Cultivation: Starting from a Mortal Bone

Betraying one’s master and ancestors.

That’s open rebellion!

But this betrayal by Qin Yu is probably a bit different—he just wants to mess with his master, and maybe extinguish a little...

Fire.

That’s all.

Of course, he clearly isn’t qualified for even that right now.

If it weren’t for his rare talent, he’d have probably been tossed out long ago!

Even so, Su Xihe didn’t give him any good face, suddenly snapping, "Qin Yu, do you know your crime!"

"Your disciple admits his guilt."

Qin Yu gave a wry smile, and could only grit his... 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Teeth. (head, literally scalp)

Lowered his posture.

Meekly admitted his mistake.

"?"

This time, even Su Xihe was dumbfounded.

Normally, wouldn’t Qin Yu try to argue on impulse?!

Why did he just admit it straight away?

This kind of makes it seem like she, as the master, is just being unreasonable.

How awkward.

After all, there are two people here, and Liu Zixiao is even standing a bit closer to Qin Yu.

"You say you still have hidden injuries in your body?"

Shaking off the odd feeling, Su Xihe continued with a stern tone.

"Qin Yu wouldn’t dare deceive Master."

Even though he was lying through his teeth, Qin Yu could only keep the act up to the end.

No way he could just confess outright, right?

"..."

It wasn’t just Su Xihe—even Liu Zixiao fell silent, brow furrowed in thought.

Could it be that the hidden injury is so deep that they couldn’t sense it?

But that possibility was a stretch!

Because, in Qin Yu’s organs, meridians, and dantian, there wasn’t a single trace of anything off.

Yet it gave Liu Zixiao a hint, so she said, "If your hidden damage still lingers, doesn’t that mean your Root Bone has a chance to improve?!"

"It should be possible."

This time, Qin Yu answered with real confidence.

Roughly estimating, two thousand Flame Points—shouldn’t take all that long.

With the Pure Yang Divine Body, he was totally unafraid.

"This..."

With Qin Yu’s definitive answer, both masters couldn’t help but look shocked.

In other words, Qin Yu might not just have a Middle Grade Spirit Bone—he could actually be... Upper Grade Spirit Bone.

Upper Grade Spirit Bone.

That’s on a whole different level—add to that Qin Yu’s monstrous talent in alchemy...

Su Xihe seemed to think of something. She paused, then finally took out a well-crafted jade pendant and handed it to Qin Yu, saying, "This is the Illusion Spirit Jade. Array inscriptions are engraved on it—wearing this jade can conceal the spiritual power fluctuations around you!"

"Thank you for your generous gift, Master."

Qin Yu’s eyes sparkled—barely concealing his joy—he hurriedly bowed and reached to accept.

He was originally hoping to feel the Sect Leader’s soft hand, but Su Xihe seemed to see through his little plan and didn’t give him a chance at all.

She floated it over to him with spiritual power.

What a pity!

But, just now when the Sect Leader was checking his inner condition, he and his master had their first physical contact.

He was already satisfied.

Thinking back, she was always someone to admire from afar—never to be desecrated.

This was a huge step forward.

"Alright, you may go now."

Su Xihe didn’t notice anything amiss. But standing to the side, Liu Zixiao kept a close eye on the entire exchange.

After Qin Yu left with thanks, Liu Zixiao suddenly shed her previous gentle poise, her tone laced with a teasing edge: "Sect Leader, you really are generous. Such a rare Illusion Spirit Jade, just given away so casually."

"Liu Zixiao, don’t talk nonsense. Just a mere piece of jade—how could it ever compare to Qin Yu’s importance to our Immortal Sect? You know that perfectly well."

Su Xihe, of course, understood the implication behind Liu Zixiao’s words. She rolled her eyes, then turned around to perch on a hanging bed, swinging her legs leisurely, an air of total relaxation.

"Exactly, just a piece of jade. Back then, I begged for ages, but someone wouldn’t give it. Plus, I remember you’ve always worn that pendant—by my count, it’s been over ten years now."

Liu Zixiao said meaningfully.

Call it just a piece of jade, but in fact it’s something she always wore close!

At that, the Sect Leader’s movements paused involuntarily. A faint, shy blush crept onto her face—at once ashamed and angry, she glared: "Liu Zixiao, what exactly are you trying to say?!"

"Nothing really. It’s just, seeing our Sect Leader so generous as a master, even giving away her personal Spirit Jade—how could I, as Second Master, be stingy? As it happens, I also have a Ruyi..."

"Liu Zixiao, I gave you that! Go ahead, just try giving it away!"

"..."

...

Night.

Saintess Cave Mansion.

Leng Ruyu sat in the courtyard, thinly dressed, letting the night wind brush past, looking deeply conflicted.

Sure enough, as the hour struck, the familiar pain flared up again...

Soon after, Su Xiyue came out of the room.

"Sister Xiyue, are you going out again?"

There was a faint tremor in her voice, tinged with bitterness.

Every night Su Xiyue left, she had to endure the excruciating pain caused by the Black Qi.

But that wasn’t even the main thing.

The pain—she could handle.

What really got to her was how the Black Qi she was tainted with hadn’t been suppressed or lessened at all.

Didn’t that mean her father’s huge sacrifice had achieved nothing at all?!

Could the Demon Sect really accept this cost?

If this caused the Cyan Mountain Sect and Demon Sect to break ties, even go to war, wouldn’t that just hand the Hundred Sword Sect a huge advantage?

That was also why Leng Ruyu hadn’t really considered killing Su Xiyue back then.

After all, killing Cyan Mountain’s Saintess would only provoke relentless vengeance—and the Demon Sect would pay dearly too.

She only wanted Su Xiyue to submit so the Demon Sect could control Cyan Mountain; then the two great Immortal Sects could unite against the Hundred Sword Sect.

Leng Ruyu had already conceded.

However, Su Xiyue still seemed unwilling to forgive her.

Like now—she just gave Leng Ruyu the most indifferent of glances before turning to leave, as if even an extra word was too much to spare.

Seeing this, Leng Ruyu grew anxious—and the dam finally broke on her long-repressed emotions as she called, "Sister Xiyue, it’s already been two months..."

Su Xiyue’s steps faltered just slightly; she turned her head, eyes like ice, staring coolly at Leng Ruyu.

"Sister Xiyue, don’t misunderstand—I, I’m just worried..."

Seeing her reaction, there was a faint tremor hidden in Leng Ruyu’s voice, her gaze flickering, clearly desperate for the right words.

A glimmer of surprise crossed Su Xiyue’s eyes.

She’d assumed that, seeing no results, Leng Ruyu would be feeling resentful—harboring a grudge she could never let go. But unexpectedly, this odd little demoness was actually able to see things from the perspective of both Immortal Sects and weigh the bigger picture.

Could she really be sincere in her regret?

After two months together, even if Su Xiyue’s hatred for Leng Ruyu hadn’t vanished, it had all but faded.

What Leng Ruyu said was something she’d already been considering.