Zhang Yu was stunned the moment he saw Zhang Pianpian.

When he sensed the information from the Taiqing Talisman, he had thought that activating the power of this ‘Dao Seed’ would allow him to open up his own spirit realm dwelling.

It turned out he was sharing a spirit realm dwelling with Zhang Pianpian?

Faced with Zhang Pianpian’s questions, Zhang Yu couldn’t come up with a plausible excuse on the spot.

He couldn’t possibly mention things like Dao Seeds or Feather Books. After all, he had been in Kunxu for several years and spent so much time with Fu Ji; Zhang Yu gradually understood that his Feather Book was unique, even among the potentials awakened by evil gods, and was something Fu Ji had never even heard of.

If he were to tell other evil gods about the Feather Book, they would simply think he was trying a new kind of scam. Let alone Zhang Pianpian, who was right in front of him.

So, Zhang Yu stammered, “I don’t know what happened. I was planning to go to Hammerheart Residence to study, but as soon as my consciousness entered the spirit realm, I sensed this place. When I came to my senses, I found myself here.”

Listening to Zhang Yu, Zhang Pianpian fell into deep thought for a moment. She didn’t doubt whether Zhang Yu was telling the truth; after all, this Taiqing Realm was definitely not a spirit realm paradise that Zhang Yu, given his strength and cultivation level, could have found. Moreover, as far as Zhang Pianpian knew, Zhang Yu was a complete novice when it came to talismans and was utterly unfamiliar with the intricacies of the spirit realm network.

“Is it because of our bloodline?”

“Because of Zhang Yu’s bloodline connection to me, that’s why…”

“Or is it due to our bond? A connection formed between our souls?”

“Or perhaps it was the Taiqing Realm’s own choice?”

Possibilities swirled in Zhang Pianpian’s mind, but none seemed to fit, so she decided to put her doubts aside for now.

“Never mind,” Zhang Pianpian said, looking at Zhang Yu. Suddenly, an idea struck her. “Your ability to come to the Taiqing Realm might actually be a good thing.”

Zhang Yu asked curiously, “Where exactly is this place? What’s it used for?”

Zhang Pianpian explained, “This place is called the Taiqing Realm. It’s a spirit realm dwelling left behind by a senior master.”

“A spirit realm dwelling is a personal virtual space created within the spirit realm.”

“The Taiqing Realm holds a very high status. Its owner has supreme authority here, capable of blocking external prying and interference, even from true gods.”

Zhang Yu’s eyes lit up. “So, whatever we say or do here, even true gods won’t know?”

Zhang Pianpian nodded and continued, “I accidentally learned about this dwelling and spent a lot of effort to become its owner.”

“Originally, this Taiqing Realm should only accommodate one person. I’m not sure why you ended up here.”

“But it’s fine. You can also take advantage of the Taiqing Realm’s conveniences for studying and cultivating.”

Zhang Pianpian pointed at the Daoist temple in front of them and said, “This Taiqing Realm was originally much grander, with four main sections – East, West, North, and South – comprising thirty-six halls and seventy-two courtyards.”

“However, with my current strength, I can only activate this central Taiqing Hall for now.”

“Only by further advancing my talisman cultivation and spending a considerable amount of spirit coins to purchase more spirit realm space can I gradually expand and restore the full power of this dwelling.”

As she spoke, Zhang Pianpian led Zhang Yu into the main hall.

“Even so, the Taiqing Realm currently offers you a great benefit: time acceleration.”

“Here, by accelerating your consciousness, one second in the outside world translates to twenty seconds in this realm.”

Hearing this, Zhang Yu’s heart surged with joy. “Twenty times time acceleration?”

He knew that spirit realm services outside typically offered a maximum of ten times acceleration, and the cost was quite steep, making daily use unaffordable for him.

Zhang Pianpian nodded and said, “I’ll show you how to bring external files in here, so you can study in this place from now on.”

Zhang Pianpian’s fingertips moved rapidly through the air, like a dragon and snake dancing with a brush, drawing a red talisman that Zhang Yu couldn’t understand. The next moment, the red talisman floated into Zhang Yu’s palm. With a thought from Zhang Yu, the interface of his then-disabled Demonic Eye appeared.

Zhang Pianpian said, “From now on, store whatever you want to learn in your Eyebone.”

“Once you’re in the Taiqing Realm, simply activate this talisman, and you can extract files from your Eyebone here.”

Zhang Yu immediately tried it, extracting the engineering geology textbook he had studied that day. The next moment, a slight flash appeared in his hand, and a manual materialized. When he opened it, it contained the exact content of engineering geology.

Zhang Yu suddenly remembered the various cultivation techniques he practiced and asked, “Sister, can I practice my different cultivation methods here?”

Zhang Pianpian pursed her lips. “The spirit realm is a spiritual world. Especially with twenty times acceleration, your consciousness is sped up by twenty times, but can your physical body in the outside world keep up with that twenty times acceleration?”

“If your body and mind aren’t synchronized, how can you cultivate?”

“It’s only possible for purely mental cultivation methods that only involve your spirit, without relying on your physical body, spiritual energy, or any other external factors.”

Zhang Yu knew he had asked a foolish question. If such cultivation were possible, he would have done it long ago using the ten times accelerated spirit realm services available outside.

Zhang Yu thought to himself, “It seems the greatest use for me here is to acquire knowledge.”

“That’s good. I’m lacking time to study many courses in the Artifact Forging department. I’ll come to this Taiqing Realm to learn them from now on.”

“I wonder what powers the Taiqing Realm will gain once the Taiqing Talisman reaches level 2.”

