Dual Cultivation Method

Breaking through to the Breath-Connecting Realm did not bring him even the slightest increase in raw power.

After breaking through to this realm, many aspects do not skyrocket out of thin air; instead, they manifest through subsequent progress.

However, it was not entirely without effect; the most obvious improvement was in his body's recovery ability.

Lin Xuan took a knife and made a cut on his finger. As it bled, he immediately wiped the blood away.

According to the Grand Ancestor Internal Strength, this small wound should be completely healed by tomorrow at the latest, and he was verifying whether this record was true.

If it were true, and his physical recovery was several times higher than that of an ordinary person, then he would no longer fear common blade and sword wounds.

Lin Xuan suddenly had a hellish thought: "For a martial artist in the Breath-Connecting Realm, can one really endure a thousand cuts of death?"

He immediately shook his head: "I'll catch a Qiangqu People to test it later."

The decoctions he had been boiling were now of negligible use for the Breath-Connecting Realm, so he planned to give them directly to Lin An.

Lin Xuan was currently in the small courtyard of the Qin Family at the Thousand-Household Office. His mother, Chen Fang, was already asleep, while Lin An was practicing martial arts in the courtyard, keeping watch to prevent anyone from intruding and disturbing his breakthrough.

He crept out of bed and opened the door.

The young girl in the courtyard was bathed in moonlight, her hair tied in a high ponytail. She wore clean, sharp, and easy-to-maneuver martial attire, practicing the Four Extremes Fist he had taught her, move by move.

During this time, Lin An's progress had not been significant because her talent was not outstanding. Previously, she could rely on the meat of the Black Bear Spirit to surge forward, but that condition no longer existed.

Hearing the sound of the door being pushed open, she looked back to see Lin Xuan watching her with a smile.

"Looking at that expression, you've broken through to the Breath-Connecting Realm."

Lin Xuan raised his head proudly: "That's right, I stepped into the Breath-Connecting Realm on my first attempt."

Lin An finished her stance, moonlight catching the fine beads of sweat on her forehead.

Her brows curved into a faint smile: "I knew you would succeed."

A hint of imperceptible gloom was wrapped within the joy in Lin An's eyes.

She had been practicing diligently for many days, yet she hadn't even reached the middle stage of Bone Binding, while Lin Xuan had steadily broken into the Breath-Connecting Realm from the peak of Bone Binding in just half a month. The gap between them was widening.

She lowered her head, her voice extremely soft: "You are getting stronger and stronger, yet I am still standing in place. I fear that in the future, I won't even be able to lend you a hand."

Lin Xuan shook his head: "What are you saying? During this time, I've relied on you to take care of me and Mother.

Those decoctions are useless to me now. From now on, you take all five doses every month; you should be able to catch up soon.

Besides... I heard that there is a path of dual cultivation in martial arts that can accelerate the speed of practice. Once dawn breaks, let's go find Thousand-Household Commander Su and see if we can get our hands on it to see if it works."

His natural cultivation could increase his speed sevenfold; he wondered if dual cultivation would also bring high-speed improvements to the other person.

"Dual cultivation? What does that mean?" Lin An asked, not understanding; this was beyond her scope of knowledge.

"It means a man and a woman practicing together to harmonize Yin and Yang."

Lin An still didn't quite understand, her expression now wearing a look as if there were a question mark floating above her head.

"You'll know when I get the dual cultivation technique." Lin Xuan couldn't explain it clearly either.

He actually wanted to replicate a martial arts prodigy talent for Lin An, but when he reached his talent pool and wanted to consume Dao Rhyme points to replicate it, he discovered that copying such a talent actually required ten points of Dao Rhyme.

Copying the Martial Dao Holy Fetus was even more expensive, requiring twenty-five Dao Rhyme points. He currently had zero points.

After dawn, Lin Xuan arrived at the gate of Thousand-Household Commander Su's residence.

