My uncle-master and Aunt Yunxia were shocked by my learning ability.
They looked on in disbelief.
Even Aunt Yunxia, an elder from the prestigious Qingcheng Mountain sect, was astonished by my aptitude and talent.
In their eyes, although I wasn't entirely new to this.
I had now proficiently mastered the fire spirit root.
Learning to use new elemental spirit roots typically required a transitional period.
It should take at least two or three days to transition completely.
But who would have known, I transitioned like nothing.
As soon as my uncle-master recited it once, I learned it.
My uncle-master and Aunt Yunxia both believed their disciples, Mo Ting and Xia Qiu Xi, were already quite outstanding.
They were both considered very talented individuals.
But after seeing me, they realized.
Compared to my comprehension and talent, the talents of Old Mo and Qiu Xi truly had some distance.
As for myself.
I didn't feel like there was anything special about me.
Except in cultivation, I felt that as long as I thought about it and acted, everything that followed was smooth.
A feeling of seamless progression.
I didn't need to ponder it; it just happened.
But aside from cultivation, when I did other things, I didn't have that feeling.
I was still clumsy...
Perhaps, as my master said when he was alive.
I was born to walk this path, to earn this living.
All my talent and comprehension were only suited for cultivation...
After about an hour.
I slowly opened my eyes, then looked at my uncle-master and Aunt Yunxia with surprise and said:
"Uncle-master, Aunt Yunxia, I've got it. I can circulate metal attribute Dao Qi on my own."
Seeing me, my uncle-master and Aunt Yunxia both wore wry smiles.
But they didn't praise me; instead, my uncle-master spoke:
"It took an hour, and you're still so happy?
Settle your mind and focus.
Remember every detail I just told you.
Metal attribute Dao Qi is fierce and unyielding, the most potent and sharpest Dao Qi among the five attributes."
Seeing my uncle-master speak sternly, I immediately nodded and said:
"Yes, Uncle-master! I've remembered it all."
Then, Aunt Yunxia stepped forward and said:
"Alright, now I will teach you how to use the wood attribute spirit root."
"Yes, Aunt Yunxia!"
Without resting, I began a new round of cultivation.
In fact, the methods were all similar.
After all, understanding one leads to understanding all.
It's all about finding the "spirit root seed," controlling the true Qi in the Dantian, and through one's own spirit root, converting it into attribute-specific Dao Qi.
It also took an hour for me to master the wood attribute Dao Qi again.
At this point, Aunt Yunxia smiled and said to me:
"The characteristic of the wood attribute spirit root lies in recovery.
By mastering the wood attribute spirit root, you can quickly restore lost spiritual power and Dao Qi.
Furthermore, by mastering three attribute spirit roots.
Possessing three different types of Dao Qi.
When used proficiently, it offers a significant suppressive effect against cultivators of different attributes."
"Mm, thank you for your guidance, Aunt Yunxia."
I said my thanks again.
Aunt Yunxia nodded and smiled.
My uncle-master squinted his eyes and said:
"Little Qin, when did you reach the Profound Core realm?"
Hearing this, I smiled again:
"Just last night. I slept and then broke through."
"What? Slept?"
My uncle-master was astonished.
Aunt Yunxia also looked at me with disbelief.
I nodded:
"Truly. Right after Master sent me a dream, the life curse triggered. When I woke up from my sleep, I found I had broken through to the Profound Core realm."
Upon hearing this, my uncle-master and Aunt Yunxia gasped.
They had heard of breakthroughs during secluded cultivation, breakthroughs during life-or-death battles, and breakthroughs following sudden enlightenment.
But a breakthrough during sleep was a first for them.
"Good heavens, kid, I don't know what to say about you,"
My uncle-master said with a chuckle.
Aunt Yunxia also smiled:
"Little Qin has extraordinary talent. Once he overcomes the current hurdle, I believe he will surely ascend to the ranks of the strongest in the Daoist tradition."
Aunt Yunxia's high praise made me a little embarrassed.
But I still said:
"Aunt Yunxia, I will work hard. I won't disappoint Master, nor you."
My uncle-master and Aunt Yunxia nodded.
My uncle-master pried open the lid of his wine gourd:
"Then you practice on your own! We're heading back. Come back later for dinner."
Saying that, he took a drink and turned to leave.
Aunt Yunxia also waved goodbye to me.
I nodded and watched them go.
After my uncle-master and Aunt Yunxia left, I continued to practice by sitting cross-legged.
Once I mastered the metal and wood attributes, I would possess three types of Dao Qi.
Three types of Dao Qi, just thinking about it felt awesome.
Using three swords, cultivating three energies.
I would be fearless against any attribute opponent.
I practiced, not paying attention to the time.
Once, twice, thrice...
After an unknown number of repetitions, when I opened my eyes again.
It was already dark.
In front of me, a thermal food container was placed at some point.
It seemed my uncle-master and aunt had brought me food because I hadn't returned for so long.
I picked up the thermal container and opened it.
Although the food was a bit cold, my heart felt warm.
Besides Grandma, only Master and my uncle-master were this kind to me.
I picked up my chopsticks and started eating right there in the forest.
The weather was cold, but my heart was warm.
After eating, I put down the lunchbox.
I didn't plan to go back; I'd just keep practicing!
There were still two days left; I would grasp as much as I could...