Xu Qingtong closed his eyes in thought, slowly reviewing the Five Elixirs Origin Refinement Art in the Black Jade Slip and carefully contemplating its meaning.
Once he felt that everything had fallen into place, Xu Qingtong took out two spirit stones, held them in his hands, and began practicing the Five Elixirs Origin Refinement Art.
After he understood the principle of five elements generation, his efficiency in absorbing spiritual power improved greatly. As spiritual power entered his body, changes began to occur within him.
His dantian was already full, and his meridians began to ache and swell. He felt as though he was about to burst, but he persisted in absorbing spiritual qi, knowing that his breakthrough was imminent.
An hour passed. Xu Qingtong had replaced the spirit stones in his hands three times, but he still had not broken through.
It was not until evening, after Xu Qingtong had absorbed twelve spirit stones, that a sudden boom tore apart all his clothes. The swelling pain within him abruptly faded, and he broke through to the fourth layer of Qi Refining.
Hearing the commotion, Dongfang Hui hurried over.
Xu Qingtong still had his eyes closed, savoring the feeling of his breakthrough. Suddenly, a shrill "Ah!" startled him out of his contemplation.
He opened his eyes and found Dongfang Hui standing before him, her hands covering her face and her ears flushed red. Xu Qingtong froze. What was going on?
Then something seemed to occur to him. Looking down, Xu Qingtong reacted like someone had stepped on his tail. He sprang to his feet and dashed out of the cave entrance in a flash.
Before leaving the cave, he did not forget to say, "Sister Dongfang, I'll be right back. Don't come outside!"
And so, the sight of a young man running naked appeared in Mist Valley.
Xu Qingtong ran all the way to the pond without stopping. A few days earlier, this was where he had met Sister Dongfang. Reaching the water's edge, he plunged in without another word.
After enjoying a bath, washing away the black, foul-smelling substance that had seeped from his body, and changing into clean clothes, he finally returned to the cave.
Dongfang Hui seemed to have forgotten what she had seen earlier. With a hint of bashfulness, she said, "Qingtong, congratulations on advancing!"
"Uh, well, Sister Dongfang, are you hungry?" Remembering his earlier embarrassment, Xu Qingtong wanted to change the subject.
Dongfang Hui could tell that continuing to discuss cultivation would probably embarrass this little brother of hers. Understandingly, she nodded and said, "I've been hungry for ages. I was just waiting for you to get me something to eat!"
Xu Qingtong took Xiao Qi out for a short trip and brought back some wild game. After sharing dinner with Dongfang Hui, the two sat together and chatted.
"Qingtong, we've completed our trial tasks. We only need to hand the trial items over to any one of the sects, and we can become inner disciples!" Dongfang Hui said. "Which sect do you plan to join?"
Xu Qingtong paused. He really had not considered that question. He could not join Biluozong-Lu Mo had died at his hands, and heaven knew whether that would come to light. He did not want to join the Azure Sea Gate, either, and just a few days earlier, he had killed one of its disciples.
Of the Three Great Sects, only Gloomwind Valley had no connection to him. Rather than deciding immediately, he asked Dongfang Hui in return, "What are your plans, Sister Dongfang?"
Dongfang Hui said, "I'm quite interested in formations, and Biluozong has the greatest mastery of formations among the three sects. If it were up to me, I'd join Biluozong." Hearing this, Xu Qingtong immediately felt disappointed.
"But my family insists that I join Gloomwind Valley. That's why I asked you, to see where you were going," Dongfang Hui continued.
Hearing that Dongfang Hui had not yet made up her mind, Xu Qingtong quickly said, "I want to learn pill refinement, so I'm planning to join Gloomwind Valley."
"All right, then I'll join Gloomwind Valley too. That way, I can both follow my family's wishes and be in the same sect as you," Dongfang Hui said happily.
Upon hearing this, Xu Qingtong immediately stood and bowed to Dongfang Hui. "Junior Brother Qingtong pays his respects to Senior Sister!"
Knowing that he was teasing her, Dongfang Hui deliberately played along. "There's no need for such ceremony, Qingtong. Rise!" With that, she and Xu Qingtong both burst into laughter.
The two joked and teased each other a while longer before retiring to rest.
Xu Qingtong sat on the ground. Rather than rushing to cultivate, he kept turning things over in his mind.
He had now advanced to the fourth layer of Qi Refining, and both his magic power and divine sense had grown considerably. His magic power was unlikely to improve much in the short term, but his divine sense could still be strengthened.
He could also practice a few minor spells. After all, he still had about twenty days to spend in this cave. He might as well put the time to use.
Having settled on a plan, Xu Qingtong took the jade slip for the Turtle Breath Technique from his Storage Bag, extended his divine sense into it, and began studying the technique. Meanwhile, his other primordial spirit controlled his body, circulating the Five Elixirs Origin Refinement Art as he began cultivating.
The Turtle Breath Technique was a minor spell without an elemental attribute. Once mastered, it could conceal a person's vitality and presence, hiding them from probes of divine sense. Such minor spells were easy to practice, and Xu Qingtong learned it in a single night.
The next day, Xu Qingtong emerged from cultivation. Having mastered the Turtle Breath Technique, he wanted to test it, but Dongfang Hui had not yet awakened, so he could only wait patiently.
After a while, Dongfang Hui opened her eyes and sat up. Seeing that she was awake, Xu Qingtong hurried to the bedside and said excitedly, "Sister Dongfang, I've learned the Turtle Breath Technique. I'll go to the cave entrance and use it. Then probe with your divine sense and see whether you can find me."
Dongfang Hui nodded in agreement.
Xu Qingtong ran to the cave entrance and activated the Turtle Breath Technique. His vitality and presence gradually vanished.
A short while later, Dongfang Hui's voice reached him. "Qingtong, come back!"
Xu Qingtong returned inside and heard Dongfang Hui say, "Qingtong, this Turtle Breath Technique really is marvelous. I probed the cave entrance with my divine sense, and apart from Xiao Qi, I couldn't detect you at all."
Xu Qingtong said, "Sister Dongfang, haven't you studied the Turtle Breath Technique too? Try using it so I can take a look."
Dongfang Hui gave a wry smile. "I only studied it a little. I haven't practiced it. There's no magic power in my body, so how could I use it?"
Xu Qingtong came to the bedside, sat beside Dongfang Hui, and took her fair wrist to examine her condition.
After a short while, delight appeared on his face. "Sister Dongfang, there's no trace of Power-Dissolving Powder left in your body. My magic power circulated through you without encountering any obstruction, either. Try practicing your cultivation method and see whether you can gather magic power."
Hearing this, Dongfang Hui hurriedly sat cross-legged, formed a hand seal, and began practicing her cultivation method. Just as Xu Qingtong had said, she found that she could gather magic power.
Overjoyed, Dongfang Hui threw her arms around Xu Qingtong. "Yes! I can cultivate again!"
A fragrant breeze swept over Xu Qingtong's face, while two soft, springy mounds pressed against his chest and strands of her hair tickled his neck. He found it a little difficult to breathe. "Ahem, ahem. Uh, well, Sister Dongfang..."
Seeming to realize that she had lost her composure, Dongfang Hui blushed and pushed Xu Qingtong away. She lowered her head, stealing repeated glances at him.
Xu Qingtong felt as though his heart was about to leap out of his chest. "Uh, well, Sister Dongfang, it's time for breakfast!"
The next half month and more passed in quiet cultivation. While Xu Qingtong practiced the Five Elixirs Origin Refinement Art, he also kept up his practice of the True Origin Scripture.
Counting the days, tomorrow would be the day they left the valley.
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