Holy Maiden, wait a minute. Why are you asking me to cultivate again?

After parting ways with Wang Yushu, Song Zhao found a relatively secluded section of the river.

There is no Demon Slaying Bureau here, nor any other cultivation forces. At most, there might be one or two Qi Refining rogue cultivators passing by, but they pose no real threat.

The red jade bottle continuously absorbed the "river energy" of the Lanzhi River, seemingly without end, and showed no signs of stopping even after half an hour of collection.

Song Zhao was happy with this situation and hoped that the collection of water bottles would continue for as long as possible.

He sat cross-legged on the shore, guarding the red jade water bottle, and began to meditate silently to solidify his cultivation.

......

......

In the middle reaches of the Lanzhi River, Bai Chenyin, who was stationed there to prevent the giant python from eating people, stared intently at the undulating river surface and let out a soft exclamation.

This female general, the only one in the Demon Slayer Division, was tall and slender with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. Her skin was milky white, her eyebrows resembled distant mountains, and her eyes were like autumn water with slightly upturned corners, giving her a cool and aloof charm.

"What's wrong, General?" The female adjutant beside him stepped forward and asked.

Bai Chenyin frowned: "Perhaps it's just my imagination, but I feel that the waves on the river don't seem as turbulent as they were this morning."

The female lieutenant began to worry about Bai Chenyin's health: "General, you've been guarding here for three days and three nights. You're so exhausted you're hallucinating. Don't you want to rest for a while?"

"I am a cultivator, what are three days and three nights to me?"

Bai Chenyin refused, saying, "The imperial court and the demon kingdom are at war right now. I am the only general in the three southeastern states. If I don't defend this vicious python, the people will suffer."

The female deputy general knew that her general was very stubborn, so she didn't say much and silently accompanied Bai Chenyin.

When night fell, the other officers of the Demon Slayer Division stationed on the shore also noticed that the wind and waves had subsided, and the two women realized that something was wrong.

"Is this a sign that the dragon is about to become a dragon?" Qianwei asked warily.

Bai Chenyin shook her head and explained, "According to the demon clan's notes, there will be changes in the weather before a dragon is formed. The river will become turbid, and strong winds and waves will follow."

"Now it seems as if that vicious python has given up on following Jiang Chengjiao..."

What they didn't know was that in a deep pool at the bottom of the river, the monstrous python was cursing its ancestors for eighteen generations.

"Who did this! Who on earth did this?!"

"That little bastard stole the 'qi' of Lanzhi River! Aaaaaah!"

"My plan to become a dragon has been completely ruined by him!"

The evil python wanted to find the source of the river's energy, but it could not find it, as if some heavenly secret was blocking it.

"It should be about time..."

Song Zhao finished his meditation and looked at the three drops of "Crimson Jade Dew" in the Crimson Jade Flowing Water Bottle, and smiled with delight.

While the Crimson Jade Flowing Water Bottle could still gather the essence of the Lanzhi River, he understood the principle of not draining the pond to catch all the fish, and knew when to stop.

If I need it again next time, I'll just come again.

After putting away the red jade bottle, Song Zhao passed by Wang Yushu's place and found that the other party had caught a lot of fish.

"It's strange, the waves were quite big at first, but then they suddenly got smaller, and the fish became easier to catch."

After selecting several valuable fish for Song Zhao, Wang Yushu gave him a few more instructions and continued fishing.

A crescent moon hangs in the sky, and lights twinkle in the market.

The market usually doesn't close until midnight, and although it's evening now, it's still quite lively.

After passing through the market, Song Zhao spent several hundred spirit stones to buy a concealment spell to hide his aura, and then found a secluded place.

"I must conceal my cultivation level, otherwise others will covet it!"

Back when he was at the eighth level of Qi Refining, everyone around him thought his cultivation speed was too fast and that he must have had some extraordinary encounter or opportunity.

If this continues, someone might try to take advantage of him.

He planned to temporarily conceal his cultivation level as the ninth level of Qi Refining even if he eventually broke through to the Foundation Establishment stage.

