Cultivation Routine

Looking at it this way, the pressure had fallen on Wei Yunying and Wei Yunqing. The two exchanged a glance, then turned their heads away, both swearing they would break through before the other.

Three days later, Wei Yunqing was the first to break through to the second layer of Qi Refining, finally recovering a little of her dignity. Soon after, Wei Zongjin, Wei Zongyu, and Wei Yunying also broke through to the second layer of Qi Refining. Thus, after one month in the sect, every Wei Family disciple had made progress.

This put pressure on the newly inducted Outer Sect Disciples. With just over ten months remaining, even if the Wei family disciples had to swallow pills like candy, they could still break through to the Qi Refining third layer and definitely retain their status as Outer Sect Disciples.

This placed enormous pressure on the disciples who had entered the sect alongside them and made them cultivate even more diligently. Those who had wanted to attend lectures all switched to the Cultivation Hall. Breaking through came first.

Wei Yunxi, however, went against the current. Every morning, she cultivated for two hours before going to the Lecture Hall to listen to the various martial uncles teach. She did not stick to any one martial uncle's lessons; whoever happened to be lecturing, she listened to them. What she studied was also quite varied.

During this period, she attended classes on the Four Arts of Cultivation, the essentials of spells, and cultivation techniques. In the end, she chose alchemy and talisman crafting as the two subjects she attended regularly.

During her daily two hours of cultivation, she practiced various minor spells in the cultivation room, forming hand seals.

She had already smoothly mastered the most commonly used Purifying Dust Art and Spirit Probing Technique. Next came the Fireball Technique, Golden Arrow Technique, Wood Entanglement Art, Waterball Technique, Earth Spike Technique, Lightning Strike Technique, Ice Needle Technique, and Wind Riding Art. These were the spells she practiced every day.

It was not difficult to see that these were all offensive spells. She had specifically selected them from the spell jade slips, entirely by instinct, though she had her reasons for choosing them.

She had to master the five-element basic offensive spells, as they would help her conceal her Spiritual Root attribute. The last three spells, meanwhile, were the most compatible with her Spiritual Root. She could practically cast them instantly and bring out their greatest power, using them as her trump cards.

Moreover, whenever she practiced spells until all the Spiritual Qi in her Dantian was depleted, then meditated to cultivate, her Spiritual Qi would increase by a tiny amount. Though it was not obvious, she could feel it. This gave her another method of raising her cultivation.

However, whenever she left the cultivation room, she always refilled her Dantian, never allowing herself to go without Spiritual Qi for protection.

After another month passed, the Spiritual Qi in her Dantian had increased somewhat more. Every afternoon, she went to attend talisman-crafting lessons.

For some reason, Wei Yunqing had begun hovering around her again these past two days, seemingly intent on accompanying her everywhere.

Wei Yunxi could sense that Wei Yunqing was about to break through to the Qi Refining third layer. It would happen within the next couple of days. Yet Wei Yunqing was now keeping such a close eye on her that she did not know what the other girl was plotting again.

"Elder Sister, are you still going with me to attend the talisman-crafting class today?"

"Mm. I feel like I'm about to break through lately, so I want to relax before doing so. Going to the Lecture Hall to listen to lessons is quite nice."

Wei Yunqing replied with a smile.

Wei Yunxi felt that the current Wei Yunqing was beginning to faintly resemble her grown-up self. She had learned to hide her thoughts. Yunxi smiled as well and said,

"Elder Sister is amazing. In only one month, you're about to break through again."

"If you cultivate diligently, you can break through too."

Wei Yunqing replied without much sincerity.

The two then entered the place where the talisman-crafting course was taught. After taking their seats on the prayer mats, they did not speak again. Wei Yunqing instead turned to chat with a young boy beside her. His expression was somewhat shy, but he still responded to her.

After that afternoon's talisman-crafting class ended, Wei Yunqing took the initiative to say,

"Yunxi, I heard from the senior brother beside me that there's a Small Market in the Outer Sect. It was spontaneously formed by Outer Sect Disciples and opens for three days in the middle of every month, making it convenient for Outer Sect Disciples to exchange resources. Do you want to take a look?

