Stepping on the Demoness to become the strongest

What's the first thing to do after the level cap has been raised?

Level rush.

Technique certainly is a major factor affecting the strength, but the cultivation realm can determine the upper and lower limits of strength.

Instead of betting on whether one's technique can perform normally during real combat, of course, it's better to raise the cultivation realm as soon as possible.

After a hasty meal, everyone rushed back to their villa rooms to each practice their qi refinement, not caring what Xie Ruoxi was doing—not that they didn't want to care, but because they needed to rush their cultivation at this critical moment. Even a slight advancement over the Flying Dragon Battle Team could mean an extra advantage in next week's Mysterious Realm confrontation.

Qi Refinement involves circulating True Yuan in the Grand Circulation; the first circulation of the day increases cultivation the fastest, then the efficiency of the second round halves, and the third and fourth rounds get progressively worse...

That's why cultivation has the concept of "daily lessons." You must complete the first circulation every day, try to complete the second one, and then go as you please for the rest.

The effectiveness of the increase is also related to the cultivator's talent. For instance, Lord Master Liu Longtao, it is said, circulates at least fifteen times a day since his talent is good. Even when the number of rounds exceeds ten, each round's increase is still significant.

For those with talent not as sky-defying as Lord Master, but still of average standard, they usually perform seven to eight circulations. After that, there's hardly any increase, and it feels like a waste of time to continue practicing.

Of course, the main thing is the level cap. As long as everyone's talent isn't too bad, they will eventually reach the current full level of the realm, no matter how slow the cultivation is, without creating a long-term gap—unless there's a confrontation next week.

Xie Ruoxi suddenly found herself free of supervision and naturally enjoyed her leisure. After gaming for half the day in the study, she suddenly heard the doorbell ring from downstairs.

She went downstairs to open the door and found that Instructor Qi had arrived.

"Foundation Establishment Pill." Qi Changping took out a bottle. "There are six pills in total; call Yan Yu down to sign for them."

Xie Ruoxi subconsciously didn't want to look for Yan Yu and asked,

"Can't I just leave it in the living room? He's cultivating right now, and I don't want to disturb him."

"Hmm." Qi Changping appraised her with his gaze, then suddenly frowned. "Why aren't you cultivating?"

"I..." Xie Ruoxi prolonged her voice as she quickly concocted an excuse, "I was just about to cultivate, but Yan Yu asked me to wait here for you, Instructor, to deliver this... Foundation Establishment Pill."

"Fine then." Qi Changping handed her the bottle. "There's one Elixir Medicine in there for you. Remember not to take it yet; finish your daily lessons first, otherwise it would be a waste."

"Oh, okay." Xie Ruoxi accepted the bottle and, after seeing Qi Changping off and closing the door, threw the bottle onto the sofa, planning to continue playing games upstairs—as a result, the bottle was caught by Yan Yu, who had suddenly appeared behind her.

"Do you know what this is?" Yan Yu asked with a smile.

Although he smiled warmly, Xie Ruoxi felt caught red-handed and turned pale as she stuttered,

"Uh, this is..."

"This is called a Foundation Establishment Pill." Yan Yu continued in a genial tone. "The total monthly production for the whole country might be just a few hundred pills, sought after by many cultivators; an absolute treasure. If those non-official cultivators found out you had this thing, they would come to kill you for it, or kidnap your family..."

"I was wrong." Xie Ruoxi promptly admitted her fault, "I'm sorry, I'll go cultivate right away."

She knelt down so quickly that even Yan Yu was slightly taken aback.

After all, the two girls who usually got scolded by him, Zhao Yuanzhen had always been the "I'm wrong but won't admit it" type, and Chen Lingyun played the "I don't know what mistake" fool. Now, encountering Xie Ruoxi, who was willing to readily admit her fault, her attitude appeared much more sincere compared to the other two...

Stop! Don't be fooled by her, this pretty waste is most skilled at giving up. She's been lectured and says she'll turn over a new leaf, but be careful or she might find it boring again once back in her bedroom and start slacking off!

"Come with me." Yan Yu's smile faded, he said sternly.

Xie Ruoxi followed him upstairs with trepidation, watching as he distributed the Foundation Establishment Pills to the other girls, before returning to the bedroom.

Zhao Yuanzhen was meditating on the bed and when she saw Xie Ruoxi follow him in, her eyes widened in surprise.

Xie Ruoxi was also dumbfounded: Damn, why is Sister Zhao in your room?

"You…" Zhao Yuanzhen had just uttered a word when Yan Yu abruptly interrupted her:

"What do you think of Ruoxi's talent?"

What do I think of her talent? It's one in a million, of course!

Truth be told, even without any real proof, Zhao Yuanzhen suspected Xie Ruoxi's cultivation talent might be the once-in-ten-thousand-years "Bright Dao Heart":

It is said that these peerless talents not only cultivate extremely quickly but also learn any Spell at a glance and understand them with a single point... But seeing Xie Ruoxi's disheartening attitude, it was difficult to associate her with "Bright Dao Heart."

Wait, why is this sneak asking me this?

Zhao Yuanzhen paused for a moment, a disbelieving idea emerging in her mind:

Could it be because he finds my talent inadequate, he wants to switch to dual cultivation with Xie Ruoxi?

