Not Greedy

True Qi requires a vessel; it needs fists to strike, legs to run, and ears to listen.

It merely enhances the functions of the physical body and has not yet broken free from its physical constraints.

The Golden Core, however, is a whole new dimension.

Once one crosses the Foundation Establishment realm and condenses a Golden Core, the energy within their body is no longer True Qi, but Spiritual Energy.

The difference between these two concepts is like the difference between heaven and earth.

True Qi is a coarse energy that requires guidance and acts mostly upon the physical body.

Spiritual Energy, on the other hand, is a pure energy capable of directly communicating with the laws of heaven and earth and executing spells.

To cast spells, one must possess Spiritual Energy.

Gu Chengyin himself was currently in a state where his True Qi and Spiritual Energy were mixed.

He cultivated the Heaven-tier technique, the Azure Cloud Art, which allowed him to convert his True Qi into Spiritual Energy ahead of time.

And Lin Qingyan's silencing move just now.

It wasn't a simple external release of energy, nor was it using Spiritual Energy to shock someone with electricity.

That was a true spell.

It was the use of Spiritual Energy to directly interfere with the rules of the world, sealing and modifying the very concept of sound itself.

The Silencing Spell.

A spell that wasn't considered profound in the cultivation world, yet was extremely practical.

Its principle wasn't covering the opponent's mouth or creating a soundproof barrier, but directly acting on the process of sound wave transmission.

It dissolved and annihilated the sound the instant it left the mouth, returning it to nothingness.

Gu Chengyin's eyes lit up.

He wanted to speak.

He wanted to ask what spell this was. How was it cast? How much Spiritual Energy did it require? What were its limitations? Could he learn it?

But he couldn't make a sound.

He could only open his mouth in vain, like a fish thrown onto the shore.

Ultimately, Gu Chengyin chose another way to express himself.

Wild gesticulation.

Gu Chengyin began to gesture in front of Lin Qingyan.

First, he pointed to his own mouth, then used both hands to make an opening and closing motion near it, his exaggerated expression showing the anxiety of not being able to speak.

Then he pointed at Lin Qingyan and pressed his palms together in a pleading gesture.

Next, he drew circles in the air with his hands, trying to convey the concept of a spell.

But his drawing was a mess, looking more like he was swatting away mosquitoes.

Watching Gu Chengyin, Lin Qingyan finally softened her heart.

After all, when all was said and done, the main responsibility for this fell on her.

So Lin Qingyan raised her hand and lightly tapped her index finger in the empty air.

There were no hand seals, no incantations, just a simple pointing motion.

Instantly, the Silencing Spell was undone.

Gu Chengyin felt the change immediately.

Confirming that his voice had truly returned, an expression of wild joy bloomed on Gu Chengyin's face.

Then, he did something Lin Qingyan completely did not expect.

He stepped forward and grabbed Lin Qingyan's hand.

Lin Qingyan's body suddenly stiffened.

She instinctively wanted to pull her hand back, wanted to warn him with lightning like she had before.

But the next second...

Auntie!

Can you teach me spells?!

Lin Qingyan did not answer; instead, she looked at their clasped hands.

Gu Chengyin followed her gaze.

His palm was a full size larger than Lin Qingyan's, and his fingers were thicker and longer.

At this moment, his hands were wrapping around Lin Qingyan's slender, pale hand, like a piece of rough warm jade enveloping a piece of delicate cold jade.

The contrast of the two colors was especially stark under the light of the carriage.

Gu Chengyin's hand was a healthy wheat color, bearing the powerful lines of a man.

Lin Qingyan's hand, on the other hand, was an almost transparent white, like jade marrow hidden deep within a snow cave.

Gu Chengyin's thumb moved unconsciously, gently stroking the back of Lin Qingyan's hand.

The touch was even more delicate than he had imagined; her skin was as smooth as the finest silk, yet possessing a bit more elasticity and vitality than silk.

Mhm, very tender.

So well-maintained.

Though it seemed Golden Core cultivators didn't really need to do much maintenance.

Spiritual Energy would naturally nourish the physical body, maintaining it in its most perfect state.

This was a natural gift brought by one's cultivation realm.

Gu Chengyin thought silently in his heart, his thumb continuing to stroke the delicate skin on the back of her hand.

He showed absolutely no intention of pulling his hand back, none at all.

Watching this almost rogue-like refusal to let go, Lin Qingyan's eyelashes fluttered slightly.

But she did not pull her hand back, nor did she forcefully break free, let alone warn him with lightning.

Instead, she allowed Gu Chengyin to hold it, and then she spoke:

I don't know many spells either.

This was the truth.

The Nine Heavens Lightning Attraction Art was an offensive cultivation method, focusing on shattering the darkness with thunder and lightning.

Spells were more for support, the icing on the cake, a garnish alongside the main course.

Lin Qingyan did know some, but the number was limited.

What do you want to learn?

This question was crucial.

There were millions of spells: offensive, defensive, supportive, healing, illusionary, cursing...

A person could exhaust their entire life and still not learn them all.

Therefore, one had to make a choice, had to know what they needed the most.

Gu Chengyin's answer, however, was quite unpicky.

It's fine, Auntie.

I'll learn whatever you know. I'm not greedy.

Not greedy?

The corner of Lin Qingyan's mouth twitched.

These words coming from the mouth of someone who was just testing the waters about warming her bed carried absolutely no persuasive power.

But she didn't expose him, merely waiting quietly for what was to follow.

Sure enough, Gu Chengyin had more to say.

You have no idea. Aside from my main cultivation method, the only other thing I know right now is a breathing technique.

Breathing technique.

Lin Qingyan knew of this.

It was one of the most foundational cultivation methods, something almost every cultivator learned when first entering the door.

It wasn't considered anything profound. All the major sects had similar inheritances, only differing slightly in the details.

But what Gu Chengyin said next made her freeze.

It's completely useless, except that it can provide an amplification.

Amplification?

Lin Qingyan blinked.

This was the first time she had heard such a claim.

What was amplification? The circulation speed of True Qi? Cultivation efficiency?

A look of curiosity appeared in Lin Qingyan's eyes.

It wasn't faked; it was a truth-seeker's natural curiosity toward the unknown.

She possessed an instinctive desire to investigate Daoist arts she had never seen, phenomena she did not understand, and rules that exceeded her cognition.

I know about breathing techniques.

Lin Qingyan's voice was slightly softer than before. What is amplification?

Gu Chengyin blinked as well. He looked at Lin Qingyan strangely, but quickly figured it out.

His attributeless True Qi was inherently special, so the amplification was obviously extremely special and rare as well.

Thus, Gu Chengyin explained:

It means it can elevate my overall strength.

Yunying told me that this is because my True Qi has no attribute, which is why this effect occurs.

Shangguan Yunying.

This name caused Lin Qingyan's gaze to narrow slightly.

She had met this chief female official, and moreover, the woman had a very close relationship with Gu Chengyin.

But her attention was quickly drawn back to the contents of Gu Chengyin's words.

Elevate overall strength?

True Qi with no attribute?

These two phrases rapidly collided in Lin Qingyan's mind, sparking countless possibilities.

As a cultivator who had pushed the lightning attribute to its absolute limits, she knew all too well what attributes meant.

The curiosity in Lin Qingyan's eyes deepened.