The influence of the Blood Phoenix had not yet dissipated, and the divine aura continued to circulate around Shen Hanyi.

She withdrew her divine techniques and turned around, a hint of anxiety in her eyes: "Senior, is the first Phoenix Pattern satisfactory?"

Zhou Qing returned to his senses upon hearing her voice.

Originally intending to lavish praise, he maintained his sage persona and calmly said, "The foundation is adequate, however..."

He deliberately dragged the last words, noticing that she instinctively leaned forward, and continued, "Did you encounter an obstacle at the 'Tian Xuan' position when trying to condense the second one?"

"How did you know?" Shen Hanyi exclaimed, "Every time it reaches three inches from my heart, the Spiritual Power dissipates like a mud ox disappearing into the sea..."

"Wrong!" Zhou Qing suddenly held his fingers like a sword, a strand of red light bursting from his fingertips.

The light described intricate patterns in the air, resembling a miniature Phoenix Pattern map.

"The 'Hundred Tribulations Blood Curtain' emphasizes 'nurturing patterns through tribulations.' You're too fixated on injecting Spiritual Power—"

The red light abruptly changed direction, carving out scarlet traces at critical nodes, "You must leverage the force of the backlash!"

Shen Hanyi's body swayed, but she instinctively understood immediately.

"I see! This is entirely opposite to the operation of the first strand..." she murmured to herself, her eyes lighting up.

Zhou Qing slightly raised the corners of his mouth: "If they were all the same, wouldn't it just be copying? The three thousand Phoenix Dao Patterns aren't that easy to comprehend, are they?"

"Divine techniques on par with the Tao Trace Level certainly have their mysteries."

Shen Hanyi saluted respectfully: "This junior receives your instruction!"

Seeing her respectful demeanor, Zhou Qing's heart unexpectedly stirred.

In that moment, he almost wanted to reach out, pat her head, and say something like "a promising student."

But he quickly put away this reckless thought.

"Zhou Qing, Zhou Qing, you're really starting to get carried away!" Zhou Qing admonished himself silently.

He then coughed lightly to cover his slip, assuming a serious expression: "Alright, I'll demonstrate it for you once more, watch closely."

After saying this, he swept his sleeve, and two strands of Phoenix Dao Patterns emerged from his fingertips.

The outermost red pattern suddenly detached, transforming into a miniature Blood Phoenix in the air.

As Zhou Qing's sword fingers gently rotated, the Blood Phoenix began to flap its wings backward—each backward-flying Feather sparked fine flames.

"Reverse the feathers as guidance, tribulation fire as the medium." Zhou Qing's voice deepened suddenly, "Now!"

The Blood Phoenix emitted a mournful cry, its wings exploding into a downpour of fire.

Strangely, those sparks didn't dissipate but instead regathered during the fall, ultimately forming two Phoenix Patterns even more dazzling than before!

Shen Hanyi furrowed her brow in thought, then suddenly realized: "So you must destroy the Dao Pattern to..."

"Not so." Zhou Qing interrupted with a shake of his head, "Only the form is destroyed; it's through regeneration from destruction that the true essence is captured."

He pointed to her heart, "What you lack is not Spiritual Power but the realization of rebirth from dire situations."

Before finishing, he suddenly struck Shen Hanyi's shoulder with his palm.

Upon contact, Zhou Qing felt his palm touch a warm softness, the unique smoothness of a young girl's skin causing his heart to flutter.

A faint, cool fragrance wafted in, refreshing yet too daring to sniff deeply.

Had he overstepped his bounds a little?

Before, when imparting the Four-Color Array, he only lightly touched her forehead.

When granting Inscription Level divine techniques, it was just a gentle press on her Celestial Spirit.

Such physical contact now was indeed a bit forward.

At the same time, Shen Hanyi's entire body stiffened.

Until now, she had never been touched by an unfamiliar man, except for this never-seen Number One.

Even though it was a simulated body, this was the third instance of skin-to-skin contact, not to mention the multiple times they exchanged sweet words under the jujube tree beside her...

At this moment, her face flushed with a red hue, even her ear tips tinged with color.

"Focus!"

Zhou Qing forcibly steadied himself, suppressing his odd feelings as he instructed her.

Immediately, within her, the Phoenix Pattern flared into action, surging in red luminosity.

Zhou Qing guided it along, leading the Phoenix Pattern in a reverse circulation within her meridians.

"Ah!" Shen Hanyi cried out in pain, her body involuntarily leaning forward, nearly falling into Zhou Qing's arms.

But now, the Phoenix Pattern completed a reverse Circulation, not only undamaged but solidified like red jade, with a newly born Phoenix Pattern's shadow faintly discernible beside it.

"Remember this feeling." Zhou Qing quickly withdrew his hand, and the second shadow dispersed.

Coming back to her senses, Shen Hanyi carefully comprehended for a moment, then deeply bowed to Zhou Qing: "This junior has been taught."

Zhou Qing nodded slightly.

He then glanced down, noticing no top-grade Wood Attribute Spirit Stones had fallen nor any system prompts.

"Is it still not enough?" Zhou Qing muttered to himself, frowning.

He then looked at Shen Hanyi again, gritted his teeth, and said, "No matter, since today I have the leisure, having comprehended the second strand, I'll also impart the remaining intricacies to you."

"Really?" Shen Hanyi raised her head sharply, eyes filled with excitement, her previous shyness replaced by delight.

Zhou Qing gently moved his fingers, releasing another strand of red light, drawing a more intricate Phoenix Pattern map in the air: "Pay attention, this is the key change for the third strand..."

Who knows how long later, after the explanation of the fifth strand concluded, Zhou Qing still saw no Wood Attribute Spirit Stones drop.

What exactly is going on?

Don't tell me, comprehending Inscription Level divine techniques isn't the difficulty you're currently encountering?

Or perhaps, we're too far apart for them to drop?

Seeing Shen Hanyi, who remained in silent contemplation, Zhou Qing sighed lightly: "Alright then, these five should be sufficient for you to ponder over. If you encounter anything puzzling, feel free to ask anytime."

Upon hearing this, Shen Hanyi bowed deeply once more.

Just these five strands already spared her countless years of detours.

Moreover, Number One's explanations were so thorough, it seemed he had comprehended the entire 'Hundred Tribulations Blood Curtain' already.