Chapter Sixty-Two: Dullness

"This..."
Qu Hongxiu was instantly dumbfounded.
"Uncle Xu, you actually know the Qian Kun Fire Separation Technique? When did you learn it?" Qu Hongxiu was utterly shocked; this was beyond belief.
Such a complex technique, and Uncle Xu had already mastered it. Judging by the way he executed it, he was clearly very proficient.
"Isn't it something you can learn just by looking at it?" Xu Zhe frowned, sighing. "You're even duller than I imagined."
"???"
Qu Hongxiu was bewildered.
Learn it just by looking once?
And I'm dull?
Uncle Xu, what are you talking about? Everyone calls me the Little Martial God; my talent is among the best of my generation. How else would Master have chosen to keep me by her side?
You're insulting me!
Qu Hongxiu was annoyed, her cheeks puffing with anger.
"And you have the nerve to be angry?"
Xu Zhe was astonished. Not only is she dull, but I can't even say it? Is there any justice left in the world? Is it easy for me to take care of you?
I'm here to find the Heavenly Domain Passage. If it weren't for your master’s request...
"Sigh!"
Xu Zhe sighed helplessly. "Never mind, I’ll teach you personally. You must learn it within three days. If not, you’ll have to leave the secret realm first; it’s not safe here."
"I won’t, I just won’t!"
Qu Hongxiu said proudly, "How could I possibly master it in three days? Even with hands-on teaching, it would take a lifetime... a year, at least!"
"When does this secret realm close?" Xu Zhe asked.
"Thirty days. After thirty days, we'll all be teleported out," Qu Hongxiu replied.
"Then you only get three days. Let’s start now."
Xu Zhe spoke without hesitation.
Whether Qu Hongxiu mastered it or not in three days, he would enter the central area to search for the passage. Otherwise, he would have to wait another fifty years to return.
Fifty years—by then, he’d likely have reached the Great Ascension Stage and ascended back to the Heavenly Domain.
"Come, raise your hands higher, keep your fingers nimble, move them."
"Uncle Xu, my fingers are very nimble, and soft too."
"Be serious, don’t be careless. Before using a technique, you must visualize everything in your mind—the circulation of spiritual energy, the control of its path through your fingertips. You need a three-dimensional picture stored in your mind."
"I can't, Uncle Xu. My mind is full of you."
"What nonsense are you saying? Let me ask you: your Sunbird bloodline, is it afraid of water?"
"Afraid of water? Well, a little bit."
"Then that’s settled. If you’re afraid of water, you obviously can’t swim. So, we’re destined never to fall in love."
"Is... is that even a thing?"
"Hurry up and cultivate, stop fooling around."

...

Soon, under Xu Zhe’s hands-on guidance, Qu Hongxiu, for once, began to cultivate diligently and painstakingly.
From executing the technique to controlling the amount of spiritual energy, even the slightest mistake was instantly pointed out and corrected by Xu Zhe.
"Gently, don’t use so much force!"
"No, no, you need to exhale your energy, not hold it in. Shout it out if you must."
"Tsk, but don’t shout so loudly!"
"Too slow, you need to be faster. Yes, keep moving, faster still."
Xu Zhe was a perfectionist, leaving no room for Qu Hongxiu to make even the tiniest error.
Qu Hongxiu was surprisingly tough and hardworking. Under Xu Zhe’s guidance, she made adjustment after adjustment without complaint.
Because she realized Xu Zhe was always right. Each adjustment made the technique smoother, more comfortable.
After two days and nights, she finally succeeded.
The Qian Kun Fire Separation Technique, which she thought would take at least three years to learn, was mastered within three days.
"Hiss!"
From her palm, a flame condensed into two small Bagua diagrams; though slightly diminutive, they symbolized her success.
"Uncle Xu, you’re amazing! It’s the first time I’ve felt that learning a technique is so easy," Qu Hongxiu said, elated.
"..."
Xu Zhe was speechless.
Easy?
You took two days and nights just to get started. How is that easy?
Such good talent, yet so dull!
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, Qu Hongxiu froze, her cheeks flushing as a surge of heat rose from her dantian.
Immediately, her blood seemed to boil.
Bloodline ascension?
Qu Hongxiu was startled. She knew the Qian Kun Fire Separation Technique could raise the grade of her natal flame, but she hadn’t expected her flame to begin evolving just as she’d started.
She quickly closed her eyes, focusing her mind.
Her Sunbird bloodline surged within, confronting her human bloodline. Under her guidance, the Sunbird bloodline merged with the Qian Kun Fire Separation Technique, beginning to envelop a strand of human bloodline.
"This technique is so powerful. If I can devour this strand, I’ll advance from a six-star Sunbird bloodline straight to seven stars."
Qu Hongxiu was overjoyed, thrilled.
Bloodline ascension—something others could only dream of, incredibly difficult to achieve.
She never imagined it would happen so easily under Uncle Xu’s guidance.
Uncle Xu really was mysterious and powerful...
"Bang!"
Suddenly, an unseen force surged in from outside, instantly shattering the enveloped strand of human bloodline.

...

The Sunbird bloodline seemed startled, retreating wildly, separating from the Qian Kun Fire Separation Technique, and the opportunity for bloodline ascension vanished in an instant.
"This..."
Qu Hongxiu was stunned, opening her eyes.
"Luckily, I noticed in time. If I’d been a moment late, your Sunbird bloodline would’ve devoured your human bloodline again," Xu Zhe said, relieved, withdrawing his finger from her brow.
"???"
Qu Hongxiu was baffled, dazed.
Uncle Xu, what did you just do?
Did you interrupt my bloodline ascension?
"Don’t look at me like that. I’m doing this for your own good. Human bloodline is important. If you don’t want to regret it later, listen to me. Wash away your Sunbird bloodline as soon as possible," Xu Zhe said, gently patting her head.
"Human bloodline is important? But..." Qu Hongxiu was confused and unwilling. She was about to reach the seven-star Sunbird bloodline, only to lose it at the last moment.
But she couldn’t be angry. After all, this technique was a gift from Uncle Xu.
"Do you think I’m powerful?" Xu Zhe asked with a smile.
"Yes, very powerful," Qu Hongxiu nodded absent-mindedly.
"Exactly. I am of pure human bloodline. Do you understand?" Xu Zhe smiled, pulling two pristine jade slips from his sleeve and handing them to Qu Hongxiu.
Qu Hongxiu was still befuddled, not understanding.
Uncle Xu was powerful, but what did that have to do with human bloodline?
Wasn’t Uncle Xu powerful because he was a monstrous genius?
"These two techniques: one is a body refinement method, which can temper your physique and gradually devour your Sunbird bloodline. You’re only at the six-star stage, so there’s still hope. If you persist in cultivation, you can return to pure human bloodline in the end."
"The other is a cultivation method from an Immortal King, the one I believe has the greatest potential to reach the Immortal Emperor realm. Study it carefully when you have time."
Xu Zhe briefly explained the two jade slips, then silently turned to observe the fire-poison mist ahead, preparing to pick a route into the central region of the secret realm.
Qu Hongxiu’s mind was still spinning, utterly bewildered.
Wash away the Sunbird bloodline, returning to pure human bloodline?
A method from an Immortal King, one most likely to reach the Immortal Emperor realm?
What was going on here?
Wasn’t the common belief that mortal bloodlines are the weakest?
And Immortal Kings, Immortal Emperors—aren’t those just legendary realms in myths and ancient records?
...

[There’s an abundance of drama this year, I don’t know what to say. I can only wish everyone good fortune. Off to write chapter two.]