The terrain of Wuji City was indeed awkward. One side was the barren land, devoid of spiritual energy and resources, while the other was the resource-rich but perilous Roland Mountains. The people of Wuji City had no other way to survive besides relying on the Seven Great Sects. They dared not venture into the barren lands, nor could they traverse the Roland Mountains to escape. Their only recourse was to serve as the eyes and ears of the Seven Great Sects, scouting for promising young talents to be brought back in exchange for the sects' meager alms.
The Roland Mountains were fraught with danger. Cultivators below the Foundation Establishment stage would only dare to enter in large groups. The reason the old city lord was still alive was not solely due to the elixirs from the Hundred Herbs Hall but also to the rare natural treasures he’d discovered within the Roland Mountains. Xiao Man and Xiang Jian were precisely on a journey into these very mountains.
"Xiao Qin, do you even know how to write the character for 'fear'?" Xiang Jian had always known Xiao Man possessed immense courage, seemingly fearless. Places like Yangming Valley were off-limits even for cultivators in the Golden Core stage, yet this person treated them as if they were deserted lands, entering and exiting at will.
"I don't," Xiao Man replied indifferently, tending to the roasting meat. They had encountered low-level demonic beasts shortly after entering the Roland Mountains. Although they had narrowly escaped, it was a stark warning of the dangers within.
"If you don't know, why do you dare to walk further in here!" Xiang Jian was on the verge of tears. If he were at his peak, he wouldn't be afraid. But now, with his Golden Core shattered, he was at best a useless third-stage Qi Refining cultivator!
"Demonic beasts are far more likable than humans," Xiao Man said. The roasting meat in her hand exuded a rich aroma. She sprinkled some salt on it and, after a while, it was ready. She divided it in half, handing one portion to Xiang Jian.
Xiang Jian took it, offered a word of thanks, and began to eat. Xiao Man's skills in roasting meat were excellent. He had tried many times but could never achieve such deliciousness.
"Let's start our cultivation here," Xiang Jian mumbled around a mouthful of meat.
"No, we need to go deeper."
Xiang Jian choked on the meat and patted his chest forcefully. "Xiao Qin, don't be crazy. Even at my peak, I wouldn't dare to mess around here. The two of us in the Roland Mountains are like ants. Any demonic beast could easily snuff us out."
Xiao Man was silent for a moment. "Then teach me the method for Qi Induction."
Xiang Jian's heart immediately sank with relief. *Great, this person has finally given up.* The Roland Mountains were not only filled with poisonous creatures but also demonic beasts. They were lucky not to have encountered high-level ones; otherwise, it would have been a near-certain death!
After finishing the roasted meat, Xiao Man set up protective formations around them to prevent any disturbances during Qi Induction.
Xiang Jian began to teach Xiao Man how to sense the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, guiding her to draw it into her body and convert it into true qi.
Xiao Man closed her eyes, sensing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, drawing it into her body, and using Xiang Jian's method to convert it into true qi. Ordinary people practiced internal energy through cultivation techniques, strengthening their bodies. Cultivators, however, nurtured their souls with true qi.
Xiao Man felt as if she were floating on clouds, weightless, as if she could soar at any moment. When she opened her eyes, the world before her was hazy, as if she had entered another realm.
Xiang Jian watched as the spiritual energy of heaven and earth surged towards Xiao Man at a visible speed. His expression was extraordinarily complex, bordering on ferocious. After a long pause, he finally uttered two words:
"Monster!"
Immersed in her cultivation, Xiao Man was unaware of the changes outside. She simply found the sensation immensely comfortable, like luxuriating in a hot spring, the water nourishing every inch of her skin, so pleasant she didn't want to emerge.
When Xiao Man opened her eyes again, she saw Xiang Jian with bloodshot eyes and dark circles beneath them. He looked haggard, as if he had indulged excessively and exhausted his vitality. Startled, Xiao Man quickly put some distance between them.
"Xiang Jian, what's wrong?"
"Do you know how long you've been cultivating?" Xiang Jian asked, his eyes wide and his voice eerily hollow.
Xiao Man glanced at the sky, observing it was daytime. "One night?"
"You've been cultivating for seven days and seven nights! I sat here guarding you for seven days and seven nights without daring to close my eyes!" Xiang Jian lamented. "The moment you opened your eyes, you looked at me with that ghostly expression. Xiao Qin, are we still brothers?"
Xiao Man gave an awkward smile. "You've really worked hard. How about you rest for a while? I'll go hunt and cook."
"No rush. Tell me, how do you feel now?" Xiang Jian asked, full of curiosity. This was the first time he had ever seen someone spend seven days and seven nights on their initial Qi Induction. What shocked him even more was that Xiao Man had leaped directly to the seventh stage of Qi Refining! Sudancoco.com
Even for a genius, reaching the third stage of Qi Refining during initial Qi Induction was the absolute limit. He himself had once been a moderately famous genius, but his Golden Core had been destroyed and his tendons severed. Now, his cultivation had regressed to the initial third stage of Qi Refining. Yet, Xiao Man's first Qi Induction had propelled her directly to the seventh stage. Truly, a monstrous talent!
Xiao Man looked puzzled. "I don't feel anything."
"Monster, haven't you realized you've already become a seventh-stage Qi Refining cultivator?" Xiang Jian was filled with envy and jealousy!
Xiang Jian squatted in a corner, drawing circles on the ground with his finger. It was true, comparing oneself to others could be maddening. He had originally planned to have a spar with Xiao Man after she successfully completed her Qi Induction, to regain his pride from being constantly beaten in the barren lands. Who would have thought Xiao Man would be so formidable? Her Qi Induction had been like a rocket, blasting her to the seventh stage of Qi Refining. After all, many people took a year for their initial Qi Induction, and reaching the seventh stage might take over a decade. Yet, Xiao Man had accomplished it in just seven days!
Even before Xiao Man became a cultivator, he couldn't defeat her. Now, with her at the seventh stage of Qi Refining and him only at the third, he was no match for her!
"Xiang Jian, are you alright?"
"I'm fine. I need some quiet time."
"Who is 'quiet time'?" Xiao Man asked.
"Quiet time is my fiancée, who has now become someone else's wife!" As he spoke, tears began to fall. He looked truly heartbroken.
Xiao Man patted his shoulder. "There are plenty of fish in the sea, why pine for just one flower."
Xiang Jian shifted his shoulder and glared resentfully at Xiao Man. He had always considered himself a prodigy, but today, this monster had utterly crushed him. He had started cultivating at five and only reached the seventh stage of Qi Refining at thirteen. Yet, this brat had reached the seventh stage in seven days, a level a day. It was one thing to be struck down, but not like this.
Seeing that Xiang Jian genuinely needed time to calm down, Xiao Man took the initiative to search for food, which also served as an opportunity to observe their surroundings.
Xiao Man had originally planned to hunt a prey and gather some wild fruits and vegetables. Instead, she unexpectedly encountered someone being pursued. Several Qi Refining cultivators were chasing this individual, their determination to kill him unwavering.