re asking me?!”
Canxin’s voice was clearly exasperated and annoyed, “I want to ask you! I was sleeping soundly, and this little thing’s ‘chomping’ on my sword! It’s noisy and irritating! Get rid of it quickly!”
Lu Qiancha was too tired to listen to Canxin’s complaints any longer. With a thought, her soul projection instantly condensed and appeared beneath the shadow of that massive Demonic Sword.
Focusing carefully—
The shape of the pink “intruder” quickly became clear: a tiny figure seemingly carved from crystal.
Pink curly hair, round pink eyes shining with innocence, a tender pink dress… even the slight baby fat on its cheeks was an exact match!
It was Lu Qiancha’s—pink limited edition!
And this little pink bundle was currently hugging its knees, curled up next to the base of the Demonic Sword, tilting its head curiously studying Lu Qiancha’s condensed soul form.
“Uh? Hello there.”
The pink bundle’s eyes brightened as it lifted a small paw, greeting her with a sweet, harmless smile and a voice that was soft and fragrant.
“RRI…….”
Lu Qiancha instinctively returned the greeting but immediately snapped to attention!
No.
This wasn’t here to say hello.
She instantly stiffened her expression, hands on hips, trying to look imposing and stern as she demanded, “No, who are you? Why are you in my Sea of Consciousness?!”
The pink little girl’s ears twitched, biting her finger as she thought hard, then said, “Umm… I think I’m your Heart Demon.”
“Heart Demon?!”
Lu Qiancha was momentarily stunned by the words. She looked at this pink doppelgänger, then circled around it for a careful examination.
Her Heart Demon? Didn’t look like it.
In her impression, Heart Demons were usually the kind—bloodthirsty and laughing maniacally at their host, basically all kinds of evil and dangerous.
But this one… was lacking the Heart Demon look.
Lu Qiancha’s expression shifted from shock to confusion. She hesitated before reaching out to lightly poke the fluffy tip of that pink hairball’s tail.
Soft, with a bit of plushy elasticity… it felt exactly like her own tail.
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