"According to my master's words, those who can condense a qi mansion within two months are considered prodigies. I have only spent ten days to complete the first minor cycle. That leaves me with fifty days until the two-month mark. If I continue at this pace, I might only manage to complete six cycles."
After a moment, Lin Chu slightly shook his head. Recalling Yang Song's words, the self-satisfaction in his eyes gradually turned into a wry smile.
Then, with a thought, Lin Chu once again circulated the divine refining technique of Qi Mansion Guidance to begin cultivating the second minor cycle.
Qu Mengxia, who was sitting on a stone platform not far away, heard Lin Chu's muttering. She bit her red lips, and surprise flickered in her beautiful eyes.
Qu Mengxia clearly understood the Qi Mansion Guidance much better than Lin Chu. Even Yang Song himself had spent a full half month to complete the first minor cycle when he first began practicing this divine refining technique.
"It seems my grandfather's choice was not wrong. Although the first minor cycle took a longer time, once I've completed a full minor cycle, I've developed a certain resistance to the pain in this divine refining technique."
"The subsequent cultivation will gradually shorten the time. It might truly be possible to complete the Qi Mansion Guidance within two months. Completing the first minor cycle in ten days is even faster than I was." Qu Mengxia lightly bit her lip, her gaze shifting.
As Lin Chu resumed his cultivation, Qu Mengxia lazily stretched her delicate body. Her pet in her arms seemed to stir, instinctively nudging closer to her.
Under the occasional sunlight that pierced through the gaps, Qu Mengxia's perfect figure was fully revealed.
As a gentle breeze blew, the silhouette on the stone platform instantly vanished.
Time gradually slipped away.
Lin Chu had been in the depths of the clouds for a full month. During this time, Qu Mengxia had occasionally come to look on a few times. Only after Lin Chu had completed three turns of the minor cycle did Qu Mengxia finally relax and never visit again.
In the depths of the clouds, the spiritual light around Lin Chu surged. The area was already imbued with various formations by Yang Song's great divine abilities, and the spiritual energy was refined to its utmost. As it was absorbed into Lin Chu's body, it instantly transformed into pure spiritual power that flowed into the sea of qi within his mind.
*Hum.*
With a hum, Lin Chu's eyes suddenly snapped open. A sharp glint flickered within them, making his eyes as bright as gemstones. It took over ten breaths before this sharp glint gradually subsided.
At this moment, an irrepressible joy bloomed on Lin Chu's face. In twenty days, he had actually cultivated from one cycle to five cycles. He was only four cycles away from the goal of the ninth cycle.
He had originally thought that after a month, he would be able to cultivate to at most three cycles.
However, when he circulated the divine refining technique of Qi Mansion Guidance for the second time, Lin Chu felt that he had developed some immunity to the needle-like pain that appeared in his mind. That was why his progress was so rapid.
*Gurgle.*
Just as Lin Chu was still reveling in his joy, a gurgling sound suddenly came from his stomach. Immediately, a wave of hunger quickly spread throughout his body.
"I'm actually hungry." Lin Chu shook his head with a wry smile. Although cultivators could gradually forgo the need for food as they cultivated, absorbing spiritual energy alone, his current strength was too low. A month was the limit.
"Forget it. I've cultivated for a month. I'll go and see master and sister Xia first." Lin Chu stood up and his figure moved swiftly towards the thatched hut.
As Lin Chu approached the vicinity of the thatched hut, he saw Qu Mengxia sitting on a stone platform outside, with something in her arms.
Lin Chu sensed for a moment and found no life auras within the three thatched huts. He looked at Qu Mengxia with surprise, bowed, and clasped his fists in greeting. "Sister Xia, where is master?"
"Grandfather went out on some business and hasn't returned yet. What's wrong? Did your cultivation encounter a problem?" Qu Mengxia had already sensed Lin Chu's arrival. She replied without looking up.
"Gurgle."
Just as Lin Chu was about to answer, another gurgling sound echoed from his stomach. Hearing this, Lin Chu's face flushed with embarrassment.
"So you're hungry." Qu Mengxia had also heard the gurgling sound from Lin Chu's stomach. She slowly raised her head at this moment, a slight smile gracing her lips as she glanced at Lin Chu.
Her already exquisite features, with this subtle smile, bloomed with breathtaking radiance.
Lin Chu's embarrassed expression instantly faltered as he gazed upon Qu Mengxia's beauty.
