Chu Zhiyuan nodded slowly.
Song Chaoge let out a soft laugh. "Being Sect Leader is no different from being locked in prison. Just a prisoner—what is there worth doing?"
"Senior, only by becoming Sect Leader can one pursue a higher realm, right? Only then can one break through one's limits?"
"...That is true." Song Chaoge nodded lazily. "You reached the Ninth Turn at such a young age. Naturally, you want to pursue greater heights."
She turned to Li Hongzhao, who stood smiling at the side. "Hongzhao, you need to work harder. Do not let him leave you too far behind."
Li Hongzhao smiled. "Master, I can surpass him."
"Ambitious." Song Chaoge chuckled.
"Master does not believe me?"
"You are far behind him now."
"Isn't it just the Ninth Turn?"
"The Ninth Turn is not all the same." Song Chaoge shook her head. "Even if you enter the Ninth Turn, your Ninth Turn will still be far inferior to his."
"You praise me too highly, Senior," Chu Zhiyuan said with a smile.
It seemed she could sense the depths of his cultivation and knew how formidable his Spiritual Power was.
Song Chaoge sighed and shook her head. "I originally did not want you to practice this secret art. It is too grueling, too painful. But now it seems that not practicing it will not do."
"Master, what secret art?"
"One that tempers Spiritual Power," Song Chaoge said. "It is ten times more painful than cultivating one's bloodline."
A troubled expression immediately appeared on Li Hongzhao's face.
She already found circulating her bloodline painful enough, unbearably difficult.
This spiritual secret art was actually ten times more painful. That was far too frightening.
"That is why you should not practice it if you can avoid it," Song Chaoge said.
"Master, have you practiced