45: Chapter 45: The cultivation technique taught by Xiao Nianyin confirmed Xu Ruyu's guess.

Inside the Main Hall of Ningyin Hall, the soft halo of night-luminescent pearls flowed quietly, illuminating every carved beam and painted rafter of the vast hall, making them clear and serene.

The air was permeated with the unique fragrance on Xiao Nianyin—a clean, cold scent—mingled with a faint, lingering trace of Madam Qingli's presence, which was sweeter and more enticing. The latter made alarm bells ring in Xu Ruyu's heart, though he dared not show the slightest expression on his face.

The time had come.

Xu Ruyu lowered his head and averted his gaze, walking respectfully into the Main Hall. He stopped a few zhang away from Xiao Nianyin's jade throne and bowed according to etiquette: "Disciple Ruyu pays respects to Revered Master."

His voice was steady, revealing nothing unusual. Only he knew that the heart within his chest was pounding like a drum, filled with vigilance, speculation, and a trace of cold scrutiny.

"Hmm." Xiao Nianyin's cold voice came from atop the jade throne. "Come closer and sit."

Xu Ruyu followed her instructions, stepping forward to sit cross-legged on a cyan meditation cushion placed on the smooth jade bricks, maintaining a distance from Xiao Nianyin—who sat on the jade throne—that was neither too far nor too close, just enough to clearly see each other's expressions.

He raised his eyes slightly, quickly sweeping over his Revered Master's face.

She seemed to have recovered; her complexion was much better than when she had eaten the grilled fish earlier, restoring that icy, porcelain-like whiteness and aloofness, though a faint, lingering fatigue still haunted her brows.

Those cold eyes were looking at him, the gaze calm and waveless, as if it could see through everything, and yet as if it saw nothing at all.

"From today on, this Seat will begin teaching you the Dao of cultivation." Xiao Nianyin got straight to the point, without any unnecessary pleasantries. "Although you lack a Spiritual Root and your Physique is... special, the principles of cultivation are universal. You must listen carefully and remember them well."

"Yes, this Disciple will strictly follow your teachings."

Xu Ruyu assumed a pose of attentive listening.

Xiao Nianyin nodded slightly and began to explain: "The path of cultivation is to act against the heavens, to seize the fortune of Heaven and Earth, and to encroach upon the profound mysteries of the sun and moon. Its Realms, from lowest to highest, are roughly divided into: Qi Refinement Stage, Foundation Establishment Stage, Golden Core Stage, Nascent Soul Stage, Soul Transformation, Void Refining, Body Integration, Mahayana, and Undergoing Tribulation. Each major Realm is further divided into four minor stages: Initial, Middle, Late, and Perfection."

Her voice was steady and clear, like a mountain stream, trickling through the silent Main Hall.

"The Qi Refinement Stage is the beginning of cultivation. It involves sensing the Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth, inducing Qi into the body, tempering the Physical Body, clearing the Meridians, condensing a Qi vortex in the Dantian, and transforming the turbid Acquired Qi into Innate True Qi. This stage focuses on the Foundation; the more pure the True Qi, the firmer the Foundation, and the higher the future achievements."

"The Foundation Establishment Stage is where one builds the Foundation of the Dao. True Qi liquefies, condensing into a Dao platform (or Dao Foundation), and Divine Sense is born, allowing one to look within oneself, project perception outward, and initially utilize Spells and Talismans."

"The Golden Core Stage involves the condensation and unification of the Three Treasures—Essence, Qi, and Spirit—forming a Golden Core in the Dantian. One seizes the essence of Heaven and Earth, greatly increasing Lifespan, manifesting initial Divine Abilities, and gaining the ability to fly on weapons and split mountains and rocks."

"The Nascent Soul Stage is where the Golden Core breaks and reforms, giving birth to a Nascent Soul. This is the Cultivator's second life. With vast Divine Abilities, one can initially touch the Laws of Heaven and Earth, and the Nascent Soul can leave the body, traveling a thousand miles in an instant..."

Xiao Nianyin spoke at a measured pace, concisely explaining the characteristics, key points, and hallmark abilities of each Realm.

Although Xu Ruyu came from the modern world, he was not unfamiliar with these cultivation settings. Hearing them now, he only felt that the system was rigorous and profound, completely different from the chaotic, uncontrollable, and massive power within his own body.

This made him more certain that the power within him was absolutely not something he had cultivated himself.

After introducing the Realms, Xiao Nianyin changed the subject: "Our Hehuan Sect has been established for thousands of years. Although our Cultivation Techniques originate from the ancient Dao of Dual Cultivation, we have drawn from many sources and evolved into numerous branches. The core Cultivation Technique is naturally the 'Heavenly Charm Mysterious Maiden Heart Sutra', which is the supreme method pointing directly to Mahayana, and can only be practiced by successive Sect Masters and a few Core True Disciples. In addition, there are Sect-protecting Cultivation Techniques such as the 'Sutra of the Pure-Hearted Maiden', 'Yin and Yang Harmony Technique', and 'Record of Refining Emotions in the Mortal World', each with different focuses—some emphasize Charm Technique and illusion, others emphasize Dual Cultivation and harvesting, and some emphasize tempering the state of mind."

