The next day.

Zhou Bin got up early and didn’t disturb Jiang Xiaobai, who was resting with his eyes closed. However, when he was about to leave his residence, Jiang Xiaobai opened his eyes: “Brother Zhou, could you do me a favor?”

“Oh?” Zhou Bin stopped in his tracks and asked, “What do you need?”

“I want to inform Elder Huang that I plan to sprint to the second level of Qi Refining this week! I won’t be visiting him for the time being,” Jiang Xiaobai requested.

“Sure thing!” Zhou Bin nodded with a smile and left.

Jiang Xiaobai sat cross-legged, closing his eyes once again. In the blink of an eye, a week passed.

That afternoon, fluctuations could be felt in Jiang Xiaobai’s breath, and the spiritual energy around him became volatile. As a spirit stone shattered, a violent cough ensued.

Jiang Xiaobai opened his eyes, holding his chest in pain, his face a picture of agony. At that moment, his eyebrows conveyed an unwillingness to yield. He was so close yet still short of achieving his goal.

He didn’t cease his efforts day or night over the week. He even consumed the healing pills given by Zhao Qinru to support his spiritual energy.

Now, the spirit stones were gone, so were the healing pills from Zhao Qinru. If his spiritual root were a little better, he might have broken through already. Yet, his poor spiritual root was his Achilles heel.

Unwilling to give up, he decided to take out the Wood Rejuvenation Pill again. While the pill was mainly a healing treasure, it should also aid his breakthrough to the second level of Qi Refining.

But damn it, go for it!

Jiang Xiaobai cursed in his heart and swallowed the Wood Rejuvenation Pill.

Its effects were indeed terrifying. The moment he swallowed it, he felt an astonishing surge of spiritual energy flood his body.

The pain in his chest subsided. Simultaneously, the cyclone inside him, as if quenched by sweet dew, became active instantaneously.

Jiang Xiaobai took a breath and continued to cultivate according to the second level of Qi Refining.

The impact of the Wood Rejuvenation Pill became directly apparent. Among the tumultuous spiritual energy around him, a swirling pattern formed, and his long hair fluttered without wind.

His aura rose step by step.

An hour passed, and the swirling spiritual energy began to converge. At the moment when all the energy was contained within his body, Jiang Xiaobai felt the cyclone expand, and the spiritual energy contained within was several times more powerful than before.

Opening his eyes, Jiang Xiaobai’s pale face now had a healthy glow, and his eyes shone brightly like stars.

He had reached the second level of Qi Refining.

However, it had cost him a lot of resources.

As he was quietly reflecting, the sound of the door opening echoed. Zhou Bin walked in and, upon seeing the joy on Jiang Xiaobai’s face, paused in surprise. After realizing the qualitative change in Jiang Xiaobai’s aura, he expressed his joy: “Eh, Xiaobai, have you broken through?”

“Yes!” Jiang Xiaobai nodded with a smile.

“Incredible!” Zhou Bin, seeing Jiang Xiaobai’s affirmative response, was filled with amazement and began to offer his congratulations.

Jiang Xiaobai had surpassed the achievements of several years in less than two months.

Zhou Bin was not jealous, just happy for Jiang Xiaobai.

“By the way!” In the middle of the conversation, Zhou Bin suddenly remembered something and took out a letter from his robes.

While handing the letter to Jiang Xiaobai, Zhou Bin continued, “Three days ago, there was a letter at the door with your name on it. It should be for you!”

“Since you were in cultivation, I didn’t dare to disturb you.” After that, he handed the letter into Jiang Xiaobai’s hands.

Oh? Jiang Xiaobai glanced at the letter in surprise.

In Yunjian Sect, who would be writing to him?

Despite his astonishment, he still accepted it. When he saw the handwriting of his name, he was slightly startled.

It has to be said, the writing was crooked—it was truly ugly!

He could write better than this with his eyes closed.

Was it written by a man?

Driven by curiosity, Jiang Xiaobai pulled out the letter inside. The writing was as simple and similar to the outside: ‘You are in cultivation and inconvenient to disturb, I will wait for you each evening at the place where we last met’.

