On the way home, Ning Chengfeng told Aunt Fang about what had happened in the cultivation hall earlier.
“A low-grade cultivation room could have effects comparable to a high-grade one? How is that possible?”
The usage fee for the two differed by more than ten times. If it was true, it would be a huge bargain.
“It really is possible,” Ning Chengfeng said confidently, having experienced it himself. “This room was even found by my little sister. Even the idea of activating it with a formation was hers.”
Zhishui?
Ren Fei looked at Ning Chengfeng suspiciously, silently asking with her eyes.
Could it be that she already knew about this cultivation room?
Ning Chengfeng nodded slightly.
Exactly!
This gave Ren Fei a strange feeling.
Should she trust Ning Zhishui, or not?
Or maybe after experiencing all those changes, her mind had become muddled, and her memory slightly flawed, which explained why some of her statements were accurate while others were not?
Well… time will tell.
Ren Fei had no intention of believing that Lin Huaiyuan and Shen Bingqing would ever do anything to betray her.
“By the way, once you have gathered the materials, who do you plan to commission to refine the magic tool?” Ren Fei asked Ning Zhishui. “I know a few shops with skilled artisans. You can pay them to handle it.”
“No need,” Ning Zhishui refused.
I will refine it myself.
Though if I say this, they will probably think I am joking.
Refine it herself?
Ren Fei’s eyes went wide.
Her first reaction was: You must be joking!
She had been learning alchemy from the elder in her bracelet for some time. The elder said her talent was average, and even with maximum effort, she could only reach an intermediate level.
Alchemy and forging share similar principles. Ren Fei knew how difficult alchemy was, so forging would be comparable.
Ning Zhishui could actually refine tools herself?
Ren Fei was confused. She had only five spiritual roots. Cultivating was already slower for someone like her, and time was limited.
Yet Ning Zhishui still wanted to learn forging?
So many questions crowded Ren Fei’s mind that she did not know where to begin.
With these doubts, they returned home. Upon arrival, Ning Zhishui first told her parents about the extension of the cultivation hall, and of course about the strange cultivation room.
“Such a thing exists?”
Ren Muqing looked at her husband in surprise.
“We will have to be careful when using it from now on. Others must not notice anything unusual,” Ning Cheng said thoughtfully.
If others discovered it, the room would no longer be available to them.
After discussing this, Ren Fei looked at Ning Zhishui with anticipation, curious about the money-making method she had mentioned.
To Ren Fei’s surprise, what Ning Zhishui said next had nothing to do with money.
It concerns Father’s immortal bone and must be mentioned early.
“Father, I recently read a book and discovered a special constitution that is very similar to yours.”
After speaking, Ning Zhishui noticed her family’s astonishment.
She assumed they were surprised by the term “special constitution,” so she continued.
This constitution is like yours. During cultivation, it often causes the flow of spiritual energy to break, preventing continuous cultivation. As a result, the person’s cultivation stagnates at the third realm, unable to advance. It was only after testing with a special tool that they discovered he possessed an immortal bone.
“Possessing an immortal bone?” Ren Muqing’s voice trembled. “You mean your father also has an immortal bone?”
Ning Zhishui’s description matched exactly the problem Ning Cheng faced.
His talent was actually excellent. As a dual spiritual root, he would normally be highly sought after by major sects.
But the problem was that his spiritual energy kept breaking!
When it would break, no one knew. How long it would last, no one knew. How to prevent or restore it, no one knew. Everything depended entirely on fate.
Years ago, during sect selection, Ning Cheng exhibited this problem at the test itself.
Thus, someone who should have entered the inner sect easily was ultimately rejected.
Because of this, he went from a key member of the Ning family to being abandoned. Ning Cheng chose to leave and forge his own path.
He became an independent cultivator. His acquaintance and eventual love with Ren Muqing began during his journey. All these years, Ren Muqing never abandoned him and remained steadfast.
Now, hearing that her husband’s body was not weak but possessed an immortal bone, the shock was understandable.
“How is this possible? If I have an immortal bone, why do I have this kind of problem?” Ning Cheng asked, bewildered.
The concept of an immortal bone was ancient. Some may have heard of it, but no one had truly seen one.
Those who had seen it existed only in records of unusual phenomena passed down by ancestors.
What is an immortal bone?
It is purely a matter of probability. Just as blessed lands can give rise to spiritual beings, an immortal bone gives birth to a spiritual human.
There is no predictable pattern. It is a product of timing, location, and fortune—a gift from heaven.
Those with immortal bones are born half immortal. Their cultivation journey is extremely smooth.
They cultivate quickly, efficiently, and, most importantly, never encounter bottlenecks.
Breaking through requires a chance. The higher the realm, the harder it is to find such a chance. Some may be stuck at the ninth realm, the Hongmeng Realm, for decades or even centuries, unable to reach the chaotic realm, making ascension impossible despite endless effort.
Those with immortal bones never face such obstacles. Once their cultivation reaches the necessary level, they naturally break through. No bottlenecks, no danger.
“Father, think carefully. Have you ever encountered a bottleneck while breaking through realms?” Ning Zhishui asked.
This question left Ning Cheng stunned.
“Now that you mention it, perhaps. But maybe it is because my cultivation level was too low…”
“Brother-in-law, my cultivation is low too, yet I have bottlenecks,” Ren Fei corrected first.
Others nodded in agreement.
Ning Cheng fell into deep thought.
“Zhishui, does the book say how to deal with this situation? Even with an immortal bone, if spiritual energy keeps breaking during cultivation, it will limit your progress,” Ren Muqing asked anxiously.
“Mother, do not worry. This is normal. In fact, the way of heaven has gains and losses. It is fair. Those with immortal bones enjoy advantages others do not, but they must also endure hardships ordinary people do not face.”