Bai Ruoli Reached the Qi Refining Second Layer

After three rounds of energy transfer, Shen Jingchuan's Divine Sense was severely depleted. He rubbed his throbbing brow, took out a Spirit Concentrating Pill, swallowed it, and refined it before he could recover.

Seeing that he had finished his practice, Yue'er quickly came over and gently patted his shoulder with her little hand.

"Young Master, are you alright?"

Lin Qingyao and Bai Ruoli also looked over, their eyes full of concern.

"It's alright." Shen Jingchuan waved his hand. "The Cultivation Method I passed on to you were quite advanced, and they consume a lot of Divine Sense. My cultivation is still shallow, so it's a bit of a strain for me. But once my cultivation level increases, it won't be like this anymore."

As he spoke, he took out three small jade bottles from his Storage Ring and handed one to each person.

"This contains Spirit Concentrating Pill," he said. "If your Divine Sense is injured or overused, refining one will help you recover; refining it slowly at other times will also nourish your Divine Sense and make it stronger."

He gave specific instructions.

"There are three pills in each bottle. Refine two of them slowly first, and keep the last one for later use when you break through to a higher realm. It will be of great help."

"Remember this: cultivation level and Divine Sense are two legs. If you only focus on accumulating Spiritual Qi and increasing your cultivation level, but your Divine Sense can't keep up, you'll be held back sooner or later, and it will be difficult to advance further. Both of these must grow together."

As they were talking, dinner was already prepared in the kitchen. Ju'er and Qinghe brought in the bowls and chopsticks and quickly set them on the table.

Shen Jingchuan sat down with the two ladies and, while they ate, slowly explained some common knowledge about cultivation to them. Lin Qingyao, Bai Ruoli, and Yue'er listened attentively, even slowing down their eating.

Ju'er and Qinghe served first, and after they finished adding rice and handing out chopsticks, they each filled their bowls with rice, sat down at the table, and ate while listening attentively.

They have no Spirit Roots and can't cultivate immortality, but it's never a bad thing to know more.

After finishing his meal, Shen Jingchuan put down his chopsticks.

"I have some things to prepare tonight, you guys go ahead and do your own thing."

They all nodded and got up to tidy up. Bai Ruoli walked to the door, as if she wanted to say something, her lips moved but she didn't say anything, and followed them outside.

Seeing her expression, Shen Jingchuan called out.

"Ruoli."

She hadn't taken two steps when she heard Shen Jingchuan call her, so she turned back.

"Husband, did you call me?"

Lin Qingyao glanced back at her, said nothing, and went back to her room.

Shen Jingchuan looked at Bai Ruoli and smiled.

"Have you run out of Spirit Stones again?"

"And what else? And what else?" Bai Ruoli quickly replied.

"Alright, stop lying to me." Shen Jingchuan waved his hand. "I know how fast you've been using it. Judging from your momentum, you're almost at the threshold of the Qi Refining Second Layer, aren't you?"

Bai Ruoli lowered her head, her voice soft.

"My lord, I don't know what happened. The Spirit Stones were gone in no time after I got them. I asked Sister Qingyao, and she said she didn't have them that fast. I don't dare tell anyone."

"Fast cultivation is a good thing," Shen Jingchuan chuckled, "But it uses too many Spirit Stones."

Bai Ruoli lowered her head even further.

"I only now realize that this one Spirit Stone is worth a hundred taels of gold or a thousand taels of silver."

"I burn through so much silver in just one night of cultivation. Just thinking about it makes my heart ache and makes me feel uneasy. I dare not use it like that again."

Shen Jingchuan stood up.

"Come on, let's go back to the room."

Bai Ruoli nodded, took his arm, and followed him into the house.

Her mind was still churning the whole way. She never imagined that cultivation would be so expensive. The money burned in one night was more than an ordinary family could spend in several lifetimes.

Her husband treated her so well, and she had no way to repay him. She only thought that she should work hard and serve him well in the future.

As soon as they entered the room and the door closed, Bai Ruoli stood on tiptoe and leaned in to kiss him. As she kissed him, she reached out to untie his belt, while her own clothes slipped off one by one.

Shen Jingchuan's heart was aroused by her teasing, and he could no longer resist. He pulled her close, and the two quickly rolled onto the bed. The bed curtains fell, and they became entangled in a passionate embrace.

