Aside from an epiphany, how could a Cultivator performing like Yun Nian did previously experience a situation where they broke through four stages in a row? Could it be that for such a long time, she had been suppressing her cultivation and choosing not to breakthrough? And if so, why?

This Little Girl indeed has many secrets.

Due to the breakthrough and advancement, Yun Nian's body had unknowingly discharged many impurities. At this moment, she looked like a little mud person, so she walked to the stream to bathe.

While washing away the grime, Yun Nian checked the condition of her body.

Thanks to her years of accumulation, her Qi Refining Ninth Layer cultivation was quite stable. It wouldn't hurt to find another appropriate time to breakthrough again later. She only hoped that no major accidents would occur recently; otherwise, she would truly have to move up her plans for Foundation Establishment.

Yun Nian didn't have many belongings with her. After bathing, she needed clean clothes to change into, so she put on the clothes she had worn when she previously went to the Yiqu Bureau in the South Bamboo Forest. Only two days remained of the five-day period Qi Rou had mentioned; it seemed she had to set out to brave that Formation.

Thinking of this, Yun Nian's eyes flickered slightly. She looked up toward the direction where she had seen someone braving the Formation earlier, wondering who would come to Huan Yuan Valley.

After clearing the Qi in her meridians, Yun Nian finally emerged from the stream. Just as she was about to head toward the pavilion, her gaze was suddenly drawn to the southern sky.

For some reason, although that area looked no different than before, Yun Nian clearly remembered the sudden palpitation she felt yesterday. It was likely related to whatever was in the south, and now as she looked over again, a sense of unease inevitably surfaced in her heart.

What exactly is it... Yun Nian had already walked into the pavilion, where Qi Rou was sitting to the side, watching her with leisurely interest.

Seeing her, Yun Nian raised her hand and pointed south, asking, "What place is that?"

"That place? It's the direction of the City of the Dead. I advise you not to be curious and just obediently wait here for your Master to save you," Qi Rou said, raising an eyebrow as she looked Yun Nian up and down. "For a Cultivator with Three Spiritual Roots, your progress in cultivation is a bit too fast, isn't it?"

Hearing this, Yun Nian's eyes shifted slightly as she replied, "I have many old injuries. A Medical Cultivator I met before said it's best not to Cultivate or advance until my body has fully recovered, so I've been suppressing my cultivation all these years."

In her past life, Yun Nian had never suppressed her cultivation. However, after her Regeneration, she focused exceptionally on her body's recovery. As her body improved day by day, her cultivation speed also increased significantly. She had only recently begun suppressing her cultivation; if she worked a bit harder, she might even achieve a Perfect Foundation Establishment.

Only after a Cultivator reaches Foundation Establishment are they considered to have truly stepped onto the path of cultivation, and their body undergoes earth-shattering changes. Ordinary Cultivators achieve Foundation Establishment by taking a Foundation Establishment Pill when they reach Qi Refining Level 10. But if one wants a more solid Foundation, they must Cultivate to Qi Refining Level 12 and achieve a Perfect Foundation Establishment without relying on a Foundation Establishment Pill.

Yun Nian knew that the things within her body would never allow her to settle for an ordinary breakthrough. Without a Perfect Foundation Establishment, her future path of the Dao would only become more difficult. Thus, she had been preparing all these days, but now, to be safe, she could only take things one step at a time.

"In that case, it makes sense." Qi Rou gave her a brief look and said nothing more, turning back to tinker with her bewildering incense.

Yun Nian's eyes flickered, and in the next moment, she leaned in. Just as she approached, a faint, strange fragrance drifted into her nose, and her mind instantly fell into a state of Chaos.

Yun Nian shook her head, steadied her mind, and stopped her steps, advancing no further.

Seeing her like this, Qi Rou raised an eyebrow slightly. "Your determination is quite a bit better than that of other Cultivators."

"What is this?" Yun Nian asked from a distance.

Hearing this, Qi Rou gave a light laugh and spoke slowly, "People in this world are quite fond of using sharp Spiritual Artifacts like sabers, spears, swords, and halberds as their lifebounds. They don't realize that scents, sounds, and light can also be used against enemies, even killing invisibly. Our Hehuan Sect established itself in the Cultivation World because we excel at using these things. Little Girl, let me ask you, do you know what scents can do?"

"Historical records seem to mention people making toxic incense to take lives. However, because the dose a Cultivator inhales isn't as much as if they ingested it directly, and toxicity is inevitably lost during the incense-making process, it's difficult to achieve the effect of killing invisibly unless it's a peerless poison," Yun Nian's gaze swept over the various ingredients in Qi Rou's hands as she continued, "Furthermore, in this Cultivation World, Cultivators have different Physiques, which adds more restrictions to the use of toxic incense. The more toxic the incense, the harder it is to obtain the necessary poisonous flowers and fruits. If an enemy truly has the ability to concoct such a thing, wouldn't their cultivation be above mine anyway?"

"Should I say you are perceptive or dull?" Qi Rou couldn't help but smile, turning to look at Yun Nian. "Success depends on human effort. The affairs of the world are unpredictable. A winner doesn't necessarily need high cultivation; most of the time, they win based on application."

"The Saintess is right; success depends on human effort. No matter how high one's cultivation is, how can they be certain of defeating someone who is calculating? I imagine Saintess Your Highness's incense logic must be among the best in the Hehuan Sect. This Junior is impressed and must thank Saintess Your Highness for the gift of incense." Yun Nian's lips curled up slightly, the light in her eyes as bright as the stars.

"What do you mean?!" Qi Rou's brow furrowed, and in the next moment, she felt a tremor in her Sea of Consciousness as a familiar sensation arose from her heart. "You actually dared to steal my seven illusions incense!"

At that moment, Qi Rou's Divine Sense had already fallen into a state of Chaos. In her vision, the Little Girl dressed in black took a step back, a faint smile on her bright face.

"Thank you for your care these past few days, Saintess Your Highness. After this Junior returns to her sect, I will certainly study those partial Formation records diligently and not let Senior's gift go to waste." After speaking, Yun Nian raised her hands and respectfully gave Qi Rou a daoist salute, then turned and flew outward.

Qi Rou suddenly understood. The strange scent she had smelled in the room that night wasn't something Yun Nian had carelessly left behind; it was something she had intentionally released to mask the scent of the seven illusions incense. From the very beginning, she had been gambling—gambling that Qi Rou wouldn't dare to harm her. After that night, Qi Rou had led her to find the partial Formation book on the shelf, and only then was Yun Nian certain she had won her bet. That was why she dared to breakthrough and advance in front of her without any reservations. Qi Rou should have noticed something was wrong then, but she had ignored it. As a result, today, Yun Nian deliberately approached her and used a discussion on the way of using scents against enemies to distract her, secretly releasing the seven illusions incense to knock her out and buy time to leave Huan Yuan Valley...