Cultivation: Beginning with the Heart Reflecting Heaven and Earth

"Senior Brother Lu, you've already reached the third level of Qi Refining?"

Before she could even sit down, Wu Ling'er suddenly exclaimed in surprise, "How did you cultivate so fast? I'm still at the second level of Qi Refining, and you're already at the third level! Where did you get such spiritual talent?"

They both have three spiritual roots. Wu Ling'er joined a faction and has resources, but she has only recently reached the second level of Qi Refining. Lu Qian, on the other hand, has been working alone and has already reached the third level of Qi Refining. How could this not surprise Wu Ling'er?

Lu Qian simply said calmly, "It's probably because my compatibility with the cultivation technique is relatively high, so my cultivation speed is slightly faster."

"Just like that, it's already this fast?"

Wu Ling'er covered her mouth and laughed, "I even suspect that you have awakened some kind of spiritual body."

Lu Qian couldn't help but look at Wu Ling'er, who was talking eloquently, "Junior Sister, you weren't like this before. How did you change so much all of a sudden?"

"There's no other way; once you enter a sect, it's like entering a deep sea! How can you survive if you don't change?"

Wu Ling'er showed no nostalgia for the past. "For example, in the Aurora Society I belong to, we receive two bottles of Yellow Sprout Pills every month. If we encounter difficulties in cultivation, senior brothers will come to answer our questions. We have someone to guide us in everything we do. Why don't you join us, senior brother?"

Lu Qian smiled and declined, "Cultivation is ultimately a personal matter. I am by nature indifferent to worldly affairs and do not like crowds, so I'll pass."

First, they tried to bribe him, but Lu Qian refused. Next, they would probably use coercion; he already had a feeling about it.

"It's certainly good for you to cultivate alone, Senior Brother. Why do you insist on getting involved in trouble?"

Wu Ling'er's expression changed abruptly, her face filled with worry. "Recently, rumors have been circulating, and I've been worried about you for quite a while. Haven't you noticed?"

Lu Qian asked calmly, "What rumors?"

Wu Ling'er recounted, "Everyone's saying that Senior Brother went to participate in the pearl-gathering mission, but he betrayed us beforehand, causing many of our senior brothers to fall into the punishment hall. Aren't you worried at all, Senior Brother?"

"Let's not even talk about how I, an outer disciple, went to the Punishment Hall to inform on others, and how so many senior brothers were caught."

Lu Qian said expressionlessly, "Just considering those people who lined their own pockets, are they right to do so? Shouldn't they be held accountable by the sect?"

Wu Ling'er was stunned for a moment, but quickly realized what she meant. "So, Senior Brother admits it?"

"Even if I admit it, do you think the sect will believe me?"

Lu Qian's eyes turned cold. "Are all the people in the Punishment Hall fools? If I confess, will they let the others go? You're going to such lengths to get me to confess to these things, you're probably just trying to exonerate someone, aren't you?"

Even if he, an outer disciple, confesses his guilt, it won't change anything. At most, he'll help share the blame and become a scapegoat. And it's hard to say what good it will do. At most, it will save face for some people and let them vent their anger.

In other words, even if Lu Qian agrees to everything, he can only become a sacrifice, and a useless one at that. He is merely a product of a little bit of power abuse, and nothing can actually be changed.

This makes no sense at all, but if you want the logic to be plausible, you have to make sure others hear it.

Lu Qian is now like a tiny ant; even if he shouts at the top of his lungs, who can hear him? And who cares what he says?

Few people care about the cries of ants!

Wu Ling'er's eyes remained unwavering. "You don't need to care about these senior brothers. Just do the right thing, and there will definitely be a fair outcome! You can rest assured about that!"

Lu Qian was too lazy to argue with her. This kind of person was just pretending to be confused; there was no point in saying anything. He simply said calmly, "What if I don't want to?"

"You don't want to?"

Wu Ling'er smiled again, her face showing disdain, "I'm afraid that kind of result is not what you want to see."

Lu Qian said nonchalantly, "Then I'll wait and see what you can do to me!"

Before she could finish speaking, Wu Ling'er grabbed her shoulder and ripped it open with all her might. The sound of tearing fabric rang out, revealing a large expanse of her underwear. Then she covered her face and ran out crying.

Lu Qian was dumbfounded. Before he could react, several law enforcement disciples suddenly burst in. The leader shouted angrily, "How dare you molest a female disciple within the sect's borders! How dare you! Guards, seize him!"

These people were all at the mid-stage of Qi Refining, so Lu Qian was naturally powerless to resist and was easily subdued. Wu Ling'er watched Lu Qian being escorted away and sneered, "You wouldn't listen to reason, so you'll have to drink the penalty cup! I told you before, just be obedient, but I had to resort to this trick!"

Then Wu Ling'er looked at the leading disciple and said, "Senior Brother Zhou, I really have to thank you for your help this time!"

Senior Brother Zhou snorted coldly, showing no respect whatsoever, "How dare I, a dignified sword cultivator, meddle in this mess!"

If it weren't for his grudge against Li Jingchen, he wouldn't even give a second glance to a woman like that!

Lu Qian was taken to the torture chamber and locked in a dark wooden house. No one came to question him, as if they had forgotten about him.

"I'll take this opportunity to figure out how to identify seeds!"

After meditating and cultivating, Lu Qian began to immerse his consciousness in his inner world, feeling no boredom whatsoever, remaining calm and composed.

Inside the wooden cabin, Lu Qian couldn't keep track of time. He vaguely felt that someone had come to see him a few times, but he didn't care at all and was only thinking about the matter of recognizing the seed.

"Has this person not given in yet?"

"No, he didn't even pass a word out; he really doesn't seem worried about his situation at all!"

"Even if you have nothing to hide, most people can't withstand that kind of pressure. If we were in his shoes, I wouldn't be as good as him."

"I admire people like that, but in this world, we're often caught up in situations beyond our control. Let's just focus on doing our own jobs well!"

Outside the wooden house, two disciples were chatting casually when Senior Brother Zhou walked over with Wu Ling'er.

"Senior Brother Zhou!"

The two immediately bowed.

Wu Ling'er was somewhat dissatisfied, "Five days have passed, and this matter is still unresolved. Haven't you tried using torture?"

"Be careful what you say!"

Senior Brother Zhou immediately interrupted her impatiently, "The Punishment Hall also has its rules, and there are too many flaws in this matter. If it really blows up and attracts the attention of the sect, you and I will be the first to suffer!"

Wu Ling'er still seemed somewhat unconvinced, "The Array Pavilion is paying attention to this matter..."

Senior Brother Zhou interrupted her dismissively, "Don't try to intimidate me with the Array Pavilion. If it were really that powerful, would it need to target an outer disciple?"

"You'd better convince him quickly, otherwise if this drags on any longer, I'll have to take official business into account!"

Upon hearing this, the surrounding temperature seemed to drop slightly. Wu Ling'er felt a pang of fear. While it was one thing to use the name of the Array Pavilion to intimidate others, when it came to her own situation, she was suddenly filled with dread. Hesitantly, she asked, "What do you mean by 'official business'?"

"Of course, someone fabricated facts to frame their fellow disciples!"

Senior Brother Zhou grinned, revealing a chilling smile. "So, don't push me!"

Then he waved his hand, "Open the formation and let her in!"