The days that followed were pretty comfortable for Qin Yu.
Except his waist felt a bit stiff.
The cultivators in this world can hardly be called true cultivators—at best, they're just... Qi Refiners!
Spiritual Qi doesn't nourish the body.
So Qin Yu's recovery ability as a cultivator is actually worse than Lin Qianqian's.
With "slacking off"—that is, cutting down alchemy time, Qin Yu felt even more powerless.
Kinda can't hold up anymore.
Which made his urge to get some supplements even stronger.
Gotta seriously get some tonic!
Otherwise, he'd barely be able to keep up with his little wife at home.
That just can't happen.
As a man, you care about keeping up appearances in this area—even if you're clearly out of gas, you'll still act tough.
No way he'd admit he's not up to it!
That's exactly why his waist was getting stiffer by the day.
In the blink of an eye, three months passed.
Because they had plenty of food, Qin Yu hadn't gone out.
This moment, he was in the little side room.
"Finally achieved Top Grade Mortal Bone!"
Qin Yu focused on the flame.
[Flame Point: 11]
[Lin Qianqian Romantic Point: 65 (Deep Love)]
[Cultivation: Qi Refining Second Layer (25%)]
[Root Bone: Top Grade Mortal Bone (Flame Point 11/5000)]
[Spiritual Power: Entry Middle Tier (Flame Point 11/1000)]
This time, he chose to raise his Root Bone first.
In these three months, Qin Yu's cultivation was still progressing slowly—after all, he was focusing on gathering Flame Points and refining medicinal liquid.
Still, after boosting his Root Bone, the speed of cultivation was way better than five months ago.
If he spent a bit more time on cultivation, it wouldn't take long before he could break through to Qi Refining Third Layer.
Another point worth mentioning: Lin Qianqian's Romantic Point. She was now deeply attached to Qin Yu, and in this time, she'd mentioned Lin Shuishui to Qin Yu so many times.
During this period, the heat source inside Lin Qianqian had grown much stronger.
She was almost sure—not only could she gain Root Bone, she could maybe break through it again!
If she could do it, then Shuishui... should be able to as well, right?
If Lin Qianqian had already made Qin Yu her only support, then for Lin Shuishui, her big sister was her sole reliance.
This might be what Lin Qianqian cared most about now.
After all, Qin Yu always dodged the topic, and Lin Qianqian truly didn't want her little sister apart from herself.
...
Qin Yu stood up from the side room.
"Time to head out."
Forty-three batches of healing herbs had all been refined and purified, and more importantly, their food reserves were running low.
It had already been five months, and with Lin Shuishui as the resident foodie, it was pretty normal.
On the table.
Only white rice left, but Lin Shuishui was still eating happily.
Maybe.
Just having food every day was already satisfaction for her.
Qin Yu's gaze lingered briefly on Lin Shuishui, and Lin Qianqian came over, "Husband~"
She hadn't even spoken yet, but Qin Yu already knew what she wanted to say.
"Shuishui is still young, not appropriate!"
"Then teach her, and she'll slowly grow up!"
Qin Yu couldn't help but glare at her.
Lin Shuishui was naïve and lively, at such a tender age, she should be stuffing her cheeks with rice—not with anything else weird.
"Qin brat!"
Suddenly, an old but strong voice sounded from outside.
It was Wang Bu.
Qin Yu had already arranged to go to the Market today with him.
Even though five months had passed, Qin Yu stayed alert.
"I'll head out first!"
He told Lin Qianqian and opened the door, and upon seeing Wang Bu, he immediately put on a smile:
"Grandpa Wang, your cultivation's improved again!"
Wang Bu just smiled lightly.
He wasn't a talker—Qin Yu knew that. Of course, Qin Yu also understood etiquette and handed Wang Bu two bottles of medicinal liquid.
"Sorry to trouble you once more!"
Wang Bu was about to decline—they'd already gotten a Spirit Stone last time from Qin Yu.
If he guarded Qin Yu another time or two, it'd still be enough.
Besides, he knew Qin Yu—these ordinary healing medicinal liquids weren't really... for him...
"Huh, the purity?!"
But when Wang Bu glanced at the bottles in his hand, he couldn't help but be shocked!
First Grade Medicinal Liquid!
"You've entered the threshold of Spiritual Power?"
Wang Bu started taking Qin Yu seriously.
Someone like Qin Yu—in these alleyways outside town, he was just a nobody. If he disappeared, no one would care.
And yet, this totally unremarkable guy actually...
Qin Yu scratched his head with a sheepish grin: "Pure coincidence, pure coincidence! Maybe something wonderful happened, I had a feeling, and suddenly broke in."
The coincidence didn't sound out of place, but Wang Bu was still amazed.
Even he, who rarely spoke, couldn't help but praise: "You kid, came here to show off, huh?"
"Wouldn't dare, wouldn't dare, Grandpa Wang—if you ever need medicinal liquid, just come find me anytime."
Qin Yu had to play the social game here.
"Mm!"
Wang Bu nodded, looked at Qin Yu, and for once, said something heartfelt: "You're still young. With your skills, maybe you can leave this alley."
Though Qin Yu was thirty, among cultivators, that's still considered young.
After all, with cultivation breakthroughs, lifespan grows too.
The two walked together, and with Wang Bu—a Qi Refining Sixth Layer cultivator—by his side, nobody even tried to mess with them.
After all, Qin Yu had only taken in a girl with Middle Grade Mortal Bone, which wasn't even worth the notice of cultivators past Qi Refining Sixth Layer.
Arrived at the Market.
"Qin Yu, with your current Spiritual Power, you can look for an alchemist shop to apprentice in."
Before leaving, Wang Bu gave him a friendly tip: "I'll be around here. Later, just come find me nearby."
Qin Yu thanked him warmly, as always.
Before entering a shop, Wang Bu's gaze swept Qin Yu's back unconsciously.
He hadn't paid much attention until now—taking a close look, it felt like Qin Yu had changed…
Not just Spiritual Power—of course, Wang Bu knew nothing about that—but Qin Yu's aura.
The old Qin Yu carried an air of resignation, maybe even muddling through day by day.
Lost, unclear of his path.
Now, looking at him, his gaze was bright, his manner radiated a subtle but unmistakable masculine confidence—not boastful, not timid, just right.
Wang Bu didn't overthink it. Maybe Qin Yu was newly married and in good spirits.
Or maybe, with his breakthrough in Spiritual Power, he finally felt hopeful again.
But still, he'd only just entered the threshold. As a Lower Grade Mortal Bone cultivator, how much could he achieve?
...
Alchemy Apprentice?
That was before!
If any apothecary would take Qin Yu as an apprentice in the past, he'd have been grateful to tears.
Now, just being an apprentice wasn't good enough anymore.
"Still got forty-one bottles of medicinal liquid…"
Qin Yu walked and calculated how much Spirit Stone he could earn this trip.
Just about to step into the 'Evergreen' general store, he stopped.