Qin Ruqing’s breakthrough this time could be described as smooth and without any difficulties.

Her cultivation speed was already very fast.

When she was originally absorbing Qi, she actually had some leftover energy to advance further.

However, in order to stabilize her realm, she forcibly suppressed herself at the third level of Qi cultivation.

Now, facing a life-threatening crisis, her spirit was highly focused, her spiritual energy was operating at high intensity, and coupled with taking Jade Marrow, her cultivation breakthrough to the fourth level of Qi cultivation became a natural occurrence.

However, even though everything made sense, the fact before their eyes still stunned Luo Xian and the Ancestor.

In their impression, Qin Ruqing had just finished her nurturing period.

Well, even if you carefully counted the time, it had only been about half a year, and then… she was already at the fourth level of Qi cultivation?!

Looking at her relaxed appearance, it seemed like breaking through was as easy as eating and drinking for her.

Was this what they called a once-in-a-hundred-thousand-year Dao physique holder? It was truly astonishing!

Ancestor was somewhat better off, after all, she was broad-minded.

Luo Xian couldn’t conceal her shock; she stared at Qin Ruqing, as if seeing her daughter for the first time.

—Previously, she only knew her daughter was a genius, but now she finally realized just how much of a genius she truly was.

So, when Qin Ruqing opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was her mother staring at her in astonishment.

When their eyes met, Luo Xian’s shock turned into ecstatic joy, and tears the size of soybeans welled up in her eyes.

Qin Ruqing was caught off guard when her mother suddenly hugged her, hearing her sobbing loudly in her ear with tears and snot streaming down her face, saying, “Qingqing my child! My heart! You’ve finally woken up, you really scared me…”

Qin Ruqing’s face was buried in her mother’s chest, bearing the sweet burden, while she puzzledly wondered:

What had she done to make her mother cry as if she had come back from the dead?

Qin Ruqing couldn’t think of anything for a moment, so she turned her gaze to Ancestor.

Ancestor looked kindly at them and said softly, “Surviving a great disaster, it’s okay to cry a bit and dispel some bad luck.”

Surviving a great disaster…

Qin Ruqing was stunned.

Then those familiar scenes played out in her mind like a movie:

After finally finding the Heart of Frigid Ice, she encountered a cunning Gray Cannon person; the old guy shamelessly chased after her, she exhausted herself, and later used the runes Ancestor gave her to blast him away, but she was also severely injured by the aftermath…

As Qin Ruqing recalled everything, her little face stiffened, her mouth pursed, and she opened her mouth to ask about the Gray Cannon person’s fate.

She clenched her fists fiercely, angrily saying, “I didn’t do anything! When that person saw me, he acted like a cat seeing a mouse, and he was thrilled! Where is he? Is he dead? If not, let me go finish him off!”

Qin Ruqing spoke loudly and forcefully, full of vigor, and anyone would think she hadn’t been seriously injured earlier, lying half-dead on the bed.

Ancestor chuckled at her spirited demeanor, deliberately glanced at Luo Xian, and teased, “You and your mother are quite alike. Truly mother and daughter.”

Qin Ruqing didn’t understand, but Luo Xian did.

She realized Ancestor was teasing that Qingqing’s current enthusiasm for wanting to fight was similar to her own earlier behavior.

Before, Luo Xian had been angry and anxious; now that her daughter was awake, she felt belatedly ashamed.

She cleared her throat pretending to be calm.

Qin Ruqing’s mother gently held her daughter’s hands, which were poised to attack, and comforted her:

“My child, your injuries just healed, so it’s better to rest. That person is locked in the dungeon and can’t escape. Wait until you’re fully recovered before seeking revenge.”

“But I also need to go and see…”

Luo Xian restrained Qin Ruqing, who was like a wild bull trying to rush up, and coaxed her repeatedly.

Ancestor didn’t want to interrupt their heartwarming mother-daughter reunion, so she said, “Qingqing, you’ve just recovered from a serious injury. Rest well these days.

