Morning arrived slowly at the Profound Flower Sect. Golden light passed through the leaves of the trees and spread across the roofs of the pavilions, while the first disciples began moving along the stone paths.
Yun Che walked back to the Massage House. After the previous night, he felt a profound change within his own body. Spiritual energy was no longer the weak and irregular current he had known for so many years.
Now, within his meridians, a much denser force flowed through every channel. The flow was stable, warm, and obedient, naturally concentrating within his spiritual core whenever he took a deep breath.
When he crossed the gate of the Massage House, the system interface appeared before his eyes.
[Dual Cultivation Mission completed.]
[Reward available.]
[Summoning capacity increased.]
[Current Undead limit: 5.]
Yun Che stopped for a moment.
Before, merely having the possibility of possessing an Undead already represented an extraordinary advantage. Now he could store 5 spiritual corpses within his cultivation realm and summon them whenever necessary.
The more powerful that ability to possess Undead became, the more dangerous it would be if someone discovered its existence.
Yun Che closed the interface and entered the Massage House.
Mei Liang was organizing several medicinal bottles behind the counter. As soon as she heard his footsteps, she raised her eyes.
Her expression immediately changed when she sensed the spiritual aura emanating from him.
"Yun Che?"
He stopped.
"Good morning, Mei Liang."
She narrowed her eyes.
"Come here, you little bastard."
Yun Che approached.
Mei Liang raised her hand and released a small amount of her own spiritual energy, carefully examining his body without touching him.
The more she analyzed him, the more serious her expression became.
"You advanced."
Yun Che did not try to deny it.
"Yes."
"From Tempered Body to Profound Elementary, you crossed 10 small cultivation realms and one major cultivation realm at once. How is that possible?"
She remained silent for several seconds.
"In such a short amount of time."
Yun Che remained silent. Mei Liang crossed her arms.
"Was it because of those resources?"
He immediately understood what she was referring to.
The crystals and the Veil-Breaking Pill he had obtained through their previous negotiation.
"I used most of the resources." He could not simply say that the system had advanced his cultivation through a single session of dual cultivation.
"I knew it." Her voice showed no satisfaction.
"Yun Che, listen to me carefully. Resources can help a cultivator break through a bottleneck, but they cannot replace one’s foundations. If you continue being reckless like this, you will ruin your future progress."
"I know."
"No, you don’t. If you did, you wouldn’t have done what you did."
Mei Liang approached.
"You spent years trapped in the lowest realm. Now, suddenly, you have crossed a major barrier in an extremely short time. I don’t care if you encountered an opportunity or if someone taught you some secret method. If you used any unconventional technique, you need to be careful."
Yun Che lowered his eyes slightly.
"I was careful."
"I hope so."
Mei Liang sighed.
"A rapid breakthrough may seem like a blessing today and turn into a curse tomorrow. If your meridians cannot withstand the energy, if your spiritual core becomes unstable, or if you have accumulated impurities, the price could be far greater than you imagine."
Yun Che looked at her.
She was genuinely worried.
"I’ll remember that."
Mei Liang continued looking at him.
"Promise me."
"I promise."
She finally looked away.
"Then at least don’t do anything foolish again."
Before Yun Che could respond, the sound of the door drew both their attention.
A woman entered.
She walked several steps into the room and stopped.
Her gaze met Yun Che’s.
The surprise was immediate.
It was Lin Yue, the same customer he had given a massage to previously.
She recognized him as well.
For several seconds, neither of them spoke.
Mei Liang looked from Yun Che to Lin Yue.
"Can I help you?"
Lin Yue discreetly adjusted her clothes.
"I came for a massage."
Mei Liang nodded.
"I can call one of our masseuses."
Lin Yue hesitated.
"I would like him to do it."
Mei Liang raised an eyebrow.
Yun Che remained motionless.
Lin Yue noticed her own embarrassment and tried to regain her composure.
"Last time, I was treated by Yun Che. The treatment was... very satisfactory."
Mei Liang looked at Yun Che.
"So that’s why you came back."
Lin Yue became slightly flushed.
"Yes."
She took a deep breath and recovered her usual composure.
"Actually, I was quite satisfied with the last session. Yun Che managed to relieve the tension I had been carrying for a long time. I told myself that I would come back when I had the opportunity."
Mei Liang observed her for several seconds.
"Then it seems he has gained himself a customer."
Lin Yue cast a brief glance at Yun Che.
"It’s possible."
Yun Che noticed her discomfort and decided not to prolong the situation.
"I have an urgent matter to take care of. If you want, I can treat you when I’m available."
Lin Yue nodded.
"I’ll come back later."
She paused before adding:
"And next time, I hope I won’t have to wait so long. Ah, and one more thing, can I bring someone else to receive the same treatment?"
Yun Che smiled faintly.
"I’ll remember not to keep you waiting, and you’re free to bring whoever you want."
Lin Yue said goodbye to Mei Liang and left the Massage House, giving Yun Che one last glance before departing.
Mei Liang watched the door close, then slowly turned her eyes toward him.
"Does she really intend to come back to receive treatment from you?"
Yun Che shrugged.
"Seems like it. She said she was satisfied with our last treatment session, and she even wants to bring someone with her."
Mei Liang did not insist.
Yun Che, however, realized that he could not stay there for long. He had another appointment.
"Mei Liang, I need to leave."
She turned around.
"Already?"
"I have to go to the Refinement House."
She immediately remembered the agreement he had made.
"Qin Ruolan."
"Yes."
Mei Liang nodded.
"Then go. She doesn’t like students arriving late."
Yun Che gave a small bow.
"Thank you for your concern."
Mei Liang gave him a serious look.
"Don’t thank me yet. First prove that you can survive her lessons."
Yun Che smiled faintly.
"I’ll try."
He left.
The path to the Refinement House was crowded. Disciples carried boxes of herbs, jade containers, and small portable furnaces. The smell of burning herbs became stronger as Yun Che approached.
When he finally arrived before the building, he stopped.
The Refinement House was much larger than the Massage House. Large chimneys released small columns of spiritual smoke, and the sound of flames could be heard even from outside.
Yun Che took a deep breath.
From that moment onward, he would have to learn a new profession.
He entered.
A disciple responsible for the entrance raised her eyes.
"Name?"
"Yun Che."
She checked the register.
"Newly admitted student recommended by Qin Ruolan."
"Yes."
"She’s waiting for you."
Yun Che thanked her and crossed the corridor.
The farther he advanced, the more he noticed the difference in that place. Formation diagrams, ancient recipes, and detailed illustrations of spiritual plants covered the walls. Some disciples worked before the furnaces with extremely focused expressions.
He finally arrived before a door.
He knocked.
"Come in."
Qin Ruolan’s voice came from inside.
Yun Che opened the door.
Qin Ruolan stood before a table covered with spiritual herbs. Her dark hair was carefully tied up, and her mature and confident expression remained as striking as it had been on the day of their negotiation.
She raised her eyes.
"You’ve arrived."
"Yes, Master."
Qin Ruolan raised an eyebrow slightly.
"You’re already calling me Master?"
"It was part of the agreement."
She smiled.
"Good memory."
There were three different herbs on the table.
Qin Ruolan pointed toward them.
Finally, the path of alchemy opened before him.