The Miserable Climb Up the Stone Steps

Senior Sister Yuan Xi quickly regained her smile, twirling her sword in a smooth flourish before sheathing it.

Seeing Lin Qi's envious expression, practically drooling, she couldn't help but tease, "Master will teach you later, so you don't have to look at me with such envy."

Lin Qi blinked her eyes but said nothing.

Senior Sister Yuan Xi continued, "I haven't congratulated you yet, Junior Sister, on successfully achieving Qi Induction!"

"To reach the first level of Qi Refining in just one night, Junior Sister's talent is truly outstanding. Master's judgment is indeed impeccable. I wonder how the new Third Junior Brother's aptitude is?"

Lin Qi blinked again, then said with a serious face, "I know! Third Junior Brother bragged to me when we were climbing the stone steps, saying he has a Mutated Wind Spiritual Root, at full value!"

At the time, Lin Qi was so envious she wanted to kick him and send him tumbling down the steps.

But she held back in the end.

Now that Lin Qi had been tested to have an Ice-Lightning Supreme Dual Spiritual Root, she was already contemplating finding an opportunity to settle the score with Luo Ci once he climbed Zonglei Peak.

Senior Sister Yuan Xi nodded upon hearing this, showing no surprise.

"As I suspected. With my junior siblings being so excellent, I dare not slack off."

Lin Qi thought that Senior Sister Yuan Xi's talent must also be exceptional.

Zonglei Peak was truly a place of outstanding people and abundant spiritual energy.

"I don't know about your talent, Senior Sister, but being taken on as the eldest disciple by Master means you must be extraordinary. With such high talent and such hard work, Senior Sister is truly a role model for me!"

Lin Qi looked at Senior Sister Yuan Xi with starry eyes.

She meant every word.

She herself was like old wine in a new bottle, with a sword hanging over her head, forced to work hard and compete. But Senior Sister Yuan Xi was a native, only a few years older than her, with both high talent and diligence. She could completely be a role model to strive for.

Senior Sister Yuan Xi had never received such direct flattery. A blush spread across her fair cheeks, and she lightly tapped Lin Qi's forehead with a jade finger.

"You! So young and already so good at coaxing people. Who knows who you learned it from."

She shook her head with a smile, "Since you've praised me so much, it would be unbecoming of me, as your Senior Sister, not to reciprocate. How about this? I'll accompany you up the stone steps!"

Although Lin Qi was a little confused, she happily agreed.

Having company was much better than suffering alone.

It wasn't until they actually started climbing the stone steps that Lin Qi understood what Senior Sister Yuan Xi had meant earlier.

The moment her foot touched the first step, an icy chill shot from the soles of her feet to the top of her head. The meager spiritual energy in her dantian seemed to be restrained by the cold, making it impossible for Lin Qi to mobilize it.

Senior Sister Yuan Xi spoke unhurriedly, "Calm your mind and spirit. Slowly draw out your spiritual energy to envelop your feet, shielding you from the cold."

Lin Qi quickly did as she was told.

Unfortunately, the cold was too powerful, and Lin Qi couldn't draw out much spiritual energy at once.

She could only pull out her spiritual energy strand by strand, like pulling taffy, and channel it to her feet through her meridians.

She stood rigidly in place for nearly fifteen minutes, a fine sheen of sweat on her forehead, before she could finally manage to wrap her spiritual energy around one foot.

Fortunately, Senior Sister Yuan Xi didn't rush her, patiently waiting by her side.

By the time Lin Qi had enveloped both feet, an unknown amount of time had passed.

With her feet wrapped in spiritual energy, Lin Qi felt incredibly light when she landed, and it barely consumed any stamina.

Before, she had to struggle to climb one step. Now, she could easily leap down a step.

Senior Sister Yuan Xi stood beside her, smiling with satisfaction. "Now you understand the purpose of the stone steps Master laid out, don't you?"

"When your strength improves, going up and down will only take half an hour. These steps are not as difficult as you imagine."

Lin Qi wiped the sweat from her forehead, her face contorted in a wry expression. "Senior Sister, I understand. But my spiritual energy is almost depleted..."

She was only at the first level of Qi Refining, and that tiny bit of spiritual energy wasn't even enough to fill a gap.

After wrapping her feet, Lin Qi's dantian was practically empty.

Senior Sister Yuan Xi's warm and bright smile held a hint of mischief.

"Once your spiritual energy is depleted, the cold will no longer affect the circulation in your dantian. At that point, you can just walk as you did before."

"You can do that?!"

Lin Qi was so astonished she didn't know what to say.

No wonder Senior Sister Yuan Xi had said these steps could both strengthen one's control over spiritual energy and enhance their physique...

What level of Qi Refining would she need to reach to ascend and descend smoothly?

Before reaching even a third of the way, Lin Qi's dantian was completely drained of spiritual energy.

She had no choice but to continue climbing with a miserable expression.

Senior Sister Yuan Xi followed beside her with light steps, occasionally offering words of encouragement.

Lin Qi felt that both her seemingly gentle and kind Master and Senior Sister were actually quite cunning.

They were bullying her!

Lin Qi wiped the sweat from her face and pushed herself up to continue climbing.

By the time she finished, it was already broad daylight, and she was so exhausted she could barely crawl.

A delayed sense of hunger also made Lin Qi realize she was still mortal and needed to eat.

"Senior Sister, I'm so hungry..."

Climbing the stone steps together had instantly brought Lin Qi and Senior Sister Yuan Xi closer.

Lin Qi could now act spoiled with Senior Sister Yuan Xi without any reservations.

It was probably true, as Senior Sister Yuan Xi had said, that she had wanted a junior sister to keep her company for a long time. Coupled with Lin Qi's young age, she was especially doting and attentive towards her.

She shook her head, delivering a piece of sad news to Lin Qi. "Zonglei Peak doesn't have a dining hall. If you want to eat, you'll have to go to Tianyi Peak, or the marketplace at the foot of the mountain will do."

Lin Qi's face turned ashen. "I have to go all the way down the mountain for everything?"

Senior Sister Yuan Xi smiled and nodded.

Lin Qi wailed tragically, "Senior Sister, why didn't you say so earlier?!"

If she had known, she wouldn't have climbed up!

Senior Sister Yuan Xi seemed amused by Lin Qi's exaggerated expression. Usually elegant and gentle, she couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh.

"I think you still have the energy to go down the mountain again. If we're going to train, we should do it thoroughly. Giving up halfway is not a good habit~"

Lin Qi had no choice but to resign herself. "Alright, Senior Sister, you're right! I can still do it!"

She struggled to get up from the ground again.

Senior Sister Yuan Xi took a handkerchief to wipe her face, feeling a pang of sympathy. Softening, she said, "If you really can't move, I can carry you down the mountain."

After thinking for a moment, she added, "But only once! If Master finds out, you'll be punished."

Lin Qi stubbornly shook her head. "I appreciate your kindness, Senior Sister, but I think I can still do it!"

Senior Sister Yuan Xi didn't insist. She herself believed in constantly pushing one's limits.

"Then I'll go with you," she said gently, her eyes shining like stars.

Tempted by Senior Sister Yuan Xi's beauty, Lin Qi blurted out, "Senior Sister, you're so beautiful when you smile!"

Senior Sister Yuan Xi pinched Lin Qi's nose, unconcerned. "It's just a facade. Xiao Qi, don't be blinded by these external things."

Lin Qi nodded frantically. In any case, at this moment, she could only agree with whatever Senior Sister said.

"So, do you want to go to Tianyi Peak or the marketplace?"