Qi Shiyun's eyelid twitched.
Watching Lianshan Xin, who had officially broken through and successfully advanced to the True Intent realm in a single breath, Qi Shiyun—having just failed her own breakthrough—felt no jealousy, only pure shock.
*How could he break through so fast?*
*Is this the true worth of spending eighteen years without breaking through the Body Tempering realm?*
*Is building up such a deep foundation really that effective?*
For a moment, Qi Shiyun began to question her life.
Like Zhang Aniu, she had spent only a single month in the Body Tempering realm.
In terms of polishing the physical body, her foundation fell far short of Lianshan Xin's.
Unlike Qi Shiyun, whose failed breakthrough was due to a slight lack of accumulated strength, Lianshan Xin's breakthrough from the Qi Condensation realm felt completely effortless and natural.
After slaying Dai Yueying earlier, he had already grasped the Dragon Slaying True Intent; one could say he had already met the conditions to advance to the True Intent realm. He had simply spent too little time in the Qi Condensation realm to become thoroughly familiar with it.
Mingren had made up for Lianshan Xin's sole deficiency. The pseudo-dragon destiny of that petty Sakura kingdom had even caused Lianshan Xin's accumulation in the Qi Condensation realm to overflow.
Thus, advancing to the True Intent realm was as natural to him as drinking water.
After circulating his true qi through a full heavenly cycle, Lianshan Xin confirmed that he had broken through successfully and was in peak condition. Nodding in satisfaction, he opened his eyes.
Mingren stared at him with unseeing eyes that refused to close even in death, but Lianshan Xin did not pay the slightest attention to a dead man.
His immediate priority was to observe Qi Shiyun's reaction.
Fortunately, there was only shock, not fright.
"How did you break through so fast? What martial intent did you grasp?" Qi Shiyun asked.
Lianshan Xin relaxed completely.
Excellent.
Qi Shiyun had not recognized the Dragon Slaying True Intent.
Although it was the most lethal intent of the Dragon Subduing lineage, every other practitioner of that path in this day and age—save for Lianshan Xin—practiced an emasculated version.
None of them even knew what the authentic version looked like.
So whatever Lianshan Xin claimed it was, that was what it would be.
"Tanhua Qi, it seems I've grasped a martial intent with exceptionally sharp observation, often allowing me to see details ordinary people miss."
Lianshan Xin attempted to link his martial intent to his innate ability.
Before he could even weave the details, Qi Shiyun's eyes lit up. "The Void Penetration True Intent? Linked to the eyes? Could you possess a variant spiritual root?"
Lianshan Xin's heart stirred. "Void Penetration True Intent? Variant spiritual root? What are those?"
Qi Shiyun explained, "Normal spiritual roots are the Five Elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. A metal spiritual root is suited for sword practice, which you certainly don't have."
Lianshan Xin fought to salvage his dignity. "I only failed to master the Falling Wild Geese Sword. Perhaps I have a talent for practicing the Heavenly Sword?"
Qi Shiyun clicked her tongue and continued, "You surely understand what types of arts the other four spiritual roots correspond to. Beyond these orthodox roots, there are also special ones that the ancients called 'variant spiritual roots.' For example, a thunder spiritual root is suited for cultivating thunder arts. A wind spiritual root allows someone to advance by leaps and bounds in qinggong. But the most precious among variant spiritual roots are those tied to time."
Hearing this, Lianshan Xin could not suppress the excitement surging in his chest.
He thought of his innate ability: being able to see past events that had happened to others.
That truly seemed to be related to time.
"And what is the Void Penetration True Intent?" Lianshan Xin asked humbly.
Qi Shiyun said, "I've only read of it in ancient texts, though the records are vague. They merely state that those with 'Void Penetration Eyes' are born with a variant spiritual root. Their ability to perceive the truth is extraordinary, allowing them to see through anyone's flaws at a glance. Cultivated to the peak, they might even reverse time. But these are all legends from the flourishing age of cultivating immortality a thousand years ago. Even if you truly possess a variant spiritual root, reaching into the domain of time in this era would likely be nearly impossible."
