Twelve days had passed since Qin Wen's visit.
Two days remained until the examination.
Zhao Lingxi had reached the fourth level of Qi Condensation, a feat that should have taken months, compressed into weeks through sheer willpower and Lan Yue's Spirit Gathering Pills.
But the pills were gone now. All five had been used. Whatever happened at the examination, Zhao Lingxi would face it with what she had.
"Fourth level." Liu Ruyan shook her head in disbelief as she watched Zhao Lingxi finish her morning practice. "Even in the main household, the fastest cultivators took half a year to reach that stage."
"The Young Miss isn't like other cultivators," Chen Mei said proudly.
Lan Yue said nothing. She was watching Zhao Lingxi's face.
There were dark circles under her eyes. Her cheekbones were sharper than before. She had been pushing herself to the absolute limit, eating little, sleeping less, pouring every ounce of energy into preparation.
She's burning herself out.
