Chapter 13

“Mm-hmm, I think the family started the clan school just to cultivate a reliable leader. With the school here, I don’t think the family will be too disappointed—they’ve been admitting over a hundred students every year, so surely they’ll produce a few dependable ones.”

“You’ve got a point,” Su Wuji immediately gave Su Cheng a nod of approval.

Su Yunhu sighed. “Alas, the path ahead is hard. I’d better get back to cultivating—otherwise, I’ll lose my place in the top ten of the class and become a laughingstock.”

“Yes, yes, let’s all cultivate together,” Su Wuji added.

Not long after they resumed cultivating, Liu Shi came over.

“I’m here—how’s everyone doing with their cultivation?”

“Fine.”

“Good.”

“Okay.”

“Alright.”

The four of them answered in unison.

“Do any of you have questions about cultivation?”

All four students shook their heads.

“Then I’ll explain the key points to watch for when advancing from Qi Refining First Layer to Qi Refining Second Layer.”

Please listen carefully.”

“First, every strand of Qi Refining First Layer magic power must be fully nurtured into Qi Refining Second Layer magic power—you must cultivate exactly one hundred strands before your cultivation base can break through to the second layer.”

“I’m not lying to you.”

“If you force a breakthrough without fully transforming your Qi Refining First Layer magic power, you’ll almost certainly get stuck before reaching Qi Refining Fourth Layer.”

“Because your foundation will be unstable.”

“Second, when condensing magic power, each strand must be condensed to the absolute limit—until it can’t be condensed any further.”

“What does that mean? Each strand of magic power you cultivate must hold a fixed shape and remain stable for a long time without falling apart.”

“You can shape them into spheres, needles, threads, T-shapes, small swords, daggers, spears, willow leaves, crescent moons—anything, as long as the form is fixed and won’t easily collapse.”

Liu Shi revealed her own magic power—a beautiful, large willow leaf.

“This isn’t just one strand of magic power—it’s one thread of magic power.”

“Once you reach Foundation Establishment, the magic power you condense will look like this.”

The four young students stared without blinking.

They suspected Liu Shi was showing off on purpose!

Liu Shi smiled and continued: “Because the condensation effect of your Qi Refining First Layer magic power isn’t obvious yet. When you reach Qi Refining Second Layer and have condensed your second-layer magic power, you’ll clearly feel the difference when trying to break through to the third layer.”

“Each strand of second-layer base magic power is far stronger than each strand of first-layer base magic power.”

“Consequently, they absorb spiritual energy and magic power from the surroundings far more aggressively—and they pull at each other. Those magic power strands that aren’t stable or sufficiently refined will spontaneously disintegrate.”

“So if your condensed magic power isn’t pure enough, it will dissolve within three or five days, becoming nourishment for other strands. But even before the other strands absorb it, the massive spiritual energy released by the disintegration will leak out of your body. If that happens, your Qi Refining Third Layer breakthrough will become indefinitely delayed—you’ll need to spend enormous time just to force it.”

“In that case, you might as well not come to the clan school at all—outside, the lone cultivators follow the exact same path.”

Liu Shi gave them a warning glance and continued: “Third, since you’re still young, just use the medicinal baths and herbal packs—don’t take elixirs. No matter how potent they are, they leave behind toxic residues that accumulate in your body. If you don’t want to advance smoothly to Foundation Establishment later, go ahead and take them.”

“Fourth, don’t tell anyone outside the school about the scripture the academy gave you—not even your parents, siblings, or relatives. If you do, pray you aren’t discovered—because if the clan school finds out, you’ll be expelled.”

Master Liu gave them a warning glance and continued, “Third, since you’re still young, you only need to soak in medicinal baths daily—don’t take elixirs. No matter how potent they are, they leave behind toxic residues that accumulate in your dantian. If you don’t want to cultivate smoothly to Foundation Establishment later, go ahead and take them.”

Fourth, don’t tell anyone outside the academy about the cultivation techniques the school has given you—not even your parents, siblings, or brothers. If you do, pray you aren’t discovered, because if the clan school finds out, you’ll be expelled.”

“Alright, everyone else, keep cultivating. Su Jin, come with me.”

Su Jin quickly stood and followed Liu Shi into an adjacent classroom.

“This is the third backup classroom. Do you know why I called you here?” Liu Shi asked.

“No, Master. Are all these closed-off classrooms here our class’s backup rooms?” Su Jin glanced around curiously.

“Yes, this entire row is our class’s backup classrooms. Don’t be fooled—you’re only twenty-six students now, well, twenty-five since someone left.”

“But the resources the family has poured into you are immense.”

“So you must study hard,” Liu Shi said.

But the clan has poured countless resources into you.”

Liu Shi continued: “Qi Refining First Layer students cannot share a classroom with Qi Refining Second Layer students. Starting from the second layer, you’ll begin learning various spells.”

“This room is prepared for future Qi Refining Second Layer students—here, you’ll practice and rehearse spells. Look at those pots filled with soil in the corners.”

“Many wood-element spells require these pots.”

This room is prepared for students who will soon reach Qi Refining Second Layer, where everyone can practice and rehearse various spells. Look, there are many flowerpots filled with soil along the corners of this classroom.”

Qi Refining Second Layer meant learning spells.

That was wonderful.

Unfortunately, at her current pace, she still needed over fifty days to break through to Qi Refining Second Layer.

“By the way, have you started cultivating the Divine Art your elder brother brought you?” Liu Shi asked.

“No, I’m still studying it—it’s quite difficult,” Su Jin replied.

“Would you like me to explain the first chapter to you?”

“Yes,” Su Jin thought: If you don’t explain it, I’ll be stuck puzzling over it for days.

“Alright, I’ll explain it now,” Liu Shi gestured for Su Jin to sit, then sat down herself and began explaining the first chapter of the Divine Art.

The Divine Art Su Jian gave Su Jin was called the Great Expansion Divine Art, one of the most elite Divine Arts in the clan school.

Of course, it was also extremely difficult to cultivate.

The hardest part of this Divine Art was first needing a visualization object—the more real and memorable the object, the easier the opening chapter becomes. “This visualization object is crucial—it directly affects your cultivation once you reach Foundation Establishment.”

“So when choosing your visualization object, be extremely careful.”

“Best to pick something related to your own cultivation method—it offers hidden advantages,” Liu Shi advised.

“What’s your visualization object, Master?” Su Jin asked quickly.

“Mine is a willow tree,” Liu Shi said—indirectly revealing she too cultivated the Great Expansion Divine Art.

“What is Master Liu’s object of contemplation?” Su Jin asked urgently.

“My object of contemplation is a willow tree,” Master Liu said, thereby indirectly revealing to Su Jin that she too cultivated the Great Expansion Spirit Refining Art.