"Am I beautiful?" In the moment Lin Chu was lost in a daze, a faint voice slowly entered his mind.
"Beautiful..." Lin Chu unconsciously murmured.
"Then, what do you want to do?" the voice sounded again, but this time with a hint of coldness.
"I want... to eat." Sensing the coldness in her words, Lin Chu's mind instantly snapped back to reality. His back was already drenched in sweat. He lowered his head, bowed to Qu Mengxia, and then instantly vanished from the spot.
"You're fast enough to run away." Seeing Lin Chu flee in a panic, Qu Mengxia's lips curled into a smile. The several sixth-tier beasts around them also stopped their movements and turned their gazes towards Qu Mengxia.
"Do you want to lose your eyes?" Qu Mengxia frowned upon seeing this, and a chilling aura instantly erupted from her body.
Even the pet in her arms was startled and leaped out of her embrace. Then, this tiny pet bared its teeth at the surrounding sixth-tier beasts and let out low growls.
If Lin Chu had been present, he would have been utterly astonished. These several sixth-tier beasts, upon hearing these growls, hastily took to their heels and scattered.
"At least they ran fast. Otherwise, if they offended this young lady, their future days would have been difficult." Somewhere in the vast mountain range, Lin Chu patted his chest and then waved his hand, and a bonfire instantly ignited.
The fourth-tier beast he had just killed was now being roasted over the fire.
A moment later, as fragrant aromas wafted through the air, the rumbling in Lin Chu's stomach grew even louder.
*Swish.*
Just as Lin Chu was about to start eating, a phantom silhouette suddenly flashed before his eyes, and the roasted leg in his hand had vanished.
Lin Chu was shocked and turned his head to look. At his feet, a small dog was happily gnawing on the roasted leg he had cooked.
"You little rascal, how did you follow me here?" Seeing that it was the pet in Qu Mengxia's arms, Lin Chu was both amused and exasperated. He looked at the roasted leg, which the dog had already gnawed beyond recognition, and helplessly shook his head. Then, with another wave of his hand, he continued to roast.
*Roar.*
Just as Lin Chu began to eat the newly roasted beast leg, a low growl suddenly reached his ears.
Lin Chu immediately looked down, a trace of shock flashing in his eyes.
This little dog had actually finished the entire roasted leg.
Not only had it eaten all the meat, but not even the bones were left.
"Do you want more?" Seeing the dog staring at him and whining, Lin Chu chuckled and asked. To his surprise, the dog nodded humanely.
"Can you even eat that much?" Lin Chu muttered, thinking this dog had become too intelligent. He then took another piece of beast leg and began to roast it.
As Lin Chu finished roasting the third beast leg, the scene before him flickered, and the beast leg in his hand disappeared again. Looking down, the dog had already started eating.
Lin Chu was deeply shocked. If the dog's actions were understandable the first time when he was unprepared, this time he had been paying close attention, yet the dog had still taken it without him noticing.
This showed that this little dog was not as simple as it appeared.
"As expected, there are no weaklings around the strong." Lin Chu shook his head and picked up his own beast leg to gnaw on.
In the following time, Lin Chu's intake of information increased significantly. One beast leg had already made him feel quite full, yet the little dog at his feet, after eating two beast legs, was still signaling for more.
Helpless, Lin Chu had no choice but to continue roasting. In just an hour, Lin Chu watched as the little dog devoured half a beast and still seemed unsatisfied.
Looking at the little dog, which was smaller than the beast leg before him, Lin Chu was at a loss for words. How could its appetite be so enormous?
"So you ran all the way here. No wonder I couldn't find you. Hmm, it smells quite good. Did you roast this?" Just as Lin Chu was about to pick up the little dog and leave, a clear voice suddenly rang out.
Lin Chu turned his head to look and saw that it was Qu Mengxia.
"Sister Xia, are you hungry? How about I roast something for you too?" Lin Chu asked with a smile.
*Roar!*
As soon as Lin Chu finished speaking, the little dog at his feet let out a roar. It seemed to be urging Lin Chu to continue roasting.
Qu Mengxia also nodded and said, "Then roast some."
Lin Chu looked at the little dog at his feet and took the last remaining beast leg, continuing to roast it. Half an hour later, the aroma of roasted meat filled the air.
Smelling the aroma, Qu Mengxia's eyes lit up, and her gaze towards Lin Chu became a little more enthusiastic.
