Later that night, after Liu Xiaoyu returned from escorting Xiao Ya back to her house, she went to look for Lin Mo at his bedside in their joined quarters.
"Boss, you comprehended the [Vein of the Silent Stream] last night, right? Are you going to cultivate the [Everflowing Serenity Sutra]?"
He was already sitting cross-legged on top of the bed, ready to start his meditation.
"Can I comprehend it without mastering the [Vein] first?" He asked. In regards to cultivation, Lin Mo had already built quite a dependence on Xiaoyu's knowledge.
"Of course, you should! Do it layer by layer. You may not choke in spiritual energy but quickly cultivating a technique can be detrimental to any cultivator. Isn't your [Silent Stream Breathing Technique] only at the second layer? The first layer of the [Vein] should be enough for your current stage. Besides, the [Everflowing Serenity Sutra] doubles as a mind cultivation technique. Once you also cultivate it to the first layer, you can then circulate your spiritual energy using all those three techniques."
Lin Mo tilted his head slightly before nodding, "Alright. You're the prodigy. I'll take your advice to heart. What about you? Are you finally going back to your bed?"
"What, Boss? You don't like my presence next to you anymore?"
"You kept trying to catch my Celestial Providence, but is it really helpful to you?"
"Yes! You're the personification of luck whenever your providence activates, Boss. I can't miss out on that! When the quarters expand again, I'll have you move my bed next to yours."
'Is she truly this innocent? Or is she intentionally being oblivious?' Lin Mo thought. Taihao already misunderstood their situation once and yet she's still meditating next to him every night.
"Alright. Well then, I'll start comprehending this now. Any tips?" He produced the manual for the [Everflowing Serenity Sutra] and flipped it open.
"Nope. Just do it like usual. But this time, I'll watch over you, Boss! Take it as my payment for letting me hide from that fish-smelling prodigy earlier." Liu Xiaoyu made a peace sign before grinning.
Lin Mo rolled his eyes at her antics but didn't argue. Instead, he asked her the question that he'd been curious about.
"Alright. But Xiaoyu, are you not going to tell me about your connection to them? Are you actually that runaway prodigy from the hidden immortal lineage that they're supposed to meet?"
"Well, if I say yes, what are you going to do, Boss? Will you contact them and tell them about me?"
"Why will I do that? You're my assistant while they're customers. While I'm interested in their deep pockets, I will naturally take your side first. What kind of Shopkeeper betrays his own assistant just to cozy up to some rich customers?"
Liu Xiaoyu blinked at him, then laughed, flopping onto his bed like a lazy cat. "Boss, you're too good for this world. If I ever leave, I might just take the store with me out of guilt."
Lin Mo shook his head. "Yeah. Good luck with moving the store with you."
Liu Xiaoyu snickered before turning serious again. "But, really… thanks, Boss. If you want the full story, I'm willing to tell you all about it. But yes, I'm that runaway prodigy."
Lin Mo waved his hand as he nodded, "I see. That's enough for now. It's not like I don't have any suspicion about your origin. But do your parents truly know you're here?"
"Yes! What I told you before was the truth! They told me to come here because of Taihao." She said, flashing her usual cheeky grin.
"Alright. No matter how goofy you are, you're still my assistant. If you want to meet your family, you can visit anytime."
"Got it, Boss! But I like it here. Hehe. No nagging Elders. No annoying clan members following me around, treating me like a princess."
"Heh. You threw away all those benefits just to become my assistant, huh? What is it? Is it the freedom you seek?"
Liu Xiaoyu's answer to that question was a silent acknowledgement followed by a meaningful smile.
Shaking his head, Lin Mo closed his eyes and began meditating, immersing himself in the written instruction on how to cultivate the [Everflowing Serenity Sutra].
The moment Lin Mo delved into the [Everflowing Serenity Sutra], he felt an immediate shift in his consciousness.
Unlike the [Silent Stream Breathing Technique], which primarily focused on refining and circulating spiritual energy slowly and steadily in order to condense it, the [Everflowing Serenity Sutra] acted on a deeper level. Not only does it help in speeding up the condensation process, it also tempers the mind and stabilizes emotions.
It can allow a cultivator to maintain absolute clarity even in the face of chaos.
The moment he recited the incantations for the first layer, an unusual sensation came over him. Like a thin veil had been lifted from his consciousness, his perception sharpened, his body felt lighter and his thoughts became more organized.
