Failure to Advance

After the funeral.

Chen Sheng patted the youth on the shoulder.

"Starting tomorrow, move into the Pill Workshop. There are vacant rooms in the back courtyard, so it'll be more convenient."

Qin Yuan nodded. "Yes."

The youth quickly packed his belongings into his Storage Bag and moved into the Pill Workshop's back courtyard.

What surprised Chen Sheng somewhat was that the child did not remain immersed in grief.

He emerged from it quickly.

He even became more diligent and earnest than before.

Early one morning, in the back courtyard.

Tang Xichen's sword light swept toward him like a streaking rainbow.

Qin Yuan had been prepared. He raised an ancient mirror to block it, quietly withdrew his left foot half a step, and suddenly flicked his right hand.

A soft "whoosh" sounded.

Three silver needles flew toward Tang Xichen's face in a triangular formation.

Tang Xichen immediately turned her wrist, drawing a circle before her with her sword. Sword Qi rose like a wall and blocked them.

"Take my sword!"

Tang Xichen shouted brightly.

For a time, sword light crisscrossed the courtyard.

Qin Yuan either dodged or used Dharma Artifacts to defend himself, never meeting her head-on.

He had only just reached the Qi Refining Third Layer, and his mana was limited. He had to play to his strengths and avoid his weaknesses.

Only at critical moments did he counterattack with techniques such as the Vine Technique and Mud Trap Technique.

He was proficient in many techniques, responding to every move as it came. He fought while retreating, without falling into the slightest disadvantage.

Beneath the Grape Trellis some distance away.

Huang Wangyou saw the situation in the courtyard clearly as she watched the two exchange blows in their Magic Battle.

She suddenly turned to Chen Sheng and smiled.

"Yuan'er has a wealth of experience in Magic Battles. Chen'er actually can't take him down."

Chen Sheng watched Qin Yuan weave through the sword light, a smile at the corner of his lips.

"My uncle spent his entire life doing this. Naturally, the grandson he taught wouldn't be lacking."

"I never expected Yuan'er's talent in techniques to be so high as well. He can use all sorts of techniques with such ease."

"As expected of Brother Shuang's son!"

The battle had reached its conclusion.

Qin Yuan had already been forced against the railing by Tang Xichen, with nowhere left to retreat.

Tang Xichen's sword tip stopped barely an inch from his throat, the wind from the blade making his neck itch.

He had been defeated.

Qin Yuan spoke. "I lost."

Tang Xichen withdrew her sword and flashed a radiant smile.

"I lost. We agreed that I would suppress my cultivation to the same level."

"There was one strike earlier where I used the mana of the Qi Refining Fourth Layer. Otherwise, I definitely couldn't have broken through Junior Disciple Brother's defense."

As she spoke.

She tapped his shoulder with her Sword Sheath, her eyes curving as she smiled.

"Junior Disciple Brother, your skills are far better than those guys at the Martial Arts Arena!"

"From now on, come practice swordsmanship with me every morning!"

When Qin Yuan looked up, he met the smile on her face. He merely answered softly, "All right."

Another year passed.

Qin Yuan progressed quickly in his studies, gradually mastering the principles of medicine.

He had now begun learning the Flame Control Technique.

His relationship with Tang Xichen also grew closer.

Every morning, they practiced techniques and Flying Sword arts together. Every few days, they would have a Magic Battle.

One day, in the courtyard.

Chen Sheng and Huang Wangyou were playing chess, chatting from time to time.

Huang Wangyou suddenly placed a piece.

"Brother Yun, how are Yi Jing's martial arts and medical studies going?"

Chen Sheng rolled a chess piece between his fingers and nodded.

"He's fairly clever. His progress has been quite good."

Huang Wangyou nodded. Her young son had no Spirit Root, which only made her cherish him more.

"It's too hard for mortals to get by in the Cultivation World."

"Later, let's find a nearby Mortal City and send Yi Jing there."

Chen Sheng nodded.

"I was worried you wouldn't be able to bear parting with him."

"My father-in-law and I had the same thought."

"Since he has no Spirit Root, he should learn skills useful in the mortal world and go there to enjoy a lifetime of wealth and prosperity."

