After Lu Xueqi slew the Demonic Seed, she and Xiong Ba's group did not linger long in the world of Divine Condor.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries with Xiaolongnü, everyone returned to their respective worlds.
After all, Xiaolongnü was quite unaccustomed to social interaction, and there was nothing particularly interesting to do in the Divine Condor world.
As soon as she returned to the side room on Xiaozhu Peak in Qingyun Sect, Lu Xueqi's gaze fell upon a stick of incense on the table.
This incense was the one she had lit before accepting the group mission and traveling across worlds.
Upon closer inspection, only a small segment of the incense had burned. Compared to when she left, it had hardly changed.
This made Lu Xueqi instantly realize: time flowed at entirely different speeds between the two worlds.
Though she had experienced a long period of combat and maneuvering in the Divine Condor world—far longer than the time it took for one incense stick to burn—this stick had not even burned a quarter of the way.
As to whether this discrepancy was due to the nature of the worlds themselves, or the power of the chat group, she had no time to investigate further.
At this moment, Lu Xueqi’s attention was fully drawn to the point total on the chat group panel.
After earning 4,000 points from completing the mission, her total points had finally surpassed 10,000.
Recalling the pattern of cultivation upgrades—each early breakthrough requiring double the points—the leap from the Third to the Fourth Level of Upper Purity Realm had cost her 8,000 points. She had assumed that advancing from Fourth to Fifth would require 16,000, but was surprised to find it only needed 10,000.
It turned out that 10,000 points was a critical threshold. From then on, upgrading within the same realm would consistently require this fixed amount.
This discovery made her quietly breathe a sigh of relief. If the point cost kept doubling, then with her current point-collecting speed, reaching the Taiqing Realm would be near impossible.
No longer hesitating, Lu Xueqi willed it mentally.
‘Chat group, increase my cultivation by one level!’
“Ding! 10,000 points deducted. Your cultivation has increased from Fifth to Sixth Level of the Upper Purity Realm!”
In an instant, a vast surge of power poured into her body, roaring along the circulation path of the Tai Chi Profound Immortal Scripture.
Lu Xueqi felt spiritual energy surging throughout her body as her cultivation instantly broke through its bottleneck.
Savoring the power of the Sixth Level of the Upper Purity Realm, she nodded in satisfaction.
At this level, she was already among the top within Qingyun Sect. Aside from Sect Leader Dao Xuan, the reclusive Wan Jianyi of the Back Mountain, and Tian Buyi, head of Dazhu Peak, few could surpass her.
What’s more, with the Tai Chi Profound Immortal Scripture, and not even counting the divine abilities she had comprehended herself, Lu Xueqi was confident she was invincible under the Taiqing Realm. Even facing Dao Xuan, she could still put up a fight.
If she included the divine powers she had comprehended, someone like Dao Xuan wouldn’t last even a single round against her.
– Meanwhile, at that exact moment on Dazhu Peak, tensions were rising.
Ever since Lin Jingyu arrived, Qi Hao had taken a disliking to him in every way, yet still suppressed his displeasure and bowed respectfully to Tian Buyi seated above.
“Uncle-Master Tian, I came today to request a meeting with Junior Sister Ling’er.”
At these words, Tian Buyi’s expression turned grim. He hadn’t expected Qi Hao’s objective to be his daughter.
This instantly extinguished his previous mood of simply spectating the drama.
His tone turned cold as he asked,
“Why are you looking for Ling’er?”
Qi Hao naturally noticed the change in Tian Buyi’s expression, but he did not retreat. He cupped his hands again and said,
“Uncle-Master Tian, ever since I last visited Dazhu Peak, I’ve been deeply enamored with Junior Sister Ling’er. I’ve come today to humbly ask for your permission to meet with her.”
“Hmph!”
Tian Buyi snorted coldly, his face extremely unsightly.
“Qi Hao, if that’s all you came for, you can leave now. Ling’er will not see you!”
With that, he turned away, no longer paying him any attention.
Standing off to the side, Lin Jingyu couldn’t help but show a trace of schadenfreude.
