71: Chapter 71: I've come to terms with it. If there are no shortcuts, then I'll just find another way to run.

Lady Qingli's warning still echoed in his ears, while the hidden pain of his injured Divine Soul and the feeling of physical weakness were like two basins of ice water, thoroughly dousing Xu Ruyu's wild notion of refining the Saint Realm cultivation.

Although the shortcut was tempting, the price was the annihilation of both body and soul. This perilous path was, for now, impassable.

After sitting cross-legged on the bed to regulate his breathing for a good while, barely suppressing the churning Qi and blood and the stinging pain in his Sea of Consciousness, Xu Ruyu looked out the window at the rising sun, his expression shifting uncertainly.

Refining the Saint Realm cultivation was a dead end. Following the prescribed steps in Cultivation would take too much time. Seeking help from Xiao Nianyin had proven to be like making a pact with a tiger... It seemed all paths were blocked.

"Am I really supposed to just sit here waiting for death?"

Xu Ruyu was naturally unwilling to admit defeat just like that. His mind raced rapidly, thinking of how to break the current deadlock.

As he thought, an idea came to Xu Ruyu—

No, there was still one path.

A path that seemed the most passive, the most helpless, even a bit shameless—that was to continue clinging to Xiao Nianyin, but in a different way.

Since directly demanding power wouldn't work, and indirectly exploring the Saint Realm cultivation was also a dead end, then he should ask for other "resources"!

Cultivation Techniques, knowledge, privileges... everything that could enhance his own strength and survivability!

Didn't Xiao Nianyin want to stabilize him, to delay him? Didn't she want him to obediently be a "battery pack"?

Fine, then he would climb up the proffered pole, pretending to be a rash, impatient, and greedy Disciple biting off more than he could chew, and demand even more from her!

Having made up his mind, Xu Ruyu took a deep breath, suppressing the unease in his heart and a trace of humiliation not easily detected (after all, he was going to "beg" the person who had "bullied" him last night). He tidied his appearance a bit, changed into clean clothes, and headed towards the Main Hall of Ningyin Hall.

The doors of the Main Hall were still tightly shut, solemn and dignified.

Xu Ruyu stopped outside the hall, cleared his throat, and tried his best to make his voice sound full of "reverent admiration" and "eagerness":

"Disciple Xu Ruyu requests an audience with Revered Master!"

Silence reigned inside the hall for a moment before Xiao Nianyin's cool, calm voice finally came out: "Enter."

Xu Ruyu pushed the door open and entered.

The light inside the hall was soft. Xiao Nianyin was still sitting upright on the jade throne, dressed in a plain white long dress, her black hair cascading like a waterfall, her face peerlessly beautiful and cool, showing not the slightest hint of anything unusual.

Only Xu Ruyu, with his keen perception, noticed that her complexion seemed a shade paler than yesterday, and deep within her eyes hid an extremely faint trace of fatigue.

"Disciple pays his respects to Revered Master."

Xu Ruyu performed the proper salute with due decorum.

"What is the matter?"

Xiao Nianyin's gaze fell upon him, seemingly calm and unruffled, but in reality, she was also quickly scrutinizing this Disciple who had once again made her lean against the wall for support.

She noticed that Xu Ruyu's aura... seemed much more solid than yesterday? And there was a faint feeling of being full to the point of bursting? This made her heart tighten slightly.

"Reporting to Revered Master," Xu Ruyu raised his head, forcing a "seeking praise" expression onto his face, "this Disciple is fortunate not to have failed your expectations. After returning yesterday, I devoted myself to comprehending the Qi Induction and Return to Origin Art you bestowed, Cultivating diligently without cease, and finally... finally managed to Breakthrough by sheer luck!"

He deliberately paused, observing Xiao Nianyin's reaction.

"Oh?" Xiao Nianyin's eyebrow twitched almost imperceptibly, her tone still flat. "Breakthrough to the Qi Refinement Stage?"

"Exactly!" Xu Ruyu said "excitedly," "This Disciple has successfully guided Qi into the body, condensed a Qi vortex, and stepped into the Qi Refinement Stage!

