Yun Ze returned to his small courtyard after bidding farewell to Luo Shang, sitting alone in his room to digest the news he had received that day.
The Heavenly Mandate Elder, the Heavenly Rankings, the Seven Realms of Qi Sea, and the centennial event of talented youths disappearing.
These matters were clearly being instigated by someone behind the scenes. Coupled with Su Huangjiu's extensive acquisition of authentic Foundation Establishment materials, there was evidently a great secret involved.
Should he, or should he not, expand his Qi Sea?
If he stopped here, there would be no cause for worry. After all, the very end of the rankings listed a Qi Sea in the seventh realm. As long as he didn't break through to the seventh realm, he wouldn't appear on the so-called Heavenly Rankings.
But... Yu Xian had disappeared for three years!
Three years later, he could establish his foundation and slay Golden Cores. It would be a lie to say it wasn't enviable!
However, the preciousness of legends lay in their difficulty to replicate.
At that time, anyone who could appear on the Qi Refining Rankings could undoubtedly be called a prodigy of their generation, yet even so, over eighty percent of them had died!
As Sister Shang had said, with his current foundation, if he were to go, he might not be able to return.
He would take it one step at a time!
He currently only had forty-three times the Qi Sea, still a considerable distance from the sixty-four times required for the seventh realm. He would proceed slowly.
Yun Ze shook his head, casting away the杂念 in his mind!
He couldn't think about it anymore. Regardless, he had to improve his cultivation first.
Today, he still had to help Wei Lanshu resolve her sword qi, and tonight, Sister Shang would be coming for dinner.
So, he would go find her now. After returning, he would study the Turtle Martial Art, and in the evening, he would introduce Sister Shang to Su Ling'er.
Yun Ze got up and left, traveling all the way to a thousand meters below the solitary peak.
Wei Lanshu had told him where she lived, and soon he found Wei Lanshu's cave dwelling from memory.
It wasn't a small courtyard, but a cave dwelling in the truest sense. A thin mist shrouded the outside of the cave, obscuring the view within, as if it were some kind of formation.
Yun Ze stood outside the cave dwelling and called out, "Is Daoist Friend Wei here?"
"Wait a moment!"
Wei Lanshu's voice rang out, her tone unable to hide her excitement. Yet, Yun Ze couldn't sense any sword qi.
Even the stone chamber of her cultivation room could only slightly isolate the sword qi, but now he couldn't even sense its presence. It seemed this thin mist was indeed a formation.
Wei Lanshu soon emerged, this time accompanied by Granny Li.
Granny Li narrowed her eyes and smiled, "Boy, you've made quite a bit of progress in your cultivation in just a few days."
"Senior overpraises me."
Yun Ze cupped his fists in humility and then said, "Actually, it's all thanks to Daoist Friend Wei."
Wei Lanshu tilted her head, clearly not understanding why.
"It's like this,"
Yun Ze said with a smile, "When that sword qi entered my body, I discovered that I could actually convert it into spiritual energy. After these two instances, my cultivation naturally increased.
If this happens a few more times, I estimate I'll reach the ninth level of Qi Refining, or even Foundation Establishment soon!
All of this is thanks to Daoist Friend Wei!"
Upon hearing this, Wei Lanshu repeatedly waved her hands and cupped her fists towards Yun Ze.
It was as if she was saying she should be the one thanking him, and that he shouldn't belittle her.
Granny Li's eyes narrowed at the sight.
This brat is truly glib-tongued. Just a casual remark from me, and he can spin it into something grand. It seems I'll have to stay by the young lady's side from now on and not let them interact alone.
"Daoist Friend Wei, I'm just stating facts. If it weren't for you, my cultivation wouldn't have improved so quickly. Therefore... I've decided!"
"From now on, when we trade, I'll only charge you one thousand spirit stones. After all, I've benefited too, so it's not right to charge you such a high price anymore."
When Wei Lanshu heard this, she was about to refuse.
"If you refuse, then you don't consider me a friend!"
Yun Ze frowned, "Daoist Friend Wei, do you look down on me, Yun?"
"No!"
Wei Lanshu, in her haste, blurted out two words.
Sword qi erupted!
Granny Li quickly waved her sleeve, dispersing the few strands of sword qi that had been unleashed, thus preventing a tragic outcome.
