59: Chapter 59 Just when Xu Ruyu felt despair, Madam Qingli arrived.

However, what made Xu Ruyu's heart turn even colder was the information revealed behind this: Xiao Nianyin's distrust of him and her secretive way of doing things.

She clearly didn't intend for him to know the truth of the matter, let alone have any equal exchange with him.

In her eyes, he might truly be just a "tool"—a "trouble" that needed to be used carefully and might even need to be disposed of afterward.

"But, Revered Master..."

Xu Ruyu looked at the few strands of pitch-black hair in his palm and whispered to himself, "If you want to take back your cultivation, you could have just told me directly..."

"While I'm no gentleman, I'm not unreasonable either."

"Doing it so sneakily and putting so much effort into hiding the truth... this makes things very difficult for me."

Where was the difficulty?

The difficulty lay in the fact that he didn't know how far Xiao Nianyin's "taking back" plan had progressed. How much would she take with each "night raid"? How many times would it take to get it all back?

After she took it back, what would happen to him, a "vessel" who had lost his value and a hidden danger who knew her secret?

Was the appointment at the Martial Arts Arena in three months really just a test for a Personal Disciple?

Or was it... a part of her plan to "clean up" a trouble like him?

Thinking of this, a sense of crisis submerged Xu Ruyu.

The faint joy brought by last night's Breakthrough in his cultivation vanished instantly, replaced by deep anxiety.

Xu Ruyu looked around this temporarily safe side hall, his gaze finally falling on his open hands.

In this strange and dangerous world of cultivation, in this Hehuan Sect that seemed protective but was actually full of hidden perils, and in this situation where he was being watched by a beautiful Sect Master with unpredictable intentions...

Who could he trust?

Lady Qingli? That charming vixen who also had designs on him?

Junior Sister Qingyan? That little witch who seemed pure but was actually unpredictable?

Or those fellow disciples outside who might be envious and jealous of him, wanting to step on him to rise up at any moment?

He couldn't trust anyone!

In this other world, his only reliance was himself!

Only the "Air Cultivation method" he had just stumbled upon—the True Explanation of Taixu Source Energy—could give him a sliver of confidence to face this world.

But at the thought of cultivating, Xu Ruyu felt a deep sense of powerlessness again.

Although the method of Air Cultivation was theoretically feasible and had allowed him to enter Qi Refining in one night, and even reach the Middle Stage after a sleep, was this speed really enough?

How much of this was due to himself, and how much was due to the accidental "catalysis" brought by his Revered Master's "night raids," or even the meddling of that hidden Saint Realm cultivation within him?

To be honest, he had no idea.

Moreover, if he really relied on this crude method to step-by-step absorb the meager molecular kinetic energy in the air, accumulating it bit by bit and slowly becoming stronger until he could protect himself in this cultivation world and contend with existences like Xiao Nianyin, Lady Qingli, and Leng Ningshuang—who were at least at the Golden Core Stage or even more terrifying...

How long would that take?

By then, not only would the opportunity be gone, but his life would probably be gone too!

No, he couldn't just wait for death like this!

On the surface, the time Xiao Nianyin had left him was only three months!

In three months, on the Martial Arts Arena, he would have to face the challenge of a Core True Disciple of Leng Ningshuang's level!

Even if he was exceptionally gifted and his Air Cultivation speed was ten or a hundred times that of others, what Realm could he reach in three months from the Middle Stage of Qi Refining?

Foundation Establishment? Keep dreaming! He'd be lucky if he reached Qi Refining Late Stage Perfection!

A Qi Refinement Stage practitioner accepting the challenge of Prodigies who were at least at the middle or Late Stages of Foundation Establishment and had rich combat experience?

This was no longer a pipe dream; it was practically offering his face to be stepped on and washing his neck clean to be beheaded!

Was it despair?

A little.

But the resilience from modern society and the obsession of an engineering student in Xu Ruyu's bones made him unwilling to accept his fate.

"No, I can't just sit here and wait for death!"

He suddenly stood up from the bed and began pacing back and forth in the small room, his brow furrowed and his mind racing.

