Work-Life Balance? No, Super Comprehension

As Li Yang closed his eyes and sat cross-legged in meditation, the time on the Entry Panel instantly reset to zero.

His mind suddenly became clear and bright. The contents of the foundational chapter of the One Qi True Heaven Art that his master had explained were rapidly understood, absorbed, and mastered by him.

Already a genius by nature, at this moment he seemed to have transformed into an unparalleled prodigy.

In an instant, the One Qi True Heaven Art was fully initiated, and it continued to deepen without pause.

At the same time, since his master was at Return to Dao Ninth Stage—an existence on the verge of becoming an immortal—there was naturally some trace of Dao Rhyme emanating as he imparted this foundational chapter.

These traces of Dao Rhyme were understood and absorbed by him, integrated into his cultivation method.

The Qi Refining stage was not particularly difficult to begin with.

As a result, Li Yang's cultivation base was now undergoing constant change.

During Li Yang's cultivation, a vast amount of heavenly and earthly spiritual energy surged wildly into his body. And as his understanding of the cultivation method grew deeper, his cultivation speed only increased.

"This... Qi Refining Second Stage already?"

Deep beneath Lesser Qiong Peak, Li Changshou couldn't help but let out a startled exclamation.

This junior brother—was he actually this talented?

As a genius himself, he naturally understood what genius looked like.

Thus, he could clearly see that Li Yang's cultivation process was practically being spoon-fed by the Heavenly Dao.

Though it didn't quite match his own level, it wasn't far off either.

After all, he was the type who only needed to loosen his Divine Soul slightly to automatically comprehend the principles of heaven and earth.

As for Li Yang's current performance, it was clearly a trait that only manifested during cultivation.

"How enviable!"

Li Changshou truly envied Li Yang. He himself was terrified of his own excessively heaven-defying aptitude, whereas Li Yang's talent seemed far more normal.

What a pity, though—Li Yang was his junior brother.

"The Steady Character Scripture must be arranged for him."

In that instant, Li Changshou made his decision.

At this moment, as the boundless heavenly and earthly spiritual energy surged into Li Yang's body, Lan Ling'e, not far from him, was also slightly affected.

Following the disturbance in the spiritual energy, Lan Ling'e sensed it in an instant.

And so—

She broke through to Qi Refining First Stage.

"Whoosh!"

Old Daoist Qi Yuan, who had only just left moments ago, flashed back into view before Li Yang and Lan Ling'e, his entire being trembling with overwhelming excitement.

These were two geniuses.

One had broken through two stages in a row.

The other was not far behind.

Reaching Qi Refining in a single day—an unparalleled genius!!!!

In just a short while, Li Yang felt the clarity in his mind rapidly receding, realizing that the accelerated time had come to an end.

He silently calculated in his heart.

'1.3 ke—so the rest time and cultivation time have a ratio of one to ten?'

'But this cultivation time's effect on understanding the method doesn't vanish when the effect ends. Instead, the method's effect becomes permanent.'

'So this isn't actually an acceleration effect... it's using rest time to exchange for a brief period of super insight!'

'Then, relying on that super insight, cultivation is accelerated.'

'What a cheat this is...'

Li Yang's heart pounded wildly.

What was the essence of cultivating immortality?

Resources were one thing, but insight was even more important.

The further one went, the more crucial insight became.

And what did he have?

As long as he had enough rest time, he could convert that time into insight, thereby achieving extraordinary breakthroughs.

'Next, I need to rest well and test the limits of this entry.'

'This entry seems capable of organizing, summarizing, and deeply studying even some additional knowledge.'

'The lessons on worldly affairs and some steady-handed knowledge that Senior Brother explained to me have clearly merged, combined, and been elevated with certain knowledge from my past life.'

'And this was merely the subconscious choice made while focusing on cultivation.'

'If I deliberately applied cultivation time to this area, I might even be able to innovate and surpass the old entirely!!'

With this thought, Li Yang slowly opened his eyes.

The first thing he saw was a kind and benevolent face.

"Master!"

Li Yang quickly rose to bow, addressing him as Master, and asked what the matter was.

"Nothing, I'm just happy to see you, my disciple!"

Daoist Qi Yuan's face bloomed with joy; taking on this disciple had been an excellent decision.

Under normal circumstances, an ordinary Qi Practitioner wouldn't reach Qi Refining Sixth Stage even after ten years of cultivation.

But this disciple of his had advanced two stages in a single day—an absolute monstrous prodigy.

"Master?"

Beside him, Lan Ling'e rubbed her eyes with her small hands in disbelief, blinking twice.

