Level Ten, Considerations

After returning home, the kitchen was not yet filled with the aroma of food. Clearly, dinner was still some time away.

Na'er set down her little backpack, tugged on Xu Mengqing's sleeve, and shook it. Her violet eyes sparkled. "Big brother, we don't have to eat yet. Will you play with me for a while?"

Seeing Na'er's adorable, expectant expression, Xu Mengqing's heart softened, and he nodded in agreement.

The two began playing around in the living room. Na'er stood on tiptoe and reached for the little cloth doll Xu Mengqing deliberately held high above her. Her silver hair fluttered lightly as she ran, and her laughter rang as crisply as wind chimes. It echoed among the pots of Blue Silver Grass throughout the house, making the tender blades tremble gently as though they were sharing in her joy.

After playing for nearly an hour, Na'er was breathing slightly hard, her little cheeks flushed red. Xu Mengqing rubbed her head and said gently, "Na'er, play by yourself in the living room. Don't run around. Big brother is going to cultivate in the backyard for a while. Mom will call us when dinner is ready."

"Okay!" Na'er nodded obediently, hugging her little cloth doll as she sat on a small stool covered with a soft cushion. She did not forget to remind him, "Big brother, go cultivate. I won't disturb you. I'll wait for you right here!"

Xu Mengqing smiled and agreed before turning to cross the living room and head into the backyard.

As he pushed open the little door to the backyard, the rich vitality of grass and trees instantly enveloped him. Greenery filled his vision. In the expanded backyard, the Blue Silver Grass both inside and outside the Bagua Formation grew luxuriantly. Faint blue light flickered among the blades. When the breeze passed through, waves of grass rolled one atop another, rippling with soft blue radiance. Even the air became sweet, fresh, and warm.

He walked directly to the round bluestone slab at the very center of the Bagua Formation, stopped, and slowly sat cross-legged. He adjusted his posture and assumed the standard five-hearts-facing-heaven meditation pose—his legs crossed, his palms resting lightly on his knees and facing upward, the Baihui point atop his head facing the sky, both palms and the soles of both feet turned upward. His posture was upright, his back straight, without the slightest tilt.

The moment he settled down, the surrounding Blue Silver Grass seemed to sense his presence. It all stopped swaying in the wind and fell silent at once. Then, threads of pale green life radiance slowly seeped from the blades and gently gathered toward him at the center of the formation.

Xu Mengqing closed his eyes and completely cast aside the distracting thoughts in his mind. His consciousness sank inward, his breathing gradually becoming long and steady as it slowly aligned with the life rhythm of the surrounding Blue Silver Grass.

In an instant, he formed a powerful life resonance with the Blue Silver Grass filling the yard. Even the Blue Silver Grass by the distant roadside and in the corners of the courtyard sent him faint thoughts of affinity.

The sparse energy of heaven and earth was drawn by this resonance, gathering continuously into the Bagua Formation. It turned into tiny gleaming white particles that twined among the Blue Silver Grass blades before slowly flowing into his body through the radiance on the leaves, where his two Martial Souls converted it into Soul Power.

Time passed bit by bit. The Blue Silver Grass swayed gently, emitting soft light as it gathered spiritual energy for him.

After an unknown amount of time, the Soul Power within Xu Mengqing's body finally broke through that thin layer of restraint.

"Bzz—"

A soft sound exploded within him. Dense level-ten Soul Power suddenly erupted, and a pale green radiance enveloped him, intertwining with the light of the Blue Silver Grass throughout the yard until the entire residence seemed to light up.

Xu Mengqing slowly opened his eyes. A flash of golden light vanished from his gaze as he extended his right hand, and a stalk of Blue Silver Grass slowly rose from his palm.

This stalk of Blue Silver Grass bore faint golden patterns that were easy to overlook, clinging to its roots and stem.

I finally broke through to level ten. With just one Spirit Ring... one Spirit Soul, I can become a true Spirit Master!

Xu Mengqing rose to his feet and stretched his limbs. His entire body brimmed with strength.

Xu Mengqing could feel that his level-ten Soul Power was exceptionally dense. He was now stronger than he had ever been before.

Looking outside the courtyard, he saw that the sky had already darkened slightly. The evening glow stained half the horizon red, while the Blue Silver Grass in the backyard shimmered with soft blue light in the twilight. The patterns of the Bagua Formation appeared and disappeared, protecting this little world with a cozy warmth.

Just then, Meng Ling'er's gentle call came from the front courtyard.

"Meng Qing, Na'er, dinner is ready! Come eat quickly."

Xu Mengqing raised his hand and dismissed the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul in his palm. After straightening his clothes, he headed toward the door. The moment he pushed open the little door, he saw Na'er hugging her cloth doll and sitting obediently on the small stool. As soon as she saw him emerge, her eyes immediately lit up, and she skipped over to him.

"Big brother! You're done cultivating!"

Na'er tilted up her little face, her silver hair falling around her shoulders and her violet eyes full of delight. She gently took his hand. "Mom made so many delicious things. Let's go!"

Xu Mengqing looked down at her innocent expression, his heart softening completely. He smiled and nodded. "All right, let's go eat."

Holding Na'er's tiny hand, he walked into the warmly lit living room.

Steaming dishes had already been set on the table, their fragrance filling the air. Xu Zhan sat at the head of the table. When he saw his son enter, his gaze swept lightly over him. Surprise immediately flashed through his eyes before turning into satisfaction.

"Qing, you... broke through?"

Xu Mengqing nodded slightly. His tone was calm, though his joy was hard to conceal. "Yes, Dad. I just broke through to level ten in the backyard."

Meng Ling'er came out of the kitchen carrying soup. Upon hearing this, she paused and looked at her son in delighted surprise. "Really? Level ten? Then our Qing will soon become a true Spirit Master!"

She hurried over and gently stroked Xu Mengqing's head, her eyes filled with pride and affection.

"Big brother, you're amazing!"

Na'er also came to Xu Mengqing's side and offered her congratulations with a smile.

Although Na'er felt an inexplicable discomfort whenever she heard the words "Spirit Master," when she learned that Xu Mengqing was about to advance and become one, none of those strange feelings arose within her. There was only boundless joy and happiness.

Xu Zhan laughed happily. "As expected of my son."

Meng Ling'er shot him a glance.

Xu Zhan paid no attention to his wife's glare and said happily, "All right, Qing. Have you decided what Spirit Soul you want?"

Hearing that, Xu Mengqing sat down beside the table. His gaze swept gently over his parents' faces, and his calm tone carried a trace of certainty.

"Dad, Mom, I already have a target in mind."

He put down his chopsticks and voiced his thoughts. "My Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass, and its greatest characteristic is its powerful vitality. So when choosing a Spirit Soul, I lean toward one with a life attribute, or perhaps a plant-type Spirit Soul with powerful vitality."

Xu Zhan nodded. "A Spirit Soul with powerful vitality?"

"Since you've decided, I'll take you to acquire a Spirit Soul tomorrow!"

Xu Mengqing nodded.

The next day,

Xu Mengqing asked Lin Ximeng for leave, and under Xu Zhan's guidance, the two soon arrived at the Spirit Pagoda in Aolai City.