What Does Cultivation Feel Like

Lu Xun felt a little regretful that Second Senior Sister did not look like a cute girl.

On the contrary, her icy demeanor gave off the air of a mature beauty, though it seemed somewhat mismatched with the adorable name Gu Xiaoman.

This Senior Sister might very well become some badass figure later on, slaughtering players until they dropped to their knees and cried for their mothers.

Lu Xun glanced once more at the Qi Devouring Art in his hand. He felt touched inside; after all, this meeting gift was indeed well suited for someone who had just stepped into the world of cultivation. But for him... it was not particularly useful.

He only needed to accumulate Experience Points and level up all the way. This annotated Qi Devouring Art was actually more suitable for Ji Li.

But this was, after all, a kind gesture from Second Senior Sister, and Lu Xun did not have the nerve to ask her to change the gift... though he really wanted to.

—But he did have the nerve to ask Mao Nanbei for something.

Second Senior Sister had given him something. Since Mao Nanbei was also a Senior Sister, shouldn't she show some goodwill too?

Mao Nanbei's scalp tingled under his stare. In the end, she gritted her teeth and tossed him a Storage Ring.

"Obtained a Storage Ring (Yellow). Equip it? Backpack space +30 after equipping."

This was something Lu Xun genuinely found useful. It would save him some trouble in daily life.

"Hey, it's not that I'm being stingy. Your cultivation is still too low. Magic Tools suit you better. Using Spirit Tools would put too much of a burden on you, so make do with this for now," Mao Nanbei said.

She was indeed telling the truth. Equipment in Heavenly Dust had no level restrictions, but if one's level was too low, wearing it would not allow them to bring out its power. It was practically useless.

Ji Li watched from the side. It would have been a lie to say she was not envious, but she was even happier for Lu Xun.

Earlier, she had worried that Lu Xun's poor aptitude would lead to him being bullied after arriving at the Demon Sect. Now, it seemed there was no need to worry about that at all.

Second Senior Sister did not seem interested in small talk. She waved her hand, signaling that everyone could leave.

On the way back, Lu Xun thought to himself, Second Senior Sister doesn't seem to like talking much.

More precisely, she had not said a single word. That really was strange.

Could she be a Little Mute?

Still, he was happy to have received two meeting gifts tonight, and a smile naturally appeared on his face.

Lu Xun turned to look at Ji Li. In the faint glow of the fireflies, he found that she was smiling even more happily than he was.

Seeing her silly expression, Lu Xun inexplicably reached out and flicked her forehead.

"Why did you flick me?" Ji Li covered her forehead, her eyes wide open.

"Little Martial Grand-Aunt can flick you whenever he wants. Why are you asking so many questions?" Lu Xun said.

He would never admit that her soft little face felt nice to pinch. He had gotten a little addicted to it and could not help wanting to pinch her a few more times.

But just as his words fell, someone flicked his forehead too. It was Mao Nanbei.

"So it's fine if Senior Sister flicks you too, right?" Mao Nanbei said with a grin, standing up for Ji Li with an expression that plainly said, "I'm the boss here."

Lu Xun was speechless. In his mind, he imagined the day his cultivation soared, when he would press Mao Nanbei over his knees, rub her head and cat ears with his left hand, and mercilessly spank her little butt with his right!

Still, thanks to that little interruption, the group's journey back became filled with laughter.

The quiet Back Mountain gained a touch of liveliness, and even the fireflies fluttering nearby seemed to fly with greater enthusiasm.

Only after they reached the Small Study did Ji Li suddenly freeze.

Only then did she realize, Why did I follow them back?

Her task had been to take care of Lu Xun. Now that he was awake, her task had naturally been completed.

The Small Study was where the Teacher and several Martial Grand-Aunts lived. Were they supposed to open up a guest room just for her?

She still harbored the last trace of improper thoughts toward Lu Xun, but unfortunately, she truly had no courage to act on them. If Lu Xun asked her to stay another night in his room, she would be willing, but that depended on whether he invited her.

Lu Xun looked at her and could not help smiling. He could not be bothered teasing her further, so he asked Mao Nanbei, "Fourth Senior Sister, may I lend the Qi Devouring Art Second Senior Sister gave me to Ji Li so she can study it?"

Mao Nanbei waved her hand indifferently. "Second Senior Sister gave it to you, so it's yours. Arrange it however you like."

After saying that, she entered the house first. No one knew whether she was going back to sleep or to cultivate.

Ji Li, however, was slightly stunned when she heard this.

If a normal person obtained such a treasure, even if they were willing to lend it out, should they not study it themselves first? Yet Lu Xun had thought of her immediately. A warm current rose in her heart.

Naturally, she did not know that the booklet was somewhat useless to Lu Xun. If it had not been Second Senior Sister's gift, he might have taken it to the outer sect and auctioned it off...

Still, he had to put on an act. Otherwise, if he had never read the Qi Devouring Art, he would have no way to explain how he had learned it. He would have to grit his teeth and read it at least once.

"Come in," Lu Xun said to Ji Li as he entered the house.

Ji Li really did foolishly follow him inside.

It was late at night, and Ji Li still could not use Object Manipulation Flight. Making her walk the mountain path again would be far too exhausting.

After entering, Lu Xun told her to cultivate on her own while he pretended to read the Qi Devouring Art.

Honestly, he had only played a game before, but now he had truly transmigrated. He was rather curious about cultivation techniques.

Logically speaking, cultivation techniques should appear obscure and difficult to understand at first glance, yet he read it smoothly, as though he had long since memorized it by heart.

He had to admit, aside from being somewhat thin, Second Senior Sister's handwriting was truly beautiful.

After reading it all, he handed the booklet to Ji Li.

"Aren't you going to read it a few more times? You don't need to give it to me so soon," Ji Li hurriedly refused.

In her eyes, Lu Xun's aptitude was poor, so this booklet was a treasure to him. He ought to take it out and consult it from time to time.

"No need." After saying that, Lu Xun added, "Your brain is so dumb. I'm different—I have a photographic memory."

Ji Li did not believe him, so Lu Xun said, "Ask me anything you want. You'll see that I really remember it."

She asked him about several passages, and Lu Xun answered every one correctly.

Naturally, she did not know that the game system had already recorded everything in the Qi Devouring Art, including Second Senior Sister's annotations, in the technique list. With a single tap on the details, he could see all of it.

So... so amazing! Ji Li thought.

Then Lu Xun watched helplessly as strings of numbers appeared beside Ji Li again: Affection Points +1... +1... +1...

He could not help sighing inwardly, This silly girl's Affection Points are way too easy to raise.

It could not be helped. When handsome people showed off, they simply shone a little brighter.

Now, he could finally level up openly. With a light tap on the upgrade button, he could reach the first level of the Qi Devouring Art.

But before that, he wanted to see what cultivating on his own actually felt like.

Back when he read web novels, after the male leads formally stepped into cultivation, every one of them would cleanse their marrow and tendons, expel every last trace of filth from their bodies, become taller, handsomer, stronger, and smarter. Even the cultivation process itself was described as incredibly pleasurable—after cultivation, their whole bodies would feel refreshed, and they would exhale a breath of turbid air.

It seemed pretty good.

Then... should he give it a try?