Chapter 045

Chapter 45: Step by Step

Wei Yun Xi had her reasons for giving the pill to Wei Zong Hao. She knew she needed a trustworthy ally in the Wei family and the Grand Righteous Sect, someone who could grow alongside her into seamless teamwork. She also knew Zong Hao was close to the quiet Zong Yu. With those two by her side, she’d have reliable companions when venturing out in the future.

Moreover, giving the pill to Zong Hao was a strategic choice against Wei Yun Qing, who always eyed her opportunities with jealousy. Today, Zong Hao had accompanied her to the market, which helped deflect suspicion from Yun Qing. With him there, Yun Qing wouldn’t suspect her easily. But because acquiring the pill went smoothly, Zong Hao witnessed everything. Yun Xi worried that Wei Yun Qing might coax Zong Hao into talking about the empty pill bottle. If he spoke, Wei Yun Qing would surely grow suspicious and harass Yun Xi even more intensely.

She didn’t want others constantly scheming after her treasures. Her only desire was peaceful cultivation. Giving Zong Hao the pill would ensure his silence and earn his promise. With the secret shared between two, Zong Hao would never reveal anything to Wei Yun Qing. Even if Yun Qing, with her heroine’s luck, sensed something valuable, she would be helpless without solid proof. Thus, Yun Xi’s decision wasn’t rash but a careful investment for the future.

To avoid complications, Yun Xi directly visited Zong Hao, giving him the pill to swiftly turn him into her ally.

Wei Zong Hao felt a gentle heat flowing through his meridians, warming his dantian, then descending to envelop his spiritual roots. Soon his roots burned hot, the warmth intensifying steadily. Sweat trickled from his temples, soaking his flushed cheeks.

Seeing him struggle, Yun Xi encouraged softly: “Zong Hao, hold on tight! Don’t faint now, or the effect will diminish greatly. Imagine cultivating with a perfect root value—even with your three-element roots, your cultivation speed won’t lag behind a single-root cultivator.”

Motivated by her words, Zong Hao clenched his fists tightly against his knees. He knew that in his lifetime, he might never encounter such a precious pill again. If he wasted Yun Xi’s kindness now, he’d never forgive himself. Thus, he silently cheered himself on, enduring the pain.

After an hour passed, Zong Hao finally opened his eyes. He immediately saw Yun Xi standing far away, pinching her nose.

“Yun Xi…” he started to say.

She quickly interrupted, asking, “Fully awake now?”

“Yes! But wait—what’s this horrible smell?”

Zong Hao gagged, realizing the stench came from himself. He almost vomited. Yun Xi quickly pinched a spell, sending a gentle breeze across his body, instantly dispersing the foul odor.

“Hehe, thanks, Yun Xi,” Zong Hao said sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. He realized the smell must’ve come from impurities expelled due to the pill’s cleansing effects.

Yun Xi finally dared to inhale deeply, feeling alive again. [Even when I went through qi induction, I wasn’t this smelly!]

But she had overlooked the body-strengthening pills and hot springs she had enjoyed back at the Feng family, which had thoroughly cleansed her impurities. Not to mention all the nurturing treasures Feng Jia Yun surely fed her daughter during childhood—things Yun Xi didn’t remember clearly because of her young age then.

“Zong Hao, quickly try running the Qi Refining Chant. Check how your body now absorbs and stores spiritual energy,” Yun Xi reminded him.

“Alright!” Zong Hao eagerly sat cross-legged once more. Breathing in deeply, he recited the chant, guiding colorful motes of spiritual energy into his body.

With fire, wood, and earth roots, Zong Hao absorbed red, green, and brown spiritual motes effortlessly. All entered his meridians, circulated once, then settled smoothly into his dantian.

Not wanting Yun Xi to wait long, he opened his eyes after completing one small cycle, grinning so widely his eyes squinted shut.

“Yun Xi, my spiritual root values must be near perfect! All the matching spiritual energy gets absorbed without leaking out now.”

Yun Xi smiled and nodded, replying, “Seems the pill worked perfectly. Luckily, you stayed awake and endured; otherwise, the result might not be this good.”

Zong Hao stood and bowed deeply to Yun Xi, knowing she’d given him a new life.

Accepting his thanks, Yun Xi firmly reminded him, “Remember, you must never tell anyone about your improved spiritual roots—not even your parents. Otherwise, you’ll attract unwanted attention.”

Zong Hao proudly patted his chest. “Relax, Yun Xi, I’ll never breathe a word! Only a fool would spill secrets like these. I’ll use the leftover medicine’s energy to push myself into the third level of Qi Refining these days. I can’t fall too far behind, or else I won’t qualify to adventure with you later.”

“Good. After you level up, we’ll visit the Outer Market again.”

“Agreed! Next time, I’ll treat you to a spiritual meal.”

Both feeling happy, they chatted briefly. Then Zong Hao discreetly escorted Yun Xi back before eagerly returning to his room, full of zeal to cultivate throughout the night.

Meanwhile, as Zong Hao absorbed the pill’s effects, Wei Yun Qing was cultivating in her practice chamber. But due to her restless heart, the Qi Refining Chant went awry. She suddenly spat out blood, narrowly avoiding cultivation deviation.

Unaware of these troubles, Yun Xi woke as usual the next morning, ate a milk fruit, performed a soothing yoga routine to loosen her muscles, and prepared for the cultivation hall.

For a month straight, she’d eaten one milk fruit daily, feeling satiated and steadily increasing her body’s strength. Even her grip was noticeably stronger, evidenced by the red finger marks left on Zong Hao’s cheeks yesterday. Luckily, he’d been so delighted by the Heaven Mending Pill that he hadn’t noticed them.

She was currently seeking sword arts and ice cultivation methods but hadn’t found anything suitable yet. Still, she wasn’t worried. If nothing turned up soon, she’d privately message Drifting with Immortal Grace to exchange resources for the needed techniques.

Wei Yun Ting, Wei Yun Ying, and Yun Xi met at the courtyard entrance but didn’t see Yun Qing. Her isolation formation remained active, indicating she was cultivating, so they quietly headed off to the dining hall.

After breakfast, the trio went together to the cultivation hall to begin their daily routines.

Entering her chamber, Yun Xi practiced all the attack spells she’d mastered until she could cast them instantly. Afterward, she sat to recover her energy. Once her dantian refilled, she began drawing talismans, starting with the simplest Dust-Removal Talisman. It was practical, easy to master, and the best entry-level talisman for beginners.