Ji Zining stood up and stretched lazily, looking thoroughly refreshed.
Cultivating felt wonderful. After just one session, Ji Zining was already somewhat entranced.
The feeling of her power steadily growing, of gradually taking her fate into her own hands, gave Ji Zining a sense of security.
Suddenly, Ji Zining seemed to sense something and looked at Ji Chenkong and Chen Qingqian.
When she saw the expressions on their faces, she was a little taken aback.
"Father, Mother, what's wrong with you? Oh, right, how long was I cultivating?"
She had only cultivated once. Was there any need for those expressions?
As far as she could tell, she had cultivated for only a short while, though she wasn't sure exactly how much time had passed.
What Ji Zining could be certain of, however, was that far more time had passed than she had sensed.
No wonder the novels in her previous life always said that cultivation knew no years: before one even noticed time passing, hundreds of years would have gone by.
She hadn't quite understood before, but now she finally did.
Hearing Ji Zining's words, Ji Chenkong and Chen Qingqian couldn't help twitching at the corners of their mouths.
What's wrong with us? Don't you know?
Their daughter had not only come back from the dead but also awakened a heaven-defying physique, leaving them thrilled and overjoyed.
But no matter how thrilled or overjoyed they were, they couldn't withstand a blow like this!
She had gone from a mortal with no cultivation to the Peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm in half a shichen. Who would believe that?
Even a heavenly genius would need at least several years to reach the Peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm.
What the hell was half a shichen?
Yet they had witnessed something that should have been impossible by all common sense with their own eyes.
They didn't know whether to count themselves fortunate or unfortunate.
Ji Chenkong managed to steady his emotions and shook his head with a bitter smile.
"I originally planned to guide you in cultivation, Ning'er, but now I realize I'm not qualified to guide you at all."
"Ning'er, your talent has exceeded your father's imagination. I also underestimated the Exquisite Immortal Physique."
"I have a premonition that your future achievements will surely be beyond imagination, Ning'er!"
By the end, Ji Chenkong's expression had turned utterly serious.
He had originally had little idea what the Exquisite Immortal Physique was, but now he knew.
The Exquisite Immortal Physique surpassed every special physique in the world, possessing the world's greatest talent for cultivation and greatest comprehension!
With such a physique, Ji Zining would surely become a saint one day. Even the position of emperor was not beyond reach!
Ji Zining smiled at Ji Chenkong's words but said nothing.
With a Sign-In System, if she wasn't invincible, who was?
She came, she conquered!
Of course, she wouldn't say something so conceited aloud. It was far too chunni.
Still, just thinking it was immensely satisfying.
Chen Qingqian seized Ji Zining's hand, her eyes brimming with joy.
"In just half a shichen, you've reached the Peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm, Ning'er. It's truly unprecedented!"
"I'm afraid it won't be long before you surpass me."
Had I cultivated for half a shichen?
Understanding dawned on Ji Zining's face.
Half a shichen was one hour.
Going from nothing to the Peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm in an hour wasn't bad. She hadn't disgraced the Exquisite Immortal Physique's title as the strongest physique of all ages.
The Exquisite Immortal Physique from her first sign-in was so powerful that Ji Zining was looking forward to tomorrow's sign-in.
What reward would she get next time?
A Cultivation Method?
Or a Divine Ability?
Or perhaps some kind of pill?
Ji Zining shook her head and brought herself back to her senses.
She would find out exactly what it was once the sign-in cooldown ended at midnight.
She glanced through the hall doors at the sky and saw that it was already dusk, which set her mind at ease.
In another two or three shichen, she could sign in again.
Ji Chenkong's expression suddenly turned grave, and he stood up.
"Ning'er, stabilize your cultivation first. I have something to deal with, so I can't stay with you."
As he spoke, he gave Chen Qingqian a meaningful look.
"Come with me. When Ning'er awakened her physique earlier, the experts in Flowing Moon City and the nearby cities all saw it."
"Now they've come to the imperial palace together, saying they want an audience with me."
"Those fellows probably think some treasure has appeared in the imperial palace."
With that, Ji Chenkong smiled disdainfully.
Hearing this, Chen Qingqian stood up and smiled gently.
"If they dare cause trouble, Husband, just suppress them. You're the ruler; you have the final say."
Ji Zining hesitated, then spoke up.
"Father, Mother, why don't you take me with you?"
This had started because of her. If something unexpected happened as a result, the loss wouldn't be worth the gain.
Ji Chenkong smiled proudly and waved a hand.
"There's no need to prove anything to those fellows. In my kingdom, they must obey me."
"If they don't, I'll simply cut them down!"
"Never mind that the earlier phenomenon and Immortal Spirit Qi were caused by the awakening of your physique, Ning'er."
"Even if you hadn't caused them, and a truly heaven-defying treasure had descended upon the imperial palace, I still wouldn't need to say much to them."
"If it landed in the imperial palace, it's mine. They have no right to question it!"
Ji Zining was shaken.
My father is rather domineering!
Then again, that was the kind of pride a true expert and ruler ought to possess.
I'm the ruler, and you're my subjects. Why should I have to offer you any explanation?
The source of all that confidence and pride was overwhelming strength!
A glimmer of yearning shone in Ji Zining's eyes.
I need even greater strength!
Although she was already at the Peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm, she was still far from becoming a true expert.
The Salted Fish Sign-In System?
She probably couldn't be that salted fish. To grow stronger faster, she could only cultivate while signing in.
Ji Chenkong left, taking Chen Qingqian with him as he departed the hall.
The hall doors closed, leaving Ji Zining alone.
Ji Zining sat cross-legged again, planning to break through to the Golden Core Realm in one push.
Just as she was about to begin circulating her Cultivation Method, a gentle, magnetic voice suddenly sounded by her ear.
"If I were you, I wouldn't choose to rush into a breakthrough to the Golden Core Realm. I'd consolidate my foundation first."
"As the saying goes, a towering building rises from level ground. That's true even when building a house, let alone cultivating."
"The Foundation Establishment Realm is the foundation of the cultivation path. Only by laying it firmly can you achieve greater heights in the future."
"That holds true even if you have the Exquisite Immortal Physique!"
Hearing the voice by her ear, Ji Zining couldn't help feeling her hair stand on end. She sprang to her feet and looked around.
"Who? Who's speaking?"
At that moment, the space a zhang in front of Ji Zining suddenly trembled, splitting open into a black hole.
A white-haired young man stepped out of the black hole.
The white-haired young man gave Ji Zining an apologetic smile.
"I came without announcing myself. I didn't disturb you, did I, little one?"