Mortal: I really didn't want to be reborn as Zi Ling!

Is Zi Ling really helpless against those two level-one Blood Jade Spiders? Of course not!

The cultivation world is full of secret techniques to subdue spirit insects.

Blood and essence restriction, soul imprint, adding specific medicinal ingredients to the spirit-feeding pill, or even forcibly erasing their intelligence by brute force—any one of these methods can make these two naughty little things obedient.

However, these methods either damage the foundation of the spirit insects or make them dull and sluggish, which is not worth the effort.

Moreover, the scene before her was far more in her interest than forcibly suppressing it.

The sight of the two blood jade spiders clinging to Han Li's shoulder and acting spoiled was more convincing than any of her explanations.

This intimacy is an instinct that I can't erase even after feeding it for seven years.

The only thing that surprised her was that the two little ones were indeed more intelligent than she had expected.

Her performance just now—sticking out her tongue, sticking out her butt, trembling on Han Li's shoulder, and snuggling into his neck—was a combination of moves that almost won over even the hard-hearted Han Li, causing her to waver.

Of course, it's also possible that Han Li has been alone in the Chaotic Star Sea for so many years and has indeed been lonely.

Zi Ling grumbled inwardly.

Otherwise, how do you explain that this guy later entered the Void Heaven Palace and immediately took a liking to the little monkey that Yuan Yao was raising?

A dignified Core Formation cultivator schemed and plotted for a mere monkey, even though the crying soul did indeed play a significant role later on.

"This is easy to discuss."

Zi Ling put aside her thoughts and gestured towards the insect breeding room: "Actually, raising these two little guys doesn't cost much, but they're too naughty and have caused Si Yue and me a lot of trouble over the years."

Zi Ling wasn't exaggerating.

She had to repair the walls they dug up seven or eight times, not to mention the overturned jade boxes, the chewed-up spirit pill shelves, and once when the blood jade spider sneaked into her private spirit herb garden and bit a five-hundred-year-old purple fungus that she had painstakingly cultivated, leaving it riddled with holes.

That day, Zi Ling really wanted to feed those two little guys to the Golden-backed Demon Mantis.

"This is not the place to talk, Brother Han, this way please."

With that, Zi Ling led Han Li back to the living room along the corridor.

Wen Siyue had already brewed the spirit tea again along the way.

The aroma of tea, mixed with the faint scent of grass and trees emanating from the calming herb in the corner, made the atmosphere in the living room much more relaxed than before.

Han Li sat down in the guest seat, picked up his teacup and took a sip. The warm tea slid down his throat, and the unease in his heart eased a little.

Zi Ling sat down opposite him, the hem of her plain white robe spreading out over a small patch of the jade floor tiles.

She picked up the teacup but didn't drink it; instead, she held it in her palm and looked at Han Li through the rising steam.

"Please speak frankly, Miss Ziling."

Seeing that Zi Ling remained silent for a long time, Han Li finally couldn't help but speak first: "I'll say it again, I'm grateful for your care of these two little ones. As long as it's within my ability, I will do my best."

Zi Ling couldn't help but smile.

"Brother Han, you don't think I'm going to ask for an exorbitant price, do you?"

She shook her head and continued speaking without waiting for Han Li's reply:

"Actually, it's nothing serious. It's mainly a problem with my main cultivation technique."

She lowered her eyes and slowly traced circles on the rim of the teacup with her fingertips.

"Brother Han should know that I have become the disciple of Elder Jin Kui. But what the outside world doesn't know is that I have to add the words 'registered' before my title of disciple. If I cannot form my core within a hundred years, this master-disciple relationship will be severed."

Zi Ling looked up and gave a bitter smile.

"So don't be fooled by how well my parents have managed the Miaoyin Sect over the years, and how impressive their title as the Grand Elder's disciple is. In reality, our whole family walks on thin ice."

Han Li didn't understand what Zi Ling meant by that, or what it had to do with him.

However, he also noticed that when Zi Ling said the words "nominal disciple," the finger that was turning the teacup paused for a moment without her noticing.

For a cultivator in the early stages of Foundation Establishment to form a Core within a hundred years—a goal that even cultivators with Heavenly Spiritual Roots must achieve through arduous training and resource allocation.

The problem is that we don't know what kind of spiritual root or aptitude the other party has.

"My spiritual root aptitude is not good. I have three spiritual roots: metal, water, and wood."

Zi Ling held up three fingers, her tone frank: "To be able to cultivate to the peak of the early Foundation Establishment stage at the age of twenty is nothing more than relying on my parents' all-out support and my own relentless efforts over the years. But to form a Core—that's difficult. To form a Core within a hundred years—that's even more difficult."

She lowered her hand and suddenly looked at Han Li with a meaningful gaze.

That gaze made Han Li feel uneasy.

"Brother Han, although I can't tell your exact age, judging from your appearance, you shouldn't be much older than me."

Zi Ling slowed her speech, as if carefully choosing her words: "Coincidentally, I possess a spiritual eye ability that allows me to see that Brother Han has the aptitude of four spiritual roots. Moreover, judging from the fluctuations in his magical power, Brother Han should primarily cultivate wood-attribute techniques."

Han Li's hand tightened slightly as he held the teacup.

"So I started having some ideas—"

Zi Ling spoke casually, but Han Li's back was already tense.

He had no idea what Zi Ling was planning.

Are they after his martial arts technique?

Or—did they sense something else?

He subconsciously glanced at the small green bottle on his chest, and only breathed a slight sigh of relief after confirming that the magical artifact that concealed the bottle's aura was intact.

But instead of decreasing, my vigilance increased.

He could disregard the technique—although the Qingyuan Sword Technique was precious, it was not forbidden to pass it on.

But the secret of the little green bottle must never be exposed, for it is the foundation for his survival and longevity in this world.

Zi Ling keenly noticed the momentary stiffness in Han Li's body.

Although the other person's expression didn't change much, the fingers holding the teacup noticeably tightened a bit.

We need to be on high alert!

"Brother Han, there's no need to be nervous."

"I'm just curious. The cultivation methods in the immortal world are incredibly diverse. Some top-tier methods may have mediocre power, but their cultivation speed is astonishing. Brother Han, with your four spiritual roots, your cultivation has improved so quickly. I wonder if it's because of a special cultivation method or some kind of special physique?"

Han Li secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

So that's what the other person was curious about.

He looked down at the tea leaves floating in the teacup, quickly going through a set of words in his mind.

The Azure Origin Sword Technique is indeed a top-tier skill, but to be honest, it's not the type that excels in cultivation speed, as the other party might have imagined.

The real reason for my rapid improvement in cultivation is something I cannot reveal.

However, having a special physical condition is a good excuse.

"To be honest, Miss Ziling..."

After considering for a moment, Han Li said, "I don't actually know if the cultivation technique I'm practicing has any miraculous effect of accelerating cultivation speed. As for special physiques—I've never tested them, and I don't know if I possess any special innate qualities."

He paused, as if recalling something: "However, one thing is certain. Since switching to this cultivation method, I have indeed experienced divine assistance in my practice. If Miss Ziling is interested—"

He raised his head, met Zi Ling's gaze, and said sincerely, "I, Han, would not mind sharing all my knowledge with you."