Epiphany

Steward Mu nodded. "Naturally, they were outstanding. Your assessments are over. You may return."

The two stepped down from the platform together and, without prior agreement, walked over to each other.

The other Outer Sect Disciples burst into laughter at the sight. "Those two fools actually have something in common."

"That's why they're fools. Men climb to higher ground, water flows to lower places—if they don't even understand that principle, what cultivation are they pursuing?"

Unlike the Outer Sect Disciples' mocking jeers, the Inner Sect Disciples remained silent, though cold glints flickered in their eyes as they looked at the two.

Refusing their recruitment was the same as not taking them seriously!

A cruel smile flashed in Huangfu Yao's eyes. If Xu Chunniang had become Wei Dawu's retainer, she might have shown some restraint. But since she had chosen to court death herself, she could not blame anyone else!

Xu Chunniang and Su Chen knew nothing of what was happening behind them. Once they had moved away from the crowd, she took the initiative to greet him. "Hello, I'm Xu Chunniang."

Su Chen nodded slightly. "I'm Su Chen."

The two exchanged a knowing smile. Neither asked why the other had refused recruitment.

"I actually heard about you long ago." After thinking for a moment, Xu Chunniang spoke. "I heard a senior brother guarding the north gate mention that a new disciple named Su Chen had gone alone to train in the Hundred Demonic Mountain Range. I didn't expect to meet you in person so soon."

"What's so strange about that? Didn't you also go training alone?" Su Chen blinked. "But I knew of you even earlier. It wasn't from the senior brothers at the north gate. During the minor examination two years ago, you really left quite an impression."

Xu Chunniang felt a little embarrassed. That minor examination two years ago had been utterly humiliating. She had nearly been late, and Zhang Donglai had publicly made things difficult for her.

She stiffly changed the subject. "The Hundred Demonic Mountain Range is quite nice. Once our cultivation is higher, we can go there more often."

Su Chen showed agreement. "Just standing there brings people over to deliver resources. It truly is a good place."

Confusion appeared in Xu Chunniang's eyes. People delivered resources just by standing there? Why had she never encountered such good fortune?

But she quickly realized that by "delivering resources," he meant those cultivators who had tried to rob him.

Xu Chunniang's expression could not help growing complicated. This fellow was actually that fierce? But when she recalled that she had also made a tidy sum through counter-robbery, she found herself at a loss for words.

It seemed that she and this fellow were not all that different.

After chatting for some distance, the two parted ways at a fork in the road. Still, they agreed that if they had the chance in the future, they could visit the Hundred Demonic Mountain Range together.

Yet Xu Chunniang knew that this was merely polite talk. Su Chen was the same kind of person as her, more inclined to train alone. After all, the path of cultivation was lonely; there had never truly been such a thing as teammates.

After returning to her residence, Xu Chunniang put everything else aside and began to sense her own cultivation. Sure enough, there were signs of a breakthrough. She no longer hesitated and focused on meditating. Yet no matter how Xu Chunniang absorbed spiritual energy, her cultivation did not increase by even the slightest bit.

What a strange thing. It was clearly the sign of a sudden breakthrough, so why had this happened?

Xu Chunniang frowned and began recalling the moment when her cultivation had loosened.

At the time, her spirits had been soaring. She had wanted only to prove herself, to rely on her own efforts to see the world beyond.

Even an ant dared shake a tree; even a mantis's arm could block a cart!

No matter how difficult the road ahead might be, she would continue onward as she always had! Even if she died and her Dao vanished, she would press forward without hesitation and never retreat!

As her emotions surged ever higher, Xu Chunniang's heart instead grew ever calmer. She entered an indescribably mysterious state. In that state, spiritual energy from all directions rushed toward her in a torrent. Before long, her cultivation art began circulating on its own, madly drawing in the surrounding spiritual energy, while her cultivation rose at a pace far beyond usual.

Washed by an ocean of spiritual energy, Xu Chunniang's cultivation broke directly through the initial stage of the Fourth Layer of Qi Condensation and reached the middle stage, then the late stage. In the end, it even broke through the Fourth Layer of Qi Condensation altogether and reached the Fifth Layer of Qi Condensation!

This was not the end. Vast amounts of spiritual energy were absorbed into her body, causing her cultivation to rise once more!

Only when Xu Chunniang's cultivation had stabilized at the middle stage of the Fifth Layer of Qi Condensation, merely a hair's breadth from the late stage, did the spiritual energy finally disperse completely. She also withdrew from that mysterious state.

"This is... an epiphany!"

A flicker of surprise passed through Xu Chunniang's eyes. In theory, everyone who embarked upon the path of cultivation had a chance to experience an epiphany. An epiphany could elevate one's state of mind and cultivation in a short time. But such events were exceedingly rare. At the very least, no one in the Outer Sect had ever been heard of experiencing one.

Xu Chunniang examined her spiritual energy. It was nearly eight times greater than before, and the cultivation gained through her epiphany was extraordinarily stable, even more solid than before.

If she had cultivated by herself, it would likely have taken at least three or four years to reach this level.

Xu Chunniang's emotions gradually calmed. "But why did I experience an epiphany? Was it because my Dao heart became clearer?"

After pondering it, this was the only possibility she could think of. If so, then her choice had indeed been the right one.

Do not drift with the current. Accept one's own weakness. Persist in one's original heart.

Xu Chunniang's cultivation had already been a step ahead of Outer Sect Disciples of the same generation, and now the gap had widened even further.

Yet she did not slack off because her cultivation had improved. Instead, her conviction became even firmer.

Previously, Xu Chunniang's goal had merely been to participate in the Outer Sect Disciple Grand Competition, win a Foundation Establishment Pill, successfully achieve Foundation Establishment, and enter the Inner Sect.

But now, Foundation Establishment was no longer her destination. It was merely her first small goal!

Xu Chunniang took a deep breath. She believed that as long as she worked hard enough and constantly surpassed herself, the entire world would open before her!

After her cultivation improved, Xu Chunniang began refining the soft armor again. In one burst of momentum, she refined all the remaining layers of formations and took control of the central hub.

Wind Spiritual Power filled the soft armor. Almost the instant it was refined, Xu Chunniang felt a lightness envelop her body. This was the armor's supplementary effect: it could increase its user's speed.

Her body shifted slightly. With a gentle tap, she leaped out of the cave and began racing through the mountain forest.

The distance covered by the Spirit Void Steps had not increased, yet Xu Chunniang's speed was more than twice what it had been before. Only her afterimage could be seen.

Satisfaction shone in Xu Chunniang's eyes. As expected of a Mid-grade Spiritual Artifact with six layers of formations.

After breaking through to the Fifth Layer of Qi Condensation, Xu Chunniang possessed a considerable amount of spiritual energy, but the consumption of a Mid-grade Spiritual Artifact was equally astonishing.

Half an hour later, Xu Chunniang's figure paused, and she came to a stop. At this moment, half the spiritual energy in her body remained. If she continuously controlled the soft armor, she could maintain it for a full hour.

"This soft armor does not have a name yet. Since it was made from Wind Cloud Tiger Hide, I'll call it Windcloud Armor."

Next week, I'll discuss going premium with the editor, and it will be released as paid content on a date to be decided. Many fellow Daoists have asked about CP, so I'll answer here: no male lead, a strong female lead cultivating immortality, wholeheartedly devoted to cultivation. Thank you to fellow Daoist linxinyu88 for the reward and monthly tickets!