The Wonders of the Devouring Physique

"Eh, Father, how did you cultivate so much spiritual power in just one night?"

Seedling's voice was full of surprise:

"Are you really only a Five-Element Spiritual Root?"

Based on Jiang Fu'an's description just now, she immediately sensed that something was off.

The effect Father had gained after taking a Qi-Nourishing Pill was nearly enough to rival the progress she made after taking one herself.

One had to know that she possessed a Three-Element Spiritual Root, and both her cultivation environment and cultivation method were far beyond anything Father could compare to.

Hearing his daughter's question slip out, Jiang Fu'an felt a surge of secret delight.

It seemed the Devouring Physique was truly marvelous. It was effective not only with spirit food; even its absorption of medicinal pills far surpassed that of ordinary people.

If that was the case, then perhaps his dreadful cultivation aptitude could truly be made up for with pills.

He calculated silently, yet put on an uncertain expression as he explained:

"Perhaps it's the Qi-Nourishing Pill's doing... I feel that its effects seem even better than what you told me before."

His daughter was the person he trusted most in this world.

As long as he did not expose the secret of his golden finger, there was no need to hide anything else from her.

Besides, he could not hide it anyway.

If his cultivation speed continued to greatly surpass that of an ordinary Five-Element Spiritual Root in the future, he would need a plausible explanation sooner or later.

"So that's how it is..."

Seedling nodded thoughtfully. Then her eyes suddenly lit up:

"Father, perhaps you possess some special physique!

"If that's true, then you may even have hope of reaching Foundation Establishment someday!"

The more she spoke, the more excited she became. Reaching for the storage pouch at her waist, she took out a delicate white porcelain bottle and held it before Jiang Fu'an.

"Take this bottle of Qi-Nourishing Pills too!"

There had only been two bottles of Qi-Nourishing Pills in the Storage Ring. Last night, father and daughter had already divided them up:

One bottle each.

He immediately waved his hand, his tone firm:

"Didn't we already agree on this? Why are you giving them to Father again? If you truly want to help Father, then focus on your own cultivation. Once you reach Foundation Establishment, it won't be too late to help Father then."

The Ancestral Home's current upgrade requirements were: one thousand mu of fertile fields, one Qi Refining Mid-Stage cultivator, and two Qi Refining Early-Stage cultivators within the family.

Naturally, the burden of advancing to the Qi Refining Mid-Stage had to fall on Seedling's shoulders.

That burden was no light one. How could he instead take up his daughter's cultivation resources?

Seeing her lips move as if she still wanted to say something, Jiang Fu'an simply rose to his feet.

"Enough. Father is tired. I'm going to get some proper sleep first."

Without waiting for Seedling's response, he walked over to the rattan chair by the window, lay down fully clothed, and closed his eyes.

Seedling watched her father's back, and in the end, swallowed the words that had reached her lips.

Silently, she put the porcelain bottle back into her pouch, then walked to the bed in the inner room and gently lay down.

She was only at the Qi Refining Second Layer now, not much different from an ordinary mortal. She likewise needed sleep to recover her energy.

Jiang Fu'an did not fall asleep immediately.

His thoughts inevitably turned to how the Devouring Physique had greatly enhanced his absorption of medicinal power from pills.

During the Qi Refining Period, medicinal pills that aided cultivation could still be purchased outside.

But as one's realm rose, such pills would only become scarcer, and their prices would surely rise with the tide.

If he truly wanted to take the path of cultivating through pill-popping in the future, then the family would have to nurture its own alchemist.

I only hope that the Ancestral Home will produce some building related to alchemy in the future, or that one of my descendants will turn out to have talent for alchemy...

Thinking silently, his consciousness finally began to blur.

He slept especially deeply.

When he woke, the sky beyond the window had turned orange-red. The setting sun hung slantwise over the mountain ridge, nearly gone.

Jiang Fu'an had only just sat up when a distinct rumble sounded from his stomach.

