Half an hour later, bathed in dense spiritual energy, Yang Lingqing successfully entered meditation as well, and completed qi guidance an hour later.
Yang Linghu did not take much longer either, successfully guiding qi into his body after two hours.
By the end of the day, all three Yang Family children had successfully guided qi into their bodies.
Such a result greatly exceeded Yang Guanfeng and Elder Yu's expectations.
"Back then, it took me a full three days of painstaking effort before I finally guided qi into my body."
Yang Guanfeng came to the loft and sighed.
Elder Yu smiled. "Patriarch was already in his twenties then, past the best age for cultivation. Besides, the children entered meditation and guided qi so quickly this time largely thanks to the Spirit Gathering Stone."
As he spoke, he pointed at Chen Yang.
Chen Yang nodded inwardly at those words. Indeed.
"This object fills the loft with dense spiritual energy, allowing people to calm their hearts and enter meditative contemplation more easily."
"This spiritual treasure will be the great contributor to the Yang Family's rise. If the chance arises in the future, we must properly nourish and refine it with secret arts."
Chen Yang's response was: Brother, that is a fine idea. I approve.
Four hours later, at dusk, Elder Yu stopped channeling spiritual energy into Chen Yang.
The three children also slowly awoke from their meditative states.
After this first day of cultivation, Yang Lingrui had completely broken through his first Qi Meridian and was working toward the second.
Yang Lingqing was on the verge of breaking through her first, only lacking a little more effort.
Yang Linghu had completed half of his first Qi Meridian.
This result left Yang Linghu somewhat dejected. As he returned to rest in the side room of the Forbidden Ground, he hung his head in low spirits.
"Hey! Tiger, what are you so downcast about?"
Yang Lingqing keenly noticed it and stepped forward to pat him on the back.
Yang Linghu spoke listlessly, his face full of sorrow. "I'm so far behind you two. What am I supposed to do in the future...?"
"Look at you. It is a good thing Ling Rui has already gone back to his room. If he saw you like this, where would you have the dignity of an older brother?"
Yang Linghu shook his head, sat beneath the eaves, and propped his chin up with one hand.
"Xiao Qing, what you said makes sense, and I understand it all, but there's just this knot in my heart. It doesn't feel right."
Seeing this, Yang Lingqing sat down beside him. The two raised their heads together and gazed at the sky.
"Tiger, have you forgotten Ancestor Yu's words?"
"The road of cultivation still stretches long before us. A momentary difference in speed will not determine what we ultimately achieve."
"There are many factors that affect the journey. Beyond talent, there are one's bones, comprehension, fortune, and even that intangible, mist-like fate."
As she spoke, Yang Lingqing patted Yang Linghu on the shoulder.
"Tiger, Ling Rui is different from us. I think you can see that too."
"Just as Ancestor said, we are all striving for the Yang Family. Look at your father and mine. Though they have no cultivation methods, they can still share Ancestor's burdens and keep the family running smoothly from top to bottom."
"We all have things we can do and must do. So long as we handle our own duties well and give it our all, that is enough. There is no need to trouble ourselves too much."
After Yang Lingqing's earnest guidance, the gloomy worries in his heart were swept clean away.
As though he had gained some insight, he looked at the clouds in the sky and murmured the words Elder Yu had spoken before.
"One must be diligent. One must strive."
"Mm, looks like you have thought it through." Yang Lingqing smiled.
"Hahahaha!"
Yang Linghu had now regained his usual cheerfulness. "That is why it has to be Xiao Qing! Everything you say is so clear and well-reasoned. You're amazing!"
After receiving the praise, Yang Lingqing became a little smug and flicked the little braid atop her head.
At that moment, her face finally revealed the pure, lovely expression that belonged to a girl her age.
From that day onward, Yang Linghu and the other two took up permanent residence within the Forbidden Ground.
Elder Yu provided all their daily necessities and meals, while also leading them in cultivation every day.
Chen Yang's task was simple as well. Every day, when the time came, he went to the loft to clock in and begin gathering spiritual energy.
When time was up, he clocked out, after which Yang Guanfeng took him away and brought him back to his room to nourish him with spiritual power.
