"Forty-eight days to forge a Qi Mansion, such talent is worthy of your grandfather's regard." Hearing that Lin Chu had successfully forged his Qi Mansion, Qu Mengxia nodded, a flicker of approval in her eyes.
As his Qi Mansion settled, Lin Chu’s entire focus was drawn inward. With the appearance of the Qi Mansion, his Qi Sea had vanished.
Through continuous experimentation, Lin Chu discovered that his spiritual energy, after being refined by the Qi Mansion, became exceptionally pure, two to three times stronger than before.
It was then that Lin Chu finally understood why cultivators who focused on Qi Mansions could be invincible within the same realm, even capable of fighting opponents of higher cultivation.
Gazing at the magnificent Qi Mansion within his mind, Lin Chu withdrew his consciousness and slowly opened his eyes.
"Sister Xia, since you're here, please help me resolve some confusion." Lin Chu smiled faintly, looking to the side. With the completion of his Qi Mansion, his perception had also sharpened. The moment he withdrew his consciousness from his mind, he had sensed Qu Mengxia's presence.
"I underestimated you, to have discovered me. Alright, since you treated me to a meal, ask whatever you wish." As Lin Chu finished speaking, Qu Mengxia’s figure gradually appeared before him.
Lin Chu felt a pang of embarrassment, but quickly composed himself and cupped his fists, asking, "Sister Xia, now that my Qi Mansion is complete, if I were to use it in combat, would it be detectable? My master warned me to keep its existence as secret as possible."
Qu Mengxia's beautiful eyes shifted as she studied Lin Chu for a long moment. "It's good that you haven't been blinded by your initial success. Hmm, regarding what you said, you don't need to worry. Your grandfather mentioned before he left that if you condensed a Qi Mansion, I should tell you that you can cultivate both your Spiritual Soul and your physical body."
"Therefore, during battles, you don't have to worry about being discovered. Furthermore, as your strength grows, your Qi Mansion will also undergo some changes. Your spiritual energy will also become significantly more refined."
Lin Chu nodded, a flicker of understanding in his eyes, and continued, "Sister Xia, do you mean that the spiritual energy within my body can be divided into two streams? One is the spiritual energy within the Qi Mansion, and the other is the spiritual energy from my own Spiritual Soul."
"And because of the Qi Mansion, even the spiritual energy of my Spiritual Soul is affected, becoming more powerful than before."
"Not entirely foolish." Qu Mengxia nodded, then looked at Lin Chu with some curiosity. "By the way, what color is your Qi Mansion?"
"Color? It should be golden, I think." Lin Chu pondered for a moment before replying.
Qu Mengxia's eyes widened again in surprise. "Golden? Now I believe what grandfather said. Your origins are indeed mysterious."
Lin Chu touched his nose with a wry smile. "Sister Xia, what do you mean by that?"
Qu Mengxia thought for a moment and then explained, "Qi Mansions are divided into three grades. First grade is white, second grade is orange, and third grade is golden. The higher the grade, the greater the purity of the spiritual energy it enhances."
"Although the grade of a Qi Mansion can be improved, you started directly at third grade, saving yourself a lot of time compared to others. Now, do you understand what I mean?"
"Then, Sister Xia, what grade are your and Master's Qi Mansions?" Lin Chu asked Qu Mengxia with some curiosity.
"What, thinking that starting at third grade gives you a confidence boost?"
Qu Mengxia gave Lin Chu a playful glare and replied, "Grandfather was initially second grade, and after five years, he successfully advanced to third grade. As for me, I am the same as you."
"Also third grade?" Lin Chu slumped like a deflated balloon. He looked at the small dog in Qu Mengxia's arms and muttered, "Truly a bunch of monsters."
"Alright, since you have successfully condensed your Qi Mansion, it's time for you to cultivate the three divine abilities your grandfather passed down to you. Remember, if you cannot achieve mastery and integration of these three abilities, you cannot leave this place," Qu Mengxia said with a slight upward curve of her lips as she looked at Lin Chu.
"Understood." Lin Chu nodded. Calculating the time remaining until Elder Yang Yun's stipulated year, he had less than nine months. Mastering the three divine abilities taught by Master Yang Song within nine months should not be a problem.
"Woof woof."
At that moment, the small dog in Qu Mengxia's arms suddenly barked. Lin Chu looked at Qu Mengxia with confusion. Upon seeing the smile on her lips, a sense of foreboding welled up within him.
