A Trace of Sharpness

"Unable to live past five years, suffering the agony of metal and stone... So that's how it is."

Before this, Zhou Ping had been somewhat puzzled. Wu Siliu clearly possessed considerable strength; why would he take such a reckless risk to seek vengeance on their family?

After all, if it were him, he would have hidden in the shadows to build his strength, waiting until his enemy revealed a fatal flaw before exacting his revenge.

Seeing the effects of this pill formula now, he suddenly understood. Wu Siliu had likely only transformed into such a state by swallowing the pill, and his days were already numbered.

However, realizing this also caused a cold sweat to break out on Zhou Ping's back. Had Zhou Minghu not encountered enemies and inadvertently spread the rumor of Zhou Ping's absence from the mountain, who knew how long Wu Siliu would have remained hidden?

Since Changhe frequently went down the mountain to manage village and town affairs, and Zhou Xuanya also descended from time to time, the consequences would have been unimaginable if that madman had suddenly lashed out in his dying days.

"Blessings and disasters are truly intertwined," Zhou Ping sighed with deep emotion.

Zhou Minghu had nearly perished, and his path of cultivation was now all but destroyed, yet he had indirectly saved his brothers' lives.

Shortly after, he summoned the brothers, Zhou Minghu and Zhou Xuanya, to the side courtyard, along with the two little ones, Zhou Chengyuan and Zhou Qianling, to explain the Jade Rock Spirit Origin Art to them.

"I have already deduced this technique. Cultivating it through the Spirit Awakening Realm poses no problem. As for the subsequent Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment methods, they are far more profound. It is difficult to determine on short notice whether they have been tampered with," Zhou Ping said in a low voice.

"However, even if we only adopt the Spirit Awakening Realm portion, its efficacy surpasses our family's Guide Qi method by several times. I intend to extract it as our clan's foundational cultivation art, allowing the younger generation to forge a much steadier foundation. As for the subsequent realms, that will depend on individual choice."

Zhou Ping looked around and asked, "What do you all think?"

Before his voice even faded, a tiny figure jumped up.

"Grandpa, me, me, me!" Zhou Chengyuan cheered with excitement. "I want to cultivate this! If I do, I'll definitely be super strong!"

Beside him, Zhou Minghu frowned helplessly. He reached out to press Zhou Chengyuan down, saying in a desolate, low voice, "Father, I won't recultivate. My foundation is already destroyed. Switching to another method would be an exercise in futility."

Zhou Chengyuan, however, patted Zhou Minghu's arm with his small hand. With an incredibly serious expression, he offered comfort: "Dad, when Chengyuan gets strong later, Chengyuan will protect you."

This drew warm laughter from Zhou Ping and the others, and the gazes they directed at Zhou Minghu softened considerably.

Zhou Minghu pulled Zhou Chengyuan into his embrace, his hands gently patting the boy's back, his eyes full of gratification.

To the side, Zhou Qianling enviously watched this heartwarming scene between father and son. Suddenly, she felt a tall figure standing behind her, radiating a trace of warmth against her back. Turning her head to look up, she realized it was her taciturn Fifth Uncle.

Zhou Xuanya rested his hand on Zhou Qianling's head, gently comforting her, before turning to Zhou Ping. "Father, I will not recultivate either."

"The clan is in dire need of manpower right now. If I were to disperse my cultivation to start over, it would negatively impact the family's affairs on multiple fronts."

"Mm, Xuanya, you are right." Zhou Ping nodded. "It won't be too late for you to recultivate in a few years."

Zhou Ping then asked Zhou Qianling, "Qianling, what are your thoughts?"

Zhou Qianling fidgeted nervously, clutching the hem of her robes with both hands. Having inherited Mu Lushi's temperament, she was extremely timid and fearful. Leaning slightly backward, she bumped into Zhou Xuanya's leg once more.

"I... I'll do the same as Brother Chengyuan."

She did not understand the quality or merits of cultivation methods, but she remembered Zhou Chengyuan's shout about becoming stronger.

Children are always sensitive; she could keenly perceive even the most subtle changes in attitude around her.

Before she began cultivating, although the servant girls in the courtyard had never actively bullied her and her mother, they had still treated them with a certain degree of disrespect and neglect, taking advantage of Mu Lushi's simple, soft-spoken nature.

