After the modification: Chapter 3 He Turns Out to Be a Genius

"Pine Crane Longevity Technique: Not at Entry Level 2/60"

Seeing the progress increase by two points, Lin Xuankong's face beamed with even more joy.

According to the Heart Method, with each round of cultivating the Pine Crane Longevity Technique, one's foundation and physique would change slightly, but such changes were extremely subtle. Normally, they wouldn't be as noticeable as his own changes!

For my hands to no longer tremble and my legs to no longer feel weak, the results are too obvious! If the cultivators of the Huang Family experienced such significant changes after just two rounds of cultivation, they would never abandon it! This situation can only mean one thing: my [Vigorous in Old Age] Life Plate has truly increased my cultivation speed fiftyfold. My two rounds of cultivation might really equate to other cultivators' hundred rounds—a full fifty days of cultivation. That must be why my body has shown such significant changes! The [Vigorous in Old Age] Life Plate is indeed powerful. Attaining Entry Level in the Pine Crane Longevity Technique is definitely within reach! What if I practiced a bit more diligently and cultivated an additional round?

Lin Xuankong sat cross-legged back on his bed and secretly circulated the Heart Method. However, after only a few dozen breaths, his Heart Spirit became somewhat dazed. Moreover, the remaining five points of Qi Blood in his status bar suddenly decreased by one point. He quickly stopped circulating the Heart Method and relaxed his body.

It seems this cultivation technique truly allows for only two rounds a day. Otherwise, it would be excessive and lead to the depletion of Heart Spirit and Qi Blood. However, even if it's only two rounds a day, after thirty days, I'll definitely have the opportunity to reach Entry Level! Moreover, this Pine Crane Longevity Technique is a type of Inner Martial Arts; it can strengthen the physique from the inside out and also enable me to become a Martial Dao cultivator of the Transcendence Realm!

Thinking of this, a glimmer of hope appeared in Lin Xuankong's eyes. His lifespan was nearing its end, and he had suffered humiliation from Zhang Wu and others. This Pine Crane Longevity Technique was so profound; it was the key to changing his destiny. I must practice it diligently every day from now on!

「In the blink of an eye, ten days had passed.」

During these ten days, Lin Xuankong practiced diligently without pause.

Lii Xiaolan would disguise herself each day, go out to fetch medicinal herbs to nourish Qi and Blood, and after brewing the decoction, bring it to his room.

However, this young lady, being the Eldest Miss's personal maid, was surprisingly not very good at cooking. Lin Xuankong had to cook for himself, preparing simple vegetable porridge daily.

Although limited by their conditions and lacking any seasonings, his cooking skills were quite good. The porridge he brewed was of the right consistency, and the vegetables were fresh and tasty. The young lady seemed to enjoy it thoroughly!

After many days of spending time together, the faint sense of estrangement between them was gradually dissipating.

「This morning,」

Lin Xuankong finished his cultivation and suddenly felt something unusual.

Usually, after he finished cultivating, the Qi Blood that nourished his body would gradually calm down.

This time, after he finished his exercises, a tiny wisp of Qi Blood did not settle. Instead, it followed the Heart Method's circulation route, autonomously circulating and condensing all the other Qi Blood together.

With the circulation of that Pine Qi Blood, the warm, comforting feeling became more and more distinct, as if with every passing moment, my body is gradually improving!

"Transcendent Qi Blood!" Lin Xuankong was pleasantly surprised.

According to the Heart Method, after the body's flesh and blood were deeply nourished by Pine Qi Blood, a stream of Pine Crane Transcendent Qi Blood would spontaneously generate. If the cultivator practiced diligently, once three streams of Transcendent Qi Blood were accumulated and the Qi Blood strengthened, they could advance to the first layer of Transcendence and possess the strength of a thousand catties!

Additionally, the Heart Method mentioned that Pine Skill was a progressive Inner Strength. Cultivators would need one or two years of calm practice for the first stream of Transcendent Qi Blood to appear. Yet I've only been practicing for ten days, and the Transcendent Qi Blood has already emerged!

[Pine Crane Longevity Technique: Not at Entry Level 20/60]

He looked expectantly at the progress of the Pine Crane Longevity Technique. Seeing the progress increase again, reaching twenty points, he felt immensely satisfied.

Filled with joy, Lin Xuankong looked outside and, to his surprise, discovered that under the nourishment of the Transcendent Qi Blood, his formerly dim and blurry old eyes had gradually become clearer!

It was just dawn.

The room wasn't very bright yet, but he could clearly see objects in every corner of the dilapidated wooden building!

He walked to a corner and looked at a round iron ball tossed there. This iron ball had been formed from Zhang Wu's Hundred-refined Steel Saber and weighed a good seven or eight catties.

