I'm in the Demonic Sect, but my cultivation techniques are being used for palace intrigue!

Although Zhu Jingguang felt like he was being scratched by cat claws, he was very eager to know what kind of earth-shattering changes would occur when the "Qi-Inducing Technique" reached its maximum favorability of 100, or what kind of heaven-defying special ability would be unlocked.

Unfortunately, reality is often far more harsh than ideals.

When the "Qi-Inducing Technique" favorability rating stopped at 90, it seemed to have encountered an invisible wall. No matter how hard Zhu Jingguang racked his brains and said all sorts of cheesy sweet words such as "You are the best," "I can't live without you," and "My darling," or even lowered himself to make a tearful confession, the "Qi-Inducing Technique" favorability rating bar remained as if it were welded shut, unable to rise even 0.1 points.

The number on the panel was frozen at 90, its glaring red color seemingly mocking his futile efforts.

"So, a favorability rating of 90 degrees or higher has already reached what's called a 'bottleneck'?"

"This is no longer something that can be improved simply through sweet words?"

"So... how exactly do we raise the favorability rating to over 90 degrees and break through that 90-degree barrier?"

"Does it require triggering some specific event to break through this barrier in a desperate situation?"

…………

Zhu Jingguang went through all the tropes of online novels from his previous life in his mind, but ultimately failed to come up with any useful or definite information.

Left with no other choice, he had to temporarily put aside his plan to "maximize the older sister's favorability" and then began to calm his mind and focus his attention back on his own body.

  

At that very moment, a strong sense of weakness, along with the return of his attention, suddenly struck Zhu Jingguang on the top of his head.

Then, Zhu Jingguang suddenly closed his eyes—only then did he finally remember that he had seemingly lost all his cultivation!

"Oh no! I was so focused on looking at the panel and practicing techniques that I forgot about the important matter!"

When Zhu Jingguang thought of this, he immediately tensed up, and a fine layer of cold sweat even seeped out of his forehead.

After all, he was now in the midst of a dangerous and ruthless cult.

Here, strength is the only truth, and fists are the only pass!

Without cultivation, one is just a piece of fat meat waiting to be slaughtered. Even a janitor or a menial disciple could crush one of them with a single finger!

"Oh no, oh no! If other demonic sect disciples find out, and I'm now a cripple... wouldn't I just become someone else's prey?"

When he thought about certain possibilities in the future... Zhu Jingguang immediately dared not think any further!

Then, he quickly held his breath and tried to sense the spiritual energy between heaven and earth by following the circulation route of the "Qi-guiding technique" in his memory.

However, just as Zhu Jingguang was diligently absorbing the spiritual energy in the air, suddenly, at that very moment, a strange sensation spread throughout his entire body via his meridians.

Zhu Jingguang's eyes widened in surprise.

Zhu Jingguang discovered that, for some reason, the spiritual energy in his body seemed to have undergone a tremendous change compared to before!

If the spiritual energy in his body before was an ethereal gas that would dissipate with the slightest exertion, then now, the spiritual energy in his body has clearly transformed into a viscous, heavy, and continuously flowing solid water!

The spiritual energy surged through his meridians, no longer a trickle, but like a river flowing into the sea, carrying a heavy, substantial weight. Each flow produced a "splashing" sound that only he could hear.

That sense of fullness, that sense of power, is incomparable to the superficial state I once was.

"What... what's going on?"

"Isn't the Qi Induction Technique supposed to be the weakest cultivation method? How come it comes with an upgrade service after repairing the body?"

As Zhu Jingguang felt the surging, wave-like power within his body, several thoughts flashed through his mind.

"So, I... turned misfortune into a blessing and broke through directly?"

"Spiritual energy liquefaction... This is clearly a sign of breaking through to the fourth level of Qi Refining!"

"So, I am now a genuine mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator?"

…………

Zhu Jingguang clenched his fist in disbelief, feeling the spiritual light dancing at his fingertips, his heart churning with turmoil.

In this world, the first to third levels of Qi Refining are considered to be beginners, also known as the "early stage of Qi Refining" or the "Qi Sensing stage".

Once you reach the fourth level of Qi Refining, your spiritual energy will be liquefied and your dantian will be stable. That means you have truly crossed the threshold of cultivation!

With a cultivation level at the mid-stage of Qi Refining, one can already have an independent cave dwelling within the Demonic Sect and become a respected outer disciple!

Furthermore, with certain skills, one could even take on sect missions, earn spirit stones, and temporarily escape the precarious fate of being a "low-class talent" in the demonic sect!

"Hahahaha... Heaven hasn't forsaken me, Zhu Jingguang!"

"I originally thought I was finished and would have to start all over again, but unexpectedly, I turned misfortune into blessing and became a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator!"

Zhu Jingguang burst into laughter, very excited.

However, it was at this moment that "Yin Yang Lun Zhuan Su Ri Cai Yang Jing," who had gone through an unknown psychological process and resolutely relinquished the position of "eldest sister," suddenly spoke.

[The Yin-Yang Cycle and the Daily Yang Meridian: "Master, I don't think it's time for you to be happy yet!"]

[The Yin-Yang Revolving Sutra of Daily Yang Harvesting: "Do you still remember that outer disciple of the Demonic Sect who handed me over to you before? He didn't have good intentions in giving me to his master!"]

[The Yin-Yang Reincarnation Daily Yang-Gathering Scripture: "The essence of my technique is said to be 'the balance of Yin and Yang, disregarding gender and endlessly regenerating,' but the 'me' he gave to his master was a deliberately castrated version!"]

[The Yin-Yang Revolving Daily Yang Cultivation Scripture: "The technique that person gave me to my master still contains the principles of Yin-Yang balance and the endless cycle of life, but it has been artificially weakened. On the contrary, the disregard for gender in my technique has been amplified many times over, and the true meaning of my technique has been deleted and changed into a Yin-Yang dual cultivation technique!"]

[The Yin-Yang Revolving Daily Yang-Gathering Scripture: "Actually, although my technique can be used for dual cultivation, my focus is not on that at all!"]

[The Yin-Yang Revolving Daily Yang-Gathering Scripture: "Of course, if that were all, it would be fine. But the person who handed me over to you, Master, bestowed upon you this version of the technique, in addition to what I've already mentioned, also includes a vicious self-sacrifice technique. If you cultivate me to a high level, you will directly refine yourself into a magical artifact!"]