As this idea crossed her mind, it was like she could hear that detestable voice of a petty thief echoing in her head:

Hehehe! A good servant chooses their master well, a wise bird selects the tree it perches on. Now that I have the help of Immortal Venerate Xie in my cultivation, you are of no use to me! Quickly pack your things and roll out of my cave abode!

Zhao Yuanzhen stood dumbfounded, a tear glistening down the corner of her eye, when she suddenly exclaimed:

"Even a wife from humble beginnings should not be abandoned with such ease. If you wish to sever our ties just because my talents don't match hers, I will not let you off even if I turn into a demon!"

No sooner had she finished speaking than she received a slap on the head from Yan Yu:

"Dammit, what's with this wild imagination! I called her over because her talent is so great, it would be a waste if she slacked off alone. That's why I need to watch over her and make sure she cultivates properly!"

Only then did Zhao Yuanzhen realize she had caused a huge misunderstanding. Her eyes still wet with tears, yet she couldn't help but start to laugh, not even bothering to wipe her face and compose herself from the sadness, but instead just held onto Yan Yu's arm and giggled foolishly:

"You're right, I was foolish. Hey! Since sister Ruoxi is so exceptionally talented, why not have her do the String-Pulling Ring with her?"

The String-Pulling Ring is a modified version in the Qi Refinement chapter of "Silken Bond Technique".

The original version involved two people cultivating together, with the speed of Qi refinement based on the talent of the most gifted. Later, because practitioners in the Demonic Sect didn't want to cultivate with a partner, it was modified to 'using a puppet partner' and thus called 'String-Pulling Ring'.

In simple terms, it means cultivating with a puppet, allowing the puppet to unilaterally replenish the cultivator's own Qi. The more precious materials and higher the grade on the puppet's body, the more efficient the Qi refinement assistance.

When Zhao Yuanzhen said she "wanted to do the String-Pulling Ring with Xie Ruoxi," it meant using Xie Ruoxi as a puppet, utilizing her exceptional talents to refine Qi, thereby increasing the speed of Yan Yu and Zhao Yuanzhen's cultivation.

This wouldn't actually harm her, but of course, there would be no benefits either, as the True Yuan refined would be a windfall for others, akin to modern-day training through others' efforts...

But Yan Yu could also guess why Zhao Yuanzhen would make such a suggestion, simply feeling that since Xie Ruoxi herself doesn't want to upgrade, it's better to let them upgrade using her daily practice experience that would otherwise go to waste.

Such a wicked Demonic Sect Enchantress! Using a living person as a Qi refinement puppet, allowing her to toil away at cultivation for others for free. Even having lived two lives as a human, I couldn't conceive of such an evil tactic!

Yan Yu was about to speak out against it when he heard Xie Ruoxi, out of curiosity, ask:

"What is the String-Pulling Ring?"

"It's simple." Zhao Yuanzhen laughed hehe, the smile so pure and innocent, without a hint of evil, "You just have to sit beside me and let me connect you with a spell, then you can cultivate. You don't have to do anything, you can even play on your phone."

Just sitting and I can cultivate? Is there such a good thing?

"Count me in for the String-Pulling Ring!" Xie Ruoxi called out immediately.

"Count your head!" Yan Yu slapped her again, "Go sit on the bed and practice Qi Refinement with deep breathing! If I don't get up, you don't move!"

Even though the slap on her hard forehead wasn't painful, Xie Ruoxi still imagined herself reeling with dizziness and automatically sat down at the edge of the bed.

Forget it, he is the tyrannical Immortal Venerate, and I can't defy him. I'll just diligently cultivate my Qi!

After taking off her shoes at the bedside, Xie Ruoxi silently crossed her feet, draped in white socks, into the lotus position, adopting the Five Hearts Facing the Sky posture. Along with Yan Yu and Zhao Yuanzhen, she began to practice Qi Refinement in the Grand Circulation.

So boring...

Older online novels always liked to write that Qi Refinement led to euphoria, but only those who have really cultivated know how boring it is.

How to describe it? It's like using one's willpower to control a stream of Qi flowing through the meridians, then rotating over and over again, and that's all there is to it... just rotating over and over.

After completing the first Grand Circulation, Xie Ruoxi couldn't sit still anymore, and opened her eyes to speak:

"I'm thirsty, I'm going to get some water. Would you like some?"

"No way, hold it!" Yan Yu, still pressing palms against Zhao Yuanzhen with eyes closed, merely said coldly, "I'm not done yet, and you're not allowed to stop either!"

Xie Ruoxi had no choice but to continue practicing Qi, and after completing the second Grand Circulation, she again opened her eyes and tentatively said:

"I need to go to the bathroom..."

"Hold it in!"

"I can't hold it anymore!"

"If you can't hold it, then just wet the bed!"

Xie Ruoxi's eyelids twitched as she thought to herself that this Yan Yu is really impervious! What if I really need to go to the bathroom? Do you actually expect me to wet your bed... Ew, that's so disgusting, I better not continue that thought.

Well, how about pretending to suffer from Qi deviation and going mad?

She began to rack her brains, recalling how her female classmates in high school had demonstrated their acting skills to skip physical education classes, when suddenly she heard Yan Yu say:

"If you don't focus on cultivating your Qi properly, I'll change all the passwords for your phone and computer, and you won't be able to go online for the entire day."

Xie Ruoxi's pretty face immediately turned pale with shock: What? You want to kill me!