69: Chapter 69 Outward

The next day, Xu Ruyu was awakened by an unprecedented feeling of bloating within his Dantian.

He slowly opened his eyes, but didn't get up immediately. Instead, he lay quietly, feeling the surging power within his body—it was incomparable to the trickle from yesterday's Middle Stage of Qi Refining. Instead, it was like a rushing river, whistling through his much-widened Meridians before finally returning to the silver cyclone in his Dantian, which was now the size of a fist and as brilliant as a solid star.

Qi Refinement Stage, Great Perfection!

He seemed to be only a thin layer of window paper away from Foundation Establishment.

If it were an ordinary Cultivator who broke through several minor Realms in one night to reach the Great Perfection of Qi Refining, they would have likely been ecstatic, their Dao Heart agitated.

But on Xu Ruyu's face, there wasn't the slightest hint of joy.

He propped himself up with his arms and sat up, his cold gaze sweeping across the messy bed beside him.

The crumpled bedding, a few scattered strands of Xiao Nianyin's jet-black hair, the lingering scent of decadence in the air that hadn't fully dissipated, and the residual soreness in certain hidden parts of his body...

Everything silently spoke of the "battle" from last night that was no dream.

Xu Ruyu twitched the corner of his mouth, revealing a cold sneer.

As expected.

Asking a so-called giant of the Demonic Path, the Sect Master of the Hehuan Sect who followed the path of dual cultivation and harvesting, for help and expecting her to lend a hand was undoubtedly a fool's dream—it was like bargaining with a tiger for its skin.

Xiao Nianyin's purpose had been crystal clear from the very beginning—to take back her cultivation.

To that end, she could cast aside the dignity and pride of a Sect Master, use aphrodisiac incense, and engage in such surreptitious acts, treating him entirely as a tool to be manipulated and squeezed at will.

It might have seemed like his instinctive resistance gained the upper hand last night, even "accidentally" plundering more of her power, but that didn't change the essence of the matter—she was still taking unilaterally, and he was still the passive recipient. The only difference was that this time, she was the one who "went for wool and came home shorn."

Expecting such an "ally" to help him? It was a total joke.

Xu Ruyu took a deep breath, completely severing the last trace of wishful thinking in his heart.

In this world where the strong preyed on the weak, in this peril-filled Hehuan Sect, the only person he could truly rely on was himself!

"Instead of seeking help from others, it's better to make myself strong."

He muttered to himself, his voice carrying a hint of resolution.

However, the coldness of reality immediately poured over him.

Making himself strong? Easier said than done!

The method of cultivating through the air was wonderful, but if he cultivated step-by-step, the speed would ultimately be limited.

In three months, going from the Great Perfection of Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment might be hopeful, but what about after Foundation Establishment?

Wanting to possess power sufficient to protect himself, or even rival existences like Xiao Nianyin, Madam Qingli, and Leng Ningshuang, was no different from a pipe dream.

Time was his greatest enemy.

And Xiao Nianyin's ban, which seemed like "protection" but was actually captivity, along with that suspiciously placed "Soundproofing Forbidden Array," were all compressing his room for struggle.

What should he do?

Xu Ruyu's gaze involuntarily turned toward the depths of his Dantian.

There, besides his own brilliant cyclone of "Taixu True Qi," even deeper down, lay that vast sea of Xiao Nianyin's Saint Realm cultivation.

This power was like a massive beast dwelling within his body. It usually remained dormant, but every time he had "contact" with Xiao Nianyin, it would produce a strange reaction—either feeding back pure "Taixu True Qi" or, as it had last night, backflowing violently.

Xiao Nianyin had gone to such lengths, even not hesitating to "sacrifice her body." Wasn't what she wanted precisely to take back this power?

Since she wanted it, and since she thought he didn't know and was still playing this game of "night raids and theft"...

Xu Ruyu's eyes suddenly became sharp, and a bold, almost crazy idea ignited in his heart like wildfire:

Why don't I... strike first? Before she succeeds in "taking it back," I'll find a way to... refine this power into my own!

Once this thought appeared, it could no longer be suppressed.

The risk? Naturally, it was enormous.

Saint Realm cultivation was power far beyond his current level. One slight mistake and his body would explode, resulting in Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering.

The reason Xiao Nianyin didn't dare to forcibly extract it was probably due to this concern.

But the reward? Once successful, even if he only refined a small portion of it, it would be enough to transform him and cause his strength to skyrocket!

Only then would he have a slight possibility of truly controlling his own destiny!

Rather than waiting for Xiao Nianyin to slowly "reclaim" it or cultivating step-by-step himself, it was better to take a gamble!

The adventurous spirit belonging to a modern person in Xu Ruyu's bones was completely triggered.

He no longer hesitated, nor did he care if his actions would be noticed by Madam Qingli next door, or if they would trigger unpredictable dangers during the attempt.

He immediately sat cross-legged on the messy bed, with his five centers facing the sky, closed his eyes, and sank his entire mind into his body.

First, he circulated the rudimentary mantra of the "True Explanation of Taixu Source Energy," causing his "Taixu True Qi" cyclone to accelerate its rotation, emitting a peaceful and stable aura to serve as a "bridge" for communication and a "foundation" for the attempted refinement.

Then, his intent, as cautious as the finest feeler, reached past the range of his own True Qi cyclone toward that "silent deep sea" in the depths of his Dantian—where the Saint Realm cultivation resided.

This was not an attack, nor was it plundering; it was more like a tentative "communication" and "calling."

He tried to use his intent to feel the "texture" of that power, to understand its "fluctuations," and even... to try and mimic some kind of "frequency" or "imprint" that Xiao Nianyin might have left behind when she guided the power before.

At first, that "deep sea" was completely unresponsive, like ten-thousand-year-old profound ice—cold and deathly silent.

Xu Ruyu was not discouraged. He recalled the subtle ripples he had felt during the "contact" last night and tried to use his intent to simulate that "resonance."

At the same time, he guided his pure "Taixu True Qi," turning it into threads of silver light spots that slowly drifted toward the edge of the "deep sea" like fireflies, attempting the most preliminary "contact" and "infiltration."

This process was extremely mentally taxing and incredibly dangerous.

Just as he used his intent to drive a strand of Taixu True Qi to touch the surface of that "deep sea"—

A sudden change occurred!