194: Chapter 194 Every night at midnight, the sect leader invites people to "attend a lecture".

[He looked at Zhang Ruowei's sleeping profile, his gaze softer than ever before.]

[Of course, if she could see the blue-glowing attribute panel in his mind, she probably wouldn't feel that way.]

[On the panel, that string of numbers starting with 9,120,000 was like the brightest star in the night sky.]

[This was no mere Dao Companion's tenderness.]

[This was clearly a newly opened experience dungeon, the exclusive, private, and "comes with a playmate" kind.]

[Tang Xun's train of thought had completely opened up.]

[Previously, he always thought about how to get resources from the outside—robbing, swindling, and cheating.]

[His vision had been too small.]

[True sustainable development required knowing how to tap into internal potential.]

[Thinking this way, Tang Xun instantly felt that his actions just now were full of far-sighted strategic significance.]

[This was a strategic investment for the Sect's future core combat power.]

[Yes, that's it.]

[He found a perfect, righteous excuse for his shamelessness and accepted it with a clear conscience.]

[Just as he was thinking, the figure in his arms moved, her long eyelashes trembled, and she opened her eyes.]

["Grand Elder..."]

[Zhang Ruowei's voice was still a bit lazy, with a hint of hoarseness after satisfaction.]

[As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw Tang Xun looking at her with a deep and concerned gaze.]

[That look seemed to contain the sea of stars, making her instantly sink into it, her heart fluttering like a trapped deer.]

[How could she know that behind this "sea of stars" were cold numbers and a green experience bar.]

["Awake?"]

[Tang Xun's voice was so gentle it could practically drip water.]

["How do you feel? Is your Golden Core stable?"]

["Thank you for your concern, Elder. It has completely stabilized."]

[As Zhang Ruowei spoke, two clouds of crimson flushed her face, and she struggled to sit up.]

["Don't move."]

[Tang Xun pressed her down.]

["Stabilizing is only the first step."]

[He looked serious, his tone heavy, as if discussing a major matter concerning the Sect's survival.]

["Though your Foundation is solid, it was a rushed Breakthrough after all, leaving some subtle flaws."]

["These flaws may seem insignificant now, but in the future, when you attempt to reach the Nascent Soul stage, they will become your Heart Demon Tribulation."]

[Hearing this, Zhang Ruowei's face turned pale.]

[Heart Demon Tribulation! These words were like the Sword of Damocles hanging over the head of any Cultivator.]

["Then... what should I do?" she asked nervously.]

["No matter."]

[Tang Xun patted her hand, his expression confident and calm.]

["I have a Dual Cultivation secret technique here called the 'Swimming Dragon Plays with Phoenix Secret Art'."]

["This method is not a superficial Art of Plucking and Nourishing, but emphasizes the fusion of spiritual energy and resonance of the Divine Soul. It can mend the dao foundation and refine the Golden Core."]

["From today onwards, every night at midnight, come to my Immortal Cave. I will personally 'preach the Dao' to you, helping you polish your Golden Core and clear all obstacles on the path ahead."]

[His words were high-sounding and righteous.]

[Anyone who didn't know better would think he was some self-sacrificing, enlightened expert.]

[Zhang Ruowei's eyes turned red as she listened.]

[For the sake of her path, the Grand Elder was actually willing to spend so much effort to personally guide her.]

[What kind of kindness was this! What kind of high regard!]

["This Disciple... how could I deserve..."]

["You are the Sect Head of Shenfu Mountain. Your cultivation level concerns the face of the Sect."]

[Tang Xun interrupted her, his tone brook no argument.]

["It's settled then."]

[Having said that, he got up, put on his clothes, resumed his calm demeanor as the Grand Elder, and drifted away.]

[Leaving Zhang Ruowei lying on the bed alone, her heart filled with emotion and sweetness, unable to calm down for a long time.]

[She made up her mind that she must not fail the Grand Elder's expectations.]

[On the other side, Tang Xun returned to his Immortal Cave. The first thing he did was close the door, and then he couldn't help but laugh out loud.]

[He looked at his attribute panel, and a brand new, magnificent 'Hardcore Grinding Plan 2.0' took shape in his mind.]

[His primary Cultivation Technique relied on Zhang Ruowei; that was the lion's share, the base.]

[But experience in skills couldn't be neglected either.]

[Alchemy and Talisman Making—these two were his life-sustaining skills and his main means of 'making money' in the future.]

[Thus, everyone in Shenfu Mountain saw a strange sight.]

[During the day, the door to the Grand Elder's Immortal Cave was tightly shut, and he saw no one.]

[The Disciples all thought the Elder was in secluded Cultivate, comprehending the supreme Great Dao.]

