Before Du Yuejiao could even open the door, it was abruptly pushed open. A tall, statuesque woman strode in without hesitation. She cast a glance at Lin Tian lying on the bed, and a faint trace of derision curled at the corner of her lips.
"I heard you brought some wild man back. I thought it was a joke, but I never expected it to be true," Du Yuefen said, her tone dripping with disdain. "Du Yuejiao, I could have overlooked your lack of diligence in cultivation, but to do something like this… You've utterly disgraced the Du family."
"What I do isn't something you need to concern yourself with," Du Yuejiao replied, her expression darkening. Though she tried to feign indifference, Du Yuefen's words pierced her, leaving a sting of discomfort.
"Do you think I want to meddle? Were it not for the fact that you are my sister, I wouldn't even spare you a glance. In three days, the family's Grand Competition will begin. If you don't buckle down and train, do you intend to bring shame to Father?" With that, Du Yuefen twisted her head arrogantly and swept out with an air of grace and poise.
Once Du Yuefen had left, Du Yuejiao lowered her head instantly, her eyes clouded with disappointment. As the daughter of the Du family's patriarch, expectations weighed heavily on her. She had been lavished with resources and meticulous guidance, yet her talent for cultivation seemed painfully limited. Despite relentless effort, she had remained stuck at the fourth layer of Qi Refinement for five long years. Watching her peers surpass her only fueled her anxiety.
"I'm sorry for putting you through this," Lin Tian said, troubled, seeing Du Yuejiao so disheartened. He clearly hadn't anticipated causing her such difficulties.
"It's nothing. It's all my own shortcomings, not yours," Du Yuejiao said, forcing a faint smile as she turned away, concealing the sorrow gnawing at her heart. Though her father had always adored her, her performance over the years had been less than satisfactory. In the eyes of the Du family, she was an unworthy daughter of the clan's head.
"If it's cultivation you're struggling with, I can help," Lin Tian said gently, noticing the faint glimmer of disappointment in her eyes. After all, he owed his life to her; aiding her in return seemed only natural.
"What are you talking about?" Du Yuejiao managed a wry, helpless smile. The bottleneck at the fourth layer of Qi Refinement had tormented her for five years. In that time, she had tried countless methods and consumed innumerable spiritual medicines, yet her cultivation had remained stagnant. Breaking through seemed impossible.
Seeing her disbelief, Lin Tian rose with effort and walked over. Though he had fainted upon arrival, Du Yuejiao had been exceptionally attentive—she had not only brought him back but also safeguarded his belongings. Though the glider was completely destroyed, he had meticulously preserved three vials of elixir when he landed.
He had used only a few drops to help Lin Xue break through. Compared to her, Du Yuejiao had accumulated far more reserves. A little stimulation would easily trigger her breakthrough.
As the jade vial's cap was removed, a surge of pure spiritual energy poured forth. Du Yuejiao's eyes widened as she felt the energy stirring her inner techniques. Without hesitation, she began to channel her cultivation method. The pure spiritual energy streamed ceaselessly into her body. In mere moments, her internal accumulation seemed to reach a plateau, followed by a chorus of cracking sounds from her bones.
In the next instant, the surging energy shot directly into a meridian. The barrier that had plagued her for years shattered. With the breakthrough, her cultivation soared. The nourishment of countless spiritual medicines over five years had now matured into an immense reservoir of power.
With her breakthrough, all her accumulated medicinal energy transformed into pure cultivation strength. Within mere breaths, Du Yuejiao's cultivation reached the peak of the fifth layer of Qi Refinement, teetering on the edge of the sixth.
Seeing this, Lin Tian wasted no time, channeling his own energy. The elixir in the vial diffused throughout the room, intensifying the already dense spiritual energy. Absorbing this, another meridian within Du Yuejiao reopened, and her cultivation finally stabilized at the sixth layer.
"Thank you… truly, thank you," Du Yuejiao whispered, disbelief shining in her eyes. As the daughter of the Du family patriarch, her talent had never been poor; in the early stages, her speed had even surpassed her peers. But once she reached the third layer, her progress slowed drastically, eventually stagnating at the fourth. She had nearly given up hope, yet Lin Tian's timely intervention had effortlessly solved the problem that had tormented her for years.
"Here, take this vial of elixir," Lin Tian said, handing over the half-used vial.
"No, no, I can't accept it. This gift… it's far too precious," Du Yuejiao said, waving her hands. Though she had never seen this elixir before, the fact that it had enabled her to break two levels at once proved its value. Having already used so much of Lin Tian's elixir, she felt she could not accept more.
"You saved my life. Consider this a token of my gratitude," Lin Tian said firmly, giving it to her regardless.
"All right… then thank you," Du Yuejiao said, joy radiating in her eyes as she accepted the vial.
But her happiness was short-lived. Suddenly, her complexion shifted, and a mouthful of blood spurted forth.