Chapter 55: Breakthrough

Chu Chang felt helpless and had no choice but to leave first.

After a while, he approached the back door and knocked on the door of Zhou Linzi's dwelling.

Zhou Linzi turned aside, her face flushing red as she ushered Chu Chang into the room.

The furnishings inside were extremely exquisite. The air was filled with a faint, elusive fragrance—not the kind of worldly makeup powder, but rather the cool scent of some rare Spiritual Plant or orchid.

Zhou Linzi gently closed the door and even took the extra step of casting a sound-isolation talisman on the bolt.

After finishing, she turned to look at Chu Chang, her hands wringing together in confusion. The charm and experience she had displayed earlier seemed useless at this moment, leaving her looking somewhat uneasy.

"Senior Brother Chu, please sit." Zhou Linzi poured a cup of Spiritual Tea and handed it to him.

Chu Chang did not stand on ceremony; he sat down boldly at the table, picked up the teacup, and took a sip.

"There is no need to be so nervous." Chu Chang set down the teacup, looked at her, and said, "Since we have decided to cooperate, let us clarify some things first. After tonight, you and I will be a community of shared interests. What I give you will be far more than you imagine."

Zhou Linzi took a deep breath, suppressed her racing heart, and sat down opposite Chu Chang.

"Senior Brother Chu, I admit that I had some small schemes before. But since things have reached this point, I only want to know: how much certainty do you have regarding your claim during the day that you could help me reach a Breakthrough to the Qi Refining Realm within three days?" Zhou Linzi's expression turned serious. When discussing cultivation, the cunning in her eyes faded, replaced by an almost obsessive longing.

"What, you still don't believe me?" Chu Chang smiled slightly.

"It is not that I don't believe you, it is just that this is truly too shocking." Zhou Linzi gave a bitter smile. "I have been stuck at the ninth level of Qi Refining for a whole year. There are thousands of Outer Sect Disciples in the Divine Sword Sect, and those who can enter the Qi Refining Realm are one in a hundred. A Breakthrough in each Realm requires a massive accumulation of Spiritual Qi, as well as an understanding of the Spiritual Power of heaven and earth. My Aptitude is limited; without a stroke of luck, I thought I would have to waste several more years."

Chu Chang shook his head and wagged a finger. "You are wrong. It is not that your Aptitude is limited, but that you are begging for food while guarding a mountain of gold. Your Extreme Yin Jade Marrow Physique is a top-tier auxiliary cultivation Physique, but it is a pity that you simply do not know how to activate it. Normally, most of the Spiritual Qi you absorb is consumed by this special Physique without being converted into your cultivation, which is why your progress has been slow."

Zhou Linzi's delicate body trembled, and a brilliant light bloomed in her beautiful eyes. "So that is how it is… No wonder, no wonder every time I practice breathing, I feel like there is a bottomless pit in my Dantian; no matter how much Spiritual Qi I absorb, it cannot be filled. But how do you know all this?"

Chu Chang could hardly tell her that the ghost mirror had told him, could he?

"My Cultivation Technique is called the 'Great Mystery Yin and Yang Art'." Chu Chang began to spout nonsense without batting an eye, yet his expression was incredibly serious. "This technique was created by an ancient master who observed the movement of Yin and Yang in heaven and earth. My Pure Yang internal energy can serve as a 'primer' to help you dissolve the Extreme Yin Jade Marrow Qi accumulated within your body. With the convergence of Yin and Yang, blending like water and milk, once this immense power feeds back into you, a Breakthrough to the Qi Refining Realm will be a matter of course."

Listening to Chu Chang's logical analysis, the doubts in Zhou Linzi's eyes completely vanished.

After all, not only could he see through the crux of her problem at a glance, but even the solution was so clear.

"Since that is the case… then, how should we cultivate?" Zhou Linzi bit her red lips, her voice dropping lower, and two blushes flew across her face, making her breathtakingly beautiful.

Chu Chang stood up, his expression calm and composed, without a trace of evil intent.

The more it was at a time like this, the more he had to behave like an unfathomable, enlightened master, so that he could completely suppress Zhou Linzi psychologically.

"Get on the bed and sit cross-legged facing me," Chu Chang instructed.

Zhou Linzi lowered her head and obediently walked to the side of the bed. She removed her shoes and socks, revealing a pair of small, exquisite feet as translucent as mutton-fat jade.

She took a deep breath, calmed her shy emotions, and sat cross-legged on the bed as instructed.

Chu Chang then stepped onto the bed and sat cross-legged facing her.

