25: Qi Refining Level 1

The Empress's father passed away due to illness ten years ago.

Falling Phoenix Palace had been vacant ever since, but the maids came to clean it every day. Even though no one had lived there for a long time, it remained spotless.

Su Quan sat on the edge of the bed with an indifferent expression, watching the young eunuchs bustling in and out with cold eyes.

The System's voice echoed in his mind.

"Ding, please confirm, Master: do you wish to spend 1000 regret points to purchase the Golden Core Stage Cultivation Technique — Heaven Burning Art?"

"Confirm!"

"Ding, Cultivation Technique is being transmitted!"

In an instant, a complex and intricate set of mantras appeared in Su Quan's mind, including diagrams of the meridians for circulating Origin Qi. As long as he cultivated according to these mantras, he could reach the ninth layer of the Golden Core Stage at the highest!

If he wanted to Breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Realm, he would need to switch to a more profound Cultivation Technique at that time.

But that was a matter for the future. His immediate priority was to improve his strength as much as possible to gain some self-protection ability in this chaotic world.

Otherwise, given his looks, he would easily be targeted by those wicked women and end up as a plaything.

"Ding, please confirm, Master: do you wish to spend 5000 regret points to purchase a High Grade Fire Spiritual Root!"

"Confirm!"

The Spiritual Root is the Foundation and basis for cultivating immortality.

Only those with a Spiritual Root can perceive the Origin Qi of heaven and earth through a Cultivation Technique, thereby embarking on the path of Cultivators.

Although the original owner possessed a formidable Physique, it was strange that his Spiritual Root seemed to have been forcibly extracted by someone. Fortunately, the System possessed the great power to reshape the heavens and earth, allowing it to reshape the Spiritual Root; otherwise, he would likely be reduced to an ordinary person for life.

Soon, he could feel a warm current surging from his Dantian.

A crimson Spiritual Root sprouted from the incomplete area, emitting a fluorescent light and swaying gently.

The fire-attribute Origin Qi drifting between heaven and earth seemed to be attracted, gathering toward the youth.

Is this a High Grade Spiritual Root?

Su Quan secretly clenched his fists, feeling that his strength had increased several times over.

"Master, Heaven Burning Art is a fire-attribute Cultivation Technique that pairs very well with your fire-attribute Spiritual Root. Moreover, the cultivation speed of a High Grade fire-attribute Spiritual Root is more than ten times that of an ordinary Spiritual Root, and the power of the corresponding Spells will also be many times stronger!" The System's soft voice rang in his mind.

"Very good, these 6000 regret points were well spent!"

Su Quan's face showed joy.

Being able to pick the most suitable treasure for himself from the vast, endless System store, the System's recommendation was indispensable.

According to the System, a High Grade fire-attribute Spiritual Root is a talent worth prioritizing for cultivation even in those great cultivation sects guarded by big shots at the Soul Transformation Stage.

"Master, if possible, it is best to obtain the legendary reward for the issued task, because under normal circumstances, its value would be around 1 million regret points!" The System whispered a hint.

"So much?!"

Su Quan was shocked.

Just as he was talking with the System, a young eunuch walked over and said in a shrill voice, "Young Master Su, the bedroom has been tidied up. Is there anything else you need to order?"

"No need, you all may withdraw!" Su Quan immediately adjusted his emotions and said coldly.

"Then we shall take our leave!"

Once the eunuchs had left, Falling Phoenix Palace became quiet again.

Su Quan immediately dropped his disguise, sat cross-legged on the bed in a hurry, formed hand seals, and silently inhaled the fire-attribute Origin Qi surging in the world, using his Spiritual Root to absorb them into his body, then circulating them along specific meridians according to the Heaven Burning Art.

One cycle, two cycles...

After thirty-six cycles.

Su Quan could detect a slight fluctuation in his body, like a chick breaking its shell. A wisp of faint crimson Origin Qi condensed at his Dantian; that was the mark of the Qi Refining First Layer.

He opened his eyes abruptly, and in his beautiful purple glass-like eyes, two crimson flames seemed to be burning.

"How amazing!"

Su Quan looked at his small hands, and a crimson fireball suddenly appeared in his palm, with massive heat spreading out.

With just one strike, it could easily destroy a fierce tiger from his previous life.

