You Actually Broke Through in a Sweet Dream

“Look, that boy Wugou has finally sat up!”

“Elder Zhu must have arrived.”

The two disciples from the Qi Refining Hall exchanged knowing glances, a shared understanding passing between them.

Wugou sat cross-legged, his hands forming a two-finger mudra. Despite his efforts, he still felt profoundly weary, his waist trembling slightly as he struggled to maintain the ‘five hearts facing heaven’ cultivation posture.

‘He silently prayed that Zhu Manzhi would complete his inspection swiftly and depart today.’

His ear twitched, catching the sound of numerous footsteps outside the door. It wasn’t just Zhu Manzhi.

The footsteps drew closer, approaching the First Qi Refining Hall.

Sure enough, Zhu Manzhi’s usual booming laughter soon followed.

Several disciples, dressed in their everyday attire, stood outside the hall.

Zhu Manzhi turned around. “Come in, all of you. This place will be your cultivation ground from now on. Once you successfully establish your foundations, you may leave the Qi Refining Hall. However…” He paused, his gaze slowly sweeping over the new recruits. Only when his eyes landed on Nian Yun’er, who was curiously looking around, did a faint smile touch his lips. He continued, “If you fail to establish your foundations within eight years, you must leave the Saint Water Palace, and you will never again be permitted to claim yourselves as disciples of my Saint Water Palace. Do you understand?”

All the new disciples clasped their hands in salute, acknowledging his words.

“There are plenty of meditation mats inside, one for each of you. Do not fight over them. You may come here at any time, and you can eat at the Dijie Quarter dining hall at noon each day. Cultivate diligently using the Qi Refining method I taught you this morning. You must not slack off.” Having spoken, Zhu Manzhi glanced towards Wugou in the northeast corner. He was surprised to find Wugou sitting upright, seemingly quite diligent.

‘Hadn’t this boy snuck out to frolic all night yesterday? How could he still be so energetic?’

However, this was ultimately a good thing. Zhu Manzhi stroked his beard, preparing to leave.

“Elder Zhu.”

Zhu Manzhi heard someone call his name. He turned and saw it was Lu Jinhan. When it came to Lu Jinhan, Zhu Manzhi often found himself at a loss for words. Lu Jinhan’s handsome appearance was usually quite endearing.

Yet, for some unknown reason, whenever Zhu Manzhi was near Lu Jinhan, goosebumps would uncontrollably prickle his skin.

“Ah, Lu Jinhan. How has your cultivation been lately? Smooth, I hope?”

He suppressed the physical discomfort. No matter how much he disliked Lu Jinhan’s peculiar constitution, Zhu Manzhi still had to fulfill his duties as the Skill Transmission Elder.

Lu Jinhan bowed respectfully before speaking. “Elder Zhu, I experienced a surge of Qi sensation today and have already reached the second stage of Qi Refining. I wish to apply to Elder Zhu to cultivate in the Second Hall tomorrow.”

With a leisurely smile, Lu Jinhan’s eyes seemed to ripple with a captivating charm, utterly enchanting. Zhu Manzhi’s left eyelid twitched uncontrollably at the sight.

However, having held a high position for a long time, he possessed some ability to hide his emotions. Zhu Manzhi quickly gathered a burst of true Qi, forcefully suppressing the discomfort in his heart.

He then slowly extended a hand to rest on Lu Jinhan’s shoulder. A subtle probe of his divine sense revealed that Lu Jinhan’s true Qi circulated more than twice as fast as before. A wave of joy swelled within him.

“Haha, truly worthy of a congenital full spirit root. To break through to the second stage of Qi Refining in just one month is remarkable. You must be incredibly diligent in your cultivation.”

Zhu Manzhi saw this clearly. Every afternoon during his inspections, he would see Lu Jinhan sitting properly on his meditation mat, without exception.

Talent and perseverance.

This Lu Jinhan was indeed a prodigy! Aside from that temperament… but, ahem, he should be able to change over time.

Zhu Manzhi nodded with a smile, clearly very pleased with this disciple.

“Grandpa Zhu, is that Wugou?” Nian Yun’er gently tugged at Zhu Manzhi’s sleeve several times. She had been curious for a long time, searching for Wugou’s whereabouts ever since she entered the hall, especially since Zhu Manzhi had once said that Wugou shared her talent.

