28: Qualification improvement, innate sword body

At first, Shen Jinghong still wanted to maintain a young girl's reserve in front of her Junior Brother; her jade chopsticks were held properly, she only scooped a small half-spoon of rice porridge with each mouthful, and only cut half a slice of meat to put into her mouth.

But as soon as the purple flame spirit rice touched her tongue, it turned into a warm current, sliding down her throat into her Dantian, actually causing her Sword Body, which had been stagnant for many days, to emit a faint hum, like a dry riverbed being moistened by clear spring water.

She primly picked up another piece of beef, and as her teeth just bit through the muscle, a powerful surge of Qi and blood gushed out through the gaps in her teeth.

It was like a docile small stove slowly moving through her Meridians, baking away all the cold Qi accumulated in her joints from practicing her sword, making it vanish into thin air.

“Hmm…”

She subconsciously pursed her lips, and the jade chopsticks in her fingers suddenly sped up.

The rice porridge she had been sipping in small mouthfuls was now scooped up three large spoonfuls at a time, the porcelain bowl clattering with a crisp sound.

She no longer bothered to cut the meat slices on the plate, stuffing whole pieces into her mouth, her cheeks bulging like a squirrel hoarding pine nuts.

It wasn't until the bottom of the bowl was visible that she belatedly looked up, meeting Gu Changge's suppressed smile.

Immediately, her face flushed crimson, and she hastily wiped the corner of her mouth with her sleeve – there was still a speck of beef oil there.

“This spirit food…”

She cleared her throat, trying to regain her usual aloofness, but the undeniable satisfaction in her eyes betrayed her, “It is indeed much better than the cafeteria’s.”

When the three of them had finished eating, Gu Changge took out a purple clay teapot and poured a cup of tea for each person.

In the amber-colored tea, the tea leaves unfurled and floated, and a clear, crisp aroma instantly spread, mixed with the scent of morning bamboo dew, invigorating the three who had just eaten their fill.

“Try this.”

Gu Changge pushed the teacups in front of them.

Li Xuanfeng picked his up first, and as soon as he brought it to his nose, a tea fragrance, as if it had grown legs, drilled into his nasal cavity.

His mind exploded with a “buzz” — some cultivation difficulties he had encountered a few days ago when he Broke Through to the Core Formation Late Stage now seemed like a fog that had been cut open, their intricacies clearer than clear!

Those previously entangled Spiritual Qi circulation routes suddenly became smooth, and even the blocked nodes in his Purple Mansion began to make “cracking” sounds.

“This is… an Epiphany?!”

Li Xuanfeng’s pupils constricted, and he subconsciously wanted to suppress it — Master Xuan Yangzi had repeatedly warned him that Breakthroughs should be steady and gradual; being too eager for quick success could easily leave hidden dangers.

“Don’t suppress it.”

Gu Changge said calmly, and with a flick of his finger, a golden Medicinal Pill appeared out of thin air; it was precisely the legendary Nine Revolutions Golden Pill.

He crushed the Medicinal Pill, taking only one-fifth of the powder, and with a flick of his finger, integrated it into the Spiritual Qi surrounding Li Xuanfeng.

At the same time, he took out a few drops of Innate Spirit Marrow and flicked them into Li Xuanfeng’s body.

“Use this momentum to Breakthrough; I will help you solidify your Foundation.”

As soon as his voice fell, the Spiritual Qi of Zizhu Peak seemed to be guided by an invisible hand, surging towards Li Xuanfeng like a tide.

Under Gu Changge’s guidance, that Spiritual Qi was incredibly docile, washing over his Meridians layer by layer.

That one-fifth of the Golden Core powder transformed into a warm current, eliminating the impurities in his Spiritual Power one by one; his cultivation, which had been stuck at the Core Formation Late Stage, actually surged upwards with unstoppable force — Core Formation Peak, Purple Mansion Early Stage… In just a moment, Li Xuanfeng’s aura stabilized at the Purple Mansion Middle Stage.

He subconsciously circulated his Spiritual Power, only to feel that the Qi flow within his body was a hundred times smoother than before, the spiritual light lingering on his fingertips was several times more condensed than before, and even the speed at which he perceived Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi in his Sea of Consciousness was significantly faster.

