"Huh? What method?" Qhianqhian immediately looked at the old man with excitement.

"Want to know?" The old man had a scheming smile on his face: "You’ll know once you reach the second level."

"I..." Qhianqhian was speechless, then silently rolled her eyes, saying nothing more. Who doesn’t know this? In the face of strength, what tricks are there? But the key problem is, is it so easy to raise strength?

Obviously, it’s impossible. Otherwise, wouldn’t it still be that flourishing time of cultivation? Wouldn’t all kinds of great figures still be doing well?

"Don’t be so heartless." The old man disregarded Qhianqhian’s disdainful look and said, "Actually, it still depends on the method."

"Method? If there were so many methods, you would’ve found someone to save your master long ago, why talk about it here with me, a little girl who doesn’t know anything about four-five-six." Qhianqhian absolutely did not believe the old man’s nonsense.

She held onto Qin Nuan, her face full of ’disdain’.

The old man quickly reached out to stop Qhianqhian, with a flattering smile: "Let’s talk this over, okay? You see, I’m also worried for you. Otherwise, why would I be here? Only you can see me now..."

Qhianqhian rolled her eyes sarcastically and laughed coldly: "If others could see you, you’d have left me long ago!" Flipping her hair, her face was hard to hide her disdain.

"Well... there’s no ’if’, after all." The old man coughed lightly twice and waved his hand: "Actually, like your friend said, water is the most inclusive, so what of poison?"

"Why don’t you say fire can burn everything? Can you stop talking nonsense?" Qhianqhian rolled her eyes irritably, puffed her cheeks and cursed.

"What you said makes sense, but you’re not." A mocking smile spread across the old man’s face, his annoying voice ringing out, yet only she could hear.

"I..." Qhianqhian gave a bitter smile of helplessness; indeed she had none. If she did, why would she be so sad?

Truly, comparing people drives one mad.

"Poison belongs to wood, water nurtures wood, wood breeds fire. Such a simple truth, what’s hard to understand?" the old man continued.

Qhianqhian simply rolled her eyes and sighed, "Oh, but the key problem is, time is running short, didn’t you see that little shorty..."

At this point, Qhianqhian stopped abruptly, realizing who was shorter than her?

"Alright, alright, I give in, tell me then..." Taking a deep breath, Qhianqhian looked at the old man.

Spreading out the Secret Manual that had been kept in her backpack, Qhianqhian sat on the bed.

This Secret Manual was worlds apart from the previous one. Though both were water attribute, the difficulty level also showed the difference in levels.

Although she had successfully completed the first layer’s operation, that didn’t mean the second layer was without problems.

Having memorized the second layer’s cultivation technique, she couldn’t say she had fully grasped it, but she understood it well enough.

Qhianqhian smiled at Qin Nuan, closed her eyes, and slowly operated according to the first layer’s route.

The book said the first layer took Nine Days to breakthrough to the second layer.

The spiritual energy already inside her slowly circulated along the first layer’s meridian path which was already imprinted in her mind, under the control of her mind and spirit.

Unknowingly, the sky outside had brightened, sunlight streaming through the window, illuminating Qin Nuan’s sleeping back hunched over the table.

Qhianqhian’s eyes suddenly opened, her face full of fatigue, yet amazed, her face expressing pure incredulity.

She was very sure, up until a moment ago, she had completed the first layer’s route, Nine Days, entirely!

She could be sure, this was not a dream!

"Indeed." The old man murmured while squinting at Qhianqhian, "You are the only possibility."

But the voice was barely audible, and Qhianqhian, engulfed in shock, didn’t pay attention to what the old man was saying at all.

Staring at the gradually brightening sky outside the window, she reached out with a trembling hand to pick up the old man’s essence, that not-so-exquisite book, which now felt as heavy as a thousand pounds in her hand.

She repeatedly verified that she hadn’t made any operational errors, then sighed in relief.

Watching Qin Nuan’s figure leaning on the desk, she stood up to cover her with a thin blanket and took a deep breath.

Even if this is a dream, please don’t wake up!

She scanned through the second layer’s route twice again, silently reinforcing it in her mind, deliberating on what should be done.

After a long while, she closed the book, set it aside, her eyes clearing. She sat back down and entered the cultivation mode again.

The power danced lightly in her meridians, yet with a harmonious rhythm, like an unborn child unable to make sound, but its strong heartbeat proving its life.

Continuously, endlessly, that is water.

The vibrant power eased her physical fatigue and mental exhaustion.

Under the control of her mind, Qhianqhian’s power flowed like a stream running down the mountain, moving freely.

Though it was a path never traversed, it was as smooth as walking on flat ground.

In Qhianqhian’s surprise, the power under her subtle guidance completed the second layer’s route.

When she opened her eyes again, fear filled her eyes. Even though she was so sure before, now she felt a bit uncertain.

So smooth? So smooth that it scared even her.

With fear and confusion, Qhianqhian looked towards the sky, but the old man was no longer there.

Is this forceful cultivation? Or breaking the egg to eat the chick?

Could she be stagnated at this realm due to her overestimations?

But she didn’t feel anything wrong?

She breathed deeply, her eyes focused on the Secret Manual on the table, her mind swirling with various thoughts...

Could it be... might it... is it possible...

Am I really a once-in-a-millennium genius? A Genius envied by the heavens?

If not, how else could one explain this current situation?

Suddenly, she lifted her head, straightened her chest, facing the sunlight, and her eyes sparkled with determination.

In that case.

Then my family, I will protect!

But the next moment, she fell backward directly, with some blood flowing out of her nose.

Looking at the familiar white scene in front of her, why did it seem so familiar?

The old man looked at her with a cheerful smile: "Here? That was pretty fast, faster than I expected. Not bad, not bad."

"Isn’t this a problem? The problem is, will this kind of speed cause me any issues?" Qhianqhian looked tense, but she finally relaxed after seeing the old man, letting out a long sigh.