"The path of Air Cultivation must be followed; that is the foundation."

"But the efficiency must be improved!"

"Relying solely on passive absorption of molecular kinetic energy is too slow... I have to find a way to be more 'proactive,' like... getting some 'external equipment'?"

"Accelerating airflow like a blower? Or making an 'electrostatic generator' to capture the charges in the air? Or maybe..."

His thoughts began to race toward the dangerous direction of "Black Tech Cultivation."

But soon, the cold water of reality splashed down again—he had no Materials, no tools, no safe experimental environment, and... damn it, he didn't even know if the most basic laws of physics were fully applicable in this world!

"Even the cleverest housewife cannot cook without rice..."

Xu Ruyu sighed deeply toward the sky, a thick sense of powerlessness hitting him again.

Just as he was scratching his head, feeling the future was dark and almost becoming withdrawn—

"Oh~ Little Ruyu, what are you sighing about so early in the morning? Could it be... a romantic dream that left no trace, leaving you empty and lonely upon waking?"

A woman's voice, seductive to the bone and unabashedly playful, rang out in the room without warning.

Xu Ruyu's hair stood on end, and he turned around abruptly like a startled cat, backing against the wall and looking warily at the source of the voice.

He saw that the tightly closed door of the room had quietly opened at some point.

At the threshold, a haze-colored skirt trailed in, and then Lady Qingli's graceful and charming figure appeared there, leaning against the doorframe with a smile.

She seemed to have dressed up carefully today, her hair piled high in a cloud-like bun with a golden step-shake hairpin, and a touch of crimson huadian on her brow, making her already exquisite face look even more enchanting and eye-catching.

Those soul-stirring peach blossom eyes were filled with a deep smile and inquiry as she looked Xu Ruyu up and down, who was only wearing messy inner robes.

The sunlight shone in from behind her, casting a golden edge around her body, but it couldn't reach the depths of her eyes.

Xu Ruyu's heart skipped several beats. He hurriedly pulled his robes tight and stammered, "S-Senior Qingli? W-Why are you here? Didn't the Sect Master issue a ban..."

"A ban?" Lady Qingli chuckled, covering her mouth, and walked in slowly. With a wave of her hand, the door closed silently behind her. "That ban is for outsiders. Am I... an outsider?"

She walked up to Xu Ruyu and leaned over slightly. A rich, sweet fragrance wafted over, almost suffocating him.

Her gaze swept over the faint red marks on Xu Ruyu's neck and then over the few long hairs he hadn't had time to hide in his hand. The smile in her eyes deepened and became even more intriguing.

"It seems you... rested well last night?"

She drawled her words, clearly implying something.

Xu Ruyu's face turned red instantly.

He subconsciously tried to hide his hand behind his back, only to awkwardly realize there was nowhere to hide.

"Senior... you're joking." He gave a couple of dry laughs, trying to change the subject. "I wonder what instructions Senior has for coming here?"

"I wouldn't call it instructions." Lady Qingli straightened up and leisurely walked to the only chair in the room to sit down. "I just heard that a certain little silly fish seems to have run into some trouble. Cultivation stalled? Future bleak? So, I had nothing better to do and came over to see if there's anything I can... 'help' you with."

She placed a special emphasis on the word "help," looking at Xu Ruyu with a playful gaze.

Alarm bells rang in Xu Ruyu's heart.

Would this old vixen be so kind? Proactively coming to help him? The sun would have to rise from the west!

But... he was indeed at a dead end, on the edge of despair.

Even if it were a straw with poisonous thorns, he couldn't help but want to grab it.

"Senior... are you really willing to help me?"

Xu Ruyu asked cautiously.

Lady Qingli laughed so hard she trembled, her nine fox tails swaying happily behind her. "That depends on... whether you're worth my help."

"And whether you're willing to pay a... small price."

Her gaze, almost tangible, fell on Xu Ruyu once again.

Under Lady Qingli's seemingly charming and expectant gaze, Xu Ruyu's back was slowly soaked with cold sweat.