Phantom Shadow Demon Trace

Volume 2 Phantom Shadow Demon Trace Chapter 8 The Bet

Because at this time, Bai Qiuran would also be sitting outside, with only a screen separating the master and disciple. Bai Qiuran would comment on her cultivation progress for the day while simultaneously mocking her.

Bai Qiuran stroked his chin and corrected her: "I can't help but think that way, Ruowei. You are truly like me when I first entered the sect—both of us possess the Heavenly Spirit Root of the five elements, both hold great passion for cultivation, both are a bit naive and innocent, and what you are about to practice is my own technique..."

"Hmph, those who cultivate never ask about the past."

For instance, things like "Don't wear chest pads while practicing," or "Righteous cultivators should avoid arrogance and impatience; no matter how hard you work, it will take at least a hundred years to put on any meat," always picking at Tang Ruowei's sensitive spots.

Tang Ruowei pulled a long face and retorted: "Our origins should be different, too."

The master and disciple stood there like idiots, clutching their respective chests and glaring at each other with indignant eyes.

The girl's face held a mix of nervousness, anticipation, and a blush caused by embarrassment.

And Tang Ruowei, of course, would not show weakness. She would immediately use the excuse of a disciple asking questions to launch a counterattack against Master Bai Qiuran, such as asking what it feels like to reach the ten-thousandth level of the Qi Refining Stage, or how old the master is this year, and so on.

Bai Qiuran put down his pen, his expression incredibly complex, and muttered to himself.

Bai Qiuran let out a laugh.

Bai Qiuran said coldly: "Speaking of gender, Ruowei, you are nothing more than lacking one organ compared to me. If you put on men's clothing, no one would think you are a woman."

"Come, this is the Calming and Qi-Nurturing Method that my master passed down to me when I was about to reach Foundation Establishment. Use it to steady your mind over these next two days; I am going to prepare the Foundation Establishment Pill for you!"

"I think I am about to reach Foundation Establishment."

"Is Master trying to bet with me?"

He stood up, took a very old-looking scroll from the bookshelf, and handed it to Tang Ruowei.

"You wait, I will help you prepare the Foundation Establishment Pill."

Just like that, body forging, practicing techniques, learning the life experiences of senior cultivators, medicinal baths, and finally soaking in the hot springs at night to relieve fatigue—the life of Tang Ruowei and Bai Qiuran on Seven Star Peak continued very regularly for a period of time.

Tang Ruowei unfolded the scroll.

"This is just rational suspicion, merely suspicion."

"Very well."

Tang Ruowei could currently only cultivate at the highest point, but under the influence of her spirit root aptitude, it didn't take long for the girl to successfully generate the first trace of magnetic True Qi within her body.

"I say, Ruowei."

Unlike other earth-attribute techniques, this technique, just as Bai Qiuran said, focused from the very beginning on the most fundamental power of the earth element: the Great Evolution Primal Magnetism. Therefore, that Black Stone Peak was also transformed by Bai Qiuran into a matching training ground.

Tang Ruowei asked suspiciously.

During these six years, Bai Qiuran, as he had said, resisted the urge to break through and did not advance to the sixty-six thousand six hundred and sixty-sixth level of the Qi Refining Stage. Instead, whenever he felt the urge to break through, he converted that impulse into the motivation for research. These six years added several top-tier techniques and divine abilities to the Library Pavilion of the Azure Nether Sword Sect.

"We are master and disciple, after all; isn't playing like this a bit stupid?"

"Ugh!"

For a cultivator, six years passes in a flash. Even though Bai Qiuran focused on polishing the foundation and did not let Tang Ruowei consume any spirit pills or elixirs to boost her cultivation, Tang Ruowei's cultivation still reached the peak of the tenth level of the Qi Refining Stage, just one step away from Foundation Establishment.

Besides the rich earth-attribute Spirit Qi, from the top of the mountain downwards, the intensity of the magnetism increased by a fraction every twenty meters. By the time one reached the foot of the mountain, the magnetic intensity was even more than twenty times the normal level.

"Master, what do you mean by this?"

In the afternoon, Tang Ruowei would be escorted by Bai Qiuran to the school on the Main Peak of the Azure Nether Sword Sect to learn cultural courses regarding basic common knowledge of the Cultivation World. At night, Tang Ruowei would be hauled back to her room by Bai Qiuran to soak in medicinal soup made from various herbs.

Finally, one morning, Tang Ruowei sought out Bai Qiuran, who was in the study researching how to compress True Qi when the Qi Sea is nearly infinite.

"I will start cultivating right now!"

From this point on, for the sake of the bet with Bai Qiuran, Tang Ruowei began to pour two hundred percent of her energy and passion into her cultivation.

Bai Qiuran raised an eyebrow and said: "With your bone structure and aptitude, it shouldn't take long to reach the tenth level of the Qi Refining Stage. It took me five years, and you won't be much slower. Five years is but a blink of an eye to us; do you want to try and see if you can break through to Foundation Establishment?"

"It seems so."

She would practice until Bai Qiuran prepared breakfast. After eating, Tang Ruowei would cross the stone bridge to the new mountain beside Seven Star Peak to wholeheartedly practice the technique created by Bai Qiuran, called the Great Evolution Primal Magnetism.

"Finally... has this day arrived?"

"Master."

"Are you cursing your only disciple to be unable to cross the hurdle of the Foundation Establishment Stage in this life, just like you?"

Tang Ruowei also raised her eyebrows, refusing to admit defeat.

"My gender is completely different from yours, alright."

Bai Qiuran nodded proudly.

Tang Ruowei asked in return.

Tang Ruowei clutched her chest with a pained expression, then said indignantly: "Hmph, this girl is bright and clever; no matter what, I won't end up like someone who is forever struggling on the path of the Qi Refining Stage!"

"I win."

"Then what if I win?"

Hearing Bai Qiuran's words, Tang Ruowei's expression collapsed.

Tang Ruowei replied: "But didn't you start this?"

"Any request is fine?"

During this period, although Tang Ruowei didn't need to endure any physical hardship, it was the most difficult time for her.

This time, it was Bai Qiuran's turn to have his face darken.

"As long as it is within my capability and does not involve anything immoral or wicked."

"Then I will forge a top-tier Flying Sword for you as a gift, and furthermore, I will grant you one request."

Every morning, Tang Ruowei would wake up at about five o'clock to the sound of the Azure Nether Sword Sect's guardian spirit beast announcing the dawn, and begin to exercise the Heaven-Defying Fate-Changing Method that Bai Qiuran passed to her, the Fortune Body Forging Technique.

Bai Qiuran's voice sounded somewhat weary.

The two of them hurt each other like this, and then Tang Ruowei would throw herself into cultivation with even greater obsession and passion, while Bai Qiuran would convert his anger into research motivation, locking himself in the study to continuously research methods to break through to Foundation Establishment.

"Fine, since you are so unconvinced."

Bai Qiuran said: "If you fail to break through, you will obediently listen to me, your master, from now on. If I say one, you cannot say two; if I tell you to sit, you cannot stand."

"Of course."