11: Qi Refining Level 5

Xu Jing didn't speak immediately. She stared blankly at Hong Yu, her eyes flickering with an indiscernible light, thinking about something unknown.

Seeing no reaction from Xu Jing, Hong Yu didn't dare move. He could only brace himself and maintain his posture. In the next moment, Xu Jing stepped forward. Her slender, jade-like index finger, carrying a piercing chill, traced across his face inch by inch. The cold seeped into his marrow; Hong Yu felt his face was about to go numb from the freezing sensation.

For the first time, Hong Yu felt time passing incredibly slowly, his heart filled with agonizing torment. Whether you're going to kill me or let me go, just give me a straight answer, Elder!

Just then, a sound of footsteps came from outside the room, followed by Pang Hu's voice: "Senior Sister, I have completed the task you ordered. What happened just now that required you to take action personally?"

Pang Hu's voice was full of vigor, sounding like celestial music to Hong Yu's ears at this moment. Finally, someone had arrived; the pressure of being alone with Xu Jing was simply too great.

Hearing the voice from outside, Xu Jing finally withdrew her finger. Then, in a cold voice laced with anger, she said: "Get lost!"

Outside, Pang Hu was also taken aback. What was wrong with Senior Sister? Why was she in such a bad mood? However, he didn't dare to ask further and could only reply dully: "I obey Senior Sister's order."

He was about to retreat, but before he could take two steps, Xu Jing had already dressed properly and walked out of the room with a thin veil back on her face.

Xu Jing flicked her finger, and a palm-sized boat appeared out of thin air. It then expanded with the wind, transforming in an instant into a multi-story ship dozens of meters long and several meters high, floating in mid-air.

Then, Xu Jing's figure flickered as she slowly ascended, floating directly toward the multi-story ship in the sky.

"Pang Hu, get back here. We're returning to the mansion."

Pang Hu didn't dare to disobey. Although he didn't understand why the usually cold and aloof Xu Jing was so irritable today, he followed her instructions and flew toward the multi-story ship. At the same time, he asked: "Senior Sister, aren't we taking that Hong Yu back with us?"

Xu Jing turned her head in mid-air and shouted sharply: "You bastard, how much longer do you plan to hide? Get up here immediately!"

Hearing this, Hong Yu walked out of the room, feeling much more at ease. It seemed he had escaped this death trap. He didn't dare to delay, ran a few steps, and leaped forcefully. The powerful recoil left several cracks on the floorboards before he landed steadily on the multi-story ship.

Seeing Hong Yu walk out of Xu Jing's room, Pang Hu's expression changed slightly, and he had some suspicions. With a fake smile, he said: "Kid, you've got some nerve. Is the reward I gave you not enough, that you're deluded enough to ask Senior Sister for more?"

Hong Yu didn't dare to answer at this moment and could only stand timidly to the side.

Seeing this, Pang Hu became even more certain of his guess. It was impossible for a mere kid at the Qi Refining Stage to dare bully a great Cultivator of the Core Formation stage; if he hadn't been slapped to death by Senior Sister, it must be because of her beauty and kind heart.

"Kid, just find a room to stay in for now. I admire your 'dying for wealth' spirit, but remember, once we're Inside the Mansion, you can only take what's given to you. Don't have any other ideas about what isn't yours—unless one day your cultivation can surpass the world. Then, wouldn't you be able to take whatever you want?"

Pang Hu gave Hong Yu a few casual warnings. After all, this person would be working under him in the future, so a bit of pressure was necessary.

A while later, the multi-story ship turned into a streak of light and sped out of Qifeng City. When passing by Hong Yu's Immortal Cave, Pang Hu also conveniently used his power to bring all the items inside the cave onto the ship.

Hong Yu didn't have many things. Aside from that Dharma Sword he brought out of the Secret Realm, which was given to him as a reward, there was nothing of value. Pang Hu took a casual glance and threw the items to him.

"This Dharma Sword is not bad; it's a top-grade magic tool. You can still use it after your Foundation Establishment. If this item weren't useless to me, I might have taken it for myself. Although your current cultivation at the Fifth Level of Qi Refining is a bit strained using it, you can still bring out seventy to eighty percent of its power."

"Hmm, Fifth Level of Qi Refining?"

"Weren't you just at the Fourth Level of Qi Refining?"

Pang Hu's tone was filled with confusion. He hadn't seen him near a Breakthrough earlier; how did he break through a level in the blink of an eye?

Only then did Hong Yu belatedly realize that his cultivation had unknowingly reached the Fifth Level of Qi Refining. Moreover, his Foundation was stable, and one-third of the blood in his body had already transformed into dao blood, filling his entire body with power.

This must be due to the cultivation just now. Although this System is truly a pitfall, the cultivation speed is indeed fast. Hong Yu couldn't help but feel a mixture of love and hate in his heart.

"It's all thanks to Senior Sister Xu's grace," Hong Yu said respectfully.

Hearing this, Pang Hu's doubts vanished. The methods of a Core Formation Cultivator were mysterious and unpredictable; helping a Qi Refining Cultivator raise their cultivation was likely a trivial matter. However, he still didn't quite understand.

One must know that as the Saintess of the Sect, Xu Jing had always been an existence with eyes above her head. Countless geniuses couldn't get into her good graces. Why did she favor this kid? Could it be that the Cultivation Technique brought out from the Secret Realm just now really contained a method for Nascent Soul formation, and a top-tier one at that? That's why Senior Sister showed extra mercy; otherwise, it wouldn't make sense at all.

Thinking of this, a flicker of heat flashed in Pang Hu's eyes. As long as he worked hard for Senior Sister, once she reached the Nascent Soul stage, he might have a chance to obtain the Cultivation Technique from Xu Jing. Thus, his mood improved significantly, and he patted Hong Yu's shoulder.

"Kid, work hard after entering the inner Sect. Your cultivation is too low to help Senior Sister much. Also, you can't address Senior Sister so casually in the future; you must call her Saintess."

Hong Yu cupped his hands and replied: "This Disciple obeys."

Pang Hu nodded in satisfaction. Seeing him in a good mood, Hong Yu asked: "May I ask, Mountain Lord, what kind of existence is a top-grade magic tool?"

Hearing this, Pang Hu patiently explained: "You should know that ordinary objects cannot withstand the infusion of a Cultivator's spiritual power. Only items refined by an Artifact Refiner using special techniques can be used by Cultivators. The Ranks of these items refined by Artifact Refiners are divided into Magical Artifacts and Spiritual Artifacts, which are further categorized by quality into Low Grade, Medium Grade, High Grade, and top-grade."

"The sword in your hand is a top-grade magic tool. If you have the Opportunity to develop a spirit within it later, it can enter the category of a Spiritual Artifact. You should know that Foundation Establishment and Core Formation Cultivators basically use Spiritual Artifacts."

"So that's how it is." Hong Yu carefully examined the dark red long sword in his hand, which was about three feet three inches long and three fingers wide, then continued to ask: "Is there anything above Spiritual Artifacts?"

Pang Hu glared and said irritably: "Kid, don't be too ambitious. Focus on your cultivation. Once your Realm improves, you will naturally find out."

Just as Hong Yu wanted to ask Pang Hu for more common knowledge about cultivation, a faint black mist suddenly rose from the multi-story ship.