Lin Xuankong squatted down, reached out, and grabbed the iron ball, lifting it with one hand. It felt quite light, as if he could handle four or five more without any problem!

Thinking back to when he couldn't even move this iron ball, Lin Xuankong felt his heart stir with excitement. My strength is now nearly that of a young, strong man! Before, I was so shaky I could barely walk, but after being nourished by Transcendent Qi Blood, the change is so significant!

"Huh?"

Lii Xiaolan's slightly surprised voice sounded from behind him.

Hearing her voice, Lin Xuankong's heart skipped a beat. Just what level of Transcendence is Lan? She stood behind me without my noticing at all!

Lin Xuankong turned his head and saw Lii Xiaolan's pretty face looking at him with slight surprise.

Her bright eyes scanned him up and down, over and over. After staring at him until he felt a bit unnerved, she finally spoke, "You've already cultivated Pine Crane Transcendent Qi Blood?"

Since the young lady had already sensed it, Lin Xuankong naturally couldn't hide it. "It's all thanks to you teaching me the cultivation technique, and those Qi Blood nourishing soups!"

Lii Xiaolan shook her head slightly. "Those Qi Blood nourishing soups are far inferior to the precious tonics the Huang Family cultivators take. There's no way they are the reason you cultivated Transcendent Qi Blood. As far as I know, when Huang Family cultivators use Pine Skill to cultivate their first stream of Transcendent Qi Blood, most have already been practicing for about two years. Yet you only took ten days. This cultivation speed..."

Her brow furrowed slightly. Her Young Mistress always said I was a cultivation genius, one in ten thousand, unmatched by any of the thousands of cultivators in Great Marsh Prefecture! When Lady Huang humiliated me, she told me I had to endure, not to stand out like a tree taller than the forest. As long as I focused on cultivation, my day would come! But when I first cultivated Pine Crane Transcendent Qi Blood, it took me nearly two months. If I'm a genius, one in ten thousand, then what kind of monster is this man in front of me? The strangest thing is, he was just a feeble old man with declining Qi Blood!

Lin Xuankong said, "My cultivation is a bit fast. Perhaps it's because my physique is well-suited for Pine Skill!"

Seeing Lii Xiaolan so surprised, Lin Xuankong offered a casual reason.

Lii Xiaolan listened, her brow furrowed in thought. In Martial Dao cultivation, there is indeed talk about whether one's physique suits a particular technique. Could that really be the reason? But even if his physique is suited for Pine Skill, cultivating Transcendent Qi Blood in just ten days... that's still far too fast! Besides, even if that is the reason, being surpassed in cultivation speed by so much, by a feeble old man with declining Qi Blood at that, is still a blow to my pride, even if he is... mine.

After a long moment, Lii Xiaolan's stunning face gradually regained its composure.

Then she put on a stern expression, mimicking a Martial Dao senior, "Since your talent is decent, and you are so well-suited for cultivating Pine Skill, then you must cultivate well!"

However, this stern expression didn't last long before the corners of her mouth curled up playfully.

"Now that you've cultivated Transcendent Qi Blood, you're considered a person of the Martial Dao. Martial Cultivators have always valued lineage. Since you learned the cultivation technique from me, you should call me 'Master' from now on!"

Lin Xuankong was stunned, then shook his head repeatedly. "We're already married. How can we address each other as master and disciple? That would throw everything into disarray!"

Lii Xiaolan, who had been smiling, looked taken aback by his words...

But she quickly seemed to think of something and shot Lin Xuankong a sideways glance. "Since you've cultivated Transcendent Qi Blood and your body has become stronger, then hurry up and go make those flatbreads! Go earn money for the family! These past few days, everything we've eaten, drunk, and used has been paid for with my dowry. Do you know how many years it took me to save up those pieces of broken silver? They're almost all gone! From today onwards, if you don't earn money, you won't be able to drink those Qi Blood nourishing soups anymore!"

She paused, then added, "When your Qi Blood is abundant, doing more physical labor is beneficial for cultivation. Hurry up and get to work!"

Seeing her say this, Lin Xuankong's smile grew wider. "Alright, alright, I'll definitely earn lots of money and take good care of you!"

With that, without waiting for Lii Xiaolan to reply, he quickly walked towards the back kitchen.

Lii Xiaolan scoffed, "Hmph, who needs you to take care of them!"

However, once Lin Xuankong entered the back kitchen and she heard the sounds of him busying himself, the resentment in her eyes quietly dissipated a little more.

Sitting down at the table, she sighed about how the Great Thousand Worlds truly had all sorts of monstrous talents, then thought to herself:

My dowry is almost gone. I should also think of ways to earn some money with him. When I was with the Huang Family, I learned embroidery from several of the older servant girls for a while. They all praised my embroidery, saying it was excellent! I could embroider some handkerchiefs to sell...