"Is this cultivating immortality? This Young Master is now a Cultivator too!"

Su Quan could not hide his excitement, and a smile broke out on his lips.

Although he had just stepped onto the path of cultivating immortality, the joy was beyond words. He firmly believed that with his unremitting efforts, plus a little help from the System, one day he would be able to attain longevity and rule over the ages.

Just as he was daydreaming and smiling foolishly, Mu Xiyan's cold voice came from outside the hall.

"Xiao Quan, may I come in?"

Hearing this, Su Quan immediately restrained his smile, turning back into a cold and lonely appearance, naturally exuding an aura of sorrow.

The speed of his face change would make even an old professor of acting from his previous life bow down in admiration.

Mu Xiyan waited outside the door for a few minutes. Seeing that there was no movement in the hall for a long time, she knocked on the door again, then pushed it open directly: "I'm coming in!"

"Heh!"

Looking at the stunning girl who walked in, hatred that was etched into his bones erupted in Su Quan's eyes. He curled his lips in a mocking arc and sneered, "You are the dignified Empress of the Great Xia, and I am just the son of a condemned official, a weak man. Can I even stop you?"

"Xiao Quan, I will never hurt you. My feelings for you are sincere!" Mu Xiyan said sincerely, her pretty face full of bitter smiles.

She looked over and felt that the youth was exceptionally handsome today. He exuded a mysterious and noble aura, like a Fairy from heaven, a holy beauty that was solemn and inviolable.

She did not know that this was the change brought about by Su Quan stepping into the Qi Refining First Layer.

"You killed my mother and wiped out my entire family. Isn't that called hurting me?"

Su Quan suddenly became agitated. With teary eyes, he said sadly, "Now you have kidnapped me into the palace again. What, do you still want to violate me? If so, then come! Let me see just how far you, this beast, can go!"

"Xiao Quan, don't cry. I, I can swear, I am definitely not that kind of person!"

Seeing the youth's tears, Mu Xiyan felt a stabbing pain in her heart. That strong feeling of regret surged into her heart like a tide again.

She shouldn't have, she absolutely shouldn't have used the youth's simplicity and kindness, as well as his pure feelings for her, to deal with his family.

But things had come to this.

Besides regret, she could only try her best to make up for it.

"Heh, who knows? I'm so simple, how could I be a match for a wicked woman like you!"

Su Quan turned his head away, unwilling to look at her again.

The continuous prompts of "regret points" arriving in his ears made his performance even more dedicated.

Seeing this, Mu Xiyan could only sigh helplessly. After hesitating for a moment, she bit the bullet and said, "Xiao Quan, I have something I want to discuss with you!"

"Every mistake is my fault. I just want to try my best to make up for what I owe you now!"

"You are now alone and helpless. Even if I let you leave, with your looks and appearance, I'm afraid you will be wantonly bullied by wicked women outside!"

"What I mean is, I hope you can stay in the palace and be my consort. I can swear that from now on, I will favor you alone!"

Dead silence.

Su Quan lost control of his emotions, like an angry male tiger, his fists raining down on the Empress like a storm.

"You wicked woman with filthy thoughts, you really are lusting after my body! Get out, I don't want to see you again!"

"Don't hit me, Xiao Quan, don't hit me!"

Mu Xiyan parried and dodged in a rather disheveled manner, begging for mercy repeatedly.

With her cultivation at the Celestial Realm, she could have suppressed the youth with just a little effort, but out of guilt, she could not generate any thought of resistance.

Just like that, she was driven out of the hall in a disheveled state.

Several guards widened their eyes. When had they ever seen the high and mighty Empress in such an embarrassing state?

"What are you looking at? Pay attention to the perimeter! If something happens to Falling Phoenix Palace, I will hold you accountable!"

The Empress rubbed her nose awkwardly, then slunk away toward her sleeping quarters.

She planned to wait for the youth's emotions to stabilize for a period of time before coming back to use love to heal his wounded heart.

Just a short distance away, Lu Xiaoming walked out from a corner, having seen everything that had just happened.

"That vixen!"

He gritted his teeth, his sense of crisis growing stronger. He didn't rush to give the Empress medicine, but instead walked toward Falling Phoenix Palace.

Today, he wanted to see what kind of magic this vixen had to make the Empress, who had always kept men at a distance, so infatuated!