Courtyard House: My Time Travel is a Bit Too Strong

Upon hearing this, Wang Yuyan's gaze faltered slightly, and a hint of confusion appeared between her brows.

Even Qiao Jingjing raised her eyebrows slightly, and Zhu Zhuqing turned her head to the side, her gaze quietly fixed on the spot.

Lin Quan's gaze then fell on Wang Yuyan, his tone deep and steady:

"Judging by common sense, you are exceptionally talented, having been immersed in martial arts classics since childhood, surrounded by unparalleled offensive techniques..."

"Why is it that I, of all people, have never embarked on the path of cultivation?"

Swah——

Before she finished speaking, Qiao Jingjing's gaze shot towards Wang Yuyan like an arrow.

The same doubt churned within her: with Wang Yuyan's comprehension and family tradition, if she truly wanted to practice, she should have already surpassed everyone else.

But in the world where Wang Yuyan lived, was there ever a moment of peace?

Infighting in the imperial court, bloodshed in the martial world...

Even the Martial Soul World from which Zhu Zhuqing came from was relatively peaceful in comparison.

Although there are nobles who oppress and Soul Masters who run rampant there, at least the Spirit Hall is there to protect all directions, preventing villains from making any rash moves.

Those bloodthirsty evil spirit masters were annihilated by lightning as soon as they showed any signs of their power!

In Wang Yuyan's world, the law of the jungle is starkly etched on every inch of land—

The common people not only had to pay heavy taxes and perform hard labor, but also had to guard against mountain bandits who robbed the roads and horse bandits who massacred villages, not to mention those江湖客 (jianghu ke) who would take people's lives at any time!

Given such a perilous situation, even if Wang Yuyan herself did not wish to learn martial arts, her decisive and efficient mother would probably have forced her to meditate day and night and practice guided exercises every night!

At this point, a shadow of sadness crossed Wang Yuyan's eyes, like a candle flame being lowered by the wind.

Just as Lin Quan had predicted—it wasn't that she was unwilling, but that she couldn't.

With her natural talent, if she can develop her meridians and build a strong foundation, she can at least catch up with her grandmother Li Qiushui's level back then.

Meeting the intense gazes of the three men, she made no attempt to hide her voice, which was soft yet clear:

"I was born weak, with delicate and fragile meridians. Even the slightest exertion of qi feels like being cut by a knife or pricked by a needle... I simply cannot withstand the circulation of internal energy."

really!

Lin Quan and Qiao Jingjing exchanged a quick glance, a knowing look flashing in each other's eyes.

Qiao Jingjing blurted out almost without pausing:

"No wonder when I first met Sister Yuyan, I felt that she was weak and pale. So that's why..."

Before she could finish speaking, Lin Quan had already continued:

"Would that zombie crystal core... be useful for Miss Wang's constitution?"

In an instant, four pairs of eyes were fixed on Qiao Jingjing—Lin Quan's, Zhu Zhuqing's, and even Wang Yuyan herself held her breath and looked over.

"Very likely."

Qiao Jingjing nodded, speaking at a measured pace:

"Although the power of the crystal core is fierce and untamed, it is the life essence concentrated to the extreme."

"For us awakened beings, every breakthrough is essentially a leap in the level of life."

"That's why when you first swallow the crystal core, you experience a complete transformation, like your marrow is cleansed and your body is reborn."

She paused, her gaze sweeping gently over Wang Yuyan: "The first time you take it, it may be the opportunity for you to break free from your cocoon and be reborn."

When it comes to understanding crystal cores, none of the four can surpass Qiao Jingjing.

This thing originated from the post-apocalyptic wasteland where she lived—

There, powerful beings abound, and thousands of awakened individuals have already penetrated the surface of the crystal core, reaching its very essence!

Swah——

With a slight thought, Qiao Jingjing held up a second-tier crystal core with a faint blue glow in her palm.

"Yu Yan, try this."

Sizzle! Sizzle! Sizzle!

Before she could finish speaking, several silver-white arcs of electricity suddenly exploded around Lin Quan, crackling loudly—

"This is the thunderous authority that the crystal core has bestowed upon me."

"Jingjing controls mental power."