Having grown up in Tianliu City, Nian Yun’er naturally understood the significance of a full spirit root. Otherwise, Granny Dai, the City Lord of Tianliu City, would not have personally visited the Heavenly Mirror Sect to offer congratulations on her birthday a few days prior.

“Little sister, are you referring to that Wugou?” Lu Jinhan scoffed, a hint of displeasure on his face. Being mistaken for that lazy good-for-nothing Wugou felt like an insult.

“Haha, Yun’er, Wugou is also only eight years old, just like you. Look, the boy in the second-to-last row, by the wall and window, that’s him. But don’t mind him; focus on your cultivation.” Zhu Manzhi explained slowly, his face beaming with a smile.

Lu Jinhan felt a strange sensation. ‘Elder Zhu is actually so polite to this little girl?’ He then asked, “Elder Zhu, who is this little girl?”

“Nian Yun’er, haha. She also possesses a congenital full spirit root, just like you, but hers is fire-attributed.” As he spoke, Zhu Manzhi couldn’t help but tug at his beard a few more times. Whenever such extraordinarily talented disciples appeared, he always felt particularly happy.

Upon hearing this, Lu Jinhan’s hand in his sleeve clenched tightly into a fist. ‘Another rival! And a girl, too. The competition will be fierce…’

“Good afternoon, Elder Zhu.”

A figure passed by Lu Jinhan and walked directly towards Elder Zhu.

Lu Jinhan looked over, his brows furrowing. ‘This Hua Youdie really has to meddle in everything.’

Hua Youdie respectfully bowed to Zhu Manzhi, then immediately crouched down, smiling at Nian Yun’er. “Little sister, you’re so cute. My name is Hua Youdie, and I’m Lu Jinhan’s senior brother. You can call me Senior Brother, or even Brother Hua, if you like~”

Nian Yun’er unconsciously took a small step back, then chirped, “Senior…”

“Don’t call him that; this stinky rat is tricking you.” Lu Jinhan quickly interjected.

“You damn sissy, I’m trying to bond with my junior sister here. What are you meddling for?” Hua Youdie was annoyed. Lu Jinhan truly had no sense of tact. To embarrass someone in front of a girl was simply ill-mannered. Since that was the case, Hua Youdie saw no need to be polite either.

“Stinky rat…”

“Damn sissy…”

“Ah, there they go again.” Zhu Manzhi felt a headache coming on. These two argued once or twice every day. Yet, paradoxically, they were both incredibly diligent in their cultivation, with top-tier talent and comprehension. This left Zhu Manzhi at a loss for how to discipline them.

Moreover, they only ever argued; they never actually came to blows. Zhu Manzhi had thus let them be, even hoping their rivalry would spur them on. He thought about cautioning Nian Yun’er not to provoke these two, but when he looked down to speak, Nian Yun’er had already quietly slipped away.

Zhu Manzhi quickly scanned the room, only to find Nian Yun’er had already run up to Wugou. ‘This won’t do!’ Children loved to play, and Wugou was always up to mischief. If they started playing together, Wugou would surely lead Yun’er astray.

Nian Yun’er had been specially sent by the Palace Master. If she ended up like Wugou, how would he explain it to Palace Master Luo?

Realizing this, Zhu Manzhi quickly made up his mind and hastened towards Wugou. Lu Jinhan and Hua Youdie, seeing Zhu Manzhi rush off with a look of panic, were also curious. They simultaneously stopped arguing and slowly followed behind Zhu Manzhi.

“Little sister, do you need something from me?” Wugou, with his keen hearing, had opened his eyes the moment Nian Yun’er stopped in front of him.

“Wugou?” Nian Yun’er walked over and sat down on Wugou’s meditation mat. The mat was large, more than spacious enough for two children.

“That’s right.”

Wugou observed Nian Yun’er. The little girl in front of him was very cute, her features and expression somewhat resembling A-wu in human form. Her clothes were simple, but the small accessories in her hair were quite valuable. Just the little hairpin with the black gemstone was worth a considerable sum; Wugou had only seen such items at the large jewelers in the East Market. Thinking back, it seemed to be merchandise from Tianliu City.

