My cultivation technique can automatically steal proficiency.

Chapter 19

Pang Guoyong continued, "If you plant a spiritual root in a suitable place, it can absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth on its own, eventually condensing into spiritual dew. After refining it, you can improve your own realm or cultivate powerful secret techniques."

Chen Qiyuan nodded and said, "No wonder Guo Yongchang has been so greedy, wanting to seize our martial arts school's spiritual root. Last night, I heard that Guo say that our martial arts school's spiritual root is called the Blood Spirit Mushroom, is that right?"

"good."

He asked curiously, "What is its purpose?"

A strange look flashed in Pang Guoyong's eyes, and his tone changed slightly. "The Blood Spirit Mushroom must be planted underground in a place with extremely heavy Yin energy. It can condense a drop of spiritual dew every ten years. If a martial artist who has reached the Transformation Realm refines it, there is a 50% chance that they can directly break through to the Marrow Refining Realm."

"??"

Chen Qiyuan asked in surprise, "Senior brother, you mean that even someone who has just broken through to the Transformation Realm can break through directly?"

Pang Guoyong nodded and said, "That's right."

He couldn't help but gasp. No wonder Guo Yongchang wanted to take back the Blood Spirit Mushroom so badly.

He had originally thought that spiritual roots were simply spiritual objects used to enhance cultivation. He never imagined they could directly allow him to break through his cultivation level.

That's not a concept at all.

Chen Qiyuan had a control panel on him, allowing him to see the proficiency level of his martial arts techniques at any time. Therefore, he was very clear about how difficult it was to improve.

If it weren't for his cheat-like ability to directly steal other people's skill points, even if he had ten years, he might not have reached his current level.

The level of proficiency required to progress from neutralizing energy to achieving mastery of neutralizing energy is greater than the combined proficiency required to progress from beginner to neutralizing energy.

This shows how difficult it is to break through from the initial stage of internal energy transformation to the stage of marrow refinement.

Pang Guoyong now claims that just one drop of "spiritual dew" can allow a martial artist to directly advance to the marrow-refining stage, with a 50% chance of success.

That's way too exaggerated.

Seeing his shocked expression, Pang Guoyong's smile widened. "Third Senior Brother's talent is far inferior to that of Eldest Senior Brother. He would have had no chance of reaching the Marrow Refining Realm in his entire life. This trip has turned out to be a blessing in disguise."

Chen Qiyuan instantly understood the implication. "Senior brother, are you saying that Third Senior Brother was able to break through this time because he consumed the spiritual dew?"

"That's for sure. This time, Guo Yongchang came with great force, and Master had no choice. We just didn't expect him to collude with the Ironclad Sect's stewards, catching us completely off guard. This man is extremely cunning; he must have been planning this for a long time. If it weren't for you—"

Pang Guoyong paused abruptly at this point, then began to urge people on, "Alright, it's getting late, go home now, come back tomorrow."

"Yes."

After bowing, Chen Qiyuan left.

……

After nightfall, the Wu Family Martial Arts School was completely silent.

Chen Qiyuan changed back into his old clothes, left the martial arts school without his weapons, and quietly scaled the wall to leave.

He walked close to the wall, deliberately seeking out the shadows, and soon left the neighborhood where the martial arts school was located, heading in a certain direction.

With his current skills, unless Guo Yongchang is lying in wait nearby, no one can find him.

Moreover, the martial arts school is so big that Guo Yongchang can't guard it all by himself.

"Guo Yongchang will definitely try his best to investigate my background. I must bring Er Ya back before he does."

Chen Qiyuan thought to himself as he walked briskly.

He had already inquired and learned that Er Ya had become a maid in a Bai family. He planned to sneak in and take her away.

Before long, they arrived at the Bai residence.

Chen Qiyuan simply scaled the wall and entered. After reaching the pinnacle of the "Strange Steps" technique, this wall was nothing to him.

