Chapter 712 |
Lu Qing’s expression didn’t change in the slightest as he watched the eagle demon explode into a mist of blood.
For those demonic cultivators who casually trampled on the lives of innocents, no matter how many died, he wouldn’t so much as frown.
After confirming that the eagle demon was truly dead, Lu Qing led Xiao Yan back to Jiuli Village.
“Xiao Yan, the cultivation technique you’ve been practicing lately—can you let me take a look?”
Once they were home, Lu Qing suddenly asked.
“What’s wrong, Brother? Xiao Yan’s technique is the one you taught me before. Did you forget?”
Xiao Yan’s body trembled slightly, a hint of guilt flashing in her eyes.
“The First Holy Lord said that the technique you’ve been cultivating these past few years seems a bit unorthodox. I want to see what’s going on.”
Lu Qing had already noticed something off about the aura surrounding his sister.
Although she had appeared cheerful these past few days, the coldness radiating from deep within her bones couldn’t escape his senses.
Moreover, both the First Holy Lord and Han Lingshuang had privately reminded him of this, so Lu Qing couldn’t simply ignore it.
He had only delayed asking because Xiao Yan had been in such good spirits lately.
She had always avoided this topic, relieved that he hadn’t brought it up before.
But now, it seemed she couldn’t dodge it any longer.
“Brother… promise me you won’t get angry when I tell you.”
Her tone was soft, almost pleading.
“Don’t worry. I just want to see if there’s a way to fix the issue with your technique. Why would I be angry?”
Lu Qing gently ruffled her hair.
Reassured by his warmth, Xiao Yan slowly began to explain the cultivation method she’d been practicing.
The more Lu Qing listened, the deeper his frown became.
With his current cultivation and comprehension, the problem became obvious almost instantly.
Xiao Yan’s original cultivation method was indeed one he had personally taught her.
But now, the path she’d taken had clearly deviated.
What was once a gradual, steady cultivation method had become extreme and unbalanced—a dangerous shortcut.
Such a path could rapidly increase one’s power but would also bring grave hidden dangers.
First, the cold and rigid nature of her technique was subtly influencing her temperament, making her increasingly indifferent to emotion.
Left unchecked, it could eventually extinguish her capacity for feeling altogether.
This, Lu Qing realized, was why both the First Holy Lord and Han Lingshuang had noticed her growing coldness over the years.
Second, her extreme cultivation method, though powerful, placed tremendous strain on her meridians and physical body.
Over time, it would wear away at her foundation and limit her future potential.
At first, these effects were minor, but once she reached the late Golden Core Realm or attempted to break through to the Nascent Soul Realm, the consequences would be dire.
Her body might even collapse under the overwhelming force of her own mana.
“Brother?”
Seeing his frown, Xiao Yan grew nervous. She knew she had erred, rushing ahead in pursuit of strength, and feared he would scold her.
Lu Qing snapped out of thought, then smiled and patted her head again.
“Don’t worry. I’m not angry. You did this because you wanted to grow stronger faster—to come to the starry skies and find us, didn’t you?”
Xiao Yan nodded softly.
She wouldn’t admit that to anyone else, but she never hid anything from her brother.
Xiao Li, perched on Lu Qing’s shoulder, blinked its small eyes. Only now did it realize Xiao Yan’s true intentions.
“Brother… is my situation very bad?” she asked quietly.
She knew how much her brother valued a solid foundation in cultivation.
Back then, he’d made her focus solely on Qi Refinement, forbidding her from learning combat techniques before Foundation Establishment.
Now she had ruined her foundation out of impatience—she feared she had let him down.
“It’s not that bad,” Lu Qing said with a faint smile. “Don’t forget—your brother is a Nascent Soul cultivator now. Fixing this little problem is nothing difficult.”
He wasn’t just comforting her—he truly had several ways to resolve it.
With the countless techniques in his mind and his unique abilities, this issue was far from insurmountable.
After a brief thought, Lu Qing retrieved a rune-covered jade box from his Heaven and Earth One Qi Bag.
Seeing the box, Xiao Li’s eyes widened. “Ah Qing, isn’t that—”
“Yes,” Lu Qing nodded. “That’s the one.”
As he opened the jade box, the room’s temperature dropped sharply.