‘She shouldn’t be a child from the island. After all, my “reputation precedes me,” so no child would dare seek me out for play, risking their parents’ scolding. She’s probably from Tianliu City.’

Wugou gazed at Nian Yun’er’s sweet, innocent face, then thought of A-wu still lying in his bed. He smiled warmly and pulled out a string of candied hawthorns from his Qiankun pouch. His stepmother, Miaomiao, had specifically bought them from the West Market for him to satisfy his cravings. Ningjing had mentioned that Miaomiao had practically cleared out the entire toffee shop.

“These are very tasty.” Wugou offered the candied hawthorns to Nian Yun’er.

Nian Yun’er’s nose twitched, the sweet scent filling her nostrils and making her secretly swallow. Although her mother had always taught her not to accept food from strangers, she was still young, and instinct quickly overcame reason.

As soon as she took the candied hawthorns, she eagerly popped one into her mouth.

“Mmm, so shweet!”

Wugou chuckled freely, reaching out a hand to gently pat Nian Yun’er’s head.

Nian Yun’er, feeling Wugou’s kindness, smiled back at him. However, with the candied hawthorn still in her mouth, a little drool accidentally escaped. Her small face flushed, and she quickly reached out to wipe the damp spot on the meditation mat.

She also thought, ‘Luckily, Mama isn’t here, or I’d definitely get a scolding.’

Wugou, however, stopped her, then pulled two handkerchiefs from his Qiankun pouch. These, of course, were also prepared by Miaomiao. Miaomiao often showed extraordinary care towards Wugou; his Qiankun pouch contained every imaginable daily necessity.

Wugou used a handkerchief to wipe away the damp spot on the meditation mat, then handed the other one to Nian Yun’er. Nian Yun’er hesitated for a moment but took it, thinking, ‘This boy is so thoughtful.’ She then quietly looked up at Wugou again. Besides his slightly round face, he actually seemed quite handsome…

Zhu Manzhi, rushing towards Wugou, naturally witnessed all of this. He felt frustrated. They were just children; they had bonded in such a short time. He couldn’t help but worry that Nian Yun’er would be led astray in the future, and he involuntarily quickened his pace.

Zhu Manzhi arrived in front of the two children, yet he didn’t hear them say anything. One was simply eating candied hawthorns, and the other was just watching the first one eat… ‘This… isn’t this a waste of time?’

‘He had to find a way to separate them.’ Acting on his thought, Zhu Manzhi took a few more steps closer. Without even greeting Wugou, he placed his hand on Wugou’s shoulder, intending to simply whisk him away.

To his surprise, a surge of true Qi vibrated against his palm a few times. However, Zhu Manzhi’s strength so overwhelmingly surpassed Wugou’s that the vibrations didn’t affect him in the slightest. Yet, those few tremors were enough to alarm Zhu Manzhi.

‘This… this is true Qi body protection? Isn’t this a phenomenon that only appears at the ninth stage of Qi Refining? Wugou has only been cultivating for a month. More, more importantly, wasn’t he slacking off and sleeping every day?’

“Wugou? What have you reached…?” Zhu Manzhi had intended to ask Wugou what realm he had reached, but then he reconsidered, thinking it inappropriate to ask an eight-year-old child such a question. He rephrased, “Wugou, have you broken through?”

At these words, Lu Jinhan and Hua Youdie, standing behind Zhu Manzhi, were both startled. They simultaneously took a few steps forward, only to realize the other had done the same, and immediately turned their heads away, a look of disdain on their faces.

But soon, both of them subtly glanced sideways, their attention fixed on Wugou. They both suspected they had misheard.

“Mmm, yes, yester… cough, I just broke through today.”

He almost blurted out “last night.” Wugou secretly thought, ‘That old man is too shrewd; he’d definitely ask about my whereabouts yesterday. It’s better not to be so honest.’

Lu Jinhan and Hua Youdie’s expressions changed when they heard Wugou’s admission, their faces filled with disbelief.

“He really did break through,” Zhu Manzhi exclaimed in astonishment. He had naturally seen through Wugou’s little trick. If it hadn’t been for his instructions yesterday, how could that boy have snuck out? However, none of that was the main point now. The important thing was that the boy had indeed broken through.

