“You’re saying you’re not just at the second level? Don’t tell me you reached the third level just by watching me demonstrate it once?”
Yan Ge said this with an expression that seemed to say, “If you dare say yes, I’ll drop dead on the spot.”
Chi Miao scratched her cheek and let out an awkward laugh: “Well, it’s not that exaggerated.”
Yan Ge breathed a sigh of relief: “I knew it. The third level of the Profound Origin Skill isn’t that easy. Show me how far you’ve gotten.”
Chi Miao nodded and performed the Profound Origin Skill once more.
This time, the vortex started out blue, slowly shifting toward purple but not fully turning purple.
Yan Ge’s face tightened: “Half-step to the third level…”
He felt utterly helpless, really wanting to facepalm and laugh bitterly.
What’s the difference between this and the third level?!
Heavens, you’re so unfair!
Chi Miao looked at him expectantly: “Sir, I think if you demonstrate it one more time and I watch a bit more carefully, I can reach the third level. Would you be willing to see this through?”
Yan Ge answered decisively: “No, my mom called me home for dinner.”
Chi Miao was stunned: “Your mom is still alive?”
Yan Ge: “?”
Chi Miao quickly patted her mouth: “Pah, pah, pah, look at this mouth of mine. It’s just that I’ve been a mortal for so long, I have no concept of lifespan in the Cultivation World. You don’t look very young, hahaha…”
Yan Ge was so angry he almost laughed.
How can this person’s mouth be so foul? How did she even survive this long?!
No wonder other parents don’t let their kids play with you!
Great talent and a foul mouth—truly a rare specimen in this world.
In the end, Yan Ge’s sharp tongue hid a soft heart, and he demonstrated the Profound Origin Skill one more time for Chi Miao.
How much Chi Miao could learn was none of his concern. To avoid being further discouraged, he quickly made his escape.
After fleeing, he suddenly realized something.
Today, he not only delivered the guide but also gave away a Grade Two Pill and a copy of the Profound Origin Skill.
With Chi Miao’s exceptional talent, if he took her as his disciple, wouldn’t he be spared from such discouragement?
Not only would he avoid being discouraged, but he could also use Chi Miao to discourage others, letting them taste the bitterness he felt today.
Hahaha! Absolutely brilliant!
A moment later, Yan Ge suddenly straightened up.
“Wait!”
“I’ve given away everything, and now I’m going to tie myself down too? Isn’t this like losing the battle and the war?!”
Damn!
Why does it suddenly feel like I’ve been scammed?!
And I was actually feeling proud of myself just now!!!
I was sold out and still counting the money for them!!!
…
Chi Miao practiced the Profound Origin Skill inside the room.
Her “pretty good comprehension” was top-tier in the Cultivation World, but it wasn’t exactly heaven-defying. She was just one step away from the third level, yet that step felt incredibly difficult to cross.
At that moment, Jin Shengfei knocked on the door: “May I come in?”
“Come in.”
As soon as she saw Jin Shengfei’s face, Chi Miao fell into deep silence.
“Did someone beat you up?”
Jin Shengfei’s looks were undeniably handsome, but now… although he had already bathed, his body was still covered in bruises, and his face was swollen like a pig’s head.
If not for his voice and that flashy outfit that screamed “I’m rich,” Chi Miao might not have recognized him.
“No, I went to climb the Heavenly Ladder.”
Chi Miao: “The test is already over. Why are you climbing that thing?”
Jin Shengfei: “It’s because of you.”
Chi Miao: “What does that have to do with me?”
Jin Shengfei pondered for a moment. “No one has ever climbed the Heavenly Ladder to such heights during the Qi Refining Stage before, let alone received a Blessing. Now that they’ve seen you obtain one, who in the Cultivation World wouldn’t want to get one too?”
“Not just us climbers, even those already in the Inner Sect, even Personal Disciples are climbing! Some elders are giving it a try…”
Chi Miao: “And then? Did they succeed?”
Jin Shengfei: “Then the entire Heavenly Ladder was filled with screams of agony. Not a single person succeeded.”
Chi Miao laughed mercilessly: “That’s so tragic, ahahahahaha!”
Jin Shengfei: “…”
This person is so shameless!
However, after multiple attempts at climbing the ladder, even without obtaining the Blessing, there were considerable benefits.
His soul force actually became tempered.
During the assessment, he had struggled to reach the 200th level under Chi Miao’s lead, but after several more attempts later, he actually managed to climb thirty levels higher.
Perhaps with a few more attempts, he might really have a chance to obtain the Blessing. But just a chance…
“Speaking of which, when I first came in, you seemed to be practicing?”
Chi Miao: “Yeah.”
Chi Miao recounted all his recent experiences to Jin Shengfei, though he didn’t mention that he had already nearly reached the third level of the Profound Origin Skill.
Jin Shengfei’s face was full of disbelief.
“A Grade Two Pill? A Profound-Rank Middle-Grade Skill! You really encountered a living Bodhisattva, didn’t you!”
Chi Miao: “Right? A true living Bodhisattva. He even taught me one-on-one and gave me a secret manual.”
Jin Shengfei: “Why is it that the mysterious person I met only told my fortune? We even used the same lines.”
Chi Miao froze suddenly, breaking out in a cold sweat.
Because the one you met was a real fraud, bro.
Chi Miao was still thinking about how to explain.
But then Jin Shengfei said: “I get it. I must not have deciphered the profound mysteries hidden beneath that mysterious person’s words. When I go back and carefully ponder them, I’ll surely gain benefits just like you!”
Having said that, Jin Shengfei scurried away.
Chi Miao: “…”
Well… alright then.
As long as this silly kid is happy.
Why does it feel like today’s experiences will make Jin Shengfei even more convinced that the person he met wasn’t a fraud?
Never mind.
……
Sword Cemetery.
After the Sword Light extinguished, Chong Shuai called in many people to help and finally managed to revive the Sword Light.
He Wanban speculated that this sword might be too divine, thus requiring a contract with a suitable candidate to borrow their soul force for true awakening.
Moreover, it had recently shown signs of awakening, commanding reverence from all swords, which must mean a chosen master had appeared nearby.
Therefore, Chong Shuai gathered everyone from Nine Sword Mountain to attempt contracts one by one.
However, though this sword was faint, it was extremely fierce.
Anyone attempting to contract with it would be injured by its sword energy.
Even Transformation Stage elders would get wounded.
“It’s truly unimaginable how powerful this sword must have been at its peak, and how formidable its chosen master will be!”
Finally, they brought in Ying WuHuo, who possessed the Innate Sword Soul.
It must be known that when Ying WuHuo, with his Innate Sword Soul, entered the Sword Cemetery back then, he caused all swords to resonate in unison before ultimately selecting the Ice Soul Sword most suited to him.
If it were Ying WuHuo, he would have the highest probability of being chosen by this sword.
Ying WuHuo attempted to contract with the sword.
There was no response.
A moment later, sword energy shook the surroundings as the sword moved.
Everyone’s eyes lit up: “Is it going to succeed?!”
However, the Sword Light soon formed several large characters:
“Innate Sword Soul, peerless talent, yet… unworthy of this venerable one!”
Several streaks of Sword Light flashed, leaving the Sword Intent lingering in everyone’s hearts, causing their hearts to palpitate.
“Even Wu Huo can’t do it? To say that the Innate Sword Soul is unworthy? Just who is the master this sword has chosen, and how monstrous must they be!!!”