CHAPTER 56: CHAPTER 5: LITTLE PEARL OF THE CULTIVATION WORLD (PART 5)

Liao Junyi gazed at the main peak of the Mingwu Sect, a hint of ambition and envy flickering in his eyes.

"Kid, still haven’t made up your mind? Look at those servants, clearly of the same status as you, yet they bully you just because they’re stronger. You are a direct descendant of the Liao family, but because you have mixed spirit roots, the family sent you to the Mingwu Sect as a servant. The girl you like has fallen into your brother’s arms, don’t you resent that?"

A voice echoed in Liao Junyi’s mind, a voice that frequently appeared after he had claimed ownership of that ring with a drop of blood.

"Kid, if you listen to me, one day I can make you as admired as the little pearl of the Mingwu Sect, and you can freely retaliate against those who bully you."

There was a struggle in Liao Junyi’s eyes.

He had also complained before, why he was born with mixed spirit roots while others were born with abnormal spirit roots. Why was he, though faultless, kicked to the Mingwu Sect as a servant by the family? Did his fathers truly have no familial affection for him at all?

He longed to possess strength, to seek justice for himself. But with his mixed spirit roots, at twelve years of age, he was still only at the Third Layer of Qi Refinement, and there seemed to be no end in sight.

He had accidentally obtained this ring. At the time, he thought it was an ordinary ring when he saw its dusty appearance. But while picking spiritual medicine, he accidentally fell to the valley bottom, and his palm somehow got pricked, bleeding onto the ring. That’s when he discovered the ring could communicate with him.

The ring even seemed to know all that was on his mind.

When the ring told him it could enhance his strength, he was overjoyed yet skeptical. He doubted that anything could come without effort, especially since the ring could read his thoughts, which frightened him. He remained cautious of the ring and ignored the voice back then.

Inside the ring were numerous spiritual medicines and treasures. He secretly took some recognized elixir pills to consume, but he only advanced from the Second Level to the Third Layer of Qi Refinement and then made no further progress.

Over the past two years, the voice did not reappear until now when it suddenly resurfaced.

Liao Junyi bit his lip and finally asked resolutely, "Who are you, and why are you helping me?"

"I am the owner of this ring. It holds all the things I stored. Back then, I had already reached the Great Perfection of the Mahayana Realm, but I failed the tribulation. Luckily, the ring is made of Ink Soul Stone, capable of hosting a spirit, so my remnant soul attached itself to the ring."

"I mean you no harm. I can understand your thoughts because you claimed the ring with a drop of blood. If you are willing to heed me, I can enhance your cultivation. Once you are strong enough, all you need to do is help me rebuild my body and nourish my soul. With my remnant soul attached to the ring, I can’t seize anyone’s body, so rest assured."

"Nourish the soul? Is it about finding those spirit plants and elixir pills that can nourish the soul?"

"No, my soul was shattered by a heavenly tribulation and can’t be restored by ordinary methods. Naturally, it won’t be ordinary things either; such items generally only belong to top sects. You’re too weak now and can’t help me."

"Alright, what should I do?"

"You’ve undergone many unfair experiences, and the trials have tempered your mind and spirit. Now, the issue lies with your spirit roots, but don’t worry, I have a way, though it requires many preparations."

Li Shuning recalled who Liao Junyi seized the spirit roots from in the story. After becoming a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, one needed to take on some tasks to hone oneself. As the Sect Master’s daughter, Li Shuning didn’t necessarily have to do those tasks, but she still chose to take on tasks.

Intentionally or inadvertently, she drew close to that True Disciple and soon became familiar, beginning to team up on tasks.

Little did she know that the timing when Liao Junyi prepared the materials, following the remnant soul’s instructions, differed from the plot.

Thus, the time and the target of the True Disciple who went out alone for sect tasks and got severely injured, allowing Liao Junyi to seize the spirit root and replace his mixed spirit roots, might differ.

Since she frequently undertook sect tasks, Li Shuning naturally mingled with those Inner Sect Disciples and True Disciples and became well-informed.

When she heard that a servant from the sect actually became an Outer Disciple and then, within just a few months, successfully reached Foundation Establishment and became an Inner Sect Disciple, she was astounded.

Li Shuning sat in her dwelling, somewhat dejected, not expecting all her preparations to be in vain and that Liao Junyi had succeeded.

Upon learning that Liao Junyi became an Inner Sect Disciple, Li Shuning naturally found out when he started gaining momentum. At that time, a senior brother aged eighteen at the Second Level of Foundation Establishment disappeared from the sect.

In the story, after replacing his spirit roots, Liao Junyi’s progress seemed almost like cheating, quickly advancing in strength.

During the triennial Inner Sect examination, an Inner Sect Elder noticed him, and he became a True Disciple.

Li Shuning sighed; with that ring in Liao Junyi’s possession, even if she had people suppress him, it might only motivate him more.

What to do?

Killing him wasn’t possible, and she couldn’t just ask the ancestor to eliminate Liao Junyi, could she?

The ancestor is the sect’s pillar, a Mahayana Cultivator. If he acted, even with the remnant soul’s help, Liao Junyi would surely die.

Others acting, however, would be uncertain.

But what justification did she have to have the sect’s ancestor move against an Inner Sect Cultivator?

With that thought, Li Shuning felt a bit helpless.

She thought back to when Liao Junyi incited issues between her and her senior brother, causing the senior brother to leave the sect in anger for tasks, eventually getting slain. As long as she didn’t get incited and avoided entangling with Liao Junyi, he wouldn’t obtain the substantial cultivation resources mentioned in the storyline.

Furthermore, as long as she stayed ahead of Liao Junyi, what was there to fear?

With that in mind, Li Shuning exhaled a sigh of relief, her eyes filled with determination.

From that day on, Li Shuning stopped doing sect tasks and began cultivating alone.

In this world, mental cultivation techniques are extremely rare, and even if they exist, they are nothing compared to the cultivation method Li Shuning possesses.

By the age of twenty, Li Shuning had become a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator. After her cultivation increased, advancing further wasn’t easy.

To break through, she and her senior brother left the sect to gain experience. By the age of twenty-one, she became a Golden Core Cultivator.

The Mingwu Sect knew Li Shuning had boundless potential but also feared other sects targeting her. Therefore, thereafter, Li Shuning seemingly vanished from the sect, and even her senior brother was no longer seen.

In reality, Li Shuning, her senior brother, and her uncle continued their travels outside.

Over a hundred years, Li Shuning went through many hardships, once nearly dying. That time scared her enough to break into a cold sweat. If not for the critical moment when she took out the hovercar and activated the invisibility effect, she might not have escaped danger.

After that event, Li Shuning became more composed and reserved.

Fortunately, her senior brother and uncle were preoccupied by another demon beast some distance away, or they might have noticed something amiss.

A hundred years after leaving the sect, the trio returned, outwardly claiming her strength was at the Sixth Layer of the Nascent Soul Stage.

As for Liao Junyi, Li Shuning knew that eighty years ago, he succeeded in breaking through to become a Golden Core Cultivator, and now, he merely had the cultivation at Golden Core Great Perfection.

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