Although it's only the Early Stage, this Disciple feels the True Qi within is abundant, and the path of Cultivation has suddenly opened up!

All thanks to Revered Master's excellent guidance!"

The fingers Xiao Nianyin had resting on the arm of the jade throne tightened slightly for an instant.

A Breakthrough? The Qi Refinement Stage?

In just two days? Relying solely on that lowest-grade Qi Induction and Return to Origin Art?

This speed... was unusually fast.

Even for Disciples with Medium Grade Spiritual Roots, in an environment rich with Spiritual Qi, going from having no Foundation at all to guiding Qi into the body and entering the Early Stage of Qi Refinement typically took at least seven or eight days at the fastest, and one or two months at the slower end.

And him, a "Spiritual Root-less" Mortal, in the Spiritual Qi-thin side hall of Ningyin Hall, succeeded in two days?

Could it be... that the energy backflow from last night's "accident," which caused her such heavy losses, also greatly accelerated his cultivation?

This speculation made Xiao Nianyin's heart churn with mixed feelings. There was a strange sense of her own power being "converted," and a deeper vigilance towards this "tool's" "growth rate."

Back when she imparted the Qi Induction and Return to Origin Art, it was merely a stopgap measure to stabilize him. She never actually expected him to achieve anything noteworthy with it.

But now...

"Hmm, the progress is acceptable." Xiao Nianyin suppressed the turmoil in her heart, offering a faint, inscrutable evaluation. "Now that you have entered the Qi Refinement Stage, you need to solidify your Foundation even more. Guard against arrogance and impatience, and do not be greedy for quick success or rush your advancement."

"This Disciple respectfully follows Revered Master's teachings!" Xu Ruyu promptly replied, then shifted the topic, a look of "yearning" appearing on his face. "Revered Master, now that this Disciple has entered the gate, I deeply feel the vastness and profundity of the Cultivation Dao. Relying solely on the Qi Induction and Return to Origin Art, I'm afraid it will be difficult to glimpse the gateway to the great Dao.

This Disciple ventures to boldly request that Revered Master impart a more Advanced Cultivation Technique!

So that this Disciple can walk the path of Cultivation faster and more steadily!

And sooner... sooner share Revered Master's burdens!"

He deliberately said "share Revered Master's burdens" with extra sincerity, looking at Xiao Nianyin with "expectant" eyes.

Xiao Nianyin sneered inwardly.

Share burdens? More like wanting to fly once his wings harden, right?

A more Advanced Cultivation Technique? With his bizarre "growth speed," if he obtained an Advanced technique, wouldn't his Cultivation progress by leaps and bounds?

By then, in her current state of having lost all her cultivation, would she still be able to control him steadily? Would she still be able to smoothly "reclaim" her cultivation?

No, she must suppress his momentum!

"Ruyu," Xiao Nianyin's voice took on a tone of earnest admonishment. "The path of Cultivation is like sailing against the current, and also like building a nine-story tower.

If the Foundation is not solid, the earth will shake and the mountains will tremble.

You have just entered Qi Refining. This is the critical period for laying a solid Foundation. You must avoid aiming too high and pursuing overly rapid progress."

She frowned slightly, as if genuinely considering her Disciple's welfare: "Although the Qi Induction and Return to Origin Art is not high-grade, it is balanced and moderate, most suitable for consolidating the Foundation.

You should focus on this Art, repeatedly tempering your True Qi, broadening your Meridians, and stabilizing your Qi vortex.

When your Foundation becomes robust and the time is ripe, your Revered Master will naturally impart higher methods to you.

If you greedily seek quick results now, it would be no different from trying to help the shoots grow by pulling them upward. Your future Dao path will inevitably be bumpy, with the danger of Qi Deviation."

Her words were high-sounding, reasonable, and well-founded, completely playing the part of a strict teacher planning for her Disciple's long-term future.

As for the appointment at the Martial Arts Arena three months later?

She didn't mention a word of it, as if it simply didn't exist, or... she simply didn't expect Xu Ruyu to accomplish anything through Cultivation within those three months.