46: Liu Caiping

It wasn't until you returned to your living quarters and the attic door clicked shut that you finally let out a long sigh of relief.

Touching the smooth surface of the spirit awakening pill, you couldn't help but mutter to yourself: Ji Bin is dead; does the Family really not know?

But how could you know—in such a vast cultivation Family, aside from the direct lineage and Core Disciple members, other Disciples are just like autumn leaves.

Who would care about insignificant falling leaves?

You sat cross-legged on the prayer mat, your withered fingers pinching that spirit awakening pill, shaking like a sieve.

The Medicinal Pill had just been swallowed when it immediately turned into a scorching hot current, burning from your throat all the way to your stomach.

Boom—

Your whole body trembled, and you felt a clear spring suddenly gush forth in your parched Meridians.

The cool Spiritual Qi flowed along your limbs and bones; wherever it passed, it was as if withered wood had encountered spring, and your old arms and legs became lively again.

You gritted your teeth tightly, feeling the newly grown Spiritual Root within your body—it was like a small sapling, desperately absorbing the Spiritual Qi from the Medicinal Pill to take root in your Dantian.

Suppressing your wildly beating heart, you opened the tattered "Azure Spirit Art" with trembling hands—"One Qi permeates the three talents, breathing merges with Yin and Yang..."

Suddenly, you saw countless pale green light spots circling you like fireflies, slowly drilling into your skin with your breathing.

These light spots gathered into a small stream in your Meridians, circling along a specific route, and finally condensed into a ball of mist in your Dantian.

By the time you had completed nine cycles, you were drenched in sweat.

Just at this moment—"Hum!" The Spiritual Qi in your Dantian suddenly vibrated, emitting a crisp sound.

You opened your eyes abruptly and saw a wisp of pale green Spiritual Qi floating in your palm.

Success!

You finally—reached Qi Refining First Layer!

You restrained your excitement and began to Cultivate.

A few days passed, and you discovered that the Spiritual Qi in your Qi Sea had only increased by a tiny bit—this Cultivation was actually slower than practicing martial arts.

Perhaps because you were older, your temperament became increasingly steady, and your heart could calm down. Facing the fact that your Cultivation progress was slow, you did not become impatient and remained immersed in Cultivation.

In the 130th year, you finally made a Breakthrough to Qi Refining Second Layer. For these past ten years, Liu Xianer would come to wander around your side room every few days, her gaze clearly checking to see if you were dead yet.

The 140th year,

You struggled to make a Breakthrough to Qi Refining Third Layer, while the little girl from back then, Liu Xianer, had grown into an adult, her cultivation reaching Qi Refining Fourth Layer.

On this day, Liu Xianer rushed in with her rabbit, shouting excitedly: "Old Man Chen! Duanduan has made a Breakthrough to Foundation Establishment Stage!"

'Duanduan' was the name she had given the rabbit.

You sighed heavily, feeling a bitter taste in your heart—you were actually not even as good as a rabbit.

"Old man, how old are you exactly?" She scrutinized you suspiciously.

"Also, where did you get that purple double-fish jade pendant? Whose servant are you, exactly, as a Core Disciple?"

As she grew older, she could never figure out: why you didn't go look for the owner of the jade pendant.

You looked up at the sky, feigning deep affection: "Her name is Liu Caiping... I was looking for her when I got lost last time. I have searched everywhere, but I still cannot find her..."

As you spoke, you forced out a tear, your voice choked with emotion: "Can you help me find her?"

"Ew... Old Man Chen, is your master perhaps a beautiful woman?" She leaned in, looking gossipy.

You continued to put on a deeply affectionate look: "Yes, she is indeed very beautiful. Every frown and every smile haunts my dreams."

"Yuck~ So cheesy!" Liu Xianer rubbed her arms in disgust.

You said solemnly: "That is why I must work hard to Cultivate and become stronger. I believe that one day I will be able to find her."

"Forget it, it took you ten years to make a Breakthrough by one layer; you probably don't have a chance in this lifetime." She poured cold water on you without mercy.

