After binding with a genius, I became an immortal by exploiting loopholes.

Looking at the jade leaf, Lu Qingchen did as instructed.

The jade leaf glowed faintly, its light slightly brighter than when the spirit was tested, but still pitifully thin.

Elder Chen stared at the faint light for a long time, then took out another grayish round stone and had Lu Qingchen press it onto the stone.

Five-colored light shone, slightly brighter than when the spirit was tested, but it was still dim, still indicating that the spirit root was of low grade.

"The spirit body hasn't changed much, and the spiritual root hasn't changed much either."

Elder Chen took back the jade leaf and the round stone, his tone flat, making it impossible to tell whether he believed it or not.

Lu Qingchen stood with his hands at his sides, his heart pounding like a drum, but his face remained calm.

He knew that the Dao Stele was hidden in the deepest part of the soul, and could not be seen by anyone who had transcended the Heavenly Dao of this world.

Although Elder Chen was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he was still a long way from "transcending the Heavenly Dao," so he would definitely not be able to discover it.

As expected, Elder Chen remained silent for a moment before waving his hand and saying, "Go down. In the path of cultivation, haste makes waste. Since you have this opportunity, make the most of it and don't be greedy for quick results."

"Marrow cleansing is far more dangerous than tendon changing. If you feel anything is wrong, stop immediately."

He paused, then added, "If you encounter any difficulties in marrow cleansing, you can come to me. Since you have joined my Qingxuan Sect, it is only right that I give you some pointers."

Lu Qingchen's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly bowed, "Thank you, Elder Chen!"

"Go."

"This disciple takes his leave."

......

When Lu Qingchen left the side hall, his back was covered in a thin layer of sweat.

As he walked, he pondered in his mind: a low-grade five-elemental-root cultivator achieving 40% marrow cleansing in thirty days—this speed is indeed too dazzling.

Although there is the excuse that "the spirit body of Qingmu was touched by the spiritual energy of Mingfa Peak", if this continues, it will inevitably attract more scrutinizing attention.

Lu Qingchen shook his head, not daring to think any further.

But what could he do?

With the 100-day assessment just around the corner, if he doesn't desperately try to catch up using the Dao Stele, he will only have two options: leave the sect or become a menial servant.

He had seen the fate of those disciples from Zhiyi Peak—their expressions were numb, their eyes were lifeless, like walking corpses whose energy had been drained.

It was a dead end that seemed to stretch endlessly into the distance.

The lesser of two evils.

Rather than worrying too much and ultimately being eliminated, it's better to pass the 100-day assessment first.

As for what happens next... we'll talk about that later.

Having figured this out, he took a deep breath, suppressed his unease, and strode towards the side room.

Inside the side hall, Elder Chen picked up the tea that had long since gone cold and took a sip. His gaze, through the half-open door, fell on the gray figure that was gradually walking away.

He has lived for over a hundred years and has seen countless geniuses and good-for-nothings.

A person with five spiritual roots of low grade could go from the initial stage of Yi Jin to the forty-fold completion of Xi Sui in thirty days—he would never have believed such a thing in the past.

But the disciple who stood in front of him just now had a steady aura and clear eyes, and there was indeed no sense of weakness or fragility caused by taking pills.

"The spirit body of Qingmu was touched by the spiritual energy of Mingfa Peak..."

Elder Chen murmured the same thing over and over again, put down his teacup, picked up his brush and added a small line of text next to Lu Qingchen's name on the register: "This boy may have some hidden destiny, keep a close eye on him in the future."

He wanted to see if this mixed spiritual root of five spiritual roots truly possessed some extraordinary opportunity, or if it was just a fleeting stroke of luck.

......

After the assessment, the atmosphere at Yuxin Peak became even more oppressive.

The remaining seedlings were like wind-up toys, spending their days eating, sleeping, and cultivating.

The lecture hall was empty, and few people went to the library. Everyone was holding their breath, determined to fight for a future in the last twenty days.

The same goes for Lu Qingchen.

He used the remaining Marrow Essence Pills sparingly.

