Chapter 27: I Miss You So Much I Could Die!

“What kind of treasure has the heir acquired to attract such vital energy?” Lin Cheng’s eyes went wide with shock, momentarily at a loss for words.

The Duke’s household wielded immense power and boasted vast troves of treasures. As the heir apparent, it was only natural for Cheng Guang to display the occasional phenomenon that defied common sense.

Comforting himself with this thought, Lin Cheng resolved inwardly to hold fast to the heir’s coattails. The very chance to be in the heir’s presence was the greatest fortune he could hope for in this life. Even a trinket casually discarded by Cheng Guang would be enough to secure Lin Cheng’s wealth and status for years to come.

Qingluan, though not as overt as Lin Cheng, stood slightly open-mouthed, gazing in stunned silence at Cheng Guang as he moved through his exercises in the courtyard, unsure what to say.

Time slipped by as Lin Cheng and Qingluan watched in astonishment.

After a quarter of an hour, Cheng Guang finally collapsed to the ground, his limbs splayed out, drenched in sweat. His fine garments clung uncomfortably to his skin, yet despite his exhaustion, a look of joy still lingered in his eyes.

A quarter of an hour!

Last night, when he tried dual cultivation for the first time, he barely managed to hold on for a few breaths; this morning, he had lasted a full quarter hour! Such visible progress was simply astonishing.

“Every movement in the Divine Serpent Coiling Technique tempers the fascia and refines the flesh. Practiced daily, it fills the body with vital blood and energy. Once the vital blood is dense enough to seal and contain spiritual energy, one can birth energy within and step into the First Grade, the Realm of Refining Energy.

The time needed for this varies with age and resources. The younger and more privileged, the greater the advantage. Even so, the fastest prodigies need three or four months to reach the threshold of internal energy birth.

But I…” Cheng Guang let out a long breath.

“But with the Divine Sovereign’s Cultivation Method, although I cannot yet lock spiritual energy with my vital blood, I can directly draw upon it to strengthen my body—like a master at the highest level leading a novice through the beginner’s village, skyrocketing my progress!”

“If all goes well, I’ll formally step into the Realm of Refining Energy by tomorrow.”

“As for the Path of Spirit…” Cheng Guang recalled the descriptions of spiritual realms outlined in the Divine Sovereign’s manual.

The spiritual path and the martial path begin quite differently, but in the end, all roads converge on breaking the heavenly barrier, achieving transcendence.

The early stages are Perception, Yin Spirit, Yang Spirit, and Separation of Spirit.

Achieving the Perception Realm is, in fact, astonishingly simple—so simple that Cheng Guang could scarcely believe it. One need only awaken their bloodline power, sense the existence of spiritual energy in the world, and draw it into the body—then one has stepped into the first spiritual realm: Perception.

If that’s the case… Didn’t that mean he’d already reached the Perception Realm last night?

It seemed Cheng Guang had only just realized this. He paused, then a smile crept onto his lips.

“At last, I’ve set foot upon the path of cultivation. But spiritual cultivation is inherently faster than martial cultivation. Perhaps the other royal scions are all like me—I shouldn’t celebrate too soon.”

***

“Besides, I’m not that young anymore. Diligence makes up for lack of talent; I should rest and then resume training.” Cheng Guang murmured to himself, his eyes resolute.

Had the other royals heard this, they would have coughed up blood in frustration. Spiritual cultivation might be faster, but not to such an absurd degree! Stepping into the Perception Realm overnight—how many royal descendants could even dream of such a feat? Most would thank the heavens if they achieved it within a month!

Meanwhile, Qingluan seemed to have finally recovered from the shock Cheng Guang had given her. She hurried over, her lovely face etched with concern and a hint of reproach, helping him indoors, removing his sweat-soaked clothes, and wiping him clean.

“My lord, the weather is cool, and the monsoon is changing. Don’t rush—take it slow. You only trained for a quarter of an hour and collapsed from exhaustion. Isn’t that too much?”

Cheng Guang grinned. “It’s not that fast, is it?”

Qingluan nodded solemnly, half-exasperated. “One mustn’t rush martial training. Lie down, my lord. Let me massage you and relax your muscles.”

Cheng Guang stretched out on the bed, letting Qingluan’s cool hands knead and probe his body, saying nothing.

After enjoying her ministrations for a while, he ate some spirit-infused food to replenish his blood and energy, then prepared to go out.

Though Cheng Zhi Hai had instructed him to report his cultivation progress daily, Cheng Guang, being who he was, hardly took the old man’s words seriously. Now that Cheng Zhi Hai had finally allowed him to leave the estate, he was determined to seize the chance.

He had been in this world for over a week, confined every day to the Duke’s mansion—specifically, to his small courtyard in the Myriad Phenomena Garden. The only time he’d left was to accompany his mother into the palace.

He had yet to truly experience the outside world.

With Qingluan’s help, Cheng Guang changed into a fresh set of clothes. Before he could step outside, a beast’s roar and heavy breathing sounded from beyond the gate.

A rough voice followed: “Boss, boss, come out and play!”

Cheng Guang’s eyes narrowed in puzzlement. Boss? It wasn’t a common way to address him. Judging by the timbre, it was definitely a young man’s voice.

Did any of the heir’s friends call him “boss”?

As Cheng Guang pondered, he suddenly recalled a person mentioned in the archives he’d read in the library.

A year ago, the heir’s closest friend, Qiao Songshan, legitimate son of the Marquis of Valor, had gone carousing with him at a brothel. After a dispute over a courtesan turned into a brawl with several nobles, Qiao was sent to serve at the border by his furious father.

Had he just returned?

***

Cheng Guang’s gaze flickered, then he motioned for Qingluan to open the door.

Qingluan glanced at Cheng Guang, then at the entrance. After a moment’s thought, she leaned in close, her breath warm against his ear as she whispered softly:

“My lord, the one outside is Qiao Songshan, the Marquis of Valor’s legitimate son—one of your few close friends. You can be at ease with him.”

Cheng Guang nodded slightly. “I know. Go on, open the gate.”

Seeing this, Qingluan said no more and hurried off to open the courtyard door.

The gate swung wide.

Before them stood a magnificent beast: neither quite horse nor deer, but somewhere between—a striking creature clad in black scales, its limbs powerful, its back broad, its muscles bulging with explosive strength. When it stamped the ground, dust flew up in clouds; its snorts rumbled like thunder.

Its value was beyond measure. Only someone of extraordinary lineage could possess such a mount.

Cheng Guang narrowed his eyes, unsurprised. Of course—it was only fitting that the heir’s closest friend should come from such a distinguished background.

Marquis Qiao Zhongqin, Songshan’s father, was the youngest man in all Great Zhou to be ennobled for martial prowess, having reached the ninth rank of martial cultivation just past his hundredth birthday, and winning great glory on the battlefield. He was also one of the Duke’s most trusted generals—a true luminary of the realm.

Thanks to this connection, Qiao Songshan had had many chances to befriend the heir and become his dearest companion.

As Cheng Guang mused, his eyes shifted upward.

Atop the beast sat a tall youth—none other than Qiao Songshan himself. A year older than Cheng Guang, his features were rugged, a long blade at his waist, clad in martial garb. Fresh from the frontier, he still bore traces of bloodlust and an imposing air.

At the sight of Cheng Guang, Songshan’s eyes lit up. He leapt down from his mount, rushed over, and threw his arms around Cheng Guang’s leg, exclaiming with mingled longing and woe:

“Boss, oh boss!”

“I missed you so much!”