Chapter 58 A Joyful and Harmonious Moment

Yun Bai, Yun Qian, and Shen Qi sat around the square table in the main room.

Shen Qi's cheeks were slightly flushed, and she twisted her fingers, looking a bit uneasy.

She seemed to want to follow Yang Peilan to the kitchen to help, but was pulled back by Yun Qian with a giggle: "Sister Qi, sit down! Brother has finally returned, let him tell us about things outside!"

Yun Bai looked at his sister's expectant eyes and asked with a smile: "Tell me about you two first. How is the academy?"

As soon as the academy was mentioned, Yun Qian immediately perked up and chattered away: "Brother! Teacher Gao is amazing! When he talks about guiding Qi into the body, he doesn't just recite formulas. He uses so many little stories to explain how Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi flows. It's like, it's like a stream! He even showed us a kind of glowing 'Qi-guiding grass' to let us feel the changes in the Spiritual Qi around it..."

She gestured vividly, "And also, when we meditate, he uses a fragrant soul-calming incense. After lighting it, our minds become really clear! Our classmates are also very friendly, and we discuss things together after class!"

"Teacher Gao?" Yun Bai listened patiently.

Mr. Gao, who taught at the State Religion's Qingya Academy, was a Cultivator passionate about teaching. His cultivation was at the Late Stage of the Innate First Realm. He was well-versed in many subjects and had broad knowledge, making him perfectly suited to teach those just beginning to Cultivate. He was amiable, good at guiding his students step by step, and very popular.

Shen Qi added softly from the side, her voice gentle: "Yes, Teacher Gao teaches very thoroughly. He says that the Foundation of cultivation must be solid and cannot be rushed. Every day, besides listening to lectures, we practice the most basic breathing and standing meditation. After school, Qianqian and I come back and practice in the courtyard according to what the teacher taught."

She pointed to a corner of the courtyard, where there were obvious signs of frequent trampling. "Mother also boiled herbal baths for us according to the prescription. Although it hurts a bit to soak, the body feels warm and very comfortable afterward."

Listening to their description and seeing the resilient spirit in their eyes born from exercise, Yun Bai felt a sincere sense of relief in his heart.

He could clearly feel that the weak aura belonging to ordinary Mortals was fading from his sister and Shen Qi, replaced by a faint but real vitality belonging to a Cultivator.

They had truly crossed the threshold of the Acquired Realm and stepped onto the path of cultivation.

"Good! That's great!" Yun Bai nodded happily, then took out two small cloth bags he had prepared from his robes and handed them to Yun Qian and Shen Qi respectively, "Here, take these."

"What is this?" Yun Qian took it curiously and opened it to see neatly arranged, softly glowing Low-Grade Spirit Stones inside.

At a rough glance, there were over a hundred of them, worth far more than ten thousand Spirit Stones!

Her small mouth opened slightly, and she exclaimed: "Brother! So many Spirit Stones?!"

Shen Qi was also startled. Holding the heavy bag, she was at a loss: "Brother Yun, this... this is too valuable! We can't accept this..."

"Take it!" Yun Bai's tone was gentle but unquestionable, "On the road of cultivation, you can't move an inch without money. Buy some useful Medicinal Pills, talisman paper, or your favorite Cultivation Technique Jade Slips, don't skimp. Brother earned quite a lot on this trip."

Yun Qian's eyes were bright as she leaned in and asked in a low voice: "Brother, how much did you earn?"

She was happy for her brother, but also secretly felt sorry for him.

Yun Bai looked at his sister's concerned eyes and reached out to gently flick her nose: "A lot. Brother promises you, at most half a year, at least three or four months, I will definitely bring that soul-stabilizing pill to you!"

"Brother..." Yun Qian's nose felt sore, and her eyes instantly turned red, too moved to speak.

She knew how much her brother had suffered and how many risks he had taken for her illness.

Shen Qi, watching Yun Bai's firm and confident expression, and that deep, unspoken sibling bond between him and Yun Qian, was momentarily dazed.

A corner of her heart seemed to be gently touched by this warm yet resilient light, feeling warm and carrying an indescribable flutter.

"Brother, don't underestimate me. While you were away, Sister Qi and I also earned quite a bit!" Yun Qian refused to be outdone.

"Oh? How so?" Yun Bai was puzzled.