Hadn't Master turned into smoke and flown away?

Why was he here now?

But she didn't dwell on it; instead, she leaped up excitedly and threw herself at Daoist Qi Yuan.

"Master, your disciple is a Qi Practitioner now too!"

Qi Yuan caught Lan Ling'e in one arm, smiling as he patted her little head, his face full of doting affection.

"Yes, yes, Ling'e is also a genius, a great Qi Practitioner now, isn't she?"

These words made Lan Ling'e giggle happily; clearly, the Master's praise delighted her.

Next, Daoist Qi Yuan didn't rush back to seclusion. Instead, he patiently explained cultivation methods to Li Yang and the others, answering their questions about cultivation.

To be honest, he was a bit worried that Li Changshou would lead his two obedient disciples astray... Eh?

Where was Li Changshou?

Hadn't he told him to look after Li Yang and Ling'e?

Qi Yuan belatedly looked around but saw no trace of Li Changshou.

"Ha!"

"Li... Chang... Shou!!"

Qi Yuan's voice shook heaven and earth, startling the spirit birds on Lesser Qiong Peak into flying about in panic.

And so followed the day's usual scene of the Master beating the Senior Disciple Brother.

"Hooray!"

"Go, Senior Brother!"

"Go, Master!"

Li Yang and Ling'e clapped cheerfully.

Laughter and cries of pain echoed across the peak.

This rare touch of mortal warmth and worldly life within an immortal sect played out on Lesser Qiong Peak.

And the days that followed were much the same.

Especially after Li Changshou taught Li Yang and Lan Ling'e the Steady Character Scripture, that worldly warmth grew even stronger.

Time flew by, and ten years passed.

That day, by the Spiritual Lake, two reclining chairs sat.

On one lay a young girl; on the other, a chubby little boy. Beside the chairs stood a fishing rod.

The girl was radiant as sunlight, with bright eyes, willow-like brows, a delicate nose, pretty ears, and thin pink lips. Her striking features, paired with an oval face, made her quite endearing.

But when she lounged lazily in her chair, she exuded an indescribable languor, utterly lacking the vibrant energy typical of youth.

"Senior Brother, tomorrow is Senior Brother's assessment. Are you prepared?"

Lan Ling'e spoke lazily, sunlight falling on her, and she couldn't even be bothered to turn over.

"Whatever. It's not like we're going out anyway. As Senior Brother says, we're both homebodies now—homebodies who can't even roll over, big salted fish."

The chubby boy beside her replied nonchalantly, his tone equally lazy, clearly another who couldn't be bothered to turn over.

This chubby boy was the handsome little kid from ten years ago, Li Yang, whom Li Changshou had once said was "old for his age even as a child."

Lan Ling'e waved her hand, and from the nearby thatched hut flew a special teacup, something Li Changshou had made, called "milk tea" or something.

The milk tea flew autonomously to Lan Ling'e, extended a straw on its own, and precisely placed it at her lips.

Lan Ling'e parted her lips slightly, took a gentle sip, and the sweet milk tea entered her throat.

After one sip, the milk tea flew back on its own. From start to finish, Lan Ling'e had only moved her mouth and waved her hand—lazy beyond compare.

Then, Lan Ling'e let out a sigh, her lazy tone filled with helplessness.

"Yeah, they say we're salted fish that can never turn over—but even if a salted fish turns over, isn't it still a salted fish?"

Li Yang chimed in, "Exactly. A turned-over salted fish is still a salted fish, right? Us holing up on the peak—isn't that the best demonstration of the Steady Character Scripture?"

"By the way, has the fish taken the bait yet? We've been lying here for ten days straight!"

Clearly, the two felt that talking about this was a waste of time—better to talk about the fish.

Lan Ling'e was too lazy to get up or even look. "Not yet. Wait a little longer."

"Oh, alright."

With that, Li Yang sank back into sleep.

Soon, snoring rose from both reclining chairs.

Meanwhile, beneath the Spiritual Lake, the paper-man Li Changshou, hidden inside the paper Spirit Fish, stared speechlessly at the straight hook in the lake, then speechlessly at his Junior Brother and Junior Sister by the shore.

"Seriously, you two think you're Jiang Ziya?"

"And is this how the Steady Character Scripture is supposed to be used?"

Li Changshou ground his teeth.

How had his two diligent little Junior Brother and Junior Sister ended up practicing themselves crooked like this???

At the same time, he began to doubt his own life.

Was he just bad at raising kids?

Otherwise, how had both of them turned into lazy homebodies under his guidance???