"Wait a moment. It won't be very tasty without seasonings." Lin Chu said with a smile. As he spoke, he took out seasonings from his sleeve and sprinkled them on the roasted leg. After roasting it for another quarter of an hour, he nodded in satisfaction.
Just as he was about to hand it to Qu Mengxia, he felt a looseness in his hand. Looking down, the beast leg in his hand had disappeared. He turned his head and saw Qu Mengxia already tearing off a piece to taste.
*Hmm?*
He felt a pulling force at his feet and looked down. He saw the little dog at his feet biting his trouser leg, its eyes fixed on the beast carcass behind him.
Lin Chu smiled wryly again and, with a helpless gesture, continued to roast.
"Heavens, what kind of people have I encountered? A beast weighing over a thousand catties has been eaten just like this!"
Two hours later, seeing Qu Mengxia eating the roasted meat with the same unstoppable fervor as the little dog at her feet, Lin Chu was completely petrified.
*Burp.*
"I didn't expect your cooking skills to be quite good. From now on, your job will be to handle the meals." Qu Mengxia said, satisfied, and gave a loud burp. Then, she clapped her hands, her greasy hands instantly wiped clean. She patted Lin Chu's shoulder, grabbed the little dog, and vanished from the spot.
Watching Qu Mengxia leave with the little dog, Lin Chu's lips twitched, and a hint of helplessness appeared in his eyes. He shook his head, and his figure moved, instantly soaring towards the depths of the clouds.
Time passed gradually. Replenished, Lin Chu spent another half a month in the depths of the clouds.
*Hum.*
One day, the spiritual energy in the depths of the clouds suddenly fluctuated. Qu Mengxia, who was inside the thatched hut, looked up as if sensing something.
"Oh? It seems like the final step is approaching." Qu Mengxia murmured, a hint of surprise in her eyes.
*Roar, roar.*
At the same time, the little dog in Qu Mengxia's arms also let out a couple of growls towards the depths of the clouds.
"Alright, let's go and take a look. I wonder what level of qi mansion he will forge." As if understanding the dog's intent, Qu Mengxia moved and disappeared with the dog.
At this moment, Lin Chu, who was sitting in the center of the depths of the clouds, was bathed in shimmering spiritual light. The surrounding spiritual energy flowed like a torrent, pouring into Lin Chu's body.
Within Lin Chu's mind, the sea of qi churned violently. Extremely pure spiritual power transformed into golden, shimmering spiritual energy, floating like seawater.
After a moment, as the spiritual power in the sea of qi gradually became denser, Lin Chu changed his hand seals. The spiritual power within the sea of qi instantly began to compress.
Soon, the sea of qi, which was already full, became depleted due to the continuous compression. However, a large amount of spiritual energy was quickly absorbed by the surrounding formations and flowed into Lin Chu's body.
"The purity of this spiritual energy is not fast enough," Qu Mengxia watched Lin Chu and murmured with a slight frown. Just as she was considering whether to intervene, she saw a spiritual light suddenly illuminate within Lin Chu's body. The surrounding spiritual energy was once again drawn in.
"I actually forgot that he possesses a profound method of absorption. Hmm, that saves me some effort." Seeing this, Qu Mengxia sat down again.
Evidently, Lin Chu also felt that the purity of the spiritual energy was insufficient, which was why he had activated the Chaos Dragon Breath technique to absorb spiritual energy on a large scale.
"Nine turns of the cycle, combined into one. Within the sea of qi, all is root and earth. Transform qi into substance, with spirit as nature, and the qi mansion is formed!"
Recalling the final incantation for condensing the qi mansion, Lin Chu's mind moved. His hands formed a different set of seals. His eyes suddenly opened, and he let out a low cry: "Condense!"
As Lin Chu made his move, Qu Mengxia also stood up, holding the little dog, her eyes fixed on Lin Chu. Clearly, she knew that this was the most critical moment.
*Dong!*
*Dong, dong!*
The sound of chimes emanated from Lin Chu's body. At this moment, Lin Chu's mind was completely focused within his head. As the chimes began, Lin Chu found that he no longer needed to circulate the divine refining technique. He was now an observer of everything, as if he were an outsider.
Within the sea of qi, after the nine chimes, nine stone pillars appeared. Then, these nine stone pillars rapidly transformed, and a magnificent palace slowly descended.
Thus, the qi mansion appeared!