5: Second Life: First Steps on the Immortal Path (Part 4)

Several days passed quietly; everything was calm, and nothing happened.

Xu Yuan was not anxious; he simply continued to quietly Cultivate alone in the Small Courtyard.

Although his cultivation level could not increase due to the Bottleneck, Xu Yuan continuously practiced Immortal Daoist Magic, preparing for future Duels.

On this day, just as Xu Yuan was peacefully Cultivating in the Small Courtyard, a sudden knocking sound came from outside the door.

"Young Lord, it's me."

As the familiar female voice sounded, Xu Yuan recognized the person: it was Xiao Qing, the Maidservant who had followed him since childhood.

During the time he was confined to the Small Courtyard, Xiao Qing was the one who arranged his food, clothing, and shelter, so Xu Yuan was not surprised by her knock.

Xiao Qing, as always, wore a simple long dress and carried several boxes of Spirit Food as she entered the Small Courtyard.

After Xu Yuan finished eating, Xiao Qing packed up the meal box but did not leave immediately as usual. Instead, a conflicted look flashed across her face, and she spoke softly:

"Young Lord..."

Seeing this, Xu Yuan immediately understood.

It's here!

He hadn't expected the Wu Family's Spy within the Xu Family to be buried so deeply—even his personal Maidservant who had followed him since childhood was a Spy for the Wu Family!

However, perhaps precisely because Xiao Qing was the Wu Family's Spy, the Wu Family naturally understood Xu Yuan's background completely, which is why they targeted him.

But the Wu Family would never have thought that Xu Yuan would experience the Awakening of his innate wisdom before their scheme was executed.

The current Xu Yuan was definitely not the Rash Youth, the Inexperienced Youngster, the Wu Family thought he was.

"Xiao Qing, what's wrong?"

Although he knew Xiao Qing's intention in his heart, Xu Yuan showed no sign of it, instead displaying a perfectly timed look of confusion.

"Young Lord, the Wu Family Second Miss contacted me earlier and asked me to deliver a letter to the Young Lord. I know my status is low and I should not have taken the liberty of accepting it on your behalf, but Xiao Qing is also a woman, and I couldn't bear to see the Wu Family Second Miss grow thin and ill from lovesickness. Please punish me, Young Lord."

After speaking, Xiao Qing knelt down and presented a letter and a Wooden Box to Xu Yuan, taking them out from her embrace.

Xu Yuan said nothing and directly accepted the letter.

The letter was filled with the affections of the Wu Family Second Miss, Wu Mei. Although mushy, it was effective.

If he were truly a greenhorn Inexperienced Youngster, upon seeing this letter full of a Beauty's admiration and lovesickness for him, he would likely be so infatuated he'd forget his own name.

Unfortunately, the recipient of this letter was Xu Yuan, which meant the letter was destined to be a wasted effort.

However, when Xu Yuan finished reading the letter, a hint of astonished disbelief still flashed in his eyes. He then eagerly opened the Wooden Box that Xiao Qing was presenting with her other hand.

As the Wooden Box opened, a peculiar fragrance quietly wafted into Xu Yuan's nose, instantly invigorating his spirit!

Inside the Wooden Box was precisely the Spirit Gathering Pill!

"The Wu Family is actually this generous? I originally thought it would take some effort to trick a Spirit Gathering Pill out of the Wu Family, but now it seems it was obtained without any effort at all!"

Xu Yuan was secretly delighted, but on his face, a perfectly timed look of emotion flashed, which Xiao Qing took notice of.

"She... she actually did this..."

"Young Lord, I heard that the Wu Family Second Miss knelt for three days and three nights for this Spirit Gathering Pill, until she fainted, before she finally moved the Wu Family's Elders..."

Xiao Qing whispered.

For a moment, the Small Courtyard fell into silence.

"You may leave first."

Only after a long while did Xu Yuan slowly speak.

"Yes."

A flash of joy crossed Xiao Qing's eyes. Although Xu Yuan hadn't said anything, based on her understanding of him from having followed him since childhood, the Wu Family Second Miss must have already left an indelible mark in Xu Yuan's heart.