Lianshan Xin blinked.
That was not necessarily true.
Besides, the domain of time?
Did his innate ability count as belonging to the domain of time?
If it did...
Then he might have possessed it from birth.
Lianshan Xin had a premonition that a reasonable explanation had finally been found for his inborn talent.
He was a genius born in the wrong era.
"You noticed that Lin Xiangwen fancied Lord Heavenly Sword, you uncovered Chairman Qu's collusion with the Demon Cult, and you also realized something was off about Mingren."
The more Qi Shiyun thought about it, the more everything fell into place.
"Lianshan Xin, you must possess a variant spiritual root, and a top-tier one at that. Judging strictly by spiritual root, your talent might even surpass mine. No wonder you progress so rapidly; you were simply held back by martial arts before. You are a natural-born prodigy of cultivating immortality."
Lianshan Xin nodded repeatedly, grabbed Qi Shiyun's hand, and said with deep emotion, "My parents gave me life, but Tanhua Qi truly knows me!"
*If Heaven had not brought forth me, Lianshan Xin, martial arts throughout eternity would still be bright as day, but the way of immortals would remain an eternal night!*
Qi Shiyun had figured it out, and Lianshan Xin had figured it out. It had to be so.
"My luck is truly wonderful."
Qi Shiyun was beaming with delight.
Who would have thought that among the Chosen Sons of Heaven sold by the bushel, she would actually unearth a top-tier variant spiritual root?
Among the ninety Chosen Sons of Heaven she had uncovered before, there had been no lack of geniuses. Yet this was the first time Qi Shiyun had seen someone like Lianshan Xin, who broke through three major realms on his very first day practicing the Dragon Supporting Art.
Not even she had accomplished anything so extravagant.
It was a colossal, unexpected windfall.
"Hm?"
A sudden, unnatural flush spread across Qi Shiyun's face.
Lianshan Xin had not yet released her hand. Instantly sensing something amiss, he asked with swift concern, "Tanhua Qi, are you all right?"
"I'm fine. You gave a bit too much, and I couldn't quite handle it all at once."
Qi Shiyun exhaled a breath of fragrant air as her complexion gradually returned to normal. The admiration in her eyes only deepened as she looked at him.
"Your breakthrough just now helped me take another small step forward before the threshold of the Domain realm. I have a premonition that only a final layer of window paper separates me from a true breakthrough."
"To be able to assist Tanhua Qi is my honor."
Lianshan Xin also hoped Qi Shiyun would advance quickly.
After all, she was his political backer.
"We share a life-and-death bond, so I won't stand on ceremony with you," Qi Shiyun said. "Since you may have cultivated the Void Penetration True Intent, make good use of it. If I recall correctly, the more secrets you see through, the faster the Void Penetration True Intent will grow. Right now, many Demon Cult fiends lurk within Bailudong Academy; it's the perfect arena to put your talent to use."
At that, Qi Shiyun sighed with emotion. "'When fortune smiles, heaven and earth lend their might; when luck departs, even heroes lose their freedom.' Lianshan Xin, your luck has been exceptionally good lately."
Lianshan Xin said with sincere modesty, "It was only after meeting you, Tanhua Qi, that your student's luck turned so favorable. For the past eighteen years, your student was utterly unremarkable."
"That does seem to be the case."
Qi Shiyun reminisced for a moment, then accepted the flattery without reservation.
"Then let me see just how many surprises your Void Penetration True Intent can bring."
*No problem at all,* Lianshan Xin thought to himself.
*As long as you don't get frightened out of your wits.*
"Lianshan Xin, what have you done to Ruoyu?!"
Lin Xiangwen stormed straight into the Nine Heavens interrogation room, kicking the heavy door wide open.
Lianshan Xin looked over.
*Hm?*
His eyes gradually lit up.
Chapter 65