When you’re better, remember to come to Shadow Residence to find me. I have something to tell you.”

Qin Ruqing paused for a moment, nodded, and said, “Yes, at that time Qingqing also has something to discuss with Ancestor.”

She still needed to give Ancestor the Heart of Frigid Ice she had found!

Ancestor smiled, then turned and left.

After watching Ancestor leave, Qin Ruqing rubbed her chest with some confusion, “Mom, I remember I was seriously injured at the time. I thought I was about to die.

How is it that after sleeping for a few days, I don’t feel any pain at all?

In fact, I feel even more energetic than before? Could it be that my Dao physique is so powerful?”

Qin Ruqing was both surprised and delighted, and there was also a hint of smugness, an emotion that only appeared in front of her mother.

Luo Xian glared at her, “Do you only know that your life was almost lost?

When you encounter strange and dangerous people, why don’t you know to run? Also, why did you go so far in the first place?”

Qin Ruqing smiled awkwardly.

Luo Xian was scolding her, but deep down, she understood that given the circumstances at the time, Qingqing had already done quite well.

Luo Xian continued, “Although your Dao physique is powerful, with those injuries, you should have been lying in bed for a month. It was Ancestor who fed you a drop of Jade Marrow, allowing you to bounce back so quickly.”

“Jade Marrow?” Qin Ruqing was puzzled, “Where did the Jade Marrow come from?” Didn’t Ancestor give her all the remaining Jade Marrow?

Luo Xian pursed her lips, nodded towards Qin Ruqing’s storage bag, and said, “It’s in your bag. Didn’t Ancestor give you three drops of Jade Marrow before? Now, take out one… I have to say, Ancestor really cares about you. Even with healing Jade Marrow, there wasn’t enough for himself, yet she saved three drops for you…”

Qin Ruqing’s hand subconsciously went to her storage bag, which was embroidered with auspicious entwining patterns.

Ancestor had looked through her storage bag; did that mean… she had also seen the Heart of Frigid Ice?

Qin Ruqing didn’t think much of it; after all, the Heart of Frigid Ice was originally meant for Ancestor.

But then, Luo Xian thought of something and asked casually, “By the way, what did Ancestor ask you to get from Mirror Lake? Did you get it? Mirror Lake is close to the boundary line and very dangerous. Don’t go there alone next time…”

While Luo Xian continued to chatter, Qin Ruqing stood there stunned.

She furrowed her brows, hesitating, “Ancestor asked me… to get something from Mirror Lake?”

Seeing her expression, Luo Xian was also puzzled, “That’s what Ancestor said. Otherwise, why would you go to Mirror Lake for no reason? Are you really just playing around…”

Qin Ruqing stood motionless, and Luo Xian nudged her, “You child, why are you so silly after waking up? Could it be that the injury really knocked your brain?”

Qin Ruqing smiled awkwardly, “I just woke up and my memory is not so good…”

Ancestor actually said she asked her to go to Mirror Lake…

This not only dispelled everyone’s doubts but also saved her the trouble of explaining.

However, in doing so, all responsibility shifted onto Ancestor…

The next few days

Qin Ruqing was pressed firmly into bed by her mother for two whole days, despite Qin Ruqing repeatedly insisting she was already well.

Luo Xian wouldn’t budge.

Alright then, let’s consider it a vacation.

By the third day, Qin Ruqing was finally allowed to move around.

During these days, she remained in seclusion and hadn’t been moved.

Now, Qin Ruqing sat on the cliff to the west, propped up on one leg, gazing into the distance, and contemplating life.

“Oh dear, so much to worry about!” Qin Ruqing shifted her leg.

The matter wasn’t actually settled; there were still disputes between the Qin and Zhang families.

However, these were family troubles to deal with.

As for Qin Ruqing herself, there was an important matter she needed to handle now.

Ancestor helped cover up her injuries in front of everyone, but she still needed to explain herself to her.

Although Ancestor Wenxuan was perceptive and might not inquire, Qin Ruqing had to prepare her words carefully.