[In reality, Tang Xun was in the Talisman Making Room, working like a production team's donkey, frantically drawing Rank One Talismans.]

["Swish"—one sheet.]

[Talisman Making experience +1.]

["Swish"—another sheet.]

[Talisman Making experience +1.]

[His movements were so fast they left afterimages, and the Talismans piled up by the table soon grew into a small mountain.]

[The cost of these Talismans was almost zero, and drawing them took no effort at all. They were simply the perfect tool for grinding experience.]

[When he got tired of drawing, he went to the Alchemy Chamber.]

[He didn't refine Advanced Medicinal Pills, only the lowest Rank One "qi gathering pills".]

[Materials in the Sect's herb garden were available in abundance, and one furnace could produce 12 pills.]

[Bang! The furnace opened.]

[Alchemy experience +12.]

[Tang Xun never tired of it.]

[Watching the experience bar rise at a slow but extremely steady pace, he felt full of strength.]

[This feeling was a hundred times stronger than the positive feedback brought by meditative Cultivate.]

[And when night fell.]

[As soon as midnight arrived, Zhang Ruowei would punctually appear outside his Immortal Cave.]

[Then, the two would begin an in-depth, honest academic exchange regarding the "Great Dao of Yin and Yang Dual Cultivation".]

[The process of exchange was, naturally, intense and productive.]

[Five Qi Towards Origin Sword Canon experience +3521.]

[Swimming Dragon Plays with Phoenix Secret Art experience +2890.]

[While "giving the lecture", Tang Xun watched the rapidly jumping numbers on the panel, with only one thought in his mind.]

[Comfortable.]

[Time flew by in this fulfilling life of being a donkey by day and "lecturing" by night.]

[One month later.]

[Primary Cultivation Technique: Five Qi Towards Origin Sword Canon (Nascent Soul Chapter) — Experience: 9,331,000/10,000,000.]

[In one month, it had increased by over two hundred thousand.]

[Quite a bit more than the 180,000 he had estimated.]

[Tang Xun quickly found the reason.]

[Zhang Ruowei's cultivation was also advancing by leaps and bounds under his "help".]

[In just one month, she had already stabilized at the peak of Early-Stage Core Formation, with faint signs of a Breakthrough to the Middle Stage.]

[As she became stronger, the "experience points" fed back also increased.]

[It was a perfect positive cycle.]

["Good, very good."]

[Looking at this result, Tang Xun showed the gratified smile of a capitalist seeing a surge in financial report profits.]

[It was time to increase the investment.]

[The next day, he called Zhang Ruowei to him.]

["Ruowei, you have been practicing hard lately and making rapid progress. I am very pleased."]

["It is all thanks to the Elder's excellent guidance." Zhang Ruowei lowered her head, her face full of shyness.]

["But bitter cultivation alone is not enough."]

[Tang Xun changed the subject and handed over a jade bottle.]

["Inside is a 'Purple Gold Origin-Nourishing Pill' I specially refined for you. It's Rank Three High-grade and can help you temper your Golden Core to reach the Middle Stage sooner."]

[Zhang Ruowei took the jade bottle, her hands trembling.]

["Elder, this is too precious..."]

["Take it."]

[Tang Xun's tone carried an unquestionable authority.]

["The higher your cultivation, the more important it is for the future of my Shenfu Mountain."]

[Of course, the more important it is for my experience bar.]

[He kept the latter half of the sentence in his heart.]

[Zhang Ruowei eventually accepted it, the gratitude and adoration in her eyes almost overflowing.]

[She felt that even if she died ten thousand times for the Grand Elder, she could never repay this kindness.]

[Tang Xun watched her departing back and nodded with satisfaction.]

[You can't catch the wolf without sacrificing the child.]

[You can't get experience without sacrificing Medicinal Pills.]

[This investment was a guaranteed profit.]

[In the following days, the pace of the hardcore grinding became even faster.]

[With the help of the Medicinal Pills, Zhang Ruowei's cultivation progressed at a tremendous pace.]

[Tang Xun's experience bar also took off like a rocket.]

[The fourth month.]

[Primary Cultivation Technique: Five Qi Towards Origin Sword Canon (Nascent Soul Chapter) — Experience: 9,987,500/10,000,000.]

[Only one final step away from the ten million mark.]

[Tang Xun could even feel the Nascent Soul within his Dantian had expanded to a limit, with the Five-colored Divine Light almost bursting through his body.]

[The Breakthrough would be tonight.]

[Midnight.]

[The stone door of the Immortal Cave slowly closed.]

[Tang Xun looked at Zhang Ruowei, whose cultivation had already reached Core Formation Mid-stage, and took a deep breath.]

["Ruowei, tonight, let us discuss the final Profound Truth of the 'Swimming Dragon Plays with Phoenix Secret Art'."]