After finally sneaking in some homework after dinner, it was soon time for a bath.
Yue Qingqing seized the opportunity to prepare for advancement.
Sitting cross-legged on the bathroom tiles, she felt no cold whatsoever.
The spiritual energy from her jade pendant flowed back into her body like rivers returning to the sea, as Yue Qingqing concentrated all her spiritual energy, cleansing her major meridians and acupoints.
The thin spiritual energy in the outside world suddenly condensed at that moment, forming a small vortex.
It gradually became denser, turning into a milky white halo visible to the naked eye.
Yue Qingqing’s energy rose, and she soon reached a critical point, as if encountering a thin barrier.
This barrier was the necessary Foundation Establishment Stage barrier that every cultivator must face.
Having been through this stage in her previous life, Yue Qingqing was not unfamiliar with it.
She guarded her spiritual platform with clarity and in an instant mobilized all the spiritual energy within her body to smash against the barrier with an unstoppable force.
Intense pain spread from various parts of her body.
Yue Qingqing frowned slightly but did not relax, using her spiritual energy to strike the barrier time and time again.
Her bones emitted a cringe-inducing sound.
In that instant, the barrier was suddenly shattered.
Above Yue Qingqing’s head, it seemed like a valve had opened, swiftly drawing all the surrounding spiritual energy into her body.
Before this, a cultivator’s perception of their inner spiritual energy always seemed hazy, like looking at flowers through fog.
But upon entering the Foundation Establishment Stage, it was as though the glass had been wiped clean, enabling her to clearly see the spiritual energy nestled in her sea of consciousness and dantian.
Only then did she truly step onto the grand pathway.
From then on, mobilizing spiritual energy would be much more convenient, as easy as moving her own limbs.
The amount of spiritual energy she could store within her body had also increased several times over from before.
Impurities within her body were expelled, leaving her sticky all over and emitting an unbearable sour stench.
Yue Qingqing quickly turned on the shower to wash herself thoroughly.
After showering, she breathed a sigh of relief, feeling light and refreshed all over.
Zhang Ying was waiting outside and helped dry her daughter’s hair upon her exit,
"Why did it take so long?"
If it weren’t for her daughter insisting on bathing by herself since she grew up, Zhang Ying would have almost rushed in to check.
"It’s cold, so I wanted to shower a bit longer," Yue Qingqing said coquettishly.
Her mother gently pinched her nose, "Feeling the cold now, huh? Wear more tomorrow."
The next day at school, Yue Qingqing heard that students who had been on leave were gradually returning to class.
After the Ghost Mirage dispersed, besides its original obsession, all the absorbed blood essence and soul energy had returned to their rightful owners; those who had been sick would’ve naturally recovered.
Qu Ruorui hadn’t returned to class yet.
But Teacher Shi had said that she should be back in school by tomorrow, so she must have already woken up.
Jun Feifei sat in the back row, staring at Yue Qingqing’s back during class.
Her gaze was so focused that it drew the teacher’s attention several times.
After class, Jun Feifei habitually stretched out a pencil to poke Yue Qingqing’s back,
but her hand immediately retracted.
Eventually, Yue Qingqing sensed it, "What’s wrong?"
"Nothing, nothing at all," Jun Feifei hurriedly lay on the desk, her voice barely audible.
Seeing her transform from a paper tiger into a paper mouse, Yue Qingqing couldn’t help but tease her.
"Are you scared of me?"
Wei Rong happened to walk by and burst into laughter upon hearing this.
Jun Feifei, scared? That just couldn’t be.
Then, Jun Feifei weakly nodded, "A little, just... just a little bit."
The next day, Qu Ruorui returned to school as expected, looking well-recovered with rosy cheeks and seemingly unaffected.
After placing her school bag in the locker, Qu Ruorui leaned close to Yue Qingqing and whispered,
"Qingqing, my parents are getting a divorce!"
The girl’s face was full of joy, showing not a hint of sadness.