She paused, her gaze seemingly sweeping over Xu Ruyu inadvertently: "Of course, within the Sect, there are also a large number of Basic Cultivation Techniques suitable for ordinary Disciples to practice and build a Foundation, such as the 'Qi Induction Art', 'Qi Harmony Chapter', and 'Lesser Heavenly Circuit Circulation Method'. These Cultivation Techniques are upright and balanced; while they lack earth-shattering power, they are the necessary path to solidify one's Foundation and glimpse the Dao."

Xu Ruyu listened silently, but his mind was analyzing rapidly.

Xiao Nianyin's introduction was so detailed, from the supreme Mind-Cultivation Technique to the basic Cultivation Techniques. It seemed like she was popularizing knowledge for him, but he always felt this was a form of foreshadowing, a hint... excluding him from the core Legacy.

Sure enough, Xiao Nianyin's next words confirmed his premonition.

"Ruyu." Xiao Nianyin's gaze fell on his face, carrying a sense of scrutiny and assessment. "Your situation is special; your Spiritual Root has not manifested, and your Physique... is also unconventional. To rashly practice profound Cultivation Techniques may risk your body exploding or leading you astray. Therefore, after much deliberation, I have decided to first teach you the most basic and safest introductory Cultivation Technique—the 'Qi Induction and Return to Origin Art'."

Her tone carried an unquestionable decisiveness: "Although this art is only a Yellow Rank Low Grade Cultivation Technique, it can help you sense Spiritual Qi, attempt to induce Qi into the body, temper the Physical Body, and clear the Meridians. If your talent is decent, with diligent practice of this art, within three months, you may have hope of... stepping into the threshold of the Qi Refinement Stage."

"Qi Refinement Stage?"

Xu Ruyu almost thought he had misheard. He jerked his head up, his eyes filled with astonishment and disbelief, even forgetting to mask his emotions.

Three months!

In three months, he would have to face a Core True Disciple like Leng Ningshuang—who had long since established her Foundation and might even be at a higher Realm—on the Martial Arts Arena, which would be under the eyes of everyone!

And now, his Revered Master was teaching him a basic Cultivation Technique of the lowest rank that could only reach the Qi Refinement Stage? And it was only "having hope" of stepping into the threshold?

This is simply... absurd!

No, this is not absurd.

This is a signal!

A signal that could not be more obvious!

All his previous guesses, at this moment, were like shattered puzzle pieces, smashed hard by this sentence "Qi Refinement Stage", instantly fitting together seamlessly to form a cold and cruel picture of the truth!

Xiao Nianyin never expected, or rather, never intended for him to win the duel in three months!

She might not have even thought he could survive until that time!

The so-called "status of Personal Disciple must be defended with strength", the so-called "three-month agreement", were all just a facade!

It was a play put on for the entire Hehuan Sect and the outside world to see!

Her true purpose was to use him, this "vessel", within these three months, to safely and securely "take back" the cultivation she had accidentally lost!

And teaching him this lowest-tier 'Qi Induction and Return to Origin Art' might not be for him to Cultivate at all, but... to facilitate some step in her "reclaiming" her cultivation? Or, perhaps, it was just to keep him steady, so he wouldn't let his imagination run wild and would obediently stay in this "cage" of Ningyin Hall, making it convenient for her to "make a move" at any time?

Once she successfully recovered her cultivation (even if just a part of it), what would be the fate of this "vessel" who had lost its value, this hidden danger who knew her biggest secret?

In Xu Ruyu's mind, several possibilities instantly emerged: being killed by "accident" by Core Disciples like Leng Ningshuang on the Martial Arts Arena, which would be reasonable and beyond suspicion; or dying suddenly from "Qi Deviation" while practicing; or perhaps, "disappearing" without a trace...

A chill surged from his tailbone straight to his crown, instantly spreading to his limbs and bones.

He felt his blood almost freezing, and his fingers trembled slightly in his sleeves, uncontrollable.

His previous guesses were still too conservative, too "kind".

Xiao Nianyin's plan was colder and more watertight than he had imagined.

She not only wanted to take back her cultivation but, after doing so, she also wanted to completely eliminate this "accident" and "stain" that was him, while maintaining her reputation and majesty as the Sect Master!

What a ruthless heart!

What deep schemes!

Xu Ruyu lowered his head and bit his tongue hard. The intense pain and the taste of blood allowed him to barely maintain his outward calm, preventing him from losing his composure on the spot.

But how could that momentary astonishment, his suddenly pale complexion, and the shock and coldness in his eyes that could not be fully masked escape Xiao Nianyin's eyes?

Looking at him in this state, Xiao Nianyin's heart also sank slightly.

She naturally knew that teaching only a Yellow Rank Low Grade 'Qi Induction and Return to Origin Art' to a "Personal Disciple" facing a life-and-death challenge was incredibly perfunctory and unreasonable.

Xu Ruyu's reaction was within her expectations.

But she had her own hidden difficulties and schemes.