Although he was inexplicably disliked by the bigshot, the benefits brought to him by the bigshot’s lectures were visible to the naked eye. Using the phrase “thousands of miles a day” would not even be enough to describe it.
A week later, he successfully advanced to the fifth layer of Qi Condensation. Even the senior instructor was startled by his promotion speed and specially called him over after class to urge him to take medicinal pills in moderation, otherwise his foundation would be too weak and the impending tribulations would be hard to overcome in the future.
Fang Jueqian thought, “Wait, you could take pills too?”
Through the senior instructor’s explanation, he finally learned that cultivators could actually improve their cultivation efficiency by taking drugs.
Not only that, on a cultivator’s path, wealth, companionship, method, and land were all very important. Even possessing just one of them could significantly accelerate the cultivation journey.
For instance, the “land” among wealth, companionship, method, and land referred to a suitable cultivation environment.
Throughout the entire Guiyuan Immortal Sect, the top three spiritual veins included Qingjing Peak, where Lord Lingxiao resided. Cultivating there for a single day was equivalent to cultivating for a thousand days on any other mountain peak.
However, the Lord was notoriously aloof and disliked strangers. Even his beloved disciples were unable to root themselves on Qingjing Peak, leaving others to sigh in admiration at the peak from afar.
Fang Jueqian felt quite flattered. He only now learned that apart from the serving attendants, there were actually only the Lord and himself on Qingjing Peak, with no one else at all.
As it turned out, even living on the mountain was already considered a kind of special honor?
Fang Jueqian was deeply moved and decided to seize the time on Qingjing Peak to cultivate with even greater diligence.
Finally, after a few more days, Fang Jueqian successfully advanced to the sixth layer of Qi Condensation.
Do not underestimate a mere extra layer, as this was a milestone achievement. It marked Fang Jueqian’s successful departure from the lower tier of Class Wu, stepping into the ranks of intermediate students.
It also meant that barring any accidents, Fang Jueqian would most likely enter the Foundation Establishment stage within a dozen years, significantly extending his lifespan.
Fang Jueqian was satisfied. He felt that after working hard for so long, he could finally take a break.
How many private hours had he sacrificed for cultivation these past few days? All of that had to be properly compensated for now.
Before lying flat, however, he planned to tell Qiu Haoqing the good news that he had advanced to the sixth layer of Qi Condensation.
【A Happy Pastry: Senior Brother, I have already reached the sixth layer of Qi Condensation!】
As expected, there was no response. Qiu Haoqing seemed quite busy these days, and he hadn’t seen him appear even once.
Fang Jueqian persevered, organizing his words to write a letter of gratitude spanning several hundred characters. Its sincerity, implicitness, and profound beauty made even himself unable to hold back from being moved several times when reviewing it, and he felt deeply gratified that his applied writing skills had not deteriorated too much after entering the workforce.
The communication jade on the other end finally stirred.
Qiu Haoqing specifically highlighted a passage:
【Xuhuai Ruogu: What do you mean?】
Fang Jueqian was somewhat disappointed. Qiu Haoqing’s first sentence was actually not recognition of this letter of his.
However, when he saw the line of text highlighted by Qiu Haoqing, he felt deeply embarrassed.
“Senior Brother, your attitude toward cultivation and kindness toward the people around you, even if the Lord does not say it, will surely be felt. If the Lord cannot feel it, I will also slowly let the Lord feel it in the days to come.”
This passage was actually implying that he would find a way in the future to speak good words for him in front of Lord Lingxiao. Fang Jueqian thought hard and long, but he seemed to have only this single point to repay Qiu Haoqing’s constant help.
Yet implying it in a letter was one thing, but being directly pointed out face-to-face by Qiu Haoqing was another. It was awfully awkward.
Fang Jueqian thought for a moment and decided to bravely speak his mind:
【A Happy Pastry: I will put in a good word for Senior Brother in front of the Lord.】
The other party did not reply for a moment. Did he not believe in his sincerity?
【A Happy Pastry: Although I am useless, I still possess a heart of gratitude. Rest assured, Senior Brother, I will definitely keep my word!】
【Xuhuai Ruogu: Oh.】
Fang Jueqian had not even let out a breath of relief.
【Xuhuai Ruogu: But you cannot even see his face.】
Stab.
A white blade goes in, a red blade comes out.
Clutching his chest, which had been slashed until it was dripping with blood, Fang Jueqian said resiliently:
【A Happy Pastry: Senior Brother need not worry. I naturally have my own methods. To begin with, the Lord and I are cultivation partners anyway! So there will always be opportunities to meet!】
【Xuhuai Ruogu: Oh.】
【A Happy Pastry: Really! The feelings between the Lord and me are actually much better than what you saw during that encounter! That time was just a misunderstanding.】
【Xuhuai Ruogu: Heh.】
Fang Jueqian broke out in a cold sweat. He put down the communication jade and repeatedly comforted himself that ancient people were simple, natural, and untouched by internet baptism, and thus did not know the extended meaning of “heh.”
Therefore, Senior Brother Qiu really was just expressing happiness.