Only then did he realize that he had gone nearly the entire day without eating.

Turning toward the bed, he saw that Seedling was still lying quietly there, her eyes shut tight as she slept soundly.

He walked over to the bedside and called softly:

"Seedling, wake up. Let's go out and get something to eat."

Seedling groggily raised a hand to rub her eyes, her voice soft and drowsy.

"Father... what time is it? With you beside me, I slept especially soundly."

"The sun is almost setting. Get up quickly."

Jiang Fu'an smiled and turned to fetch water from the shelf to wash up.

Once he had finished tidying himself, he turned back only to find Seedling still lying on the bed, her eyes wide open as she stared blankly at the beams overhead.

"What's wrong? What are you spacing out for?"

Hearing him, Seedling came back to herself. She turned her face toward him, her gaze serious.

"Father, I still want to give you another gift."

This time, Jiang Fu'an did not refuse.

After pondering for a moment, he nodded.

"Since you insist... help me buy a basic manual on drawing talismans.

"I obtained a talisman brush in that cave dwelling before. I've always wanted to try it and see whether I have any talent in this area."

Seedling was somewhat surprised at first, but then remembered that the family could indeed produce some talisman paper now.

They had already met the most basic requirements for drawing talismans.

Since Father wanted to give it a try, there was no harm in it.

She immediately perked up and sprang upright.

"Father, wait for me a moment. Let's go to the market and look for one right away!"

She nimbly climbed out of bed and began washing up and getting ready.

About a quarter of an hour later, father and daughter walked out of their room one after the other.

By coincidence, the wooden door to the guest room opposite them also opened with a creak.

Sun Xiuyuan and Ma Ping emerged, yawning as they walked out.

Jiang Fu'an could not help smiling at the sight.

"You two just woke up as well?"

Sun Xiuyuan rubbed his forehead hard and admitted frankly:

"Indeed! I drank rather late with Brother Ma last night.

"Also, my daughter has matters to attend to in her sect today and isn't going out, so I took the chance to be lazy and sleep a little longer."

As he spoke, he noticed Seedling following Jiang Fu'an out behind him, and surprise appeared on his face.

"Seedling didn't return to the Melodious Sound Sect last night?"

Seedling stepped forward half a pace, smiling faintly at the two men as she greeted them politely.

"Hello, Uncle Sun. Hello, Uncle Ma. Father rarely comes here, so I wanted to spend more time with him and didn't go back."

After a pause, she politely invited them again:

"We were just planning to get something to eat on the street. Would you two uncles like to join us?"

"No, no!"

Sun Xiuyuan hurriedly waved his hand with a cheerful smile.

"You father and daughter should enjoy your time together. We won't intrude."

They watched Jiang Fu'an and Seedling walk side by side down the stairs, their figures vanishing around the corner.

Only then did Sun Xiuyuan withdraw his gaze. He sighed to Ma Ping beside him, his tone full of envy.

"Tell me, how did Brother Fu'an raise such a thoughtful and sensible daughter?"

Ma Ping chuckled at that.

He understood that Sun Xiuyuan envied the deep affection between the father and daughter, but such a bond could not be forced.

He reached out and patted Sun Xiuyuan's shoulder, his tone carrying the reflections of someone who had lived through more.

"If you ask me, a girl like Seedling is the exception.

"Once most children embark on the path of cultivation, their feelings for parents who remain mortals will gradually fade.

"And the higher their cultivation becomes, the more common this is.

"Seedling is only at the Qi Refining Second Layer now and has not been on the path for long.

"In my opinion, after a few more years, it will probably be hard for father and daughter to avoid growing distant as well."

Those words did remind Sun Xiuyuan of something.

He nodded in agreement.

"That's true. Last year, I reviewed a case file about a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Not only did he fail to repay the family that had raised him, he only kept demanding more from them.

"In the end, when the family could not provide what he wanted, he actually attacked them and injured several of his own blood brothers..."