"He says he's hungry again and wants you to roast some meat for him."
As expected! Qu Mengxia looked up, a hint of desire in her eyes, and said to Lin Chu.
"I see you want to eat too." Seeing Qu Mengxia unconsciously swallow, Lin Chu teased, then nodded. "Let's go."
A little over an hour later, at the same spot, a man, a woman, and a dog were feasting on roasted beast meat, too engrossed to pay attention to anything else.
After finishing the meat of a fifth-tier unicorn, Lin Chu returned to the depths of the clouds to resume his cultivation.
Within the Young Sect, on the Holy Maiden Peak.
"Still no news from Brother Chu?" After listening to Qing Shuang's report, Bai Yuwei frowned slightly, a trace of worry in her eyes.
Qing Shuang nodded. "Holy Maiden, shall I travel to the Cangmang Mountain Range?"
Bai Yuwei shook her head. "Brother Chu is not a reckless person. Since he chose to continue cultivating in the Cangmang Mountain Range, let him be."
Meanwhile, in the ordinary disciple residences, many disciples were discussing Lin Chu's sudden disappearance.
Even Qiu Shaolong, upon hearing of Lin Chu's vanishing, went alone to the Grand Elder's pavilion. The subject of their discussion undoubtedly concerned Lin Chu.
"Senior Brother Lin Chu has been in the Cangmang Mountain Range for almost two months, why hasn't he returned?" In Lin Chu's room within the ordinary disciple living quarters, Su Jinlong and Chen Desheng looked at Chen Lingang with a hint of worry.
"Don't look at me like that. I have no idea about Senior Brother Lin Chu's whereabouts. Before he left, Senior Brother Lin Chu only said he was going into seclusion for a period of time. I don't know when he will emerge. If the Holy Maiden hadn't told me he went to the Cangmang Mountain Range, I wouldn't even know where he was," Chen Lingang spread his hands.
"Senior Brother Jinlong, Senior Brother Lingang, perhaps we should also go to the Cangmang Mountain Range. Maybe we'll encounter Senior Brother Lin Chu there," Chen Desheng suggested.
Su Jinlong pondered for a moment and shook his head. "Senior Brother Lin Chu entered the Cangmang Mountain Range almost two months ago. If we go now, I'm afraid it will be difficult to find him."
"Besides, the Cangmang Mountain Range is fraught with danger. I don't have Senior Brother Lin Chu's courage to protect you all. For now, we can only hope for Senior Brother Lin Chu's swift return."
Chen Lingang and Chen Desheng nodded in agreement, then both looked in the direction of the Cangmang Mountain Range.
In the blink of an eye, another month passed.
During this month, Qu Mengxia occasionally heard the sounds of rumbling coming from the depths of the clouds. Clearly, these sounds were Lin Chu practicing the three divine abilities Yang Song had taught him.
Even before Lin Chu could express his joy upon mastering the three divine abilities, he was once again dragged to a corner of the Cangmang Mountain Range by Qu Mengxia and the little dog to perform manual labor.
Time passed, and Lin Chu had spent over three months in the Cangmang Mountain Range, yet there was still no news from Yang Song.
Gradually, Qu Mengxia's expression grew worried.
As for the little dog in Qu Mengxia's arms, it seemed to sense her mood. Outside the thatched hut, it let out fierce barks at a sixth-tier wild beast.
To Lin Chu's astonishment, these sixth-tier beasts, as if receiving an order, all charged down the mountain.
"Sister Xia, Master will definitely return safely." Lin Chu, seeing Qu Mengxia's silence, didn't know how to comfort her. He also felt a significant worry for Master Yang Song.
Although he hadn't spent much time with Master Yang Song, Lin Chu understood the principle that a master is like a father for life. Moreover, Yang Song had brought him back from the Cangmang Mountain Range, so Lin Chu felt a profound sense of gratitude towards him.
Qu Mengxia did not speak. A touch of indifference in her beautiful eyes, she glanced at Lin Chu, then picked up the little dog and walked back into the thatched hut, her movements ceasing.
Seeing Qu Mengxia like this, Lin Chu felt an indescribable emotion. After this period of interaction, Qu Mengxia had become the second person, after Bai Yuwei, to hold such a significant place in his heart.
Seeing Qu Mengxia's state and feeling helpless, Lin Chu also felt a pang of self-reproach.
