Chapter 14: The Breakthrough Difficulty Case

"When you visualize for the first time, do not make the object of visualization too complex; keeping it simple at the start is best.

However, although you can simplify the object of visualization, the thing you visualize must retain a trace of the spirit of the object you visualize.

What exactly this spirit is, you must realize it yourself."

Su Jin thought, Liu Shi, you might as well not have said anything.

What does 'realize it yourself' mean?

How am I supposed to realize it?

"Even with the same object of visualization, everyone realizes a different spirit, and the 【thing】 condensed from spiritual power in the end will also differ."

The more Liu Shi spoke, the more confused Su Jin became.

Then Liu Shi explained the Great Expansion Spirit Refining Art to Su Jin in detail, focusing especially on the doubts and difficulties.

By the time Liu Shi finished explaining, Su Jin had thoroughly understood all the various doubts in the opening section.

Liu Shi was indeed impressive.

In the skill of lecturing, she even surpassed my eldest brother!

Moreover, Liu Shi also pointed out some common misconceptions about initially cultivating the Great Expansion Spirit Refining Art, so that Su Jin would take them as a warning.

After listening to Liu Shi, Su Jin felt extremely admiring.

Hearing Liu Shi explain this Great Expansion Spirit Refining Art, I truly feel it is a good Cultivation Technique; I just don't know when I will be able to refine it!

Time passed swiftly; when Su Jin returned to the backup classroom, school was almost over.

Oh no, she delayed her cultivation for another day and can only make it up at home.

"Su Jin, what did Liu Shi call you over for?"

"To explain doubts within the cultivation method," Su Jin said.

"Our Green Wood Longevity Art is so simple; do you still need her to explain difficulties to you?" Su Wuji was shocked.

"It's not the Green Wood Longevity Art; I am cultivating another Cultivation Technique, but this one is quite difficult. I haven't even learned the basics yet," Su Jin said.

Su Wuji was shocked again. "You are amazing; you are already starting to Dual-Cultivate Other Techniques? Before, I also asked Grandfather Wen, asking if I could Dual-Cultivate Other Techniques. Grandfather said to wait and see, and only when someone else starts Dual-Cultivating and the clan school no longer objects, will he prepare other Dual-Cultivation Techniques for me."

Su Jin: If you say that directly, won't Liu Shi really beat your butt?

"Liu Shi knows I am cultivating another Cultivation Technique," Su Jin quickly explained.

Su Wuji thought: So that's it. To Dual-Cultivate Other Techniques, one must first consult Liu Shi. Liu Shi should be able to recommend some Dual-Cultivation Techniques suitable for oneself.

"I have always wanted to Dual-Cultivate a Sword Scripture. I'll go ask her later."

"I also want to Dual-Cultivate a Body Refining Technique. My aunt said that Dual-Cultivating a Body Refining Technique will increase one's survival rate by two or three tenths when undertaking missions later." Su Cheng clearly had this idea long ago, but having just entered the clan school and just started the path of cultivation, he was still waiting and watching, not yet having taken action.

"Huh? You all want to Dual-Cultivate another Cultivation Technique?" Su Yuntao looked stunned. "But Dual-Cultivating Techniques consumes a lot of time. What if you cannot break through to the second layer of Qi Refining within the normal timeframe?"

I heard that if we cannot break through to the second layer of Qi Refining within half a year, the instructors in the clan school will think our talent is too low and not worth favoring."

"How is it possible to fail to break through to the second layer of Qi Refining in half a year? I can break through to the second layer of Qi Refining in just over a month at most," Su Wuji said.

"I probably need a bit over fifty days," Su Cheng added.

Su Jin also nodded in agreement. "I'm about the same."

Su Yuntao was speechless upon hearing this; so the future breakthrough difficulty case is me?

I don't even know how much more time I need to break through to the second layer of Qi Refining.

"I should break through to the second layer of Qi Refining first. Right now, Dual-Cultivating Techniques, I worry I won't be able to keep up with the cultivation," he said earnestly.

"Then just focus on cultivating one Cultivation Technique. We had this idea long ago, so we wanted to try it," Su Wuji said. "Anyway, there is still a lot of free time for cultivation every day; I've been reading books until I feel like vomiting recently.

It would be better to cultivate one more Cultivation Technique to change the pace of my mind."

Su Yuntao: "..."

As soon as Su Jin returned home, she ran to check the red ginseng seedlings she had already planted in the backyard.

The seedlings had just sprouted.

Some had grown a single small leaf, while others had already grown one leaf and a sprout.

Although the seedlings were quite tender, they were very spirited.

As soon as they saw her figure, they actively waved their small leaves and shook. I really worry they will shake themselves down onto the soil.

Su Jin gently touched every single seedling to confirm their growth condition.

Then she took out a thin, small silver needle and viciously stabbed it into certain spots in the soil.

Very quickly, she picked out three small, thin, white, thread-shaped worms.

The small worms struggled and writhed fiercely on the silver needle, wanting to detach from it and gain freedom. Unfortunately, Su Jin gave them no chance, directly skewering them and throwing them into the stove opening.

Sister-in-law Liu Yunniang, seeing her throw the three white-thread-like small worms into the stove, hurriedly said, "Did the batch of red ginseng you planted attract bugs?"

"Mm-hmm. They are white-thread hookworms."

"They have just grown leaves," Liu Yunniang said, still shaken. "No wonder people always say red ginseng attracts bugs."

"It's alright; my father also planted several kinds of spiritual plants that attract even more bugs than red ginseng. Back then, the bugs in the house were much more numerous than usual. Sister-in-law, why don't we raise a few spiritual chickens? I remember father used to raise spiritual chickens to deal with bugs before," Su Jin said.

"Raising spiritual chickens, that is a good idea. I'll have your eldest brother go fetch a brood of spiritual chicken chicks later," Liu Yunniang said, immediately agreeing upon hearing Su Jin's suggestion. Spiritual chickens can eat bugs when young and improve the diet when grown.

Both adults and children need them.

"Meat, meat. Eat meat." Su Xiaohe, the little daughter of the eldest brother, became immediately excited upon hearing "spiritual chickens." She loves eating them. Su Xiaohe is two years old this year and has just barely managed to speak clearly.

Su Jin laughed upon hearing her speak.

Su Jin turned around and looked, and saw her sitting on the threshold.

One of her small legs had already crossed the threshold, but the other one she couldn't manage to get over no matter how she struggled.

Right now, she was sitting on the threshold, smiling foolishly.

This child looks very ordinary, much like a child in an ordinary mortal family.

Loves to play, loves to laugh, loves to eat meat.

Big Brother and Sister-in-law both worried she had no Spirit Root.

Even the children of cultivators do not all possess a Spirit Root.

Like Big Brother's father, he had no Spirit Root. But his youngest younger brother, Su Jin's father, did have a Spirit Root.

When Big Brother was three, he also tested positive for a Spirit Root.

So in childhood, she stayed mostly at her little uncle's house, cultivated by her little uncle with various medicinal baths. Su Jin's eldest niece, Su Hua, also had a Spirit Root, though it was a Five Spirit Root.

Well, recently Su Jin has dared not look the term "Five Spirit Root" straight in the face.