Chapter 396: Single and Without a Dao Partner

Silken threads of spiritual energy trickled gently, like a light, ethereal mist, faintly visible and swirling around Gu Wangjun.

As he breathed in and out, it was drawn into his body.

Processed by the Basic Qi Cultivation Method, it transformed into pure spiritual power that flowed into his Spirit Sea.

This Basic Qi Cultivation Method, refined over generations, had become the most perfect path to initiation in the Xuan Realm.

Even disciples of the Xian Sect, aside from a few who practiced special family techniques, cultivated this very method when first entering the Dao.

In the blink of an eye, he completed several circuits of Qi circulation.

His cultivation, long stuck at Foundation Establishment Level Four, finally began to grow again.

'It's real!'

Gu Wangjun's heart leapt with joy.

But he suppressed his emotions, only stopping after completing thirty-six circuits.

'Huh~'

He exhaled softly and slowly opened his eyes.

Moonlight spilled into the room, casting the entire bedroom in profound stillness.

Feeling the increased spiritual power within him—even if not abundant—he felt tears welling up at this long-awaited breakthrough.

'It's not fake… it's not fake!'

Had he not remembered it was late and his sister was already asleep, he might have let out a long, triumphant roar!

That elder truly solved my realm stagnation problem!

Wait.

So that ring really does contain…

'Hey kid! What are you muttering over there?' The voice was light and lively.

Gu Wangjun froze, then slowly turned his head toward his side.

There, beneath the moonlight, a hazy figure like blue smoke was watching him curiously.

'Holy shit!'

He pushed himself back with both hands until he hit the wall.

Ghosts!

'I mean, you're a cultivator—do you really need to look like you've seen a ghost?'

True, he'd learned exorcism incantations at school…

No!

Gu Wangjun sat up straight, forcing himself to appear calm, then cautiously asked: 'Are you the residual soul residing in the ring?'

'Quite right, quite right.'

The semi-transparent figure nodded, then drifted slightly backward.

By the moonlight, Gu Wangjun finally saw the residual soul's appearance.

She had slender, willow-like eyebrows, eyes that shimmered with brilliance, delicate yet spirited features, her hair tied into a high ponytail with two strands of bangs falling forward.

Huh?

This art style doesn't fit.

But somehow… he suddenly didn't hate it as much.

No no no!

'Leng Rou, a Return-to-Emptiness Fully Cultivated cultivator, single and without a Dao partner—starting today, I'm your external aid.'

Gu Wangjun: '…'

Again with the external aid? Are all elders this trendy these days?

But single and without a Dao partner…

No, that's not the important part!

'Why are you like this?'

What he really wanted to ask was: Do you have powerful enemies?

If so, he'd rather not have this external aid!

'Return-to-Emptiness Fully Cultivated? Of course I tried to merge with the Dao. Failed, and ended up like this.' Leng Rou shrugged.

The time spent in seclusion for merging with the Dao varies.

Some cultivators seclude themselves for thousands of years, emerging to find the world utterly transformed.

But others, like Holy Emperor Yuan, break through as normally as anyone else.

She was the latter—except she failed.

Had she not prepared in advance and bought this 'Soul-Hosting Ring' from the Divine Mechanism Alchemy Pavilion's 'Old Man' version, she'd be gone without even a trace left.

As for why she bought this one…

It was on sale back then, and since the effect was the same, why not save a little?

Gu Wangjun exhaled in relief.

No messy enemies—that's good. 'By the way, how did you know I was inside this ring? And logically, I should still need more time to recover.' Leng Rou asked her own question, 'Did you have another unexpected encounter during this time?'

If so, this kid's fortune is decent—perhaps following him might help her recover sooner…

Looking at her exquisite face, Gu Wangjun lowered his head, avoiding her gaze: 'I ate a Life-Draining Pill.'

'Huh?! No way.'

She hadn't sensed anything unusual!

Has the Life-Draining Pill evolved to this version now?

"And how did you know that?"

"... Just now a bioweapon attacked, and I took shelter in an underground bunker where I met a senior. All of this is what he told me."

A senior...

To be able to perceive her existence—he must be at the Return to Void stage, or even Unity of the Dao!

Every single one—no errors, no missing chapters, no locked content—read it all here!

The latter possibility was even greater!

"He said my temperament was passable, and that since it was fated, he gave me a small gift."

Fated?

A small gift?

Hiss~

Something seemed off. She recalled certain rumors.

But it probably wasn't...

This was Starry Sky, and that old gentleman hadn't come to Starry Sky in a very long time.

Besides, what kind of coincidence in the world would that be?

"Sounds a bit casual."

Gu Wangjun nodded—he felt the same: "So then, he gave me two choices."

"One was to restore the remnant soul in the ring, the other was to take the ring and give me a technique."

Take the ring?!

Don't tell me he wants to refine himself into an rbq!

A wicked little thought crossed Leng Rou's mind.

"What about the depletion of your body?"

"That senior said anyone on this planet who suffered such a fate, he would help."

"Sounds like a very decent senior."

This junior has just been rude—please forgive me, senior.

She apologized silently in her heart once more.

"Do you still remember what that senior looked like?"

Gu Wangjun thought for a moment, then nodded: "I do."

It was done on a whim anyway, and Xu Xing couldn't be bothered to care—remember it or not, whatever.

A trash-tier protagonist's cheat-ring old grandpa—maybe there'd still be a chance to meet again.

"Draw it out and let me see, maybe I even know him!"

It's so late...

He hesitated a little, but glancing up, for some reason he recalled that line, 'Single, no Dao companion'...

In the end, he still flipped out of bed and dug out paper and pen from the drawer.

Because his cultivation had stagnated over the years, he had focused on learning the low-cost 'Talisman-Making Art,' so his drawing skills were actually quite decent.

Following the image in his memory, in just a few minutes a rough outline took shape.

Leng Rou drifted behind him, watching the gradually clearer figure, her smile slowly fading.

By the time she saw the end, her heart was even trembling a little.

It really is!

It really is him!

Setting down the final stroke, Gu Wangjun blew the dust off the paper, then picked it up.

"This is that senior."

He looked up, only to find Leng Rou's gaze wasn't on the drawing at all—she was staring fixedly at him.

"..."

What is it?

Under Gu Wangjun's puzzled gaze, Leng Rou traced a talisman in the air to seal off the sound of the bedroom, then slowly spoke: "Do you know what you've missed?"

Huh?

"You idiot, *ssh*ole, do you even know who he was?! Did you fill your head with water when you made your choice?!"

A heaven-sent opportunity right in front of him, and this guy just went and lost it like that!

That was the chance to receive the Sword Ancestor's transmission!

I f*cking thank you so much!

Gu Wangjun was dumbfounded: "Are you a body cultivator?"

Leng Rou was somewhat thrown off by his words: "Your f*cking brain-dead uncle! You're the low-class brute, you f*cker!" (End of chapter)