Cultivation: Starting from a Mortal Bone

"Chief Steward Bai, you go ahead and get busy."

Qin Yu held back his temper and said.

"It’s my father sending a message, I... will come over later."

Bai Yaoyin hurriedly stood up, explained briefly, and left quickly.

Qin Yu couldn’t help but feel a bit puzzled. This Chief Steward Bai seemed to treat him a bit differently.

Is she afraid that I might overthink?

About fifteen minutes later, Bai Yaoyin returned to the small courtyard of the pavilion.

In her lively eyes, there seemed to be a layer of melancholy, her eyes slightly red, and she bit her red lips lightly, a subtle action revealing her inner unease.

"What’s wrong?"

It was the first time Qin Yu had seen her like this, and he frowned.

Bai Yaoyin remained silent, her expression complex, her little face no longer wearing the usual sweet smile, replaced by a wisp of shadow. Under the moonlight, her graceful figure looked like a painting of melancholy.

Qin Yu felt a bit distressed watching her and gently held her delicate hand, sitting beside her.

As if sensing the warmth from his palm, Bai Yaoyin’s gaze regained a hint of brightness, but her expression was still somewhat gloomy.

Qin Yu didn’t urge her, just gently wrapped his arm around her delicate and jade-like shoulder.

This time, Bai Yaoyin didn’t shy away like before. Instead, she naturally rested her little face on his arm.

"My father wants me to return to the ancestral land in a month."

After a long pause, Bai Yaoyin’s somewhat muted voice resonated, her tone carrying an unusual hint of grievance instead of its usual cheer.

"Hmm?"

Qin Yu frowned, what does this mean?

If she went back to the Ancient Race, wouldn’t he be unable to see this pure yet alluring Chief Steward Bai, whose appearance and figure made him envious?

Moreover, Bai Yaoyin had mentioned before that going back would mean being arranged into a marriage alliance.

If it were before, Qin Yu would not have cared.

However, spending time with her had made him start to like this woman. He didn’t want to witness such a thing happen.

"Didn’t you say that as long as I become a Guest Minister of the Carefree Pavilion, you could continue to stay in the Imperial Capital?"

Qin Yu’s voice carried a trace of anger he couldn’t suppress.

He didn’t think of himself as the kind of protagonist who rises from adversity, but he had a strong sense of possession over the woman he fancied.

The Bai Family, as an Ancient Race, had an unimaginably strong foundation.

Perhaps, to him now, they were an immense existence he couldn’t reach, but...

So what?!

With the Lifebound Space, even if he couldn’t defeat the Bai Family, using it to protect Bai Yaoyin wasn’t a problem at all.

Moreover, with the flame within him, Qin Yu was confident that one day he could gain the Bai Family’s recognition with his strength.

But, the question now was, what was Bai Yaoyin’s own attitude?

Bai Yaoyin remained silent. If it were a usual case, winning over a Great Yan Tributor would be enough to garner the Clan Elders’ attention.

However, no one knew about Qin Yu’s strengths.

This issue, she couldn’t directly discuss with Qin Yu.

"Qin Yu..."

Bai Yaoyin had just begun to speak, then suddenly stopped.

She subconsciously called out, feeling a bit... ambiguous after saying it.

However, Qin Yu found it quite pleasing.

This was the first time Bai Yaoyin had called him by name. Usually, she referred to him as Tributor, Guest Minister, or Lord. Just a simple name seemed to bring them much closer.

"As long as I’m here, if you don’t want to go back, no one can force you."

Qin Yu held the woman in his arms a bit tighter.

Hearing this resolute voice, Bai Yaoyin’s delicate body trembled slightly, and a strong sense of security surged in her heart.

It seemed...

The solid figure in front of her really possessed the strength to rival the Bai Family.

Was this just her illusion?

"Lord Qin, you must be joking."

Bai Yaoyin suddenly snapped back to reality, a bitter smile on her lips, attempting to get up.

"I’m not joking."

Qin Yu held onto the figure that tried to struggle to get up, his tone still firm.

The Ancient Race, rumored to have such vast resources that even the Nine Immortal Countries took notice. If not for fundamental issues, even the Nine Immortal Countries would be unwilling to make enemies with an Ancient Race.

But still, they were only acknowledged, which didn’t mean they had the power to confront an Immortal Country head-on!

Honestly, if Qin Yu were to approach the Empress, Her Majesty wouldn’t sit idly by, but he didn’t wish to rely on borrowed power to intimidate the Bai Family.

He didn’t intend to form enmity.

This time, Bai Yaoyin remained silent, surprisingly not struggling to break free from this embrace that provided her a sense of security.

"As long as you’re willing, leave the rest to me."

Qin Yu gently stroked the woman’s smooth hair, making a promise.

Bai Yaoyin lightly bit her red lips, feeling as if she might agree.

She didn’t know why, but ever since her first intimate contact with Qin Yu, their relationship had started to subtly change.

She felt she wasn’t as resistant anymore.

But she still couldn’t do it!

The reason was simple. Her sister Bai Yaosha had fled from the ancestral land to escape an arranged marriage, and over the years, the pressure her father endured to protect her sister was unimaginable.

If she were to do the same...

"Are you unwilling to follow me?"

Qin Yu sensed Bai Yaoyin’s hesitation and slightly frowned.

