Lin Wuming’s sudden confidence wasn’t without cause.
In fact, from the moment he began the meridian reconnection process, he’d felt something was… off.
It was going too smoothly.
It felt like doing elementary math after mastering advanced calculus—just one glance, and he could identify the root of the problem, pinpoint the key areas, and instantly know the most efficient solution.
Then it was simply a matter of applying spiritual energy like plugging numbers into a formula—and everything just worked.
A few “formulas” later, by the time Lin Wuming snapped out of his thoughts, the reconnection was already nearly done.
The spirit energy that had overflowed the meridians now flowed steadily through the newly reconstructed pathways, rapidly reawakening their vitality.
As the energy continued transferring, the pill’s medicinal power also kicked in fully.
Gradually, He Yingying began to feel the discomfort in her body lessen.
The alternating chills and fevers faded, and a warm sensation began to glow in her vision—breaking the darkness.
She could feel spiritual energy once more coursing through her.
Reflexively, she began circulating her cultivation method, and each cycle was smoother, each rotation more complete.
Even when the mid-grade spirit stone was finally depleted, Lin Wuming didn’t hesitate to take out another one to continue the process.
Sure, he had just gotten those three mid-grade spirit stones—and now they were nearly gone—but he wasn’t the least bit heartbroken.
Why?
Simple: if he could reconnect his junior sister’s meridians, then this mission would be as good as completed!
Given how much resentment she probably held for him, wouldn’t that earn him a top-tier cultivation technique as a reward?
That “Basic Vitality Cultivation” technique?
Toss it—he could aim way higher now.
And once he had a great technique, earning more spirit stones later would be easy.
Finally, as the third and last mid-grade spirit stone was drained, Lin Wuming finished the meridian reconnection process.
He even used extra spiritual energy to wrap the newly formed channels, and thanks to his junior sister’s constant cultivation cycles, she wouldn’t even need to wait the usual three months.
She could start cultivating again right away.
Of course, her previous cultivation level was gone—but her body and foundation were already trained and solid.
She wouldn’t need to start from scratch, just begin again from the Qi Condensation stage.
Speaking of which… she was already at Qi Condensation before?
Lin Wuming only discovered this after helping her reconnect her meridians.
Judging by the state of her foundation, she’d apparently been stuck in that stage for a while.
But considering the system’s evaluation of her, Lin Wuming wasn’t too surprised anymore.
With everything in place, the pill’s effects complete, her eyes should’ve also been healed.
Just as Lin Wuming was about to release her and take a breather, a sudden, silent boom startled him.
From He Yingying’s body, golden light began to radiate.
The next moment, her newly flowing meridians suddenly reversed, and the spiritual energy began surging backward, no longer flowing into her from Lin Wuming—but instead being sucked rapidly into her own body.
This reversal also triggered a huge change in her cultivation method.
The golden light grew brighter—so much so that even with his eyes closed, Lin Wuming found it blinding.
As this bizarre phenomenon unfolded, the aura emanating from her grew heavier, more profound, and more unreachable—as though something ancient had awakened.
Finally, a soft dragon’s roar echoed in his ears.
He Yingying’s eyes snapped open, her pupils now glowing gold.
Her soft lavender hair fanned out behind her.
Even without anger, her very presence radiated majesty.
Her cultivation—soaring—skyrocketed from newly built foundation all the way to the peak of Qi Condensation.
A true dragon descends—before it, all life bows.
In that moment, winds stirred and clouds churned.
The fate of the world subtly began to shift.
Lin Wuming, meanwhile, stood frozen, mouth half-open, staring blankly at his junior sister.
Not because he was shocked by her rise in power.
Not because the dragon’s roar or golden eyes stunned him.
Well… okay, they did stun him, but more importantly—
He was frozen in righteous panic.
Because he was still holding onto righteousness.
His hands had originally been placed on her back, transferring energy.
But when she turned over earlier…
Lin Wuming had been too focused on reconnecting her meridians to notice.
What he now realized—too late—was that his hand had ended up somewhere… soft.
He hadn’t registered the sensation at the time, but now, with everything over, it hit him.
‘Oh no. This was bad. Very bad.’
Now that his junior sister’s cultivation was higher than his, and with her preexisting grudge… if she got mad and smacked him, she might just crack open his skull with a flick.
Lin Wuming’s scalp tingled with fear.
Move?
Don’t move?
He froze completely.
But in his nervousness… his hand squeezed a little.
The golden light faded.
He Yingying’s vision cleared.
As she looked around, still dazed, a strange sensation registered.
Her face instantly flushed red.
She looked down—
“Crap!”
Lin Wuming’s eyes rolled.
‘Game over.’
After all the teasing and bickering along the way, and now this?
If she didn’t beat him half to death, it’d be a miracle.
“Uh… S-Senior Brother?”
But instead of an explosion, He Yingying shyly called out, face beet red, looking at him cautiously.
“…I’m here!”
Lin Wuming jolted. In his panic, his hand tightened again.
“I-I can explain! I swear I didn’t mean to—!”
“Um… Senior Brother, could you… let go first?”
She felt limp all over.
Her heart was pounding like mad.
She remembered everything.
She had been the one to…
The memory of her own bold action left her utterly mortified.
She just hoped he wouldn’t look down on her for it.
“Oh—s-sorry!”
He Yingying quickly pulled the blanket over herself and hid under it, cheeks still burning.
She peeked at Lin Wuming—this senior brother who had taken care of her for so long.
He was just as she imagined: gentle and refined.
Actually, even better-looking than she’d expected, with a face so delicate it could pass for a girl’s.
Her eyes drifted to his lips.
Her blush deepened.
She gently touched her own lips—still recalling that moment…
Lin Wuming, scratching his head, finally came to a “brilliant” realization.
Ah—she’s not retaliating because she’s not dressed.
Which means… until she calms down, he’d better not give her back her clothes!
He wasn’t a masochist.
No way was he risking a beating.
Having convinced himself, Lin Wuming didn’t bother thinking further about her reaction.
More important now was confirming whether her injuries were fully healed—and what kind of juicy reward this mission would yield.
“Ahem—”
He cleared his throat and struck a serious pose.
“So, how are you feeling? Are your injuries all healed?”