Trading system, I exchanged vegetables for golden pills.

After her master left, Zhang Qian also took her leave.

Ah Long offered to escort Zhang Qian home and then left. Dongzi, not wanting to be a third wheel for the master and apprentice, also left.

There's Rongrong at home, so he doesn't need to stand here.

Only Qi Lirong and Ye Chen remained.

Qi Lirong blushed and tentatively asked, "Master, did you leave me behind alone because you want to teach me the method of dual cultivation?"

Ye Chen glanced at her sideways: "Your intentions aren't pure; what's on your mind?"

"If Master wants to cultivate, I can do it. I've checked online, and it says that it can quickly increase cultivation level!" Qi Lirong said weakly.

Ye Chen stumbled and almost fell: "Don't look at that nonsense, okay? I have something for you, wait for me!"

"Oh!" Qi Lirong's face turned as red as a monkey's bottom.

Ye Chen pretended to enter the room and took out the mutated Tianshan Snow Lotus: "Here, take this snow lotus. It has cold energy, which is somewhat compatible with your constitution. It might be helpful to you."

"Should we eat it directly?" Qi Lirong took the mutated Tianshan snow lotus handed to her by Ye Chen.

Ye Chen didn't really know how to eat it properly. If she soaked it in alcohol, it wouldn't be good for a girl like her to drink so much alcohol.

After all, this was a girl who would remind him about dual cultivation from time to time.

Ye Chen was afraid that if he drank it in hot springs, it would change its energy properties.

So Ye Chen said directly, "Just eat the leaves, I'll make you a soup with the roots!"

"Huh? Eat it raw?"

Qi Lirong looked at the Tianshan snow lotus in her hand. Although she had some doubts, she did not hesitate and directly broke off a petal and put it in her mouth to chew.

A moment later, her eyes lit up: "Master, these petals are so sweet! They have a wonderfully refreshing fragrance!"

"Okay! Eat first, and carefully feel the energy!" Ye Chen nodded.

Qi Lirong wasn't one to be pretentious. She stuffed all the flower petals into her mouth one by one and began to chew them!

A moment later, Qi Lirong looked shocked. Without Ye Chen's reminder, she had already begun to use the breathing technique to absorb and refine the energy in her body.

While keeping an eye on Qi Lirong's situation, Ye Chen also began cultivating.

He needs to catch up quickly. Da Huang is almost at the sixth level of Qi Refining, and he, a Dharma Transmission Master, is only at the fourth level. What kind of situation is that?

Time passed by, and before we knew it, it was already past 2 a.m.

Qi Lirong slowly opened her eyes, her face filled with excitement.

"Master, I've broken through!" Qi Lirong's first thing to do was share her joy with Ye Chen.

Ye Chen stopped cultivating and nodded: "Hmm, you've reached the second level of Qi Refining so quickly, not bad!"

"No, Master, I've broken through to the third level of Qi Refining! I've broken through two levels in a row!" Qi Lirong raised her chin with a smug look on her face.

Ye Chen was slightly taken aback: "Qi Refinement Level 3? Just one snow lotus can allow you to break through two levels in a row?"

Ye Chen was full of question marks. This is not scientific. The law of conservation of energy does not work like this!

"Yes, Master, the energy of the snow lotus seems to resonate with me very well. I don't know how I've managed to break through so many times. I reckon I'm not far from reaching the fourth level of Qi Refining!"

Qi Lirong smiled mischievously: "Master, judging from your surprised reaction, I think I did a great job this time. I didn't disappoint you, did I?"

Ye Chen suddenly didn't want to talk anymore.

He painstakingly cultivated to the fourth level of Qi Refining, only to find that someone else had broken through to the third level of Qi Refining with a mutated snow lotus perfectly suited to their physique...

With just one giant serpent's inner core, he directly broke through to the fifth level of Qi Refining...

That's so damn infuriating.

That's what you call cheating.

Ye Chen spoke in a cryptic tone: "Don't be arrogant or complacent, you know? Cultivation is like rowing against the current; if you don't progress, you'll stagnate!"

"Oh, okay, Master, I understand!" Qi Lirong nodded obediently.

"Master, is there anything else you want to teach me, like... otherwise I'll have to go back!" Qi Lirong asked, blinking her big eyes.

Ye Chen glanced at her sideways: "For you right now, just focus on mastering sword control. One skill is enough to get you by; don't try to do too much at once!"

Ye Chen now deeply understands this principle.

With the system's rewards, he learned more and more spells.

But if he knows a lot, he doesn't have the energy to delve deeper into it.

You know a little bit about everything, but you're not an expert in anything. It would be better to specialize in just one thing!

Wind and Thunder Seal, Sword Control Technique, Sky Flight Technique, Five Elements Technique, Illusion God Technique, Divine Thought Communication Technique, Profound Heaven Body Refining Technique, Dual Cultivation Technique... these all require time to hone.

For example, Ye Chen has never tried the last one yet.

Therefore, it's useless to learn a lot; you need to master it...

"Okay, Master, I'll head back now!" Qi Lirong stood up.

Ye Chen checked the time: "Let's stay here tonight. It's already past 1 a.m. It's not safe for a girl to walk alone at night. There are empty rooms upstairs!"

In fact, Ye Chen himself didn't believe what he said. Was it not safe for a Qi Refining Level 3 cultivator to walk at night?

If any criminal dares to lay a hand on her, Qi Lirong will beat them so badly they'll excrete feces in no time...

Qi Lirong checked the time and realized it was indeed too late. Even if she went back, the dormitory building would be closed, so she stayed.

In the end, Qi Lirong still failed to learn the method of dual cultivation that she had been so curious about...

Early in the morning, Qi Lirong returned to school when A Long and the others arrived.

Dongzi gave him a knowing look: "Brother Chen, you guys didn't... last night, did you...?"

Ye Chen glanced at him: "Don't talk nonsense. Xiao Qi broke through last night and stayed behind to cultivate because it was late."

Ye Chen still offered an explanation, saying that although they were all acquaintances, a girl's reputation was still quite important.

"Stop thinking about that one thing all day long. Xiao Qi has already reached the third level of Qi Refining, what about you two?" Ye Chen directly pressured the two of them.

Sure enough, Dongzi and Along were both surprised to hear that Xiao Qi had reached the third level of Qi Refining, and they looked at each other in dismay.

They've only reached the first level of Qi Refining, while Xiao Qi has only been cultivating for a short time and is already at the third level?

"Brother Chen, you can't be biased just because she's your apprentice!" Dongzi said sourly.

"Others are practicing all night, and what about you? Think more about your shortcomings! Do you even know how far Da Huang has progressed in his cultivation?"

Ye Chen then brought out the big yellow dog.

Cultivation still needs a bit of stimulation.

Otherwise, they'll all remain lukewarm.

If you lack spiritual energy, then cultivate your body. Look at Da Huang; he does this very well.

I'm addicted to body training!

"Dahuang, come here for a second!" Ye Chen called out.

"Who wants to spar with Da Huang?" Ye Chen asked Dongzi and Along.

"Brother Chen, aren't you looking down on us? Xiao Qi is exceptionally talented, but are we inferior to Da Huang?" Dongzi said, looking unconvinced.

"Just so you know, you can't bite it with your mouth, I need to get a rabies shot later!"

Ye Chen chuckled: "Big Yellow, did you hear that? Your brother Dong is challenging you. Go easy on him, don't just talk!"

Dongzi's face darkened. What do you mean, "Brother Dong"...?