"Qi Refining stage five peak? How is that possible? With just one red fruit, even if you don't reach the peak of the Qi Refining stage, you should at least get to the seventh or eighth level! Wait... what's your Spirit Root?"
As she spoke, Shen Miaoyin seemed to remember something and asked.
Su Shi'er blushed and said, "Mixed Spirit Root!"
His Spirit Root was known to many within the peak and wasn't a secret.
One red fruit only raised his cultivation by one level. This left him a bit disappointed, but it wasn't unacceptable.
After all, he was already aware of his Spirit Root situation. From the beginning, he hadn't held much hope. Besides, he still had two red fruits in his hand, and this cultivation speed already made him quite satisfied.
"What... Mixed Spirit Root?! How did you manage to cultivate to the fourth level of the Qi Refining stage in such a short time?"
Shen Miaoyin was taken aback, her usual indifferent demeanor suddenly unsettled.
In her heart, she had always regarded Su Shi'er as a trump card for Luofu Peak. But to say he had a Mixed Spirit Root, she couldn't believe Lu Mingshi would train such a disciple.
"It's... just some personal fortuitous encounters." Su Shi'er smiled awkwardly, not revealing the truth.
The secret of the mysterious Pill Furnace was something he planned to keep to himself, never to tell anyone.
"Fortuitous encounters are indeed an important part for cultivators. However, with a Mixed Spirit Root, forming a Foundation will be a problem in the future. It's best to prepare early."
Shen Miaoyin said indifferently, not probing further, but calmly reminding him.
In her heart, she didn't hold much hope for Su Shi'er.
For cultivators, fortuitous encounters were important, but few could always rely on them. Without good talent, the future path was very limited!
"Forming a Foundation... will be a problem?" Su Shi'er's expression changed slightly, and he hurriedly asked.
Shen Miaoyin's words were like a bucket of cold water poured over him, instantly dampening his previously good mood.
"The realms of cultivators are like layers of heaven, each realm is a shackle. The worse the aptitude, the stronger the shackles."
"You already find it so difficult to cultivate normally, breaking through in the future will be as hard as climbing to the heavens."
Shen Miaoyin said lightly, not denying Su Shi'er, but speaking the truth.
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"Is there... no other way?" Su Shi'er asked with a bitter face, continuing to inquire.
This issue, even if Shen Miaoyin didn't mention it, he had vaguely realized. He just didn't expect it to be this difficult.
Perhaps because they had shared hardships, Shen Miaoyin wasn't displeased by Su Shi'er's questioning and said calmly:
"There are ways, of course! One is to use Pill Medicine, like the Foundation Establishment Pill, which can increase the probability of forming a Foundation. But Foundation Establishment Pills are extremely precious, and in your case, one or two won't suffice."
"The second is cultivation methods. Some special methods can also increase the probability of forming a Foundation. However, such methods are rare, and the common ones often have aptitude requirements. Unless..."
As she spoke, Shen Miaoyin seemed to recall something and paused.
"Unless... what?" Su Shi'er asked cautiously.
"Unless you can cultivate to the twelfth level of Qi Refining, breaking through with a twelfth level cultivation, combined with a Foundation Establishment Pill, might increase the probability."
"In ancient times, Qi Refining cultivators had twelve levels. However, for cultivators, reaching the twelfth level took too long. Therefore, some cultivators attempted to break through to Foundation Establishment with lower cultivation. Over time, the highest level became the ninth level of Qi Refining."
"The subsequent cultivation methods were lost over time, making them hard to find. If you're interested, you can look into this aspect."
Twelve levels?!
Su Shi'er was shocked, immediately thinking of the Small Zhou Tian Qi Refining Technique. This method was precisely a twelve-level Qi Refining technique.
He quickly cupped his hands in gratitude to Shen Miaoyin, "Thank you, Peak Lord Shen, your words have been very helpful to me!"
Shen Miaoyin waved her hand indifferently, her expression turning cold.
"No need to thank me, consider this as a return for your help to me."
"The formation of the Spirit Plant Garden is broken, you can leave on your own! After today, our fate ends here, and if we meet again, we will be strangers."
"The things that happened between us during this time, you'd better forget! If a third person learns about it, I will not spare you!"
As she spoke, Shen Miaoyin resumed her aloof demeanor, coldly gazing at Su Shi'er with a warning look.
To her, this incident was just an accident. With her talent, she could form a Golden Elixir upon returning and achieve the Golden Elixir Dao.
And with Su Shi'er's Spirit Root aptitude, it was destined that they would have no further connection in the future.
"Don't worry, I'll keep this matter to myself." Su Shi'er shrank his neck and immediately promised.
Revealing such a thing would bring him no benefit and would only offend a soon-to-be Golden Elixir expert, which he wouldn't dare to do.
Moreover, Shen Miaoyin's words had given him a lot of guidance.
He had already decided to follow the Small Zhou Tian Qi Refining Technique for his cultivation.
To seek revenge, relying solely on Qi Refining stage cultivation was not enough. As long as he could increase the probability of breaking through, he would try any method.
After parting with Shen Miaoyin, Su Shi'er randomly chose a direction and continued forward.
Having looted the Spirit Plant Garden, he was almost certain to be promoted to a formal disciple, so there was no need to take further risks.
Next, he planned to find a secluded place to go into seclusion and cultivate.
Three days later, Su Shi'er used the Wind Summoning technique, stepping on phantom steps, traversing through a range of towering mountains.
He was still wearing the Cloud-Stepping Boots gifted by Shen Miaoyin. Since she hadn't asked for them back, he wasn't going to return them voluntarily.
After all, to buy time, he had damaged a Top Grade defensive Ritual Artifact.
As he was moving, a sudden rush of footsteps approached.
"Someone?"
His eyebrows twitched, and without thinking, Su Shi'er concealed his aura and hid in a nearby bush.
He no longer had an invisibility talisman, so he could only use the bushes to hide his figure.
Soon, eleven figures appeared in his line of sight.
They were all disciples at the second or third level of the Qi Refining stage, both male and female, from various peaks, fleeing in a panic.
"Hmm? It's a miracle these people have lasted until now. But what are they running from?" Scanning them with his gaze, Su Shi'er was somewhat surprised.
Muttering to himself, his pupils contracted as he spotted a familiar figure among them.
"Zhu Hanwei?! He's actually here! This guy's really lucky."
Su Shi'er observed from the shadows, not revealing himself.
Just then, a sound of something cutting through the air came from afar.
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh..."
Six dark green arrows flashed by, striking the fleeing crowd with lightning speed.
Immediately, six figures halted abruptly, collapsing to the ground as they ran, dying on the spot.
The remaining few didn't dare to look back, each more terrified, running desperately as if mad.
And the direction they were running was precisely where Su Shi'er was hiding.
"Hmm?!"
These people were being hunted like prey? Who could be so cruel?!
Su Shi'er's expression hardened as he looked into the distance.
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