Fairy, don't be afraid, I, Wang Daqi, am truly an honest man.

In the following days, Jiang Xuerou followed Wang Daqi's advice and went to the sect to exchange her last contribution points for a Xuan-level "Azure Wave Qi Refining Technique".

Considering that his "Flow Diversion Technique" had reached a bottleneck, Wang Daqi decided to also study this water-based method.

Over time, the two not only sparred but also complemented each other's techniques and blended their spiritual energy.

Jiang Xuerou rapidly stabilized her Qi Refining Level 8 realm, while Wang Daqi's trip was truly worthwhile!

Through daily in-depth communication with Jiang Xuerou, his innate affinity for water continued to increase.

Just one day before the mission in the herb garden was about to expire, Wang Daqi felt as if every pore on his body opened up, as if he could hear the joyful song of flowing water. His water affinity talent had finally been completely and perfectly replicated!

Now, even without deliberately cultivating, the surrounding water elemental energy will actively converge towards him.

The power of the Xuan Shui Arrow he cultivated naturally reached a new level.

…………

…………

After the mission was completed, Wang Daqi and Jiang Xuerou left together.

Jiang Xuerou went to the Hall of Affairs first, while Wang Daqi went straight back to his residence, Qingfeng Garden.

Pushing open the courtyard gate, he was surprised to find that Senior Sister Shen Ruyan was also there.

In the courtyard, Shen Ruyan was still wearing a cool, light blue dress, while Xu Yan was tidying up some newly brought-back medicinal herbs. Both of them looked somewhat travel-worn.

"Daqi, you're back!" Xu Yan's face immediately lit up with a warm smile when she saw Wang Daqi, and she quickly walked forward.

"Senior Sister Shen, Xu Yan, what's going on here...?" Wang Daqi looked at the medicinal herbs with curiosity.

Shen Ruyan nodded slightly, her cool gaze lingering on Wang Daqi for a moment, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes: "Junior Brother Wang, it seems your cultivation has improved quite a bit in just half a month."

"I've gained some insights," Wang Daqi said modestly. "Where did you go to gather herbs?"

"A few days ago, Senior Sister Shen took me to Misty Valley to take on a herb-gathering mission, and also helped me hone my combat skills," Xu Yan explained from the side, her expression full of gratitude towards Shen Ruyan.

Shen Ruyan smiled and said, "The inner sect competition is just around the corner, so it's always good to have more practical experience. Junior Brother Wang, now that you're back, you should also prepare and try to enter the inner sect."

Upon hearing Shen Ruyan mention the inner sect assessment, Wang Daqi slowly shook his head, his tone sincere: "Senior Sister, I've come to understand things these past few days. In the cultivation world, the tallest tree in the forest is bound to be felled by the wind. I'm just a lowly spirit farmer, and my cultivation has progressed so quickly recently that I've already attracted a lot of envy. I don't want to go through what happened to Zhao Feng a second time."

He repeated what he had said to Nangong Ling.

Shen Ruyan and Xu Yan exchanged a glance and both fell silent.

Indeed, Wang Daqi has a weak foundation and no family support, so keeping a low profile is the safest strategy at present.

After all, his physique was too extraordinary. It seemed to offer no benefit to his cultivation, but for them, it was practically a miracle cure!

"Yanyan, you'd better put in extra effort this time and try to get into the inner sect steadily."

Wang Daqi took Xu Yan's small hand, smiled, and looked at Shen Ruyan, "As for Senior Sister Shen, your cultivation is profound, so I wish you a resounding victory in advance, that you will win a top ten position in this competition, and bring glory to Lingyun Peak!!"

Hearing Wang Daqi's blessing, Shen Ruyan's lips curled into a slightly helpless bitterness.

"Top ten? You've underestimated the Six Peaks Competition."

Shen Ruyan gently smoothed her wind-blown black hair and sighed, "The six peaks of the sect have profound foundations. Not to mention the distant ones, just take Wuji Peak, for example; it has several madmen who specialize in the path of slaughter. And then there's Dan Ding Peak, where the inner disciples not only possess formidable magical power, but also have an endless supply of high-level magic treasures and restorative pills. Moreover, within our Lingyun Peak, there are several disciples ranked ahead of me at the ninth level of Qi Refining, while I am currently only at the peak of the eighth level of Qi Refining…"

In the later stages of cultivation, the gap between each level becomes like a chasm, especially in a competition where top geniuses gather.

Seeing this, Xu Yan blinked and suddenly said, "Senior Sister, don't worry. Don't you still have the 'Azure Water Golden Eyes'? I personally witnessed the power of that eye technique during our trip. With this eye technique, you still have a great advantage!"

Mentioning "Azure Water Golden Eyes," Shen Ruyan's eyes lit up slightly for a moment, but then dimmed again.

"I've only cultivated this Golden Eye technique to the first level so far. If I could break through to the second level, I would naturally be able to secure a place in the competition. Unfortunately, improving this eye technique is extremely difficult..."

As they were talking.

Shen Ruyan's bright, clear eyes involuntarily turned to Wang Daqi, her gaze intense, filled with a hesitant yet hopeful longing.

In fact, she did have a little selfish motive in mind when she took great care of Xu Yan during this period, even personally taking Xu Yan to collect herbs and practice.

Her goal was simply to get Xu Yan to lend Wang Daqi to her again...

As a woman herself, she naturally knew that Xu Yan was sometimes a little unwilling!

How clever and shrewd Xu Yan is!

Seeing Shen Ruyan's expression and remembering how much her senior sister Shen had helped her these past few days, she made up her mind.

She tugged at Wang Daqi's sleeve and whispered coquettishly, "Daqi, there are still more than ten days until the assessment, right? Senior Sister Shen treats me like a sister, and this competition is crucial for her. You...you should help her develop those Azure Golden Eyes, okay?"

Seeing that his wife had already taken the initiative to speak and even generously offered him a place, how could Wang Daqi possibly refuse?

Moreover, Senior Sister Shen Ruyan is indeed a good person; he even copied the Azure Golden Eyes from her before.

Let me help you then.

"My senior sister's affairs are naturally my affairs as well. I will do my utmost in the next few days!!"

Upon hearing the words "go all out," Shen Ruyan's ears turned slightly red, and she immediately said seriously, "Then... thank you very much, Junior Brother Wang."

After saying that, she actually walked into the house on her own initiative.

Seeing Shen Ruyan walking into the house so impatiently, Wang Daqi was speechless.

It was as easy for me as being at home.

"Then you should go in quickly."

Xu Yan gently nudged Wang Daqi, her expression complicated. "It's broad daylight, and there are too many people and eyes at Senior Sister's cave. If any rumors spread, it will damage her reputation. From now on... from now on, just stay here at our place. I can help you keep watch anyway."

"Alright, thank you for your hard work, my wife."

Wang Daqi squeezed Xu Yan's hand before turning around and following her inside.

The door creaked shut, shutting out the sunlight.

Xu Yan stood alone in the courtyard, listening to the suppressed and rhythmic fluctuations of spiritual energy that soon came from inside the house, as well as the occasional soft humming that belonged only to Shen Ruyan's clear and cold voice.

She bit her lip.

A sour feeling welled up inside me.

But thinking of the help she had received from her senior sister Shen, and of her promising future, she sighed softly and turned to walk towards the kitchen.

"These two people don't even know how to be considerate of me... I need to go and make some deer antler and ginseng chicken soup. Daqi looks so tired lately."