Tan Yueqing, Saying One Thing but Meaning Another

Tan Yueqing gazed at Lin Qi, her eyes dark and distant, the emotions in their depths too complicated to put into words.

Lin Qi wore an innocent smile, making Tan Yueqing feel as though she could hardly sit still.

Tan Yueqing sighed and said calmly, "The spiritual energy gathered by a third-tier Spirit Gathering Array can support at most three people. Any more, and you'll have to start fighting over the spiritual energy."

Lin Qi immediately understood what she meant and replied unhurriedly, "Three is enough. Any more would be cramped."

Tan Yueqing suddenly found Lin Qi rather interesting.

"Chen En, what do you think of the girl you met today?"

Lin Qi said in surprise, "She has Spirit Stones?"

If it were not for her lack of resources, that girl named Chen En would not have been unable to afford even Fire Spirit Grass sprouts worth ten Contribution Points.

"Not having Contribution Points does not mean she has no Spirit Stones."

Lin Qi said, "As long as she has Spirit Stones, it's easy to discuss."

The icy passage was covered in barriers, and jade tokens could not transmit messages. Tan Yueqing folded a palm-sized paper crane and used it to send Chen En a message.

Before long, Lin Qi met Chen En.

After briefly explaining the situation, Lin Qi saw a conflicted expression appear on Chen En's face.

Clearly, she had Spirit Stones, but not many.

Lin Qi's gaze swept over Tan Yueqing's face. Seeing how calm and composed she was, Lin Qi could not help raising her brows.

"I have Spirit Stones!"

As if she had made up her mind, Chen En spoke with certainty.

Tan Yueqing said lightly from the side, "All resources exist to improve your strength. Once you become strong enough, you will not have to worry about resources."

The faint furrow between Chen En's brows eased, and traces of a smile filled her eyes. "Thank you for your guidance, Senior Sister Tan."

The three reached a partnership and each chose a spot to sit cross-legged in meditation.

The spiritual energy gathered by a third-tier Spirit Gathering Array was entirely sufficient for three people. As for how much each person could absorb, that depended on their strength.

With others around, Lin Qi had no plans to stroll through the Underground Palace.

After meditating to restore her spiritual energy, she first took her Small Wooden Sword to one side and practiced her sword techniques a few times as a warm-up.

Once she had warmed up, Lin Qi took out a hammer and nails, then ran over to an ice wall and began hammering away with clinks and clatters.

The two who had been deep in meditation opened their eyes at the same time.

Chen En stared in Lin Qi's direction in astonishment. "Is she not planning to rest tonight?"

"Probably not."

A thoughtful look flashed through Tan Yueqing's eyes. Her expression complicated, she said, "She is probably more than Qi Refining First Stage."

"What?!"

Chen En quickly understood Tan Yueqing's meaning, her eyes widening in shock. "She's even stronger than you, Senior Sister Tan? But she wasn't among the top ten on this year's Immortal Ascension Ladder!"

Tan Yueqing was not surprised. Her expression remained calm as she said, "When I took a master, my master told me that beyond Tianyi Sect lay greater heavens, and beyond people were greater people. Being first on the Immortal Ascension Ladder does not represent much."

Chen En felt as though her understanding of the world had been struck by a tremendous blow.

Yet Tan Yueqing lowered her eyes and murmured, "Outstanding Talent would be one thing, but she is also so hardworking. What right do I have to be proud?"

Chen En nodded fiercely.

Thinking of her own identity and circumstances, she suddenly stood up. "I... I'm going to continue chiseling ice stones too!"

She had fought so hard to earn a place in Lübing Abyss. If she could not make full use of these fifteen days, who knew whether she would ever get such a good opportunity again?!

There were only so many chances to change one's fate. She had to give it everything she had!

Chen En took two steps, then abruptly stopped and turned to ask Tan Yueqing, "Senior Sister, aren't you coming too?"

