Chapter 60

I've seen plenty of people sobbing uncontrollably, but cases like hers are rare.

After a few minutes, Zhang Yunlu sat up straight, turned her attention inward, and the staff stepped aside.

Inside her spiritual sea, the originally pure white spiritual energy now shimmered with a silver sheen, appearing far denser, and the sea's size had expanded by a third due to the intense pain.

Although the Nine Qi Cai Lian Fa is somewhat violent, its unique effects far surpass ordinary cultivation methods.

As warmth flowed from the red jade on her chest, the pain from various parts of her body gradually lessened.

A few minutes later, Zhang Yunlu opened her eyes and rose slowly, leaving the staff member who had just moved to assist her stunned.

Huh? She can stand up already? "Thank you."

Zhang Yunlu gave the staff member a slight nod, then walked directly toward the exit.

As soon as she stepped out, the doors to cultivation rooms seven and eight also opened.

From room seven, two staff members carried out a stretcher bearing a pale-faced young man, who looked utterly drained and listless—likely exhausted.

What emerged from room eight was far more chilling.

Though it was also a stretcher, it was covered with a white cloth.

Dead? Dead?! Though extremely weak, the young man from room seven was left gaping—was cultivation this dangerous? Maybe I should just use a spiritual energy pod for foundation establishment instead.

For a moment, he began to reconsider.

Like most people, he hadn't endured the pain of "refinement," barely surviving by expelling his spiritual seal.

But Zhang Yunlu realized the man wasn't dead; after countless life-or-death battles, she possessed a sharp sense for whether someone lived or died.

There was just a faint, almost imperceptible stench…

So that's it—he's not dead, just afraid of public humiliation, so he covered his face.

The staff member assigned to Zhang Yunlu shut off the ceiling device and came over to her side.

"Only you and the previous one succeeded today."

Zhang Yunlu paused: "Are few people successful in cultivation method training?"

"Yes, very few."

Those who come here all have full confidence in their foundations, yet only a tiny fraction survive the first stage.

And since most use the Basic Cai Lian Fa, which reduces pain, many abandon it when the second stage offers no such relief.

Ultimately, those who complete all three stages are exceedingly rare.

"The previous one used the Basic Cai Lian Fa, so your success rate in the latter two stages is even higher than theirs," the staff member smiled.

Practitioners who purchase third-tier care services and require no self-care are every staff member's favorite.

Not to mention, just the generous commission alone makes her unwilling to withhold a few words of blessing.

Besides, it's the truth.

"Please follow me—I'll open the door to the main hall."

Generally, those who successfully complete cultivation method training head to the main hall to bask in others' admiration.

"No need. I'll exit through the back door."

Zhang Yunlu declined—leaving through the back door was faster.

She had no interest in such things; she only wanted to return quickly and enter the trial space to fight different practitioners and gain experience.

"Then… this way, please."

…………

Near the city center square was a famous mushroom hotpot restaurant.

The interior was packed; every guest present had a realm no lower than Foundation Establishment, for the mushrooms used here were all spiritual ingredients—delicious beyond compare, yet lethal to Qi Condensation cultivators.

Such realm-restricted restaurants were common across the Central Continent, existing since ancient times; even Foundation Establishment was considered low.

Xu Xing and Chi Jiuyu sat by a window, between them a pot of mushroom hotpot just brought to a boil; Chi Jiuyu held bowl and chopsticks, devouring eagerly.

As a Nascent Soul peak "great cultivator," she didn't care if it was undercooked—even eating it raw was fine! But lower-rank guests weren't so lucky: no utensils were given until the time was right, and if any guest showed intent to sneak a bite, they were immediately stopped, ejected, and blacklisted.

At that moment, three figures entered gracefully, instantly drawing every eye. The restaurant's earlier chatter faded, all gazes fixed on the three women.

Each possessed exquisite beauty, each with a distinct style.

One wore a tight cropped tank top and denim shorts, a baseball cap on her head, revealing a slender waist and long, fair legs.

Another wore a purple palace gown, identical to Jiang Yujiu's original attire, elegant and dignified.

The last wore a white shirt, a short skirt, black stockings, stood tall, and wore gold-rimmed glasses.

Hehuan Sect charm cultivators! Three women, three different styles.

They laughed and chatted, their mere presence together pleasing to the eye, drawing the gaze of nearly every patron.

"???

Chi Jiuyu blinked—why were so many Hehuan Sect members here? Xuanjian City was just a remote little town.

But she quickly understood.

Of course!

It's that trial Master Shu set up—these idiots are riding the hype!

Jiang Yujiu's got a "Trial Rank 33" title today, her livestream viewership has quintupled—of course these Hehuan Sect people are jealous!

Thinking this, she looked up at Xu Xing and noticed he wasn't staring at the charm cultivators like everyone else.

"Why are you looking at me?"

"Hmm… Master Shu, will your trial pull in later cultivators too?"

"No."

In truth, cultivators from other sects were also heading to Xuanjian City—not just Hehuan Sect—but Hehuan Sect was simply more experienced in this.

Just as in ancient times, when divine opportunities appeared, cultivators from all corners rushed to compete.

Unfortunately, Xu Xing would not give a second chance—miss it, and it was missed.

Hearing her martial uncle say this, Chi Jiuyu was finally satisfied.

That's good then.

Can't ride the wave of popularity, so once I'm back I'll make a post and piss them off!

Thinking of something pleasant, she ate two more big bowls!

Xu Xing looked out the window.

He recalled the events of that afternoon.

That it dared to make a move against a Dao Merging cultivator was not only because, as Huo had thought, it was a cornered beast biting blindly in panic—but because it truly had the confidence to brainwash that junior Dao Merging cultivator of the Supreme Dao Sect.

Back then, when Xu Xing severed the connection, he had tried to trace cause to effect and pinpoint its existence, but that sliver of connection was simply too faint, so he had not succeeded.

Compared to before he went into closed-door cultivation, the methods of that peak existence of the Cang Clan had become even more secretive and bizarre, hard to detect.

That was why Xu Xing ultimately diverted it onto Huo.

First, to give that Cang Clan member a 'little surprise.'

Second, it was to remind Huo not to carelessly end up being the one schemed against instead.

Begging for favorites, begging for follows!! (End of this chapter)