Every few days, after the medicinal power of the previous dose has been fully refined and integrated into the bone marrow, the next dose can be taken.

With the cultivation points transferred daily from the Dao Stele, the marrow cleansing progress is steadily advancing.

The threshold of nine drops of essence blood is neither too far nor too near—he already had four drops when he completed the 40% marrow cleansing, and now he can condense one or two more drops for every 10% advancement.

Ninetieth day.

Lu Qingchen sat cross-legged in the side room, slowly finishing his practice. When he opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashed in them.

The medicinal power of the four Marrow Essence Pills has finally been fully absorbed into the bone marrow in the past few days.

He could clearly feel that his bones were a bit heavier than they had been a month ago, but also more resilient, as if pig iron had been forged into refined steel.

The marrow cleansing process is 70% complete. Six drops of essence blood slowly rotate in the dantian, as red as blood beads, exuding a warm and moist life aura.

Three drops are needed.

At this rate, barring any mishaps, we should be able to collect nine drops within a hundred days.

As he was pondering this, the door was pushed open. Li Si and Wang Ming walked in one after the other, both looking somewhat tired, but in good spirits.

"Qingchen, how far have you progressed in your marrow cleansing?"

Li Si plopped down on the bed and casually asked.

"Seventy percent."

Lu Qingchen didn't hide anything, "Six drops of essence blood."

Li Si raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised: "Not bad, I've got 75% and 7 drops of essence blood. What about Wang Ming?"

Wang Ming scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed: "I'm at 65% and have five drops of essence blood, so I'm a bit slower than you guys."

"What's so slow about it? You have four spiritual roots at the middle grade, it's already quite good that you've reached this level."

Li Si patted him on the shoulder, "At this rate, all three of us can draw qi into our bodies before the hundredth day."

Wang Ming grinned, then sighed with emotion, "Speaking of which, when we first joined the sect, I thought all of us in this room would have to go to the Service Peak. Who would have thought that the three of us would make it through?"

Li Si paused for a moment, then said softly, "Yes, it would be great if Sun Han were here too..."

The room was quiet for a moment.

None of the three spoke; each was lost in their own thoughts.

Li Si broke the silence first: "Alright, stop thinking about that. Once we're in the sect, let's cultivate diligently. If we become capable in the future, we'll help each other out."

"right."

Wang Ming nodded emphatically, "We'll look after each other then, and we'll be able to gain a foothold in the sect."

Lu Qingchen smiled and said, "Then it's settled."

The three of them exchanged a glance and then smiled.

After that day, the three of them trained even harder.

On the ninety-third day, Li Si had accumulated eight drops of essence blood, just one step away from nine drops.

On the ninety-fifth day, Lu Qingchen had accumulated seven drops of essence blood, and his marrow cleansing progress was eighty percent complete.

On the evening of the ninety-sixth day, a burst of spiritual energy suddenly erupted in the side room—Li Si had successfully guided Qi into his body.

He let out a long roar, a roar filled with exhilaration: "It's done!"

Wang Ming and Lu Qingchen opened their eyes at the same time and looked at him.

"Congratulations!"

Wang Ming smiled sincerely.

Congratulations, Brother Li.

Lu Qingchen nodded as well.

Li Si finished his work, a rare hint of pride appearing on his face: "You guys are almost there too, keep it up!"

On the ninety-seventh day, Wang Ming's essence blood accumulated to seven drops.

On the morning of the ninety-eighth day, Lu Qingchen sat cross-legged all night, and finally, at dawn, the ninth drop of essence blood condensed into a form.

Nine drops of essence and blood gathered in the heart and suddenly merged into one!

A pure white, mist-like "innate fetal breath" was born from the essence and blood, rising into the sky along the Ren and Du meridians!

"boom--"

It felt as if a thunderclap had exploded in my mind.

With the Ren and Du meridians connected and the bridge between heaven and earth linked, all 365 acupoints in the body open simultaneously, frantically absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth from the outside world!

The Qi has been drawn into the body; it's done!