"That fast?"
Xu Xiao felt the realm of the Second Level of Foundation Establishment and his eyes flickered slightly.
He guessed it must be because after taking the Longevity Pill, some of the spiritual energy lost during the previous lightning tribution had returned.
That's why his realm advanced so quickly.
Pushing forward, Xu Xiao continued to cultivate on the meditation mat, and the medicinal power of the Foundation Establishment Pill rapidly dissolved within him.
Normally, one Foundation Establishment Pill would allow a cultivator to practice for three days, but in just one night, Xu Xiao consumed five of them.
His realm directly advanced to the Fourth Level of Foundation Establishment.
After breaking through to the Fourth Level, his cultivation speed slightly slowed down.
With his previous experience of reaching the Ninth Level of the Nascent Soul Stage, his cultivation speed, bolstered by the Foundation Establishment Pill, was astonishingly fast.
***
At dawn the next day, Xu Xiao left the meditation mat feeling refreshed.
Such rapid cultivation speed, if continued, could be mentally exhausting, so he pnned to stabilize his realm first before proceeding slowly.
With fifty-one years of lifespan left, there's no rush; he could take his time.
In his spatial storage, there were still 184 Foundation Establishment Pills, more than enough.
At the Outer Mountain's main hall, Sect Square.
At this moment, a group of Outer Sect Disciples in light blue robes had already begun practicing their breathing techniques on the Jade Pza.
This was one of the pces in the entire Outer Mountain with the densest spiritual energy, a favorite free cultivation spot for the Outer Sect Disciples.
These disciples were generally in the Qi Refining Stage or Foundation Establishment Stage and could not yet fly with swords.
Only upon reaching the Core Formation Stage and practicing the Sword Control Technique could they break free from the earth's constraints and fly in the air.
Cultivators at the Core Formation Stage were the backbone of the sect.
Once an Outer Sect Disciple reached the Core Formation Stage, the sect would start assigning them duties.
Some particurly talented disciples might even catch the eye of an Inner Sect Elder, be brought into the Inner Mountain, and become the Inner Disciple that all Outer Sect Disciples dream of becoming.
Among the crowd sitting in meditation on the pza was the graceful and youthful Lin Yan'er.
She sat cross-legged with her eyes closed, practicing the Outer Sect Technique, the Misty Technique.
She had already reached the Ninth Level of Qi Refining and was about to enter seclusion to use the Foundation Establishment Pill to break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage in one go.
Even now, she was still thrilled by yesterday's fortuitous encounter.
During her practice, she occasionally opened her beautiful eyes, secretly marveling at their Elder Xu, who was truly wonderful...
With such a senior in the sect, she felt even more proud of her identity as a disciple of the Misty Sect, and more hopeful for the future!
"Senior Brother! Have you heard? Yesterday, Junior Sister Lin was deceived by a dishonest merchant in Tiger Roar City and encountered our Elder Xu!"
While Lin Yan'er was meditating, the disciples around her gnced over intentionally or unintentionally.
Their eyes were filled with envy. Fortuitous encounters were rare, but Lin Yan'er had one!
"Of course! Oh my, Junior Brother, this news spread like wildfire in our Outer Sect st night! How could I not know?!"
"Our Elder Xu is truly a once-in-a-millennium great benefactor! He's willing to stand up for us Outer Sect Disciples!"
The discussions gradually spread, and almost all the disciples in the pza gathered in groups to talk about this.
"I heard that the dishonest merchant was so scared when Elder Xu showed up that he wet himself! He even knelt and gave Junior Sister Lin nine Mid-Grade Spirit Stones as compensation! So satisfying! Haha!"
"Our Junior Sister Lin only spent three Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, and now she's gained six! She's hit the jackpot!"
"You missed the key part! Junior Sister Lin not only gained six Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, but I heard that our Elder Xu personally gave her ten high-quality Foundation Establishment Pills afterward! That's the crucial part!"
"Oh! Right, right! Nine Mid-Grade Spirit Stones and ten Foundation Establishment Pills! Sigh... why can't I have such good fortune?! Ah!!"
"With ten Foundation Establishment Pills, given Junior Sister Lin's aptitude, she might directly reach the Second Level of Foundation Establishment! So envious!"
At this point, a few female disciples chimed in.
"That's nothing! You don't know, but Elder Xu said before he left that Lin Yan'er could come to him anytime if she encountered difficulties in her cultivation. That's Lin Yan'er's true opportunity!"
"Oh my! So envious! How can there be such a good elder! I want to find Elder Xu! I want to be his maid!!"
"Come on, this is fate. If you go to Elder Xu's pce now, he might just kick you out, haha!"
"Sigh... Lin Yan'er is truly blessed!"
These discussions, some loud and some soft, naturally reached Lin Yan'er and the two senior sisters beside her.
One of the senior sisters smiled at Lin Yan'er and said, "Junior Sister! You're famous now! Everyone's envious of you!"
The other senior sister encouraged, "Junior Sister, since Elder Xu said so, why don't you go find him? With Elder Xu's guidance, your Foundation Establishment is a sure thing!"
Lin Yan'er's face was slightly flushed, and she could no longer sit still.
She looked at the two senior sisters beside her, feeling a bit embarrassed, "Senior Sister, isn't that inappropriate... Elder Xu probably just said it casually, besides... with Elder Xu's Foundation Establishment Pills, I should be able to establish my foundation."
The encouraging Chubby Senior Sister said, "Junior Sister, how can you let such a great opportunity slip by? Sigh... too foolish!"
The other, somewhat slender senior sister's eyes lit up and said, "Junior Sister, no matter what, Elder Xu helped you a lot. Since he lives in our Outer Mountain, you should go thank him... otherwise, it would be too impolite."
Hearing this, Lin Yan'er had a thoughtful look in her eyes.
The senior sister was right; Elder Xu had helped her so much, and since he was just in the Outer Sect.
He didn't have much lifespan left and was all alone.
He was so old and must be very lonely... No matter what, she should personally go and thank him.
Having made up her mind, she informed the two senior sisters and returned to her residence.
The Misty Sect disciples' rooms were uniformly pnned, with male disciples on one side and female disciples on the other, and most were single rooms.
Lin Yan'er returned to her tidy and fragrant room, thought for a moment, and took a box of pastries her mother had prepared for her from home.
Going to thank him empty-handed would be insincere. Although the pastries weren't valuable, they could express her gratitude.
Feeling a bit nervous, her pretty face blushed slightly.
Holding the exquisitely packaged box, Lin Yan'er descended to the mountainside and walked nervously towards Xu Xiao's courtyard.
***
"Disciple Lin Yan'er, I... I've come to thank Elder Xu..."
Outside the small courtyard, Lin Yan'er was so nervous that she stuttered. She had mustered the courage to come over.
Xu Xiao, who was lying on a rocking chair drinking tea, had long noticed her approach.
His eyes lit up slightly, and he looked at the beautiful young girl of eighteen or nineteen in front of him, smiling and nodding.
She wore a light blue robe, her figure graceful and captivating.
Her fair and charming face was youthful and vibrant, her budding figure standing tall and elegant.
She was as pure and lovely as a lotus in water.
"So it's you, Lin Yan'er, I remember you."
Xu Xiao waved his hand and said, "The gate isn't locked, come in."
As he expected, the Daughter of Destiny had come to him on her own.