"Master, you must return safely." Lin Chu murmured, a hint of determination gradually appearing in his eyes. Even though his master hadn't returned, he couldn't neglect his cultivation. Furthermore, he had promised his master that he would protect Qu Mengxia's safety in the future.
Therefore, during the days when Qu Mengxia remained indoors, Lin Chu resumed his closed-door cultivation in the depths of the clouds.
This time, Lin Chu took out the cultivation spirit stones given by Bai Yuwei and the spirit stones obtained from completing his trial missions. With a thought, he activated the Chaos Dragon Breath Art and began to absorb them.
Time flowed like a song, repetitive and constant.
Two months later, a figure slowly emerged from the depths of the clouds. A hint of melancholy could be seen on his resolute face.
"Master hasn't returned yet?" As he approached the thatched hut and looked at the still-closed door, a flicker of longing appeared in Lin Chu's eyes.
Creak.
At that moment, the closed door suddenly opened. Hearing the sound, Lin Chu immediately looked up.
"Have you learned all that grandfather passed down to you?" Qu Mengxia asked Lin Chu, her expression calm.
Lin Chu nodded.
Qu Mengxia's face showed a hint of relief, but soon a shadow of melancholy crossed her eyes. She gazed at the distant sky, lost in thought.
Dong!
At that moment, the ground suddenly trembled. Lin Chu and Qu Mengxia, along with the little dog in Qu Mengxia's arms, all turned their heads towards the source of the sound.
They saw a sixth-tier Fire Dragon Lion rapidly approaching, and on its back, a figure could be faintly discerned.
"Grandfather!"
Qu Mengxia's eyes flashed with panic. With a swift movement, she rushed towards the Fire Dragon Lion. Lin Chu's eyes widened in shock. Without time to think, he followed Qu Mengxia's footsteps.
Roar!
The little dog growled, and the Fire Dragon Lion immediately stopped. The figure on its back slowly straightened up and managed to force out a faint smile.
This person was Yang Song, who had been gone for half a year.
"Master! What happened? How could you sustain such severe injuries with your strength!" Lin Chu was horrified, seeing Yang Song's pale face. His spiritual energy surged uncontrollably towards Yang Song.
"First, help grandfather to the depths of the clouds." Qu Mengxia felt Yang Song's pulse and quickly said to Lin Chu.
Lin Chu hastily nodded. With a surge of spiritual energy, he embraced Yang Song and sped towards the depths of the clouds.
Watching Yang Song's spiritual energy circulate and stabilize, Lin Chu, Qu Mengxia, and the little dog remained silent, their gazes never leaving him.
An hour later, Yang Song's aura gradually stabilized. Seeing this, Lin Chu finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Cough cough..." A moment later, Yang Song slowly opened his eyes and began to cough violently.
"Grandfather!"
"Master!"
"Woof woof!"
Lin Chu, Qu Mengxia, and the little dog spoke in unison. As Lin Chu was about to step forward, Yang Song waved his hand to stop him.
"Don't worry, I'm fine. I managed to return alive. I didn't expect those bald donkeys to be so powerful. Fortunately, I finally got it in the end." Yang Song smiled, his pale face devoid of any color.
"Grandfather..." Qu Mengxia's face grew even more distressed.
"Master, what exactly happened?" Lin Chu asked.
Yang Song replied, "Never mind my business. Tell me, how has your cultivation progressed over the past half year? By the way, have you managed to forge a Qi Mansion?"
"Reporting to Master, I have mastered all that you taught me." Lin Chu immediately responded.
"Oh? It seems my luck is still quite good. I picked up someone at random, and he has inherited everything of mine. Since you have already forged a Qi Mansion, your future path will be even broader. But remember what I warned you, try not to expose your Qi Mansion unless it's absolutely necessary."
"Judging by your aura, you're about to break through to the late stage of the Initial Spirit Mirror, aren't you? It seems you haven't been slacking off lately." Yang Song nodded, a hint of relief in his eyes.
"Master, can you tell us what happened now?" Lin Chu asked again.
"The purpose of my journey was for this item." Yang Song looked at Qu Mengxia, a flicker of guilt in his eyes, and then slowly took out an object from his sleeve.
Lin Chu was astonished. In Yang Song's hand was a fruit, like that of an infant, emitting a dazzling golden light. The flickering golden light seemed to repel all surrounding spiritual energy.
"Master, what is this?" Lin Chu asked, confused.
Yang Song pondered for a moment and then slowly said, "The Bodhi Fruit of the Buddhist Realm."