Boom!
Yin and Yang—two opposing yet interconnected forces—collided violently inside Liu Meng's body under the guidance of the Xuanpin Technique.
In that instant, the world before her eyes shifted once more. The countless motes of spiritual energy floating in the cave mansion seemed to heed her call, surging toward her from all directions, madly flooding into her dantian!
"Now!"
Liu Meng cleared her mind of all distractions, focusing entirely on the well-practiced circulation of the Xuanpin Technique.
The ninth strand of spiritual power condensed almost instantly!
And that was only the beginning. The yang energy stimulated by the "Yang Inducing Pill" still roared within her body, resonating with her innate yin energy without pause. The influx of spiritual energy was endless, like rivers pouring into the sea.
In the next moment, the tenth strand of spiritual power formed successfully!
Without hesitation, Liu Meng guided the ten gathered strands of energy to strike against the invisible bottleneck within her.
"Break!"
The once threadlike strands thickened and merged, transforming into a surging current of spiritual power.
A mighty aura, far stronger than anything before, exploded from her body!
Qi Refining, First Level—achieved!
In that moment, Liu Meng could clearly sense the fundamental transformation in her very being. She had transcended the limitations of mortality—she had become a true cultivator!
Just as she stabilized her new realm, the lazy yet commanding female voice echoed without warning in everyone's mind once again.
"All handmaidens, gather in the main hall immediately."
Again?
Across the cave, the masked handmaidens froze in confusion.
Hadn't they just been summoned not long ago? Why was Miss Su calling them again?
Though puzzled, none dared to slack off.
One by one, they abandoned their duties and headed toward the hall. By the time Liu Meng arrived, most of the handmaidens had already gathered.
They whispered amongst themselves, guessing at the reason for this sudden summons.
But when they saw Liu Meng, all chatter stopped.
Their faces filled with disbelief and shock.
Qi… Qi Refining?
The girl who had joined them only yesterday had already become a cultivator?!
Was she even human?
Shock, fear, jealousy, awe—emotions tangled in their gazes, yet none dared to speak. They bowed their heads, acknowledging the authority of this new "senior sister."
On the dais, Su Meier reclined gracefully on her couch. Her enchanting phoenix eyes locked onto Liu Meng, radiant with unrestrained joy.
"Excellent! What a prodigious talent!" Su Meier's voice trembled with excitement. "Liu Meng, you have not only met my expectations—you have far surpassed them!"
She rose elegantly from her seat and descended the platform step by step, her every movement exuding charm and suffocating pressure.
"To achieve Qi Refining in a single day… such aptitude is one in ten thousand." She stopped before Liu Meng, lifting her chin with a slender jade finger, as if gazing past the black mask to the face beneath. Satisfied, she nodded.
"From this day forth, you shall be my seventh disciple. Do you accept?"
"Disciple Liu Meng is willing! This life is dedicated to following Master, even unto death!" Liu Meng dropped to one knee, solemn in her vow.
"Good." Su Meier's smile deepened, dazzling yet dangerous. She waved her hand.
"According to the sect's rules, before you depart, you may select ten men. Choose freely—any of them are yours."
"Yes, Master!"
Liu Meng's heart tightened. Su Meier's words were not the same as Qin Shuang's.
By now, she fully understood—those men kept in solitary cells were survivors of the Yang Inducing Pill, candidates for Su Meier's dual cultivation.
Normally, such men would never be released.
But now, by proving her worth, even if Liu Ming were imprisoned there, she could take him away!
Indeed, value meant privilege.
Moving with calm authority, Liu Meng began her selection. She walked slowly, scanning the cells. Outwardly careful, inwardly distracted.
"You. You. You… and you."
She pointed casually at a few decent-looking men. Handmaidens immediately dragged them out to stand behind her.
At last, she reached a familiar cell.
Inside, a young man leaned against the wall with closed eyes.
Raising her slender hand, she pointed through the bars.
"The last one—him."
Liu Ming was escorted out, blending silently into the group of ten. He kept his head lowered, concealing any trace of emotion.
When all was settled, Liu Meng led the group out of the hall, down the long, dark corridor, until they stood before a massive stone gate.
Creak—
The door opened slowly. Moonlight spilled inside. A wave of freedom rushed through Liu Ming, from his chest to the tips of his fingers.
They had escaped!
But before he could breathe in relief, a faint tremor stirred from the "Transmission Moon Token" in Liu Meng's arms. Its surface glimmered with pale light.
She infused it with spiritual energy, and Qin Shuang's voice emerged.
"Congratulations on reaching Qi Refining, Junior Sister Liu Meng. You did not disappoint me."
"Find yourself a cave mansion. There are plenty of unoccupied ones within the sect. Choose whichever suits you."
"Do not worry about danger for now. Once you've settled, I will come to find you."
With that, the message ended.
Liu Meng pocketed the token and, for the first time, gazed out at the wider world.
The land was desolate, void of human presence. Under the moonlight, endless mountains loomed, draped in dense, sinister forests. From afar, the haunting cries of unknown beasts echoed.
This was the domain of the Xuanpin Sect.
With her group in tow, Liu Meng soon found a cave mansion set into a mountainside.
Its entrance was overgrown with weeds, the stone gate collapsed in ruin, clearly long abandoned.
A vacant dwelling.
But she passed it by—it was too close to Su Meier's territory, and instinct told her to avoid it.
So she pressed on.
She walked for what felt like days, the sun rising and setting. At last, the system chimed within her mind: a new avatar was ready to summon.
And soon after, she discovered a suitable cave.
It was tucked within a secluded mountain hollow, hidden by thick shrubs—almost impossible to find without careful searching.
Perfect.
Pointing at one of the men, she commanded coldly:
"You—go in and check."