Pill Digging Countdown (One Hundred Years)

After that incident, Lin Qi no longer dared to touch things at random. She merely tucked the scroll into her robes and planned to spend some time studying it.

When she went out, Lin Qi discovered that only the doors for talisman crafting and Formation Array remained. The other three doors had vanished without a trace.

She tried pushing the door to the Formation Array room.

It stood as steady as Mount Tai, utterly unmoving.

Rubbing her chin, Lin Qi pondered, "It must be because my current strength is too low, so I can't learn Formation Array yet. But with only these two doors left, does that mean I have talent in these two areas?"

Lin Qi still felt a small twinge of regret.

She had originally wanted to see whether she could refine pills. She had heard that alchemists were the most profitable profession in the Cangwu Realm.

Before Lin Qi could sigh twice, she was ejected from the Underground Palace.

The instant she emerged, exhaustion washed over her. It felt as if all her essence, energy, and spirit had been drained away in a single moment.

Lin Qi immediately understood that entering the Underground Palace consumed an immense amount of divine sense. With her current rookie level, she could probably only hold out long enough to grab a few things inside.

Tiredly clutching the Phoenix Feather, Lin Qi wanted to hang it back onto her token.

But the moment her fingers touched the Phoenix Feather, an icy-cool sensation flooded into her mind.

A spark of inspiration flashed through Lin Qi's mind, and she pressed the Phoenix Feather against her brow.

She felt her exhausted, emptied mind gradually recovering bit by bit.

Entering the Underground Palace consumed divine sense, yet the Phoenix Feather itself could swiftly repair divine sense... Gong Shaojun truly left nothing uncalculated.

Lin Qi's mind gradually cleared.

Once her divine sense had fully recovered, she tied the Phoenix Feather at her waist and began considering cultivation.

Before cultivating, Lin Qi took out a sheet of paper and used a cinnabar brush to write several large words on it—Pill Digging Countdown [One Hundred Years]!

The moment she finished writing those words, a cultivation method suddenly surfaced in her mind—the Ice Phoenix Divine Art.

The four vast and majestic characters slammed into her mind, and an awe-inspiring chill pierced into Lin Qi's soul.

Lin Qi was frozen in place by that chill for nearly half an hour before she barely managed to recover her senses.

She rubbed her face, trying hard to warm up her mind.

Ever since obtaining the Ice Phoenix Essence Blood, she had either been freezing or on the road to freezing.

If she did not improve her resistance to cold, one day she would freeze to death sooner or later!

Steadying her mind, Lin Qi carefully studied the Ice Phoenix Divine Art. Beside the scroll was an accompanying cultivation formula.

Cultivation methods in the Cangwu Realm were divided into Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow tiers, with each tier further divided into upper, middle, and lower grades.

The Ice Phoenix Divine Art in Lin Qi's mind did not display its tier.

By her estimation, the words "Divine Art" alone indicated that this cultivation method could not be below the Earth Tier.

As for its exact level, she would probably have to ask her birth mother, Gong Shaojun.

Only the first move could be seen on the scroll—Scattered Phoenix Shadow Dance.

A cultivator drew out Ice Spiritual Energy and compressed it into Ice Phoenix Afterimages. They could attack and defend, and the more afterimages there were, the stronger the attack. Once cultivated to Great Accomplishment, a single afterimage could seal a thousand miles in ice.

At the same time, a tiny figure holding a sword appeared on the scroll, smoothly reciting the formula as she performed the sword art.

With a point of the longsword, Ice Phoenix Afterimages shrieked forth from its tip and shot straight into the heavens.

Even though it was only an illusory scene, Lin Qi could sense the terrifying power contained within those Ice Phoenix Afterimages.

She was eager to give it a try, but unfortunately, the person on the scroll had used a sword to perform the technique. She could not help but sigh.

So she needed to learn swordsmanship before she could use the move?

Lin Qi could only suppress the excitement in her heart and wait until tomorrow to ask True Monarch Qingyun.

Lin Qi carefully examined the scroll from beginning to end and found a line of instructions in its lower-right corner—This Divine Art is only for cultivators with Ice Spiritual Roots. Its power is formidable and may easily cause backlash upon the body. It is recommended to also cultivate a gentle and calming cultivation method.