"Close your eyes, circulate your usual Cultivation Technique, and empty your mind. No matter what you feel later, do not resist; use all your strength to guide the power I transmit into your body."

Chu Chang's voice seemed to carry a certain magic, causing Zhou Linzi's nervous emotions to gradually settle.

"Yes." Zhou Linzi closed her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling slightly.

"Reach out your hands."

Zhou Linzi slowly raised her hands. Chu Chang also extended his hands, placed his palms against hers, and interlaced their fingers.

Immediately, the two of them slowly lay back.

Boom!

A surge of Spiritual Power, hot as fire and purely Yang, erupted from Chu Chang's palms. Like a roaring Fire Dragon, it rushed into Zhou Linzi's Meridians in a way that was extremely domineering yet remarkably gentle.

"Mm…"

Zhou Linzi's delicate body shuddered violently. As that scorching Spiritual Power entered her body, she felt as if she had fallen into a hot spring; her whole body felt warm and indescribably comfortable.

Following that, Chu Chang's masculine Spiritual Power roamed through her body, directly contacting the cold, dormant Extreme Yin Jade Marrow Qi deep within her.

It was like a drop of water falling into a boiling pan of oil.

In an instant, the Extreme Yin power within Zhou Linzi was completely ignited!

An indescribable, extreme cold Qi erupted from the depths of her bone marrow and became entangled with Chu Chang's Pure Yang Spiritual Power.

One cold, one hot; one Yin, one Yang. These two completely opposite forces flowed wildly through their Meridians, forming a perfect cycle.

Chu Chang felt a surge of extremely pure Extreme Yin energy feeding back into his body, greatly nourishing his Physical Body and Primordial Spirit. At this moment, his Spiritual Power also became more refined.

And the benefits Zhou Linzi received were even more unimaginable!

Those Jade Marrow Qi that had accumulated in her body for many years, under the melting effect of Chu Chang's Pure Yang power, turned into surging, tide-like pure Spiritual Power, rushing wildly through her limbs and bones.

Rumble!

A roar like a rushing river echoed from within Zhou Linzi's body.

Her aura began to soar upward at a terrifying speed!

Qi Refining Level Nine Middle Stage…

Qi Refining Level Nine Late Stage…

Qi Refining Level Nine Peak!

In just one hour, Zhou Linzi had already touched the Bottleneck that had troubled her for a whole year.

"Steady your heart and focus your mind. Prepare to Breakthrough the Bottleneck!" Chu Chang's low shout exploded in Zhou Linzi's mind.

At this moment, Zhou Linzi had a flash of inspiration. She used all her strength to guide that terrifying force of Yin and Yang convergence, transforming it into a peerless divine weapon, and stabbed it fiercely toward that invisible barrier!

Crack…

It felt as if a crisp cracking sound came from within her body.

Immediately after.

Hum!!!

A Spiritual Power fluctuation, several times stronger than before, centered on the bed and turned into an invisible ripple, instantly sweeping through the entire room.

At this moment, the Dantian inside Zhou Linzi expanded crazily. The Spiritual Power began to transform from a gaseous state to a liquid state, and a powerful pressure, unique to the Qi Refining Realm, erupted from her body!

Breakthrough achieved!

Not only did she break through, but under the remaining momentum, her cultivation continued to consolidate, finally settling steadily at the Peak of the first level of the Qi Refining Realm, just one step away from entering the second level!

When the first ray of morning sunlight shone into the room through the lattice window, the two of them opened their eyes simultaneously.

A brilliant, unprecedented radiance erupted in Zhou Linzi's beautiful eyes.

Feeling the surging power within her body, which was many times more robust than before, and the feeling of having been reborn, she was completely stunned.

"Is… is this real? Did I really break through to the Qi Refining Realm?"

Zhou Linzi muttered to herself, her pretty face full of disbelief.

Just one night! Without even needing to take any Medicinal Pill for breaking through, she had so easily crossed this massive barrier that countless Outer Sect Disciples dreamed of!

She looked sharply at Chu Chang in front of her. The wariness and resentment that had been in her beautiful eyes were gone, replaced by endless ecstasy, worship, and even a trace of deep awe!

This man was simply a god!

"Senior Brother, you are truly amazing."

Under the covers, Zhou Linzi's face was flushed red.

This feeling was truly too wonderful.

It actually allowed her to break through in one go.

This meant that Senior Brother Chu Chang had not lied to her!

Thinking of this, Zhou Linzi leaned in and kissed him.

Chu Chang: "…"