Chapter 21: Chapter Twenty-One: Du Xueqing

Li Yan knows that overthinking is useless and will instead affect her cultivation speed, so she simply stops thinking and focuses on cultivating properly, and of course also keeps thinking of Ye Yun.

At this moment, Ye Yun next door is still sensing the Heavenly Dao; he has truly understood what the Great Way meant by helping oneself—namely, drawing the Heavenly Dao into his own body so that he can observe the Dao at all times, hoping that through this endless observation he can discern the Dao's mysteries.

After sensing the Heavenly Dao, the earth‑binding force on Ye Yun's body loosened a bit, giving him a little more room to increase his strength; Ye Yun wonders whether breaking the earth‑binding force will require him to forcefully break through with his own power.

He always tries to break the earth‑binding force whenever his strength grows a bit; although he has failed several times, he has found that each increase in strength weakens the earth‑binding force a little, so perhaps when he reaches a certain level he can use brute force to break through it.

Suddenly Ye Yun sensed a spiritual energy fluctuation, but it was very strange; it didn't look like a cultivator's spiritual wave but rather felt like a weapon, a very sharp weapon, and within the fluctuation Ye Yun even sensed a hint of killing intent. Could this be the treasure the Great Way had told him about earlier?

Hopefully it is. Perhaps the treasure also holds some miraculous opportunity. Ye Yun had planned to go now, but after thinking he decided to sleep and go tomorrow. He spent the day accompanying that girl in meditation; after so much contemplation his Divine Perception is a bit weary. He'll get a good night's sleep and deal with it later. After all, no one has taken it; just the sharp aura of that weapon would likely make a group of people feel short of breath merely by approaching.

Indeed, according to Ye Yun's description, this weapon is very likely the one used by the Great Way of Heaven and Earth before, and it still bears the exclusive sharp aura of a sword‑type treasure. Ordinary people who merely approach the weapon are stunned by its sharp aura; even the bold cannot take it away. A treasure requires a fixed incantation to be activated, and before the Great Way of Heaven and Earth left Ye Yun's dream, it revealed the activation incantation, so Ye Yun is not at all worried about the treasure being lost.

After a night of rest, Ye Yun and Li Yan's spirits have improved considerably; yesterday's fatigue has vanished. Ye Yun's alchemy furnace that Sun Liwen bought for him has arrived, so today he can start refining pills. Although alchemical pills have great effects, Ye Yun does not intend to give them many, because cultivators who rely solely on pills are weaker than those of the same realm who work hard through cultivation. Thus, for him the pills serve only as an aid: the Essence Restoring Pill for daily use to replenish Qi, and the Breakthrough Pill for when they need to smash through a bottleneck—both are among the more effective pills.

Just as he was preparing to refine pills, Sun Liwen arrived with a young girl in Ye Yun's room.

"Ye Immortal, this is the gifted person we found according to your request; however, you already know her and she has helped you before."

Ye Yun looked closely and realized this was Du Xueqing, the one who previously explained modern science to him.

He hadn't previously had the chance to see whether she had a gift; rather, he hadn't expected such a thing to happen before, but it's not too late now.

"Come over, and I'll show you what my gift is like."

"Alright, how do we examine the gift…?"

Du Xueqing apparently needs physical contact; despite having grown so much she hasn't even held a boy's hand, and this campus beauty apparently doesn't even have a single blade of grass by her side.

"You just need to do exactly as I say."

The familiar formula and testing method were the same as Li Yan's, only the result differed; Du Xueqing reported seeing the color Purple. Though her gift is slightly weaker than Li Yan's, it's still quite good—normally Du Xueqing's level would be considered a genius, but unfortunately Li Yan already existed before her.

"Mr. Ye, didn't you tell me before to trust science? And now that you're a cultivator, you still want me to trust science."

Du Xueqing looked at Ye Yun irritably, "If it weren't for being brought here by the Sun family head, you'd probably be trying to swindle me forever, you terrible old man!"

"What I said is indeed correct; after all, scientific weapons are powerful—nuclear bombs, Dongfeng missiles, all are formidable. I just don't know whether cultivators can withstand them. If we cultivators can't even resist the most ordinary weapons, that would be terrible. Still, we must trust science, since it's been developed by your ancestors over generations."

Ye Yun is also a bit perplexed: can a cultivator's physique endure modern firearms, and what level of damage could those weapons inflict?

"Damn, I really fell for your nonsense. How should I cultivate? I'm getting a bit impatient."

Although Du Xueqing is now outwardly strong and calm, inside she is extremely excited. She has always believed that deities or superhumans exist, and now not only has her belief been confirmed, but she can become one of them—how could she not be thrilled?

Moreover, no matter how Du Xueqing looks at Ye Yun, he always appears as a formidable sage. Though he looks young, consider that at such an age he can have the nation's top tycoons run errands for him—what extraordinary ability is that?

"For the next few days, follow Li Yan and study with her. I have some matters to attend to, and your arrival is rather untimely. I'll be out on business, but don't worry—everything Li Yan is learning was taught by me personally, so you can study confidently. When I return, I'll guide both you and Li Yan."

"Alright, then I'll first study with Sister Li Yan."

A hint of disappointment appeared on Du Xueqing's face. Thinking about it, indeed, learning on the very first day that she could cultivate, yet not being personally led by her master, was quite a coincidence. She just arrived and the master already has to leave. Sigh, it's better to be early than lucky. She also wonders what kind of person Li Yan is and whether she's easy to get along with; now she can only hope Ye Yun returns soon.

"Ye Yun, where are you going this time? Might you encounter danger? How about I go with you? I'm pretty good at training now."

Li Yan looked at Ye Yun playfully. To be honest, she wants Ye Yun to take her along; she doesn't know why, but the longer she spends time with him the more she worries about him encountering danger. Even though she knows he is a Earth Immortal, the strongest in the Three Realms, she still worries, feeling that Ye Yun is becoming less like the mischievous Ye Yun she once knew.

"It's fine; what danger could befall me? Don't forget I'm the strongest in the Three Realms—no one can harm me. Don't worry about me. While I'm away for a few days, you teach Du Xueqing well, using the method I previously taught you. I'll be back soon."

Ye Yun could sense Li Yan's concern for him, smiled brightly at her, and treated it as a way to reassure her.

"Alright then, be careful and stay safe."

What an awkward scene for Du Xueqing watching from the side, yet she felt envious. She had already been drawn to Ye Yun before, though she didn't know why, and she also wanted a relationship with Ye Yun as good as Li Yan's. She silently comforted herself: it's okay, Du Xueqing, you just arrived a bit late; perform well, he'll notice you, keep it up!

She brainwashes herself madly.