Courtyard House: My Time Travel is a Bit Too Strong

Before the words were even finished, Zhu Zhuqing blurted out, "I'll do it!"

Seeing their tense jaws and trembling fingers, Qiao Jingjing relaxed, raised her eyebrows slightly, and smiled: "Don't panic—you can break through using the crystal core without losing your life."

"Every leap an Awakener takes is a complete rebuilding of their bones and marrow."

"It's not simply about becoming stronger; it's about shedding a layer of skin from the inside out of your entire body."

Upon hearing this, Lin Quan and Zhu Zhuqing's hearts skipped a beat, and their expressions changed simultaneously.

—The taste of that first time swallowing a crystal core instantly flooded my mind!

Although I have washed away my mortal body and stepped into the threshold of the extraordinary, that ordeal back then... felt like being pierced by a thousand silver needles, or like being burned by raging fire and having my bones scraped. The pain was so intense that even breathing trembled, and my fingertips still go numb when I think about it!

Swah——

Regardless of what thoughts were churning in their minds, Qiao Jingjing flicked her fingertips, and the space in the mirror opened in response, with a sandalwood box hanging steadily in her palm.

Lifting the lid revealed only a few dozen crystal cores lying quietly inside.

Apart from a bunch of second-order crystal cores, only five third-order crystal cores gleamed with a faint light.

This was all the possessions Lin Quan and his two companions had—after deducting the first-tier items, all that was left were these hard-to-find treasures.

"Try the second order first; if that doesn't work, try the third order."

When she mentioned the words "third tier," Qiao Jingjing's throat moved slightly, her smile faded slightly, and she swallowed the words back.

She didn't say it explicitly, but the three of them had spent so much time together, how could they not hear the unspoken meaning?

Crystal cores are indeed good things, but the higher the level, the more violent and untamable the energy surging within them becomes.

If I can break through at the second level, that would be extremely fortunate;

But once you use the third tier... the probability of a breakthrough increases dramatically, but the cost is also much higher—

If that frenzied energy were to enter the body, the slightest mistake could result in torn meridians or even loss of mental control.

Without even asking, just looking at Zhu Zhuqing's clenched fists and taut neck, the answer was already written on her face.

Zhu Zhuqing glanced at the crystal core in the box, nodded to Lin Quan and the other person, and did so decisively.

Before she could reach out, Qiao Jingjing flicked her wrist and made a nimble move—

Swish!

As if summoned, several crystal cores rose from the box in unison and hovered in mid-air.

Without hesitation, Zhu Zhuqing grabbed one of the pills and swallowed it.

In just a few breaths, the crystal core melted in his abdomen, and a scorching torrent exploded out, rushing straight to his limbs and bones!

She had not yet learned any offensive techniques, so she could only rely on meditation to gradually restrain and guide this tyrannical power.

"Meow--!"

Before the sound had even faded, a cloud of black mist suddenly rose!

Zhu Zhuqing's body was enveloped in thick, dark ink. Amidst the swirling mist, a glossy black cat, its size comparable to a cheetah, suddenly appeared!

It stood tall and proud, its eyes sharp and its spine taut like a bow, exuding an aloofness and unapproachable nobility.

"Tsk tsk tsk... The more I look at Zhu Qing's martial spirit, the more captivating it becomes!"

"Look at its arrogant and domineering attitude! How proud and dashing it is!"

The civet cat was large and should have been intimidating, but in Qiao Jingjing's eyes, it looked like a big, shiny kitten—her eyes were sparkling, and she could hardly resist reaching out to rub it.

Before she finished speaking, the black mist around Zhu Zhuqing surged wildly as if it were alive, instantly spreading over her ankles and waist, and rushing straight towards the roof beams!

Within a few breaths, the entire room was filled with black mist, so thick it was impossible to disperse, and it looked like it was about to overflow the window and roll into the courtyard.

Swah——

Lin Quan had just opened his mouth when Qiao Jingjing's divine sense arrived.

An invisible force field instantly spread out, like an impregnable wall of copper and iron, standing before the sea of ​​fog!

