Chapter 5: I Need to Get My Hands on a Secret Art

After the meal, Chen Yinshan and his wife took their leave.

Once the couple had gone, Wen Rongxin began clearing the dishes. She then brought the leftovers over, her large, dewy apricot eyes fixed unblinkingly on Li Guanxuan.

Clearly, she wanted Li Guanxuan to store the leftovers in the storage pouch, so as not to waste them.

Li Guanxuan, half amused and half exasperated, cast a spell to seal the food with his spiritual power, saying, “A spell will do; there’s no need to use the storage pouch.”

Wen Rongxin saw that he was teasing her for being slow-witted again. Her oval face flushed with annoyance, and she stomped her foot, fuming, “Well—you never told me that!”

Li Guanxuan laughed heartily, pinching her soft cheek. “Go take a bath. We still have important matters to attend to… Oh, and from now on, whatever we have at home, make sure to hide it away when possible. Don’t let others see—wealth should never be flaunted.”

“Understood,” she replied, her cheeks turning crimson as she thought of those “important matters.” She dashed off toward the kitchen.

Night fell.

Wen Rongxin lay on the bed, habitually pulling the quilt up to cover everything below her nose, leaving only her large, round eyes visible as she wordlessly stared at Li Guanxuan.

“Sit up,” Li Guanxuan said.

“Huh?”

Wen Rongxin was taken aback. Sit up? Weren’t they about to…?

But Li Guanxuan spoke seriously: “I bought two Qi-Gathering Pills from the market. Let’s see if they can help you form your first wisp of qi and step into the first level of Qi Refinement—that’s the important matter.”

At his words, Wen Rongxin’s delicate, radiant face flushed to the roots of her hair. Her clear eyes shimmered like autumn water as she yanked the quilt over her head, hiding beneath it in silence.

Li Guanxuan, who was only at half his strength these days, laughed aloud, blew out the candle, and began to dote on her.

About an hour later.

Li Guanxuan emerged, supporting his back, the vigor of his earlier days noticeably diminished.

The pure energy from the Velvet Blossom Spirit Tree broke through the darkness and circulated through his limbs and bones, but for someone like him, who could now only last an hour, it was far too little.

At this rate, who knew how many years it would take to reach the fourth level of Qi Refinement?

No, he’d have to find a dual cultivation technique soon… Li Guanxuan’s expression was grave, and he couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

He’d thought that with the Velvet Blossom Spirit Tree, his path to immortality would be smooth, but unexpected obstacles had cropped up along the way.

He turned his gaze to Wen Rongxin, who was now limp as water.

She’d started saying she couldn’t go on half an hour ago.

That only strengthened Li Guanxuan’s resolve to find a dual cultivation manual as soon as possible. Otherwise, it might soon be impossible to draw more pure energy from the Velvet Blossom Spirit Tree.

He carried Wen Rongxin in his arms, bathed her briefly, then transferred some spiritual energy to her, waiting quietly for her to recover.

After half an hour, Wen Rongxin finally felt better. Looking at Li Guanxuan, who sat cross-legged in meditation, she whispered, “Husband… perhaps you should take a concubine.”

Recently, she truly felt exhausted; at this rate, she might ascend to immortality from sheer depletion.

Li Guanxuan opened his eyes in surprise, then his expression returned to normal.

In the cultivation world, polygamy was common. But for a poor itinerant cultivator like him, where would he find the spirit stones to take a concubine?

The money from drawing talismans and refining pills was barely enough for daily expenses and his own cultivation.

And besides, if he were to take a concubine, she’d have to be a female cultivator at the Qi Refinement stage; if she were just a mortal or martial artist, the Velvet Blossom Spirit Tree likely wouldn’t yield much pure energy.

Moreover, there was another prerequisite for gaining that energy…

True dual cultivation, with hearts united.

If it was just emotionless cultivation for the sake of power, the tree would give no reward at all.

Only if their hearts were truly joined would he be able to take root and reach immortality.

“We’ll talk about this later. Once you reach the first level of Qi Refinement, you won’t feel so tired. We’ll be able to spar at least three hundred rounds a day,” Li Guanxuan said with a smile, gently refusing her suggestion.

But Wen Rongxin was especially understanding. She poked Li Guanxuan’s waist and whispered, “Even if I can reach the first level with the Qi-Gathering Pill, it’ll be nearly impossible for me to go further. It’s not worth wasting spirit stones… Your cultivation is what matters most.”

She was a five-element deficient spiritual root; her talent meant she would never get far on the path of cultivation. To live a peaceful life with Li Guanxuan was already more than enough.

Besides, recently she wasn’t the only one feeling depleted—even Li Guanxuan was struggling.

So Wen Rongxin felt that all the spirit stones they earned should go to Li Guanxuan’s cultivation. As long as he broke through to Foundation Establishment, all their problems would be solved.

Li Guanxuan hugged her close, smiling. “I’ve told you, only if you remain healthy do I have any hope of Foundation Establishment. No matter how hard this path is, as long as husband and wife are united, there’s no hardship we can’t overcome.”

Soothed by Li Guanxuan’s gentle words, Wen Rongxin finally nodded, agreeing to take the Qi-Gathering Pill and strive for Qi Refinement.

Seeing the resolve in her eyes, Li Guanxuan felt reassured at last.

In cultivation, state of mind was everything.

Only with focus and perseverance could one increase the chances of success.

Wen Rongxin swallowed the Qi-Gathering Pill. A warm current surged through her, beginning to cleanse her body and draw in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

Li Guanxuan was prepared. He handed her his last two lower-grade spirit stones and sat quietly by her side.

After a moment…

The gathered spiritual energy suddenly dissipated.

Wen Rongxin opened her eyes, misted with disappointment. She hung her head, filled with remorse—her own foolishness had wasted these precious resources.

“It’s all right, there’s still one more Qi-Gathering Pill,” Li Guanxuan comforted her. “Cultivation is never easy; you can’t give up because you failed once. You must believe you can overcome this. Only then will the immortal path open before you.”

Encouraged by his words, Wen Rongxin steadied herself, adjusted her emotions, and took the second pill.

Once again, warmth flooded her body, making her slender frame tremble. As it coursed through her, the warmth slowly gathered at her dantian, quietly forming a sea of qi…

Soon, a foul, tar-like substance began to ooze from her skin.

Li Guanxuan was ready. He lifted her into the bath he had already scented with herbs.

“Husband…” Wen Rongxin was so moved she could barely speak. She had never imagined that in just two attempts, she would succeed in forming a sea of qi within her dantian!

“This is a blessing from the heavens,” Li Guanxuan said with a smile. “My dear, now that you’ve set foot on the immortal path, you mustn’t give up again. Even with a five-element deficient root, heaven will never shut every door. Persevere, and once you find your own way, you’ll reach immortality.”

“Yes!” Wen Rongxin nodded emphatically. This breakthrough had rekindled her confidence.

Even if the usual paths were closed, she could still try the route of body cultivation as a martial artist.

After her bath, it began to rain lightly outside.

The ground quickly turned to mud—pain and joy intermingled.