Half an hour later, the room gradually quieted down.

Shen Jingchuan gently patted her pert buttocks with his palm, his breathing not yet fully even.

"You know what, this cultivation actually has one benefit," he chuckled. "It does increase combat power."

Bai Ruoli nestled in his arms, her face burning red, even her ears were hot. She buried her face in his chest, and after a long while, she bit her lip and whispered a reply.

"After I... train for a few more days, I will... I will become even stronger."

After saying that, she became so shy that she burrowed even deeper into his arms.

Shen Jingchuan pinched her twice more.

"Alright, let's not talk about that." He smiled. "I called you back to your room because I wanted to talk to you about cultivation."

Upon hearing this, Bai Ruoli's face flushed even redder, and she wished she could bury herself under the covers. She had misunderstood; her husband was seriously discussing cultivation, and she had been so forward...

Shen Jingchuan chuckled as he saw her so embarrassed she had nowhere to hide.

"It's alright, of course, this is fine too."

Unlike Lin Qingyao, Bai Ruoli wasn't outgoing or shy at all. Even though they were an old married couple, she still had this timid and hesitant demeanor.

After cultivating, she exuded a cool sensation, which felt comfortable to the touch. She was Shen Jingchuan's first woman, and the more he looked at her, the more he felt tenderness for her.

He made up his mind that he had to help her improve her cultivation level as soon as possible. Such a Heaven Spirit Root, and a Variant Spirit Root at that, could not be delayed.

He didn't have any Qi Nourishing Pills on him, but he still had quite a few High-Grade Qi Gathering Pills. Qi Gathering Pills are supposed to be more potent than Qi Nourishing Pills, and beginners shouldn't be able to handle them, but she has Heaven Spirit Root, so perhaps she can suppress them. He might as well give it a try.

Shen Jingchuan took out a High-Grade Qi Gathering Pill, broke off a quarter of it, and brought it to her lips.

"Hold it in your mouth and circulate your 'Profound Ice Soul Condensation Instruction'."

Bai Ruoli opened her mouth and took the pill, which melted instantly upon entering her mouth. Shen Jingchuan placed one hand on her back, probing her with his Divine Sense to observe the flow of Spiritual Power.

A cool medicinal power spread out, much purer and richer than the Spiritual Qi in the Spirit Stone, flowing slowly along the meridians.

She has Ice Spirit Root and practices ice-based Cultivation Method, so the medicinal effects felt cool and pleasant upon entering her body. After circulating the medicine for a full cycle, she experienced no adverse effects whatsoever.

"Is there anything unusual?" Shen Jingchuan asked.

"No," Bai Ruoli said softly, "It's cool and comfortable. I think it makes progress much faster than using Spirit Stones."

Shen Jingchuan nodded and fed the remaining three-quarters of the food into her mouth.

"Continue."

Bai Ruoli followed the instructions and circulated her energy. The coolness was even stronger than before. She calmed her mind and circulated her energy through one cycle after another, completing two cycles before she could fully refine all the medicinal power.

She slowly finished her practice, opened her eyes, and hesitated for a moment.

"My husband, I feel like there's a barrier blocking my way. Is it the feeling you described, the feeling of needing to break through?"

Did you experience anything unusual just now?

"It was a little swollen and painful at first," Bai Ruoli thought for a moment, "But it was completely bearable. After circulating it through one cycle, it was basically fine."

Shen Jingchuan took out another complete High-Grade Qi Gathering Pill and put it into her mouth:

"Refine the entire one. Continue circulating your energy. You're about to break through. Don't be afraid, I'm here."

This time, the medicine was more potent than before, and the swelling and pain were more severe, but still within a tolerable range. Bai Ruoli bit her lip and, following the Cultivation Method, slowly made her way towards the barrier.

The barrier suddenly trembled.

Bai Ruoli felt a soft "pop" sound inside her body, as if something had been punctured.

The blockage suddenly cleared, and the Spiritual Qi, now unimpeded, flowed joyfully through the meridians. The body felt indescribably light, and even the slight throbbing pain vanished completely. The threshold of the Qi Refining Second Layer was thus firmly crossed.

She was both surprised and delighted. She quickly calmed herself down, circulated her energy for a full cycle, solidifying this new level of mastery. Only then did she stop and open her eyes, which shone brightly as if they were filled with water.

"My husband, I've broken through!"