Chapter 44: Unfilial, A Filial Son is Born Under the Staff

Five thousand spiritual stones is no small sum for a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Qin Ran looked at Ji Qingwan with a hint of hesitation in her eyes.

These five thousand spiritual stones represented almost the entirety of her savings.

The reason Ji Qingwan had brought her here to make a breakthrough was naturally to capitalize on Lin Fan's unique ability in exchange for spiritual stones.

Ji Qingwan herself was almost entirely out of spiritual stones. Most of what she had possessed previously, during her visit to the Su family, had been given to Su Xingyue in exchange for the so-called "ancestral elixir."

"I... it's not that I don't trust you, but this spiritual spring allowing someone to break through is simply too unbelievable," Qin Ran said hesitantly. "And... these spiritual stones..."

Under normal circumstances, if she could smoothly break through her bottleneck, she would gladly pay not just five thousand spiritual stones, but even ten thousand.

The crucial issue was that she had no way of knowing whether a breakthrough was guaranteed.

What if she failed? Wouldn't those five thousand spiritual stones be thrown away for nothing?

Ji Qingwan smoothed a lock of hair by her temple and smiled faintly, "Why don't you try it first? If you succeed, it won't be too late to give me the spiritual stones then!"

Her words put Qin Ran at ease quite a bit.

With her worries lifted, Qin Ran took a deep breath and said, "Then I shall try. Guard me!"

"Rest assured with your cultivation breakthrough; I will protect you right here!" With that, Ji Qingwan exchanged a knowing look with Lin Fan.

Lin Fan chuckled inwardly. This opportunistic master of his certainly knew how to do business.

Qin Ran sat cross-legged, circulating her cultivation technique.

Lin Fan could feel the spiritual Qi in the surrounding air converging toward Qin Ran's body.

He chanted silently in his heart: "System, help her break through!"

[Ding! Consumed 200 years of lifespan to help Qin Ran break through the mid-Foundation Establishment bottleneck!]

[Remaining lifespan: 6,685 years]

As the lifespan was deducted, the spiritual Qi surrounding Qin Ran suddenly began to fluctuate violently.

The spiritual power within her body rampaged through her meridians like a wild horse with broken reins.

Qin Ran's complexion turned alternating shades of pale and flushed.

Gradually, wisps of white mist began to rise from the crown of her head.

Qin Ran's body gave a sudden jolt.

Immediately following, a powerful wave of spiritual pressure erupted from within her.

This spiritual pressure was many times stronger than before.

Qin Ran slowly opened her eyes, her face filled with joyous surprise.

She felt as though she were living in a dream.

"I... did I really break through?" she murmured, her voice carrying a trace of trembling.

She could sense that the spiritual power within her was far denser than before, and she had truly stepped into the late Foundation Establishment stage.

Qin Ran's fingers trembled slightly with excitement.

She had been stuck at this bottleneck for over thirty years.

A long time ago, she and Ji Qingwan had both been at the early Foundation Establishment stage.

Now, Ji Qingwan had already entered the Golden Core stage, while she remained trapped in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage.

She had once thought her path to the Great Dao was doomed in this lifetime.

This sudden breakthrough filled her with a mixture of joy and astonishment.

"I've broken through!"

"I've really broken through!"

Qin Ran jumped up and down in excitement.

She felt as though she had grown decades younger, her entire being brimming with vitality.

This feeling was simply marvelous!

She still found it hard to believe it was real.

After a long while, she finally managed to calm down.

"Junior Sister, are you alright?"

Ji Qingwan's caring voice reached her ears.

Qin Ran snapped back to her senses and bowed deeply to Ji Qingwan.

"Thank you, Sister, for making this possible!"

She handed a storage pouch to Ji Qingwan with both hands.

"No words of gratitude can suffice; I will forever hold Sister's kindness in my heart!"

Ji Qingwan accepted the storage pouch, swept it with her divine sense, and a satisfied smile appeared on her face.

"The spiritual Qi you consumed during your breakthrough is roughly compensated by these spiritual stones!"

Lin Fan: "..."

This opportunistic master of his really knew how to make a profit.

A single breakthrough cost him two hundred years of lifespan, and according to their agreement, Ji Qingwan was only supposed to give him five hundred spiritual stones.

Look at her now—she turned around and made a net profit of four thousand five hundred spiritual stones!

This business was practically highway robbery!