"I took the seasoned bigu pill you gave me last time to the market to sell, and it was so popular!" Yun Qian said proudly, "In these four days, we earned over two thousand Spirit Stones in total!"

"Over two thousand?" Yun Bai was shocked.

The Inedia Pill had low costs and low prices, belonging to high-volume, low-margin goods.

Usually, only large-scale production yielded sufficient profit.

How could Yun Qian and Shen Qi earn over two thousand Spirit Stones in just three days alone?!

One had to know that the reason Yun Bai earned money quickly was because he was a First Realm Cultivator of the State Religion, and a powerful one at that.

Yun Qian and Shen Qi had just started learning to Cultivate, and they actually had such ability?

Yun Qian proudly told her brother about her experience selling at the market these past few days.

After listening, Yun Bai clicked his tongue in wonder.

"You two are truly amazing!" Yun Bai praised, "By the way, tomorrow is a rest day, right? I heard it's also the day of the big market. Do you want to go together?"

"Yes!" Yun Qian immediately raised her hand in response, her small face full of excitement, "Brother, you promised me last time that you would buy me Formation Materials! Teacher Gao said that for introductory Formations, we can start practicing with the simplest Spirit Gathering Formation and Maze Formation!"

As she spoke, she suddenly remembered something, leaned into Yun Bai's ear mysteriously, and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear: "Brother, tomorrow is also Sister Qi's eighteenth birthday! Her coming-of-age ceremony!"

Hearing this, Yun Bai immediately looked at Shen Qi.

Shen Qi and Qianqian were best friends, and to Yun Bai, he naturally treated Shen Qi like his own sister.

His eyes held a smile: "Shen Qi, happy birthday, and congratulations on coming of age! Eighteen is an important node on the path of cultivation. From now on, you must be even more steady. Cultivation is never too late, especially after entering the Innate stage; there is no such thing as 'childhood Foundation'."

Combining it with his own experience, he gave sound cultivation advice: "The basic breathing and standing meditation taught by the teachers in the academy seem simple, but they are the Foundation of a towering building. Do not be greedy for speed or novelty; you must practice them into your very bones. If there is any blockage of Qi and blood or stagnation in the meridians, be sure to ask the teacher or tell me in time. Do not force the practice and hurt yourself."

At this moment, Yun Bai himself forgot that in the eyes of others, he was also just an eighteen-year-old youth.

Shen Qi didn't expect Yun Qian to tell Yun Bai about her birthday, let alone that Yun Bai would give such solemn blessings and advice.

She immediately blushed, twisted her hem, and spoke in a voice like a mosquito: "Tha... Thank you, Brother Yun, I... I will remember it."

Yun Bai was in an exceptionally good mood.

He also enthusiastically shared his experience on this mission, naturally omitting the most dangerous parts, and only choosing to recount the thrilling battles that ultimately turned out well.

After he finished speaking, he subconsciously moved his shoulders, and when it pulled at the wound under his clothes that hadn't fully healed, he frowned slightly.

This subtle movement did not escape Yun Qian's eyes.

She immediately rushed over, nervously pulling at Yun Bai's collar: "Brother! You are hurt?! Let me see!"

Shen Qi also looked over with concern.

Yun Bai couldn't refuse his sister, so he had to untie his outer robe, revealing his upper body wrapped in bandages.

Although the wounds had been treated, the crisscrossing bandages and the faintly penetrating medicinal smell silently told of the intensity of the battle.

A dark scratch on his arm and several obvious bruises and abrasions on his back were clearly visible.

"Brother..." Yun Qian looked at those scars, her eyes red again, her small hands gently touching the edge of the bandages, feeling heartbroken.

Shen Qi also gasped, looking at those wounds, and then at Yun Bai's expression as he calmly recounted them as if they were not worth mentioning, a strong sense of worry and an indescribable admiration surged in her heart.

She finally truly realized what kind of hardships and risks were soaked into every Spirit Stone Yun Bai brought back.

"It's okay, it's just surface wounds, it will be fine in a few days."

Yun Bai quickly pulled his clothes together, smiling to comfort the two frightened girls, "For a Cultivator, how can there not be bumps and bruises? Seeing you two safe and sound, and starting to Cultivate, this injury of mine is worth it."

The aroma of food wafted from the kitchen, and Yang Peilan's voice came: "Dinner is ready —"

The light in the main room was warm and bright, enveloping the figures of the three young people in warmth.

The night outside the window seemed to have softened as well.