Chapter 124: Before Qingzhao Hall
“Congratulations, you have achieved a Breakthrough.”
The System played firecrackers in her consciousness to celebrate, but its voice remained as emotionless as ever.
Liu Sheng’s calm face couldn’t help but show excitement.
She had finally reached the second level of the Qi Refinement Stage!
“As expected of the Yu Hu Immortal Cave that pervert mentioned!”
“Although that pervert made a mess of it, it is indeed a treasure for Cultivation. The Spiritual Qi here is a hundred times denser than outside.”
“That should be the high-grade Spiritual Vein the System mentioned, right?”
The System said, “No, but it’s close.”
“With the right time and place, plus Xiao Shu’s top-tier Spiritual Qi affinity, this Breakthrough efficiency is beyond imagination!”
“Moreover, based on the previously measured particle size and density, and the Spiritual Qi Cultivation relationship formula estimated last time, your current Cultivation should be equivalent to the Initial Realm Sixth Stage of this world.”
The System’s calm voice sounded, adding analysis.
Of course, calculation by formula alone was not enough; empirical measurement was also required.
So, Liu Sheng went to Qinghe Academy early in the morning again to test her Cultivation.
It was because of this trip that she was late for work.
…
“It’s a good thing you came early in the morning, otherwise it would have been really difficult to let you in.”
Steward Yu of Qingzhao Hall looked left and right, confirming no one was nearby, then opened the door and motioned for Liu Sheng to enter.
“I’m really sorry to trouble you,” Liu Sheng said apologetically.
“It’s no trouble at all. After all, you are Miss Wen’s friend. Although she has… disappeared, knowing from you that she is well puts my mind at ease.”
It was unclear what had transpired between Steward Yu and Wen Weilan, but it was evident that Steward Yu still held great respect and gratitude for Wen Weilan.
“I’m not saying it’s troublesome,” Steward Yu explained softly, taking out a key and inserting it into the activation device of the detection array.
“It’s just that with the imperial examination approaching, many people are taking this opportunity to achieve a Breakthrough, and the number of people coming to Qingzhao Hall to test their Cultivation is endless. It wouldn’t be good if someone saw you.”
As he operated it, the activation device flickered with Lingtual light, and a huge circular array on the ground rose up.
“Alright, hurry up and test it. I’ll go out first. Remember not to move during the test until the results appear.”
It wasn’t Liu Sheng’s first time testing, but she still appreciated Steward Yu’s kind reminder and thanked him.
After Steward Yu left the room and closed the door, Liu Sheng walked into the array, and Lingtual light flowed around her.
She controlled the activity of the Spiritual Qi particles on her body according to the principle of stabilizing the array, to prevent fluctuations in the results.
Finally, the Lingtual light of the array converged, displaying a line of glowing characters suspended in front of Liu Sheng.
“Detection complete!”
“Detection result: Initial Realm Sixth Stage.”
Indeed.
Liu Sheng’s eyes curved, and a smile couldn’t help but appear at the corner of her mouth.
This way, she wouldn’t have to dwell on the disappointment of not being able to participate in the Honghu Plan.
She could go to the capital on her own!
Then, she would take the imperial examination, leap over the Dragon Gate, and enter the National Academy.
“Don’t just be happy; let me analyze this device. I can rebuild that formula once more to improve accuracy.”
The System didn’t forget to remind her.
This was a major advantage of “world 2.0” integrating into her body. She no longer had to find opportunities to secretly analyze. Liu Sheng’s eyes and hands could serve as analysis tools, allowing her to silently complete piracy—no, analysis, learning, imitation, and then surpassing—like spring rain moistening things without a sound.
“And we can also replicate our Cultivation detector based on this.”
“Not for piracy, but to avoid troubling others.”
“Yes, sigh, I’m getting a bit embarrassed. Don’t let Steward Yu lose his job.”
“I know, I know,” Liu Sheng pouted, walking towards the activation device of the array.
…
When Liu Sheng walked out of the room, her face was filled with uncontrollable joy. Seeing this, Steward Yu stepped forward and said, “Congratulations, congratulations! I wish Cultivator Liu a resounding victory and to stand out above all others!”
“Thank you,” Liu Sheng said, handing a Lingtual Pearl to Steward Yu.
At this, Steward Yu’s words became even sweeter, and he offered a few more auspicious greetings.
As she walked out of Qingzhao Hall, she saw a familiar figure approaching.
“She… Chan?”
The person called out the pseudonym Liu Sheng had used before, her voice trembling with shock, seemingly not expecting to encounter her here.
“Song Ru,” Liu Sheng nodded in response.
That person was indeed Song Ru.
Dressed in white like snow, with a white flower in her hair, her complexion was even paler and more translucent, her eye sockets deeply sunken. She looked even more haggard than she had in the Ghost Realm, as if she hadn’t rested properly in a long time.
“You… how could you?” Song Ru remembered that “She Chan” shouldn’t be from Qinghe Academy. She looked up at the plaque of Qingzhao Hall, understanding a little.
“Shh, I hope you won’t tell anyone. It’s a secret.”
Liu Sheng saw from Song Ru’s expression that she had already guessed.
Since Cultivation detection arrays were basically only found within the Academy System, many people would secretly pull strings to get in, especially Yugui from the common folk.
This was also an open secret, just not displayed openly.
“Then… can I tell you a secret…?” Song Ru hesitated, but still spoke.
Liu Sheng stopped, looking at her strangely, waiting for her to speak.
“Strange, we’re not close, are we?”
“Tell me, when did you hook up?!”
Song Ru also knew she was being a bit abrupt, but she truly couldn’t think of anyone else to turn to.
On the verge of despair and madness, a person’s figure surprisingly appeared in her mind.
And coincidentally, this person appeared right before her eyes.
Perhaps this was the arrangement of fate.
Perhaps the Supreme God also couldn’t bear for her to go down such a dead end.
She thought for a moment and said, “Can you come to my house and take a look?”
“Don’t tell your friend!” Song Ru added. She shuddered recalling the chilling gaze of Liu Sheng’s friend named “Liu Weiwei.”
Moreover, she knew that “Liu Weiwei” had always wanted to kill her.
However, she also knew why.
“It’s strange, truly strange.”
“And she wants to keep it from Miss Wen. Anyway, I can’t do that.”
“We really aren’t close, are we?!”
“May I ask what specifically it is? If there’s a problem, you can go to the yamen. If it really can’t be resolved, go to the Weaving Institute.”
“If it’s inconvenient to report, you can go to the Ten Thousand Affairs Hall.”
Song Ru heard Liu Sheng’s subtle refusal and hurriedly whispered, “Please… I really have no other way… I can’t go to… I still need to participate in the imperial examination.”
“It seems that if this matter is exposed, she probably won’t even be able to participate in the imperial examination.”
“I remember she was Initial Realm Fifth Stage before, did she actually achieve a Breakthrough?”
“Oh, so that’s why we ran into each other here.”
“This matter is no small feat. I suggest investigating.”
“Is your curiosity acting up?”
“But I really, really want to know!”
“I can give you Lingtual, and Spiritual Artifacts. I also have an ancient Lingtual object my mother gave me for protection, you can choose from that too…”
So Liu Sheng said, “Alright, I can go, but it has to be after You Shi. I need to go to work now.”
