My ancestors were spiritual plant growers, so it's not surprising that I hunt demons every day,

After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, they all went their separate ways.

The entire next night, the Cui family immersed themselves in cultivation.

As the night wore on, Cui Ying felt a sense of breakthrough.

"Are you about to break through?"

Cui Ying was not surprised by this.

Although she only had the cultivation level of the second level of Qi Refining after her rebirth, her foundation was very solid.

Furthermore, thanks to the Jade Spirit Mushroom nurtured by the spiritual liquid within the gourd, her rebirth has brought about improvements in both her mental state and cultivation techniques, making advancement a natural progression.

"Okay, let's break through then."

Cui Ying no longer restrained herself, circulating her cultivation technique, ready to advance at any moment.

Cui Yue was very sensible. Knowing that her sister was about to break through, she simply didn't rest and got up to stand guard at the door with her pillow.

Finally, in a daze, Cui Yue felt a gentle breeze lightly brush against her face.

Immediately afterwards, she sensed a powerful aura in the room.

As her cultivation level broke through, Cui Ying vaguely received a piece of information in her mind:

It turned out that with her breakthrough, the speed at which the Taiyi Golden Crystal Gourd converted spiritual liquid also increased, from ten drops per day to twenty drops per day.

In this way, her biggest worry was also resolved.

The Cui family's courtyard.

"Did you make it?"

Cui Yue covered her mouth, afraid to make a sound, lest she disturb her third sister's important matter.

Just as she was feeling uneasy, Wang Rong and Cui Lin came out at some point and stood beside her with solemn expressions, both looking nervously at the closed wooden door.

"squeak"

About half an hour later, the door opened from the inside, and Cui Ying came out.

"Mother, second sister, fourth sister, I am now at the third level of Qi Refining."

"Wow, Third Sister, you're amazing!"

"That's great, Third Sister! I'll work hard from now on too."

Upon hearing this news, unlike Cui Lin and Cui Yue's excitement, Wang Rong couldn't help but tear up.

She rubbed her eyes, a relieved smile appearing on her face, before frowning again.

"Such a big breakthrough and you didn't even tell me beforehand? I could have had your father come out to protect you or something. Luckily everything went smoothly. What if something had gone wrong?"

"I blame my daughter for being inconsiderate and causing her mother so much worry. I won't do it again."

Despite having spent half the night fussing, the Cui family members were still full of energy.

The next morning, after breakfast, those who were supposed to go back to their parents' home went back, and those who were supposed to go to school went to school.

Only Cui Ying, Cui Yue, and their mother Wang Rong remained at home.

"Are you sure you don't need your mother to stay with you?"

"No problem, Mother."

Wang Rong handed Cui Ying the spirit deer meat strung together with straw rope and a bamboo basket full of spirit eggs, then personally escorted her to the courtyard, still somewhat worried, and gave her some instructions:

"You can't hit a smiling face, so be sweet-talking when you're at the Gu family's house. I've met Madam Gu; aside from her harsh words, she's not a bad person at heart. Just don't talk back to her."

"Mother, I understand."

Cui Ying nodded and carried her things towards the Xiushui River.

The Cui family has been rooted in Shuangling Village for over a hundred years.

Cui Ying's great-grandfather was also a wandering cultivator who truly lived on the edge of a knife.

Once, when he and a friend were passing through this place, they encountered a female cultivator fleeing from disaster. Moved by compassion, they couldn't help but lend a helping hand.

Later, that female cultivator turned out to be Cui Ying's great-grandmother.

Later, the two settled down in Shuangling Village.

Although the village was in chaos at that time, the two worked together and still made a name for themselves.

Unfortunately, the good times didn't last long. Cui Ying's great-grandfather was attacked in the Fengming Mountains. He was seriously injured while saving his friend and went missing, leaving behind only his magic weapon, the Green Scythe, which he had carried for many years.

Cui Ying's great-grandmother was so grief-stricken that she went into premature labor and gave birth to Cui Ying's grandfather. She passed away a few years later.

The companion that Cui Ying's great-grandfather saved back then was none other than the patriarch of the Gu family.

If we're talking about the kindness that Cui Ying's great-grandfather owed to the Gu family, it was already repaid by Cui Ying's grandfather's generation.

By the time of Cui Ying's father's generation, Cui Zhengming and Gu Qinghong had grown up in open-crotch pants. Unlike Cui Zhengming's timidity and conservatism, Gu Qinghong was more adventurous.

