Chapter 22: Retest

At the same time, the disciples secretly watching in several courtyards within thirty zhang nearby were also sending private messages.

"By the way, Jiang Yu is only twelve years old, making her the youngest in our valley."

"No, there's another twelve-year-old junior sister on the east bank of the river; I heard she advanced two levels in a row and, after leaving seclusion yesterday, has reached Qi Refining Sixth Layer."

"She and we who took part in the Southern Heaven Trial are not on the same level."

"The younger one is, the purer the mind, the faster the advancement."

"Since Jiang Yu joined the sect, she has been practicing spells at dawn, studying in the morning and cultivating in the afternoon."

"At noon and night, she's either in the Library Pavilion or practicing swordsmanship; this time entering the secret realm she also gained many rewards—if she doesn't advance quickly, I'll feel guilty for her."

"I remember Jiang Yu just reached the fifth layer half a month ago; now there are signs of another breakthrough, but after half a day there's no result—could something be wrong?"

"Don't talk nonsense; closing off for two or three days to stabilize one's cultivation is quite normal."

"At most, she simply didn't advance."

"I heard several who entered the Azure Mountain Secret Realm are advancing today, so I also want to apply for seclusion."

"Let's go together tomorrow; even if I use up all this round's rewards, I still need to advance."

The message talisman cut off abruptly the moment Jiang Yu opened the courtyard gate.

Lu Ruochan jumped up: "Qi Refining Sixth Layer—awesome, Jiang Yu!"

"Thank you, Uncle-Master and Senior Sisters, for guarding the Dharma." Jiang Yu could observe the outside world from within the Dragon Pearl Space.

When she realized it was past midnight, the two still guarding the door hurried out with Xiao Wu Gui.

Furthermore, at Xiao Wu Gui's strong insistence, she used its taught Turtle Breath Secret Method to suppress one layer of her cultivation.

It is said that, as long as she doesn't expend all her spiritual power, this secret can conceal her cultivation even from Nascent Soul cultivators.

Master Xiang is at mid-Foundation Establishment, so naturally he only sees her as Qi Refining Sixth Layer: "Looks good; in the coming days, pay more attention to balancing work and rest."

Although advancing earlier is better, one shouldn't cultivate nonstop; excess easily damages the meridians.

If anything happens, send me a message anytime." Saying that, he gave her several more message talismans.

"Thank you, Master; I've received your teaching, disciple." Jiang Yu sincerely thanked him.

After Lu Ruochan and the others saw Master Xiang off, she hurriedly said: "Since returning from the secret realm, I feel the bottleneck that's held me back for three or four years loosening."

I've already applied for seclusion in Chaos Valley; if I break into the seventh layer, I'll certainly have to move out.

That's great!" Jiang Yu has seen many people in the market who've been stuck at Qi Refining Sixth Layer for half their lives, making no progress; she might also be stuck there for years to come.

This time we really have to thank Senior Brother Lin for finding her a team; only then could she obtain the spiritual fire to enter the late Qi Refining stage.

Although she and Senior Sister Lu see each other almost daily, neither informed the other about competing for the secret realm mission.

All we can say is that, although they're acquainted, they haven't reached the point of sharing certain benefits.

But this doesn't affect everyone continuing to be friends.

Lu Ruochan complained: "What's good about it? Outer disciples picking a cave dwelling is just a lottery—you get what you draw."

In the future, I don't even know if we'll be able to be neighbors.

Jiang Yu laughed: "Then I'll earn more spirit stones to buy a high-grade flying boat; we can stay in touch anytime—advancing is the real priority."

That's all I can ask for; I don't expect to surge to Qi Refining Eighth Layer like Chen Xia did today—I just hope to smoothly reach the seventh layer.

For this secret realm trip, first I must thank Chen Xia for securing my spot, and second I must thank you for your several rescues.

Jiang Yu, if there's another task like this, I'll definitely pull you onto the team." In the secret realm, Lu Ruochan had always felt embarrassed to bring it up.

Jiang Yu nodded and raised her palm: "Let's keep each other informed."

"It's settled." As Lu Ruochan and she clasped hands, Senior Sister Gu happened to return just then, asking, "Can count me in too?"

Of course!" We've fought side by side together.

After the three exchanged palm strikes, Jiang Yu watched the two senior sisters who were about to enter seclusion head back.

After closing the door, she couldn't help sighing with Xiao Wu Gui: "Just when we'd gotten to know each other as friends, they immediately went their separate ways."

It sounds as if we're separated by a hundred thousand eight thousand li, but we'll still see each other another day at the Transmission Hall.