And there were three words ‘Wood Rejuvenation Pill’ at the end.

Was it her?

Jiang Xiaobai’s mind conjured the image of the woman in a cloak from a week ago.

The corner of his mouth lifted; it seemed that the pill couldn’t be concocted anymore?

With a smile, he stored the letter and said to Zhou Bin: “Brother Zhou, I’m going to step out for a bit!”

Saying this, Jiang Xiaobai got off the bed and walked out.

There were still three hours before evening, so his departure wasn’t to meet the woman by the lake, but to visit the dwelling of Huang Linyuan.

As he entered, Huang Linyuan opened his eyes and, when he saw it was Jiang Xiaobai, a smile appeared: “Quick, come over and let your teacher have a look!”

Jiang Xiaobai respectfully approached Huang Linyuan.

“Qi Refining Second Level!”

After confirming that Jiang Xiaobai had indeed broken through, Huang Linyuan expressed his pleasure: “Good, very good!”

The path of beast taming could be learned at any time, but levels couldn’t be breached whenever one wished.

Jiang Xiaobai’s achievement in reaching the second level of Qi Refining meant that he was now qualified to learn more advanced methods of the beast taming path.

So, it wouldn’t matter to Huang Linyuan if Jiang Xiaobai didn’t show up for a week, or even a month; as long as he reached the second level, he would feel relieved.

“Today, I will impart to you the second part of beast taming!” Huang Linyuan declared: “Blood Fusion Change!”

Pausing, he added: “If you understand this layer, I will teach you the first set of Demon Cultivation Techniques!”

“Really?” Jiang Xiaobai’s face lit up with excitement.

Demon cultivation techniques would provide him with an additional means of saving his life.

Huang Linyuan laughed heartily: “This Blood Fusion Technique requires you to cultivate together with your lifelink beast, which you’ve already begun with the hatching of the Cloud Spirit Sparrow!”

With that, Huang Linyuan began to explain the intricacies of the second part to Jiang Xiaobai.

Jiang Xiaobai stood attentively and listened.

After half an hour, Huang Linyuan asked, “If there is anything you don’t understand, feel free to ask now, and I will answer!”

“I don’t have any questions!” Jiang Xiaobai shook his head.

Because of the Spirit of Demon Cultivation within him, he had thoroughly understood the essentials Huang Linyuan had shared.

“Good!”

While praising him, Huang Linyuan was not surprised as he had come to recognize Jiang Xiaobai’s talent.

“Once you have mastered the second part, come back to find me!” he said. Then, suddenly thinking of something, he handed Jiang Xiaobai three spirit stones and instructed, “Remember, do not neglect cultivation. Go on!”

“Thank you, Master!” Jiang Xiaobai’s eyes brightened. He accepted the spirit stones, bowed respectfully to Huang Linyuan, and left.

“Master?” Huang Linyuan watched Jiang Xiaobai’s retreating back and couldn’t help laughing out loud.

What a messy title that kid has made up!

Jiang Xiaobai stepped outside, slightly introspective.

He was considering whether he should visit the Great Demon. After all, the Great Demon was taking care of his Cloud Spirit Sparrow.

However, after some thought, he decided to delay it.

Indeed, he could study the Blood Fusion Change at any time, but it wasn’t every time that the Cloud Spirit Sparrow would be accepted by the Great Demon.

Moreover, the stronger the foundation laid for the Cloud Spirit Sparrow in the early stages, the greater benefit to him in the future.

Having realized this, Jiang Xiaobai headed straight back to his residence.

When nighttime arrived, Jiang Xiaobai went to the place where he had last met Ning Zhixi.

Scarcely had he paused when a figure appeared not far away.

Still in the same disguise as before, neither figure nor face was clear.

Before he could speak, Ning Zhixi voiced her surprise: “You reached the second layer of Qi Refining?”

Surprise tinged the stunning face beneath the cloak.

Jiang Xiaobai’s poor spiritual root was something she was aware of.

Yet, in the short time since he arrived at the mountain, he had already achieved the second level.

This progress was even faster than some disciples with superior spiritual roots…