Qian Renxue is Crippled

Half a stick of incense passed in silence. Qian Renxue and Qian Renyou opened their eyes almost simultaneously, a flash of realization crossing their gazes.

"Master, I understand." Two youthful yet resolute voices resonated within the sea of consciousness, perfectly in sync.

"Good." Chen Qingxuan nodded. With a wave of his hand, a gentle energy enveloped Qian Renxue's soul. "Xiaoxue, return to your physical body first."

The golden soul dissipated, merging into the body.

"Master, I want to go out and play too!" Seeing this, Qian Renyou immediately leaned toward Chen Qingxuan, her purple pupils blinking as she acted spoiled. "Since you pulled Qian Renxue back, why not let me out for a stroll?"

Chen Qingxuan looked at her expectant eyes and said calmly, "There will be opportunities in the future. Focus on your cultivation for now. Once your soul power surpasses Xiaoxue's, I will let you out."

"Really?"

Qian Renyou's eyes lit up. She clenched her small fists and nodded vigorously. "Okay! I will definitely work hard and surpass her!"

With that, she turned, sat cross-legged, and closed her eyes to begin contemplating the method of soul nourishment, her silver-white hair shimmering faintly amidst the sea of clouds.

Outside, Qian Renxue snapped her eyes open, a glimmer of clarity flashing through her golden pupils.

She rolled off the bed and stretched her limbs, feeling the familiar sensations of her body, and a genuine smile appeared on her face. "It feels so good to have a body."

Just then, she subconsciously channeled her soul power, intending to summon her martial soul.

A flicker of light appeared behind her, and the vague phantom of a Six-Winged Angel emerged. However, those holy wings were dim and lusterless, their edges even appearing illusory, as if they might dissipate at any moment.

Within mere seconds, the phantom vanished into the air like bubbles.

"How is this possible?" The smile on Qian Renxue's face froze instantly. She hurriedly looked inward, only to find her dantian completely empty. The soul power that once flowed freely had vanished without a trace, and even the two yellow and one purple soul rings she possessed were gone.

"Where is my soul power? Where are my soul rings? How could they be... gone..." Her voice trembled, her golden pupils filled with panic as her small hands gripped her collar tightly.

"Master! Master!" she called out in her mind, her voice laced with sobs. "My soul power is gone, and my soul rings are gone too! What is going on?"

Chen Qingxuan's voice echoed in her mind, slow and steady: "Xiaoxue, your soul power and soul rings were crushed by me."

"Cr-crushed?" Qian Renxue felt as if she had been struck by lightning. She froze in place, her golden pupils wide, all color draining from her face until she was deathly pale.

She opened her mouth, her throat feeling as if it were blocked, and it took a long time to squeeze out a few words: "Can... can they be restored?"

"No." Chen Qingxuan's voice remained devoid of any ripples. "I crushed them myself; there is absolutely no possibility of recovery."

Qian Renxue's expression solidified, and then, as if all her strength had been drained away, her body swayed, and she nearly collapsed.

Her gaze shifted from initial shock to disbelief, and finally to deep despair—that was the talent she took pride in, the foundation of her status as the Young Mistress of Martial Soul Hall, and the leverage for her future revival of the sect. Now, it had been crushed by her own master, with not even a shred of hope for restoration.

Her golden pupils quickly filled with tears, and large droplets rolled down without warning.

"Waaah—" The suppressed emotions finally erupted. Qian Renxue could no longer hold back; she crouched on the floor and wept bitterly, her cries filled with despair and grievance.

"Why... why did you crush my soul power? That was mine... mine..." She cried heart-wrenchingly, her small body trembling from the violent sobbing, as if the sky had collapsed upon her.

"Although they cannot be restored, they can be cultivated anew." Chen Qingxuan's voice sounded once more.

The crying stopped abruptly.

Qian Renxue jerked her head up, her vision blurred by tears, and she choked out, "Master... are you telling the truth? Can... can soul power be cultivated again?"

"In my world, there are many who are born with extraordinary talent. Some possess immense power from birth, and the most gifted can even manifest as gods or reach the Void Return realm."