After several adventures, he not only improved the family business left by his ancestors, but also broke through to the middle and late stages of Qi Refining.

"Senior Gu, Aunt Gu, are you home?"

Standing in front of the Gu family mansion, Cui Ying called out in a clear, crisp voice.

Meanwhile, at the Gu family home, Gu Shiyin was practicing martial arts when he suddenly heard a familiar call. He sheathed his sword and prepared to go out.

Just then, Gu's mother immediately stood in front of her son, trying to block out the outside noise.

"Mother, is that Ah Ying outside?"

"You must have misheard. It's a rogue cultivator from the village who needs to see your father. I'll go out and check!"

Gu Qinghong, who came out of the inner room, glanced at his wife, kept a straight face and didn't say anything, then turned and walked outside. Gu's mother breathed a sigh of relief and followed closely behind.

"Oh, it's Cui Ying, what brings you here? Did your father send you to find me?"

"Huh? What are you doing?"

Hearing Gu Qinghong's slightly surprised voice, Gu's mother subconsciously turned around and looked in the direction where Gu Shiyin was.

By the time she tried to find another excuse to stop Gu Shiyin, it was already too late.

Meanwhile, Cui Ying lifted the meat in her hand and said with a smile:

“Senior Gu, Aunt Gu, I hunted a spirit deer in the Phoenix Cry Mountains yesterday. We can’t finish it at home, so I thought I’d bring it to you since you like it.”

“It’s a five-colored deer! You little girl, you’ve got some guts.”

Gu Qinghong nodded slightly, without saying anything polite.

Although his family was wealthier than that of ordinary rogue cultivators, it was only grand in appearance. In addition, he had been warlike in his early years, which damaged his foundation; although he had been recuperating for more than ten years, he no longer easily fought with others.

Why should we turn away something that's been delivered to our door?

Facing Gu Qinghong's undisguised scrutiny and probing gaze, Cui Ying did not back down in fear. Instead, she stood gracefully in place and continued speaking with an unchanged expression:

"Senior Gu, if you ever want to eat wild game, just send me a message and I'll go to the Phoenix Cry Mountains to find some for you!"

Upon hearing this, Gu Qinghong's eyes lit up with a smile. He knew this woman well, and her appearance and temperament were excellent. It was just a pity that her family background and spiritual essence were somewhat lacking.

"forget it."

But his face remained expressionless as he shook his head and sighed:

“I’m afraid some people will think I’m exploiting the younger generation, and then I’ll be so angry that I won’t even go home.”

The voice wasn't loud, but it drew out a handsome young man.

"Father, Ah Ying brought you a gift, and you just let her stand at the door?"

Unbeknownst to anyone, Gu Shiyin had already finished his cultivation and was walking briskly towards the door, stopping three steps away from Cui Ying.

"Mother, I remember this, doesn't seem to be how the Gu family treats its guests?"

"Why are you still standing there?"

Hearing Gu Shiyin's words, even though Gu's mother was displeased, she had no choice but to reluctantly shout at the servants behind her:

"Didn't you hear the young master's order? Bitao, why don't you quickly invite Miss Cui in for tea?"

"Thank you for your kindness, Aunt Gu. I won't go in and bother you any longer."

"Why be so polite with your aunt? She got some excellent Yunwu tea the other day, so let's have a taste together."

Upon hearing Gu Qinghong's words, Cui Ying turned her head, looked at the nervous Gu Shiyin with a charming smile, nodded, and said with a smile:

"In that case, I will carefully savor this superior spiritual tea."

As Cui Ying stepped into the Gu family's house, Gu Shiyin's eyes were full of smiles.

Just as he was about to follow into the reception room, Gu Qinghong called out to him:

"Come on! Follow me to the backyard!"

"Does Father have something important to discuss?"

"If it's not something urgent, you can wait a moment while my son talks to Sister Ying for a bit before coming to see you."

"Nonsense!"

Seeing Gu Shiyin's stubborn expression, Gu Qinghong sighed softly and said earnestly:

“If the Cui family girl really loves you, wait until she brings the betrothal money to marry you. At that time, your parents will not stop you. Now, come back with me obediently to avoid embarrassing yourselves.”

“I understand your good intentions, but my sister Ying has come, and I can’t leave her to face the difficulties alone.”