Free Web NovelChapter 94: Chapter 90: What Kind of Monster Is This?
Although Xi Mengran said she didn’t care, she had actually begun to pay close attention to this Furnace Cauldron who held her hopes for reaching Core Formation.
Her original plan was to pay him no mind, simply providing Elixirs and Cultivation Techniques. Once this fellow, whose name she couldn’t even be bothered to remember, reached Foundation Establishment, she would perform Gathering and Replenishing on him.
But now she found that, even though she didn’t want to hear it, the fellow’s name repeatedly found its way to her ears, forcing her to remember it.
~~~
"Ten days to reach the Qi Cultivation First Layer? Not bad at all. The speed expected of someone with Fire-Wind Dual Spirit Roots, comparable to an Upper Grade Spirit Root. Come to think of it, this boy is quite fortunate. When I first joined the Sect, I was stuck in the Outer Sect, experiencing endless schemes. I had no Elixirs, no good Spirit Vein... How much cultivation time did I waste? It took me a full month to reach the Qi Cultivation First Layer." Xi Mengran sighed, nonchalantly dyeing her nails with a Kou Pill.
~~~~
"He’s at the second layer already? Let’s see... it hasn’t even been a month since he joined the Sect, has it? Does he spend every waking moment on his Cultivation?" Xi Mengran was somewhat surprised, but also a little pleased.
’It’s a good thing the Furnace Cauldron is working so hard. The sooner he reaches Foundation Establishment, the sooner he’ll be ’ready to consume,’ and the closer I’ll be to my dream of Core Formation.’
’Reaching Foundation Establishment Perfection isn’t hard; it’s just a matter of time and effort.’
’But reaching Core Formation requires exceptional Spirit Root talent, precious Core Formation Spiritual Objects, and a heaven-defying stroke of luck—or at least two of the three.’
~~~~~
When the servant girl came to report that "Yu Fei" had already reached the Qi Cultivation Third Layer, Xi Mengran subconsciously bit her lip.
’Two months since joining, and he’s already at the Qi Cultivation Third Layer?’
’What kind of monster is he?’
’Could there have been a mistake during his Spirit Root assessment?’
’Is he not a Middle Grade Fire-Wind Spiritual Root, but an Upper Grade one?’
"From this day on, cancel his Elixir supply," Xi Mengran commanded.
~~~~
When "Yu Fei" had been in the Sect for four months and successfully broke through his bottleneck to enter the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer, even Xi Mengran’s master was stirred enough to inquire about him.
~~~~~
When Yu Fei had been in the Sect for a year, Xi Mengran’s master, Meng Xiao, summoned her.
He was a benevolent-looking, middle-aged man who even possessed an ethereal, sage-like bearing. His features were sharp, his aura peaceful, and he had none of the typical demeanor of someone from the Demon Sect... ahem, the Holy Sect.
A Child stood nearby, gently waving a Palm Fan to brew tea, while Meng Xiao held a yellowed, ancient tome, completely engrossed. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com
An onlooker might have thought he was reading some cultivator’s insights and notes.
But Xi Mengran knew in her heart that her master was undoubtedly reading a novel from the Human World.
"Master," Xi Mengran said as she slowly knelt, her dangling hairpins remaining perfectly still.
’Master appears carefree and unconventional on the surface, but deep down, he’s the one who values etiquette the most.’
Meng Xiao didn’t even look up, his gaze glued to the pages of the novel. "Ran’Er, I hear that Furnace Cauldron you’re raising in your immortal cave has already reached the Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer?"
"Yes." Xi Mengran’s heart clenched, but she didn’t dare to lie.
"Alas!" Meng Xiao let out a long sigh. "He truly is a promising sapling. If his Dao Heart weren’t so resolute, how could he have endured such loneliness and hardship to reach the Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer in a single year? At this rate, he’ll likely reach Qi Cultivation Perfection in just over a decade, even without any aid. He’ll be able to attempt a breakthrough to Foundation Establishment before he turns forty. With his aptitude, even without a Foundation Establishment Pill, his chances of achieving Celestial Dao Foundation Establishment wouldn’t be low. And if he were to enjoy the same resources you did... he could probably reach Foundation Establishment in three to five years. Ran’Er, the truth is, his aptitude is better than yours."
’Ran’Er, his aptitude is better than yours...’
