In truth, Jian's comprehension was god-like. His mind had always been his sharpest weapon, sharper than any blade, more enduring than any shield.
He could memorize anything he came across, be it a cultivation manual, a dual technique, or even the fragmented scribbles of scholars even.
Even if he had yet to unravel the essence behind those words, the images and principles remained imprinted in his mind like carvings in stone, ready to be drawn upon when the time was right.
This was why his movements carried such precision and rhythm—he was not simply practicing; he was weaving together fragments of countless arts, shaping them into something entirely his own which was akin to creating one's own technique, an achievement that required years of dedication and meticulous understanding.
Where others relied solely on years of cultivation and guidance, Jian relied on his mind to adapt, to improvise, to recreate.
As Fei Ling lay sprawled on the bed, unconscious yet still trembling faintly, Jian sat quietly beside her. His eyes lingered on her, not with lust but with the calculation of someone weighing pieces on a board.
Jian clearly knew she was not to be trusted, and malice though faintly was buried beneath her pride.
And yet, she was useful—her presence could mask his own rise for a while, perhaps even draw away the attention of predators who always circled talent too early revealed at least in the outer cour, not that he planned to stay weak for long.
His lips curved into the faintest of smirks. So eager to be like Elder Mei Lian… yet so easily undone, off course after running every possible person that could behind him getting watched it was only elder Mei Lian that came to mind and he came to conclusion taking into consideration that Fei ling was only sent to be a spectator or rather an observer.
Still, there was no cruelty in his gaze, only the quiet resolve of one who knew he could not afford to trust too deeply, nor push too openly. Talent could inspire admiration, but it also drew envy and hatred in equal measure—and Jian was not yet strong enough to defend himself against the storm he knew would come.
He pulled the sheets gently over Fei Ling's figure, then leaned back, letting the quiet of his quarters settle once more. For now, his path was clear—he needed strength, and he needed it fast.
Sitting down cross-legged, Jian steadied his breath, guiding his thoughts inward. The faint fragrance of Fei Ling lingered in the room, laced with a trace of her yin essence, still drifting in the air. Being the higher cultivator, her Yin Qi was far denser, and far more refined than anything he had come across before so far.
As he began circulating his own Qi, the flow within his meridians stirred restlessly, responding to the lingering trace of hers.
Spiritual energy surged like a tide drawn to the moon, her Yin resonating with his Yang, harmonizing in a delicate yet powerful balance.
The moment the connection aligned, a torrent of energy flooded his core.
His dantian throbbed as though struck by thunder, expanding and condensing at once. It was dangerous—too much absorption could easily tear his meridians apart—but Jian's mind was sharp, his control honed by desperation and memory.
He guided the flow carefully, weaving it into his own foundation, tempering his body while nourishing his soul.
The room grew heavy with spiritual pressure. The faint shimmer of light traced his skin as the glow of cultivation breakthroughs emanated from his body.
Slowly, the night stretched on. Every cycle of breath deepened his reserves, sharpening his spirit and mending hidden fractures within his body.
With that, he broke through from the eighth stage of the Flesh Refining Realm to the ninth, before boom—he erupted straight into the peak stage of the Flesh Strengthening Realm.
What seemed like an hour passed, yet he continued his ascent, breaking through into the first stage of the Meridian Connection Realm. Fei Ling had already reached the early stages of the Core Formation Realm, standing two whole major realms above Jian before their session. Her Yin Qi carried immense power, far greater than what Maria had offered.
Now, with his breakthrough into the Meridian Connection Realm, the gap had lessened to just one major realm. But Jian did not stop. He pressed forward—second stage of the Meridian Connection Realm… third stage… fourth stage. His spiritual energy surged like a rising tide, threatening to overflow.
But being an experienced cultivator, he knew the remaining energy wouldn't be enough to push him into the fifth stage of the Meridian Connection Realm. Instead, he carefully redirected the flow, reinforcing his core and stabilizing his foundation. After an hour of steady refinement, his eyes shot open with renewed clarity.
Glancing around, he noticed Fei Ling still lying unconscious on the bed. His brows furrowed in momentary confusion before realization struck—he hadn't removed the Soul Steel Needles after their session.
Rising to his feet, Jian walked to her side and pressed precise points across her body. One by one, he extracted the needles with practiced care, allowing her suppressed spiritual Qi to surge back into balance.
Satisfied, he left her to recover and made his way into the bathing area. This time, the water carried no trace of impurities. The energy he absorbed through dual cultivation was already refined—drawn directly from Fei Ling's core so it was akin to energy in its purest form.
That was why dual cultivation was often regarded as a cheat code in the cultivation world: it completely bypassed the arduous process of purifying raw energy before absorption which made people always see dual cultivators as lazy.
Jian sank into the water, lips curving into a quiet smile. Not only had he grown stronger, but he could now project his spiritual Qi outwardly—a step that
marked the beginning of a new phase in his path.