Terrifying Progress . . .
The sword wielded by Bing-Er was no ordinary weapon; it was the Ice Soul Sword crafted by Cha Eun Xiao. Though he had been pressed for time during its creation, the sword's excellence was undeniable. The secret to its unique quality lay in the material used—the Ice Soul Essence, among the finest available. As a result, the sword possessed both crystalline clarity and an icy, fashionable elegance.
Its craftsmanship was remarkable, and Bing-Er was instantly captivated upon seeing it. She had even indulged in a bit of play-acting, using teary-eyed coquettishness to persuade Cha Eun Xiao to part with it. Following that, she had become inseparable from the sword, occasionally fastening it to her waist like a seasoned swordswoman, awaiting Cha Eun Xiao's admiration.
Having completed her swordplay practice for the day, Bing-Er ceased her movements, and the dazzling sword lights gradually dissipated. She gasped for breath, beads of sweat forming on her forehead, and her cheeks flushed from the exertion.
It was at this moment that her eyes fell upon Cha Eun Xiao standing in the doorway. Delighted, she called out to him and rushed over, throwing her arms around him. She nestled her head against his chest, inadvertently leaving sweat stains on his clothing.
Cha Eun Xiao affectionately patted her head. "Why the sudden burst of diligence, my girl?"
Indignant, Bing-Er retorted, "When have I ever been anything but diligent? Humph..." Her pouty expression quickly gave way to a joyful one as she continued, "Master, I believe I've made significant progress."
Cha Eun Xiao blinked, genuinely impressed by her statement. He didn't think she was boasting; her rapid advancement was clear to see. It had been only two days since he last saw her, yet her improvement was substantial. Though he couldn't immediately determine the extent of her progress, it was evident in her refined swordplay.
He decided to verify her progress by examining her meridians. Cha Eun Xiao tapped her wrist and connected with her meridians using a trace of spiritual qi. After a brief examination, he was utterly astounded.
Within Bing-Er's body, spiritual qi coursed with boundless intensity.
"What is this?" Cha Eun Xiao exclaimed, his eyes wide with astonishment. It felt as though he were beholding a miraculous phenomenon. His throat grew dry, and he stammered, "You've reached... level 5 of the Earth Origin Stage?"
Upon witnessing her swordplay and sensing the peculiar sword aura, Cha Eun Xiao had inferred that Bing-Er had achieved a significant breakthrough. He suspected she might have reached the Earth Origin Stage, albeit he assumed it was likely only at level 1 or 2. To his astonishment, she had actually attained level 5 of the Earth Origin Stage.
[This is simply astounding. Unbelievable!]
"Girl, did you consume any peculiar food or substances over the past two days?" Cha Eun Xiao inquired, his brow furrowing with concern.
He harbored suspicions that Bing-Er might have inadvertently ingested unique materials during this time, which could explain her remarkable progress. If her advancements were solely due to her individual efforts, it would defy the laws of nature and be almost unbelievable.
"What did I eat? Nothing out of the ordinary..." Bing-Er rolled her eyes while attempting to recollect. "Just regular meals—rice, vegetables, some meat, but not much..."
Cha Eun Xiao was left momentarily speechless.
[I inquired about any special consumption, not your regular meals! I must have framed my question incorrectly. Let me rephrase it.] He posed the question again, only to learn that Bing-Er had not consumed any unusual materials. He was perplexed. If her progress had occurred without the aid of such substances, it raised serious questions.
The truth was that her swift advancement was genuine. This realization left Cha Eun Xiao flabbergasted.
A girl with no prior knowledge of martial arts, who had suffered numerous broken bones and had never undertaken any form of cultivation, had unexpectedly evolved into a level 5 Earth Origin Stage cultivator in just three months. This meant she had made leaps that would typically require an entire lifetime for an average cultivator. Furthermore, she had to factor in the time she had spent recuperating from her injuries.
[How... how is this possible?]
"Girl, how did you manage this?" Cha Eun Xiao inquired, concerned. "There must be something amiss!"
"How did I do it? I didn't really take it too seriously..." Bing-Er blinked, her confusion evident. She didn't quite grasp Cha Eun Xiao's concern as she explained, "Do you know my typical routine? I clean the room, read books, water the flowers, and occasionally meditate... Sometimes, I practice with the sword and rest when I get tired... That's all. I haven't done anything special, really!"
Cha Eun Xiao drew a deep breath, then another, attempting to regain his composure.
He felt utterly at a loss for words.
[Cleaning the room, reading books, tending to the flowers, meditating occasionally, playing with the sword now and then, nothing special...
Indeed, nothing special at all. It's akin to spending three days fishing and two days drying nets. Yet she has reached level 5 of the Earth Origin Stage with this routine.]
"I really don't know what to say now..." Cha Eun Xiao admitted, his voice weary.
He had come to realize that the world was vast and full of surprises, and even Xiao Monarch was merely a frog at the bottom of a well.
"Master..." Bing-Er appeared somewhat perturbed. She bit her lip and lowered her head as though she had done something wrong. "You asked about how I cultivate. Did I disappoint you with my laziness? Have I let you down? If so, I will strive harder. I promise to redouble my efforts, to practice sword, meditate, and cultivate diligently..."
Cha Eun Xiao's face resembled a ripe tomato; he was rendered speechless.
[Slow progress?
This is swifter than any supernatural phenomenon in the world!
And she describes it as slow?]
If anyone else had dared to claim that Bing-Er's progress was slow, Cha Eun Xiao might have been tempted to drown them in a deluge of incredulity.
[If this is what you consider slow, then what in the world is fast? Her progress could rival the swiftness of heavenly lightning!]
"No, no, no. You're actually... not slow," Cha Eun Xiao managed to utter, though it was a challenge for him. "Of course, it wouldn't hurt to put in a bit more effort, but don't push yourself too hard. You're certainly not slow at all."
As the words escaped his lips, he could feel his face burning with embarrassment.
[I'm really speaking without a shred of self-awareness.]
Bing-Er's eyes sparkled with delight as she nodded in agreement. She appeared elated by his words.
However, the realization that she was in Cha Eun Xiao's arms prompted a blush to creep across her cheeks. She quickly withdrew from his embrace and, somewhat bashfully, offered, "You haven't eaten yet, have you? I'll prepare something for you. I'll be back shortly."
"No need to rush," Cha Eun Xiao replied, seizing the opportunity to examine her face. He was now convinced that she had mentally returned to her true age, which perfectly matched her youthful appearance.