Qin Yu hadn’t expected that the first to blend in would be Leng Ruyu.

In the end, Su Xiyue’s temperament played a part; maybe her skin was thinner, too.

Although they’d met before, she couldn’t interact as familiarly with Lin Shuishui and the others as Leng Ruyu did.

It’s not that Su Xiyue was aloof, it’s just...she really wasn’t good with words, and had zero experience dealing with others.

Even with her own elder sister, Liu Zixiao, she was the same way.

"Can I call you Sister Xiyue?"

In the end, it was Lin Shuishui who took the initiative to approach, and that’s how they finally became acquainted.

Seeing them getting along, Qin Yu finally breathed a sigh of relief—it had already been eight days. Glancing at the fire seed’s Flame Point value...

[Flame Point: 20013]

[Root Bone: Middle Grade Spirit Bone (Flame Point 20013/20000) Breakthrough Possible]

[Spiritual Power: Refining Initial Stage (Flame Point 20013/20000) Breakthrough Possible]

Breakthrough time.

It was time to go see Master.

After all, Master only gave him three days, and he hadn’t shown up for eight days straight.

Who knows if Master would be angry.

As for why he needed to break through at Master’s place...

Maybe the Sect Leader’s Cave Mansion was just perfect for breakthroughs!

...

"Master!"

As soon as he walked in, Qin Yu saw the Sect Leader sitting with a grim face in the hanging chair. Hearing Qin Yu’s voice, she merely lifted her head slightly.

Qin Yu was puzzled. What person, what matter, could make the Sect Leader so troubled?!

"Master..."

He wanted to ask what was going on, but the Sect Leader only gazed at him calmly, then stood up wordlessly and walked into the Alchemy Room to prepare the medicated bath.

No reproach, no rebuke, eerily calm.

"What’s going on?"

Qin Yu honestly would have preferred Master to scold him.

Could it be just because he hadn’t come the past few days that she’s angry?

Can’t be.

Soon, she finished preparing the bath, and Qin Yu, full of doubt, walked in.

"I’ve prepared a new medicated bath for you; try it and see how it works."

Su Xihe already had things weighed in her mind. These days, Qin Yu’s life had been way too comfortable, totally lacking any sense of urgency, so much so that his cultivation heart had grown slack.

Though the Hall Master’s duel was still two and a half years off...

For a cultivator, that’s but a fleeting instant, gone in a blink. Most cultivators wouldn’t even make a small breakthrough in such a short span.

But Qin Yu—he hadn’t shown up for eight days straight, hadn’t even left the Saintess Cave Mansion.

Such absurd behavior, she couldn’t tolerate. To keep this unruly disciple in line, he needed to learn a lesson!

"Yes, Master."

Seeing she wasn’t angry, Qin Yu cheered up, jumping straight into the tub.

After breaking through to the Divine Body, the medicated bath didn’t affect him much anymore. But as he ran Hundred Rivers Return to the Sea Technique, he could clearly feel the medicine’s strength had increased significantly; his speed at absorbing and refining Spiritual Qi had boosted a lot.

As time passed, the bath’s potency faded quickly...

He felt he’d absorbed almost all of it.

"Time to break through!"

Root Bone, the foundation for any cultivator—but for present-day Qin Yu, a Middle Grade Spirit Bone was just barely sufficient.

Considering the Hall Master probably valued Spiritual Power more.

Qin Yu decided to raise his Spiritual Power first.

[Spiritual Power: Refining Initial Stage (Flame Point 20013/20000) Breakthrough Possible]

"Breakthrough!"

As before, the flame shot up suddenly, and radiant sparks rained down like a shower of stars.

Next instant.

"Ah!..."

In that moment, Qin Yu’s skull felt as if it’d been smashed by a thousand-ton weight—a torrent of pain flooded in, as if something in his mind kept expanding, like it’d force his skull apart.

This agony, like torn cloth—like a balloon swollen to bursting—his eyes quickly covered with terrifying veins, his face twisted horribly, teeth clenching so hard they emitted a chilling creak, unsettling to hear.

Pain.

Indescribable pain.

Unimaginable pain.

Qin Yu only felt his head about to split open, as if hundreds and thousands of ants rampaged inside, wishing he could rip his skull apart and tear out that nameless thing, grinding it to dust.

Thud! Thud...

Helpless, he banged his forehead against the hard edge of the tub. Each blow brought a muffled echo, trying desperately to use physical pain to drown out the torment. Yet it only grew fiercer, like wildfires whipped by a storm.

With such commotion, Su Xihe outside obviously heard everything.

She was about to push the door and enter, but hesitated.

The previous horrifying scene lingered in her mind, impossible to shake off.

If she barged in now and saw it again, then what?

"Qin Yu, what’s happening?!"

The Sect Leader tried shouting from outside, but all she received were knocks on the tub’s rim and heavy breathing burdened with endless anguish.

Her brows furrowed, hands repeatedly poised to push the door, yet again and again she stopped herself.

Bam!

Just as she was lost, a sudden loud crack exploded—the bath barrel couldn’t stand the strain and broke.

Right then, Su Xihe couldn’t hold back her worry any longer, pushed the door open without hesitation.

She saw in a glance: Qin Yu sprawled among puddles, clutching his head tightly, rolling helplessly on the floor—tormented beyond belief.

Even if it seemed Qin Yu had nothing on beneath...

She hadn’t the mind for embarrassment now—her heart quivered, her face lit up with anxiety, worry, and boundless regret. She rushed forward, eager to check Qin Yu’s condition.

"Master, it hurts so much..."

Half-delirious, Qin Yu caught sight of Su Xihe, as if seeing a lifeline—he reached out for her.

Hearing his hoarse, suffering voice, Su Xihe felt as if her heart had been struck by a hammer—a deep guilt surged inside.

If she hadn’t carelessly added extra Spirit Medicine, how could Qin Yu have ended up like this?!

The Sect Leader was filled with regret and self-blame.

But now wasn’t the time. Grabbing Qin Yu’s hand, she poured her powerful Spiritual Power into him, trying to see where the problem lay.

Yet after a thorough check, she found Qin Yu’s body was strong as an ox—not the slightest issue.

The Sect Leader was baffled.

Only then did she notice—Qin Yu kept clutching his head.

Could it be Spiritual Power?

But no: the medicated bath was meant to cultivate Spiritual Qi, how could it affect Spiritual Power?

Su Xihe’s mind was spinning, but there was no time to hesitate. She summoned her own Spiritual Power, preparing to probe Qin Yu’s sea of consciousness.

Buzz!

Just then, within Qin Yu’s consciousness, a vast and powerful Spiritual Power suddenly surged forth, making Su Xihe freeze on the spot, her eyes wide open.