Senior Sister Yuan Xi adjusted Lin Qi's hair and said softly, "Lübing Abyss belongs to Slaughter Ice Peak. Cultivating inside produces twice the results for Ice Spiritual Root cultivators. It's just that the monthly slots to enter Lübing Abyss are limited, and Slaughter Ice Peak does not even have enough for its own disciples. Master is making plans for our future."
Lin Qi asked in surprise, "Senior Sister, do you have an Ice Spiritual Root too?"
"No, I have a Water Spiritual Root."
Lin Qi was even more astonished.
As far as she knew, water was gentle, and cultivators with Water Spiritual Roots were generally not very strong in battle.
Yet the combat strength Senior Sister Yuan Xi had displayed was nothing like that of a Water Spiritual Root cultivator.
Lin Qi recalled Senior Sister Yuan Xi saying that she had no choice but to work hard, as well as her master's strict requirements for accepting disciples. Could Senior Sister be an exceptional Water Spiritual Root, with the legendary Cauldron Physique?
Senior Sister Yuan Xi seemed able to read Lin Qi's thoughts. Her smile carried a touch of helplessness.
"It's just as you thought."
Lin Qi's eyes brightened, and she grinned. "Senior Sister is amazing!"
So what if she had a Cauldron Physique?
At Senior Sister's age, she could already withstand the pressure of a Golden Core cultivator. Within Tianyi Sect, she was probably among the very best. Who would dare entertain improper thoughts about her?!
Casting aside her chaotic thoughts, Lin Qi's admiration for Senior Sister Yuan Xi rose another level.
Yuan Xi had not expected Lin Qi's gaze toward her to grow increasingly fervent. She could not help but laugh and shake her head, thinking that Lin Qi truly had a child's temperament.
Yet in her heart, she also felt a little closer to this junior sister.
True Monarch Qingyun had not only pried two slots to enter Lübing Abyss from True Monarch Tinghan's hands, but had also obtained four bottles of third-grade Body Tempering Pills, four bottles of third-grade Spring Return Pills, High-grade Cold Stones that aided the cultivation of Ice Spiritual Root cultivators, and one hundred mid-grade Spirit Stones—paid for by Elder Lu.
With a grand sweep of her hand, she divided everything equally between Lin Qi and Yuan Xi.
Lin Qi was instantly promoted from a little rich girl to a truly wealthy one.
The pills were one thing—the Lin Family could afford those—but things like High-grade Cold Stones could not be bought anywhere, no matter how much money the Lin Family had.
Seeing Lin Qi happily clutching her Spirit Stones, True Monarch Qingyun could not help smiling and shaking her head.
"You may both carry the High-grade Cold Stones with you. However, every half month, you must use Fire Spirit Flowers to temper your bodies once, lest the cold energy within you grow too abundant and harm your health. When the time comes, I will have Feng Ling prepare them for you."
"Thank you, Master!" Lin Qi and Yuan Xi answered together.
"In three days, I will send the two of you to Slaughter Ice Peak. You will stay there for fifteen days each month. True Monarch Tinghan agreed to a three-year term. The time is not long, so you must seize the chance to cultivate."
"Yes!"
"Little Qi, you have now successfully completed Qi Induction. Go wait at Qingyun Palace later. As your master, I will teach you some sword arts and spells."
Lin Qi's eyes immediately lit up. She felt that True Monarch Qingyun was simply too considerate.
She must have cultivated blessings for eight lifetimes to become the disciple of such a gentle, protective, and thoughtful beauty of a master—and she had even gained a beautiful senior sister who was equally kindhearted and gentle.
After giving them many instructions, True Monarch Qingyun also gave Lin Qi and Yuan Xi a Spirit Gathering Array Disk for use when they went to Lübing Abyss.
Lin Qi smiled so widely that her mouth nearly would not close.
Senior Sister Yuan Xi thoughtfully asked, "Master, a full day and night has already passed. Has Third Junior Brother reached Zonglei Peak?"
If Senior Sister Yuan Xi had not mentioned him, Lin Qi would have nearly forgotten that arrogant, punchable "genius" junior brother.
True Monarch Qingyun smiled. "He reached the summit today. He is currently at Qingyun Palace preparing to undergo Qi Induction."