Otherwise I could buy a top-grade flying boat to give you, making it easier to meet them." Because the river in the valley is especially suited for it to fully refine the Dragon Pearl Space, Xiao Wu Gui asked Jiang Yu to conceal her cultivation and stay another half year.

No, a top-grade one isn't suitable for me right now.

As for meeting at the Transmission Hall, late-stage Qi Refining focuses more on hands‑on learning, letting disciples choose to apprentice at the Alchemy‑Artifact Rune Formation, spiritual fields, tea plantations, shops, and so on.

Of course, disciples lacking basic theory will still stick to listening to lectures at the Transmission Hall—for example, me." Jiang Yu had long decided to head for Rune Peak.

Xiao Wu Gui suddenly asked: "What if I choose all four of the Alchemy‑Artifact Rune Formation?"

You'd have to go through all of them, then finally determine which one you have the most talent for.

Among them, the formation‑related division, which is also tied to divination, relies most on talent—you either get it or you can't carve a complete set of formation plates at all.

The so‑called all‑round master proficient in the four arts is mostly a Golden Core cultivator, and even then only one or two areas reach master level." Anyway, Jiang Yu won't neglect the fundamentals for trivialities; after Foundation Establishment she wants to learn an extra subject, and she'll have more time.

Today I'll slack off a little; tomorrow I'll go buy seeds and plant fields.

Then I'll send you into the river to fully absorb sunlight and moisture." Cultivation cannot replace rest.

If it weren't for the excitement of advancing, she would have already fallen asleep early.

Unfortunately, her biological clock is too precise; she woke up at dawn the next day.

Jiang Yu first tried the seventh‑layer Qi Refining techniques in her space, using the Soil Turning Technique and Cloud Rain Technique to open up several mu of fertile land.

Then she went to the mountain and split stone with metal spiritual power—it was truly fast and accurate.

Xiao Wu Gui let her romp around the mountain however she liked; at daybreak it reminded her: "Do you want to test your spiritual roots again?"

Who knows, maybe they'll all reach eighty, then ……

Having said half a sentence, it immediately shut up—Jiang Yu's spiritual roots are already over eighty, so she could enter the Inner Gate right away; hiding her cultivation would then be pointless.

Don't worry; it's impossible to refine a high root value from a single thread of spiritual fire.

Otherwise, the cultivator clans would have long since snatched up every scrap of heavenly and earthly strange fire.

"When you go out, pay attention to conceal your true form." Jiang Yu remained calm on the surface, but she left the valley in the morning, and the paper crane flew to the Internal Affairs Hall as fast as it could.

She didn't go to the guarded Spirit-Measuring Pillar, but instead rented a Spirit-Measuring Ruler, deposit one thousand, ten low-grade spirit stones per month, and the same price for an hour.

"Measure quickly, measure quickly." The little turtle was even more eager than her to know the result.

Jiang Yu couldn't be tested in the main hall under the crowd's eyes; after roughly buying a batch of seeds, she returned to the cottage in Kind Water Valley, anyway it was still early before the Transmission Hall's class started.

By the way, besides the Library Pavilion, Transmission Hall, and Grand Dining Hall, few places in the sect are closed at night.

Other places such as the sect's main hall, Internal and External Affairs Halls, the Earth Fire Chamber, the Practice Training Hall, and the Spirit Medicine Garden have personnel on duty around the clock.

Upon entering the room and activating the formation, the little turtle brings the person into a space.

Jiang Yu also immediately grasped the Spirit-Measuring Ruler, feeling a little excited inside.

The slowly rising numbers soon all came to a stop.

Fire spiritual root eighty-five, water spiritual root eighty-five, metal spiritual root unexpectedly increased by twenty points to reach seventy.

She was startled, unable to believe it, and tested again, but it remained the same.

The little turtle laughed loudly, "The dragon clan legend is indeed true; the Azure Dragon Fire representing the wood attribute combined with the chaotic strange fire, after nurturing the dragon's breath, can enhance a demon's aptitude."

Unfortunately, this effect only occurs during the first refinement.

"So you weren't sure before if humans could use it."

"If you don't try, how would you know the result? Look, you've made a big profit."

"It feels unreal; yesterday I absorbed spirit fire and spirit power, and it wasn't particularly perilous." Jiang Yu couldn't help but curl the corners of her mouth, feeling secretly pleased.

"That's because I cleared the most dangerous level, and the wisp of fire I sent to your dantian has already been refined." The little turtle opened its mouth and spat out a ball of spirit fire.

"Try throwing that broken wooden shield up."