A gentle and calming cultivation method?

Lin Qi pulled out the cultivation scroll True Monarch Qingyun had given her. When she saw the Pure Spirit Art, her whole body fell into a dazed state.

Could it really... be such a coincidence?

True Monarch Qingyun's Pure Spirit Art was a High Earth Tier cultivation method, considered one of Tianyi Sect's top-tier cultivation methods. Using it to supplement the Ice Phoenix Divine Art was simply a match made in heaven.

Lin Qi had suddenly obtained two high-tier cultivation methods. Along with her delight came an overwhelming surge of motivation.

She was practically decked out in near-max-level gear, and she had entered the sect two years before Lin Yun. If she could still get crushed like a novice after all that, she might as well go home and grow sweet potatoes.

Looking up at the sky, Lin Qi saw the bright moon hanging high and the night just right. She simply gave up her rest time and devoted the precious latter half of the night to studying cultivation methods.

She still could not cultivate the Ice Phoenix Divine Art, but she could cultivate True Monarch Qingyun's Pure Spirit Art!

Lin Qi had sworn to outwork the entire Cangwu Realm to death.

For that grand goal, she had to race against every second.

The first step began with staying up late to cultivate!

When the golden rooster first crowed and dawn light faintly emerged, Lin Qi stretched lazily in high spirits and breathed out in satisfaction.

After one night, she had already gained an initial understanding of the Pure Spirit Art. Spiritual energy filled her body, and her cultivation was gradually entering a finer state.

Lin Qi estimated that at her speed, she would break through to Qi Refining Second Stage before long.

"I'll go to the Scripture Pavilion this morning and borrow a few manuals on techniques! This afternoon, I'll ask Master about learning swordsmanship!"

Having arranged everything, Lin Qi saw that it was still early, so she dressed and prepared to climb the Stone Steps.

Senior Sister Yuan Xi had repeatedly reminded her of the benefits of Zonglei Peak's Stone Steps. Though bitterness surfaced on Lin Qi's face, she had already silently added them to her training list.

Zonglei Peak was exceptionally quiet in the morning, with the crisp, pleasant cries of immortal cranes echoing in the distance.

White clouds drifted hazily, a gentle breeze blew, and faintly, the sounds of cultivators practicing swordsmanship could be heard.

A paradise on earth could be no more than this.

This was a sect of the Cultivation World.

Lin Qi admired Zonglei Peak's immortal scenery all the way as she leisurely walked toward the Stone Steps.

Before she even approached, she saw a slender girl in a black-and-white short outfit practicing swordsmanship.

Looking more closely, Lin Qi realized that it was Senior Sister Yuan Xi.

Yuan Xi happened to sheathe her sword just then. Wiping the sweat from her face, she caught sight of Lin Qi and said in surprise, "Junior Sister Xiao Qi, where are you going so early in the morning? Down the mountain?"

Lin Qi had thought she had come early, but who would have expected Senior Sister Yuan Xi to have already finished a full set of sword forms?

It seemed she would have to get up even earlier next time.

"Yesterday, I heard Senior Sister say that climbing the Stone Steps can strengthen the body. I've only just joined the sect, and unfortunately I haven't learned much yet. Since I don't dare slack off, I thought I'd climb the Stone Steps to train my body."

Yuan Xi was not surprised. Instead, she affectionately patted Lin Qi's little head.

"Xiao Qi is so diligent and eager to learn. Master will certainly be happy when she sees this."

Lin Qi touched her face a little bashfully. "I saw that Senior Sister has already finished a full set of sword forms. Senior Sister is so hardworking. I should learn from Senior Sister."

Yuan Xi seemed to recall something, and the smile on her face faded considerably. "Xiao Qi, you and I are different. I have no choice but to work hard."

Lin Qi keenly noticed the fleeting dip in Senior Sister Yuan Xi's mood.

But she did not press further.

People needed to maintain a certain sense of boundaries when getting along.

"Senior Sister, are you going to continue practicing swordsmanship?" She deliberately changed the subject.