Mystery

Qin Yu sat in place, his mind roaring as he recalled passages from an ancient text in the highest level of the Tian Qi Sect's Library Pavilion, a tempest surging within him.

"In the beginning of Hunyuan, there were ancient people who pursued ultimate power. After eons of evolution, they created the 'Hundred Refinements' technique. What is Hundred Refinements?"

"A thousand hammerings upon the body, a hundred refinements of the heart."

"What is a thousand hammerings upon the body? To expel the impurities of the flesh, to condense the essence of the body."

"What is a hundred refinements of the heart? Ups and downs, disappearing and returning, truly to temper the mind and strengthen the will."

"This technique refines the body a hundredfold, seeking perfection in cultivation, accumulating strength for a powerful outburst, achieving greatness late in life. Endure a thousand hammerings upon the body and a hundred refinements of the heart, only then can one ascend!"

"In the Primordial Era, someone relied on this technique to forge an invincible body and an unkillable heart. Later, they were trapped in the prison of time by various venerables. Since then, Hundred Refinements has vanished, and this person was known as the most ruthless individual of the Primordial Era!"

"Ups and downs, disappearing and returning, accumulating strength for a powerful outburst... is this truly Hundred Refinements? How is that possible!" Qin Yu was extremely shocked. He even felt an urge to ask Qin Zhan what cultivation technique he practiced...

If it were truly "Hundred Refinements," he couldn't imagine what level Qin Zhan would reach in the future!

"Hoo!" Qin Yu took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the shock in his heart. He meticulously recalled every word Qin Zhan had said, and his heart grew increasingly suspicious. Even if it wasn't "Hundred Refinements," it was bound to be similar. Since his cultivation regressed, his strength would only grow stronger with each advancement. Coupled with the opening of the Sea of Suffering, it could be concluded that the cultivation technique he practiced was extraordinary.

Moreover, the Sea of Suffering was not something just anyone could open.

Only when the physical body reached an extremely strong state was there a chance to open it. Once opened, the path of cultivation would be exceptionally difficult.

The Sea of Suffering in the center of his brow was called the Sea of Suffering precisely because its cultivation was arduous, and the tribulations encountered were immeasurable. However, while the cultivation was difficult, the rewards were also extremely generous.

As the saying goes, the Sea of Suffering is boundless and endless.

In ancient times, opening the Sea of Suffering was not uncommon. But now, Qin Yu had learned from the Qin Family's Library Pavilion that almost no one bothered to open the Sea of Suffering.

Wait a minute!!

Qin Yu suddenly remembered his father, Qin Zhan, saying that his mother had left something inside him. However, Qin Yu had examined his body carefully and found nothing. Could it be that the thing was in the Sea of Suffering?

Impossible!!

Absolutely impossible!

If it were placed in the Sea of Suffering, with his previous body's aptitude, he would never be able to open the Sea of Suffering in his lifetime.

Unless!

When he turned sixteen, the Sea of Suffering would open on its own. But this... was even more astonishing!

Even though Qin Yu had read through the entire Tian Qi Sect's Library Pavilion, he had never heard of anyone's Sea of Suffering opening on its own.

Thinking of this, Qin Yu felt that the mother from his memories had become exceptionally mysterious. Moreover, his father must know something about his mother's origins, but he simply didn't want to reveal it.

What was his mother's origin?

Qin Yu fell into deep thought. However, upon carefully recalling the memories of his previous body, Qin Yu couldn't find any clues. He had to put this thought aside. Furthermore, with a great enemy looming, Qin Yu needed to increase his cultivation to the Gangqi Realm as much as possible within five months.

Originally, Qin Yu had mostly just guessed that the Cui Manor was related to the Qinglian Cui Family. Receiving confirmation from his father, Qin Zhan, made Qin Yu vaguely worried. During this period, the Cui Manor would likely try every means to improve Cui Shuo's strength, even resorting to external forces like elixirs!

"Five and a half months is not a long time, nor is it short. The only thing I can rely on is the Six Transformations of the Mad Demon. Although I know many battle techniques, I cannot yet unleash their full power."

"Moreover, since the first transformation of the Mad Demon involves burning Blood Essence, during this period, I need to increase my cultivation while also enhancing my own Blood Essence. If I can master the Myriad Heavens Battle Art, that would be even better."

Although Qin Yu created the Myriad Heavens Battle Art, that didn't mean he knew how to use it. It still required long periods of practice!

After pondering for a moment, Qin Yu made up his mind and got up to leave. He then noticed Xue'er and the Thirteenth Princess, Long Yu, standing not far away. Xiao Tao and Xiao Hua were squatting in the distance, whispering to each other. Sensing Qin Yu emerging, they both looked up and cast complex glances at him.

"Brother..." Qin Xue called out and ran over, standing in front of Qin Yu. She looked up at him with red eyes and nervously asked, "Brother... are you really going to fight Cui Shuo in five months?"

Qin Yu glanced at Long Yu, then affectionately wiped away the tears on Qin Xue's cheeks and said softly, "Didn't you say you wanted your brother to protect you? If I can't even defeat Cui Shuo, how can I protect you, Xue'er?"

"But... Xue'er doesn't need Brother to protect her. Xue'er just wants Brother to be safe. Brother, you have to promise Xue'er that you'll definitely win against Cui Shuo, okay?" Qin Xue, who was shorter than Qin Yu by a head, hugged him tightly and whispered.

Qin Yu stroked Qin Xue's hair and smiled, "Of course, Brother is actually very powerful." As he spoke, Qin Yu looked at Xiao Tao in the distance and said, "Xiao Tao, bring me ink and brush."