Fang Jueqian decided to quickly gloss over this topic.
【A Happy Pastry: By the way, Senior Brother, when I went out today, I saw a rabbit flying in the sky because it was stepping on a crane under its feet. Hahaha…】
【Xuhuai Ruogu: Oh.】
【Xuhuai Ruogu: Let us continue discussing how you plan to meet.】
Fang Jueqian collapsed.
【A Happy Pastry: Hahahaha Senior Brother, don’t you feel that you are a bit different in front of people and behind their backs? Hahahaha I was just joking hahahaha…】
【Xuhuai Ruogu: Is that so?】
In the hot spring where the other party could not see him, Fang Jueqian nodded frantically.
【Xuhuai Ruogu: Calling him husband in front of people and Lord behind his back, you are not so bad yourself.】
Fang Jueqian fell face-first.
Splashes of water rippled across the surface.
That very night, Fang Jueqian had several nightmares:
About how he was immersed in a pig cage, and how he awakened his bloodline talent of underwater breathing by shouting “My heart is as firm as iron, indestructible” to escape from the pig cage. After finally securing his safety, how he was suddenly appeared upon by Lord Lingxiao and coldly cleaved to death with a single sword because he dared to call him by the wrong name.
In the morning, Fang Jueqian climbed out of bed feeling dizzy, feeling that he had suffered a fright.
Although Senior Brother Qiu had a very sharp tongue, his words also held a tiny bit of reason.
Even though he and Lord Lingxiao lived on the same mountain peak, one lived at the top and the other at the bottom, leaving zero opportunity to meet.
It was completely normal for this to make him feel doubtful.
What about himself, then? Was he really going to summon the courage to bridge the distance between the mountain top and the mountain bottom just to fulfill a promise?
Fang Jueqian recalled the scene when he first met Lord Lingxiao, and his face slowly, slowly grew red.
A handsome youth is precious, but life is even more valuable.
“Still, let us wait a little longer.”
He pulled up the quilt, covered his face, and went back to sleep.
In the days that followed, Fang Jueqian completely relaxed and began his fish-slacking lifestyle.
He went to class during the day, rested when coming back at night, and occasionally went out with classmates to grab extra meals on rest days, living a life that was fast and leisurely.
Consequently, after more than half a month passed, Fang Jueqian’s cultivation still remained at the sixth layer of Qi Condensation.
The senior instructor who held high hopes for Fang Jueqian found him and anxiously inquired if he had encountered any difficulties recently.
Fang Jueqian blushed and muttered a single “no.”
The senior instructor was relieved:
“Senior Brother Qiu asked me about your recent cultivation progress. I told him the truth, but he didn’t seem very satisfied.”
Fang Jueqian froze, followed by intense embarrassment.
The experience of an adult getting reported to their parent is not something just anyone can handle.
When class ended, Fang Jueqian saw Qiu Haoqing standing smilingly outside the classroom waiting for him. He spent a moment preparing himself mentally before walking over, hanging his head in dejection:
“Senior Brother, I will cultivate properly from now on.”
Qiu Haoqing seemed startled by him:
“Sister-in-law is too polite. Just call me by my name.”
Fang Jueqian felt something was amiss. Previously, a similar form of address issue had cropped up, and he deliberated:
“Are you wanting me to call you Haoqing?”
Qiu Haoqing fell silent for a moment: “It is Qiu Haoqing.”
“Alright.”
An awkward atmosphere spread. Fortunately, someone greeted Qiu Haoqing at that moment, alleviating the tension.
Fang Jueqian secretly sized up Qiu Haoqing, discovering that even when conversing with passersby, he wore a smile and maintained a gentle demeanor that felt like a spring breeze.
It was just that the difference between him and the version on the communication jade was too huge.
Could it be that he had a split personality, being the primary personality by day and the dark personality by night?
While Fang Jueqian was muttering to himself internally, Qiu Haoqing concluded his casual chat, turned back to look at Fang Jueqian, smiled, and apologized:
“Sorry to keep Sister-in-law waiting so long. Disciple will take you back to Qingjing Peak now.”
Fang Jueqian guiltily stopped his wild imagination and followed him onto a cloud.
Only cultivators above the Core Formation stage could ride clouds. It was Fang Jueqian’s very first time trying to step on a cloud peak, feeling utterly novel. When they were about to reach the location of Qingjing Peak, however, he noticed Qiu Haoqing not landing the cloud, but instead flying toward an even higher position. He instantly panicked:
“Where are we going?”
“Did Sister-in-law not check the communication jade? Master asked me to pick you up.”
Fang Jueqian went blank.
He immediately pulled out the communication jade, used his consciousness to open the dialogue box for 【Xuhuai Ruogu】, and found it still lingered on the previous conversation interface: “Where is…”
His voice abruptly stopped.
Fang Jueqian saw that another contact had sent him a message not long ago, and it was still in an unread state:
【Awe-inspiring Nine Heavens: Sister-in-law, Master wishes to see you. I will come to pick you up today after classes end…】
Fang Jueqian thought, “Oh no.”
It was over.