After being beaten numerous times, Bao Gu became more cunning. She held onto the Monkey Wine, replenishing her Qi while resisting.
When her Qi was about to be depleted, she would escape using the last bit of her Qi, drinking Monkey Wine to recover while fleeing.
In her exchanges with Zi Yunshu, she discovered many wonderful uses for the Qi in her dantian. Channeling the Qi in her dantian to execute moves made the moves faster and more powerful.
When she had previously injured her leg, her senior sister had told her that she could channel Qi to heal herself.
When she was injured during her exchanges with Zi Yunshu, she tried to use the Qi in her dantian for healing, leading to an astonishing discovery.
The Qi in her dantian was not only stored there but could also flow into the meridians throughout her body.
However, since the meridians are connected to acupoints, there would be some loss and blockage of Qi when it flowed to the acupoints.
She knew this was because the acupoints and meridians in her body were not yet fully opened, something that needed to be cultivated during the Foundation Building phase.
Zi Yunshu’s relentless teaching method pushed Bao Gu to the limit, like a tightly stretched string.
Bao Gu had lived a smooth life up to this point, accustomed to a slow and leisurely pace. Although she had experienced hardships and survived the Qing Shan County Three-Year Drought, those were overcome by being frugal and using her wits, never having to fight with disaster victims for food, flee from famine, or experience the tension of fighting for her life.
Now, facing Zi Yunshu’s teaching method, she had to come up with countermeasures and react quickly, or else she would be beaten to the point of wishing she could just die.
After more than ten days, Bao Gu found herself to be more cunning than a monkey, immediately leaping several meters away at the slightest disturbance, while simultaneously unleashing a barrage of attacks in the direction of any noise.
By the sixteenth day, Bao Gu’s face was swollen like a bun, bruised and battered all over.
She had improved in handling Zi Yunshu’s attacks, able to escape and counterattack, and occasionally manage a few moves under Zi Yunshu’s assault.
Several times during her exchanges with Zi Yunshu, she felt something stirring in her dantian, as if something was coming to life.
She tried to channel this “alive” thing into her sword and attack Zi Yunshu, often achieving unexpected effects, either greatly enhancing the power of her sword, forcing Zi Yunshu to retreat, or making her swordplay exceptionally smooth, touching upon the essence of swordsmanship.
It was as if the sword in her hand merged with her, becoming both a weapon and a part of her body, executing moves with an endless supply of energy, making the learned techniques effortless to use.
Gradually, Bao Gu felt the difference between cultivators and ordinary people.
It wasn’t just having a ball of Qi in the dantian, or being able to cultivate with the spiritual Qi of heaven and earth without moving or eating for days, but being able to integrate Qi into everything, achieving feats impossible for ordinary people.
She could ride a flying sword, defend herself with a three-foot-long sword, and swiftly traverse mountains using Qi and wind-riding techniques, experiencing a boundless sense of freedom.
She finally understood why so few cultivators achieved immortality, yet so many pursued cultivation.
It wasn’t just for extending life or the slim hope of success, but for the exhilarating feeling of power and freedom, and the courage and confidence to stand proudly between heaven and earth.
Although her physical constitution as a Qi Refining cultivator wasn’t much different from ordinary people, at this moment, she no longer compared herself to the mundane people in her memory. She felt like a cultivator on the path of cultivation, moving forward.
Her desire for cultivation grew, no longer content with just achieving whatever level she could through her best efforts. She wanted to reach higher realms and see more of the world.
With these insights, Bao Gu no longer just fled or counterattacked when facing Zi Yunshu. Knowing she couldn’t defeat Zi Yunshu, she still tried to actively attack and defeat her. Her attacks, defenses, and counterattacks became more decisive and efficient.
On the twentieth day, Zi Yunshu suppressed her strength to match Bao Gu’s level, exchanging sword techniques and combat skills. Bao Gu was able to hold her own for over a hundred moves without defeat.
Zi Yunshu told Bao Gu, “Sword techniques and combat skills can’t be mastered overnight. Now that you can last over a hundred moves against me, you have some self-defense capabilities when you go out. Let’s leave it at that for now. Rest tonight, and we’ll set off tomorrow. Go treat the injuries on your face.”
Bao Gu sheathed her sword and responded with a “Hmm,” then rode her flying sword to the creek outside the small courtyard and sat down to meditate.
She had felt on the verge of a breakthrough for the past few days, and the recent use of Qi had given her new insights.
Zi Yunshu nodded slightly and went straight back to the small courtyard.
Yu Mi stood in the courtyard and asked Zi Yunshu, “Is she trying to break through to the seventh level of Qi Refining?”
Zi Yunshu replied, “It seems she has had some insights.” She looked back at Bao Gu sitting by the creek and said, “These past few days, I’ve noticed her understanding of sword intent during our exchanges. Her attacks sometimes come unexpectedly, often from angles I didn’t anticipate.” She chuckled and added, “Fighting her feels like sharpening a sword.”
Yu Mi asked, “Is it the Xuan Tian Sword of our ancestor?”
Zi Yunshu replied, “I didn’t sense the aura of the Xuan Tian Sword. Yu Mi, I have a feeling her achievements won’t be inferior to yours and Nan Yi’s.”
Yu Mi smiled, “Xuan Tian Sect is counting on her for revival!”
Zi Yunshu shook her head and went inside.
Many doubted Bao Gu’s Five Elements Root, as her growth would require significant resources, increasingly so at higher levels, and it was uncertain if Bao Gu could gather enough cultivation resources on her own.
Many hoped Bao Gu could revive Xuan Tian Sect, relying on her fortune, her ability to get along with others, and the treasures within the Duobao Spirit Monkey.
