Chapter 15

The five-element root was thoroughly understood by the Nascent Soul elders of the sect, yet they couldn’t understand her.

“Alright then, we’ll definitely satisfy Xiaohe’s craving for meat. Sister-in-law, how about we have some meat tonight?” Su Jin asked.

Liu Yunniang burst out laughing at this aunt and niece pair.

“Fine.”

Just as dinner was nearly ready, Su Hua arrived home, dragging her exhausted body.

“Why are you home so late today?” Su Jian nervously took the small basket in his eldest daughter’s hand and the little satchel hanging from her shoulder.

“Ah, Father, I’m so miserable. Before year’s end, I must break through to Qi Refining fourth level.”

Master Cai said if I don’t, I’ll have to consider dropping out early.”

Every day after finishing all my academic lessons, I scramble to cultivate—eating is just a quick bite, gulped down. Even while eating, I’m constantly pondering the difficulties in my cultivation, utterly tasteless.”

Even so, Master Cai won’t let me off. She said you need to come see her.”

She wants to talk to you.”

Su Hua looked at her father with a sheepish expression, hoping he’d say something to defend her.

Su Jian rubbed his chin, nodding slowly, the light in his eyes dimming bit by bit. After a long pause, he said, “Is Master Cai thinking you have no potential left to unlock, so she’s suggesting you drop out early? That’s why she sent for me? She doesn’t really want to persuade you—she wants to persuade me.”

I remember last year she already told me you could drop out early.”

Su Hua’s heart sank suddenly.

She didn’t want to disappoint her father—especially not hear him say to her in that tone, Don’t worry, it’s no big deal. She was eight years old; she understood. Deep down, her father had high hopes for her. “It’s probably not about dropping out. I’ve been working hard lately—I’m already ranked twelfth in my class.”

Hearing this, Su Jian perked up. “Twelfth? Then Master Cai calling me over is probably to give you more support. The clan school can’t give you more resources, but the family can. Don’t worry, I’ll sell the pots and pans if I have to—I’ll make sure you push forward.”

“Yes, Father. No matter how hard or tiring it gets from now on, I won’t complain—I’ll work hard and aim for the top ten in my class,” Su Hua vowed firmly.

“Good girl.”

“Is breaking through to Qi Refining fourth level really that hard?” Su Jin stared, astonished, at her eldest niece.

“I’m so miserable, Little Aunt—it’s incredibly hard.”

“Didn’t you just say you wouldn’t complain anymore?” Su Jin reminded her.

Su Hua immediately pouted, looking utterly pitiful.

Even Little Aunt has turned mean.

“Alright, alright, if you want to complain, go ahead. But is Qi Refining fourth level really that hard to break through?” Su Jin asked again.

“Extremely hard,” Su Hua grumbled. “It took me twenty days to break through to Qi Refining first level. Four and a half months for second level. A full year and a half for third level. I only broke through to third level after last year’s final exams.”

Now they want me to break through to fourth level before year’s end—I myself think it’s unlikely.”

“Your time to break through to Qi Refining third level seems unusually long?” Su Jin immediately sensed the problem. “Unstable foundation?”

Su Hua gave a bitter smile. Exactly.

“At the start of cultivation, I rushed to advance and didn’t solidify my magic power into a solid form—it was too soft. I thought it didn’t matter, because even though my magic power was soft and easily deformed, it didn’t fall apart. It was fine when breaking through to second level, but when I tried to break through to third level, my magic power kept collapsing, severely slowing me down. Eventually, I had no choice but to completely disperse my cultivation and start over.”

That’s why it took me a year and a half to break through to third level.”

Su Jin understood.

Every single strand of magic power must be hammered into solid form.

“Didn’t anyone warn you? Our Master Liu warned us all to forge magic power into solid form.”

“I didn’t pay much attention. Master Cai did warn us multiple times, but back then the pressure was too great—everyone was racing to break through as fast as possible. I got swept up in the frenzy and chose speed over stability,” Su Hua said, filled with regret.

“In the future, try to follow your instructors’ instructions exactly,” Su Jin advised, sounding like a small elder.

Su Hua nodded, on the verge of tears. “I’ve paid such a heavy price—I won’t be so foolish again.”

“But if you’ve already fixed your foundation, a year should be more than enough to break through to fourth level,” Su Jin calculated. “You still have some time.”

“It’s still hard, Little Aunt. To break from first to second level requires a hundred strands. Second to third requires a thousand. Third to fourth requires ten thousand strands.”

After breaking through to third level, I need to condense one hundred thousand strands of third-level magic power to reach fourth level.”

“Do you think I can manage that in a year?”

“You’d need to condense three hundred strands of third-level magic power per day. Hmm, that’s indeed difficult. Why not let Big Brother buy you a Spirit Gathering Array? Install it in your room,” Su Jin suggested, convinced this was the solution.

Hmm, Su Jian immediately nodded.

“I’ll get you a Rank One Mid-grade Spirit Gathering Array. Just one night of cultivation and you’ll condense three hundred strands of magic power.”

Su Hua shook her head immediately. “But Father, a Rank One Mid-grade Spirit Gathering Array consumes too many spirit stones—it runs for one day and uses three spirit stones. Even if I only use it at night, that’s still three spirit stones every two nights. Where would we even get that many?”

“Don’t worry—I’ll earn the spirit stones for you. Just focus on your cultivation,” Su Jian reassured his eldest daughter.

Back then, because of his own poor talent, he hadn’t been selected for the clan school—but his daughter had been.

In some way, his daughter had fulfilled his own dream.

He would support her education at all costs.

Besides, if she graduates from the clan school among the top ten, she’ll enter the sect as an outer disciple—saving her at least ten years of grinding.

Just like himself—he’d spent nineteen long years as a lowly laborer before finally passing the exam to become an outer disciple.

How many setbacks, how much suffering—he didn’t dare to recall.

“If all else fails, we can borrow some spirit stones from your Uncle,” Su Jian said.

Liu Yunniang stepped down hard, planting her foot squarely on Su Jian’s shoulder.

Right in front of Su Jin, talking about borrowing money from her father?

You idiot of a husband!!

“That’s right! My dad definitely has spirit stones—even if he doesn’t, he can get them. I heard Dad say that before Grandpa died in battle, he left a stash of spirit stones with Great Grandpa, specifically for the grandchildren’s education.” Su Jin nodded vigorously, selling out her father without a hint of hesitation.