Even Xiao Yan, whose Ice Muscle and Jade Bone constitution made her highly resistant to cold, felt a chill seeping into her very bones.
Yet at the same time, an inexplicable longing arose in her heart.
She felt as if something within that box was calling to her.
Peering inside, she saw a wisp of bluish flame suspended in midair—its icy aura the source of both the chill and her yearning.
“Brother… what is that?” she asked in surprise.
It seemed impossible that such a small flame could emit such biting cold.
“This flame is called the Mysterious Ice Cold Flame,” Lu Qing said. “It’s an extremely rare high-grade Spirit Flame. Don’t underestimate it—I had to snatch it from the hands of three Nascent Soul cultivators.”
“Mysterious Ice Cold Flame?” Xiao Yan’s eyes widened.
Something that three Nascent Soul experts had fought over was clearly an extraordinary treasure.
“That’s right,” Xiao Li said proudly. “Back then, Ah Qing and I took it while those three were busy fighting. I was the one who captured it! Am I amazing or what?”
“You’re amazing!” Xiao Yan said earnestly, eyes sparkling.
She truly meant it—being able to steal from under the noses of three Nascent Soul experts was beyond impressive.
“This flame contains a trace of the Law of Ice,” Lu Qing continued. “It can freeze even the divine soul itself. Once refined, it can cleanse your marrow and reshape your body—rebirth through ice and fire.”
“If you refine it into your life-bound Spirit Flame, it will restore your damaged foundation and purify your mana, completely eliminating the hidden dangers caused by your cultivation deviation.”
He handed the jade box to Xiao Yan.
“Brother, this Spirit Flame is so precious… you and Xiao Li went through so much to get it. You’re really giving it to me?”
Her voice trembled.
“Of course. I got it for you in the first place,” Lu Qing said, flicking her forehead lightly. “And who said it was difficult to obtain? I only took it quietly to avoid revealing my identity. If I’d fought them openly, those three Nascent Soul cultivators wouldn’t have stood a chance.”
Xiao Yan blinked in astonishment. “You mean… even three Nascent Soul cultivators together couldn’t beat you now?”
“Ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators? No, they’re not my match,” Lu Qing replied calmly.
“Ha! Back when Ah Qing was still in the Golden Core Realm, he already killed plenty of Nascent Soul cultivators!” Xiao Li added smugly.
Xiao Yan’s jaw dropped.
She realized her brother had told her only a fraction of what he’d truly experienced in the starry skies.
“Alright, enough talk,” Lu Qing said with a faint smile. “I’ll guard you while you refine the flame. Once you’ve merged it, your foundation will be perfect again. Otherwise, even Xiao Li will outpace you.”
At that, Xiao Yan’s eyes firmed with determination.
“I’ll start right away!”
She sat cross-legged, opened the jade box, and let her consciousness reach toward the flickering bluish flame.
In an instant, the Mysterious Ice Cold Flame surged into her dantian.
A bone-piercing chill spread through her body, threatening to freeze her very soul.
In just a few breaths, frost began to form across her skin.
Even with her Ice Muscle and Jade Bone physique, the pain was unbearable.
But she gritted her teeth, focusing her will to refine the Spirit Flame.
Lu Qing watched quietly, his expression calm.
This trial, he knew, would temper her beyond any lecture or medicine.
If she could endure, her potential would soar, her body reborn anew.
As night fell, Xiao Yan’s aura grew more and more restrained. The frost on her body slowly melted away.
Lu Qing smiled faintly.
She had passed the hardest stage.
By dawn, a surge of icy power erupted from her, freezing the ground in a spreading layer of frost.
Lu Qing waved his sleeve lightly, halting the cold just three feet from her without disturbing her cultivation.
Half an hour later, Xiao Yan’s aura steadied. She opened her eyes—two shimmering blue lights flickered within them before fading. Her gaze shone with joy.
“How did it go?” Lu Qing asked.
“It worked!” she said, her voice trembling with excitement. “The flame has rooted itself in my dantian, reshaping my body and refining my mana. When this transformation is complete, I’ll be far stronger than before!”
Lu Qing chuckled. “Of course. It’s a high-grade Spirit Flame that even Nascent Soul cultivators covet. You should expect no less.”
He smiled, his tone warm. “And when your transformation’s complete, your brother has another surprise for you.”
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