The next morning, Xu Fang started his day with a wholesome breakfast alongside his family, after which he headed to the library for an extended study session until lunchtime.
Exiting the library, ready for a midday meal, Xu Fang unexpectedly came across Elder Ji engaged in an animated conversation with two graceful women. They were discussing books beneficial for his sisters' studies, and these elegant ladies happened to be the teachers of his elder sisters. Qian Kun was guiding Xu Min, while Teng Shi was imparting knowledge to the other three sisters.
Qian Kun, despite appearing to be in her early twenties, held an age that wasn't determined by looks in the cultivation world. She possessed long, obsidian-black hair that shimmered with an otherworldly luster. Her eyes, a deep and mysterious shade of violet, matched her unblemished skin with a subtle glow. Dressed in a beautiful deep violet gown, her slim figure showcased a generous cup size of F, and her height of around 178cm exuded a captivating beauty.
Teng Shi, also seemingly in her early twenties, boasted flowing, almost ethereal black hair and vivid sapphire blue eyes. Her skin carried a faint, iridescent shimmer. With a petite body, a breast cup size of D, and a height of around 161cm, Teng Shi's attire blended practicality with elegance. Her robes, a subtle pale blue adorned with intricate floral patterns, allowed freedom of movement while retaining an air of grace and charm.
Approaching the trio with a polite demeanor, Xu Fang greeted them respectfully. Using the information feature of his valuable possession with a subtle gesture, he sought to learn more about Elder Ji, Qian Kun, and Teng Shi.
[
Name: Ji Song
Age: 68 Years old
Gender: Male
Species: Human
Cultivation: Celestial Integration Realm (Stage-Peak)
Elements: Wind, Earth
Profession: Fake Librarian (7th Guard of the Ledal Empire)
Title: Stone Body
]
[
Name: Qian Kun
Age: 39 Years Old
Gender: Female
Species: Human
Cultivation: Ethereal Fusion Realm (Stage-9)
Elements: Earth, Water
Profession: Independent Cultivator
Title: Silent One
]
[
Name: Teng Shi
Age: 35 Years Old
Gender: Female
Species: Human
Cultivation: Ethereal Fusion Realm (Stage-6)
Elements: Wind, Fire
Profession: Independent Cultivator
Title: Hot Tornado
]
'What??? Elder Ji is more powerful than my mother. I haven't encountered anyone with such advanced cultivation before,' Xu Fang thought, his mind reeling in shock.
'Turns out he's the 7th Guard of the Empire. No wonder Mom was astonished when I mentioned Elder Ji would be guiding me in my studies,' Xu Fang mused, nodding to himself.
'And these ladies, they're formidable and independent cultivators too,' Xu Fang noted silently.
After exchanging pleasantries, Xu Fang proceeded to the dining hall for lunch, joining his family to savor the midday meal. Sitting down, he dug into his food, the events at the library still playing on his mind. The revelation of Elder Ji's remarkable cultivation prowess added a new layer of intrigue to Xu Fang's journey in the realm of cultivation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
~Xu Fang's POV~
"Hey, Xu Fang, I have something big to share about your test in two months," my mom said casually, breaking the silence after we finished our lunch. I perked up, curious about what was coming.
"What's up, Mom?" I asked, furrowing my brow in confusion.
"We've decided that in two months, we're all taking your test together. Brace yourself; it's not going to be a cakewalk," she warned, her tone emphasizing the challenge ahead.
"But if you nail it, we're giving you the green light to study on your own. No more of these tests every three months," chimed Lie Ning, her smile carrying a hint of encouragement.
"Yeah, just a few questions from each of us, and if you ace them, consider yourself free to hit the books solo," added Long Xiu, a cheerful expression on her face.
"So, gear up and hit the books if you want that freedom," teased Long Xiu, a playful grin on her face.
"Awesome! I'll double down on my studies and give it my all to ace that test," I replied with genuine excitement.
'Finally, no more tests every three months. Gotta make sure I nail this one,' I thought silently, relieved at the idea of having more control over my studies.
After lunch, instead of heading back to my room, I went to the training grounds and sat on the familiar stone block. Crossing my legs, I shut my eyes and started soaking up Yang Qi from the Sun into my dantian. The sun's rays hit me, and a gradual warmth surrounded me, my internal temperature rising.
It wasn't a walk in the park; absorbing Yang Qi from the Sun was a tough job. The heat made it a challenge, and I had to grit my teeth. But, I stayed focused, converting the Sun's rays into vital Yang Qi.
By the end, I was drenched in sweat, a clear sign of the effort. Despite the difficulty, I successfully cultivated Yang Qi from the Sun. As I soaked in the newfound energy, I shifted my attention to my dantian. The Yin Qi from the Moon the night before seemed less compared to the abundant Yang Qi now circulating within me.
