Chapter 160: One hundred and sixty, breakthrough Chapter 160: One hundred and sixty, breakthrough Song Yan Ning sensed the rich concentration of spiritual energy and led Liu Qingshan forward.
“The air here seems particularly fresh,” Liu Qingshan took a deep breath. He didn’t know what spiritual energy was, but he could feel the change in the surrounding air.
Song Yan Ning smiled and nodded, “We should not be far from the spiritual source.” She was truly happy now, this was the first time she had felt such dense spiritual energy since she had come to Earth. It was a pity there was a time limit, otherwise she would bring Qin Yushen with her next time.
“Do all cultivators need spiritual energy?” Liu Qingshan was very curious about cultivation now and wanted to learn more.
“Mm,” Song Yan Ning nodded. If there was enough spiritual energy for her to cultivate with, she might have already made a breakthrough in Foundation Establishment and lifted the seal inside her body to return to the Demon World.
“Is there also spiritual energy outside?” Liu Qingshan thought for a moment before asking. He didn’t know what level of cultivation Xiao Ning had reached, but he was certain that her strength was greater than his.
“Yes, it’s found in jade, antiques, Spirit Grass, but just in very small amounts.” Otherwise her cultivation would not be progressing so slowly.
“Does cultivation also divide into the four levels of Heavenly Earth Yellow just like Ancient Martial Arts?” Liu Qingshan asked.
Song Yan Ning smiled and shook her head, “The levels in cultivation are much more complex than those in Ancient Martial Arts. They are divided into Qi Refinement, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Divine Separation, Mahayana, Tribulation, and only then can you Ascend to Immortality.”
“What level of cultivation are you at now?” Liu Qingshan looked at Song Yan Ning with curiosity.
“I am only at the Qi Refining Ninth Level, I have not reached Foundation Establishment yet,” Song Yan Ning said with an embarrassed smile.
“That’s already very good, especially since you are only seven years old,” Liu Qingshan felt that Song Yan Ning’s current level of cultivation was already very impressive. As she had said, even if there was spiritual energy outside, it was extremely scarce, and considering her young age, it was quite an achievement to have cultivated to the Qi Refining Ninth Level in such an environment.
Song Yan Ning smiled, and her eyes suddenly lit up when she saw a lake in front of her. She pointed towards the lake, “I’ve found it, that’s where the spiritual source is.”
Liu Qingshan followed the direction of Song Yan Ning’s pointing finger and saw the lake, feeling somewhat puzzled. But he didn’t understand cultivation, so if Xiao Ning said that the lake was the spiritual source, then she must be right.
Song Yan Ning quickly walked to the side of the lake and carefully sensed it, “Wait here for me, I’ll go down and take a look.”
“Let me go down with you, I’m quite a good swimmer,” Liu Qingshan was somewhat worried about Song Yan Ning going down alone. Although he was not as powerful as her, he could still help out in a critical moment.
Song Yan Ning thought for a moment, then nodded, “Let’s go.” Saying that, she had already leapt into the lake.
Liu Qingshan also jumped into the lake following Song Yan Ning.
The two quickly dived into the depths of the lake.
Feeling the increasingly dense spiritual energy, Song Yan Ning’s heart was filled with joy.
Before long, Song Yan Ning caught sight of a massive black boulder, from which the endless stream of Spiritual Energy was emanating.
Song Yan Ning hastened her pace toward the boulder. The dense Spiritual Energy around her indicated that her cultivation was on the verge of a breakthrough. She sped up and reached the side of the boulder.
When Liu Qingshan arrived, Song Yan Ning had already set up an isolation Array around the boulder. Being a Cultivator, she could stay underwater for three days and three nights without breathing, which was no trouble at all, but Liu Qingshan was different; lasting an hour without taking a breath was already quite remarkable for him.
Seeing the lake water held back by the Array, Liu Qingshan’s desire for cultivation grew even stronger. The abilities Xiao Ning displayed far exceeded his previous understanding.
“Uncle Liu, I’ll first impart a mental method of cultivation to you,” Song Yan Ning, with an imminent breakthrough, did not have much inclination to talk further with Liu Qingshan.
“Mm,” Liu Qingshan nodded.
Song Yan Ning quickly recited the mental method, “Uncle Liu, you just need to sit on this boulder and cultivate according to the mental method I’ve taught you.”
After speaking, she did not wait for Liu Qingshan’s response and closed her eyes to enter into cultivation.
Liu Qingshan glanced at Song Yan Ning and then closed his eyes as well. Previously, he had practiced Ancient Martial Arts, so he had some understanding of the cultivation mental method Xiao Ning had taught him. Seeing Xiao Ning’s condition, he knew she could not answer any questions for him now. He had no choice but to explore on his own.
With more and more Spiritual Energy entering her body, Song Yan Ning heard a faint cracking sound from her Dantian, and joy filled her heart—she had finally achieved Foundation Establishment. The Seal within her was about to be unlocked, and she could finally return to the Demon World.
Feeling the power within her body now several times stronger than before, Song Yan Ning opened her eyes with elation and released a trace of Divine Sense, scanning her surroundings. Her cultivation breakthrough had allowed her Foundation Establishment which, in turn, had granted her Divine Sense. Even at home, she would be able to see clearly what was happening miles away, and as her cultivation continued to increase, her Divine Sense would also grow stronger.
Hearing Song Yan Ning’s laughter, Liu Qingshan opened his eyes and was stunned at the sight before him, “Xiao Ning, why are you covered in a layer of black grime?”
At his words, Song Yan Ning looked down at herself and chuckled awkwardly—no wonder she smelled something foul. It was the impurities expelled from her body during Foundation Establishment.
“I’ll go wash up, and then we can talk,” said Song Yan Ning, flashing out of the Array.
Liu Qingshan smiled and decided not to continue his cultivation. He had practiced the mental method for a while and felt a faint trace of Qi in his body but wasn’t sure if he was doing it right.
Song Yan Ning thoroughly washed herself, changed her clothes, and returned to the Array.
Upon Song Yan Ning’s return, Liu Qingshan looked up at her, and his eyes widened in shock, “You’re Xiao Ning?” Her transformation was drastic; could a rise in cultivation actually change one’s appearance?
“It’s me,” Song Yan Ning affirmed with a smile. Her current appearance was her original look; it was just that her current body was that of a child, so her current appearance was merely that of her childhood self.
“Can cultivation change one’s appearance?” Liu Qingshan voiced his doubt. The previous Xiao Ning was far from pretty, even somewhat ugly—the only redeeming feature had been her eyes. But now, she had transformed completely, with refined features, fair skin, and long, thick, curled eyelashes. Her eyes shone brighter, watery and full of dazzling starlight, more beautiful than any girl he had ever seen. He could imagine the many men who would be captivated by her as she grew up.
“Mm,” Song Yan Ning nodded. She had no intention of revealing to Liu Qingshan that she was in possession of another’s body; some things were better kept to herself.