Lu Zhiyi’s cheeks flushed slightly. She felt waves of spiritual energy she had never encountered before surging through her body, making even her meridians tremble.
At last, when the spiritual energy accumulated to a certain level, it released an invisible pulse of light that spread outward in all directions.
Qi Refining… Qi Refining First Layer… Second Layer…
She clutched her chest with both hands. The spiritual power radiating from her body grew stronger and stronger, until it finally stabilized firmly at Qi Refining Second Layer.
“Ho—”
Su Xuan stared at his disciple, who had suddenly reached Qi Refining Second Layer, and held back the last syllable of the curse he almost blurted out.
What had she even done? How did she suddenly break through?
She just ate and slept every day, and she could step into Qi Refining Second Layer that easily?
Is this even balanced? How is anyone supposed to play against that?
After a long moment, realization finally dawned on him.
The food he had bought for Lu Zhiyi before—she kept saying it smelled amazing—not because it was delicious, but because it contained a large amount of spiritual energy.
For example, the spiritual beast meat he had purchased, and the spirit stones he had brought back that day.
With Lu Zhiyi’s physique, she could store all that spiritual energy completely, turning it into the opportunity for her breakthrough.
Su Xuan glanced behind him at Shangguan Yu, who was practically unable to suppress her excitement, then turned back to the innocent-looking Lu Zhiyi. He felt like he was losing his mind.
You could have broken through at home. Why did it have to be right in front of this woman?
He had thought Lin Zhiwei was the most dangerous ticking time bomb, but who would have guessed that this meek-looking girl would pull something like this?
“Master… did I do something wrong? Why do you look unhappy?”
Lu Zhiyi looked up at Su Xuan and gently tugged at his sleeve, her expression innocent.
“No… no. You’ve broken through to Qi Refining Second Layer. You’re officially a cultivator now. As your master…”
Facing his anxious disciple, he forced a smile and gritted his teeth as he continued.
“As your master, I’m happy for you. Truly.”
“Really? I’m a cultivator now? Qi Refining Second Layer… does that mean I’ll soon be as strong as you, Master?”
Lu Zhiyi’s eyes lit up. She struck a few poses excitedly.
“Yes. I’m… very happy.”
Su Xuan sighed, utterly drained of the will to live.
“Leakless Physique… a living Leakless Physique…”
At the side, Shangguan Yu stared wide-eyed at the young girl before her, muttering repeatedly as if she had discovered the rarest treasure.
In the cultivation world, an ordinary cultivator could convert thirty to forty percent of the spiritual energy they absorbed into their own cultivation. Those who retained fifty to sixty percent were already considered exceptionally talented.
But there were extremely rare constitutions and talents—such as Innate Sword Bones, or the Leakless Physique before her—that could perfectly convert all absorbed spiritual energy into cultivation!
If she could get someone like that under her control…
Shangguan Yu licked her lips as she looked at Lu Zhiyi, a wave of heat rising within her.
However…
Judging from the girl’s state, she clearly cared deeply about her master. Their bond was strong.
After pondering for a moment, a wicked smile curved at Shangguan Yu’s lips. At first, she had only been interested in Lu Zhiyi. But now that she knew the girl had a master, it excited her even more.
After thinking it over, she quickly stood up. She subtly pressed her legs together, then hurried after them.
“Fellow Daoist, please wait!”
“I was too frivolous earlier. Please allow me to offer my apologies.”
As she spoke, Shangguan Yu gave a slight bow. Her demeanor was refined and courteous, as if she were not the cold and domineering woman from before.
She removed a jade pendant from her waist and offered it forward.
“This jade slip is my personal token. It is also a low-grade magical artifact capable of blocking a full-force strike below the Golden Core stage. I offer it to you.”
‘Oh no. This is bad…’
Looking at Shangguan Yu, who had cast aside her pride and practically attached herself to them, Su Xuan immediately understood her intentions.
“No need. It wasn’t a big deal.”
He took Lu Zhiyi’s hand and turned to leave.
Based on his instincts, it was best to stay as far away from someone like her as possible.
But Shangguan Yu stepped forward and blocked Lu Zhiyi’s path.
“Miss, please persuade your master. If he refuses, I will never feel at ease.”
Her naturally heroic features, paired with her deliberately humble attitude, made her seem utterly sincere—like genuine remorse from the bottom of her heart.
“Master, I think this big brother really does want to apologize. Maybe you should—”
Seeing Shangguan Yu like this, Lu Zhiyi felt a little soft-hearted. She tugged lightly at Su Xuan’s sleeve and whispered.
“Yes, Brother Su. This might be useful someday. Please accept it.”
Shangguan Yu extended the jade pendant again, her voice gentle.
Seriously? Right in front of me?
Su Xuan stared at Shangguan Yu in disbelief. He hadn’t expected this so-called overpowered Phoenix Protagonist to go to such lengths.
She had already lowered herself this much. If he still refused, it would be no different from declaring open hostility.
If it were someone like Wu Renyou, a minor steward from an outer workshop, offending him would be no big deal.
But the person standing before him was not.
According to the game’s storyline, she would eventually become the Master of Qinghe Immortal Market—a figure who controlled the entire marketplace with a single hand.
If he made an enemy of her now, he would suffer in the future.
Yet with her overwhelming, overpowered capabilities—if she dared to act so brazenly right in front of him now, who knew what she would dare to do later?
After wrestling with his thoughts for a moment, Su Xuan finally reached out and took the jade pendant. At present, he was only at Qi Refining Third Layer. He had to protect himself first and think about the future later.
“Thank you, Fellow Daoist. I have urgent matters to attend to. Farewell.”
He pulled Lu Zhiyi behind him, shielding her tightly, and addressed Shangguan Yu.
“Very well. Our paths will cross again.”
Shangguan Yu smiled in triumph and cupped her hands in farewell.
Su Xuan quickly led Lu Zhiyi away toward home.
“Zhiyi, listen to me. In the future, don’t accept things from outsiders so easily. You never know what—”
“But I don’t think she meant any harm to you, Master…”
As they walked, he lectured his simple-minded disciple.
Lu Zhiyi pouted, her voice aggrieved.
The two figures gradually disappeared into the distance.
After they were out of sight, Shangguan Yu continued staring in the direction they had left.
Shangguan Xiushen arranged the food they had ordered and stood nearby, unable to hide his confusion.
“Young Master, he’s just a rogue cultivator. Why go to such lengths?”
In his impression, his young mistress had always been lofty and distant. Even toward their direct subordinates, she was indifferent—let alone treating someone else with such courtesy.
Especially a man.
Could it be…?
As a thought crossed his mind, he shuddered, afraid he might be asking something he shouldn’t.
“What do you know!”
Shangguan Yu clapped her hands, sat down at the tea table, and lifted a cup of tea with a wicked smile.
“Her master is just an excuse. As long as I recruit him under my command, I’ll have plenty of chances to take down that innocent little girl.”
She swirled the tea in her cup.
“Once I get Lu Zhiyi into my hands, I can toss him aside.”
“His only purpose is to serve as a bridge.”