She had only two disciples, Yu Mi and Bao Gu.
Yu Mi was recognized as one of the new generation’s geniuses in Xuan Tian Sect. Zi Yunshu was optimistic about Yu Mi, who had excellent roots, diligence, and willingness to risk her life.
Yu Mi’s achievements were built on sweat and blood, practicing day and night, and fighting beasts in the mountains at the age of thirteen to break through, surviving by a slim margin to reach today. Yu Mi’s swordplay was fast and fierce, embodying a life-and-death struggle.
Compared to Yu Mi, Bao Gu was less fierce but more stable and unpredictable, with tight defenses and unexpected, heavy strikes that often caught opponents off guard.
Zi Yunshu felt both Yu Mi and Bao Gu were promising, giving her hope for the future of Lingyun Peak.
Bao Gu sat on the stone bridge over the creek for an entire day.
The intense training of the past few days was beneficial but exhausting.
After sitting down, she began to regulate her breathing, using the Qi in her dantian to soothe her meridians and relax, repeatedly nourishing her body with Qi.
Fully relaxing helped Bao Gu’s fatigue and pain gradually disappear, leaving her feeling completely refreshed and comfortable.
When the fatigue was gone and her Qi felt replenished, she felt full of vitality and ease, as if her cultivation realm had risen a level. Her spiritual awareness became clearer, and her body felt lighter.
Bao Gu wasn’t sure if it was just her imagination, but when she stood up, she felt she had made significant progress compared to the sixth level of Qi Refining. She went back to the house and asked Yu Mi, “Senior sister, do you think my cultivation has improved?”
Yu Mi looked at Bao Gu and said, “Very good.” She turned and called towards the bedroom, “Little Martial Aunt, it’s time to leave.”
Zi Yunshu woke up as Bao Gu took her first step after finishing her cultivation, rubbing her sleepy eyes and thinking, “I hate winter. It’s already spring, why hasn’t the snow melted yet?”
Bao Gu was startled, “We’re going to Taiyin Sect so soon? Let me rest for two days!”
Yu Mi looked at Bao Gu and said, “You’ve already rested for a day, isn’t that enough?”
Bao Gu pouted, “I was cultivating, not resting.”
Yu Mi said, “You’re full of energy now, do you still need to rest? Where’s the Duobao Spirit Monkey? Call it out, it’s time to leave.”
Bao Gu didn’t want to walk into the trap of Taiyin Sect.
Zi Yunshu yawned and stepped out of the bedroom, saying, “Enough! Do you want to rot in the small courtyard?”
She looked at Bao Gu and asked, “Do you think you can last a hundred moves against me without fear? If you don’t want to go out, let’s practice some more. I promise if I don’t beat you into a non-human shape within three moves, my name isn’t Zi!”
Bao Gu dared not fight the fierce Little Martial Aunt and quickly shouted, “Little monkey, little monkey!”
After calling three or four times, she saw the Duobao Spirit Monkey appear at the door, accompanied by a rich aroma of wine.
The Duobao Spirit Monkey held a wine gourd in its left hand and a giant wine barrel behind it, filled with original wine. It squeaked, looking at Bao Gu as if asking, “Why did you call me out?”
Zi Yunshu and Yu Mi exchanged glances, trying not to laugh. They hadn’t seen the Duobao Spirit Monkey for many days, and it was still hiding and brewing wine! How diligent!
Yu Mi held back her laughter and said, “We’re going to the richest Taiyin Sect in the Yun Ling Mountain range to make a fortune. Are you coming? The spiritual herbs, fruits, and trees in Taiyin Sect’s medicinal fields are hundreds of times more than in Xuan Tian Sect.”
The Duobao Spirit Monkey quickly nodded, then looked at Bao Gu as if asking for her opinion.
Bao Gu thought to herself, “What do you mean by making a fortune? It’s clearly a robbery! Sigh, robbing the fierce Taiyin Sect…” She shivered at the thought of Taiyin Sect’s power and might when they attacked Xuan Tian Sect. They were going to the lair of Taiyin Sect!
Zi Yunshu asked Bao Gu, “You don’t want to go?” Without her and the Duobao Spirit Monkey, were they just going to Taiyin Sect for sightseeing?
Under the intimidating gaze of Zi Yunshu, Bao Gu reluctantly nodded and said, “Let’s go!” She thought to herself, “Father said, ‘A gentleman loves wealth and obtains it in the right way. Stealing is the most shameful act.
Even if Xuan Tian Sect is poor, we can’t resort to stealing or robbing!'”
Forced by Zi Yunshu and Yu Mi’s fierceness and recalling Taiyin Sect’s past actions, she gritted her teeth and thought, “Even if we are thieves, we are righteous thieves, robbing the rich to help the poor. The way of the righteous thief is to rob Taiyin Sect’s wealth to aid the poor of Xuan Tian Sect, and to avenge the losses Taiyin Sect caused to Xuan Tian Sect and our fallen comrades.”
With this thought, her courage surged, and she said, “Little monkey, we’re going to Taiyin Sect. This time, you must eat your fill, leaving not even a blade of grass for them.”
The Duobao Spirit Monkey nodded and squeaked.
Zi Yunshu sent a message to the mountain guardian granny, informing her of their departure and asking her to keep an eye on the mountain gate and cover up their departure.
Upon learning that Bao Gu was leaving, the mountain guardian granny immediately returned, handed over the income from selling wine to Bao Gu, and settled the accounts with her.
When it came to business and money, Bao Gu was meticulous, insisting on spending extra time to settle the accounts with the mountain guardian granny before following Zi Yunshu and Yu Mi, along with the Duobao Spirit Monkey, to step onto the teleportation formation and leave.