"Flag Commander Lin Xuan, here to pay a visit to Thousand-Household Commander Su." Lin Xuan explained his purpose to the servant at the residence.

Soon, he was led into the living room of Thousand-Household Commander Su's house.

"Why is Flag Commander Lin here to see me so early? There must be some good news, right?" Thousand-Household Commander Su wore a smile, his gaze toward Lin Xuan filled with a bit more expectation.

He replied respectfully: "Commander, I have already broken through to the Breath-Connecting Realm."

Thousand-Household Commander Su laughed: "It seems I guessed correctly. Your talent is indeed extraordinary. To enter the Breath-Connecting Realm in three months—the future is promising, truly promising!"

"I have already reported your talent, and perhaps before long, it will reach Commander-in-Chief Li."

"Many thanks, Thousand-Household Commander Su."

Thousand-Household Commander Su waved his hand: "No need for thanks. This is just the standard procedure. Once any martial arts genius in the army is verified, they are reported to the imperial court."

"Commander Su, I would like to ask, does our army have any methods for dual cultivation?"

Upon hearing this, Thousand-Household Commander Su had a smile he couldn't hold back: "Hahaha, Flag Commander Lin Xuan, you really know how to joke. How could the army have such methods?

Does Flag Commander Lin have a martial artist wife?"

He felt it was quite strange, as generally speaking, not many women practiced martial arts, and few were willing to endure such hardship. Except for those from wealthy families who might have their daughters practice, few people invested resources into women unless they were truly geniuses.

"That is indeed the case. Does Commander Su know where one might obtain such a thing?" Lin Xuan continued to ask.

Thousand-Household Commander Su replied: "Such techniques are rare, but not non-existent. There is a sect in Wuqu Province called the Qiyun Sect that has them, but they are not under our military jurisdiction. If you really want one, I'm afraid it will involve quite a bit of trouble."

"About how much silver would it cost?" Lin Xuan asked.

"I wouldn't know, as I've never asked.

If you want it, I can lend you two hundred taels of silver. You can pay me back whenever you have the money; I won't charge you interest." Thousand-Household Commander Su did not have the intention of simply gifting it to Lin Xuan.

Giving money is a condescending bestowal, which would easily make Lin Xuan feel like he was receiving "charity," whereas an interest-free or low-interest loan is help offered in a time of need.

"Then many thanks to Thousand-Household Commander Su, though I feel some interest should still be paid."

Thousand-Household Commander Su clapped his hands and laughed, his eyes filled with indulgence for a genius:

"Why speak of interest between us?"

He immediately summoned his steward, took two hundred taels of silver, placed them into a silk pouch, and handed the heavy weight into Lin Xuan's hands.

"Many thanks for the assistance, Thousand-Household Commander Su."

Lin Xuan then asked: "However, I have one more question. What exactly happened to those rebels? Has Commander-in-Chief Li wiped them out yet?"

Thousand-Household Commander Su pondered for a moment: "This matter has spread throughout the military camp; you didn't know?"

He then seemed to recall something and thought: That's right, he has been in seclusion these past few days attempting to break through to the Breath-Connecting Realm, so it is normal for him to be cut off from information.

He clarified the situation for Lin Xuan:

"Several days ago, Commander-in-Chief Li joined forces with Commander-in-Chief Hong to rout the tens of thousands of troops under King Cui, Zhao Chengde. Zhao Chengde was left with only twenty-some riders and fled toward Phoenix-Perch Ridge. Right now, the main army is likely searching for Zhao Chengde within Phoenix-Perch Ridge."

"With two elite imperial armies and several Martial Saint experts surrounding him, he is likely beyond saving. Now, the imperial court can finally catch its breath."

Lin Xuan's heart tightened, and he felt a sense of pity for the plight of this Righteous Army leader.

In the end, he still couldn't defeat the imperial court? A hero like this shouldn't fall so soon. I truly wish to meet him as an equal to discuss the Dao!