Wei Lanshu quickly covered her mouth and simply extended her right hand, pulling Yun Ze into her cave dwelling.
Granny Li was about to stop them, but it was too late. She could only follow them in.
As the two entered the cave, Wei Lanshu no longer held back and spoke directly to Yun Ze.
"Brother Yun, I absolutely do not look down on you. Since you've said so, then this younger sister will gratefully accept. However..."
"However, what?"
Wei Lanshu looked up at Yun Ze, "You can no longer call me Daoist Friend Wei. How about we address each other as brother and sister?"
"Miss, you..."
Granny Li, who had just entered, heard this and nearly had her soul scared out of her!
Brother and sister?
What a joke!
"Granny Li, you don't need to persuade me."
Wei Lanshu glanced at Granny Li and continued, "Brother Yun has saved my life. It is only right to call him elder brother."
Granny Li said no more. She knew her young lady's stubborn nature, and that her own words carried little weight. Thus, she turned to look at Yun Ze.
She threatened him with her eyes.
Don't agree!
Yun Ze had originally intended to refuse, but upon seeing Granny Li's gaze, he smiled at Wei Lanshu and said, "I have a younger sister. Her name is Bu Bu, and she's a little younger than you."
*Phew...*
Granny Li finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"So... in addition to gaining an elder brother, you've also gained a younger sister."
"Hmm!? You brat..."
"Granny Li!"
Wei Lanshu's voice carried a hint of anger.
Granny Li had no choice but to shut her mouth and lower her head in silence.
Wei Lanshu's face then regained its smile as she looked at Yun Ze and nodded, "Big Brother!"
"Second Sister!"
Hearing the two addresses in her ears, Granny Li almost ground her back teeth to dust!
This brat is truly pushing his luck!
"Big Brother, just call me Xiao Shu. Everyone in the family calls me that," Wei Lanshu said with a smile.
"Since we're all family now, talking about spirit stones would be too hurtful to our feelings."
Yun Ze reached into his Qiankun bag and took out the four thousand spirit stones Wei Lanshu had given him earlier. "Xiao Shu, take these spirit stones back. From now on, your illness, your elder brother will cure it for you!"
"No! Even biological siblings keep accounts clear!"
Wei Lanshu pushed the spirit stones back. "Whatever the price, it's the price! If Big Brother doesn't accept them, then you're looking down on me!"
"This..."
Yun Ze was experiencing the chivalry of a young woman for the first time.
For some reason, Wei Lanshu's demeanor always reminded him of his mother, who was also such a spirited woman.
Since others weren't being sentimental, why should he be so conflicted?
At worst, he would return these spirit stones to her in another form.
"Alright! Big Brother accepts them!"
Yun Ze put away the spirit stones. "From now on, your affairs are my affairs. Come, where do you want to resolve the sword qi this time?"
"Throat."
Wei Lanshu uttered two words and took out another bag of spirit stones. "Please trouble Big Brother."
"Why be so polite? It's only right!"
Yun Ze took the spirit stones and weighed them, knowing there were exactly one thousand spirit stones.
This girl was truly interesting.
"Alas..."
The deed was done, and Granny Li could only sigh helplessly.
Brother? Big Brother?
If the Madam knew her young lady had gained an elder brother, she didn't know what she would think.
She hated men the most.
Yun Ze placed his hand on Wei Lanshu's fair neck, feeling the sword qi seep into his body. He instinctively began to circulate the Turtle Martial Art.
Although he had only just begun to learn the Turtle Martial Art, it could only alleviate less than half of the pain from this sword qi. However, any reduction in pain meant he could endure longer.
He knew that Xiao Shu wished to speak like a normal person. If he could resolve it in one go, she could start speaking in front of others sooner.
Three breaths, five breaths...
Wei Lanshu felt the warmth still on her neck and looked up at Yun Ze, as if asking why he hadn't stopped yet.
Yun Ze's forehead was beaded with sweat, his lips had turned pale, and his right hand trembled uncontrollably, yet he still hadn't withdrawn it.
Endure!
Just a little longer! It will be over soon!
The seventh breath!
Wei Lanshu frowned. She couldn't let Yun Ze continue any longer. She raised her right hand and pulled his hand away.
Although her right hand was now free of sword qi, Yun Ze was trembling all over. When Wei Lanshu moved his hand, he staggered back several steps and fell to the ground.
A trace of blood overflowed from the corner of his mouth.