“Wugou, you’ve broken through to what… what stage?” Zhu Manzhi was momentarily at a loss for how to ask. The counter-shock from the true Qi body protection had truly surprised him.

“Huh?” Wugou was somewhat bewildered. Could cultivation methods even allow one to skip ranks?

“The second stage, of course…” Wugou continued, rolling his eyes. ‘You little rascal, daring to look down on me!’ Zhu Manzhi felt a surge of anger from that eye-roll, almost instinctively reaching out to grab Wugou by a leg and give him a good smack, as he often did.

However, he immediately calmed down, thinking, ‘Could this child truly be a genius among geniuses? I’ve overseen the Skill Transmission Pavilion for so many years, and I’ve never heard of anyone breaking through just by sleeping!’

Zhu Manzhi shook his head vigorously, trying to dispel the thought. ‘This, this doesn’t make sense… this lazy good-for-nothing…’

Zhu Manzhi stroked his beard, his hand moving faster and faster, unable to comprehend how Wugou had managed it. ‘Could he have had some fortunate encounter last night? Did this boy inadvertently consume some rare heavenly treasure last night? Yes, it’s very possible. I must investigate.’

Having made up his mind, Zhu Manzhi beamed at Wugou, completely changing his usual stern demeanor. “Mmm, very good. Do not slack off in your cultivation; continue to work hard.” As Zhu Manzhi spoke, he felt a strange awkwardness, but he couldn’t think of any other words. ‘Should I say, “Mmm, you’re cultivating well, keep sleeping…”?’

“Uh…” Even without Zhu Manzhi saying anything, Wugou felt his face growing warm. Remembering how the old man usually looked on the verge of tears from his antics, being praised now felt truly undeserved.

Nian Yun’er’s small face was filled with surprise upon hearing that Wugou was already at the second stage of Qi Refining. She had heard how difficult it was for the newly initiated disciples of her Tianjian Sect to cultivate. ‘Indeed, Wugou is very impressive. I can tell from Grandpa Zhu’s expression. No wonder he didn’t want me to get close to him; he must have been afraid I’d disturb his cultivation.’

Upon hearing Wugou personally confirm his breakthrough, Lu Jinhan found it utterly unacceptable. He unconsciously stumbled back several steps, nearly falling. Fortunately, someone caught him.

Lu Jinhan turned his head to see it was Hua Youdie. “Don’t look at me; I know what you’re thinking. I’m just as baffled.” Hua Youdie’s face was also gloomy, his brows furrowed into a deep ‘川’ character.

“Perhaps this boy consumed some pills to improve, which would certainly lead to a breakthrough. But using pills to break through a Qi Refining bottleneck is simply ruining one’s future.” Hua Youdie said. In his heart, he was still somewhat unconvinced by Wugou’s breakthrough to the second stage of Qi Refining.

‘Why? By sleeping? What a ridiculous joke!’

“Yes, this boy must have eaten something to break through so strangely. He shouldn’t be like this. My strength was painstakingly cultivated, and it’s much more stable than his!” Lu Jinhan gnashed his teeth.

“Hmph!” Hua Youdie waved his hand, about to leave.

“Hey, Hua Youdie, wait!”

It was Wugou calling him. Hua Youdie found it strange. ‘What does this boy want? Is he trying to mock me?’

“Hey, you…” Wugou extended a small hand, beckoning to Hua Youdie. Hua Youdie froze, then patted his chest a few times, pulling out a Qiankun pouch from his clothes. ‘Damn, it’s become a habit. I even forgot when I stole it.’

“Hmph!” Hua Youdie tossed the Qiankun pouch to Wugou and turned to leave. There was honor among thieves; if caught, the item had to be returned.

“Here, for you!” Wugou tucked the Qiankun pouch into Nian Yun’er’s hand. Nian Yun’er quickly touched her waist. It really was hers. ‘When did that big brother—no, that thief—steal it?’

Nian Yun’er stared at the Qiankun pouch in her hand for a long time. ‘Indeed, this Wugou is a very capable person!’ Recovering herself, Nian Yun’er looked up and saw Wugou’s radiant smile, feeling a bit too shy to keep looking at him.

“Where’s my Qiankun pouch?” Lu Jinhan shouted, frantically rummaging through his own purse. He immediately realized what had happened. “Hua Youdie! You stinky rat!”