Chapter 28: Starless Secret Art

“Hold your breath, calm your mind, and focus on the flow of Spiritual Power within your body.”

Nan Xi held his hands behind his back, slowly pacing around Xia Xia.

His steps traced one ring after another, leaving a clear circle in the snow that surrounded Xia Xia.

From high above, it looked like some sort of mysterious ritual.

In the center of the circle, Xia Xia sat cross-legged with her eyes tightly shut, focusing on the changes in her Spiritual Power.

Suddenly, Xia Xia’s eyes snapped open, and she shouted in excitement.

“Late Qi Refining Stage!”

Her gaze shifted, immediately spotting Nan Xi pacing nearby.

Thud—

Before Nan Xi could react, Xia Xia had already lunged into his arms, hugging him tightly.

“Master, I’ve advanced! It’s the Late Qi Refining Stage! It’s the Late Qi Refining Stage, yay!”

Nan Xi was stunned at first, but soon, his gaze softened. A faint, gratified smile played on his lips.

“Congratulations.”

“Wuhu!”

Xia Xia buried her small head in Nan Xi’s chest, nuzzling against him.

It was obvious the young girl was more excited than she had ever been before.

The difference between the Early Qi Refining Stage and the Late Qi Refining Stage seemed like only a single step, but for the disciples of the Tianhe Sect, it was the watershed between being a Servant and a formal disciple.

How many Miscellaneous Disciples spent their entire lives just to break through to the Late Qi Refining Stage in their sixties or seventies, barely becoming Outer Sect Disciples?

By then, how many years would they have left to cultivate?

But now, Xia Xia had successfully reached the Late Qi Refining Stage at eighteen years old, attaining the level of an Outer Sect Disciple!

“This is just the beginning.”

Nan Xi smiled faintly. Being hugged so passionately by Xia Xia, he couldn’t help but be infected by her enthusiasm.

In a sense, Xia Xia was the first disciple he had ever personally taught.

He felt a small sense of accomplishment.

“You should let go now.”

Nan Xi patted Xia Xia’s shoulder and back, gently reminding her.

As he spoke, he glanced around guiltily—fortunately, Lord Tiansi had not appeared today.

Although his relationship with Xia Xia was perfectly innocent, Nan Xi had an inexplicable intuition that this scene must not be seen by Tiansi.

“Oh…”

A flush crept onto Xia Xia’s face as she reluctantly let go of Nan Xi. Taking half a step back, she playfully stuck out her tongue.

Hehe~

“Calm your mind and run two more minor cycles to stabilize your cultivation.”

“Mm-hmm!”

Xia Xia nodded obediently and sat back down to cultivate with her eyes closed.

On the other side, Nan Xi crossed his arms and observed Xia Xia’s state.

He hadn’t forgotten his main quest.

One had to admit, Xia Xia truly lived up to her role as his carefully selected pill trash bin.

If it had been any other disciple provided with so many pills, they would have reached at least the Late Foundation Establishment stage, the rank of a senior Inner Sect Disciple.

Yet Xia Xia had only just reached the Late Qi Refining Stage.

There was a gap of three whole minor realms between her and the Late Foundation Establishment stage.

Nan Xi was very satisfied with this!

“Did she break through?”

An ethereal voice sounded from beside him.

Nan Xi turned his head, and a water-colored sleeve happened to brush past his eyes.

Through that gauzy sleeve, Tiansi took light steps.

Three ripples like water quietly emanated as she landed gracefully by his side.

She looked exactly like a fallen immortal from the heavens.

“Yeah. What is it?”

Seems like she saw Nan Xi in a daze, as Tiansi tilted her head slightly, asking with curiosity.

“Cough, it’s nothing.”

Nan Xi quickly looked away, hoping Lord Tiansi hadn’t noticed his awkwardness.

There was no telling what might happen if Tiansi discovered Xia Xia had just hugged him.

He let out a light cough and tried to change the subject.

“Xia Xia just broke through to the Late Qi Refining Stage.”

“Late Qi Refining Stage?”

Tiansi’s eyes widened slightly, filled with confusion.

“Are you wondering why I took her in when her cultivation is so slow?”

“Yes.”

“Perhaps it’s just fate.”

Nan Xi smiled faintly.

‘As if. I would never say out loud that I just wanted to waste all my resources on her.’

“Fate…”

Tiansi softly repeated the word, a thoughtful look in her beautiful eyes.

……

After two minor cycles of cultivation, Xia Xia returned from her meditative state.

When she opened her eyes, the lively and cheerful Xia Xia appeared before Nan Xi once again.

“Master, Master! I really broke through to the Late Qi Refining Stage!”

“There’s no doubt about it.”

“Hooray!”

Xia Xia was overjoyed. But in the next second, her smile froze.

“Eh? The Supreme Elder is here too?”

“Congratulations.”

Lord Tiansi gave a slight nod as a response. In truth, she didn’t care about Xia Xia’s state.

She only appeared here because Nan Xi’s home had her picture books, a heater, and…

Lord Tiansi turned her head to look around.

“Is something wrong, Lord Tiansi?”

“No… nothing.”

“Uh, okay.” Nan Xi scratched his head since Lord Tiansi only glanced away casually.

He turned his attention back to Xia Xia.

“Your cultivation has successfully reached the Late Qi Refining Stage, so you can officially begin practicing techniques. Depending on the path of cultivation, it can be divided into Sword Cultivator, Technique Cultivator, Alchemist… and many other fields. Which direction do you want to learn?”

“Which path does Master follow?”

“My path… that isn’t important. If you want to cultivate, I can go to other Ling Peaks to borrow techniques for you.”

Nan Xi rested his chin on his hand. He was seriously considering how much funding he could waste by borrowing techniques.

However, seeing Xia Xia’s pitiful look as she stared at him—

“Fine. I am a Sword Cultivator, the same as the inheritance of Tianquan Peak.”

“Sword Cultivator! I want to be a Sword Cultivator too!”

Xia Xia clenched her fists in excitement. She wanted to follow the same path as her master!

“Sword Cultivator… fine, a Sword Cultivator it is.” Nan Xi compromised.

“Yay!”

“But before that, run through your basic cultivation technique once for me. I want to see how much you’ve mastered.”

Nan Xi’s consideration was logical. The “basic” in basic technique showed its importance.

Without a foundation, no matter how many sword skills one practiced, they would be like a castle in the air that would eventually collapse.

“Got it.”

After saying that, Xia Xia stood in place, and her excited breathing gradually calmed down.

Following the technique she had learned while eavesdropping previously, she drew in Qi, breathed, and allowed the Spiritual Power to rotate and flow through her body…

Seeing Xia Xia enter a state of cultivation, Nan Xi’s expression turned serious.

Based on his knowledge of the Tianhe Sect, the basic operation of the [Tianhe Profound Arts] was to let the Spiritual Power circulate through the body in a cycle.

Then, starting from the dantian, seven bright stars representing the [Big Dipper] would light up in sequence, representing the “Heavenly River.”

Looking at Xia Xia’s current state, she had already completed the cycle. The next step should be to light the seven stars…

…!?

No.

Nan Xi’s gaze suddenly froze.

In his sight, just as the Spiritual Power in Xia Xia’s body reached full circulation, it suddenly began to reverse direction, flowing back along its original path.

One loop, two loops, three loops… with every additional loop, Nan Xi’s heart rose further into his throat.

Until finally, there were a total of nine loops!

Nan Xi’s pupils shook violently.

The expected seven stars did not appear. But that did not mean Nan Xi did not recognize the technique Xia Xia was currently running.

A nine-loop reversal of the starry river.

This was the [Starless Secret Technique].