The Spiritual Energy Room was simply furnished, with nothing more than a stone bed, a stone table, and a few meditation cushions.
Opening the Jade Box, he took out the Third-Grade Marrow-Cleansing Pill.
His current Inner Strength Technique was named Shaoyang Mysterious Skill, which came from the Shaoyang Treasured Manual, a balanced and harmonious cultivation technique. Now, Meng Yu had stopped just before the 'Hundred Meridians Unblocked' phase. Only by transforming his Inner Strength into True Qi would he truly be called a Qi Refinement Practitioner. Without taking this step, he would get married, have children, waste his years, and neglect his cultivation, becoming indistinguishable from the masses.
For those prodigies, this step was not much of a hurdle, merely the transformation of their bodily Inner Strength into True Qi. But for Meng Yu, it was a crucial step that would affect his future!
Following the knowledge taught by the school, he adjusted his body's condition, then placed the Alchemical Elixir into his mouth. Soon after, a warm current surged up from his lower abdomen, and then Meng Yu circulated his Inner Strength over and over again.
The Inner Strength he had accumulated before was like a small pond, which, with the help of the heat, surged tumultuously. Over and over, it cleansed key parts of his body; every meridian and acupoint was affected.
One hour, two hours... It was only after a full three hours that Meng Yu emerged from his meditative state.
The world seemed brighter, and everything came to life vividly.
He had succeeded, and good fortune was on his side. The Third-Grade Marrow-Cleansing Pill had helped him break through the barrier of Qi Cultivation. He was now at the First Layer of Qi Cultivation, taking the first step on the first grade.
In ancient times, the age of Martial Training, this realm was known as 'Innate Reverting to Prenatal'. With such ability, one could be dominant and traverse the Jianghu with great influence. But now, this was merely the first step on the path to heaven!
Everything around him seemed to be polished anew, objects were filled with vibrant colors, and every movement was infused with power. The previously difficult aspects of White Crane Swordsmanship suddenly became clear.
This was the Innate, also known as the First Layer of Qi Cultivation as referred to in the Path of Immortality!
Next, he continued to meditate, sorting out the True Qi until the potency of the Third-Grade Marrow-Cleansing Pill was completely absorbed.
The Spiritual Energy Center provided accommodation, where he washed off the dirt from his body and had a good sleep. Meanwhile, a specialized technician provided him with a massage and guided blood circulation enhancement.
Then came the regular routine of school, where every day was spent ceaselessly practising swordsmanship and Qi Cultivation, allowing his body to adapt to the changes at the First Layer of Qi Cultivation.
Teacher Chen was delighted with his success and kept his secret. Even though there was a slight change in their relationship since that day, she still patiently taught him and accompanied him in his sword training, letting him experience the prowess of Taibai University's swordsmanship masters.
Until that afternoon.
"Meng Yu, where is your uncle?"
A woman with a face full of flesh, accompanied by a young man, blocked the school entrance.
These past few days, Meng Yu hadn't returned home but had been staying in the school instead. The excuse he used was that he wanted to make a breakthrough, and afraid of encountering problems while cultivating alone at home, he had asked the school for help.
This was a regular service provided by the school; Meng Yu paid the money and thus stayed at the school.
"My uncle, he got so mad at what I said that day that he just left, and I don't know what he's gone to do."
To the woman's surprise, upon seeing her, Meng Yu didn't come over to greet her. Instead, he directly called over the school's security and the teachers passing by, and then they all discussed the matter together.
"They threatened me, extorted me!"
"My father was trying to help you!"
Meng Yu's cousin's face turned ugly.
"No, he was just trying to blackmail me. The Third-Grade Marrow-Cleansing Pill is crucial to my future. Why should I give it to someone else? The market price is five million, even higher on the black market, and he wants to get it for only two million, plus he lied to me, saying that if I studied abroad for a year, he would help me find better elixirs. Do you really think I don't understand what studying abroad for a year means? Not being able to participate in the college entrance examination online competition!"
Cultivation is an era where every moment counts, and repeating a year in school is not a good record!
"My father intended well for you. What if you failed to overcome the barrier with the Third-Grade Marrow-Cleansing Pill? It's better to take the money and live life well. As for the other money, he just wanted to give you a surprise. And now, you're actually slandering my father!"
My cousin didn't mince words, loudly accusing Meng Yu.
"Five days ago, I had already taken the Third-Grade Marrow-Cleansing Pill and successfully broke through."
Meng Yu snorted coldly; the news of his breakthrough was something only a few teachers knew about.
"Ah?"
The woman opposite him was momentarily stunned.
"Secondly, fourteen days ago, I was attacked outside, and the person who did it was sent by my uncle. That day, he threatened me in the house, saying that if I didn't take the hint, he would definitely kill me this time!"
Meng Yu's voice was filled with chill, and the teachers listening couldn't help but frown at this moment.
It was not uncommon for people to deceive and exploit the younger generation in the struggle for resources, but if added to the crime of harm, it became a criminal offense.
"Meng Yu, are you telling the truth?"
"Yes, Teacher Chen, that's how he threatened me. I was furious, and I told him directly either to get lost or I would call the police right then and expose the bullying by calling the reporters."
"Perhaps my firm stance made him come to his senses, and so he left."
Meng Yu said with a cold laugh.
Of course, none of this was true; he hadn't been attacked ten days ago, nor had he reported a false alarm. However, many things required preparation in advance, didn't they?
For instance, he had already taken care of the cremated remains of his biological parents.
...
"Meng Yu, your uncle is a scoundrel! I'll go ask my parents for help and deal with them!"
Back in the classroom, the class leader, a beautiful young girl, forcefully swung her fist to show her staunch support for Meng Yu.
She was only now finding out about Meng Yu's situation.
"Thank you, class leader, but it's not necessary, really, we've already sorted it out."
Meng Yu said politely, then the young girl ran outside, loudly calling "Sister" to Teacher Chen, hugging her and kissing up to her, asking her to help Meng Yu.
Yes, the young girl was smart, never calling Teacher Chen "Aunt" or anything like that, but always "Sister."
Teacher Chen might seem a bit annoyed on the surface, but in reality, she was beaming with a sisterly warmth.
"Alright, let's continue with the sword training today, and Meng Yu, Wang Tianmu, Xue Yiyong, the three of you, get ready. In three days, the recruitment officers from Taibai University will be coming, and you three are the ones they'll be inspecting. If any of you are interested, you can also sign up to participate."
Life outside the Immortal Sect was not safe, and the Sect itself needed a constant supply of talents. Hence, these universities can be compared to the great Sects of ancient times, holding various competitions every year. They were not just stages for prodigies but also arenas for entire factions' power struggles. Therefore, these institutions placed significant emphasis on scouting talent, with many promising youngsters being discovered as early as middle school, and even more so in high school by well-established schools.
Of course, for an ordinary middle school like Yuquan Middle School to receive a visit from the recruitment team from Taibai University was thanks to Teacher Chen's connections.
"Thank you, teacher."
Meng Yu nodded, then found a Quiet Room.
Although he wanted to cultivate well and solidify his foundation after his breakthrough, time was not on his side.
Tenfold.