Chapter 27

My senior brother told me that whether you make the top ten in your year doesn’t really matter—top ten in the clan school means nothing at the sect.

The sect won’t give any special treatment to the top ten from our clan school.

He said that at our age, we’ll still only be around ten when we enter the sect.

The sect cares about us mainly by our cultivation progress—only if you reach Qi Refining seventh layer will they spare you a second glance.

Solid foundations, and you can achieve Foundation Establishment before twenty.

Only then will the sect take notice of you.

The higher your chance of Foundation Establishment, the more the sect values you.

While cultivating the basic Qi Refining technique, if you also practice a Spirit Refining or Body Refining technique, it will greatly help your future Foundation Establishment,” said Su Wuji.

“Thank goodness I joined the clan school—I never knew outside that practicing additional techniques helps with Foundation Establishment,” said Su Yunhu, looking relieved. He had sneaked over early to listen.

“Not every additional technique helps with Foundation Establishment. Only when you cultivate one Qi Refining, one Essence Refining, and one Spirit Refining technique together does it help—that’s called Triple Cultivation, the best way to aid Foundation Establishment,” Su Wuji explained, exasperated. “Su Jin plans Triple Cultivation. I’m doing it too.”

Su Jin wanted to say: I’m not trying to achieve Foundation Establishment years early.

I’m being forced by my grandfather.

Upon hearing that Triple Cultivation helps with Foundation Establishment, Su Cheng hesitated, then made up his mind. “Then I’ll do Triple Cultivation too.”

Su Yunhu’s face, however, twisted in inner conflict.

After struggling for what felt like hours, he finally declared, “I’ll stick to just one technique. Even adding one more—I doubt I can handle it, let alone Triple Cultivation.” Su Yunhu thought to himself: I’ve got some self-awareness, at least.

He wasn’t some genius who broke through Qi Refining first layer on day one.

And Triple Cultivation means simultaneously comprehending three techniques? He didn’t think his insight was that strong!

Su Lin yuan and Yang Guan, who had been eavesdropping, wore unusual expressions.

Yang Guan looked surprised. Su Lin yuan looked outright disdainful.

As if he found Su Jin’s words utterly ridiculous.

Soon after, Liu Shi arrived.

She immediately gathered the six of them together.

“How is your cultivation going? Any difficulties you can’t understand that need me to explain?”

Su Jin immediately raised her small hand. “Yes.”

Su Wuji and Su Cheng both raised their hands at once. “Yes.”

Su Yunhu was stunned.

Why are all of you raising your hands?

Su Yunhu promptly raised his hand too. “I have questions too.”

Liu Shi nodded, observing.

She felt Su Jin and the others were far more diligent in cultivation than the other children. Look at their dedication—those kids in the neighboring classroom couldn’t compare.

Su Lin yuan and Yang Guan didn’t raise their hands or say they had questions.

Liu Shi merely glanced at them.

She thought: The Master leads you to the door, but cultivation is up to you. If they don’t want to work hard, even dragging them with a cart won’t move them. Let them do whatever they want.

“Su Jin, come here first,” Liu Shi smiled, waving her over.

Su Jin immediately pulled out two more books from her small satchel, then brought all three to ask Liu Shi for guidance.

Liu Shi: You brought three books to ask me? You’re planning to keep me busy all day?

Su Jin didn’t notice Liu Shi’s shifting thoughts.

She realized that the Green Wood Eternal Spring Technique and the Great Expansion Spirit Refining Scripture, which she thought she had fully grasped, now held new, puzzling layers as her cultivation deepened.

Add to that the newly acquired Snow Skin Jade Bone Technique, which she still couldn’t make sense of, and Su Jin felt her questions were piling up—she needed Liu Shi’s help.

So she pulled Liu Shi aside and questioned her for over an hour.

Some questions even Liu Shi couldn’t answer, so she wrote them down to consult a higher expert and return with answers later.

Su Jin said: Fine—Liu Shi is truly diligent and responsible.

Liu Shi: If I don’t ask, the headmaster will start questioning my job performance.

Su Wuji and Su Cheng both pulled out notebooks and began rapidly recording every word of their exchange from the start. In an hour, they filled a thick stack of pages.

Su Yunhu was confused but copied along anyway—his notes were incomplete and scribbled so badly, only he could read them.

Su Lin yuan and Yang Guan initially dismissed the teacher-student exchange as unimportant. But soon, their expressions turned serious.

Though young, Su Jin’s thinking was wildly inventive.

She advanced rapidly and deeply in her comprehension of the techniques.

As Liu Shi’s answers grew more complex and profound, Su Lin yuan and Yang Guan no longer underestimated her.

Damn, this is a little prodigy who just revealed herself!

And Su Jin asked about three books—she’d mastered all three, and even uncovered problems within each.

Clearly, she was serious about Triple Cultivation.

Not just the students noticed—Liu Shi noticed too.

“You’ve decided on Triple Cultivation?” Liu Shi asked after answering Su Jin’s final question.

“Mm-hmm. Grandfather made me promise to do Triple Cultivation,” Su Jin replied, looking helplessly resigned.

Her expression made Liu Shi laugh.

“To pursue Triple Cultivation, you must meet two conditions. First, your resources must keep up—Triple Cultivation consumes vast amounts of spiritual energy and spiritual materials. Some techniques even require rare substances.

If you want Triple Cultivation, you must have your grandfather’s full backing.

Second, your comprehension ability must be exceptional—you must simultaneously comprehend three techniques. That’s not something an ordinary student can manage. You must be born with an exceptionally strong spiritual core. Are you certain you truly want Triple Cultivation?” Liu Shi asked again.

“Mm-hmm, I’m certain. My grandfather already sent me three hundred spirit stones, saying if I need more, I can ask him. My mother is a descendant of the Witch Clan—I inherited her bloodline. So I can do it,” said Su Jin.

“How are Witch Clan descendants different from us?” Su Yunhu asked immediately.

“The Witch Clan is born with naturally strong souls. Usually, when they begin cultivation, they immediately develop spiritual sense. No wonder Su Jin wants Triple Cultivation,” said Su Wuji, astonished. His talent in basic Qi Refining might be slightly higher than Su Jin’s.

But in Spirit Refining, she’s probably leagues ahead of him.

He hadn’t even started learning a Spirit Refining technique yet, yet Su Jin was already studying the Great Expansion Spirit Refining Scripture—and from her demeanor, she’d already entered its threshold.

He knew the Great Expansion Spirit Refining Scripture well—it was a famous Spirit Refining technique, notoriously difficult to master.