Chapter 16: Good News

Patriarch Song's Residence.

Inside a magnificent hall, a middle-aged man dressed in precious, luxurious robes blew on a cup of hot tea and took a gentle sip. Not far below, a dignified and elegant woman in green robes sat.

Patriarch Song held the jade cup and lifted the tea lid. "Wanqing, you should try this too. The spirit tea sent by Sect Master Wang is truly excellent; it even has the benefit of calming the mind for me."

Song Wanqing took the teacup from the table, took a light sip, and said, "Not bad."

A smile appeared on Patriarch Song's face as he set down his teacup. "Wanqing, you have been back for so long, when do you intend to break through? Reaching the Golden Core stage should not be a problem for you."

Song Wanqing's slender eyebrows flickered slightly. "In another month or two, I will begin forming the core."

Patriarch Song looked at her with hidden meaning. "Very well, as long as you have a plan, that is good. I will personally protect the Dharma for you when the time comes."

The two did not speak further, quietly sipping their tea as the rich fragrance filled the entire hall.

After finishing his cup, Patriarch Song asked nonchalantly, "That brat in the dungeon, Wanqing, how do you intend to handle him?"

Hearing this, Song Wanqing's hand holding the jade cup paused slightly, her eyes turning deep and unfathomable.

Seeing this, Patriarch Song sighed slightly in his heart. Does Wanqing think I do not know? With my Golden Core cultivation, as long as I wish, what in this residence can be hidden from me?

It seems she has grown up. Is the Song family too stifling for her? Did I not notice this before?

As the warm, fragrant tea entered her mouth, Song Wanqing remained expressionless. "I have not decided yet."

Patriarch Song's eyes were meaningful. "As long as you have a sense of propriety, Wanqing, that is fine. Just do not let this matter ruin your Dao heart or hinder your path to immortality. As for a little amusement, I, as your father, will not interfere."

After speaking, Patriarch Song waved his sleeves and vanished into thin air.

Song Wanqing held the jade cup, sniffing the tea's fragrance.

Soon. In a month, he will completely become my possession.

The sky gradually brightened, and the first ray of morning sunlight hit the earth.

The figure in green robes opened the iron door and saw the young man kneeling, a smile appearing on her face.

How truly adorable.

…

After another day of torture, Junior Brother Bai Ming collapsed onto the ground, his gaze calm as he desperately suppressed the anger in his heart toward that woman.

He struggled to stand up and knelt down. "Thank you, Miss."

Song Wanqing's beautiful body bent slightly, and her soft, jade-like hand gently patted Junior Brother Bai Ming's cheek. The force was very light, like teasing, or perhaps a provocation.

Familiar, gentle words rang in Junior Brother Bai Ming's ears once again.

"Do you hate me?"

Junior Brother Bai Ming's expression was calm, as if answering by instinct.

"I do not hate you."

A soft light flashed in Song Wanqing's eyes. "That is good."

The figure in green left, the iron door slammed shut, and Junior Brother Bai Ming immediately sat cross-legged to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

Fifteen days had passed since he requested help from Xiaoxue, and his cultivation had reached the sixth level of Qi Refining, with his Heart Fire reaching minor success.

He knew it was impossible for Song Wanqing not to know about his increase in cultivation, and he did not try to hide it too much; in any case, it could not be concealed.

Song Wanqing seemed indifferent, merely silently increasing the intensity of the torture, regardless of what cultivation level Junior Brother Bai Ming reached or how much his spirit and divine sense improved.

Yet, he was always driven to the brink of madness by Song Wanqing's strange seal, teetering on the edge of despair and death; increasing the intensity by even a fraction might turn him into a puddle of mindless flesh.

The degree of torture was so precise that it kept Junior Brother Bai Ming at the limit of pain, yet not enough to make him seek death.

Whenever he thought of this, Junior Brother Bai Ming felt a lingering fear. This meticulous control proved that she knew his cultivation level like the back of her hand, yet she did not hinder him in the slightest.

It was as if even if Junior Brother Bai Ming mastered the Bingyan Art, in her eyes, it would be nothing.

