The spiritual energy of the Beyond the Heavens – Eighth Stratum was already dense, and with the pills Mu Qiu Ying had given him, Chen Juenian only needed a month to break through to the Qi Refining Late Stage once more.
At the same time, under Mu Qiu Ying’s watchful gaze, he slowly improved his archery skills to a degree that even she found somewhat unbelievable.
In Chen Juenian’s hands, that bow could actually achieve the feat of killing a Core Formation Stage late-phase cultivator.
Back in the day, Mu Qiu Ying had found it somewhat difficult to handle a mid-phase Core Formation Stage cultivator with this bow, yet now Chen Juenian could blow the head off a Core Formation Stage late-phase wooden dummy with a single arrow.
Though… dealing with a Golden Core Stage cultivator was still a bit tricky, only managing to barely chip off a few wood shavings.
“It seems I have nothing left to teach you. Quickly break through to Foundation Establishment. Once you reach Foundation Establishment, I will teach you the Hundred Arms Art.”
“…”
Chen Juenian stored the bow in his storage ring.
In truth, there was one thing he didn’t know whether he should mention to Mu Qiu Ying or not.
Mu Qiu Ying’s condition had clearly deteriorated significantly.
“Senior Mu, this junior has recently noticed that Senior seems a bit… fatigued?”
“Really?”
Mu Qiu Ying forced a smile.
These past days, she had hardly slept a single good night’s sleep, all because whenever she slept, she couldn’t help but have dreams—dreams related to her elder sister and that Immortal.
The content of these dreams was utterly despicable.
Her actions within the dreams disgusted even herself, yet she had no way to stop them.
Perhaps this was the ‘fatigue’ that Xuanyuan Nian had perceived?
“This junior likely is not mistaken.”
“You are just like your mother, very considerate of others… However, I am fine. There’s no need to worry about me, alright?”
“Understood.”
“…”
“…”
“I brought our parents all the way here from the Mortal Realm, and yet you, Elder Sister, are only concerned with your romantic affair with that Immortal! Elder Sister, how can you face us?”
Bringing her parents with her, Mu Qiu Ying confronted Mu Chunxiang within the Linlang Pavilion.
“Chunxiang, your younger sister has had a very difficult time all these years. Hand over that Immortal’s inheritance and give it to her!”
“Qiu Ying…”
Cornered by her younger sister bringing their parents to force her hand, even Mu Chunxiang lost her Great Emperor’s dignity at this moment.
“This is the complete inheritance Master bestowed upon me. This… this should have been yours all along, Qiu Ying, but I deceived Master… I have wronged you.”
Mu Qiu Ying placed her hand on Mu Chunxiang’s head and received the complete inheritance from the Immortal.
In just a few seconds, she directly broke through from the mid-phase Tribulation Transcendence Stage to the Great Emperor realm.
She could feel that she, having broken through to Great Emperor, was far stronger than Mu Chunxiang.
As for Mu Chunxiang, her cultivation level steadily declined, plummeting all the way to the Spirit Transformation Stage late-phase.
Perhaps this was the endpoint she was originally destined to reach.
She stole everything that belonged to me…
Didn’t she?
“…”
Having forced herself to stay awake for ten days, Mu Qiu Ying ultimately couldn’t hold on any longer and fell asleep.
This time, she slept straight through until dawn, successfully encountering that utterly despicable version of herself from her dreams.
“Mu Qiu Ying… why would you think of such things…”
Waking up at the table in her room, Mu Qiu Ying stood up and saw her somewhat gloomy reflection in the mirror.
Was this really her?
This wasn’t an Inner Demon, nor was it that Demonic Cultivator’s Curse Mark.
Could this truly be what her heart desired?
Absolutely impossible.
She refused to believe she would long for such a thing.
After readjusting her mindset and appearance, Mu Qiu Ying stepped out of her room.
Today, Chen Juenian had risen early as usual.
He was always like this—waking up, then cultivating or practicing his archery.
Such a diligent child shouldn’t be limited to this.
Yet now, she had no way to help him—after all, she couldn’t possibly let her elder sister know of his existence.
If Xuanyuan Jiong wasn’t mistaken, even those few types of Immortal Elixirs wouldn’t be able to improve this child’s cultivation talent in the slightest.
His body was like a void; no matter what entered, it would ultimately turn to nothingness.
Thwip!
As Chen Juenian loosed an arrow, the Golden Core Stage early-phase wooden dummy before him was pierced through the heart by the arrow and toppled backward.
“Not bad, not bad. You’ve elevated this bow to a height it was never meant to reach.”
“Senior Mu.”
“Thank you for your words yesterday. I slept well today.”
Chen Juenian acknowledged with a sound.
‘Did she really?’
‘It doesn’t look like it.’
“Speaking of which, choosing this bow was truly the most correct choice for you. Once you reach the Foundation Establishment Stage and can infuse it with your own spiritual energy, you’ll be able to defeat Golden Core Stage opponents with Foundation Establishment Stage strength.”
Although using spirit stones could barely work, it was clearly impossible for the spiritual energy within them to rapidly condense into an arrow.
By the time you’re holding a spirit stone trying to charge it, your opponent would already be right in your face.
“Please continue.”