"Undergoing Qi Induction at Qingyun Palace?" Senior Sister Yuan Xi and Lin Qi voiced their confusion together.
Wasn't that the sort of thing one returned to one's own room to slowly figure out?
Only when Lin Qi followed True Monarch Qingyun back to Qingyun Palace did she understand what her master was planning.
Qi Induction required a tranquil heart and a peaceful mind. Only by striving to enter a meditative state could one succeed.
Luo Ci already had an impatient temperament. Performing Qi Induction before his master at Qingyun Palace was enough to make him scratch his ears and rub his cheeks. Then his master turned around and brought in Lin Qi, whom he looked down upon, to teach sword arts right in front of him.
The pressure instantly doubled.
Then, "by accident," True Monarch Qingyun revealed that Lin Qi had completed Qi Induction in a single night and had successfully reached the first level of Qi Refinement.
Luo Ci immediately felt as though he were sitting on burning coals.
Forget calming his mind and entering meditation. Just watching Lin Qi cheerfully learn swordsmanship from their master filled him with anxiety.
The more he was affected by his surroundings and the more anxious he appeared, the less True Monarch Qingyun paid him any attention, focusing solely on teaching Lin Qi swordsmanship.
Lin Qi had just assumed her stance when she caught sight of Luo Ci's flushed little face from the corner of her eye. Her entire body and mind felt utterly refreshed.
Still, she also gained a measure of awe for True Monarch Qingyun's methods of disciplining her disciples.
True Monarch Qingyun walked to her side and lightly flicked the hand holding her sword. "Focus!"
Lin Qi felt the back of her hand go numb and nearly failed to hold on to the Small Wooden Sword.
If the sword had truly fallen, she feared she would have had to stay here and practice with Luo Ci for an entire day.
After this lesson, Lin Qi instantly gathered her thoughts and devoted herself wholeheartedly to learning Tai Chi Swordplay from True Monarch Qingyun.
To begin learning swordsmanship, one first had to lay a foundation. Only after the foundation was solid could one continue onward.
Lin Qi had considerable aptitude. In about two hours, she had already learned a basic sword routine with convincing form.
True Monarch Qingyun said approvingly, "For this month, first master the basic swordsmanship. A month from now, I will teach you what comes next."
As she spoke, her gaze flicked toward Luo Ci beside them, and she could not help sighing.
"Luo Ci, cast aside external things. Be without action and forget yourself. Calm your mind and focus on your dantian. Stop letting your thoughts run wild!"
Her sharp rebuke was like a sudden jolt that shook Luo Ci awake.
Before long, Luo Ci, who had worn an anxious expression, gradually calmed down.
But Lin Qi understood the meaning behind True Monarch Qingyun's sigh.
It would have been better without a reminder. The fact that he needed one to truly enter meditation meant her Third Junior Brother's temperament still needed tempering. He would probably have to suffer quite a bit.
Lin Qi returned to her courtyard laden with gains. When she saw Senior Sister Yuan Xi waiting at the courtyard gate, she hurried over to greet her warmly.
"Senior Sister, why are you here?"
Senior Sister Yuan Xi habitually rubbed Lin Qi's little topknot.
"Thanks to you, I gained quite a few benefits today. As they say, taking something from others leaves one soft-handed, so I came especially to help you."
"Thanks to me?"
"Of course. If you had not had your money pouch stolen by thieves, this opportunity would never have arisen. Little Qi, you truly are my little lucky star!"
Lin Qi gave an awkward laugh. "Senior Sister, I even made you sit in the dungeon with me for an entire day."
"If sitting in a dungeon for a day could earn Spirit Stones, pills, and even a High-grade Cold Stone, I'm afraid the Marketplace's dungeons would be packed to bursting." Senior Sister Yuan Xi smiled, gentle and radiant.
Lin Qi helplessly spread her hands. "I can't outtalk you, Senior Sister. I can only be your little lucky star."
Seeing Lin Qi's little adult manner, Yuan Xi could not help poking her between the brows.
"Enough, let's not talk about that. Didn't you buy several packets of Spirit Grass Seeds today to plant in your courtyard? I came especially to remind you how to grow those spirit herbs."
Before you continue