"Mm."
Ning Beichen nodded and said, "Even those whose bones and muscles have been modified by soaking in medicinal solutions since childhood may not achieve such good results as you. It can be said that this soak has leveled the age gap."
"Of course, bone and muscle modification is not that simple. You have only enhanced your senses for now. As time passes, you will discover more abilities."
"Even if I have great luck, it's the luck you brought me, Beichen. Without you, I would have died countless times already."
Liu Yilin's eyes sparkled with wisdom, and she said to Ning Beichen with utmost sincerity.
Whether she practiced martial arts or not aside, Liu Yilin found that it wasn't just her senses that were enhanced, but her mind too. She was already intelligent before, but achieving photographic memory was still impossible.
Now, however, she found that she could achieve photographic memory, and her thinking and analysis speed when pondering a matter increased several times over, like an old computer being upgraded.
Whether she would learn martial arts in the future remained to be seen, but for her research, this was a world-changing transformation. It could be said that her current self was equivalent to two of her former selves.
"Yilin, do you understand the difference between those who cultivate and those who don't now?"
Seeing the light in her eyes, Ning Beichen knew her inner thoughts without needing her to speak.
Liu Yilin nodded vigorously.
Before, she thought that practicing martial arts and cultivating was just for fighting. Now, she realized that fighting was merely one of the abilities.
"Since you understand, I won't repeat myself. But I still need to tell you a few things. Cultivating is like rowing against the current; if you don't advance, you retreat. It's the same with abilities. If you are lazy, your abilities will gradually disappear."
Ning Beichen told her.
"I understand. I will work hard."
Liu Yilin nodded vigorously. She was now like a beggar who suddenly won the lottery, finally living a good life, residing in a luxurious house, and eating delicious food.
If she were asked to return to her beggar's life, she would certainly refuse.
"However, you don't need to be excessively fearful or concerned. Cultivation is one aspect of fighting and killing; the truly meaningful part is the transformation of your body and the development of your own potential. This is priceless wealth."
Ning Beichen spoke to her as someone with experience, to prevent her from becoming overly engrossed.
"Also, the Yin Xing Jue I taught you earlier is a good cultivation technique. You don't need to switch to others; just continue practicing it. However, this place is not suitable for cultivating Yin Xing Jue. I will take you to another place that is suitable for practicing it."
Ning Beichen told her.
"Okay, I'll listen to you."
Liu Yilin nodded. She became even more expectant of her future cultivation.
After lunch, Ning Beichen took Liu Yilin to bid farewell to Haitang, and then left with Liu Yilin.
As they reached the foot of the mountain, Liu Yilin suddenly said.
"Beichen, your relationship with that Haitang isn't ordinary, is it?"
"Why do you say that?"
Ning Beichen was a little surprised.
"You told me before that the medicinal solution for bone and muscle modification is priceless and cannot be bought with money. You brought me there, and Haitang didn't say a word but took it out and gave it to me to use."
Liu Yilin was already a highly intelligent woman, and now her intelligence was almost supernatural. How could she not see that Ning Beichen's relationship with Haitang was not ordinary?
"Haitang and I are relatively good friends, and... some things cannot be measured by money."
Ning Beichen felt too embarrassed to say that he and Haitang were actually lovers.
"Good friends? How good? I don't think it's just that?"
Liu Yilin looked directly at Ning Beichen, her tone carrying a hint of jealousy.
"That... generally good, generally good."
Ning Beichen fumbled with a perfunctory answer, feeling guilty.
Fortunately, Liu Yilin didn't press the issue further. She knew that this guy was definitely not straightforward, and besides having an unclear relationship with Ye Ya'er, he was also involved with many other women.
However, she wasn't anyone to him, so Liu Yilin had no right to interfere with his private life, although she felt a bit uncomfortable in her heart.
"Where are we going next?"
Liu Yilin changed the subject and asked.
"To the desert. Practicing Yin Xing Jue in the desert is the best place. Yin Xing Jue has nine levels. You must at least cultivate to the second level in the desert before you can return, otherwise, your talent will be wasted."
Ning Beichen told her.
"The second level? How long will it take to reach the second level?"
Liu Yilin asked with anticipation, as she still had a company and the identity of a scientist, and couldn't be away for too long.
"It's hard to say. It depends on individual talent and aptitude. Your aptitude is not a problem, and your bones and muscles have already been somewhat reformed. If things go smoothly, it might take ten days to half a month. If you're unlucky, it could take half a year to a year."
Ning Beichen spoke truthfully. Without talent and aptitude, even ten years might not be enough.
However, Ning Beichen didn't intend to train Liu Yilin into a super master. As long as she could have some self-preservation ability, it would be sufficient.
"That's fine. I've already clarified my work before I left. Unless it's a major issue, they won't contact me."
Liu Yilin breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing that the time wouldn't be too long.
Three days later.
Ning Beichen and Liu Yilin appeared in a desert with poplar trees in an uninhabited area.
This place was a no-man's-land, so they didn't have to worry about being disturbed, and Liu Yilin could concentrate on her cultivation.
However, they didn't know how long they would need to stay there, so Ning Beichen had prepared a month's worth of food and water, as well as a tent and other supplies.
This place wasn't exactly safe. There were no people, but occasionally there were creatures like wolves. However, Ning Beichen didn't take these things seriously at all.
As a grandmaster, if he couldn't even deal with a few wolves, he might as well buy a piece of tofu and ram his head into it.
But for Liu Yilin, who was visiting such a place for the first time, she was full of excitement.
However, this excitement only lasted for two days. After two days, Liu Yilin lost interest.
The reason was that the place was too quiet, water was scarce, and the wind and sand were everywhere. It was difficult to keep clean, and soon her hair was full of sand.
Fortunately, she knew that she was here to cultivate, not to travel, and quickly adjusted her mindset, no longer getting distracted. Under Ning Beichen's guidance, she engaged in long hours of arduous practice every day.
However, Yin Xing Jue was best cultivated at night; its effectiveness during the day was poor. Therefore, Liu Yilin simply slept during the day and cultivated at night, and her progress was quite fast.