The surging black mist crashed into the barrier, paused abruptly, but did not dissipate. Instead, it churned violently inside the room, growing thicker and heavier, pressing down harder and harder.

As soon as the commotion started, even Qiao Jingjing's usually composed expression became subtly solemn.

Lin Quan was pressed down by a heavy pressure, and his breathing became labored!

Crackling, crackling, crackling...

Unbeknownst to him, fine arcs of electricity crackled around his body, and a bluish-white light surged and danced beneath his skin. He retreated again and again, step by step…

"I'll guard this place, you can go out first."

Qiao Jingjing's gaze remained fixed, and her tone was as calm as ever, as if she had expected this scene, without even raising her eyelids.

Lin Quan didn't say much, just nodded in agreement, and turned to leave.

Stepping into the courtyard, he finally breathed a sigh of relief as his shoulders relaxed.

"I never expected that simply reaching the level 2 Awakener would cause such a stir..."

"Luckily, Qiao Jingjing was there to keep things in order, otherwise the commotion would probably have been heard even by the people on the next street!"

Just as Lin Quan's figure disappeared through the courtyard gate—

Zhu Zhuqing's originally calm face suddenly furrowed between her brows, and her lips tightened slightly.

"Tsk...this girl is so stubborn it's practically glowing."

Qiao Jingjing looked at her, her eyes flickered slightly, but she knew exactly what was going on in her heart.

The path to awakening is like climbing a ladder to heaven, and there is no room for luck on any step!

Although it is not as excruciating as the initial consumption of the crystal core, the process of crystal energy entering the body, cleansing the marrow and reshaping the origin of life is still a blood-soaked ordeal.

A level 2 crystal core enters the mouth, and within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, its energy is completely drained away like a tidal wave.

But the transformation within Zhu Zhuqing's body has only just begun...

The second crystal core was swallowed—

The black mist that had just paused suddenly exploded, churning like boiling oil!

Time slips by silently...

In the blink of an eye, an hour had quietly passed.

At this moment, Zhu Zhuqing had already swallowed five Level 2 crystal cores in a short period of time!

Meow--!

A clear, melodious cat's meow pierced the air!

The elusive, cold and aloof phantom of the spirit cat suddenly solidified, transforming into a beam of light that pierced straight into Zhu Zhuqing's spirit!

Almost at the same instant, the surging black mist in the room seemed to receive a command, and all of it reversed and flowed into her body like rivers flowing into the sea!

boom--!

As the black mist dissipated, a powerful aura suddenly erupted from Zhu Zhuqing's body!

A surge of energy, a gentle hum in the bones, and a rush of blood like thunder—

Level 2 Awakener, done!

Before she even opened her eyes, Qiao Jingjing had already quietly begun to observe her.

Reaching Level 2 represents a leap in the essence of life.

Zhu Zhuqing, already possessing a captivating beauty and a sharp figure, had undergone a complete transformation in temperament, though her bone structure remained unchanged.

It is not a change, but a tempering; not an increase, but a condensation; every inch of its outline exudes a natural and exquisite beauty and sharpness.

As Zhu Zhuqing's eyelashes fluttered and her gaze began to clear, Qiao Jingjing spoke with a smile:

"Congratulations, Sister Zhuqing, on successfully breaking through to the next realm."

"After the breakthrough, can your body handle it?"

Zhu Zhuqing lowered her head and sniffed, her brows furrowing slightly—the sweat mixed with a strange fragrance, sticky and pungent.

When she looked up and met Qiao Jingjing's smiling gaze, she simply said in a low voice, "I'm going to take a shower first."

Before the words were even finished, the person had already transformed into a wisp of ink-black afterimage and vanished into thin air.

Lin Quan, who was outside the courtyard, had already sensed the sudden surge of energy inside the house.

He pushed open the door and entered, only to find Qiao Jingjing alone inside.

Not seeing Zhu Zhuqing, he turned his gaze to Qiao Jingjing: "It's done?"

"Mmm." She nodded. "I just went to the bathroom."

"Next, it's your turn."