Cultivation: Starting from a Mortal Bone

Qin Yu silently chanted in his heart, and in that instant, the flame flickered, countless embers melting into his body. An indescribable Dao rhythm gently rippled out from within him, spreading in all directions.

"Hm?"

The Empress’s gaze suddenly focused on Qin Yu, who was sitting quietly and recovering. With her keen perception, she instantly caught the subtle change in his aura.

This change was not a rise in cultivation realm, but rather... the harmony and affinity between him and the heaven and earth around him had, without notice, reached a new height!

The Empress’s pupils narrowed slightly, her expression turning instantly grave.

"This... is the fluctuation of an Upper Grade Dao Bone!"

In the past, it was merely a report from Yan Yu, but now she was seeing it with her own eyes.

This fellow before her, without any particular reason—just by recovering the spiritual power he had consumed—had managed, right in front of her, to raise his root bone?!

This was simply...

Inconceivable!

Even as the Empress of the Great Yan Immortal Country, she had never seen such a thing, nor was it ever recorded in any royal archives.

The Empress even wished to grab Qin Yu’s hand and feel it carefully.

In the end, she did not do so, but her eyes shone with a divine light, as if able to pierce through everything.

The jade Qin Yu wore couldn’t block her perception at all.

Confirmed.

It was an Upper Grade Dao Bone!

The Empress even carefully observed Qin Yu’s internal situation for a while.

Because, Qin Yu had once explained, saying he suffered severe injuries as a child...

The more she looked, the tighter the Empress’s brows became.

This fellow’s condition inside was even more beastly than a fierce beast; his blood energy was restrained, but the Empress could sense the power surging like dark tides within his blood.

Where was there any hidden affliction?!

Moreover, soon the Empress thought of another problem.

Was Upper Grade Dao Bone really Qin Yu’s limit?!

Although the fluctuation around Qin Yu had stabilized at the Upper Grade Dao Bone level and did not progress, the Empress still couldn’t make a judgment.

After all, Qin Yu was different from Yan Yu and those doting wives of his.

When Qin Yu finally opened his eyes, the Empress had already turned her gaze away. Before leaving, she casually asked, "Qin Yu, has your internal affliction healed?"

"Huh?"

Qin Yu was stunned for a moment, but quickly understood and replied, "It hasn’t healed."

The Empress did not pursue the matter, but her expression grew even more serious.

That meant his root bone could still rise further!

If someone really wanted to investigate Qin Yu’s situation, they might be able to find some clues.

After all, someone with an Upper Grade Dao Bone—possibly even more—how could he have stayed in a humble Loose Cultivator City for over ten years?!

Qin Yu’s explanation might not fool them anymore.

Moreover, the Empress recalled the Celestial Tribulation that appeared in that region!

No trace was left behind, but it wasn’t without clues.

At that time, Qin Yu was in that area, and by judging his realm... it should have been when he broke through to the Golden Core, right?

Would breaking through to Golden Core attract a Celestial Tribulation?

Clearly, it would not.

Yet, that Celestial Tribulation was very strange, so minor compared to the grand tribulations of harmonization.

Are Celestial Tribulations also divided by size?

"Carry this item with you at all times—do not take it off!"

The Empress handed Qin Yu a dragon-shaped object.

This item was like jade yet not jade, made from some unknown material. Once Qin Yu held it, not to mention the concealment of his qi mechanism, even his affinity to heaven and earth was masked.

"Thank you for your bestowal, Your Majesty!"

Qin Yu hurriedly thanked her.

At the banquet, he had already drawn attention. Surely now, more people would notice his root bone.

Now that his root bone had risen, with this item, he could swagger freely through the Imperial Capital without worry.

He glanced at the flame.

[Flame Point: 93965]

[Root Bone: Upper Grade Dao Bone (Flame Point 93965/800000)]

[Spiritual Power: Refining High Tier (Flame Point 93965/100000)]

His Spiritual Power would not take long to increase, but as for his root bone, under normal circumstances, it would take four or five years at least.

Qin Yu could only hope this Empress would take him out for more trips.

After all, this single outing brought him nearly forty thousand Flame Points.

After that, the Empress did not linger.

Returning to the Imperial Palace, the Empress left only a single sentence: "If there aren’t enough resources, let Yan Yu fetch them!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Qin Yu thanked her repeatedly, wanting to catch another glimpse, but the Empress was already gone.

Tsk tsk!

This is the advantage of clutching a big thigh!

Even those nobles in the Imperial Capital must fight for resources, but Qin Yu can sit and reap the benefits.

Although, it’s not just reaping the benefits.

After all, the hidden dangers he resolved were of far greater significance than the value of those resources.

In the Empress’s eyes, he was merely a Golden Core Cultivator. How many resources could he possibly use?

Right?!

Night had fallen, and Qin Yu returned to his Lifebound Space.

He saw Lin Shuishui and Zhao Mengli playing in the lake, so Qin Yu jumped in too. Soon, shouts and laughter echoed across the water.

The beautiful master watched from the shore, worried about Zhao Mengli.

This rebellious disciple had become ever more presumptuous since entering the Lifebound Space—even in the water.

"Master, just in time, let’s play flight chess?"

Qin Yu, holding Zhao Mengli, came ashore.

"Flight chess?"

The beautiful master was at first puzzled, but soon understood.

If it’s ’flight,’ then naturally... feet off the ground!

"Wuu, Junior Brother, I don’t want to play flight chess, put me down! Master, come save Li’Er!"

Soon, Zhao Mengli was half-crying.

Tsk!

She was always like this—couldn’t take it, she’d call for the master for help.

"How can you not even learn something as simple as flight chess..."

When Qin Yu looked at the beautiful master, his eyes suddenly lit up. "If that’s so, why don’t we play Go instead?"

Next, Qin Yu patiently taught Lin Shuishui and Zhao Mengli to play Go, hand-in-hand.

"Brother-in-law, Go is way too hard. Shuishui can’t surround anything at all..."

...

The next day, the Sect Leader and Liu Zixiao went into seclusion.

Qin Yu, as usual, made his way to the Jade Flower Palace.

Not just anyone could enter here.

Only the Empress, the Empress Dowager, and the Princess; even the Flame Guard needed to announce themselves first if they wished to enter.

However, the palace maids standing at the gate, upon seeing Qin Yu approach, did not stop him. Instead, they respectfully saluted him.

It seems...

In the entire Great Yan Immortal Country, Qin Yu alone possessed this privilege.

"Ah, not here!"

"Don’t!..."

"Don’t do that!"

As soon as he entered, Qin Yu heard the Empress Dowager’s voice, her slightly aggrieved tone making it easy for one’s imagination to run wild.

"Wait, let me think. I’ll place this here..."

"No, no, it should be here!"

The Empress Dowager’s entire attention was focused on Little Ling’Er’s face, pinching a piece in her hand, picking it up, setting it down, then picking it up again, hesitating over and over.