His Qi Sea was in turmoil again!
However, for some reason, the feeling of his Qi Sea being in turmoil this time was slightly different from before. It seemed... his Qi Sea had expanded a little!
"Big Brother, are you alright?"
Wei Lanshu hurried forward, wanting to help Yun Ze, but could only extend her right hand.
"Don't worry, I'm fine."
Yun Ze leaned on her right hand to support himself, wiped the blood from his mouth, and forced a wry smile. "I originally wanted to help you resolve it in one go, but I overestimated myself."
"Big Brother! You're not allowed to do this next time!"
Wei Lanshu's attitude was extremely serious. "If you get hurt, I..."
"Alright, don't worry, I won't next time."
Yun Ze pointed to her throat. "How do you feel now? How much sword qi remains?"
"About forty percent is left."
Wei Lanshu replied, then asked with concern, "Big Brother, are you sure you're alright?"
"I'm fine, I just need a little rest."
"Then rest here!"
Wei Lanshu immediately decided. "Dinner is soon. What would Big Brother like to eat? I'll have Granny Li bring it over."
Granny Li was speechless upon hearing this but didn't dare to say anything. She could only continue to signal Yun Ze with her eyes.
Brat, don't push your luck!
"Hmm... anything is fine."
Yun Ze wasn't really thinking about food, but rather wanted to stay in this cave dwelling for a while longer.
The spiritual energy concentration at a thousand meters below this solitary peak was at least twice that of five hundred meters below!
Although it wasn't as good as his cultivation room, it was almost comparable. He wanted to take advantage of it for as long as he could!
"Granny Li, bring some spiritual delicacies back. Big Brother is injured."
"Yes, Miss."
Granny Li, hearing Wei Lanshu's command, had no choice but to set off.
"Xiao Shu, I'll go heal my injuries then."
"Big Brother, do as you please. Don't mind me."
Yun Ze closed his eyes and calmed his mind, his consciousness quickly sinking into his Qi Sea to investigate.
Exactly forty-four times!
The Qi Sea had indeed expanded!
This shouldn't be the result of just one instance of Qi Sea turmoil. It was just that in the previous times, either he had taken Qi Building Pills at the right time, or the impact wasn't strong enough, or it wasn't sustained, so it wasn't obvious.
This was the first time he had placed his hand on Wei Lanshu's neck, and it was also the longest duration. Naturally, he had absorbed the most sword qi, so the effect was particularly pronounced.
But did this expansion of the Qi Sea come from absorbing sword qi, or from the turmoil of the Qi Sea?
There was a difference between the two!
If it was the former, then Yun Ze could only expand his Qi Sea when absorbing sword qi. But if it was the latter...
Then every time he triggered sword qi, he could expand his Qi Sea a little. Wasn't that better than spending money to buy Qi Building Pills?
At that time, as long as he didn't die from the turmoil, he would push it to the extreme! Push it to sixty-three times!
He couldn't neglect building a solid foundation just because he was afraid, could he?
Or... should he try again?
In any case, the Qi Sea turmoil this time wasn't particularly strong, and he could still endure it. Moreover, the surrounding spiritual energy was still relatively abundant, so he could recover quickly if injured. It was worth a try!
Yun Ze moved his mind, sealed his six senses, and then focused his consciousness on the surroundings of his Qi Sea, triggering the sword qi again!
*Buzz!*
"Pfft!"
A vibrating hum exploded, and Yun Ze immediately spat out a mouthful of blood!
The three vortexes within his body instantly dissipated, and his entire Qi Sea showed signs of collapse!
No! That wasn't one vibrating hum, but two!
One came from the Qi Sea.
It was caused by the vibration of the two strands of sword qi in Yun Ze's Qi Sea!
One came from the depths of the cave!
It seemed something was resonating with the two strands of sword qi. It should also be a strand of sword qi!
If it were just the vibration of two strands of sword qi, he could definitely endure it, but what was this external strand of sword qi!?
Yun Ze reacted quickly and desperately absorbed the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to repair his Qi Sea!
But no matter how he tried to repair it, his Qi Sea was like a punctured balloon. Blowing more air into it was futile, and it could only delay the collapse!
No! Absolutely not!
If this continued, his Qi Sea would surely shatter. At that point, let alone cultivation, surviving would be a miracle!
What to do!
What should he do!