Suddenly, Zhang Yu remembered another question: “Sister, last time you said it’s best not to use that ‘dark cultivation method’ if your consciousness is connected to the spirit realm.”

“What about here?”

“Can I practice the Boundless Heart Inner Dharma Body cultivation method here?”

Zhang Pianpian nodded. “The Taiqing Realm can obscure external perception, so it’s fine for you to practice that cultivation method here.”

As she spoke, Zhang Pianpian’s gaze shifted, and she thought, “Speaking of which, that Boundless Heart Inner Dharma Body cultivation method… it seems to be purely for training the spirit and mind.”

“I can try to see if cultivating it here has an accelerating effect.”

Zhang Pianpian had indeed seen this dark cultivation method before, but she was too busy and never had the time to try it. Now, with the Taiqing Realm’s twenty times acceleration, Zhang Pianpian simply sat cross-legged in the Taiqing Grand Hall and began to practice the Boundless Heart Inner Dharma Body.

In the blink of an eye, most of the night passed. When Zhang Yu opened his eyes, he felt his thoughts racing, and his thinking speed was much faster than before. And after cultivating for most of the night, his Boundless Heart Inner Dharma Body had broken through to level 20 in one go, granting him the ability to use his mind in four ways simultaneously.

“It really accelerated.”

“The Taiqing Talisman’s twenty times acceleration, coupled with a purely mental cultivation method like the Boundless Heart Inner Dharma Body, plus the effect of my Feather Book improving after a certain number of practice sessions, and the increased cultivation efficiency from the University Saint Body technique…”

Zhang Yu’s spirit was invigorated. “With these multiple layers of enhancement, I was able to raise my Boundless Heart Inner Dharma Body from level 11 to level 20 in one go.”

“Should I try other cultivation methods?”

But Zhang Yu thought for a moment and realized it wouldn’t be very meaningful. Primarily, the cultivation methods he currently possessed, whether the Demolished Ox Sacrificial Heart Mantra or the Boundless Heart Inner Dharma Body, were already the strongest he could learn. Even if he learned other cultivation methods, he wouldn’t have any opportunity to use them. Besides, many cultivation methods involved the physical body, spiritual energy, or qi, among other external factors. There weren’t many cultivation methods that could be accelerated for practice in the Taiqing Realm, and those that could weren’t useful to Zhang Yu.

“If I really need to use them, I can just spend a night cultivating here.”

“The Taiqing Realm’s greatest benefit for me will continue to be for studying.”

Feeling his current state of being able to use his mind in four ways simultaneously, Zhang Yu smiled slightly and thought, “Four-way simultaneous use, plus twenty times acceleration—doesn’t that mean one day of studying here is equivalent to eighty days of studying by myself previously?”

Zhang Yu knew his learning ability wasn’t particularly strong, but with eighty times efficiency, he was confident that it would be more than enough for him to study the courses in the Artifact Forging and Civil Engineering departments.

Turning to look at Zhang Pianpian beside him, he saw that his sister had also stopped her cultivation and was smiling. “It really works! I’ve advanced the Boundless Heart Inner Dharma Body by seven levels. It looks like I’ll be able to push this technique to level 20 in just a few days.”

Zhang Yu secretly gasped. “Even with all these enhancements, it took me several days outside to raise my Boundless Heart Inner Dharma Body to level 11.”

“How long has it been, and Sister has already advanced seven levels just by relying on this Taiqing Realm?”

Zhang Pianpian looked at Zhang Yu, her heart filled with increasing emotion. First, the 50 spirit coins loan allowed her to unlock the Taiqing Realm earlier. Then, this Boundless Heart Inner Dharma Body cultivation method could greatly enhance her efficiency in learning and researching talismans.

“No, it’s not just for studying and researching.”

“The ability for multiple thoughts to operate in parallel will allow me to cast talismans with much greater efficiency in the spirit realm. This is an incredible enhancement.”

“From now on, whether I’m fighting others in the spirit realm or earning money, my efficiency will increase significantly.”

Thinking of this, Zhang Pianpian let out a breath. “Little brother, you’ve really helped me a great deal this time.”

Zhang Yu smiled. “Between us, as siblings, of course we should support each other and advance together on the path to immortality.”

Zhang Pianpian paused slightly at his words, then nodded seriously the next moment. “You’re right. On the path to immortality, you and I will climb together.”

The next moment, Zhang Yu exclaimed, “Oh no, what time is it?”

He checked the time and thought, “I’ve missed my scheduled call with Ah Zhen.”

“Ah Zhen was taking exams all day yesterday. We agreed to talk about her final grades tonight.”

Watching Zhang Yu hastily log off, Zhang Pianpian smiled faintly and resumed cultivating the Boundless Heart Inner Dharma Body.

Inside the dormitory.

Zhang Yu’s consciousness slowly returned to his body, and he felt something cool and soft sitting on him. The next moment, as Zhang Yu took off his spirit realm mask, he saw Le Mulan sitting on him.

Le Mulan, who had been meditating with her eyes closed, immediately opened her eyes upon sensing Zhang Yu’s movement and said to him, “I saw you were in the spirit realm, so I didn’t disturb you.”

“Shall we begin today’s mana infusion?”

At the same time, Zhang Yu looked at Bai Zhenzhen’s constantly blinking avatar, pointed at Le Mulan, and said, “You stay quietly to the side and don’t move. Remember, when I’m on the call, don’t make any movements or sounds. Understand?”

Le Mulan nodded obediently and moved to sit beside Zhang Yu.