Xiao Tao hadn't recovered from her shock when Xiao Hua turned and ran off to get the ink and brush. Xiao Hua now admired Qin Yu to the point of prostration and was exceptionally reverent towards him. Back then, although Xiao Hua was injured during Qin Yu's fight with Cui Shuo, she hadn't fainted and had been secretly watching. It had to be said that Qin Yu's ferocity had profoundly impacted Xiao Hua.

"Thirteenth Princess, thank you for your help these past two times." Qin Yu said gratefully, glancing at Long Yu. Regardless of whether Long Yu approached him with an agenda, her two interventions had moved him.

Long Yu's pretty face flushed slightly, and she feigned composure, "Brother Qin is too polite. Xiao Xue and I are friends, and I also can't stand the arrogance of the Cui family." Long Yu had long heard that the Qin family's third son, Qin Yu, had feelings for her. In the past, Long Yu had little contact with Qin Yu, but Qin Yu's fight with Cui Shuo had made Long Yu's heart flutter, showing signs of a young girl's infatuation. Coupled with the rumors of Qin Yu secretly watching her, this made Long Yu somewhat shy.

Long Yu was two years older than Qin Yu, yet she had unconsciously begun calling Qin Yu "Brother." Long Yu herself hadn't even noticed this.

Qin Yu took in Long Yu's expression. After a moment of thought, Qin Yu asked, "The Thirteenth Princess's aptitude should be quite mediocre, right?"

Her originally rosy cheeks instantly turned pale. She bit her red lips tightly, not daring to meet Qin Yu's gaze.

"May I ask what cultivation technique the Thirteenth Princess practices?" Qin Yu inquired.

"Heavenly Dragon Art," Long Yu replied in a low voice. For some reason, facing Qin Yu's profound gaze at this moment, Long Yu instinctively felt a sense of inferiority. She had forgotten that she was a high and mighty princess, and Qin Yu was merely the son of a merchant.

"With the Princess's status, you shouldn't lack heavenly treasures, so why has your cultivation remained at the Martial Realm Second Level?" Qin Yu continued to press, seemingly oblivious to Long Yu's dejected mood.

"The imperial family is not as glorious as you might imagine. Mediocre aptitude means not receiving cultivation resources," Long Yu bit her red lips tightly. The clear, bright eyes were filled with intense unwillingness. This time, she even raised her head to meet Qin Yu's gaze.

Qin Yu was not surprised by what Long Yu said. Familial affection in imperial households was even more diluted. This Wu Kingdom was merely a puppet. As a princess, Long Yu was probably only outwardly glorious, and that was all.

"Mediocre aptitude indeed means remaining obscure for a lifetime. Perhaps, it would be best to simply give up," Qin Yu said, staring intently into Long Yu's eyes, word by word.

Long Yu's complexion turned even paler. Her breathing quickened, and her eyes, instead of the previous unwillingness, now held a sharp glint. To be precise, it was ambition and yearning. She met Qin Yu's gaze, tears welling up in her eyes, and whispered, "Does mediocre aptitude mean one is destined for mediocrity their entire life? I refuse to believe that I, Long Yu, will be mediocre forever! One day, I will break through the shackles and let everyone know that mediocre aptitude doesn't mean anything!!!"

Long Yu's latter words were almost shouted. As a princess, she enjoyed the admiring gazes of countless people, yet she possessed a heart that yearned for cultivation, dreaming of one day reaching the pinnacle of what she could see and becoming a true superior being!!

Qin Yu glanced at Long Yu with a complex expression, sensing the intense desire and unwillingness burning in her eyes. He said calmly, "I hope you'll always remember what you said today."

At that moment, Xiao Hua arrived with writing materials, and Xiao Tao hurried over with a table. Qin Yu immediately picked up a brush, dipped it in ink, and began writing rapidly on the Xuan paper.

A moment later, before the four of them could even see what Qin Yu was writing, he finished. He handed one piece of Xuan paper to Xiao Tao and Xiao Hua, saying, "Memorize it well, then destroy it!" As he spoke, he handed the other sheet to Long Yu, who was clenching her fists, her eyes blurred with tears.

"You all can look at these here. If you can cultivate it, then cultivate the spiritual art on the paper. Xue'er, come with me to Father's," Qin Yu said. Qin Xue nodded suspiciously.

The two of them left the small courtyard and walked down the main road. Once Qin Yu was sure no one was around, he whispered, as if a mosquito were buzzing, "Memorize this incantation. Absolutely do not reveal this art to anyone!" As he spoke, Qin Yu whispered a passage into Qin Xue's ear. This incantation was none other than the Heavenly Dao Immortal Art! Qin Yu decided to let Qin Xue cultivate it first and would help her perfect it later.

Although Qin Xue was suspicious, she diligently memorized the incantation.

After confirming Qin Xue had memorized it, Qin Yu took out an envelope. "Take this envelope to the Myriad Phenomena Pill Shop later and ask for Alchemist Zi, Zi Xun'er. Also, give her a message for me: 'Someone told you not to let this happen again!' Alright? Remember to go and cultivate what you just memorized. Also, I'll be leaving the Qin Manor for a few months, so tell Father then, okay?"

"Brother... where are you going?" Qin Xue asked nervously and worriedly.

"Of course, it's to improve my strength. Alright, go to Father's place. Take this Spirit Stone with you. If anything happens with the Qin Family, place this Spirit Stone in the groove under the alchemical cauldron in my room. For this period, try to stay within the Qin Manor as much as possible, understood?"

Meanwhile.

Long Yu stared blankly at the bold characters on the paper, her delicate body trembling violently. Her eyes narrowed, and tears streamed down her face like a broken string of pearls. However, a look of ecstatic joy appeared on her exquisite face.