On the fourth day, Qin Ruqing was “notified” that her injuries were fully healed, and she could finally move freely!

She proudly marched off to the Ancestor’s residence, ready to face her.

It seemed the Ancestor anticipated her visit today and was waiting at the bamboo pavilion on the island in the lake.

Kneeling across from the Ancestor on the round cushion, Qin Ruqing poured a cup of tea from the white porcelain pot on the table and smiled before speaking, “Ancestor, after narrowly escaping death, I’ve come to pay my respects to you.”

Starting off with a jest was indeed Qin Ruqing’s style.

Ancestor chuckled and replied, “It’s quite a challenge for you to pay respects—I’ve been waiting here dry for three days.”

Three days—it was embarrassing for Qin Ruqing…

That is to say, she was indeed pressed for too long by her dear mother.

Clearing her throat, she put on a serious face and took something out of her storage bag, pushing it towards Ancestor.

Her voice clear and solemn, she said, “This is the promise Qin Ruqing made to Ancestor, and now half of it has been fulfilled.”

She had three promises to the Ancestor: to find the Heart of Frigid Ice, the Ice-Fire Dual Grass, and to lead the Qin family back to the Eastern Region.

Looking at it this way, she had completed half of her promise.

The Ancestor’s gaze shifted to the ten-thousand-year Heart of Frigid Ice in front of her, which had inexplicably been shaved into a round and smooth ball.

However, the eerie and cool aura inside undoubtedly confirmed it as the mature form of the Heart of Frigid Ice.

Ancestor Wenxuan lightly touched the sphere, her gaze complex as she said, “You are sincere.”

No matter how this Heart of Frigid Ice came about, Qin Ruqing’s sincerity and filial piety towards her were impeccable and moving.

Qin Ruqing smiled lightly, not waiting for the Ancestor to ask, she directly brought up the main topic, “Ancestor, do you know where this Heart of Frigid Ice came from?”

The Ancestor’s eyes flickered with surprise.

Actually, she had no intention of asking about this matter at all.

A child like Qin Ruqing, gifted with the Dao Physique, must have its divine and extraordinary aspects.

This was her opportunity, as well as the Qin family’s opportunity.

Therefore, the Ancestor had no intention of probing deeper into the origins.

Delving into it was as taboo as probing the intentions of the Dao.

It would damage the fortune and blessings of the Qin family, which was not a good thing.

Yet, seeing Qin Ruqing willing to explain, the Ancestor also showed a serious expression and gestured, “Go on.”

As soon as Qin Ruqing knew that the spiritual medicine that could heal the Elder’s wounds was the Heart of Frigid Ice and the Ice-Fire Dual Grass, she has been thinking about it.

Qin Ruqing pondered over this matter.

Just recently, she had a dream that almost clearly pointed out the Heart of Frigid Ice was in the secret realm.

So during that time, she had been lingering in the secret realm, searching for it.

The Ancestor furrowed her brows seriously at the mention of dreams—she didn’t take it lightly.

Cultivators seldom dream; when they do, it’s usually significant.

Before the Ancestor could respond, Qin Ruqing continued, “And these strange dreams happen to me every now and then.”

She went on to describe, “The dreams are usually unclear, not specific events but rather fragmented, like… pieces of memories? Sometimes, during critical moments, the dreams provide special insights. For example, the Heart of Frigid Ice you needed, and previously, the Four-Leaf Lingzhi Grass…”

“The Four-Leaf Lingzhi Grass too? Was that your doing?” Ancestor Wenxuan was briefly surprised, then sighed deeply, “No wonder the guards at the medicinal garden couldn’t find those three Four-Leaf Lingzhi Grasses—it was you who discovered them…”

Qin Ruqing scratched her head, “Exactly. That day, I got an insight first and deliberately took my brother to the medicinal garden.”

The Ancestor chuckled, but her expression didn’t relax; instead, it became unusually serious.

She asked a peculiar question, “Ruqing, aside from these, do you have any other extraordinary features?”

The Ancestor used a subtle term—not strange or odd, but extraordinary.