Zhiwei pressed her lips together, her small face appearing even more pale under the dim light.
She was uneasy and quickly glanced at Qing Jun.
After confirming something, she quietly let out a sigh of relief.
"You all come in, accompany your master," Chen Ye patted the empty spot beside him, indicating for them to sit down.
The two little ones exchanged a glance, carrying their small blankets, and slowly moved into the cultivation room.
The place was not big, so they sat closely beside Chen Ye.
Qing Jun curiously examined the surroundings, her little hands restlessly poking the meditation mat Chen Ye sat on. She softly asked, "Master, were you just inhaling? Like a big buffalo, huffing and puffing."
Upon hearing this, Chen Ye couldn’t help but laugh and cry: "Master was cultivating."
"Oh!" Qing Jun nodded as if she understood, letting out a small yawn.
Her little head bobbed like a chick pecking at rice, gradually leaning on Zhiwei’s shoulder, drowsy.
Zhiwei felt the weight on her shoulder, her body stiffened slightly.
But soon she relaxed again, carefully adjusting her posture to let Qing Jun sleep more comfortably.
She lifted her head, her pitch-black eyes reflecting spots of light under the lamp as she quietly gazed at Chen Ye.
After a while, she softly said:
"Master, actually Zhiwei feels you... really are different from before."
Chen Ye’s heart stirred, he replied warmly, "Hmm, people always change."
Zhiwei lowered her head, no longer speaking, only tightening her grip around Qing Jun’s arm.
Night gradually deepened.
In the cultivation room, the coal fire crackled softly.
In the past four days, the proficiency in Evergreen Technique has steadily increased.
Unfortunately, lacking the assistance of Qi Nourishing Pill, the speed is ultimately a bit slow.
Chen Ye glanced at the panel:
[Evergreen Technique Perfection: 395/400]
Just five points away from perfection!
If left to nature, he could break through to Limit Break by tomorrow!
Chen Ye calmed his mind, continued to operate the Evergreen Technique, the flow of spiritual energy around him growing increasingly smooth and harmonious.
Inside the dantian, spiritual power surged like boiling water, impacting an invisible barrier.
[Evergreen Technique Perfection: 397/400]
[Evergreen Technique Perfection: 398/400]
[Evergreen Technique Perfection: 399/400]
Just one point away!
Chen Ye held his breath and concentrated, circulating the cultivation technique with all his might.
Boom!
As if some shackle had been abruptly broken, a far more immense and pure flood of spiritual power instantly swept through his entire meridian system!
The power stretched his meridians painfully, but more was a feeling of transformation and clarity.
Success!
The Evergreen Technique finally broke through to perfection, stepping into Limit Break!
[Cultivation Technique: Evergreen Technique Limit Break: 1/800]
Chen Ye’s heart was filled with joy, intending to stabilize his realm, but suddenly realized the spiritual power surge brought by the breakthrough far exceeded his expectations!
In the Qi Sea, spiritual power surged like a flood from an opened sluice, overwhelmingly greater than Qi Cultivation Fourth-Layer.
"This... this is..."
He examined the dantian internally, only to see the Qi Sea had expanded severalfold, with a faint fifth Qi Vortex forming and solidifying!
Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer!
Directly breaking through to Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer!
Chen Ye was both surprised and delighted, completely unprepared for the tremendous changes the Limit Break in Evergreen Technique brought.
Moreover,
The most surprising to Chen Ye was the subtle change in cultivation technique operation post Limit Break, more aligning with his constitution.
Spiritual power within him flowed smoothly like fish swimming freely, without any hint of obstruction.
The newly generated spiritual power was not only much greater in quantity than peers but also denser and heavier in quality, far surpassing ordinary cultivators of Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer.
Cultivation speed increased by twenty percent compared to before! Comparable to cultivators with Four Spiritual Roots!
"Longevity has also increased!"
[Longevity: 40/102]
With the Limit Break in Evergreen Technique and cultivation breakthrough, both aspects combined brought an additional twenty years to longevity!
Now he had sixty-two years of longevity available!
"Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer... One step closer to Foundation Establishment!"
Chen Ye was secretly excited, his joy poured out.
He subconsciously looked at his two sleeping disciples beside him.
Unknowingly, Zhiwei had tilted her little head, asleep on his leg.
Her serene sleeping face calm and peaceful, long eyelashes casting a small shadow on her eyelids.
On the other side, Qing Jun smacked her little lips, her face rosy, sleeping sweetly.
The two small bodies snuggled next to him, their breathing steady and long.
Chen Ye’s restless heart gradually calmed down.
He carefully adjusted his position, afraid of waking them, and gently tucked the quilt around his two apprentices.
Closing his eyes, he once again delved into cultivation.
...
The next morning.
Chen Ye pushed open the courtyard gate, and the fresh air swept over him, carrying the cold fragrance of plum blossoms.
Coupled with last night’s breakthrough in cultivation, he felt refreshed and completely at ease, stretching comfortably.
At this moment, the gate of the neighboring courtyard opened with a creak.