If this was one-sided, he naturally wouldn’t force the other person.

"No, it’s not."

Bai Yaoyin quickly shook her head and suddenly realized, wasn’t this implying that she was willing to follow Qin Yu and rebel against her family?

Thinking about it, she felt a bit... shy.

Fortunately, her entire little face was buried in her arms, otherwise, if Qin Yu saw her, how embarrassing that would be.

"My sister has already escaped, I can’t make things harder for Father."

Bai Yaoyin hesitated a bit, seemingly worried that Qin Yu might misunderstand, and finally decided to reveal this secret.

"Hmm?"

Qin Yu’s eyes flashed with surprise.

Wow, so that’s what you’ve been concerned about?

However, on second thought, this seemed to be a deadlock!

They couldn’t let their matters cause trouble for his future father-in-law, could they?

Actually...

It’s not impossible.

Just afraid that future father-in-law might chase him around.

Qin Yu seemed a bit troubled.

Logically speaking, the status of an Immortal Country Tributor should be enough for the Ancient Race to take seriously, right?

Suddenly, Qin Yu thought of a key issue.

He could see from Bai Yaoyin’s reaction when he previously agreed that it was important to her, so there was probably only one reason for such a change now.

"Yaoyin, does the Bai Family think I’m not qualified enough for them to take seriously?"

Qin Yu asked slowly.

"It’s not like that."

"Your status as the Great Yan Royal Court Tributor alone is enough for the Bai Family to take seriously..."

Bai Yaoyin instinctively defended, but seeing those deep, profound eyes, her voice grew weaker.

Although her father hadn’t said it directly, from his helpless tone, it seemed likely that was the reason.

Seeing this, Qin Yu finally understood.

It turned out to be for this reason!

Neither did he know if the Empress would personally step into the Bai Family’s Ancestral Land if she found out and ask how a Great Yan Royal Court Tributor wasn’t qualified enough for the Bai Family to take seriously?!

"Yaoyin, I remember the Carefree Pavilion passed down many incomplete ancient arrays, can you take me to see them?"

Qin Yu didn’t make any more excuses. The reason he could become a Great Yan Tributor wasn’t something he could tell others. To gain the Bai Family’s attention, he had to exhibit some methods worth their notice.

The abilities he possessed—most of them, if spoken aloud, would shock the world. Upon deliberation, it seemed only his accomplishments in Spiritual Power could be displayed.

Moreover, he could comprehend the Star Prison Array, so perhaps he could give other arrays a try as well.

"But..."

Bai Yaoyin didn’t want to trouble Qin Yu, as those incomplete ancient arrays were extremely difficult to repair.

The Carefree Pavilion had foundations across the Nine Immortal Countries, but in the last hundred years, only the Great Qin Immortal Country’s Emperor managed to repair one ancient array almost completely.

The difficulty was such that ordinary people couldn’t possibly imagine it!

"You don’t suppose that I’m someone who became an Immortal Country Tributor for nothing, do you?"

Qin Yu saw through her concerns and chuckled softly.

As his voice fell, a wisp of Spiritual Power quietly spread out.

"Microscopic Refining?!"

Feeling the intensity of this Spiritual Power, Bai Yaoyin couldn’t help but exclaim.

Microscopic Refining in Spiritual Power, if placed in other regions, would be enough to make Qin Yu the leading figure of that area, worshiped by thousands!

Even in the Great Yan Imperial Capital, he would be revered as a master by various major powers, treated with utmost respect, not daring to show the slightest negligence!

Bai Yaoyin still remembered that at the Tributor’s banquet, Qin Yu seemed to be only at High Tier Refining.

How did he break through to Microscopic Refining in such a short time?

Moreover, he’s still so young, this definitely wasn’t his limit!

"Now, can you take me to see the ancient arrays?"

Qin Yu did not explain the speed of his Spiritual Power breakthrough.

Microscopic Refining.

Just that alone spoke volumes.

Bai Yaoyin was a smart person and naturally could think of these things.

Bai Yaoyin initially wanted to say there was no need, after all, as long as she told her father this news, the clan elders would probably reconsider this issue.

But seeing Qin Yu’s confident expression, suddenly a glimmer of hope arose in her heart.

If Qin Yu could repair an ancient array, no one in the clan would dare deny her contribution!

...

Top floor of Carefree Pavilion.

The environment here was extremely spacious, without any covering, and in sight were just the foundations of broken walls, scattered around in various irregular ways.

Some of the foundations had array talismans engraved on them that were long blurred, and severely weathered by time.

"There are ten incomplete arrays here, do you... want to take a look first?"

Bai Yaoyin walked to the front of the broken foundations and took out several Top Grade Spirit Stones, placing them within.

"Buzz!..."

As the pure Spiritual Qi from the Spirit Stones was injected, obscure and hard-to-understand array patterns began to circulate, and in an instant, a fragmented array emerged.

This array was remarkably intricate, yet it seemed to possess no array power. The connected patterns appeared to be severed by something, rendering it incomplete.

Without saying much, Qin Yu stepped forward, opened the Celestial Eye, and looked at the foundation covered in runes.

With the Celestial Eye opened, each path of the pattern was completely revealed to him, just like when he first comprehended the Star Prison Array.

Seeing this, Bai Yaoyin even held her breath slightly, not daring to disturb.