He hadn’t expected Qi Hao to be so lacking in social tact—directly asking to see Tian Ling’er, and right in front of Tian Buyi no less.
Seeing this, Lin Jingyu decided to throw more oil on the fire and completely crush Qi Hao’s hopes, helping Tian Buyi see his true nature clearly.
He bowed toward Tian Buyi and said,
“Uncle-Master Tian, you are truly wise! My Senior Brother has been acting strangely lately.
Not long ago, he went to Xiaozhu Peak to pursue one of the junior sisters there. When Aunt-Master Shuiyue found out, she reported it to our Master.
Upon learning this, Master punished my Senior Brother harshly by locking him in Black Wind Cave for a full six months.
Who would’ve thought that now, barely out of confinement, he’d come running to Dazhu Peak to chase after Junior Sister Tian Ling’er again!”
Upon hearing Lin Jingyu's words, Tian Buyi’s face grew even darker, fully convinced in his heart that Qi Hao was nothing but a scumbag.
Su Ru, standing beside him, also wore an extremely displeased expression.
She too had heard some rumors before, but being preoccupied with supervising her disciples’ cultivation, she hadn’t had time to confirm what had happened with Qi Hao on Xiaozhu Peak.
Now, hearing Lin Jingyu say all this, she immediately believed those rumors, and the look she gave Qi Hao turned thoroughly disgusted.
Su Ru waved her hand, speaking bluntly,
“Qi Hao, leave. You are not welcome on Dazhu Peak.”
Qi Hao inwardly panicked upon hearing Lin Jingyu’s words, but he was still set on forming a bond with Tian Ling’er, and wanted to salvage the situation.
Thus, he bowed again and said to Tian Buyi and Su Ru,
“Uncle-Master Tian, Aunt-Master Su, those rumors from the outside world are false. I implore you not to believe them so easily.
Besides, this entire matter is slander concocted by Lin Jingyu. He and I had a falling out back on Longshou Peak, and now he spreads rumors about me everywhere. I beg Uncle-Master Tian to see clearly!”
Lin Jingyu snorted coldly and retorted,
“Hmph! This isn’t slander. Uncle-Master Tian, if you go ask Aunt-Master Shuiyue on Xiaozhu Peak, you’ll know the truth. Please investigate it clearly!”
Tian Buyi heard this and gained a bit more trust in Lin Jingyu. He slowly nodded and said,
“Very well. I’ll look into this matter myself. However, with the Seven Peaks Tournament approaching, Dazhu Peak is not accepting visitors. You two should leave for now.”
Lin Jingyu respectfully bowed.
“Yes, thank you, Uncle-Master Tian.”
After a moment of thought, he hesitated and asked,
“Uncle-Master Tian, might I be allowed to see Xiaofan for a moment?”
Qi Hao seemed to have realized something too, and his eyes lit up.
He recalled that although Zhang Xiaofan had progressed slowly in the beginning, his innate talent was actually quite good. If he could bind with him, that wouldn't be a bad choice either.
He quickly added,
“Uncle-Master Tian, please grant us permission. Let me accompany Junior Brother Lin to visit Junior Brother Zhang Xiaofan.”
Upon hearing Qi Hao’s words and seeing the look in his eyes, Lin Jingyu’s heart instantly sounded alarms. He feared Qi Hao was planning to bind with Zhang Xiaofan.
Before Tian Buyi could reply, he hurriedly said,
“Uncle-Master Tian, I just remembered there’s something urgent I must handle back on Longshou Peak. Visiting Xiaofan can wait.
I’ll naturally see him during the Seven Peaks Tournament. Senior Brother Qi, come with me.”
As he spoke, he reached out to grab Qi Hao.
Qi Hao’s face turned utterly grim. He hadn’t expected Lin Jingyu to give him no opportunity at all, clearly trying to restrict him and prevent him from binding with others to boost his strength.
His expression turned completely dark, unable to maintain the genteel façade he had been pretending to wear.
Seeing the veiled power struggle between the two, Tian Buyi impatiently waved his hand.
“Just leave already. Dazhu Peak is busy with many matters. We don’t have time to entertain you two.”
Seeing this, Qi Hao could only bow in resignation and take his leave.