Lin Qiongyu poked her head out and, upon seeing Chen Ye, displayed the perfect amount of surprise and delight, "Senior Chen, good morning! Did you sleep well last night? I made some breakfast, if you don’t mind..."
As she spoke, she was about to turn back inside to fetch it.
Chen Ye hurriedly waved his hand, "No trouble at all, Taoist Friend Lin, you’re too kind."
He now preferred to keep his distance from this intriguing female cultivator, not wanting to get too involved.
Xue Chengjun also stepped out from inside, his expression complicated upon seeing Chen Ye, yet he still cupped his hands and said, "Senior Chen."
He called out "Senior" with great reluctance.
The reason was simple, Chen Ye was almost a full cycle older than him.
But both were at the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer...
Xue Chengjun was confident that by the time he reached forty, he could cultivate to the Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer!
"Wait!"
Lin Qiongyu suddenly covered her red lips in surprise, her face filled with admiration,
"Senior, did you break through to the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer?"
Xue Chengjun was taken aback, repeatedly scrutinizing Chen Ye.
Indeed, the fluctuations of Spiritual Power were far more intense and refined than before.
How could it be?!
A monstrous wave surged inside Xue Chengjun.
He deliberately investigated Chen Ye’s background, aware that this old man used to idle away his time in the slums.
So why could this indolent and ill-qualified old man advance ahead of him in cultivation?
He could even sense the undisguised admiration and joy on Lin Qiongyu’s face when she looked at Chen Ye, which burned him with even more anger.
That should have been his gaze!
Xue Chengjun’s face turned ashen, his jaw clenched, and he squeezed out a phrase from between his teeth: "...Congratulations to Senior Chen on your progress in cultivation."
His voice was dry and stiff, filled with insincere acidity and barely hidden resentment.
At this moment, he had only one thought in his heart: he must break through quickly! He absolutely couldn’t let this old man surpass him!
Chen Ye nodded expressionlessly, but inwardly he was secretly lamenting.
Beauty is a trouble, the ancients were not wrong about this!
If it weren’t for Lin Qiongyu pretending here, Xue Chengjun might not be so resentful of his breakthrough.
After all, he was originally older than Xue Chengjun; breaking through earlier was also normal.
Chen Ye originally intended to take in the fresh morning air in the courtyard, but upon seeing this scene, he lost all interest, silently retreated a step, and turned back to his small courtyard.
Lin Qiongyu rubbed her stiff face, increasingly doubting her charm.
Seeing Xue Chengjun’s sullen face, she smiled warmly and gently consoled, "Chengjun, the senior is older than you, breaking through earlier is only natural."
The young female cultivator’s smile was bright and gentle, her eyes flowing with affection between hints of longing.
It calmed most of Xue Chengjun’s anger, turning his gaze to one filled with infatuation.
He couldn’t help but puff out his chest, boasting, "Of course! When I’m forty, I’ll be in the late-stage Qi Cultivation, with hopes of Foundation Establishment! He, I’m afraid, will never reach the threshold of Foundation Establishment in his lifetime..."
Lin Qiongyu nodded with satisfaction,
Good, this foolish man looking so captivated proves her charm remains undiminished.
It seems the reason must only be that Senior Chen is old and incapable...
Lin Qiongyu pressed her index finger to her rosy lips, playfully scolded, "Hush, don’t let Senior Chen hear such words, it’s inappropriate."
Xue Chengjun snorted coldly, "Qiongyu, there’s no need to keep calling him ’senior’. The Spiritual Medicine in East Valley is gone, so Chen Ye is no longer useful!
The more Xue Chengjun thought about it, the more stifled he felt. Just now, he clearly didn’t have to call Chen Ye "senior"!
His words left Lin Qiongyu momentarily stunned, "But isn’t Senior Chen a Spirit Plant Master?"
Xue Chengjun finally reacted and, surprised, said:
"Qiongyu, do you really think he’s a Spirit Plant Master? No no no... He just has that Disease Removal Saber Technique that’s practiced to perfection, conveniently able to handle those Spirit Plants contaminated by Demonic Qi in East Valley."
At these words, Lin Qiongyu, usually composed, almost lost her poise.
A Spirit Plant Master versus an ordinary Medicinal Farmer is like light and shadow!
A Spirit Plant Master recognized by the Lingyin Sect could even join Lingyin Sect and held a status above ordinary Outer Disciples!
In the vast Yunxi District, Spirit Plant Masters were fewer than ten in number!
"Moreover... The reason Tian Feng asked me to keep an eye on Chen Ye was that Chen Ye offended the Jade Lizard Association! The Stone Mirror Association needed him to handle Spirit Plants, so they asked me to watch over him, allowing him to work without worries."
Xue Chengjun recounted leisurely, his words tinged with satisfaction,
"But now, the Stone Mirror Association no longer goes to East Valley, which means Kong Hongxuan can act! And that has nothing to do with me..."
He paused, tone carrying a touch of ruthlessness:
"That’s how it is at the bottom of the Cultivation Realm; it’s just mutual exploitation. Without value, who would care whether you live or die?"