In fact, when he used this footwork, it was almost like a light-body skill.

"The Bai residence is surprisingly large."

After entering the Bai residence, he was surprised to find it to be much larger than he had imagined, even bigger than the martial arts school. He wondered, "Does the Bai family have such a large business? How can they afford such a large property?"

He wandered around the Bai residence but couldn't find Er Ya. As he passed a courtyard, he heard a somewhat familiar voice.

"Liu Shijie? He actually knows someone from the Bai family."

If I had asked him a few days ago to help me get the person, I wouldn't have had to make this trip.

The thought flashed through Chen Qiyuan's mind, but he didn't stop and continued searching for people.

He didn't know where Er Ya was, so he could only resort to the most basic method.

Ask someone.

Chen Qiyuan directly arrested several servants from the Bai family, finally getting the whereabouts of Er Ya from the last maid.

"Er Ya?"

The little maid was struggling desperately, but when she heard him say Er Ya's name, she was stunned for a moment.

"She's a girl who's only been in the household for less than a month. Her original surname is Wang, and her name is Er Ya—"

Upon hearing this, the young maid had no further questions and nodded vigorously to indicate that she understood.

Then, Chen Qiyuan let go.

The maid's first words were, "You're Xiao Hong's cousin, right?"

"Little Red?"

"It's Er Ya, that's the name Miss gave her," the maid explained anxiously. "Please go and save her!"

Chen Qiyuan's face darkened, and he gripped her shoulders tightly. "You mean, she's in danger?"

The maid nodded frantically, "She was locked in the woodshed by her mistress—"

……

In the backyard, in a woodshed.

A middle-aged maidservant, whip in hand and face contorted with rage, shouted, "You dared to seduce the young master the moment you entered the manor! Tell me, who ordered you to do this?"

Wang Erya stood there stubbornly, refusing to admit her mistake, "I didn't—"

Snapped!

A whip lashed her shoulder, leaving a bloody welt.

Her body convulsed, the burning pain causing tears to involuntarily stream down her face, but she clenched her teeth tightly to keep herself from making a sound.

"Wow, the bones are pretty hard."

The maid sneered, "I specialize in dealing with tough guys. Let's see how many lashes you can endure."

Wang Erya closed her eyes and shrank back.

The whip, however, did not fall on him.

There was a loud bang, as if something had been broken.

"Who goes there—"

Wang Erya subconsciously opened her eyes and saw that there was someone in the woodshed at some point, with one hand gripping the servant woman's neck.

Her face flushed red, and she looked terrified.

By the light of the lantern hanging on the wall, she could see who it was, and she froze on the spot, exclaiming, "Brother...?"

"How dare you hit her?"

Chen Qiyuan's eyes seemed to spit fire as he slammed her against the wall. She crashed through the wooden wall, countless splinters piercing her body, and she let out a bloodcurdling scream.

He turned around and looked at his cousin Er Ya, who was covered in dirt, and felt an inexplicable anger rising in his chest.

"Brother—woo—"

Wang Erya could no longer hold back and buried her face in his arms. The grievances of the past few days burst forth like a dam breaking, and she burst into tears.

"I'm sorry I'm late."

Chen Qiyuan stroked her hair, feeling a pang of self-reproach.

We should have come to pick her up earlier.

After crying for a while, Wang Erya suddenly remembered something, broke free from his embrace, and said anxiously, "Brother, hurry up and leave, the guards from the manor will be here soon."

Chen Qiyuan looked at the wound on her shoulder, a cold glint in his eyes. "Er Ya, let me help you vent your anger before I leave."

Er Ya stamped her feet anxiously, "Brother—"

In her opinion, Chen Yuanqi had only been learning martial arts for a few months, how could he be a match for the guards of the Bai family?

It is said that the Bai family also hired a master of internal energy at a high price, so that a dozen or so ordinary people could not get close to him.

Given the Second Miss's temperament, she would absolutely not let Chen Qiyuan off the hook.