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Watching the great serpent lazily sprawled out on her bed, eyes closed in utter comfort, Qin Shu felt an overwhelming surge of motivation.

She had to cultivate harder! One day, when her strength surpassed his, she'd make *him* fetch tea and water for her!

Even as grand ambitions burned in her heart, reality forced her into submission.

"Then... I'll take my leave," she muttered, tiptoeing out of the cave.

Letting him stay in her cave wasn't an issue—he had paid rent with half a spirit vein, after all. Who in their right mind would refuse such a deal?

She was about to head to her little medicinal garden to bathe in the abundant spiritual energy and focus on cultivation when Xie Shiyuan's voice suddenly called her back.

"Wait."

Qin Shu paused, glancing over her shoulder just as a dark, glossy orb was tossed in her direction.

She instinctively reached out to catch it, but before it landed in her palm, it suddenly stopped midair.

She blinked in confusion. *What, did he change his mind?*

Then came his calm voice. "I've purified this inner core of its demonic energy. It's useless to me now. You can keep it."

The moment he finished speaking, the floating orb lost its momentum, dropping directly into Qin Shu's hands.

It was large—fitting perfectly in her palm—and heavier than expected.

The weight of it made reality sink in: the monster that once nearly took her life was truly dead.

She remembered something Xie Shiyuan had just mentioned—*demonic energy*.

Her eyes narrowed. *Was that creature... a demon?*

As she was lost in thought, a gust of wind suddenly swept her off her feet, sending her stumbling outside.

Before she could fully regain her balance, something soft and fluffy collided with her face.

Qin Shu: "......"

A petty man. He even kicked out her poor little squirrel!

Watching as the stone door shut in her face, she found herself oddly unbothered.

After all, his gifts were simply too generous.

She took a deep breath. The crisp, clean air was saturated with spiritual energy, making every cell in her body hum with excitement.

This was *amazing*!

From her storage ring, she pulled out two meditation cushions. She had bought a bunch last time she visited Chijin City—there had been a 'buy five, get one free' deal.

Tonight's moon was perfectly round, casting a silvery glow over the entire Lingxiao Peak.

Settling herself beside the vibrant red flower in her garden, Qin Shu felt as if the petals bloomed even brighter tonight.

Shaking off unnecessary thoughts, she adjusted her posture, hands facing upward, and took slow, deep breaths.

Within seconds, she entered a state of meditation.

The night's cultivation session was incredibly smooth. Pure spiritual energy surged through her meridians, refining and tempering them. Finally, as she absorbed the last wisp, she naturally broke through.

At that very moment, the inner core within her sea of consciousness bobbed and trembled like a tiny boat drifting on vast waves.

Wisps of smoky purple energy trickled into the golden-green core, stitching together its cracks like invisible threads.

Back inside the cave, Xie Shiyuan's eyes flickered open. He examined his own condition before closing them again and returning to sleep.

By dawn, Qin Shu's cultivation had slowed. Even so, she felt reluctant to stop.

Stretching her arms above her head, she turned toward the soft, rhythmic sound of breathing.

Little Xiao was curled up on his meditation cushion, sleeping even deeper than usual.

With her breakthrough, her pill refinement should now be even faster.

Thanks to *One Mind, Three Uses*, she could manage two furnaces at once.

If she continued at this pace, she could clear her debt to Senior Brother by the end of the month.

And once that was done, she could finally start her long-awaited body tempering!

### Meanwhile, at Wangxu Valley...

Sect Master Qi Nan and Mo Shang of the Celestial Secrets Pavilion had arrived.

The heavy demonic energy that once loomed over the valley had completely dissipated.

Qi Nan turned to Mo Shang and asked, "Mo Shang Zhenren, can you track the source of what happened here?"

Mo Shang nodded and retrieved a bronze mirror—his *Suyuan Mirror*, a personal artifact capable of revealing past events in a given location.

However, despite three consecutive spells, the mirror remained clouded, its surface veiled in mist.

No images formed.

Mo Shang frowned. "It seems someone has deliberately obscured the heavenly secrets. I can't see anything."

"Even *you* can't trace it?" Qi Nan's brows furrowed deeply.

Mo Shang nodded. "It seems I lack the skill."

Qi Nan quickly reassured him, "Don't belittle yourself, Zhenren. We simply underestimated that wretched hound."

Mo Shang sighed. "Let's search the area for any other clues."

"Agreed."

The two thoroughly examined the valley. Though they found signs of battle, it was unclear whether the damage was from the imprisoned demon's final struggle against the barrier or something else.

Disciples sent to scout nearby villages returned with the same report—no casualties, no disturbances, no traces of fleeing demons.

As Qi Nan was about to call off the investigation, Mo Shang suddenly called out.

"Zhenren Qi!"

Qi Nan turned, meeting Mo Shang's troubled gaze.

"Did you find something?"

Mo Shang pointed at a damaged section of the barrier. "Come take a look. Doesn't this residual energy seem... familiar?"

Qi Nan carefully examined the area. After a moment, his expression darkened.

"It's... Xie Shiyuan's aura."

If Xie Shiyuan had truly aided the demon's escape, the consequences for the entire cultivation world would be catastrophic.

The two masters exchanged wary glances.

Mo Shang broke the silence. "I'll return to the Celestial Secrets Pavilion and conduct another divination for East Continent. You should alert all major sects—at the very least, they need to be on guard."

Qi Nan nodded solemnly. "Understood. I'll handle it."

### Back at Lingxiao Peak...

When Qin Shu went to collect another batch of herbs from the sect's dispensary, Senior Uncle Ma Chengcai pulled her aside.

"Qin Shu," he said in a low voice. "You've already mastered refining *Spirit Replenishing Pills*, and we know you're just fulfilling Wen Chi's debt. Although refining them is easy for you, it's still a waste of time. You should focus on your cultivation."

Qin Shu's ears perked up.

"Yesterday, I spoke with Elder Changqing. If you can refine *Windstride Pills*, each batch will count as double the usual quota."