Yet the moment she began her cultivation-despite having only just stepped onto the path-her Eldest Uncle had dispatched two servant girls to manage her daily needs and frequently came to check on her well-being. Those same servants were now incredibly respectful, a far cry from their previous demeanor.

If she could become even stronger and more powerful, wouldn't her mother live a better life?

"Alright, then recultivate here. I will stand guard by your side," Zhou Ping said.

"Then I'll go check on the workshop. Fusheng might not be able to handle it alone," Zhou Minghu said, turning to leave.

Ever since returning home, Zhou Minghu had been moving relentlessly like a spinning top, tirelessly busying himself in the spirit fields among the spiritual plants. In his heart, being reduced to his current state meant he had become a burden to the family.

Zhou Ping watched Zhou Minghu's retreating back. A thousand words rose to his lips, only to dissolve into a long sigh.

"I'll go water the White Marrow Grass at Qingfeng."

Zhou Xuanya was also preparing to leave, but before he could take two steps, Zhou Ping called him back.

Zhou Ping retrieved a piece of paper from his sleeve and pressed it into Zhou Xuanya's hand. "Wait a few days for the commotion in the market to die down a bit, then make a trip there. Buy a few portions of every medicinal herb listed here."

Zhou Xuanya looked at the dozen or so items on the paper, none of which seemed related to anything he was doing, and couldn't help but ask in confusion, "Father, what are these used for?"

"To refine the supplementary Pills for the Jade Rock Spirit Origin Art. As long as they are successfully refined, Chengyuan and the others will advance their cultivation a thousand li in a single day!"

Startled, Zhou Xuanya hurriedly stuffed the list into his robes, whispering, "Your son will acquire them as soon as possible."

That cultivation method was already extraordinary, surpassing their family's inherited art by several times, and yet it even possessed supplementary pills. If they were successfully refined, didn't that mean Chengyuan and the others could reach the peak of their current realm in a mere year or two, allowing them to seek the Fated Chance for a breakthrough?

With that thought, Zhou Xuanya turned and departed to find Zhou Hu to discuss their return to the market.

Meanwhile, Zhou Chengyuan and Zhou Qianling sat steadily under Zhou Ping's instruction.

Zhou Ping spoke slowly: "Begin now. Hold your breath and concentrate your minds. Gather the Spiritual Qi in your bodies into your Dantian, then scatter and dissolve it..."

The two children followed his directions. Before long, white light emanated from their bodies and faded away. Their auras weakened significantly, and their small frames swayed unsteadily.

Fortunately, they were still only at the Guide Qi stage, containing merely a wisp or two of Spiritual Qi. Thus, the backlash of dispersing their cultivation was not severe.

The higher one's cultivation, the more devastating the consequences of dispersing one's arts.

Zhou Ping was already over forty years old. It was precisely because he possessed cultivation that he maintained the appearance of a man in his thirties who had achieved Qi Condensation, his aging process drastically slowed. If he were to disperse his arts and fall in realm, not only would his cultivation vanish, but he would instantly age more than a decade.

If those mighty cultivators were to scatter their cultivation, they might very well die of old age on the spot!

Because they already had experience sensing Spiritual Qi, it only took the two children ten to fifteen days to recondense their Spiritual Qi.

Moreover, the newly cultivated Spiritual Qi carried a trace of the oppressive weight of jade and stone, adding a hint of sharpness to their auras!

This was one of the primary reasons high-tier arts surpassed all others. From the very inception of one's cultivation path, they manifested extraordinary power.

Certain supreme arts could even command wind, fire, thunder, and lightning while merely in the Spirit Awakening Realm. Furthermore, their inheritances were whole and flawless, leading straight to the realms of high cultivators, their might growing continuously until they transformed into divine abilities.

Zhou Ping himself had only grasped a trace of the power of a clear breeze after cultivating the Mountain Stream Clear Flow.

Watching the two cultivate diligently, Zhou Ping's eyes brimmed with joy.

However, when he looked at Zhou Qianling, a shadow of worry touched his heart. For some reason, Zhou Qianling's cultivation speed had leveled out to match Zhou Chengyuan's, perhaps even falling slightly behind. It was completely unlike her previous rapid pace.

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