Chapter 158

Zhou Qingzhu had no interest in the whistleblowing matter, and naturally, she had no interest in the reward, so both spirit stones were kept by Liu Xiaolou.

Returning to Dry Bamboo Ridge, the two continued their shameless life of cultivation.

Zhou Qingzhu was different from Liu Xiaolou. The reason she had "straightened" Liu Xiaolou was to enjoy that sense of accomplishment, but after a while, she lost interest, and in recent days, she had rarely engaged in wild activities with him.

However, after the Abyss-Facing Profound Stone Array was enhanced, the illusions became more vivid and realistic, and every time she entered, there were different changes. This reignited her interest, and she began taking the scenes she saw in the illusion array and practicing them with Liu Xiaolou, becoming addicted all over again.

To help Liu Xiaolou better control the changes in the array, Zhou Qingzhu began to give him intensive lessons on the theoretical scriptures of array techniques, especially the "Essentials of the Golden Slip Array." Some of the truly profound parts were simply left unexplained, and she made him memorize them by rote.

"You can't understand it now, but you will later. Keep going, now recite the Method of the Nine Spirits..."

"Understood..."

At the same time, Liu Xiaolou also maintained a serious attitude toward dual cultivation. Whenever Zhou Qingzhu wanted to let herself go, he always tried his best to lead her back to the righteous path using Yin-Yang techniques. The efficacy of the Three Mystical Sect's Yin-Yang techniques was truly significant; the impact on every acupuncture point was much easier than in the past.

"The Yin-Yang technique is really good. You should recite it too..."

"Alright, alright, I'll recite it."

"Be serious!"

"Hee hee..."

"Once you've memorized it, just practice it yourself. Don't spread it around randomly; this is the secret technique of my Three Mystical Sect!"

"Understood, understood."

The "Yin-Yin Yin Yang Jing Jing" is truly profound. Under the reinforcement of the dual cultivation technique, it greatly boosted the practice of the "Mystical Truth Scripture." According to the technique, the first time practicing the "Yin-Yin Yin Yang Jing Jing," the speed of cultivation was astonishingly fast, like "water pouring for a thousand miles, unstoppable once it starts."

Of course, it would have a reinforcing effect in the future as well, though not as obvious as the first time.

Therefore, Liu Xiaolou seized every opportunity. After opening the Shoulder Bone and Heaven Bone points, he successively opened the Heaven Window, Wind Screen, Spasm Vessel, Skull Rest, Horn Grandson, Ear Gate, and Ear Harmony points, making rapid progress. Not only was opening the points fast, but the speed of absorbing spiritual energy also increased significantly; a single spirit stone could be fully converted in just nine days.

After two months, the Hand Shaoyang Meridian had been opened all the way to the Silk Bamboo Hollow. This was the final point barrier; once opened, he would enter Qi Refinement Stage 5.

That night, panting, he climbed up from behind Zhou Qingzhu and suddenly stared for a long time at her, her clothes soaked with sweat. Zhou Qingzhu was tidying her hair and asked: "What are you looking at?"

Liu Xiaolou sighed: "It's been over three months. Soon, I'll have to return to Spirit Mist Mountain. I really don't want to go back."

Zhou Qingzhu smiled and patted his face: "I won't keep dual cultivating with you forever. Don't get any wild ideas."

Liu Xiaolou asked her: "Are you about to break through your bottleneck? I can feel it; your aura and scent have changed a lot."

Zhou Qingzhu lay back down and said: "In your illusion array, I saw many things. It's true; I'm preparing to go back and enter seclusion."

Liu Xiaolou was both gratified and melancholy: "Then congratulations on breaking through to Foundation Establishment soon. After Foundation Establishment, what are your plans?"

Zhou Qingzhu draped her long legs over Liu Xiaolou's shoulders, clamped his neck, and shook it: "Of course, it's to carry forward my sect's heritage. I know what you're thinking, but stop it. I won't continue with you."