What shocked him even more was that when he inwardly examined his Aptitude and Foundation, he discovered that his Aptitude had greatly improved compared to before!

“This… the Spiritual Power circulation is more than a hundred times faster!”

Li Xuanfeng suddenly clenched his fists, feeling the surging yet calm power within his body, his voice trembling.

“Martial Uncle Gu, this generosity of yours… this Disciple truly feels unworthy to receive it!”

He bowed deeply to Gu Changge, his forehead almost touching the table, “This kindness, this Disciple will never forget!”

On the other side, as Shen Jinghong just took a sip of tea, the Sword Body in her Dantian suddenly let out a “buzzing” sound.

She felt a cool sensation slide down her throat, like clear water dripping into boiling oil, instantly igniting the Sword Intent within her body — it was the Jinghong Sword Body being completely activated!

She subconsciously closed her eyes, and the Sword Qi around her spontaneously circulated, forming a brilliant sword curtain.

“This girl’s Sword Body is even purer than Xuan Yangzi said.”

Gu Changge raised his eyebrows, and using the same trick, he again took some Nine Revolutions Golden Pill powder and integrated it into the Spiritual Qi, flicking Innate Spirit Marrow into her body.

Shen Jinghong felt a warmth in her glabella, and the Sword Intent within her body surged like a bursting river; the barrier of Body Tempering Ninth Level shattered with a “crack,” and she directly stepped into the Foundation Establishment Realm!

Even more astonishing was that when she inwardly examined herself, she found that her Spiritual Power circulation speed was more than a hundred times faster than before, and the previously sluggish sword moves, when practiced in her mind, became incredibly smooth.

Her cultivation even rushed all the way to the Foundation Establishment Peak, and the residual power of the Nine Revolutions Golden Pill was still hidden within her body, like a seed planted, with infinite potential for the future.

“Innate Sword Body… and Spiritual Power is also so much faster…”

Shen Jinghong opened her eyes, the Sword Qi on her fingertips flowing in the sunlight, and she curtsied gracefully to Gu Changge, her usually aloof voice carrying unconcealed excitement.

“Thank you, Junior Martial Uncle, for your benevolence! This kindness and virtue, Shen Jinghong will repay with her life!”

“Innate Sword Body?”

Gu Changge was also a little surprised, stroking his chin.

“It seems this Innate Spirit Marrow and Nine Revolutions Golden Pill can also improve Aptitude.”

He used to treat these things as ordinary tea, snacks, and Medicinal Pills, and had never truly discovered this effect.

On the windowsill, a Little Black Bird had landed at some point, letting out a “chirp” at Gu Changge; its tone, no matter how one listened, sounded like it was saying “wasting heavenly treasures.”

Xiao Ruobai, standing nearby, watched with wide eyes, and the Spiritual Power within his body also stirred restlessly.

Gu Changge, quick as a flash, flicked his finger on Xiao Ruobai’s forehead: “Don’t rush. Your path must be walked one step at a time.”

Gu Changge put down his teacup, glanced at Li Xuanfeng and Shen Jinghong, who were still immersed in the joy of their Breakthroughs, and spoke calmly.

“Upon first achieving a new Realm, it is most important to avoid restlessness. The two of you go to the bamboo forest nearby to consolidate your cultivation; don’t waste the Spiritual Qi of Zizhu Peak.”

Li Xuanfeng’s expression tightened upon hearing this, and he quickly reined in the spiritual light he had been emitting: “Thank you, Junior Martial Uncle, for the reminder!”

Shen Jinghong also retracted her Sword Qi, nodded slightly to Gu Changge, and the two of them tacitly turned and stepped into the depths of the bamboo forest, each finding a secluded corner to sit cross-legged in meditation.

They both understood what a great Opportunity it was to be able to stabilize their Realm at Zizhu Peak during such a critical moment of just having Broken Through.

The bamboo house instantly fell silent, and Gu Changge looked at Xiao Ruobai, tapping his finger lightly on the tabletop: “You, come with me.”

The young man didn’t know what his Master intended to do, and followed Gu Changge step by step towards the back mountain.

Passing through a luminous gate, Xiao Ruobai’s pupils slightly constricted as he looked at the familiar scene before him.

He suddenly reacted, his voice carrying a hint of uncertainty.

“Master, are you having me kill Yao Beasts?”