"You've been attending talisman-crafting lessons for so long. You should need to buy some tools for drawing talismans soon. You have to try your hand at it eventually; otherwise, wouldn't all those classes have been for nothing? I think this Outer Sect Small Market is perfect for beginners like us, and it's safe too."

After hearing this, Wei Yunxi nodded in agreement.

"Elder Sister's suggestion is excellent. Then let's go together after you break through to the Qi Refining third layer! A higher cultivation level will also make it easier to bargain."

"Alright, then it's settled. I'll put in some extra effort these next two days and break through."

Wei Yunqing replied happily. Anyone unaware of the truth would have thought the sisters were deeply affectionate.

Wei Yunxi agreed without giving anything away, and the two went together to the dining hall. Wei Yunqing was truly going all out for her breakthrough. She bought an entire bag of Spirit Flour Buns before leaving the dining hall beneath everyone's astonished gazes.

The dining hall's Head Chef sighed with feeling.

"This batch of new disciples is cultivating so diligently. My Spirit Flour Buns have been selling faster than I can supply them lately. I need to steam a few more batches."

The next day, Wei Yunqing indeed did not go to the dining hall at noon. It seemed she was attempting to break through to the Qi Refining third layer. To make sure, Wei Yunxi deliberately observed her from the shadows for a while. Wei Yunqing truly was only one thin layer of window paper away from the Qi Refining third layer.

So she immediately adjusted her cultivation to the Qi Refining third layer, then stepped out from hiding and greeted Wei Yunqing with a smile.

"Elder Sister, I didn't expect I would be ahead again this time. Today, I pushed forward in one go and broke through to the Qi Refining third layer."

Wei Yunqing nearly spat blood upon hearing that. She had fallen one step behind again. Had she known, she would not have come back today. It was far too damaging to her mood for breaking through.

In the end, Wei Yunqing offered her younger sister congratulations with a smile that did not reach her eyes, then turned and returned to her room.

Wei Yunxi smiled faintly. She admitted that she had done it deliberately to provoke her.

Sure enough, the following day, Wei Yunqing did not even go to the dining hall. She went to the Cultivation Hall early in the morning to cultivate.

Wei Yunting and Wei Yunying also felt the pressure, so they followed right after her to the Cultivation Hall.

Only then did Wei Yunxi go to the neighboring courtyard to call Wei Zonghao, and the two headed together for the Small Market spontaneously formed by the Outer Sect.

Wei Zonghao carefully gnawed on the dried meat in his hand as he asked,

"Yunxi, what do you want to buy at the Market today?"

Wei Yunxi did not hide it from him.

"I've been attending talisman-crafting lessons lately. I want to buy some talisman-crafting tools and learn to make talismans myself. At least I'll be able to earn some spirit stones."

Wei Zonghao nodded in understanding.

"I know about that, but Talisman Brushes aren't cheap."

"I want to hunt for a secondhand Talisman Brush. There's no need to buy a new one. I don't even know whether I have talent for making talismans yet. If I spend spirit stones on such a good Talisman Brush only to find that I have no talent, wouldn't that be a waste?"

"That makes sense. Besides, if you don't have the talent, you can still sell it off cheaply later. As long as you don't lose money, it's fine."

"That's what I think too."

As they spoke, the two followed the direction in which Outer Sect Disciples were gathering. Judging by the situation, all of them were heading to browse the Small Market.

Wei Yunxi had another purpose for this trip: to get her hands on the Sky-Mending Pill that Wei Yunqing might be coveting. To avoid risks, she had specifically brought Wei Zonghao along. Even if the item could not end up in her hands, she could not let Wei Yunqing obtain it.

She had only remembered this after Wei Yunqing started hovering around her again. This Sky-Mending Pill was an excellent item, capable of increasing a Spiritual Root's Root Value.

After all, Spiritual Roots were bestowed by the Heavenly Dao. Without a special stroke of fortune, the quality of one's Spiritual Root would not change.