"Bamboo's purity reigns supreme over darkness..."

Just as Lin Quan said, the black mist floating around Zhu Zhuqing, and her figure suddenly disappearing into the shadows,

Every single one of them is the most authentic manifestation of the power of darkness and the netherworld.

Compared to the special abilities awakened by Lin Quan and Qiao Jingjing,

The power that Zhu Zhuqing obtained was almost entirely intertwined with her martial soul origin, like vines clinging to an ancient tree, inseparable.

Tracing back to its source, it is all steeped in the depths of the underworld—calling her the "Shadow Ruler" is no exaggeration!

Looking at the strange aura and aura flowing around Lin Quan and the other two,

Wang Yuyan's pupils suddenly contracted, her breath hitched, and a storm of emotions surged in her eyes.

She stood there stunned for a long while before clutching the hem of her clothes, her voice trembling, yet carrying a glimmer of disbelief:

"I...I really...can I possess such power?"

"Um."

Lin Quan nodded slightly, his eyebrows just beginning to lift with a hint of warmth, but his tone suddenly turned serious:

"But I must warn you—the first time you swallow a crystal core, it will be excruciatingly painful."

"Whether you choose or not is up to you."

Before she finished speaking, Qiao Jingjing already understood.

With a slight thought, the level-two crystal core, gleaming with a faint blue light, silently rose and hovered steadily in front of Wang Yuyan.

The crystal core was within reach; she gazed at it for only a moment before reaching out to take it, her fingertips trembling slightly but without hesitation.

The next second, he tilted his head back, took it in his mouth, swallowed it whole.

Swah——

The moment the crystal nucleus entered my abdomen, a warm, gentle current, like spring water, flowed through my meridians, and my limbs and bones felt relaxed and slightly intoxicated.

But before this pleasant feeling could dissipate, violent energy suddenly exploded, surging like a tidal wave!

At first, it was indeed soothing, making my whole body feel warm and cozy, like cotton wool that had been thoroughly warmed by the sun.

But after only a few breaths, her face suddenly turned pale, her lips lost all color, and veins bulged on her forehead—

The excruciating pain felt like a thousand needles piercing the bone, or like a cold blade scraping the marrow!

"ah--!"

A scream burst forth, short and piercing, echoing in the silence.

Lin Quan and the other two stood quietly to the side, their expressions as calm as still water.

They all endured, struggled, and gritted their teeth to get through this.

But as his gaze swept over Wang Yuyan's distorted face—more frail than he had been back then, more fragile than Zhu Zhuqing had been during her first test—

Lin Quan's eyes darkened, and he turned his head to call out softly, "Jingjing."

Qiao Jingjing didn't respond, but simply nodded slightly at him.

With a slight thought, an invisible spiritual force, like silk threads and a net, instantly enveloped Wang Yuyan.

Her body stiffened, and her struggles became futile, as if she were nailed to an invisible amber.

Qiao Jingjing frowned, her voice cold: "How about... I make her pass out first?"

The girl before them was being subjected to excruciating pain, like being sliced ​​into a thousand pieces, a suffering far more unbearable than what they had endured before.

Lin Quan nodded silently.

hum-

The air vibrated slightly, and the echo lingered.

Wang Yuyan's body went limp, her eyes rolled back, and she fainted on the spot.

At the peak of the most intense pain, consciousness was abruptly severed—

For her, it was actually a form of kindness.

This girl is gentle and has never experienced much hardship before.

How can they compare to Lin Quan's unwavering will, or Zhu Zhuqing's ruthless determination to become stronger at the cost of her life?

If she were to endure the ordeal while fully conscious, she would likely either suffer a mental breakdown or be left with lasting scars.

Time slips by unnoticed...

Because of Wang Yuyan's transformation, Qiao Jingjing and Zhu Zhuqing did not set off to return to their respective worlds today.

The three stood side by side, like three silent trees, waiting for her to awaken from the chaos.

An hour later, the power of the crystal core was finally exhausted.

Wang Yuyan was still asleep, but beneath her skin, things had been quietly reshaped—

A thick, pungent odor rose up, and the body was covered with sticky, black grime, emitting a foul smell.