155: Chapter 155 Others' dantian is a small water bottle, yours is a large water vat

Hearing Lady Qingli say this, even Xu Ruyu, who was used to being teased, couldn't help but blush.

He immediately replied, "Senior, please don't joke..."

"Who's joking with you?" Lady Qingli sat up straight, her face still wearing that cynical smile. "I'm serious.

Your situation... to be honest, I've never seen it before."

She picked up her wine cup, took a sip, but her eyes became a bit more serious:

"However, there's something you should also know. That is, your Dantian is actually much larger than that of an average Qi Refinement Stage Cultivator.

Your True Qi reserves are also beyond what the Qi Refinement Stage can compare to."

Xu Ruyu nodded:

"I know that. The total amount of True Qi in my Qi Sea now is probably no less than that of the Golden Core Initial Stage."

"More than just 'no less than'." Lady Qingli chuckled. "In my view, your cultivation at Qi Refining Level 15 is already on par with a Golden Core Initial Stage Cultivator.

Even... in some aspects, it might be even stronger."

She paused, put down her wine cup, and said solemnly:

"Xiao Yuer, have you ever thought about one question—why does the Cultivation World divide Realms?"

Xu Ruyu was stunned:

"Why? Isn't it... just to make it easier to measure the level of cultivation?"

"Yes, but not entirely." Lady Qingli shook her head. "The division of Realms is actually a form of 'standardization.'

Just like the weights and measures in the Mortal world—how much a catty is, how long a foot is—everyone agrees on them for the convenience of communication."

She paused, her tone deepening:

"But you should know that there are some people in this world who are born as 'anomalies.'

Their Dantians are larger than others', their Meridians are wider, and both the quality and quantity of their True Qi far exceed those of the same rank. Is it appropriate to measure such people using standardized Realms?"

Xu Ruyu's heart jolted.

Lady Qingli looked at him, a hint of admiration flashing in her eyes:

"Your situation is a bit like those 'anomalies.' Your Cultivation Technique is special, and the path you take is not the usual one, so it's normal that your Realm doesn't follow common logic."

She stood up, walked to a green bamboo in the courtyard, and gently stroked the stem:

"Let me give you an analogy."

"Look at this bamboo; when it grows, it grows section by section.

Each section is a 'stage' in its life.

Our cultivation Realms are like the sections of a bamboo—one section for Qi Refining, one for Foundation Establishment, one for Golden Core..."

She paused, turned to look at Xu Ruyu:

"But did you know? Some bamboo can grow a single section particularly long and sturdy. While other bamboo has very short but dense sections."

"Your situation is like that 'exceptionally long section' bamboo. You've stayed in the Qi Refinement Stage section longer than others, and the power you've accumulated is also more than others.

So while others have already grown to the next section, you are still in this section... constantly becoming thicker and stronger."

Xu Ruyu listened intently:

"Then... when will I be able to grow to the next section?"

"When it's time to grow, it will grow naturally." Lady Qingli walked back to the stone table and sat down, pouring herself another cup of wine. "Actually, from ancient times to the present, some incredibly powerful Cultivators often cannot be judged by their Realms."

She raised her wine cup, swirling it against the moonlight:

"It's like how the capacity of a water bottle and a water vat are different.

If you pour the same amount of water into a water bottle, it would have filled up and overflowed long ago.

But if you pour it into a water vat, it might not even cover the bottom."

"Realms are like the 'labels' on the bottle and the vat—you stick a 'Qi Refining' label on the bottle, and a 'Qi Refining' label on the vat as well.

But look, even though both are 'Qi Refining,' can their capacities be the same?"

Xu Ruyu suddenly understood.

"So... my Dantian is like a 'water vat'?"

"More than just a water vat." Lady Qingli smiled. "In my view, your water vat is still growing. At Qi Refining Level 9, it might have been an ordinary vat. Now at Qi Refining Level 15... I'm afraid it's become a giant vat."

She paused, her tone serious:

"Xiao Yuer, you don't need to be too anxious. Your situation might be related to your own Physique and Cultivation Technique; it's a good thing, not a bad one.

As long as you work hard at your cultivation, you will Breakthrough sooner or later. And..."

A mysterious light flashed in her eyes:

"And there will be unexpected rewards."

"Unexpected rewards?" Xu Ruyu was puzzled.

"Yes." Lady Qingli nodded. "Think about it: others in the Qi Refinement Stage are just laying a foundation, and the power they accumulate is limited.

But you? The power you've accumulated in the Qi Refinement Stage might be more than what they accumulate in the Foundation Establishment Stage or even the Golden Core Stage.

When you finally Breakthrough... what kind of scene will it be when that power erupts?"

Xu Ruyu's heart skipped a beat.

Indeed.

If he was now at Qi Refining Level 15 and his total True Qi was already no less than the Golden Core Initial Stage.

Then what about when he reached Qi Refining Level 20, 30... or even 100?

When he truly broke through and stepped into the next Realm, and the power accumulated over countless levels erupted all at once...

That power would probably be earth-shattering!

"So," Lady Qingli patted Xu Ruyu's shoulder, her tone returning to its playful self, "Xiao Yuer, just focus on your cultivation. When it's time to Breakthrough, you naturally will.

For now... just treat it as laying a foundation. The firmer the foundation, the taller the building you can build in the future, right?"

Xu Ruyu nodded heavily:

"I understand, thank you for your guidance, Senior."

"It's good that you understand." Lady Qingli raised her wine cup and drained it in one gulp. "Come, have a drink with me. After drinking, go back and Cultivate well. As for the Duel in two days... I'm really looking forward to it~"

Xu Ruyu raised his cup, clinked it with Lady Qingli's, and then drained it.

The wine was strong, burning his throat.

But his heart had settled down.

Yes.

Bottles and vats have different capacities.

He, Xu Ruyu, was perhaps that "water vat."

Since he was destined to hold more water, why rush to stick on the next "label"?

So what if it was Qi Refining Level 15?

So what if it was Level 20?

As long as his power was growing and his strength was increasing, a Realm... was nothing more than an empty title.

Xu Ruyu put down his cup and gave Lady Qingli a deep bow:

"Senior, I'm going back to Cultivate."

"Go on, go on." Lady Qingli waved her hand, looking at him with a beaming smile. "Remember, lay the foundation well. I'm still waiting to see you build a tall tower~"

Xu Ruyu turned and left, his steps firm.

Under the moonlight, his back was as upright as a bamboo.

Lady Qingli sat at the stone table, watching his figure disappear into the sea of bamboo, the smile on her face gradually fading.

She picked up the wine pot and poured another cup, but she didn't drink it. She just looked at the moonlight reflected in the cup, her gaze deep.

"Qi Refining Level 15..."

She murmured to herself:

"This kid... has gone further than I imagined."

"What on earth did that old woman Qingtian teach him?"

Lady Qingli shook her head and drained the cup.

Then, she looked up toward Ningyin Hall, a trace of complexity flashing in her eyes.

"Xiao Nianyin, oh Xiao Nianyin..."

"Do you have any idea... just what kind of existence you've personally pushed away, or even wanted to kill?"

The night was deep, and the bamboo rustled in the wind.

And a Duel that would decide fate was already close at hand.