"Sister, this spiritual spring is truly miraculous. I wonder if it might be possible to..."

Qin Ran trailed off, a trace of anticipation in her eyes.

Before she could finish, Ji Qingwan interrupted her.

"I know what you want to say. I only let you use it because I consider you my own sister, but outsiders need not dream of it!"

Ji Qingwan's tone was firm, leaving no room for negotiation.

Five thousand spiritual stones were enough to sustain her needs for quite some time.

She did not want too many people to take notice of this matter.

If the Nascent Soul old monsters of the sect ever found out, she knew she wouldn't be able to keep Lin Fan.

She wanted to keep this cash cow, Lin Fan, all to herself!

Hearing this, a flash of disappointment crossed Qin Ran's eyes.

"To be frank with you, Sister, my cultivation partner's lifespan is nearly exhausted. If we cannot find a way to break through, I'm afraid..."

Qin Ran's voice choked slightly, her eye rims turning reddish.

"This matter..."

Ji Qingwan furrowed her brows, a troubled expression crossing her face.

After pondering for a moment, she slowly said,

"Allow me to think it over carefully. You've only just broken through, so you should focus on stabilizing your cultivation realm first!"

...

Time flew by, and three months passed.

Outside Lin Fan's small courtyard, Bai Xiyue crouched on the edge of a spiritual vegetable plot, carefully inspecting the growth of the crops.

The spiritual plot was divided into several small sections, each planted with different spiritual vegetables and fruits.

"In a few more days, Young Master will be able to eat the cabbages I grew," Bai Xiyue said, her face beaming with joy.

A flash of spiritual light later, Su Xingyue appeared before her.

"Master, you've emerged from seclusion!" Bai Xiyue said in pleasant surprise. "You've reached the twelfth layer of Qi Condensation perfection!"

Su Xingyue nodded. "You've done well too. Sixth layer of Qi Condensation perfection, almost at the seventh."

"It's all thanks to the elixirs Young Master gave me," Bai Xiyue smiled. "Otherwise, I'd still be lingering around the third layer of Qi Condensation."

Su Xingyue looked Bai Xiyue up and down and lowered her voice, "It's been two months already. Hasn't he... claimed you?"

Bai Xiyue's expression dimmed. "Perhaps... I'm not the type Young Master likes."

Su Xingyue touched her slightly protruding lower abdomen and blinked. "I haven't been around lately. Did my master arrange any other female cultivators for him?"

Bai Xiyue shook her head. "Young Master only went out once when he first arrived, and he's stayed in the courtyard ever since."

"He certainly has the patience," Su Xingyue said, walking toward the house. "I'll go check on him."

As soon as she stepped into the courtyard, a strong arm wrapped around her waist.

Lin Fan whispered in her ear, "Sister has emerged from seclusion. Does this mean you want me to help you break through?"

Su Xingyue's heart skipped a beat. The familiar scent and touch left her somewhat dazed.

She turned her head slightly, and Lin Fan's warm breath brushed against her earlobe, causing a blush to spread across her cheeks.

Su Xingyue gave him a coquettish glare, yet made no move to break free from his embrace.

"You scoundrel, you only ever know how to bully me!" Su Xingyue murmured playfully, lightly pounding Lin Fan's chest with her delicate fist. Her eyes flashed with a charming allure, brimming with infinite grace.

Lin Fan grinned, a hint of mischief flashing in his eyes. "Hehe... If I help Sister break through, what reward does Sister plan to give me?"

As he spoke, his hand slid down from Su Xingyue's waist and gently rested upon her hips.

"What reward do you want?"

Su Xingyue's voice carried a slight tremble, her body growing somewhat rigid.

Lin Fan leaned close to Su Xingyue's ear and whispered, "I want to go inside and see the child!"

The warm breath brushing past Su Xingyue's earlobe made her shiver involuntarily.

"Your child doesn't want to see you!"

Su Xingyue shot Lin Fan a sideways glance, her tone laced with playful annoyance.

Lin Fan chuckled, "Such an unfilial son. Let me in, and I'll show him what it means to produce a filial child through the rod!"

With that, he scooped Su Xingyue up gently in his arms.

"Ah!"

Su Xingyue let out a startled cry, her pretty face flushing crimson. "In broad daylight, what are you planning..."

Holding Su Xingyue, Lin Fan strode toward the bedroom, laughing mischievously, "Naturally, I'm going to do some things that lovers love to do."