As the Yang Qi and Yin Qi blended, they formed a spherical core, a Yin and Yang Core—a key element for Yin and Yang cultivation. This unique core had a dual color, black and white, symbolizing the balance of opposing forces. The Yin and Yang Core played a crucial role in turning Yin and Yang Qi into Qi, a vital substance that lifted my cultivation.
Seeing that both Yin and Yang Qi reached a good level, the Yin and Yang Core smoothly kicked off the conversion process, transforming into Qi ready for cultivation. With determination, I started cultivating the Qi generated by the Yin and Yang Core. An hour later, I opened my eyes and headed back to my room, feeling the effects of a productive cultivation session.
As I headed back to my room, I noticed the surprise on the faces of those I passed. Covered in sweat and emitting an unpleasant odor from expelling impurities after soaking up the Sun's rays, I must have looked quite peculiar.
Once in my room, I quickly took a refreshing bath, changed into fresh clothes, and settled onto my bed for some much-needed rest. The effects of cultivating Yin and Yang Qi were apparent; my body was going through noticeable changes, and a surge of Qi pulsed through me.
Cultivating Sun rays was tough initially, but the rewards were significant. Absorbing Moon rays, on the other hand, was easier, though the amount of Yin Qi was less compared to the abundant Yang Qi from the Sun. It seemed like for every hour of cultivating Yang Qi from the Sun, I needed three hours of cultivating Yin Qi from the Moon. Balancing these opposing energies took diligence and patience.
In deep thought, I contemplated how to increase my intake of Yin Qi.
'I need more Yin, but how?' I pondered, considering various options.
'I wonder if I can cultivate Yin Qi from the Moon all night.'
'No, that would raise suspicions within my family.'
'However, if I continue cultivating as I did today, accumulating Qi at this rate, I could potentially unlock the next set of meridians within a week.'
Numerous thoughts raced through my mind. Fueled by the mystical LOG (Love of Goddesses) treasure, the desire for strength drove me to find ways to open all my meridians swiftly.
'Why not try absorbing Yin Qi from the ladies around me?' I mused, the idea forming in my mind.
'Let's give it a shot during dinner with my family and observe the results.' I concluded, determined to explore this new avenue for cultivation.
After resting until dinner, I emerged from my room and headed towards the dining hall where everyone was already seated. Taking my place at the table, I started absorbing Yin Qi from the air around me, leveraging the proximity of the ladies nearby.
As time passed, I sensed a quicker increase in the quantity of Yin Qi within my dantian compared to the Moon rays. With eight ladies nearby, the absorption process was notably more efficient. Despite actively cultivating Yin Qi while enjoying dinner with my family, I maintained a neutral expression, concealing my inner workings.
Post-dinner, I returned to the training grounds, settling once again on the same spot. Closing my eyes, I focused on my dantian, initiating the cultivation of Yin and Yang Qi. Upon completing the session, I observed the Qi generated was twice the amount absorbed after lunch. The experiment with absorbing Yin Qi from the ladies around me seemed to be yielding promising results.
The balance between the Yang Qi from the Sun and the Yin Qi from the Moon, coupled with the additional absorption from the ladies around me, proved to be a successful approach. With the Yang Qi in my dantian already three times more abundant than the Yin Qi, the combination led to a doubled Qi production compared to the Moon rays alone.
Over the next three days, I consistently followed this method, absorbing Yin Qi from Moon rays and the ladies surrounding me, including family members, teachers of my sisters, and other women within the castle. The results were promising.
Two days ago, during a stroll around the castle, I intentionally gathered Yin Qi from the ladies in my vicinity. The breakthrough came surprisingly swiftly, only taking three days instead of the expected week. This marked a significant improvement compared to my previous breakthrough, which had taken four months. The synergy of Yin and Yang Qi cultivation, along with the strategic absorption of Yin Qi, accelerated my progress substantially.
Utilizing the Cultivation Hide feature of the Love of Goddesses treasure, I discreetly aligned my cultivation level to the same Qi Meridian (Stage-4), preventing any suspicion regarding my accelerated progress. During the third day of my Yin and Yang cultivation, while enjoying lunch with my family, my mother couldn't help but comment on my enhanced appearance, noting that I looked more handsome than usual.
In response, I casually attributed it to the natural course of growing up and transforming into a handsome young man. My family laughed at the explanation, accepting it without delving further into the matter. Meanwhile, I observed the positive effects on my skin, smooth, spotless, and moist, as impurities were expelled during the absorption of Sun rays.
Thirteen days post my breakthrough into the fifth stage, I achieved my sixth breakthrough. Then, twenty-one days after breaking through into the sixth stage, I experienced yet another breakthrough, reaching the seventh stage. The strategic combination of Yin and Yang Qi cultivation, along with discreetly managing perceptions, continued to yield remarkable results in my cultivation journey.