[Your avatar: Liu Qi, has died][Liu Qi's identity was exposed in the secret realm, slain on the spot by the Master][You have gained the talent "Loose Tongue": When you speak, listeners may grow more irritated]
Inside the secluded chamber of the cave-dwelling, Liu Ming slowly opened his eyes.On his face, there was no trace of sorrow or regret—only a hint of irrepressible joy.
Dead. Dead at last. Good!
Liu Qi's sacrifice was by no means in vain.In that fleeting moment before her death, she had flipped through the Qi Refining Chapter of the Rites and Poetry Technique from beginning to end—every word, without missing a line.
It looked like a hurried glance, but in truth, Liu Ming, who was linked to her consciousness, had already copied the entire text into a jade pendant.
Now, this complete Qi Refining-level Rites and Poetry Technique was his alone!
Even better, no one else knew.Not even those inside the secret realm would suspect. To them, the technique had perished alongside Liu Qi, erased from existence.
Who could possibly imagine that someone had used such an unthinkable method to secretly "bring it out"?
As for that disciple who took the Foundation Establishment Chapter of the technique… what a fool.Without the Qi Refining Chapter as the basis, the so-called Foundation technique was nothing but worthless scraps of paper.
When he handed it to the sect, he would earn little contribution—perhaps even be blamed for incompetence.And when that happened, the "useless" scroll would likely be discarded, where Liu Ming—or rather, one of his avatars—could acquire it at a minimal cost.
The thought made Liu Ming's mood all the lighter.He wasted no time and immediately sank his consciousness into the jade pendant, carefully studying the text within.
"Through poetry, enter the Dao. Let the heart be the guide. Summon Heaven and Earth's righteous qi, transmute it into vast Haoran spiritual power…"
"Elegance, ritual, archery, music, calligraphy, mathematics—these Six Arts of the Gentleman form the foundation of cultivation…"
Even the opening lines of this grand preface made Liu Ming's eyes brighten. A majestic, upright aura surged from the words, utterly unlike the sinister, overbearing techniques he had practiced before—the Mysterious Womb Technique, the Blood Feast Scripture.
Yet as he delved deeper, his brows furrowed tighter.
This Rites and Poetry Technique was even more abstruse than he expected!Compared to the straightforward brutality of demonic methods, this orthodox cultivation demanded knowledge of ancient allusions, musical theory, etiquette—concepts utterly foreign to him.
The text blurred before his eyes; he grasped nothing.
He struggled long and hard, but failed to even glimpse the threshold of the first layer. Finally, he sighed and set the technique aside.
Clearly, mastering this righteous art would not be achieved overnight.
Meanwhile, in the main hall, Liu Meng had finished her own task.
Before her lay a newly crafted set of masks.At the center: one black mask, its sharp lines radiating authority.Beside it: dozens of plain, snow-white masks without markings.And lastly, a few gray masks, plain at first glance, yet carrying an unusual aura.
She summoned all the servant girls into the hall, her gaze sweeping across them.
Thanks to recent dual cultivation, all had improved significantly—many now at Qi Refining second layer. At the forefront, Qingyue's cultivation was the strongest, her spiritual energy steady and full—she had reached the peak of Qi Refining third layer.
"Qingyue," Liu Meng said calmly.
"Present," Qingyue stepped forward and bowed.
Liu Meng lifted the black mask and placed it upon her:"From this day forth, you are the Black-Masked Attendant of my cave. You will command the others in my stead. They shall address you as Senior Sister."
Then she handed her the white masks."Distribute these."
"Yes, Master." Qingyue obeyed, passing them out to every servant girl present.
When all had donned their white masks, Qingyue frowned slightly at the gray ones left behind."Master, what of these?"
Liu Meng's gaze lingered on them as she explained:"Each mask bears a restriction of mine. With the black mask, you may command all who wear white. They must obey without resistance.
"But the gray masks are different." She paused. "Those who wear them need not heed your orders—nor can they command anyone else. If you see a gray mask in the future, do not be alarmed. No need for bowing or greetings."
Qingyue, confused, did not dare ask further."Yes, I understand."
"Dismissed," Liu Meng waved, sending the attendants away.
When the hall was empty, she picked up one gray mask and entered the secret chamber.
Inside sat Liu Ming, who reached out just in time to take it and place it upon his face.Thus, he became the mysterious Gray-Masked Envoy of the cave.
The remaining gray masks, of course, were prepared for his other avatars.
Just then, Liu Meng sensed hurried footsteps outside.A white-masked servant girl rushed to the doorway and reported:
"Senior Sister Liu Meng! Miss Su summons you to her cave immediately—no delay permitted!"
Su Meier?
Liu Meng frowned slightly, uncertain what her mistress wanted this time. Yet she dared not tarry, and swiftly made her way to that fragrant hall she knew so well.
Upon arrival, she saw several figures bound tightly like rice dumplings, black hoods over their heads, lying scattered on the floor.
On the dais above, Su Meier reclined lazily as ever. When Liu Meng entered, she merely lifted her eyelids slightly.
"These are the ones who schemed against you," she said lightly."I've already spoken with the Law Enforcement Hall. From here, they're yours to deal with.
"Tell me—how do you wish to punish them?Do whatever you like…"
At the end, her lips curled into a playful smile, as though recalling some amusement.
Liu Meng stepped forward, pulled the hood from one prisoner's head.A stranger's face appeared, yet his faintly feminine aura marked him clearly as a cultivator of the Mysterious Womb Sect.
Moreover… she sensed a soul-brand of the Mysterious Womb Technique etched into him.He was already another's thrall.
Which meant—she could not enslave him anew, nor draw benefit from him.
No wonder Su Meier said they were but pawns, while the true mastermind remained beyond her reach.
Liu Meng frowned."Master… who is their owner?"
At this, Su Meier's expression turned serious."It was one of my elder brothers," she said.
"I am certain it was him—but I have no evidence."
"His name is Su—"
Before she could finish, a knock resounded at the door. Dong, dong.
Su Meier frowned, cutting off her words, and gestured for the door to open.
A sect disciple in black-and-white robes entered, bowed to her, and spoke with a tone of regret:
"Junior Sister Su, this secret realm expedition yielded little. Two of our sect perished, and in the end… we brought back nothing but a worthless fragment of a cultivation manual."