"Peak Qi Refining Stage Five? How could that be possible? You're a Qi Refiner in the Qi Refining Stage, and after consuming just one Red Fruit, even if you didn't reach Qi Refining Stage Perfection, you should at least have reached Qi Refining Stage Seven or Eight! Wait... what kind of Spiritual Root do you have?"
As she spoke, Shen Miaoyin suddenly remembered something and asked.
Su Shi'er flushed and said, "Mixed Spiritual Roots!"
Many people within the peak knew about his Spiritual Root, so it was no secret.
One Red Fruit had only raised his cultivation by one stage.
He couldn't help feeling somewhat disappointed, but it wasn't unacceptable.
After all, he had long known about the state of his Spiritual Root.
From the very beginning, he hadn't held out much hope.
Moreover, he still had two Red Fruits in hand.
That cultivation speed already satisfied him greatly.
"What... Mixed Spiritual Roots?! How did you cultivate to Qi Refining Stage Four in such a short time?"
Shen Miaoyin was utterly shocked.
Her usually indifferent expression collapsed at once, and she could no longer remain composed.
In her heart, she had always regarded Su Shi'er as Luofu Peak's trump card.
But when it came to Mixed Spiritual Roots, she couldn't imagine Lu Mingshi cultivating such a disciple.
"This... it was just a few personal fortuitous encounters." Su Shi'er gave an awkward smile and did not explain.
The secret of the mysterious Pill Furnace was something he intended to bury in his stomach.
It was impossible for him to tell anyone.
"For cultivators, fortuitous encounters are indeed an important part of the journey. However, you only have Mixed Spiritual Roots, so Foundation Establishment will be a problem in the future. You'd better make preparations early."
Shen Miaoyin spoke indifferently and did not press him further.
Instead, she calmly offered a reminder.
She had very little faith in Su Shi'er.
For cultivators, fortuitous encounters were certainly important, but very few people could keep having them.
Without good talent, the road ahead was extremely limited!
"Foundation Establishment... will be a problem?" Su Shi'er's expression shifted, and he hurriedly asked.
Shen Miaoyin's words were like a basin of cold water poured over his head.
His fairly good mood instantly turned ice-cold!
"A cultivator's realms are like ascending one heaven after another. Each stage is a shackle."
"The poorer one's aptitude, the stronger the shackle."
"Your usual cultivation is already this difficult. When you try to break through in the future, I'm afraid it will be harder than climbing to heaven."
Shen Miaoyin spoke lightly.
She wasn't denying Su Shi'er; she was simply stating the truth.
"Then... there's no other way?" Su Shi'er asked with a bitter expression.
He continued questioning her.
Even without Shen Miaoyin saying so, he had vaguely realized this problem.
He just hadn't expected it to be so difficult.
Perhaps because they had weathered danger together, Shen Miaoyin wasn't displeased by his questions.
She said calmly, "There are naturally ways!"
"First, you can rely on pills. For example, the Foundation Establishment Pill can increase the chances of Foundation Establishment."
"But the Foundation Establishment Pill is exceptionally precious, and your situation can't be solved with one or two pills."
"Second, there are cultivation arts. Some special cultivation arts can also increase the chances of Foundation Establishment."
"However, such cultivation arts are uncommon. The common ones instead place requirements on aptitude. Unless..."
As she spoke, Shen Miaoyin seemed to remember something and paused.
"Unless... what?" Su Shi'er asked cautiously.
Shen Miaoyin said calmly, "Unless you can cultivate to Qi Refining Twelve."
"If you break through with the cultivation of the Twelve Realms, and add a Foundation Establishment Pill, perhaps the odds will be somewhat better."
"In ancient times, Qi Refiners had a total of Twelve Realms."
"However, for cultivators, reaching the Twelve Realms took far too long."
"Thus, some cultivators tried to force their way into Foundation Establishment with lower cultivation."
"Over time, the current situation formed, with Qi Refining Stage Nine as the highest."
