Cultivation: Starting from a Mortal Bone

Qin Yu had just returned to his cave dwelling, when he heard the laughter of Lin Shuishui and Zhao Mengli.

The two were frolicking in the water.

Seeing him come in, Lin Shuishui immediately stopped and flew into his arms like a little swallow.

"Brother-in-law~"

The young girl’s voice was like the gentle drizzle of spring, soft and tender, landing lightly on the heart’s lake, sending ripples across its surface.

"This is improper, come down quickly!"

Qin Yu’s words sounded somewhat stern, but mostly helpless.

Lin Shuishui had just been playing by the water with Zhao Mengli, and now her clothes were soaked, clinging tightly to her skin, unintentionally outlining the delicate curves of a girl just coming of age.

Hiss!

Qin Yu didn’t know where to look, only stole a quick glance and hurriedly averted his eyes, afraid of tainting this innocent purity.

"No way."

Lin Shuishui didn’t realize the seriousness at all; still pouting, she wrapped her arms around Qin Yu’s neck, refusing to let go. That playful innocence made Qin Yu’s heart soften again.

"Why are you still like a child? What if someone sees...?"

As he spoke, Qin Yu took off his outer robe and wrapped it around the little girl, finally relieved.

"I’m not a child..."

Lin Shuishui seemed quite offended by the word ’child’, puffing her cheeks and glaring at him.

"Hehe."

Zhao Mengli came over too. "This is junior brother’s cave dwelling—how could anyone else possibly come in?"

Indeed, outsiders couldn’t enter.

Unless Qin Yu allowed them, or... forcibly broke the array.

But Liu Zixiao had said: even a Golden Core Peak cultivator would struggle to break the formation in a short time.

If a commotion that big happened, it’d alarm the whole sect long before things got out of hand.

After a bit more fuss, Qin Yu called Lin Qianqian and Yin Qinghe out as well.

Then, he took out that superior Mortal Grade Cultivation Technique, laying it before them and explaining the situation.

"Wow! It’s actually a superior Mortal Grade technique!"

Upon learning the grade of the cultivation technique, Zhao Mengli exclaimed, her eyes shining.

The technique she currently practiced was just inferior Mortal Grade—and she’d paid a hefty price for it.

Superior Mortal Grade techniques simply didn’t exist in Lin Xian City.

Perhaps only the City Lord who came from the Immortal Sect possessed one.

"Why does the Sect Leader treat you so favorably?"

Yin Qinghe was delighted, but also a bit confused.

As Qin Yu’s household, being allowed to live in the cave dwelling was already an incredible privilege, and now they were being gifted cultivation techniques—she found it hard to believe.

Even if Qin Yu had good talent, wasn’t this a bit too much like... ’currying favor?’

Qin Yu didn’t hide anything and explained the Sect Leader’s possible intention to take him as a disciple.

"Wow!"

Lin Shuishui and Zhao Mengli exclaimed together.

The lord’s disciple in the Immortal Sect—this status must rank right under the Saintess and the elders, surely?!

Celebration was in order, but first came the important task of comprehending the new cultivation technique.

Cultivation Room.

Qin Yu slowly unrolled the manual for the Hundred Rivers Return to the Sea Technique, focusing on every character, etching its essence silently into his mind.

About an hour passed.

He gently closed his eyes, and soon, a subtle and strange wave rippled out from within him. All around, the Spiritual Qi, dense as fog and visible to the naked eye, rapidly gathered toward him.

In a blink, Qin Yu was completely engulfed by the mist, his form invisible.

"Buzz——"

As his Spiritual Power poured out, the gathering force grew ever stronger, its scope expanding, creating a spectacle. The surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi transformed into hundreds of winding rivers, surging toward Qin Yu.

Although the rivers seemed a bit unstable, always branching off, they already started to resemble the true "hundred rivers return to the sea."

In just over a quarter of an hour, Qin Yu’s realm advanced by one percent.

"At this rate, won’t I break through to Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer in just a day or two?!"

Qin Yu could clearly sense the difference in cultivation techniques.

The previous Sensing Technique could barely sense Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi; the absorption speed depended entirely on the quality of one’s Root Bone and affinity with Spiritual Qi.

The Hundred Rivers Return to the Sea Technique was different.

It could influence the surrounding Spiritual Qi, gathering, absorbing, and refining it. The speed was increased more than tenfold.

The reason his speed was limited still came down to Qin Yu’s Root Bone.

Astounding, truly!

Now Qin Yu finally understood why Su Xiyue and Leng Ruyu could reach Foundation Establishment Peak so young, in their teens.

He couldn’t stop after starting.

Qin Yu found himself somewhat immersed in cultivation. When he opened his eyes again, night had already fallen.

He didn’t continue.

Because, while running the Hundred Rivers Return to the Sea Technique, he could sense that he was only absorbing about twenty or thirty percent of the gathered Spiritual Qi.

He needed to improve his Root Bone.

That absolutely couldn’t be neglected.

Upon leaving the cultivation room, Qin Yu habitually looked at the courtyard, even sent his senses outside.

The ethereal, otherworldly figure did not appear.

Disappointment flashed through his eyes.

Well, this is the main peak, under the Sect Leader’s nose—how could Fairy Xiyue possibly come at night?!

If he were found...

The thought alone made Qin Yu shudder.

The Sect Leader would probably beat him to death, right?!

Not thinking much more, he walked toward his quarters.

Swish!

As soon as he opened the door, a figure lunged into Qin Yu’s arms.

"Junior brother, I broke through!"

It was Zhao Mengli.

Her face was flushed with excitement, her smile unstoppable.

"You broke through?"

Qin Yu stared, then sensed carefully—discovering Zhao Mengli had advanced to Qi Refining Fifth Layer. No wonder she was so excited.

"My senior sister is really incredible."

Looking at Zhao Mengli’s expectant eyes, Qin Yu showered her with praise without hesitation.

Among the four girls, Zhao Mengli now had the highest Root Bone—a Top Grade Mortal Bone. Spiritual Qi in the cave was already dense, and now, with a new cultivation technique, her breakthrough was only natural.

"Later, when you reach Spirit Bone, I’ll find you an even better cultivation technique!"

He made a promise.

"There’s an even better one?"

Zhao Mengli’s eyes sparkled with hope, but mostly with attachment to the man before her. She gently pressed her cheek to Qin Yu’s chest, murmuring dreamily, "Junior brother, why are you so good to Li’Er..."

When Qin Yu said he would join the Immortal Sect, she felt nervous inside.

Even now, residing in the sect, it still felt unreal. She feared it was all an illusion, a bubble easily burst.

Only hearing Qin Yu’s heartbeat made it feel real.

"Husband, we’ll always be together, won’t we?"

Zhao Mengli suddenly looked up, her eyes holding only Qin Yu.

"Of course!"

Qin Yu answered decisively, hugging her tight. "No matter where I go, I’ll never leave any of you behind!"

"That’s wonderful!"

Zhao Mengli’s smile blossomed like a flower.

[Zhao Mengli Romantic Point: 100 (Unwavering Till Death)]

Within her body.

The flame, sensing something unknown, suddenly ignited.

[Awakened: Celestial Eye]