Liu Xiaolou sighed: "I didn't have that extravagant hope. Why? It's been so long, and I still haven't figured it out. Why are you like this with me? If it's for the illusion array... I don't think so."

Zhou Qingzhu said softly: "At the beginning, there was a sense of accomplishment in changing you, proving that I was better than Xi Niang. But later, didn't you feel a sense of guilt?"

Liu Xiaolou laughed: "Do you feel sorry for Fifth Sister again?"

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Zhou Qingzhu nodded in admission, a hint of uncontrollable confusion in her eyes: "After all, we were close friends."

After thinking for a moment, Liu Xiaolou added: "If one day..."

Zhou Qingzhu curled her lower leg and pressed her toe against Liu Xiaolou's mouth: "There won't be such a day. If there really is such a day, it will have nothing to do with me!"

Liu Xiaolou looked into her eyes and nodded.

Zhou Qingzhu smiled slightly: "That's a good boy."

The two stared at each other for a moment, then Zhou Qingzhu suddenly flipped over, got up, and put on her clothes, saying: "I'm leaving!"

Liu Xiaolou was stunned: "Ah? Where to?"

Zhou Qingzhu didn't look back: "I can't go on like this anymore, it's not good! I'm returning to Yuezhou."

Liu Xiaolou called out: "I didn't say anything..."

Zhou Qingzhu looked back and said: "Do you know what my biggest gain from this trip is?"

"What?"

"You made me realize that our understanding of ourselves can change. We think we can see everything clearly through illusions, but not only do the illusions change, everything we see is changing. The self we once thought we were might not be the true self, and we won't always be a certain self!"

Liu Xiaolou was dazed and asked: "When will we meet again?"

Zhou Qingzhu did not answer again, her figure disappearing into the forest.

Liu Xiaolou stared blankly at the pitch-black bamboo forest, feeling a sense of loss in his heart: "What does that mean... talking so mysteriously..."

A sense of bitterness rose up on Dry Bamboo Ridge and spread all around.

After a long time...

Suddenly feeling something in his heart, he sat cross-legged and fiercely attacked the Silk Bamboo Hollow point.

This point is the end of the Hand Shaoyang Meridian. The word "Hollow" implies emptiness. During cultivation, spiritual energy cools down after passing through the Hand Shaoyang Meridian and gathers here, producing a sound like one drifting in the sky. The omen of opening it is hearing this sound. When others practice, it is difficult to find the true meaning of this sound; in plain terms, if you can't imagine it, you can't hear it.

This is also the barrier for opening the Hand Shaoyang Meridian and entering Qi Refinement Stage 5, one of the cultivation obstacles known as the "Sound Barrier," which requires enlightenment to achieve. But the moment Liu Xiaolou's spiritual energy touched the point, he immediately heard this peculiar sound, the very sound described in the "Mystical Truth Scripture" as the "Orchid in the Empty Valley."

This sound was very familiar; Liu Xiaolou had heard it many times in the small courtyard in Wuchao Town.

"Mm-ha-heng-ah-hu..."

It was exactly the Five Sounds built in the "Yin-Yin Yin Yang Jing Jing"!

He still remembered that when Sister Qing built the Five Sounds, each sound rose and fell with the exploration of Liu Xiaolou's fingertips, and he knew every change in every syllable like the back of his hand. And in Zhou Qingzhu's Five Sounds, there was a deep lingering flavor and endless joy.

Everyone has their own Five Sounds, and different Five Sounds construct different sounds of the Orchid in the Empty Valley.

Amidst the shifting sounds of the Orchid in the Empty Valley, the Silk Bamboo Hollow "sobbed." Unable to resist, the barrier was breached by the true qi and gathered in the true qi pool!

This is the complementary power of the "Mystical Truth Scripture" and the "Yin-Yin Yin Yang Jing Jing," leading to today's breakthrough!

Liu Xiaolou broke through to Qi Refinement Stage 5, entering the Mid Qi Refinement stage.

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