Chapter 7
That voice seemed to come from the highest heavens, yet also rang directly from the depths of the soul. Its unquestionable authority swept through every corner of the cave abode.
Qin Shuang’s body trembled slightly as she focused all her strength on breaking through, but the whirlwind of spiritual Qi surging around her showed no sign of stopping. She opened her eyes, respectfully lowered her head toward the empty space before her, then slowly rose to her feet.
At that moment, she was already a completely different person.
Her once-sharp aura had been fully reined in, yet every movement radiated an even more heart-stirring pressure. This spiritual pressure had formed naturally after her leap to a higher level of existence, as if an invisible field enveloped her.
The first layer of Qi Refining—now she was a true cultivator!
“Let’s go.” Qin Shuang glanced indifferently at Liu Meng, then set off toward the main hall.
Liu Meng immediately composed herself and followed close behind.
The two soon arrived at the familiar, spacious hall, which was already packed with people.
All the white-masked maids had gathered there, whether they had been guarding the cells or working elsewhere. Every one of them stood with her eyes lowered, too afraid to make a sound.
On the raised platform, Su Meier lounged lazily in her red robes. A hint of satisfaction graced her breathtaking face as she gave Qin Shuang a slight nod.
“Not bad, Qin Shuang. You haven’t disappointed me.” Su Meier’s voice was still so alluring it seemed to seep into one’s bones, yet it held a calmness that suggested she saw everything. “You are the sixth of my maids to enter Qi Refining. As the rules dictate, I will take you as my disciple. Are you willing?”
“Your disciple, Qin Shuang, is willing!”
Qin Shuang dropped to one knee without hesitation, her voice firm and respectful, with not a hint of reluctance.
“Very good.” Su Meier smiled with satisfaction and turned her delicate hand over. An ancient-looking book glowing with a faint green light appeared in her palm. “This is the true, complete version of the Profound Female Art. I bestow it upon you today.”
Qin Shuang raised both hands high above her head and respectfully accepted the book.
Standing at the back of the crowd, Liu Meng grew puzzled.
The complete version? Did that mean the cultivation art they’d practiced until now wasn’t complete?
Her confusion was soon dispelled.
“Perhaps some of you don’t know this,” Su Meier said calmly, sweeping her gaze over the maids below. “The Profound Female Art is a supreme cultivation art. It has two parts: the Child Art and the Mother Art.”
“Every one of you, including the men kept in captivity, practices the Child Art. I alone practice the one and only Mother Art.”
“Those who practice the Child Art will have an invisible brand planted in their souls. For the rest of their lives, they will be under the control of the person who practices the Mother Art, and will never be able to betray that person.”
“Otherwise, with a single thought, I can annihilate your souls and condemn you to eternal ruin.”
“And that’s not all...” Su Meier’s smile grew ever sweeter, though her words grew ever more ruthless. “Half of all the spiritual power cultivated by those who practice the Child Art will flow back to me. In other words, the faster you cultivate, the faster my cultivation will improve.”
Liu Meng’s eyes widened slightly as she finally understood!
No wonder... No wonder Qin Shuang had said that once someone became Miss Su’s maid, she could never betray her. Control that reached to the very roots of one’s soul was more terrifying than any poison or restriction!
On top of that, anyone who practiced the Child Art had to provide spiritual power to the person who practiced the Mother Art!
For everyone else, becoming one of Su Meier’s maids meant not only becoming her slave, but also becoming a cultivation resource and a host for her to leech off of!
Fortunately, although Liu Meng had also cultivated the Profound Female Art, she was only a clone. It didn’t matter if she died.
As for her main body, it hadn’t cultivated the complete art, so Su Meier probably hadn’t taken control of it yet.
It seemed her main body could no longer cultivate the Profound Female Art. She had to find a safer cultivation art before she could begin!
“Qin Shuang, you have entered Qi Refining. I bestow this complete text containing the Mother Art upon you,” Su Meier continued. “From now on, you may seek mortals with outstanding aptitude and pass the Child Art on to them, making them your maids. But remember: even though you practice the Mother Art, you still practice my Child Art. You will never be able to betray me.”
At her words, Qin Shuang trembled slightly, then immediately bowed respectfully. “This disciple understands. I will never betray Master in this life.”
Her tone was calm. As for what she truly thought... perhaps only she knew.
“Very good. Rise.” Su Meier waved her hand. “From today onward, you are my sixth disciple. According to the sect rules, before you leave, you may choose ten men to accompany you. But... you must not choose any of my people.”
At those words, Liu Meng froze for a moment.
This was the first she’d heard of any such “sect rule”!
The next instant, an utterly clear thought filled her mind!
A way to leave this place!
This was the real way to leave safely!
Escape? Impossible.
Fight her way out? Even more absurd.
Her only way out was to follow Qin Shuang’s path!
As long as she displayed enough talent, quickly condensed ten strands of spiritual power, broke through to the first layer of Qi Refining, and became Su Meier’s disciple... then she, too, would be allowed to choose ten men!
Then she could take her main body and leave this cave abode openly and legitimately!
Liu Meng tamped down her excitement and showed no sign of it on her face. She knew the plan was viable, but nothing could be allowed to go wrong.
At the very least, she couldn’t reveal the slightest hint of her intentions yet.
Then, at Su Meier’s signal, Qin Shuang turned and walked into the passage leading to the cells.
The maids parted to make way for her, their gazes complicated as they watched their former Senior Sister, now a “cultivator.”
Qin Shuang walked down the chilly corridor without expression. With a single glance, she began choosing people as if at random.
“You.”
“And you.”
“You. Come out.”
The ones she selected were immediately dragged roughly from their cells by the maids and brought behind her.
But she didn’t even glance at the single-occupant cells, as though their inmates weren’t eligible for her to choose.
One, two, three...
Qin Shuang soon selected nine people.
Only one remained.
Then she walked down another branch of the passage, the one that led to Liu Ming’s cell.
Liu Meng’s heart suddenly lurched.
Following behind Qin Shuang, she watched her back, uncertain whether Qin Shuang might take an interest in her utterly unremarkable main body.
Time passed second by second. At last, Qin Shuang stopped in front of Liu Ming’s cell.
She slowly surveyed everyone inside: the burly man who had curled up resentfully in a corner after his failed attempt to inform on someone, and the other men whose faces were ashen.
Finally, her gaze settled on the young man who was resting with his eyes closed, his face utterly calm.
It was Liu Ming.