Yin Qinghe looked at Qin Yu with some confusion.

She noticed that whenever she brought up matters regarding the Cyan Mountain Sect, this rebellious disciple would become noticeably tense.

When asked, he refused to talk about it.

Could it be that when he escaped back then, he killed a disciple from the Cyan Mountain Sect?!

If he were recognized, that would certainly be major trouble.

But with such a thing, Qin Yu shouldn’t be hiding it from her either.

After all, from the looks of it now, the Hundred Sword Sect is much more powerful than the Cyan Mountain Sect.

"You must go, there’s no getting out of it."

Yin Qinghe was also helpless and went on with her explanation.

This was actually due to Zhao Mengli’s renowned reputation; the Cyan Mountain Sect probably didn’t want to let go of an Alchemist, so they made a special request.

Qin Yu was just included by association.

Don’t be fooled by how polite that Cyan Mountain Sect disciple was when he visited—if they don’t go, they might very well offend him.

This is the sorrow of small fry.

But Yin Qinghe was used to it; back when she sought the City Lord’s protection, she’d even sacrificed ninety percent of her savings.

Seeing Qin Yu’s brows tightly furrowed, she comforted him, "Actually, you don’t need to worry too much. Even if you join the Cyan Mountain Sect, you can keep a low profile, and after all, we’re both just Mortal Bone. Even if we enter the Immortal Sect, we’d just be Outer Disciples..."

"Outer Disciples, which means, we wouldn’t get near...the Immortal Sect’s higher-ups?"

Hearing this, Qin Yu’s eyes suddenly lit up.

Actually, he didn’t care much for joining the Immortal Sect; what he feared most was running into Su Xiyue.

After all, he didn’t understand that Saintess at all.

Well!...

Except for her body.

"Higher-ups?"

Yin Qinghe glanced at him in surprise. She kept feeling this rebellious disciple’s reactions were odd, but she still said, "I heard the one presiding over this talent selection banquet will be an Inner Sect Elder of the Cyan Mountain Sect."

An Inner Sect Elder is someone who’s at Foundation Establishment or above—a definite high-level member of the Immortal Sect.

"Inner Sect Elder, huh?"

Qin Yu immediately relaxed a lot.

Whew!

As long as it’s not that First Fairy!

Plus, he’d heard that even among Cyan Mountain Sect disciples, few had ever seen that Saintess in person.

This shows that Su Xiyue likes tranquility and is even less likely to show up at noisy gatherings.

They called it a talent selection, but everyone knew it was just gathering some low-level cultivators who couldn’t enter the Immortal Sect; how could it possibly disturb the Immortal Sect Saintess?

With his nerves eased, Qin Yu went up to his beautiful master, "Master, don’t you want to have Spirit Bone before entering the Immortal Sect?"

"I don’t!"

Yin Qinghe rolled her eyes at him, but still let him wrap his arm around her as they walked to the soft couch.

This wretched disciple.

Not only did he not spare her little sister and her grandmother, he didn’t even let her feet go!

Every time, this master would have to lie down quite a while before she could get up and walk again.

Night.

After Lin Qianqian and Zhao Mengli had fallen asleep, Qin Yu fixed his gaze on the little flame inside his body.

It had been almost two months since his last Spiritual Power increase. Even excluding the time spent away, with accumulation thanks to Lin Qianqian, Zhao Mengli, and Yin Qinghe, his Flame Point was now sufficient for an upgrade.

[Flame Point: 5042]

[Lin Qianqian Romantic Point: 100 (Till Death Do Us Part)]

[Yin Qinghe Romantic Point: 50 (Unwavering)]

[Zhao Mengli Romantic Point: 90 (Heartfelt)]

[Su Xiyue Romantic Point: -10 (Hostile)]

[Cultivation: Qi Refining Fifth Layer (8%)]

[Root Bone: Top Grade Mortal Bone (Flame Point 5042/5000) - Breakthrough Available]

[Spiritual Power: High Tier Introduction (Flame Point 5042/5000) - Breakthrough Available]

[Pure Yang Divine Body: First Layer (315-1000)]

[Lifebound Divine Technique: Initial Glimpse (1/10)]

[Lifebound Divine Sword: Mortal Weapon (1/10)]

As his Root Bone improved, even though Qin Yu spent little time on cultivation, he still broke through to Qi Refining Fifth Layer.