Chen Qingxuan said slowly, "Yet, this power is often crushed by their own parents, only for them to start their cultivation over step by step."

"Why?" Qian Renxue asked, confused. "Isn't it good to have powerful strength from birth? Why destroy it?"

"Being born with power is naturally a good thing." Chen Qingxuan's voice carried a sense of distance.

"But this power can also become a shackle, limiting your path forward. The more power you are born with, the greater the restriction. One day, it will become a barrier to your progress, causing you to stagnate."

Qian Renxue's face fell, her small mouth pouting in frustration. "Is my innate soul power... really that pathetic and useless?"

"It is useful." Chen Qingxuan dismissed her thought. "Innate bone structure is divided into nine grades, with the first being the lowest and the ninth the highest."

"Those born with power often have better innate bone structure and may even awaken special constitutions."

"After dissipating your original cultivation to start over, the dispersed power will nourish your bone structure, making your potential even greater."

"Your original bone structure was grade five, lower tier. After absorbing your own soul power and soul rings, it has now improved to grade five, middle tier."

"Only grade five..." Qian Renxue muttered, her face full of disappointment, the light fading from her golden pupils. "That's so low..."

"Grade one is for ordinary people, grade two can begin cultivation, grade three is considered to have some talent, grade four is already a genius, and grade five is worthy of being called a prodigy."

Chen Qingxuan comforted her, "Your talent is already very good. At the very least, in this world, you can be considered among the very best."

Qian Renxue looked up and asked curiously, "Master, what grade are you?"

"Above the ninth grade." Chen Qingxuan said calmly.

Qian Renxue was stunned. She opened her mouth but couldn't find the words to speak. Above the ninth grade... what kind of concept was that?

She couldn't imagine it, so she buried the shock deep in her heart, her gaze gradually becoming firm—even if she was only grade five, middle tier now, she would work hard to cultivate; at the very least, she wouldn't let her master look down on her.

"Xiaoxue, focus on body refinement and soul nourishment." Chen Qingxuan's voice sounded again. "Once your body refinement reaches its peak, you can guide energy into your body. At that time, the primordial energy you cultivate will, according to the rules of this world, naturally convert into soul power. Then, you will be able to cultivate normally."

"Master, how long will it take for me to guide energy into my body?" Qian Renxue clenched her small fists, her eyes full of anticipation.

"That depends on your talent and effort." Chen Qingxuan recalled, "Your master began learning martial arts at six, reached the peak of body refinement at eight, and successfully guided energy into my body to become a Qi-refining cultivator. With your aptitude, it should be quite fast."

Qian Renxue's eyes lit up instantly, the previous frustration and despair swept away. "Really? Master!"

"Xiaoxue, go tell your subordinates to collect medicinal herbs," Chen Qingxuan said, shifting the topic. "I need all kinds of herbs, regardless of their age. Prepare one of each and have them delivered here as soon as possible."

Qian Renxue looked puzzled. "Master, what are the herbs for?"

"Body tempering requires the assistance of medicinal herbs to brew a quenching liquid," Chen Qingxuan explained. "If you want to guide Qi into your body as quickly as possible, these herbs are indispensable."

"Understood! I'll go right now!" Qian Renxue nodded immediately, turned, and walked quickly to the door, pulling it open.

Outside the door, Snake Lance Douluo and Porcupinefish Douluo were standing guard. Seeing the door open, they immediately stepped forward. "Young Mistress, do you have any orders?"

Qian Renxue looked at Snake Lance Douluo, her tone carrying a hint of urgency. "Uncle Snake Lance, I need a large quantity of medicinal herbs. All varieties and all ages are required. The more, the better, and the more comprehensive, the better. Please have someone prepare them and deliver them here as quickly as possible."

Although Snake Lance Douluo was confused, he did not ask any questions, bowing respectfully. "Yes, Young Mistress. This subordinate will arrange it immediately." With that, he turned and walked toward the courtyard gate with rapid strides.

Qian Renxue watched his retreating figure until he disappeared outside the courtyard gate, then slowly closed the door and turned back into the room.