"The cultivation arts used afterward were also lost as time passed."
"Finding them won't be easy."
"If you're willing, you can start by looking in this direction."
Twelve Realms?!
Su Shi'er's heart jolted.
He immediately thought of the Lesser Heavenly Circulation Qi Cultivation Art.
That cultivation art was precisely a Qi Refining method with Twelve Realms.
He hurriedly clasped his fists toward Shen Miaoyin and expressed his gratitude.
"Thank you, Peak Master Shen. Your words have helped me greatly!"
Shen Miaoyin waved her hand indifferently.
Her expression began to turn cold.
"There's no need to thank me. Consider this payment for your help."
"The Spiritual Plant Garden's formation has been broken. You can leave on your own."
"After today, the connection between us ends here. If we meet again, we'll be strangers."
"You'd better forget what happened between us during this time!"
"If a third person besides you and me finds out, I absolutely won't let you off!"
As she spoke, Shen Miaoyin resumed her forbidding air.
She stared coldly at Su Shi'er, her eyes carrying a warning.
To her, what had happened this time was merely an accident.
With her talent, once she returned, she could condense her Golden Core and attain the Golden Core Dao.
With Spiritual Root aptitude like Su Shi'er's, the two of them were destined to have no further dealings.
"Don't worry. I'll bury this matter in my stomach." Su Shi'er shrank his neck and immediately assured her.
There was no benefit to him in telling anyone about this.
Instead, he would offend a prospective Golden Core expert.
He wasn't about to invite trouble upon himself.
Shen Miaoyin's words had also pointed him toward quite a bit of information.
He had already made up his mind to cultivate according to the Lesser Heavenly Circulation Qi Cultivation Art from now on.
If he wanted revenge, relying on Qi Refining Stage cultivation alone was definitely not enough.
As long as it could increase his chances of breaking through, he was willing to try any method.
After parting from Shen Miaoyin, Su Shi'er casually chose a direction and walked straight ahead.
Having finished plundering the Spiritual Plant Garden, he was virtually guaranteed to be promoted to Official Disciple.
There was no need to take further risks.
Next, he planned to find a secluded place and enter secluded cultivation.
Three days later, Su Shi'er cast the Wind Calling Technique.
With his feet treading the Illusory Step, he threaded through a stretch of towering mountains and steep ridges.
He was still wearing the Cloud-Treading Boots Shen Miaoyin had given him.
Since she hadn't asked for them back, there was no way he would take the initiative to return them.
After all, to buy time, he had damaged a Top-grade Defensive Magical Artifact.
As he walked, a burst of hurried footsteps suddenly rang out.
"Someone?"
Su Shi'er's brows twitched.
Without thinking, he restrained his aura and hid in a nearby clump of bushes.
He no longer had even a single Invisibility Talisman and could only use the bushes to conceal himself.
Soon, eleven figures appeared in his line of sight.
They were all disciples at Qi Refining Stage Two or Three.
There were men and women among them, disciples from various peaks, all fleeing in blind panic.
"Hm? It's a miracle these people have lasted until now. But what are they running from?"
His gaze swept over them, and Su Shi'er couldn't help feeling surprised.
As he muttered inwardly, his pupils suddenly contracted.
He saw a familiar figure among the crowd.
"Zhu Hanwei?! He's actually here! That fellow really is blessed with great fortune and a long life."
Su Shi'er observed from the shadows without revealing himself.
At that moment, the sound of something tearing through the air came from the distance.
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh..."
Six dark-green arrow-lights flashed past.
With lightning speed, they plunged into the fleeing crowd.
Immediately afterward, six figures came to an abrupt halt.
They collapsed while still running and died on the spot.
The remaining few didn't even have time to look back.
Each of them grew even more terrified and ran for their lives like madmen.
And the direction they were running in was precisely where Su Shi'er was hiding.
"Hm?!"
These people were actually being hunted as prey?
Who could be so cruel?!
Su Shi'er's expression tightened as he turned his gaze toward the distance.
Before you continue