"I wonder, how long will Brother Ning stay in seclusion?" Luo Ran wondered aloud, having not heard any news from Ning for a while.
Patriarch Luo stroked his beard and spoke, "Matters such as comprehending a scroll depend on one's talent, Ruo'er. For some, it might take days; for others, it might happen in an instant. Even then, one requires a good fortune to truly benefit from that scroll."
As the one who had overseen the scroll for the longest time, Patriarch Luo was quite knowledgeable about it. Most who had traded to glimpse the scroll usually gained not much benefit. Whether it was due to a lack of required talent or insufficient foundation, it remained the same.
"I just hope Brother Ning won't be disappointed if he doesn't gain much benefit..." Patriarch Luo sighed.
He wasn't overly optimistic, to be honest. In his view, Ning was just a young man; he might be a genius, but his understanding of the Pure Qi sutra was likely limited due to his youth.
This was a common issue with most geniuses who advanced extremely quickly—their comprehension of the cultivation technique often lagged behind.
Just as his sigh resonated, a sudden change in the spiritual Qi in the air caught their attention. Sensing a surge of spiritual Qi in the guest room, Patriarch Luo and Luo Ran exchanged glances.
"Father, could this be?" Luo Ran questioned, sensing the disturbance in the surroundings. As an early second-stage cultivator, he could sense some changes.
"Quick, follow me, Ran'er!" Patriarch Luo swiftly walked towards the guest room.
...
"So, this is the fabled impurities, huh?" Ning observed the sticky black substance that had been expelled from his body.
Having reached the final floor of the Pure Qi sutra, he was now undergoing the marrow-washing effect of the technique. It was the process of expelling impurities from the body and gaining a slight increase in talent.
Ning had encountered this concept in countless cultivation novels; he was no stranger to this effect. It was common for protagonists to shoot out gooey liquid from their bodies at least once.
Of course, protagonists in these novels usually suffered a bit because they relied on external help or acted without prior preparations. They were kind of brutish in that regard.
At this moment, however, Ning experienced a deep sense of comfort, akin to shedding a burden he hadn't known he carried. The sensation was liberating and empowering.
It had never felt so good.
Yet, as the transformative experience waned, Ning's attention shifted to the sticky black substance that had been ejected from his body. Impurities, as the name suggested, were waste products accumulated within the body. They emitted an unpleasant odor, intensifying Ning's distaste once the initial relief faded.
"Good thing I anticipated something like this happening; otherwise, my robe would have been ruined," Ning reflected with a touch of self-satisfaction. He had planned ahead to mitigate any potential aftermath.
Now, to deal with this...
As he prepared to handle the aftermath, a sudden knock interrupted his thoughts.
"Are you alright, Brother Ning?" Patriarch Luo's concerned voice echoed.
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"I am, Patriarch Luo," Ning responded before adding, "I would also appreciate it if you could arrange a hot tub for me."
"Does that mean?" Patriarch Luo's voice betrayed his surprise.
"Yeah. I was lucky enough to gain something from the scroll," Ning replied casually, unaware of the unintentional face-slap he had delivered to the father and son duo.
"..." Patriarch Luo felt he had been too hasty in his judgment.
Regarding Ning's claim of being "lucky," Patriarch Luo chose to overlook it. Over the years, few had gained anything significant from the scroll, let alone comprehending it deeply enough to experience the marrow-washing effect.
Yes, Patriarch Luo had a hunch that Ning had indeed completed the Pure Qi Sutra. Records within the family seemed to confirm this, aligning with his guess.
Letting out a soft sigh, Patriarch Luo instructed his son, "Prepare a bath quickly. Don't keep Brother Ning waiting any longer."
Observing his son's departure, Patriarch Luo's thoughts were straightforward. This golden thigh must be hugged.
...
"As expected, the Evergreen Morning Dew works wonders," Ning mused as he luxuriated in the soothing warmth of the hot tub.
He had prepared for something like this to happen, having seen the marrow-washing effect in the Pure Qi sutra. Being prepared for all possibilities was the essence of being cautious.
Anyway, the Evergreen Morning Dew essentially cleansed all of the odors from the body and even had the effect of improving skin quality.
Ning looked at his arms; they were fair, extremely so. The marrow-washing process had an unexpectedly positive effect on his skin.
"Who would've thought skin could shine so brilliantly? Odd. No wonder there is no lack of jade beauty in this world." Ning mused before turning his attention to his status.
With a simple command, a panel materialized before him.
[
Name: Ji Ning
Spiritual Root: Mid-grade Spiritual Root
Attributes: Five Elemental Attributes
Talent: Extreme Space-Time Sensitivity
Realm: 4th Stage of Qi Condensation (Consolidation)
Cultivation Method: Pure Qi Sutra (3rd Floor: 400/400)
Martial Arts: Bone Forging Fist (Great Accomplishment: 407/600), Shadow Steps (Great Accomplishment: 500/600), Turtle Breathing (Great Accomplishment: 456/600), Eyes of the Hawk (Small Accomplishment: 389/400), Heaven Shattering Fist (Starting: 39/300), Spiral Arrow (Starting: 20/200)
Buff: Blessing Of Heavenly Dao. Cultivation speed increased by 99%, Comprehension increased by 99%. Duration: 7 days, 12 hours, 43 minutes, 07 seconds
Specialty: Soul Ferrying Scripture
]
The first change that caught his eye was the addition of a new section: "Specialty."
From his prior experience, Ning understood that the panel would become more comprehensive as he advanced, so he wasn't surprised.
"Perhaps it appeared in the panel because I can access my sea of consciousness with my spiritual sense?" Ning speculated about the reason behind the change.
And speaking of consciousness, Ning could finally access his spiritual sense.
Based on his research until now, the spiritual sense was distinctly different from the innate five senses. Often described as akin to the mind's eye, Ning was curious about this new form of perception.
Driven by curiosity, Ning gently closed his eyes.
He imagined his awareness expanding from his physical form like ripples in a tranquil pond, a sense of anticipation coursing through him.
And then, as if guided by instinct, a unique mental sensation began to stretch outward. It was as if an unseen web of connection was unfurling, extending further and further.
And then he 𝙨𝙖𝙬.
Within the six-meter radius, he had encompassed, a new vista blossomed before Ning's inner gaze. It was as if he had entered a realm of heightened senses, where every facet of existence was painted with vibrant hues.
The space around him unfolded in intricate detail, forming an immersive tapestry that blurred the boundaries between him and his surroundings.
As if the space itself and he had become one. Ning could intuitively sense—not just see—the space around him in an exaggerated way.
He found himself immersed in a symphony of space and energy, perceiving coordinates, fluctuations, and even the minutest tremors within "space" itself. Words seemed inadequate to capture this heightened awareness.
He had become hypersensitive to the space around him.
Trembling lips barely muttered, "This is…"
[Talent: Extreme Space-Time Sensitivity.]
His mind raced to comprehend the significance, but like a flame suddenly ignited, his thoughts were engulfed in a surge of information. The influx overwhelmed his mental channels, cascading like a torrential downpour.
As quickly as it had emerged, his spiritual sense withdrew, a natural defense mechanism kicking in.
The torrent of insight receded, leaving him with the same fleeting feeling of slipping away as if consciousness itself were bidding a temporary farewell.
F*CK NOT AGAIN!!
Just like that, with a splash, Ning fainted.