It was as if a part of his mind that was usually filled with unnecessary noise had been silenced.
'This is… interesting.'
Liu Xiaoyu, seated beside him in meditation, peeked at him through half-lidded eyes.
Seeing his expression remain calm despite the surge of spiritual energy around him, she smiled slightly.
"Boss, your foundation is pretty solid. If you keep this up, you might even unlock some hidden talents."
Lin Mo's eyes remained closed but he smirked, "Like what? The ability to ignore your nonsense better?"
"Hey!" Liu Xiaoyu pouted. She pulled her legs up and rested her chin on her knees, watching him with mild curiosity. Although she's not that vocal about it, she found it amazing how Lin Mo went from being someone without any hint of spiritual energy in his body to this.
Xiao Ya's quick cultivation was owed to her Golden Lotus Physique and it will naturally slow down after it. But Lin Mo? No signs of slowing down could be seen with him.
Gradually, he's creeping onto her own progress that she's carefully building in preparation for her Foundation Building. And to her utter surprise, despite Lin Mo's quick climb, there were no visible complications in his foundation. It's like he's still doing every stage perfectly.
The store's quarters were silent save for the occasional rustle of the bedsheet whenever Xiaoyu moved or the clicking sound at Yangyang's side not too far away.
The ambient energy within the room fluctuated slightly as Lin Mo circulated his spiritual energy in accordance with the Sutra's teachings. He could feel it harmonizing with his existing techniques, creating a stable cycle between the [Silent Stream Breathing Technique] and the [Vein of the Silent Stream].
The harmony between the three techniques was subtle but it created a strong resonance that made him feel like he was inside a hot spring. It's too comfortable wherein his pores were fully opened, absorbing and circulating the spiritual energy in his surroundings.
While the [Vein of the Silent Stream] functioned as the spiritual foundation, the [Silent Stream Breathing Technique] refined and controlled its flow. Now the [Everflowing Serenity Sutra] gradually polished his mind, making the process smoother, ensuring that his spiritual energy would not be easily disturbed by external forces.
'If I had cultivated this before the Vein, my concentration would've been far better. No wonder it's categorized as both a cultivation technique and a mind-tempering method…'
Lin Mo was about to delve deeper when a system notification suddenly appeared in his mind.
[Everflowing Serenity Sutra - 1st Layer]
[Current Progress: 5%]
[Comprehension bonus: Due to the harmony with your current techniques, cultivation speed has increased by 10%.]
[Celestial Providence Activated: Stillwater Perception has been acquired through the Sutra's effect]
[Stillwater Perception: Your mind remains calm and unwavering in high-pressure situations. External mental interference is slightly weakened. Your ability to analyze and react to spiritual fluctuations has improved.]
Lin Mo's eyes flickered open. 'A minor ability? The system didn't mention this when I comprehended the [Vein] or the [Breathing Technique]. Does this mean that combining techniques can lead to additional benefits?'
Yesterday, he broke the Spirit Condensation Stage and had his perception, roots and passive absorption enhanced. But with the [Everflowing Serenity Sutra], it triggered the connection between the breathing technique and the foundational technique from the Profound Stream Sect.
He briefly tested his newfound perception. The air around him felt clearer, more distinct. He could subtly feel the spiritual flow in the room, sensing the gentle undulations of Xiaoyu's spiritual energy as she meditated beside him. It wasn't a grand or overpowered ability, but it was useful, especially for someone like him, who relied on quick decision-making.
Liu Xiaoyu, sensing the shift in his aura, raised an eyebrow. "Boss? Did something happen?"
Lin Mo exhaled, feeling surprisingly refreshed. "I think I just gained a minor ability thanks to these techniques you picked for me, Xiaoyu."
"Oh?" Liu Xiaoyu paused her meditation and curiously leaned in. "What's it do?"
"Stillwater Perception." Lin Mo summarized its effects.
Liu Xiaoyu clicked her tongue. "Tsk, tsk. Boss, you're cheating cultivation itself. Most people spend years tempering their minds just to get something similar, and you got it just by stacking techniques."
Lin Mo smirked. "Well, isn't it thanks to you?"
"Heh. Praise me more, Boss!"
He ruffled Xiaoyu's hair which earned him a pout from the girl before saying, "Good girl. Let's go back to meditating. I have yet to fully comprehend the [Everflowing Serenity Sutra]. We'll have more troublesome customers tomorrow."