Little Junior Sister, We Can’t Handle This Grind Anymore - Chapter 5

In an instant, the previously dormant five-element spirit roots within Feng Qingran lit up—five radiant hues converging to form a vast, ocean-like dantian.

The clogged spiritual energy in her meridians surged toward the dantian, relieving the agonizing pressure.

When Feng Qingran inspected her dantian internally, her breath caught.

The novel had described Su Yanran’s dantian at Qi Refining as “the size of a small pond”—already considered heaven-defying.

Then what did that make hers, which resembled an entire sea?!

Suppressing her excitement, she focused on refining the energy within her dantian and channeling it back into her spirit roots. To her delight, the previously conflicting elements now harmonized, complementing one another.

A surge of power rushed through her—

Crrack.

Crrack.

Crrack.

She skyrocketed straight to Qi Refining Fifth Layer.

Feng Qingran immediately halted her cultivation. As tempting as it was to keep going, she knew the dangers of standing out too soon.

Su Yanran had reached Qi Refining Third Layer upon her first qi absorption, earning the title of “Prodigy.” That fame had also made her a target for countless assassins. Until Feng Qingran found a way to conceal her cultivation level, she needed to suppress her aura.

“Master, the jade bracelet can hide your cultivation. What level would you like to display?” A childlike voice echoed in her mind.

Telepathy?

As if sensing her confusion, the voice explained, “Master, I’m the bracelet’s artifact spirit. Your blood seeped into the jade earlier, completing the contract.”

Feng Qingran sensed three faint threads woven into her soul—the bond with the bracelet?

How do I enter its space?

The thought barely formed when a flash of white light engulfed her. Suddenly, she stood in a desolate expanse—cracked earth stretching endlessly, save for a lone thatched hut in the distance.

Inside, she found two bookshelves and an herb cabinet. One shelf was packed with cultivation manuals specifically for five-element spirit roots.

“Master, as your cultivation grows, higher-grade items will appear here,” the voice chimed again. A tiny blue sprite materialized, its translucent wings fluttering shyly.

“Was it you who stabilized my energy earlier?”

When the sprite shook its head, Feng Qingran’s eyes narrowed. Then where did that mysterious force come from?

Outside the Void Space

“Holy shit! Ye Wentian, what kind of monster is your disciple?!” Rong Zhuofan blurted.

Qi Refining Fifth Layer at eleven years old? If that was trash, then they were all worse than garbage.

The other sect leaders gaped. Not only had Feng Qingran succeeded in qi absorption—she’d leaped five levels in one go. How?!

But just as they moved to inspect her further—

Poof.

Feng Qingran vanished.

“My disciple! Where’s my big, living disciple?!” Ye Wentian’s spiritual sense swept the area, finding nothing. He whirled on Xiao Hongyu. “Did you stash her in your pocket dimension? Hand her over!“

“Are you insane?” Xiao Hongyu’s face darkened.

“Who else could it be? Only you and I have spatial treasures that can hold living beings!” (Ye Wentian dismissed the idea of a Void Space—such realms couldn’t exist in the lower world.)

Xiao Hongyu’s jaw tightened. This bastard’s deflecting. A five-element spirit root reaching Qi Refining Fifth Layer defied all logic. He’d wanted to check Feng Qingran’s cultivation method for irregularities, but now she’d disappeared?

Obviously, Ye Wentian had hidden her first to avoid scrutiny.

“Sect Leader Ye, whether I took her or not, you’d know best,” Xiao Hongyu said coldly. At Void Spirit Middle Stage, he couldn’t forcibly search Ye Wentian’s (Void Spirit Late Stage) spatial treasure. The man would have to confess voluntarily.

“Old Ye,” Baili Xuanqing cut in, voicing everyone’s suspicion, “What cultivation art did you give her? How did she jump straight to Fifth Layer?”

Ye Wentian’s expression frosted over. They thought his disciple had used forbidden methods!

Before he could retort—

Flicker.

Feng Qingran reappeared, bowing respectfully. “Master.”

“Good.” Ye Wentian’s relief was palpable. Without questioning her disappearance, he summoned his sword to leave.

“Wait.” Xiao Hongyu raised a barrier. “We have questions for Feng Qingran.”

“Move.” Ye Wentian’s killing intent flared.

Tension crackled between them.

Baili Xuanqing stepped forward, adopting a kindly tone. “Feng Qingran, don’t make this difficult. We only wish to observe your qi absorption method. No five-element spirit root has ever succeeded before. We mean no harm.”

“No.” Feng Qingran didn’t hesitate.

Baili Xuanqing choked. Since when do kids reject sect leaders so bluntly?!

Truly a disciple after her master’s heart.

“How rude,” the Flame Cloud Sect leader sneered. With a flick of his wrist, a strand of divine sense shot toward Feng Qingran. This pair is definitely hiding something.

The invasive energy brushed her skin—

Slither.

It penetrated her meridians, carrying with it the vile sensation of being stripped bare.