Cultivation: Starting from a Mortal Bone

That night, thunder and rain clashed violently.

The sky poured down like buckets, the thunder rolling as if someone had poked a hole in the heavens.

Inside the room.

It was a storm of its own—two small boats rocked on the lake; Qin Yu hopped onto this boat, then that boat, making sure everyone got a taste.

Yin Qinghe glanced at the sky, then at the neighboring room, feeling secretly relieved.

She’d rather listen to thunder than those strange noises next door—it was just way too shameless, with a constant sense of sneaking around.

Even if she was passive about it.

Pulling the curtain shut, Yin Qinghe prepared to sleep. After being ’tormented’ for so long, she thought she could finally drift off easily with the thunder as her lullaby.

"Mm..."

However, with thunder covering their tracks, the folks next door seemed even more reckless. Normally, the two little boats held back a bit, but tonight, the sounds were way louder than usual.

Yin Qinghe had just closed her eyes, but quickly reopened them, listening carefully—her expression froze.

She could tell, the loudest voice belonged to her own little cabbage.

Oh great, using thunder as cover, huh.

Yin Qinghe was helpless and furious—her little cabbage would never act like this; Qin Yu was definitely corrupting her.

[Yin Qinghe Romantic Point: 19 (Initial Acquaintance)]

"???"

Qin Yu stared blankly at the sudden prompt.

He hadn’t done anything, yet the Mistress’s Romantic Points still dropped?!

This was just absurd, wasn’t it?

And these Romantic Points swings—looked so shady.

Sooner or later!

...

Later that night.

Lin Qianqian had gone straight to sleep.

Zhao Mengli, like a tired kitten, lay across Qin Yu’s chest, occasionally glancing up at him, as if wanting to say something.

"Senior Sister, what’s up?"

Seeing Zhao Mengli hesitating, Qin Yu gently stroked her smooth back and spoke up.

"Junior Brother, can I ask you something?"

Zhao Mengli hadn’t fully recovered her strength, panting and sounding a bit hoarse—clearly exhausted from earlier.

"Ask away."

"Junior Brother, what do you... think of the Mistress?"

Qin Yu: "..."

What’s up with Senior Sister?

She was the one who brought Lin Qianqian along.

She’s always scheming to bring Lin Shuishui in too.

And now she suddenly asks something like this, making Qin Yu unsure how to respond.

Could Senior Sister have figured something out?

He replied, "Mistress is a great person—beautiful and kind. If not for her, I might still be living in a back alley outside the city."

"That’s not what I mean."

Zhao Mengli pouted, using her soft finger to draw circles on Qin Yu’s chest: "Actually, Mistress has always wanted to be an Alchemist, but she only has middle-grade Mortal Bone, and she’s had such a tough life..."

That night, Zhao Mengli told Qin Yu a lot about their beautiful Mistress.

Qin Yu finally realized: even though Mistress lived in the city, she was a tragic person—her parents had incident when she was little, so she wasn’t much better off than the Lin Qianqian sisters.

But by the end, Qin Yu seemed to catch Zhao Mengli’s drift.

His Senior Sister actually wanted him to help the Mistress upgrade her Root Bone?!

If it weren’t for Zhao Mengli’s earnest face, Qin Yu would’ve thought she was testing him.

"Mistress has great talent in Spiritual Power. If not for her Root Bone, she’d already be an Alchemist."

Zhao Mengli knew how much hardship Yin Qinghe endured, especially now, carrying Danxin Herb Hall all alone—it was obvious how much pressure she was under.

Qin Yu forced a smile.

Senior Sister knew exactly how Root Bone got upgraded, so her asking out loud made him feel awkward. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Could he really claim he’d never thought about the beautiful Mistress?!

That would just be fake.

Any normal guy, seeing Yin Qinghe, couldn’t stay completely unfazed.

"Senior Sister, this matter..."

"Junior Brother, as long as you agree, I’ll go tell Mistress myself—I’ll bring her over."

Qin Yu: "..."

This isn’t something I should be agreeing to, right?!

And bring her over, seriously.

If Zhao Mengli so much as said a word, the Mistress would probably show up with a knife.

This really wasn’t a joke.

Even though lately he’d been...

Cough!

Getting closer, closer to Mistress.

But it was just a touch of ambiguity, never crossing the line.

"Let’s talk about it another time, another time."

Qin Yu brushed her off.

Yet Zhao Mengli suddenly flashed an embarrassed smile: "Hehe, Junior Brother, actually, I already told Mistress."

Qin Yu was stunned, and stared at her in shock.

So decisive?!

And.

How did she even bring it up?!

Could it be he’d been too hardcore lately?

Qin Yu fell into self-doubt.

But it was clearly Senior Sister herself who wouldn’t let up, always begging to upgrade her Root Bone—just made him feel heartbroken.

If he declined, all he’d see was that tearful, pitiful little face.

Stunned, Qin Yu couldn’t help but ask, "So what did Mistress say?"

For some reason, he actually felt a bit expectant, especially thinking of the scene in the Alchemy Room earlier in the day...

Zhao Mengli snuggled further onto Qin Yu’s chest, found a comfy spot, then pouted: "Mistress doesn’t believe it."

Hearing that, Qin Yu relaxed at once.

Good, at least the beautiful Mistress didn’t act rashly and show up with a knife.

Otherwise, he’d never explain himself, no matter how many excuses he had!

Seriously, who’d be as direct as Zhao Mengli, just going to say it?

If Mistress didn’t suspect he’d put her up to it, that’d be weird.

"But, Junior Brother, don’t worry, I’ll prove it to Mistress!" Zhao Mengli said earnestly, gaze determined.

"How?" Qin Yu asked, puzzled.

Zhao Mengli suddenly blushed, wriggling shyly: "Junior Brother, I want to upgrade my Root Bone soon..."

"..."

Honestly!

Can you really blame Qin Yu for this?

"Senior Sister, you..."

Qin Yu barely started, only to see her teary, puppy dog eyes.

What else could he do?

...

In a blink, a few more days passed.

That Cyan Mountain Sect outer elder had been seriously injured, but both Immortal Sects seemed to lay low.

On this day, Qin Yu was purifying medicinal liquid.

Even though Yin Qinghe always urged him to focus on cultivation, he insisted on purifying a dose or two each day.

Actually, it only took him about two hours or so.

Yin Qinghe simply let him be.

Because now, with only her, it was not enough to face the future’s troubles.

BOOM!...

Suddenly a huge noise came from the sky, followed by a terrifying pressure spreading everywhere—Qin Yu’s spiritual power lost control and his medicinal liquid evaporated.

"Cultivators of Lin Xian City, hear me—from this moment forward, this city will be dominated by my Hundred Sword Sect. Defy me, and there is but one end—death!"

The proclamation pierced the clouds, carrying absolute dominance and chill, striking everyone’s heart. Even Qin Yu, deep inside the Alchemy Room, felt an unprecedented sense of oppression, as if the voice had pierced straight through his eardrums, echoing in his mind, leaving his spirit uneasy.