This time, he decided to upgrade his Root Bone!

Only by enhancing his Root Bone could he speed up his cultivation, and he could sense that those Immortal Sect cultivators with Spirit Bone had a temperament and aura completely different from those with Mortal Bone.

"Break through!"

As the Flame Point drained away, that tiny flame in his core suddenly swelled up like a lamp doused in strong oil. The fire tongues danced wildly, sparks swirling down like a meteor shower.

It was also like the season’s first rain falling during spring planting.

At last, it all settled into Qin Yu’s body.

In that instant, he felt something clearly taking root between his blood and marrow—like a deeply buried seed breaking through its shackles, pushing past the heavy soil, and sprouting a tender green shoot.

A surge of vitality arose unbidden!

[Flame Point: 42]

[Root Bone: Lower Grade Spirit Bone (Flame Point 42/10000)]

At the same time, the Spiritual Qi drifting in the heavens and earth seemed drawn by some force. Slowly, it began to converge toward him.

Qin Yu could feel his cultivation was increasing, slowly but surely.

"So this is Spirit Bone?!"

In this moment, Qin Yu finally understood the gap between Spirit Bone and Mortal Bone.

Worlds apart would not be an exaggeration.

Mortal Bone—even Top Grade Mortal Bone—wouldn’t attract Spiritual Qi unless you actively circulated your cultivation technique.

But Spirit Bone was different. Maybe because of the increase in affinity, Spiritual Qi actually gathered around him on its own... though the speed was still slow.

But it meant his cultivation was increasing at all times.

"Now, I guess I can be considered qualified for Foundation Establishment!"

Qin Yu gave a small, contented smile and held Zhao Mengli, who lay beside him.

"Shidi... I can’t go on... Go find Master..."

Looks like she really was utterly exhausted, even her words were garbled.

Who told her...

To be so greedy!

This is the price to pay.

...

City Lord’s Mansion.

Liu Zixiao’s brows were knit so tight they almost formed the character for ’several’.

Because of the existence of the Ruins Rift, not only were cultivators from all the Loose Cultivator Cities in the Yunlan Domain gathering, but some from other regions had come as well.

This time’s selection.

Liu Zixiao’s focus wasn’t actually on those loose cultivators in Lin Xian City.

Rather, it was on cultivators from Immortal Sects of other regions.

Their talent was far beyond what the loose cultivators could match.

Some of them even had quite the reputation.

But when faced with the Cyan Mountain Sect’s banquet invitation, they remained unmoved.

To them, the Cyan Mountain Sect was merely a declining Immortal Sect, offering little attraction at all.

"What should I do?"

No wonder Liu Zixiao was frowning like this.

If they only managed to recruit a few unremarkable loose cultivators, and put on such a grand event—wouldn’t they just become a laughingstock for the Hundred Sword Sect and Demon Sect?!

But right now, the Cyan Mountain Sect really didn’t have much to offer to entice people.

Wait a moment...

In terms of attraction, who could compare to the Yunlan Domain’s First Fairy... Su Xiyue?

Countless gifted cultivators sought to join the Cyan Mountain Sect simply for a chance to catch a glimpse of her, but that First Fairy was like the bright moon in the distant heavens—pristine, lofty, and untouchable.

Even Inner Sect Disciples rarely had the good fortune to actually see her true face.

If he could somehow persuade their Saintess to show up, even just appearing at the selection banquet, cultivators from the entire region would come pouring in.

Such is Su Xiyue’s influence!