"I didn't expect the Wu Family to be so generous? It seems the Resources I can swindle from the Wu Family might be far greater than I originally thought."

After Xiao Qing left, Xu Yuan could no longer suppress the smile on his face, his lips curling up wildly.

Xu Yuan took the Spirit Gathering Pill out of the Wooden Box and swallowed it in one gulp without the slightest hesitation, not worrying about whether the Wu Family had tampered with it.

After all, first, the Spirit Gathering Pill is hard to find, and if the Wu Family only wanted to kill an Early Stage cultivator like him, there was no need to go to such lengths and waste a Spirit Gathering Pill. Second, the Wu Family has no Alchemist, so this Spirit Gathering Pill must have been purchased externally, meaning there would naturally be no problem.

As soon as the Medicinal Pill entered his stomach, it transformed into a scorching warm current that instantly exploded!

It was like a dormant volcano suddenly Awakening; the hot magma didn't flow, but violently erupted and surged!

The abundant Spiritual Qi was not a gentle stream, but rather a surging flood peak that aggressively slammed into the Meridians throughout his limbs and body.

Every surge of Spiritual Qi brought a tearing, swelling pain, and his bones were humming.

Seeing this, Xu Yuan immediately began to charge the Bottleneck of the 4th Level of Qi Condensation.

Boom—!

A clap of thunder seemed to sound in the depths of his consciousness.

The originally solid Bottleneck Barrier shook violently, as if struck fiercely by a gigantic hammer.

The surging torrent of Spiritual Power slammed into it, erupting in dazzling Spiritual Light, as if thousands of electric arcs were flickering and exploding wildly.

Every impact caused a violent tremor that felt like his bones were shattering, his Qi and Blood churned, and a sweet, metallic taste rose in his throat. But he grit his teeth, and a thread of blood even seeped from the corner of his mouth.

"Not enough! Again!"

Xu Yuan roared internally, pushing his Cultivation Technique to its limit. He greedily squeezed out the last trace of violent Energy released by the Spirit Gathering Pill, condensing it further with his own accumulated Spiritual Power, and charged the Bottleneck again.

Crack... snap... A faint yet incredibly clear sound of shattering echoed deep within his Soul.

A spiderweb of Cracks finally appeared on that invisible Barrier!

The Cracks rapidly spread and widened!

RUMBLE!

Like a sudden clap of thunder!

Xu Yuan felt his spirit tremble. The unstoppable torrent of Spiritual Power finally found an outlet, rushing like a breached dam into a vast, deeper world!

4th Level of Qi Condensation, achieved!

"Using Medicinal Pills to Breakthrough is fast, but the pain is truly agonizing!"

Xu Yuan couldn't help but grimace, sucking in several breaths of cold air, and wiped away the fine cold sweat beading on his forehead.

"Now that the Wu Family has taken the bait, there's no need to stay in the courtyard. I can use this opportunity of breaking through to the 4th Level of Qi Condensation to go out, pretend to argue with my father publicly, and then bait the Wu Family again to figure out their true objective."

Thinking of this, Xu Yuan immediately spoke out toward the door:

"Xiao Qing, bring me several basins of hot water. I need to wash up."

Xiao Qing, who was guarding outside the Small Courtyard, pushed the door open upon hearing him. Seeing Xu Yuan, whose clothes were disheveled and whose Aura was somewhat unstable, she immediately guessed that he had consumed the Spirit Gathering Pill.

A flash of joy crossed Xiao Qing's eyes. After carefully closing the courtyard door, she cautiously asked, "Young Lord, did you consume the Spirit Gathering Pill and successfully Breakthrough to the Mid-Stage of Qi Refining?"

"That's right!" Xu Yuan said with a hint of arrogance. "I've consumed the Spirit Gathering Pill and successfully Broke through to the Mid-Stage of Qi Refining. I will go find Father later and make him agree to the Marriage Alliance with the Wu Family."

"Young Lord, I believe this matter..."

A faint, Sinister Light flashed in Xiao Qing's eyes as she spoke, half hesitant and half resolute:

"It is inappropriate!"