Chapter Seventeen: Beiqing Si

Accompanying the two for a while, they agreed to meet here at this time every month, unable to find each other at other times. So, they bid farewell to the two.

Watching their departing figures, Zhongshan shook his head. These were flowers under glass, lacking in experience and cunning.

With provisions in hand, Zhongshan once again headed to the Fire Fruit Cave, continuing his cultivation of the Great Yang Divine Technique within.

Having chosen an excellent technique for cultivation, he was already at the second stage of innate strength. Among this group of people, someone had already reached the third stage, even though their technique was top-notch. Zhongshan couldn't help but feel that his progress was slower than theirs due to his poor aptitude. He had to rely on relentless effort, working harder than others to make progress.

So Zhongshan continued to practice and cultivate in the Fire Fruit Cave. When he grew weary of practice, he ventured into the mountains to hunt demons, engaging in battles to further increase his strength.

It had been eight months since Zhongshan arrived at the Kaiyang Sect, yet he still hadn't broken through to the second stage. Even in the advantageous environment of the Fire Fruit Cave, he couldn't achieve the breakthrough. Zhongshan remained patient; if breakthrough didn't come, he would continue to work hard. Hadn't the past decades been like this? Patience was key!

Returning to the Listening Water Pavilion, the rice had ripened once again. Standing outside the courtyard, Zhongshan no longer chopped wood. As time passed, he discovered that while his aptitude for internal cultivation was poor, his comprehension was exceptionally strong. His swordsmanship had become impeccable, and he could accurately split wood with just a glance.

Due to his poor aptitude, his internal cultivation progress was slow, but his external cultivation was exceptionally rapid.

The Great Yang Divine Technique, with its mighty strikes and decisive kills, had been thoroughly mastered by Zhongshan. Yet, he practiced it diligently every day, focusing even more on the simplest swordsmanship techniques. What used to be chopping wood had now become splitting stones. Zhongshan now sought out the patterns on the stones, though invisible to the eye, he could sense them when striking, aiming for the weakest point in the stone.

It sounded easy, but it was incredibly difficult in practice, requiring extreme precision.

During Zhongshan's time at the Listening Water Pavilion, Nan Batian and Tian Linger also came to visit him.

"Zhongshan, did you know? Overnight, Third Senior Sister's hair and eyebrows turned completely white," Nan Batian said bluntly, picking up a cup of tea.

Zhongshan knew exactly who Third Senior Sister was. With her confidence in reaching the Golden Core stage, she had long positioned herself as one of the second-generation disciples of the Kaiyang Sect.

"Her hair turned white?" Zhongshan frowned, looking at Nan Batian.

"Yes, but it's very beautiful, not dull white, but incredibly glossy white. It's remarkably beautiful," Nan Batian said, with a hint of admiration.

"Of course, it's not dull white. According to my father, Third Senior Sister's hair turned white because it triggered her bloodline inheritance. Only her clan has this ability. But when I asked my father, he wouldn't say, and when I asked Senior Sister Qing Si, she wouldn't reveal it either. So annoying," Tian Linger said, sipping her tea.

"Bloodline inheritance?" Zhongshan looked at the two.

"Yes, it's said that bloodline inheritance is an ability possessed only by some special family bloodlines. It seems quite powerful," Tian Linger said thoughtfully.

"So it's bloodline inheritance," Nan Batian suddenly realized.

"By the way, Little Nanzi, I heard you also have bloodline inheritance, but it seems it hasn't appeared for several generations. What's your bloodline inheritance?" Tian Linger immediately asked.

"Me? Who said I have one? I don't," Nan Batian quickly shook his head.

"My father said so," Tian Linger insisted.

"I don't know," Nan Batian said, his face stiff, refusing to admit.

"If you won't say, then forget it," Tian Linger's expression hardened.

Watching Tian Linger, Zhongshan shook his head and smiled. Though Tian Linger was a bit naive and straightforward, being around her inexplicably brought joy, making it the best relaxation during cultivation.

