Lu Shenzhi continued, "Three months after you enter the sect, there will be your first small secret realm trial, called the Silver Frost Secret Realm. There is a Soul Gathering Stone inside, and I want you to help me get it."

"Will you be able to wake up if you have the Soul Gathering Stone?"

Lu Shenzhi smiled wryly and said, "It's not that easy. There are six Soul Gathering Stones in total. Even if we collect them all, we're still missing the legendary Soul Rejuvenation Pill. It's said that the recipe for this pill has been lost. Whether your senior brother can gather them all depends on whether I have the opportunity."

Resurrection Pill? She did know how to refine that pill, but several of the ingredients were extremely rare, one of which was the Spirit Snake Grass she grew in her yard, which she didn't know when it would ever grow. Moreover, as a seventh-tier pill, even if she knew how to refine it, she couldn't do it with her current cultivation level.

Shi Xuan thought to himself, "This senior brother is right about one thing: if you want to deal with him, you must first improve yourself."

If the conditions are right, it wouldn't hurt to help him. They are disciples from the same sect and peak. It is said that her master, Lin Daozi, was so disheartened because of this eldest disciple that it would be a good thing if she could save him.

But this guy was a bit rude to her just now. Shi Xuan rolled her eyes and deliberately made things difficult: "Although we are supposed to be fellow disciples, we've never even met. What benefit would I get from helping you?"

"What benefits do you want?" Lu Shenzhi raised an eyebrow and asked, "How about you can choose whatever you want from my storage space?"

These benefits are quite tempting; after all, as a chosen one, he should have plenty of good things.

However, Shi Xuan shook her head; she was thinking further ahead.

"How about this? I've heard that Senior Brother is exceptionally capable. If I help you wake up, you'll be my bodyguard for a hundred years, how about that?"

As the sect leader of the Divine Cauldron Sect, Fan Hongde wields immense power in the cultivation world. Seeking revenge in the future will undoubtedly be fraught with risks, so having multiple safeguards provides greater peace of mind.

“Okay.” Lu Shenzhi agreed without even considering it. To him, no matter how long it took, he would just be lying there unconscious as a living dead. In the worst case, it was not impossible for him to never wake up again.

"Then it's a pleasure to cooperate with you, Senior Brother." As she spoke, she swiftly took out the spirit sword issued by the sect and imitated the first move of the Concealed Edge Sword, just like Lu Shenzhi had done earlier.

The movements were almost identical, but because no spiritual energy was used, they lacked a lot of imposing presence and looked more like a showy display.

Lu Shenzhi saw it clearly and was secretly surprised. This junior sister's comprehension was beyond that of ordinary people. Although the Concealed Edge Sword Technique seemed simple, the changes in each move were very complicated. It was a process of simplifying the simple into the complex and then simplifying the complex again. Even for him, it would take a long time to master just this one move.

"Try channeling your spiritual energy into the sword's edge again." He stood up and walked to Shi Xuan, explaining in detail the flow of spiritual energy in the move.

Shi Xuan twirled his spirit sword and said, "Let's practice the moves first. My spiritual root is currently damaged, and using spiritual power will make me feel unwell."

"Why do I feel uncomfortable in a dream?"

A single word jolted Shi Xuan awake, nearly trapping her in her own thoughts. She immediately jumped up and practiced the sword technique again, the swordplay infused with spiritual energy indeed even more formidable. After this exchange, Shi Xuan was overjoyed. From now on, she could cultivate her skills directly in her dreams, saving time and effort without the torment of conflicting spiritual roots—how wonderful!

"How was it, Senior Brother? How was my move?" Shi Xuan asked excitedly, giving Lu Shenzhi his first smile since they met, his dimples showing.

"Acceptable." Although he was quite certain of his junior sister's comprehension and her smile was very beautiful, he couldn't let her become arrogant. He commented, "The moves are fine, but the momentum isn't strong enough. The flow of spiritual energy needs to be seamlessly integrated with the sword moves, complementing each other and advancing and retreating together."

Shi Xuan humbly accepted the advice and then practiced several more times until he met Lu Shenzhi's required standard.

She's stronger than I imagined! Lu Shenzhi's expectations quietly rose a notch. Perhaps this junior sister really could bring him a miracle. In the past ten years, she's the first person to have seen him, and with her unexpected talent, perhaps Shi Xuan is his destiny.

After finishing the first move, Lu Shenzhi figured it was about time and instructed Shi Xuan, "Don't mention me after we leave."

Shi Xuan thought about it and nodded in agreement.

Whether others believe it or not is one thing, but whether he can wake up is still unknown. If Master really rekindles hope, and then experiences another crushing of hope... well, let's just forget about it. Senior Brother has thought things through very thoroughly.

When he woke up in the morning, the scene from his dream last night was still vivid in his mind. Shi Xuan went to the next room, grabbed Zhao Cai and put it in front of him, saying, "I didn't realize you were so capable. You're better than the spirit pigs raised by the sect."

Zhao Cai indicated that he didn't want to talk to her.

Shi Xuan was surprised to find that she could actually sense Zhao Cai's emotions; it seemed that this guy had made quite a haul yesterday.

She still had to keep her promise to Lushan, so she packed her things and planned to eat at the dining hall first, and then go to Hundred Herbs Peak to refine pills.

Just as he stepped out of the hospital gate, Lu Wenxing walked right towards him. He was carrying two oil paper packages, and his eyes lit up with joy when he saw Shi Xuan.

"Good morning, Junior Sister! Look what I brought you. The dining hall slaughtered a spirit pig yesterday, and these are meat buns I snatched early this morning. I also brought you a portion. Come on, let's eat together." Lu Wenxing was very enthusiastic, as if afraid that Shi Xuan wouldn't eat, and stuffed the oil paper package containing the buns into her hand.

Thankfully, it was brought from the dining hall, not made by Third Senior Sister. Shi Xuan smiled and said, "Second Senior Brother, why are you here so early?"

"That's right, it's already quite late. If it gets any later, your third senior sister will be bringing me some pancakes!" Lu Wenxing took a bite of his steamed bun and asked vaguely, "Where is junior sister going today?"

In fact, one can abstain from grains once one has reached the Foundation Establishment stage, but he still has a great passion for food.

"I made an appointment with the disciples of Baicao Peak to refine pills today," Shi Xuan replied.

"I'll go with you! Don't let the chicks from Baicao Peak bully you, all by yourself!"

Shi Xuan nodded outwardly, but inwardly thought: I already said it's a little chick, how can it be bullied?

Only those people from Dingri Hall witnessed what happened the day before yesterday. If word got out, people would just think someone was bragging, and very few people would believe it, so it didn't get out even after two days.

Lu Wenxing was completely unaware of the situation. He flew down to Baicao Peak with Shi Xuan on his sword, only to be immediately surrounded by a group of Baicao Peak disciples.

This looks like they're here for a group fight! They really want to bully their junior sister! Lu Wenxing was furious and was about to draw his sword when the group greeted Shi Xuan enthusiastically.

"Senior Sister Shi! You've finally arrived! We've been waiting for you for so long!"

"Senior Sister, the location of Dingri Palace has been prepared for you. Please feel free to order any spiritual herbs you need!"

"Senior Sister Shi, look at me! My alchemy furnace is a family heirloom, a top-grade spiritual artifact! Why don't you use my alchemy furnace to refine a batch today!"

...