From what Chen En knew of Tan Yueqing, she was clearly someone unwilling to fall behind. Why was she still sitting here meditating so quietly?

Tan Yueqing calmly lifted her eyes. "You go first. I may be about to break through."

Chen En: ...

What did it feel like to stay with a group of Fellow Disciples who were both extraordinarily talented and hardworking?

Chen En felt that even walking slowly was a sin!

Lin Qi was not surprised when she heard Chen En begin hammering away.

What was this, anyway?

Start grinding, all of you!

Wasn't improving your strength wonderful?

The spiritual energy within Lin Qi had already accumulated to a certain point. She was only a tiny step away from breaking through that barrier.

Spiritual energy laced with cold air surged frantically into her Dantian, and a chill rose to her forehead.

Lin Qi calmly compressed her spiritual energy, guiding it through several cycles and striking that barrier again and again.

During one attempt, spiritual energy surged upward and shattered the obstruction with the force of splitting bamboo.

At last!

Fourth Stage Qi Refining!

Lin Qi abruptly opened her eyes, a bright gleam spilling from them as the corners of her lips unconsciously tried to curl into a smile.

But it was too cold—her face had frozen stiff.

She could not help rubbing her face, then stood and put away the array plate.

After working together on array plates for over ten days, the three of them could not exactly be called close friends, but some camaraderie had formed between them.

After all, there was nothing at all within this ice passage. They faced one another every day, practically growing sick of seeing each other's faces.

Feelings were simply nurtured that way.

A trace of fighting spirit flashed through Tan Yueqing's eyes. Her voice was cool, though softer than usual. "Congratulations!"

Chen En smiled as well. "Breaking through on the last day—you really timed it perfectly."

"At least I haven't let Master's efforts go to waste." Delight colored Lin Qi's eyes.

Tan Yueqing raised her brows, her cool voice carrying a hint of teasing.

"Don't get smug. If you start slacking off the moment we leave the ice passage and fall behind me later, don't come crying."

Lin Qi lifted her brow in response. "Senior Sister Tan really says one thing and means another. You clearly want to remind me not to slack off, yet you refuse to say it outright and have to beat around the bush."

"Ah..." She deliberately propped her face in her hand and sighed. "Senior Sister Tan's thoughts really are hard to guess."

Tan Yueqing's brow twitched. She had always been helpless against shameless people like Lin Qi.

"Who's worried about you?!"

Tan Yueqing nearly ground her teeth as she asked, "You and I are rivals. If you slack off, I'll be happy before anyone else!"

Lin Qi blinked her clear black-and-white eyes and stared straight at Tan Yueqing. "A dead duck with a hard beak!"

Tan Yueqing staggered back in anger.

Chen En could not hide her amusement and habitually stepped in to smooth things over.

"Enough, you two. You've cultivated all that power for nothing—you're getting more and more fond of bickering. Elder Yue is already urging us along. Let's get out quickly."

Lin Qi had originally wanted to make a face at Tan Yueqing, but her frozen face was too stiff to move. She could only shake her head helplessly.

"I'm just far too understanding. Every time, I can grasp the meaning behind Senior Sister Tan's words."

Tan Yueqing: ...

She wasn't! She absolutely wasn't!

Chen En laughed nonstop beside them. "Hahaha, only Senior Sister Lin can make Senior Sister Tan lose her composure time and again."

Tan Yueqing cast her a helpless glance, then looked sidelong at Lin Qi. "Going?"

Maintaining an air of calm composure, Lin Qi answered at an unhurried pace, "Going."

The three of them left the ice passage together and went to report to Elder Yue.

Elder Yue lifted her eyes and swept her gaze over them. Seeing that all three had improved their Cultivation Levels considerably, she nodded in satisfaction and told them to wait to the side.

When Lin Qi saw Senior Sister Yuan Xi emerge from the ice passage behind them, she could not help feeling a little excited.

Before she could even raise her hand in greeting, Senior Sister Yuan Xi had already walked up to her.