Junior Brother Bai Ming's day-after-day of bitter cultivation seemed to only serve the purpose of making it easier for Song Wanqing to continuously improve her methods of torture.

In fact, it was truly like that now; the improvement in cultivation did not improve his situation, but instead made it seem worse.

"Truly terrifying." Junior Brother Bai Ming sighed, but even so, he did not give up.

On the contrary, he intended to use this point, to utilize Song Wanqing's contempt for him, to escape at the right moment.

For this, he would utilize everything, discarding the interference caused by emotions like confusion and fear, and devote himself entirely to cultivation.

Just like now, the time after each torture session was when the hatred in Junior Brother Bai Ming's heart was strongest, and the spirit root in his lower abdomen would resonate at this time.

A warm sensation flowed from his abdomen to his whole body, accelerating his cultivation.

The hatred in his heart was like charcoal in a furnace, continuously providing nutrients for the evolution of his spirit root.

This was the unique aspect of his spirit root, and also the capital he had to be confident in escaping.

Junior Brother Bai Ming opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of turbid air. "This spirit root was born from my will to escape; it is my final trump card for now."

During these fifteen days of cultivation, he understood the unique nature of the spirit root within him and gradually figured out how to use it.

In a word: it moves with the heart.

Powerful emotions not only stimulate the evolution of the spirit root but also provide Junior Brother Bai Ming with an all-around improvement.

This improvement seemed to have no limit, determined only by the intensity of the emotions in Junior Brother Bai Ming's heart.

Every day, Junior Brother Bai Ming's hatred for Song Wanqing deepened, and the speed of his cultivation became faster and faster.

At least for now, there were no signs of any limitations.

Xiaoxue pushed open the iron door lightly and came before Junior Brother Bai Ming.

Junior Brother Bai Ming stopped his cultivation, a smile on his face. "How is it?"

Xiaoxue put down the medicine bucket, her cute face wearing a faint smile. "There is a lot of good news."

Junior Brother Bai Ming's eyes narrowed. "Oh?"

Xiaoxue began to wipe Junior Brother Bai Ming's body. "Miss will enter seclusion to break through to the Golden Core stage in a month, and Patriarch Song will also go to help protect the Dharma for Miss."

Junior Brother Bai Ming nodded, feeling some unexpected joy.

So Song Wanqing was actually at the Foundation Establishment Peak and almost ready to form the core; no wonder she was so disdainful of my cultivation.

In her eyes, even if I cultivated the Bingyan Art to the Qi Refining Peak, I still would not be able to break her seal.

Junior Brother Bai Ming chuckled. If I were just an ordinary cultivator, that would indeed be the case according to logic.

But this spirit root has endowed me with infinite possibilities; breaking the seal is not a difficult task for me.

Xiaoxue frowned slightly. "How is it? What cultivation level will you be able to reach before then, Young Master?"

Junior Brother Bai Ming waved his hand. "Do not worry, I will be able to break through to the Qi Refining Peak within a month."

Xiaoxue covered her mouth with her small hand. "Young Master's cultivation speed has accelerated again."

Junior Brother Bai Ming did not speak. This was all thanks to that crazy woman; the hatred for her had accelerated his cultivation.

Especially the time right after being tortured; the hatred was at its peak, and the speed of cultivation also reached its peak accordingly.

Xiaoxue handed over the map, and Junior Brother Bai Ming took it and began to look at it.

"It seems there are no major changes, so we will proceed according to the original plan."

Junior Brother Bai Ming did not know how many times he had thought over the contents of the map in his heart; although he had not seen it in person, several routes out of the city were incomparably clear in his mind.

Viewing it repeatedly every day was to avoid errors caused by some minor changes.

And the most critical point among these lay with the Yuqing Sect; other routes had Song family members patrolling from time to time, while only the few lines involving the Yuqing Sect had fewer.

As a prisoner, he could not make contact with the Yuqing Sect at all, and Xiaoxue was from the Song family; if she were to make contact, it would be exposed afterward, harming her.

Junior Brother Bai Ming's eyes narrowed. It seemed he could only rely on himself to grasp the degree of utilization.