Chapter 10
Boom!
Yin and yang, two forces that were diametrically opposed yet shared the same origin, collided fiercely within Liu Meng under the guidance of the Profound Female Art.
In an instant, the world in her eyes shifted once more. The floating specks of spiritual Qi in the cave abode seemed to answer her summons, converging from every direction and surging wildly into her dantian!
“Now!”
Liu Meng’s mind was clear. Casting aside every distracting thought, she circulated the Profound Female Art she had long since committed to memory.
The ninth wisp of spiritual power took shape in almost an instant!
But this was only the beginning. The yang energy stirred by the Yang-Attracting Pill within her was still abundant, and its resonance with her own Yin Qi had yet to cease. Spiritual Qi continued pouring into her like rivers flowing into the sea, unceasing and inexhaustible.
In the next moment, the tenth wisp of spiritual power successfully condensed as well!
Without the slightest hesitation, Liu Meng guided all ten wisps of spiritual power toward the invisible bottleneck and launched her final assault!
“Break... for me!”
The spiritual power that had once been as fine as a thread finally grew substantial. In the end, it gathered into a surging, unceasing stream.
An aura far more powerful than before burst from her body!
Qi Refining, First Level! Success!
At that moment, Liu Meng could clearly feel that the very level of her life had undergone a fundamental leap. She had shed the essence of a mortal and become one of the legendary cultivators!
Just as she had stabilized her realm, that lazy yet supremely authoritative woman’s voice rang without warning through everyone’s minds once again.
“All maids, assemble in the hall immediately.”
Again?
Throughout the cave abode, the white-masked maids who had just dispersed all looked confused and bewildered.
How long had it been since the last gathering? Why had Miss Su summoned them again so suddenly?
Though their hearts were full of questions, not one of them dared delay.
One figure after another left their posts and hurried toward the hall.
By the time Liu Meng entered the hall, more than half the maids had already gathered there.
They were whispering among themselves, speculating about the reason for the summons.
Then they saw Liu Meng, and every conversation stopped.
Their faces filled with sheer, incredulous shock!
Qi... Qi Refining?
A maid who had only just begun cultivating yesterday had become a cultivator?
Was she even human?
Shock, astonishment, jealousy, fear... all kinds of emotions mingled in the maids’ eyes. Yet not one dared make a sound. They could only bow their heads respectfully, submitting to this new “Senior Sister.”
Su Meier had already appeared on the couch atop the raised platform. Looking at Liu Meng, whose aura had utterly transformed, her mesmerizing phoenix eyes shone with unconcealed, heartfelt delight.
“Good! What an extraordinary genius!” Su Meier’s voice carried a trace of barely restrained excitement. “Liu Meng, you truly haven’t disappointed me! No, the surprise you’ve given me has far exceeded anything I imagined!”
She rose from the couch and descended the platform step by step, her bearing graceful and composed, yet radiating an oppressive presence that made it hard to breathe.
“Entering Qi Refining in a single day—such talent is one in ten thousand.” Su Meier came to stand before Liu Meng and gently lifted her chin with a jade-white finger, studying the face behind the black mask as if she could see Liu Meng’s true appearance through it. Then she nodded in satisfaction. “From today on, you will be my seventh disciple. Are you willing?”
“This disciple, Liu Meng, is willing! I will follow you, Master, for the rest of my life, even if it costs me my life!” Liu Meng immediately knelt on one knee and declared her resolve.
“Very good.” Su Meier’s smile grew even more alluring. She waved a hand. “According to the sect rules, before you leave, you may also choose ten men. Go on, pick them. You may choose any man here!”
“Yes, Master!”
Liu Meng’s heart tightened. What Su Meier was saying now was different from what Qin Shuang had said back then.
By now, she had long since realized that the men locked in the single-person cells had all endured the effects of the Yang-Attracting Pill and were being kept as “cultivation materials” for dual cultivation with Su Meier.
Normally, Su Meier would never let such men leave.
But now, even if Liu Ming really were locked in a “single-person cell,” she could still take him out!
Sure enough, as long as she proved her worth, she would receive more privileges!
Liu Meng walked at an unhurried pace, yet with an air that brooked no doubt. She strolled along, letting her gaze pass over one cell after another, seemingly choosing with care, though in truth she was distracted.
“You, you, you, and you.”
She casually pointed out a few men who looked reasonably pleasing to the eye. A maid immediately stepped forward, dragged them out of their cells, and escorted them behind her.
At last, she returned to the familiar cell. A young man sat by the wall, resting with his eyes closed.
She slowly raised her hand, pointing at him through the bars with her slender fingers.
“He’ll be the last one.”
The maids led Liu Ming out of the cell and added him to the group of ten.
Head bowed, he kept himself hidden in the crowd, showing no sign that anything was amiss.
Only after Liu Meng had taken care of everything else did she lead Liu Ming out of the hall. They walked along the dark, narrow corridor until they reached its end and stood before a huge, heavy stone door.
Creeeak—
The stone door slowly swung open, and the cool moonlight spilled into the cave abode. An indescribable sense of freedom spread upward through Liu Ming’s body.
He had finally escaped!
But before he could even draw a deep breath, the cold Sound Transmission Token in Liu Meng’s arms suddenly gave a faint tremble, its white light flickering softly.
Liu Meng picked up the token and infused it with spiritual power. Qin Shuang’s voice immediately rang from it.
“Junior Sister Liu Meng, congratulations on entering Qi Refining. You truly haven’t disappointed me.”
“First, find yourself a cave abode. There are unoccupied cave abodes everywhere in the Profound Female Sect. Just choose one you like.”
“You don’t need to worry about your safety for now. Once you’ve settled in, I’ll come find you.”
Qin Shuang was brisk and to the point. After saying those few words, she ended the transmission.
Putting away the token, Liu Meng finally looked into the distance for the first time, taking a proper look at this world.
There was no sign of human habitation. As far as the eye could see, mountains cast sinister shadows in the moonlight, their slopes covered in dark, dense forests. Every so often, the mournful howl of some unknown savage beast echoed from afar.
This was the territory of the Profound Female Sect.
Liu Meng soon found a cave abode in the side of a mountain, with a group of men in tow.
Weeds choked the entrance, and a dilapidated stone door lay toppled on the ground, long neglected.
It was clearly an unoccupied cave abode.
But she didn’t choose it. It was too close to Su Meier, and her instincts made her recoil from the place. So she continued onward.
She walked for who knew how long. The sun rose and set, and the system chimed to announce that another clone could be summoned. Only after that did Liu Meng finally find a cave abode she liked.
It was hidden in a secluded mountain hollow, concealed by surrounding shrubs. It would be difficult to spot without searching carefully.
It was exactly what Liu Meng wanted.
So she casually pointed at one of the men and ordered,
“You. Go in and take a look.”