Qin Shu stared at the simple and unadorned jade pendant in her hand, genuinely surprised.

This was something the original owner had brought from home. Who would have thought it contained spiritual energy? Suddenly, Qin Shu understood Madam Qin's intentions. Whether it was sending her daughter to the cultivation world or giving her gold, silver, and this jade pendant, Madam Qin had done everything within her power.

What she didn't know was that Qin Mian would embark on the path of cultivation through martial arts, proving that meticulous plans often lose to the whims of fate.

After a moment of thought, Qin Shu finally said, "Then let's not exchange it. I'll keep it for now."

In her previous life, she was an orphan who grew up in a welfare institution. This kind of heartfelt maternal love was something she had never experienced. In this regard, she couldn't help but feel envious of the original owner.

Shu Ying smiled faintly and returned the jade pendant to Qin Shu, saying, "You disciples who've just entered the sect often don't have many spiritual items. You should keep these things for now. Once you've cultivated for a longer time and acquired better items, you can replace them."

Qin Shu thanked her and carefully placed the jade pendant back into her storage pouch.

Off to the side, He Xin watched with a hint of envy. But then she thought of how her father had secretly given her some spirit stones—not many, but still a token of his affection.

Qin Shu agreed to copy the texts for He Xin within three days, and the two parted ways.

Returning to her residence, Qin Shu took out the jade pendant the original owner had brought.

The pendant's design was extremely simple, with a pattern resembling a casually drawn cloud.

She tried infusing a bit of spiritual energy into the pendant, but it seemed to have no effect. The pendant remained as unassuming as ever.

Qin Shu thought for a moment, then unsheathed her sword—no, it was now the White Jade Sword—and made a small cut on her hand.

As her blood dripped onto the pendant and was completely absorbed, her heart leaped with joy.

Everyone knew that any treasure capable of recognizing an owner through blood must be extraordinary.

Such treasures were either created by powerful cultivators or carried a lineage of inheritance.

Closing her eyes, Qin Shu gradually felt a connection forming between herself and the pendant.

With a single thought, she found herself inside the pendant.

The pendant appeared to contain a small mustard seed storage space, roughly the size of a small bathroom—four or five square meters.

The space wasn't empty; in one corner lay two scattered boxes.

Qin Shu couldn't determine what material the boxes were made of. Squatting down, she opened one of them, revealing its contents.

The box was filled to the brim with jade slips. She randomly picked one up and saw the words "Detailed Guide to Alchemy" inscribed on it.

Raising an eyebrow, she became intrigued and picked up another slip: "Techniques for Merging Various Plants."

One after another, she grabbed jade slips to read: "Triple Focus Technique," "Lessons from a Hundred Explosions," "The Possibilities of Trash Cultivators Rising Up"...

After browsing through them, it finally dawned on her what an incredible treasure she had stumbled upon.

She discarded the disorganized jade slips and held tightly to "The Possibilities of Trash Cultivators Rising Up" as though it were a priceless treasure.

Though she didn't want to admit it, she, too, longed to rise above her limitations.

Pressing the jade slip to her forehead, she spent half an hour digesting its contents and finally understood its theories.

The slip explained that humans are the most beloved race under the heavens, naturally gifted with spiritual roots and the ability to cultivate spiritual energy and comprehend the Dao.

By contrast, before transforming into human form, beasts rarely had the capacity to comprehend the Dao, and even ascending to immortality was far more challenging for them than for humans.

However, the human body's weakness lay in its physical fragility, with most defenses relying on external tools.

If the human body could be refined like a magical treasure—starting with the surface and progressing to blood, flesh, and bones—it could achieve a level of resilience comparable to beasts.

By then, even without spiritual energy, one could carve a bloody path forward with sheer physical strength alone.

Qin Shu silently nodded. Given her lackluster spiritual roots, pursuing the path of body refinement seemed like a viable option.

However, the jade slip noted a strict requirement: to practice this technique, one must possess a fire spiritual root.

A wave of excitement surged within her—she just so happened to have one!

Reading further, she found detailed instructions for improving one's constitution.

One must choose a location rich in fire energy, using heaven and earth as a furnace, the fire spiritual root as the catalyst, and this method to temper the entire body.

Qin Shu was dumbfounded. Wasn't this basically setting oneself on fire?

Recalling how even a splash of hot oil could make her wince in pain, she shuddered but still forced herself to continue reading.

The text explained that an ordinary mortal body might not withstand the intensity of fire spiritual energy. Therefore, before practicing this technique, one must establish a foundation of physical strength and use a piece of Remnant Sun Frost Ice as an auxiliary aid. Gradually increasing the intensity was the key to success.

The jade slip warned that the process was extremely dangerous, the pain of refinement surpassing that of being pierced by a thousand arrows. A single misstep could destroy one's foundation.

Before concluding, the author added:

"I left this text behind before my passing to caution future generations. Nothing is truly impossible—so long as you're willing to give up."

Qin Shu: "..."

She couldn't help but silently wonder just how painful it would be. While she hadn't experienced being pierced by a thousand arrows, she distinctly remembered the agony of having her heart impaled...

Still, would she dare to practice this technique?

A place rich in fire energy? Perhaps she could try a hot spring first? If it proved unbearable, she could always quit.

But what exactly was Remnant Sun Frost Ice? And where could she find it?

Filled with unanswered questions, she reluctantly exited the jade pendant's space, picked up her communication jade slip, and anonymously posted a message on the plaza.

"Willing to pay handsomely for information on Remnant Sun Frost Ice. Please contact me if you know its whereabouts."

After posting, she put away the communication jade slip and pendant, swallowed a fasting pill, and began copying the book as promised.

However, Qin Shu underestimated the task. In the mortal world, she could finish copying a book in three days.

But in the cultivation world, they used calligraphy brushes—and she had zero experience with them.

The first line she wrote left her speechless.

Forget it. After all, the original owner was only ten years old. A little sloppiness was acceptable. By the time she finished copying this book, her skills would surely improve.

It took her three entire days of tireless effort to copy "The Complete Herbal Records of the Cultivation World." Her hands ached terribly, and she could only rest occasionally by meditating.

After finishing, she not only completed the transcription but also gained a rudimentary understanding of the cultivation world's herbal system.

As the saying goes, a poor memory is no match for a good pen.

On the fourth morning, she carried her completed copy to He Xin's residence.

He Xin had finished her cultivation early and was quietly waiting for Qin Shu's arrival.

Hearing the sound of the communication jade slip, she eagerly rushed to open the door.

"Open the door."

Excitedly, she flung the door open, only to see Qin Shu carrying a thick stack of papers. He Xin was stunned by the sight.

"That's way too much! Did you not rest these past three days?"

Qin Shu smirked, placing the papers on the table before turning back to glance at her. "Sister, please face reality. We have less than three months left. Who has the time to rest? Do you want to enter the inner sect or not?"

The words on He Xin's lips were promptly swallowed back.

"Fine. I'll start reading right away."