Broken Is Just Fine

The room's doors were shut tight, and the windows were lowered.

Li Shuidao sat cross-legged on the bed, eyes closed, his mind focused as he immersed himself in cultivation.

At this moment, a faint light flickered around Li Shuidao within the room, forming a pale yellow barrier that enveloped him.

His meridians churned as if countless tiny streams of qi coursed through them, emitting subtle sounds.

Li Shuidao used a unique breathing technique to inhale and exhale true essence, a vast surge of energy flowing through his entire body.

Guided by his thoughts, Magical Power circulated through his meridians, link by link, like thousands of golden chains coiling within him.

Gradually...

He felt a power brewing within his body.

This power resided in his Dantian, precisely at the Qi gathering point of the first stance of the Jade Toad Qi Cultivation Art: Golden Toad Embracing Carp.

Golden Toad Embracing Carp was for gathering Qi, Water Toad Dragon was for breaking through bottlenecks, and Jade Toad Gazing at Moon was for sublimation.

The Golden Toad Qi Locking Method could not only conceal one's cultivation but also assist the Jade Toad Qi Cultivation Art in gathering Magical Power.

Only through condensation could one break through, and only by breaking through bottlenecks and connecting the meridians could true sublimation be achieved.

The two internal Qi cultivation techniques were originally complementary...

Time flowed by silently...

Wisps of white smoke rose from Li Shuidao's head, like an incense burner.

Suddenly.

He opened his eyes, his Magical Power and even his aura naturally retracted.

Knock, knock, knock...

The courtyard gate was knocked.

Li Shuidao first pushed open his room door, walked into the small courtyard, then lifted the latch and opened the gate.

Senior Sister Jiang Xue stood outside the courtyard gate, flicking her wide robe. "You keep the door shut so tight in broad daylight. What illicit business were you up to in here?"

"I was meditating and practicing," Li Shuidao quickly explained.

"The Mistress is waiting for you at the animal pens. She's probably heading to the market again, so hurry along," Jiang Xue said.

"Did the Master's Wife go to the market with the Master, or is she going alone?" Li Shuidao suddenly asked.

"She's going alone."

At the animal pens...

Besides an elegant White Feather Crane, Qin Yue'e was the only one there.

She wore a simple white silk dress that clung to her slender figure, resembling a blooming white lotus.

Exquisite gold thread embroidery adorned the dress, winding around her slim waist, creating a dreamlike aura.

Her sleeves were loose and natural, fluttering gently and exuding an ethereal charm.

A white lotus hairpin adorned her head, shimmering with a faint light that complemented her raven-black hair.

Her features were as beautiful as a painting, her cheeks slightly flushed, and her delicate lips parted in a gentle smile.

She could be mistaken for a fairy from a painting.

Seeing Li Shuidao, Qin Yue'e smiled radiantly.

"Xue'er, you can go back. I'm going to the market," Qin Yue'e instructed.

"As you command." Jiang Xue turned and left.

Li Shuidao mounted the White Feather Crane and soared into the sky, its wings spread in flight.

Qin Yue'e stood gracefully on the crane's back, her movements light, as if descending from the heavens.

As the White Feather Crane soared through the vast sea of clouds.

Qin Yue'e sat down, pressing close to Li Shuidao's back, feeling his gentle warmth and strength.

The wind gently brushed against their faces, ruffling Qin Yue'e's long hair.

Li Shuidao's gaze was fixed ahead...

The White Feather Crane flapped its wings, leaving a pure white trail on the blue canvas of the sky.

Qin Yue'e rested her head gently on Li Shuidao's shoulder, feeling his presence...

"Mistress, please don't do that," Li Shuidao finally couldn't help but remind her.

A shy expression appeared on Qin Yue'e's face; she knew why Li Shuidao had said that.

"It's just the two of us here. Let Mistress dote on you a little," Qin Yue'e looked at Li Shuidao tenderly, her eyes hazy.

"Mistress, we've arrived at the market!" Li Shuidao quickly changed the subject.

The White Feather Crane circled above the valley.

Poison Dragon Ridge was only this large; the White Feather Crane could reach it easily with a few flaps of its wings.

The White Feather Crane landed, and Qin Yue'e landed with it. Her gaze held a hint of resentment.

Li Shuidao pretended not to see it.

Qin Yue'e turned to head to the market. In the past, if Qin Yue'e traveled alone on the White Feather Crane, she would bestow a Qi Circulation Pill upon Li Shuidao in the name of an elder.

However, after bestowing several Qi Circulation Pills, Li Shuidao still refused to go further with her, so Qin Yue'e decided not to bestow any more.

She didn't believe Li Shuidao could resist the temptation of rapidly increasing his cultivation.

Anyone who got used to rapidly improving with the help of pills absolutely could not resist this temptation.

"Master's Wife!" Li Shuidao suddenly called out.

Qin Yue'e revealed a triumphant smile.

"Go ahead, what is it?" Qin Yue'e asked, feigning ignorance, confident of victory.

"Master's Wife, how long will you be browsing the market?" Li Shuidao inquired.

"About an hour," Qin Yue'e replied.

"Then... can your disciple pick you up in an hour?"

Qin Yue'e was slightly taken aback. Knowing Li Shuidao wanted to use this time to cultivate the Jade Toad Qi Cultivation Art, she spat, "Go on, pick me up at the Spirit Beast Valley in an hour."

"Thank you, Master's Wife." Li Shuidao mounted the flying crane and soared into the sky.

A short while later...

Li Shuidao guided the White Crane to a secluded mountain valley.

It was a serene and pleasant valley.

Flowers and grass flourished, and a small stream babbled along.

In the valley stood an old tree, half withered and half flourishing. Its bare trunk was as large as a house.

Beside the stream, the White Feather Crane lightly crouched, catching small fish in the current by itself.

This place was very hidden...

The White Feather Crane could hunt here alone without any danger.

Li Shuidao took off his loose black robe, along with his inner garments.

A Jade Toad leaped into the water. After a few hops, it reached the entrance of the valley.

The Jade Toad stood guard at the entrance, preventing others from intruding upon the valley while Li Shuidao cultivated and taking away the precious White Feather Crane.

This large white bird could not be lost...

Li Shuidao bundled up his clothes and hid them in a tree hollow behind the large tree.

Then, he leaped into the clear, cold stream in the valley.

Although the stream was not deep, it could completely submerge Li Shuidao.

Innate Divine Ability: Water Breath Technique.

Li Shuidao quietly sank to the bottom of the water. His hands were slightly open, like a golden toad, slowly embracing the void before him, feeling the flow of the stream. With every breath, he inhaled the cold water.

Practicing the Golden Toad Embraces Carp technique submerged in water was much easier than doing it on the surface. The longer he persisted, the better the effect of concealing his Magical Power would be, naturally making the cultivation of his Dao methods twice as effective with half the effort.

After a long while...

Water Toad Dragon!

His body was agile, like a toad stretching its limbs in the water.

The gathered Magical Power flowed throughout his body like a swimming dragon...

After circulating through a full cycle, Li Shuidao stood up naked from the stream.

His brows were tightly furrowed...

The effect of the cultivation was indeed lacking, far inferior to when he had taken a Qi Circulation Pill beforehand.

Now, there were no more Qi Circulation Pills...

"It's good that it's broken off," Li Shuidao muttered to himself. His brows relaxed, and his expression actually seemed much lighter.