The casually spoken words struck Xi Mengran’s heart like a sledgehammer, and her body swayed slightly.
But no matter how unwilling she was to accept it, she could neither deny nor dare to deny it.
’Deny Master’s judgment?’
’Do I have a death wish?’
"...Yes, Master."
Meng Xiao raised his head, his calm gaze scrutinizing his disciple.
Her figure was graceful, her skin delicate and glowing. Her eyes were large, bright, and beautiful, but they weren’t soft—they burned with something called ambition.
Meng Xiao’s gaze towards his disciple was one of pure appreciation.
Although the Holy Sect didn’t bother with excessive ceremony or moral codes.
But in his heart, he was a man who lived by his own strict code.
When he saw masters in the Sect getting involved with their disciples, or Martial Uncles using their own martial nieces as Furnace Cauldrons, he had only one thought: ’Utterly shameless.’ freewebnσvel.cѳm
After studying her for a long moment, Meng Xiao spoke slowly. "Can you let him go? This boy has the potential to become an Inner... no, a True Disciple. Just like you."
Xi Mengran bravely lifted her head to meet her master’s gaze. "Master, our Holy Sect isn’t hypocritical like the Profound Sects Orthodox Sect, spouting nonsense about ’taking from the surplus to supplement the deficit.’ If we Cultivators of the Holy Sect wish to achieve the Dao, we must ’take from the deficient to give to the surplus’! Yu Fei’s aptitude is indeed outstanding, but mine is not poor either! Why should I be the one to step aside for him? Why can’t he be the one to pave my way? When he reaches Foundation Establishment, I will give him one chance at a fair duel, as per the Sect’s rules. If he is truly a genius, he will naturally be able to challenge his superior and succeed, seizing my status as an Inner Disciple and taking all of my accumulated resources. And if my corpse becomes his stepping stone at that time, I will accept it willingly!"
Meng Xiao stared at his disciple for a long moment before a faint smile touched his lips. "So be it. I will have someone keep an eye on him and ensure he doesn’t easily learn the arts of Magical Combat or the Sword Fighting Art."
"Thank you, Master!" Xi Mengran prostrated herself. Even in a kowtow, her movements were dignified and regal, her dangling hairpins remaining perfectly still.
Meng Xiao’s calm eyes were filled with appreciation.
~~~~~~~~~
’Cultivation requires a balance between exertion and rest; one can’t just stay in seclusion all the time.’
Du Youqian was more than satisfied with his progress, having broken through to the Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer in just one year.
With his current Middle Grade Fire-Wind Dual Spirit Roots, the bottlenecks of the Qi Cultivation Middle Stage and beyond were practically nonexistent for him.
His Cultivation path was clear and unobstructed.
If he relied purely on his own meditation without any aids, advancing to the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer would take another year.
From the Seventh Layer to the Eighth Layer, it would take about two years.
From the Eighth Layer to the Ninth Layer, about four years.
From the Ninth Layer to Perfection, eight years.
However, consuming the right Elixirs could drastically shorten this timeframe.
If he could burn through a supply of Five-Flower Qi Storage Pills and Dragon Kui Purple Extreme Pills, he was confident he could reach Qi Cultivation Perfection within three years.
’And in three years, this body of mine will only be... 22 years old.’
’Qi Cultivation Perfection at age 22. Is this the cultivation speed of a prodigy from a Major Sect?’
’It’s really...’
’Enough to make anyone green with envy.’
Lin Sha, in the Heavenly Emotions and Oceanic Resentments Sect, had quickly distinguished herself upon joining and became an Inner Disciple, yet it still took her nearly ten years to cultivate to Qi Cultivation Perfection.
Only after taking first place in a minor competition was she granted a True Inheritor Identity.
An Inner Disciple of a Second-class Sect does not lack Cultivation resources.
But compared to First-class Sects, there was still a clear gap...
Because, it was said that Xi Mengran, an Inner Disciple of the Holy Blood Sect, had advanced by constantly popping Dragon Kui Purple Extreme Pills.
But Lin Sha didn’t have that luxury. Du Youqian had learned from a casual chat with her that she usually had to rely on Five-Flower Qi Storage Pills. Popping a single Dragon Kui Purple Extreme Pill was a rare treat for her, like a special upgrade to her usual fare.