"My aptitude is extremely poor, but I have plenty of resources for cultivation. Can these three drops of Crimson Jade Dew help me break through to the peak of Qi Refining?"

With a calm mind, Song Zhao took out a drop of red jade dew from the bottle.

This thing is round and dew-shaped, about the size of an adult's thumbnail, and is bright red all over, with a rich color, like congealed blood.

If you put it to your ear, you can hear the sound of pine trees rustling and waves crashing.

After taking it, a loud noise came from inside the body, as if the blood and qi were surging and churning!

"Splash, splash!"

The sound of rivers and lakes resounded from Song Zhao's chest, shaking the mountains and fields!

Accompanied by the sound of the river, his internal organs and blood trembled continuously, and the magical power in his dantian and meridians flowed like a great river. Impure blood and chaotic magical power appeared on the surface of his body!

These impurities and interfering substances were expelled from his pores, and soon his clothes became dirty.

"Again!"

He then consumed another drop of Crimson Jade Dew, circulating it throughout his body. His blood and magical power became increasingly pure, with fewer and fewer impurities.

At the same time, his cultivation level was also constantly increasing, his dantian was expanding larger and larger, and his meridians were widening and expanding...

When Song Zhao swallowed all three drops of Crimson Jade Dew, a brilliant crimson light emanated from his body, and a faint image of a rushing river formed behind him!

"call!"

"Qi cultivation complete, you've succeeded!"

After changing into clean clothes, Song Zhao hurriedly left the area.

The noise wasn't loud, but it might have attracted other people's attention.

"Once I return to the sect, I will begin the process of becoming an inner disciple!"

Song Zhao's mind began to wander.

Although there have been many difficulties and setbacks along the way, we have managed to overcome them all.

"A menial disciple receives one spirit stone every three months, an outer disciple receives ten spirit stones a month, and once they become an inner disciple, they receive one hundred spirit stones a month..."

He didn't want the spirit stones; he wanted the other benefits of becoming an inner disciple.

First, you can choose a good cave dwelling on Tianwu Peak, which will make cultivation much more convenient.

Furthermore, it exempts one from sect affairs and allows one to choose a good cultivation technique from the Scripture Pavilion.

Most importantly, becoming an inner disciple means he's not far from becoming a true disciple. The Heavenly Martial Sect will become his backing, and the Du family and the Demon Slaying Division will have to think twice before trying to kill him, given the sect behind them.

"I'll break through tonight, so I won't cultivate anymore. I'll get a good night's sleep."

......

......

The next morning, Song Zhao went to the shop that had broken the ban.

Xu Baili was not in the shop, and it was unknown when the shop would open.

After waiting for a long time, the other party finally opened the shop door.

"Have you cracked it yet?" Song Zhao asked, activating his divine eye to search for traces of the letter behind the curtain.

Xu Baili had faint dark circles under her eyes: "Alright, alright!"

"That restriction wasn't that powerful; it barely kept me up all night."

She handed over the cultivation manual, the same one as yesterday.

Song Zhao was slightly startled. He picked up the cultivation manual and found that the restrictions imposed by Linghutang were indeed gone.

This made him think more highly of the other party.

What kind of person is Linghutang?

He was a Golden Core demon cultivator sixty years ago, and he must have been even stronger before he died. The restriction set by such a powerful person was actually broken by a little girl in just one day!

This person is from the same faction as Elder Cui Yu, which makes one wonder just how powerful their combined influence is.

"This young lady is indeed a genius at breaking taboos."

Xu Baili was greatly praised: "Of course! I already said, I'm ranked in the top three among the Xuanzhou Restriction Breakers!"

"Weren't they in the top five yesterday? How come they're in the top three today?"

"Once I break your restriction, I'll naturally be in the top three."

"..."

Song Zhao made no attempt to hide anything and began browsing through the demonic arts in Xu Baili's shop.

A moment later, he gasped.

This cultivation technique, specially designed by Linghutang, is a true demonic art, even more insidious and vicious than the Nine Yin Nine Yang Manual!