"There are still four months left until your first year gathering. Haven't you made a breakthrough yet?" Nan Batian asked Zhongshan.

"Not yet. I plan to spend more time out this time. We'll meet again at the gathering," Zhongshan said to them.

Seeing Zhongshan's determination, both knew he might be pushing himself in training and nodded in understanding.

"Work hard," Tian Linger said with concern.

"Rest assured," Zhongshan nodded calmly.

After seeing off the two, Zhongshan this time brought enough dry rations and cured meat.

This time, within the next four months, he must break through to the third stage of innate strength.

In four days, the gathering for new disciples' first year would begin.

Zhongshan ** sat in the Fire Fruit Cave, reaching the most crucial moment. Perhaps, at the next moment, he would finally reach the third stage of innate strength. Red light surged around Zhongshan's body, with a thick red aura swirling like smoke around him.

Sweat trickled down Zhongshan's forehead. He continued to exert himself, striving for the final breakthrough.

"Zha~~~"

With a loud shout, all the sweat on Zhongshan's body evaporated. His eyes widened with bloodshot veins, but an excited expression broke through. Finally, he had broken through to the third stage of innate strength.

It was exhausting. Zhongshan resented his poor aptitude, which had caused him to endure such hardships. But it was precisely this hardship that made Zhongshan's will incredibly firm.

After lightly adjusting his breath at the third stage of innate strength, Zhongshan slowly put on his clothes and wind-chasing boots, preparing to go out and wait at the Listening Water Pavilion for the gathering of new disciples' first year. Because Zhongshan knew that on that day, all the second-generation disciples, as well as the sect master and peak masters, would personally attend. If he was lucky enough to receive guidance from any of them, it would save him from many detours.

At the moment Zhongshan reached the third stage of innate strength, a white figure floated through the hot spring valley connected to the Fire Fruit Cave.

The woman was dressed all in white, with white hair, white eyebrows, and fair skin. Her bright eyes shone like stars, and she floated on a snow-white longsword, appearing ethereal and transcendent.

She was breathtakingly beautiful, like a snow lotus on an iceberg, exuding an aura of purity. The only flaw was her eyes, which seemed otherworldly, as if they saw through everything with a hint of indifference.

As the woman descended into the valley, she stood on the large stone where Zhongshan had once dried his clothes, crouching slightly. Her fair skin glided gently through the warm spring water, accentuating her figure that would make any man's adrenaline surge. At this moment, even a high monk about to enter nirvana would have thoughts of renouncing monkhood upon witnessing such a scene.

The woman seemed to have a cleanliness obsession; everything she wore was white, including the bracelet she wore, which was spotless. With a flip of her hand, she took out sixteen small flags from the storage bracelet.

Throwing the flags in all directions, they landed in various corners of the valley, forming a formation.

With a wave of her hand and a spell, the valley was suddenly shrouded in countless white mists, obscuring the view from outside.

Of course, this formation was not only for concealment but also to create a sealed space.

Feeling the formation complete, the woman gently untied her belt and slowly removed her clothes, leaving nothing on her body. With her snow-white hair draped over her shoulders, she gracefully entered the hot spring, bathing her perfect figure.

Gently washing her delicate body with the spring water, she enjoyed the sensation of soaking in the hot spring. Sitting on a smooth pebble, leaning against a large stone, she left only her head above the water's surface, closing her eyes to relax.

Elsewhere, Zhongshan, at the bottom of the hot spring, finally sealed the Fire Fruit Cave and slowly swam upwards.

It was deep at the bottom of the hot spring, typically taking the time of an incense stick to swim to the surface. Zhongshan remained calm, swimming slowly upwards.

After an incense stick's time, as if feeling she had soaked enough in the hot spring, the woman rose gently, walking slowly towards the shore. When the hot spring water only reached her knees, she once again admired her perfect body. Placing her hand on her chest and giving it a gentle pat, she suddenly paused, her eyes freezing.

"Bang~~~" Suddenly, from the center of the hot spring lake, Zhongshan, dressed in white, burst out of the water.