Chapter 182 - 181: Li Qinghe Forcefully Breaks Through to Innate, Foundation Unstable

"WAAH—"

Xiaobai leaped onto Qin Yang’s lap, spinning in circles and chasing her own tail.

’It’s bald!’

’It’s really bald!’

’Not a single hair left. It’s completely bare, with only smooth skin showing...’

’But it was there just last night!’

"Sob sob sob, Master, your servant’s fur fell out again..."

Xiaobai threw herself into Qin Yang’s arms, crying her heart out and wiping her snot all over him. "This Fairy was counting it to fall asleep last night, waaah..."

Her wails grew louder, threatening to draw the attention of others.

"Tsk, quiet down. Stop making a scene!"

Quick-witted and quick-handed, Qin Yang pressed down on Xiaobai’s head, covering her mouth and forcibly stifling her noisy fuss.

"Mmph... Master, lick lick..."

Xiaobai stuck out her little pink tongue and licked Qin Yang’s palm. "Let go, your servant won’t make a fuss. You have to save this Fairy’s fur!"

"It’s fine. I’ll make it grow back for you when we get home. It’s no big deal..."

Qin Yang released his hand, disgustedly flicking away a palmful of saliva. He waved his hand dismissively. "I guarantee I’ll make it grow back all fluffy and full."

"Mmm, then you better not lie to a fox..."

Xiaobai snuggled securely in Qin Yang’s arms, sleeping peacefully like a small child, curled up into a ball of white fluff. The man and the fox sat there quietly.

"Senior Brother, you really spoil Xiaobai!"

Li Zixuan covered her mouth, a smile tugging at her lips as she watched their interaction. "And Xiaobai is so attached to you."

"It’s a bit embarrassing."

Qin Yang stroked Xiaobai’s head and patted the small stool beside him. "Come on, Junior Sister. Do you have any questions about your Swordsmanship? Ask away, I haven’t started work yet."

"Okay, then I’ll have to trouble you, Senior Brother."

Li Zixuan sat down and began asking about the Star Force circulation for the Heaven-Slaying Sword Drawing Technique, as well as the finer details of grasping Sword Momentum.

She recalled the contents of that night amidst the sea of flowers under the moon...

Time flowed by peacefully.

...

「A few minutes later.」

"Maaas—ter—"

A playful call interrupted their discussion. Qin Yang and Li Zixuan followed the sound and saw Li Qinghe approaching. They hadn’t seen her in days, and her aura had changed slightly.

’This is...’

Qin Yang extended his Spiritual Power, letting it envelop Li Qinghe to probe her condition.

’Heaven and Man’s Sympathy. Her every word and action is in harmony with the Celestial Dao.’

’The Innate Realm!’

"Long time no see, Master! Your apprentice has good news for you."

Li Qinghe beamed, her dimples deepening at the corners of her mouth. She lifted her nose, looking incredibly smug. "As of today, this young lady has..."

"Reached the Innate Realm, right?"

Before she could finish, Qin Yang rolled his eyes and cut her off.

"..."

"..."

The moment he spoke, the scene fell silent.

"??? How did you know, Master?!"

Seeing her surprise ruined, Li Qinghe grew annoyed. "I was hoping to surprise you! Your apprentice has finally made something of herself!"

"Give it up. You, surprise me...?"

Qin Yang was speechless. "It’s more like you’ll give me a scare, not a surprise."

"Sister Qinghe, congratulations!!"

Li Zixuan, however, was not stingy with her praise. She joyfully grabbed Li Qinghe’s hand and shook it. "I knew you could break through to the Innate Realm, cousin! No wonder I haven’t seen you these past few days. You were busy with your Cultivation."

"Hehe, the early bird gets the worm, right?"

Hearing this, Li Qinghe smugly tossed her short hair and tilted her head back. "From now on, this young lady is an Innate Realm master!!"

’It wasn’t easy!’

’Now that I’ve passed the threshold of the Innate Realm!’

’The grand plan to elevate my status begins today!’

’Grandmaster, here I come!!!’

At this thought, Li Qinghe looked at Qin Yang, crossed her arms, and asked confidently, "So, Mr. Qin... I mean, Master! I can go meet Grandmaster now, right? You’re the one who said it!

