We all went back to the inn.
Even though our injuries were serious enough to kill an ordinary person, cultivators weren't that weak. Our bodies healed faster than mortals.
After five hours, most of us had already recovered. I went to my room and sent a letter to Gu Chaun, asking how he did that.
That technique he used was so powerful it killed a 100% 3-star beast — something all of us together couldn't do.
Ten minutes later, a reply came.
The letter said:
"That was T.N V1 — Technique Node Version 1.
It contains multiple languages, techniques, and information about spirit beasts and cultivators.
It only activates when the user is unconscious and a strong killing intent is directed toward them. Once the conditions are met, it analyzes the opponent's level using its stored data, gives you your current level —
Level 1 = Qi Condensing, Level 2 = Foundation Establishment, and so on —
then selects the most suitable technique to use in that situation.
If the technique can't be executed, it switches to another method, and using life force is one of them.
Don't worry, it won't kill you. There are many rules in place that prevent it.
Sorry for doing this without your permission.
Good luck with the inheritance.
— Gu Chaun."
I read the letter quietly.
Even with all my experience as a princess, I had never seen someone use Qi Nodes like Gu Chaun did.
Still, I felt a bit sad.
Did he not trust me to protect myself that he had to build something like this?
But… he saved my life, so I couldn't complain.
His dream must be so important that he doesn't want to take any risks.
I know most of his life story, yet he never told me what his goal truly is.
I can only guess.
One thing I'm sure of — Gu Chaun would never just accept an inheritance and ignore his parents.
When I was assigned to him, he spent all his time reading the guide.
When I woke up that day, we left immediately.
Something must have happened to his parents…
If only I knew what wish he made.
I thought about it for a while but found no answer.
So I put it aside and started using the 100% 3-star beast core to recover my cultivation.
Gu Chaun had told me in the letter that he didn't need any beast cores and that I shouldn't use too many either.
But I needed to strengthen my base and reduce my dependence on stored Qi.
The Qi stored inside me is what keeps me alive.
I'm a cultivator — and an old one.
I'm more than four hundred years old.
The Qi stored in my body is my life force.
If it runs out, I die.
That's why I've survived this long — because I stored too much Qi inside me.
In my early stages, it helped me a lot.
But after reaching Core Formation, this method wasn't enough anymore.
Thinking about all that, I began using the beast cores one after another.
Since Gu Chaun didn't want them, I would repay him differently.
After absorbing all of them, I finally returned to my original cultivation.
But I didn't stop.
I continued until I reached the perfection stage of Core Formation.
Even though I had reached perfection, only those on the ancient cultivation path could recognize it.
To others, it would just seem like I had an extremely solid foundation.
My foundation truly wasn't bad.
After all the battles and training, it had become great circle — just one step away from breaking through.