He already absorbed and circulated energy in the loft without any consumption. Once he returned, someone even transmitted power and infused him with spiritual energy. The rate at which spiritual power accumulated within him was faster than when he had previously been aided by spirit liquid.
Speaking of spirit liquid, the spiritual field within the Forbidden Ground remained an unopened area for now.
Only Yang Guanfeng and Elder Yu knew of the Four-leaf Spirit-Nesting Grass's existence.
In their eyes, the value of this spiritual plant even surpassed that of the Spirit Gathering Stone.
Of course, that was because they did not know Chen Yang's true nature, just as they had previously believed he had gained sentience due to nourishment from spirit liquid.
That was precisely why they had to keep it especially secret.
As for who would receive the spirit liquid in the future, Elder Yu suggested that Yang Guanfeng consume it first and raise his realm to Late Qi Gathering.
After that, the spirit liquid could be given to the younger generation.
However, Yang Guanfeng rejected this idea.
"I am already at this age. If I broke through from the Fifth Level of Qi Gathering to the sixth, it could still be explained. But if I reached the Late Stage Realm within just a few years, it would inevitably arouse suspicion. This method is unsuitable."
At his reminder, Elder Yu came to his senses as well.
After all, they had obtained these treasures from the Secret Realm. If anyone took notice, then after the Lesser Treasure Realm emerged, how could people not grow suspicious when the Yang Family Patriarch, already so advanced in years, repeatedly broke through his realm?
"Patriarch is right. This old man was muddleheaded."
Elder Yu said, "Then this spirit liquid should go to...?"
"Ling Rui. Once he establishes his own branch, if the Yang Family wishes to grow stronger, we must have a Core Formation Realm cultivator standing guard in order to gain lasting stability."
After learning that Ling Rui possessed the potential for Core Formation, Yang Guanfeng had already decided to spare no effort in helping the child grow.
"Yes, this old man understands."
Ten days later came the day the Four-leaf Spirit-Nesting Grass produced spirit liquid.
Quite a few things had happened during those ten days.
First, within the Forbidden Ground.
Yang Lingrui had already broken through five Qi Meridians, and the sixth was within arm's reach. His progress could be called exceedingly swift.
At this rate, the child would likely be able to condense a spiritual energy vortex in only a month.
Yang Lingqing had broken through three Qi Meridians and was currently working on the fourth.
Yang Linghu had just broken through his second Qi Meridian.
The difference in aptitude between the three could clearly be seen here.
However, after Yang Lingqing's guidance, Yang Linghu no longer had any problems with his mindset. Faced with such differences, he did not become vexed and unsettled. Instead, they spurred him to cultivate even more diligently.
Outside the Forbidden Ground, Willow Leaf Town had been bustling lately because of the Secret Realm's opening.
Many small merchants and peddlers had come from other places and set up stalls at the town entrance.
Cultivators occasionally entered the town to visit its chief as well, though they were all Rogue Cultivators of relatively low cultivation, most seeking lodging in town.
Yang Guanfeng had also been secretly watching the movements around them. Only after confirming that no one had taken notice of the Yang Family over the past ten days did he finally relax.
That day, he arrived at the spiritual field in the Forbidden Ground, took out a small jade bottle, and collected the drop of spirit liquid from the center of its four leaves.
Yang Lingrui, who had been cultivating in the loft, was awakened from meditation by Elder Yu and sent to Yang Guanfeng's room.
"Ling Rui greets Ancestor."
Upon seeing Yang Guanfeng, Yang Lingrui clasped his hands and bowed.
The moment Yang Guanfeng saw him, he inwardly cried out in praise.
No wonder immortals and mortals were worlds apart. Yang Lingrui's bearing had already changed greatly from ten days ago.
This was the subtle transformation brought about after spiritual energy entered the body.
On his still-childish face, there was already a touch of clear, unworldly air.
"Good. Sit."
Pointing at the meditation cushion before him, Yang Guanfeng took out the jade bottle.
"Drink this, then meditate and cultivate. I will stand guard for you."
"Thank you, Ancestor!"
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