Pass the Innate Realm, meet the Grandmaster!!!"

"See? Impatient as always!"

Qin Yang waved his hand. "Meeting Grandmaster isn’t a problem. I won’t go back on my word. But the question is... now that you’ve crossed the threshold, are you truly on solid ground?"

As his voice fell, Qin Yang released his Spiritual Power to probe her again.

Li Qinghe’s current condition was terrible.

Her aura was faint and chaotic, her meridians were swollen and faintly cracked, and the Star Force inside her body was in turmoil, like a runaway horse completely out of control.

’Chaos!’

’Utter chaos!’

Qin Yang knew how Li Qinghe had broken through with just a glance.

In order to break through to the Innate Realm, this girl had probably used the effects of an Innate Pill to forcefully charge her Realm, which had now caused a hidden injury.

’Seizing the day without a thought for the future...’

’How is that any different from that Demon who forcefully broke through to the Venerable Realm?’

"Hm? Senior Brother, what do you mean by that?"

Li Zixuan’s willow-like brows furrowed. She looked at Qin Yang in confusion, then turned to Li Qinghe. "Sister Qinghe, did you do something during your breakthrough?"

"I... I..."

Hearing the question, Li Qinghe immediately stammered, her gaze evasive. "I don’t know what that Qin guy is talking about..."

"Yes, right. You don’t know."

Qin Yang rolled his eyes. "Coming out to wander around before even stabilizing your Cultivation... If you don’t confess the truth... I won’t be taking you to see your Grandmaster!"

As his words fell, they struck Li Qinghe’s weak spot, breaking through her defenses!

’If I can’t see Grandmaster...’

’Then didn’t I break through for nothing!?’

"No, no, no, Master! Your disciple was wrong! I’ll talk, I’ll tell you everything!"

Li Qinghe stomped her foot, anxious and angry. She half-squatted on the ground, covering her face as she said aggrievedly,

"Yes! I used a shortcut! I used the effects of an Innate Pill to force my way past the threshold! Otherwise, it would have taken me at least a year to reach the Innate Realm!"

"Sister Qinghe, you were being reckless!"

Li Zixuan chided her upon hearing this, quickly reaching out with her small hand to press down on her cousin’s right wrist pulse.

"Hey, what are you doing, Xuanxuan? Keep your hands to yourself!"

"Don’t mess around, I need to check the condition of your meridians!"

"Oh..."

「A moment later.」

Li Zixuan probed her meridians.

The meridians were faintly cracked, and the Star Force flowing through them was leaking out.

If this continued to develop, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Today’s hidden injury could, years later, become a fatal blow straight to her brow!

"I... I... I just wanted to see Grandmaster sooner,"

Li Qinghe lowered her head like an aggrieved child, her voice growing quieter and taking on a tearful tone. "It’s not my fault my Cultivation talent is so average! If I kept going like that, when would I ever get to see him? It would be at least another year!"

"But you can’t be that impatient, Sister Qinghe!"

Li Zixuan frowned. "Your meridians are already faintly cracked!"

"...I’m sorry,"

Li Qinghe’s gaze was downcast. She pouted, her head sinking lower and lower.

"Who are you apologizing to? You should be worried about your own body! You’re so foolish!"

Li Zixuan was on the verge of tears from anxiety. "If your meridians are ruined, how will you break through in the future? Do you want to be stuck in the Innate Realm forever!?"

"Then what am I supposed to do?"

Li Qinghe sniffled, saying dejectedly, "I just really wanted to see Grandmaster, and I had a brain fart and did this..."

"But have you ever considered that if you can only ever be stuck at the Innate Realm, will the sect even keep you as an apprentice?!"

As soon as she said it, Li Qinghe trembled and took a frightened step back, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably. Li Zixuan also started crying anxiously.

"Alright, that’s enough. It’s fine as long as you know you were wrong!"

Just then, Qin Yang, with his arms crossed, interrupted their argument. "Luckily, your master is still here. What’s the big deal?"

With that said, he pointed a finger and tapped it right between Li Qinghe’s eyebrows.

BUZZ!

Lightning and Wood intertwined.

The two Law Fragments merged into one!

They transformed into a spring thunder that brought life, surging into Li Qinghe’s meridians with a ROAR!