Suddenly, her eyes lit up, staring at the jade pendant at your waist: "Right, lend me that purple double-fish jade pendant to play with."

"You want to take it to collect supplies, right?" You saw through her little scheme at a glance.

She rolled her eyes: "You've been eating and living off me all these years; shouldn't you show some gratitude? It's just borrowing a jade pendant, don't be so stingy!"

After finishing, she puffed out her cheeks angrily.

You feigned hesitation, but in the end, you untied the jade pendant and handed it to her: "Help me collect a copy of "Illusionary Form Technique", and a bottle of qi gathering pill."

She happily took the jade pendant and ran off without looking back.

"Illusionary Form Technique" is only a Yellow Rank Low Grade Cultivation Technique, worth no more than a few dozen Spirit Stones; compared to the supplies that could be collected using the jade pendant, this was a massive profit.

But you were actually doing it on purpose—you also wanted to test whether this jade pendant could actually be used.

A few hours later, she ran back excitedly, shoved the "Illusionary Form Technique" and the qi gathering pill into your arms, and then ran away in a flash.

Judging by her reaction, she was afraid you would ask for the jade pendant back!

So the jade pendant really was useful? You were immediately filled with regret—if you had known, you should have gone to collect supplies twenty years ago!

In the 141st year, your "Illusionary Form Technique" was finally practiced to the first layer. Now you can fine-tune your appearance, for instance making yourself look older or younger, just like putting on makeup.

In the 142nd year,

You were leisurely sipping tea in the courtyard, looking up at the sky in a daze.

Suddenly, Liu Xianer led a woman hopping and skipping into the courtyard, a crafty smile on her face.

You turned your head to look and were immediately stunned—following behind Liu Xianer was none other than Liu Caiping!

Liu Caiping was exactly the same as she was back then; her appearance hadn't changed, and she was still bright and moving.

She looked at you, her eyes instantly filled with tears.

You immediately reacted, pretending to have tears in your eyes, and gazed at her with deep affection.

She walked over slowly, a crystalline teardrop sliding down her cheek, her trembling jade hand gently caressing your wrinkled face: "You..."

You raised your withered hand and gently wiped away her tears: "Caiping... I have finally found you."

"Yuck~ So cheesy!" Liu Xianer, standing to the side, shuddered and rubbed the goosebumps on her arms.

Liu Caiping turned back and smiled sweetly: "Sister Xianer, thank you."

"Huh? Thank me for what?" Liu Xianer widened her eyes, looking bewildered.

"Thank you for taking me in; otherwise, I might have died in some corner long ago." You interjected at the right moment.

"Is that it? No big deal!" Liu Xianer waved her hand with a grin.

Seeing you and Liu Caiping gazing at each other with deep affection, Liu Xianer suddenly let out an "Oh!", and as if suddenly realizing something, she hurried away.

You immediately embraced tightly, pouring out your longing for each other over these past hundred-plus years.

Of course—your longing was faked.

But hers was sincere and genuine.

The emotions of those who Cultivate are different from those of Mortals.

They often remain in seclusion to Cultivate for years and rarely speak of romantic entanglements.

If you hadn't captured her heart when she was first awakening to romance, once she had experienced the vicissitudes of life, it would likely be difficult for her to feel such emotions again.

You were well aware of this.

From her account, you learned:

Since being placed in confinement, she had been focusing on Cultivation, and after over a hundred years of bitter toil, she had finally reached Golden Core Perfection.

Actually, she had come out of seclusion a year ago and intended to go to the Central Hall to exchange for the supplies needed to make a Breakthrough to Nascent Soul. However, she discovered an anomaly in her supply collection records.

She immediately realized that someone had used her jade pendant to collect supplies.

The first person she thought of was you, because only you possessed her jade pendant. Of course, it was also possible that you had met with misfortune and the jade pendant had fallen into someone else's hands.

So, she had been lying in wait at the Central Hall for the past year; she hadn't expected to actually wait for Liu Xianer.