"But we won't force him. Once Yi Jing grows up, we'll let him decide for himself."

Huang Wangyou nodded.

She looked toward the Fire Room, where one youth was practicing the Flame Control Technique.

She suddenly smiled.

"I think Yuan'er is very close to Chen'er, and Chen'er doesn't reject him either."

Chen Sheng tapped the chessboard with his fingertip, placed a piece, and said softly.

"They get along quite well now, and their relationship is good. Let them develop on their own."

"They're both still young. Who can say what will happen in the future?"

"When the time comes, we can simply go with the flow. Forcing our hand into it would only make things unpleasant."

Huang Wangyou found his words reasonable.

She changed the subject again, brushing her fingertips over the Heavenly Origin position on the board.

"Brother Yun, you're about to reach the Sixth Layer Peak, aren't you?"

Chen Sheng nodded lightly.

"Yes. My mana hasn't budged these past few days. I've already encountered the Late-stage Bottleneck."

"I plan to recuperate for a few days, then take a pill and attempt the breakthrough."

Huang Wangyou gave him a reminder.

"All right. Be careful."

Seeing the concern in his wife's eyes.

Chen Sheng nodded gently.

"Don't worry. I know what I'm doing."

Several days later.

Inside the cultivation chamber.

Chen Sheng sat cross-legged on a Cattail Mat, carefully refining his mana and adjusting it to its optimal state.

He slowly took a pale yellow pill from his Storage Bag—the Cloud-Dispelling Pill!

It was an essential pill for breaking through the Late-stage Bottleneck.

A single pill cost a full six hundred Spirit Stones, comparable to a high-grade Dharma Artifact.

He swallowed the pill, and a surging force of mana immediately arose, charging toward that invisible barrier.

Two days later.

Chen Sheng slowly emerged from the secluded cultivation chamber, his face somewhat pale as he made his way beneath the eaves.

He had not gone far.

"Master!"

Qin Yuan, who had been practicing the Flame Control Technique in the Fire Room, had already heard the commotion.

Seeing him emerge, he hurried over to support him.

"Master, what happened to you?"

Chen Sheng smiled faintly. "It's nothing. I only failed to break through and suffered a minor injury."

Qin Yuan took his pulse and confirmed his condition.

"The spiritual energy in your Dantian is in disarray, and your meridians have been shaken."

Without another word, he half-supported, half-carried Chen Sheng toward the inner courtyard.

Soon after.

Huang Wangyou also came to help and had him lie down on the bed.

Chen Sheng said helplessly, "It's not that serious."

Huang Wangyou put on a stern face. "Just rest properly and recuperate for a few days."

Chen Sheng nodded at her words.

Unable to hold it in, he complained to his wife.

"I truly didn't expect this bottleneck to be so difficult to break. I didn't even take any Mana-Increasing Pills!"

Normally.

If one took pills that increased mana, the Pill Toxin would be difficult to dispel, increasing the difficulty of breaking through a bottleneck.

Therefore.

Many cultivators of ordinary aptitude endured it.

Only after breaking through the bottleneck and reaching Qi Condensation Late-stage did they begin taking Mana Restoration Pills, making a final all-out attempt at Foundation Establishment.

Huang Wangyou comforted him.

"That's perfectly normal. If Qi Condensation Late-stage were so easy to achieve, would you be able to serve as captain of the Law Enforcement Team?"

"Didn't my father need two attempts back then?"

Chen Sheng shook his head.

"I learned from Father-in-law's lessons. I thought I could succeed in one attempt."

Huang Wangyou rolled her eyes at him.

"Forget it. Failure is failure. At least you managed to shake it somewhat. Your next attempt will be easier."

"Fortunately, you left yourself a contingency this time and prepared Yellow Hua Pills in advance. They stabilized your Dantian, so it's only a minor injury."

Chen Sheng leaned against the headboard and spoke softly.

"Even a minor injury will take two months to heal. It's best to take the Cloud-Dispelling Pill at least a year apart."

"Looks like I'll have to wait two years before I can make another attempt."

He silently calculated the time in his heart.

He was only thirty-nine this year.

There were still twenty-one years until the Sixty Year Limit.

There's enough time. In this life, I should be able to attempt Foundation Establishment once.