The Gu Family's Back Mountain, early morning the next day.
Gu Changge, who usually slept until noon, woke up exceptionally early today!
A voice prompted by his ear: [Daoist Couple Liu Qingqing cultivated overnight, cultivation progress can be synchronized.]
"It's happening!"
Gu Changge couldn't hide the excitement in his voice. He had waited eighteen years, and today was finally the day!
At this moment, two faint blue windows appeared before him, visible only to himself.
The left window displayed his current information.
[Host: Gu Changge]
[Root Bone: 1]
[Comprehension: 3]
[Cultivation Technique: None]
[Realm: None]
He wasn't bothered by the sight of his own panel. He already knew that his talent was rather poor; it was something he'd long accepted.
But when he looked at the Daoist Couple's panel on the right, he realized just how utterly useless he was...
[Daoist Couple: Liu Qingqing]
[Root Bone: 89]
[Comprehension: 85]
[Cultivation Technique: Spirit Moon Technique (Earth Rank, Top Grade)]
[Realm: Late Stage of Reach Profound Realm]
"Damn! So the maximum score isn't 10 but a freakin' one hundred?" At this moment, Gu Changge stared at the Daoist Couple's panel and finally understood why he'd been unable to cultivate all these years.
However, he also noticed that apart from the realm option, every category on the Daoist Couple's panel had a tiny "Share" button beside it.
He hadn't even raised his hand to press it yet, merely had the thought in mind when...
[Shared Daoist Couple Liu Qingqing's Root Bone.]
When he glanced back at his own panel, his pitifully low Root Bone, previously at a meager 1, had shot up to a whopping 90!
The discrepancy in numbers—89 versus 90—left Gu Changge momentarily stunned.
Resolutely, he decided to test "Comprehension Share" next.
[Shared Daoist Couple Liu Qingqing's Comprehension.]
Looking back at his own panel, sure enough, his Comprehension didn't settle at 85 but instead surged directly to 88!
*In a mere instant, his aptitude had surpassed that of Liu Qingqing, the famously titled "Heavenly Pride Girl,*" except for the realm category!
"Cultivation techniques can be shared too... But if anyone from the Heavenly Cold Sect catches wind of this, it might be difficult to explain."
Gu Changge glanced at the Cultivation Technique column. The Gu Family also had Earth Rank techniques, albeit not Top Grade but Mid-Grade. As a member of the direct lineage, he was qualified to practice them and had already memorized the introductory sections by heart.
"I seem to... feel the presence of Spiritual Energy in this world."
"It's so different from before."
*With his Root Bone and Comprehension multiplied tensfold, Gu Changge could now vaguely sense the existence of Spiritual Energy. Surely if he cultivated, he could refine it into his body!*
However, instead of eagerly cultivating on his own, his eyes shifted to the area he cared most about.
Behind the "Realm" category was not a "Share" button but a "Claim" option.
As his thoughts activated the function, the voice prompted again: [Claimed Daoist Couple Liu Qingqing's accumulated cultivation progress.]
In the blink of an eye, he felt an inexplicable surge of something being conjured within his body!
It was Spiritual Energy...
But there was so much of it that it defied his expectations!
It was somewhat out of control...
*At this rate, his body might explode!*
Despite the fact that it was only Spiritual Energy from one night's cultivation, the power of a Late Stage Reach Profound cultivator was far beyond what a mortal like him could withstand!
Without hesitation, he immediately sat cross-legged on the ground and attempted to once again activate the Gu Family Technique he'd tried thousands of times before.
As he operated the technique, the Spiritual Energy that had suddenly appeared found an outlet, flowing through his meridians at his guided direction.
*Although this step would have been impossible for ordinary people to achieve on their first try, for someone like him—who had practiced the introductory techniques thousands of times and now possessed a higher Comprehension than Liu Qingqing—it was effortless!*
Under the guidance of the technique, Gu Changge cleared all distracting thoughts, repeatedly channeling the Spiritual Energy to nourish his meridians, carefully directing it to every corner of his body.
One hour later, his body finally quieted down.
He slowly opened his eyes, exhaled a breath of turbid air, and stood up, lightly clenching his hands.
*A sensation of unprecedented comfort filled him...*
When he looked at his own panel again, a dramatic transformation had occurred.
[Host: Gu Changge]
[Root Bone: 90]
[Comprehension: 88]
[Cultivation Technique: Mystic Sky Technique (Earth Rank, Mid-Grade)]
[Realm: Qi Condensation Realm, Fifth Level]
*In just one hour, he'd shed the constraints of mortal status that had plagued him for eighteen years, stepping directly into the Qi Condensation Realm—and reaching its Fifth Level!*
Of course, if he had relied solely on his own cultivation, such rapid progress would have been impossible; claiming Liu Qingqing's overnight cultivation progress at the Late Stage Reach Profound Realm had been the critical factor!
"So this is what it feels like to become a cultivator..."
"I feel like I could punch through a mountain! I'm invincible!"
"..."
"A delusion, obviously. Cultivation makes you lose your sense of reality. I need to calm down; a good bath should help."
Thrilled, Gu Changge swung his fists a few times. The exponential growth in power was so unfamiliar that he struggled to fully comprehend it.
However, after his cultivation breakthroughs—five in a row—his body was also covered in impurities he'd expelled. Luckily, it wasn't as absurd as he'd imagined, just some grimy sweat that made him look slightly unkempt.
He poured several buckets of water over himself in the courtyard and washed off most of the grime before changing into clean clothes.
"I feel like I could toss this stone table..."
Sitting in the courtyard, he had no appetite for breakfast. Looking at the stone table in front of him, he was struck by a daring thought.
A few moments later...
He had already tested his improved strength. The stone table he previously couldn't budge could now be lifted, although when thrown, it only landed about ten meters away. The illusion of smashing a mountain was promptly dispelled.
*After all, the Qi Condensation Realm merely marked the transition from mortal to cultivator. Once he reached Nine Levels and ascended to the Sky-controlling Realm, the divide between immortal and mortal status would truly begin, enabling him to walk on air.*
Even so, being able to toss a thousand-pound stone table several meters away was a strength he'd never possessed before!
"But..."
"After eighteen years of being unable to cultivate, suddenly being able to will be hard to explain."
Gu Changge lowered his head, pondering for a moment, before a gleam appeared in his eyes.
The Soul-Shaping Pill could easily serve as his best alibi, couldn't it?
Although, would consuming a Soul-Shaping Pill really allow someone to advance directly to the Fifth Level of the Qi Condensation Realm...
That wasn't his concern. Considering the rarity of the pill, he realized he didn't particularly need it anymore.
Instead of using it himself, wouldn't it be even better to return it to Liu Qingqing, his soon-to-be Daoist Couple?
*After all, what's hers is his, and what's his remains his. There's no way to lose out in this arrangement!*
*Plus, strengthening his Daoist Couple only served to make himself stronger as well.*
"You must put your all into cultivating, my wife. No matter what you lack in the future, I'll make sure to find it for you!"
At this moment, Gu Changge found his newfound goal in life.
Moreover...
He attentively noticed that the Daoist Couple's panel wasn't limited to just one person; it seemed others could be added...
*If he had more Daoist Couples, would he even need to cultivate at all?*
*He could simply spend his days claiming cultivation progress!*
However, he approached the matter cautiously. Forming a Daoist Couple wasn't a trivial affair. Without mutual affection or shared aspirations, it was not something he could treat lightly. After all, he firmly believed that his path to immortality would not be hindered!
"Gu Changge, such a devoted man... System, you've really given me a dilemma here..."