Disciples came one after another to treat their injuries and collect medicine. Wen Shuangbai left with lingering doubts, glancing back repeatedly.
After returning to the outer peaks, she retrieved the stones from the storage rings of her companions and piled them up before starting to build a fishpond.
Upon reaching the Enlightened Aperture Realm, Wen Shuangbai could clearly feel the spiritual energy within her spirit bones becoming far more abundant and turbulent than before—like a surging river, ceaseless and powerful.
However, this energy was unstable, akin to an erratic internet connection, fluctuating between fast and slow. This made it difficult for her to control, resulting in several ruined stones…
Newly advanced cultivators—aside from those with first-grade spirit bones, the so-called "heaven's chosen"—often faced this issue. It was what the elders commonly referred to as "unstable realms."
To stabilize one's realm, there were generally two methods:
The first was medicinal baths, nurturing the spirit bones to adapt to the new realm.
The second was the crude approach—simply using spiritual energy frequently until the body adjusted.
Wen Shuangbai chose the free method.
Thus, she threw herself passionately into the fishpond construction project, working with fiery enthusiasm.
As the sun gradually dipped westward, the elders and disciples in the Law Enforcement Hall were also exceptionally busy.
They needed to prepare the spirit stone rewards for each participating disciple so they could be distributed the following morning.
For most, the amount was clear-cut—except for Wen Shuangbai’s team, which left the Law Enforcement Hall in a dilemma.
Should the Taihua Stones be counted as currency? And if so, how?
Normally, Elder Qian Lai would have given instructions by now, but strangely, there had been no word.
They had no choice but to consult the duty elder, who, unwilling to make the decision himself, hurried toward the main hall. Before he could even enter, he heard Elder Qian Lai’s raucous laughter from inside.
"Hahahaha! He really left?" Qian Lai was in the middle of a voice transmission with an old friend. "Good riddance! That old thief Dugu Hong—the farther he goes, the better!"
"I’ve long despised that bastard! Always coming to me for spirit stones, demanding pills and artifacts for his disciple—as if I owe him something?! All these years, what has he ever done for Qingling Mountain? And then he dares to complain to the sect leader, saying he doesn’t care about the sect?! The audacity! If not for the sect leader holding Qingling Mountain together, where would that old fool be living his cushy life?"
The problem was, Dugu Hong had a special status. Even the sect leader and the four pavilion masters had to tolerate him—otherwise, the Purple Flame Realm of the Imperial Province would meddle, and that was a headache no one wanted.
Duty Elder Cao Xing knocked on the door. "Elder Qian, it’s me."
Hearing Cao Xing’s voice, Qian Lai cut off the transmission. "Come in. What’s the matter?"
Cao Xing: "The junior disciples can’t decide. I came to ask—how should the Taihua Stones be converted into spirit stones?"
"Ah, this matter…"
The sect leader had left the decision to him. Initially, Qian Lai had thought that letting the disciples count their achievements was already generous—giving them additional spirit stones seemed excessive.
After all, he had painstakingly prepared a training ground for them, only for them to take the entire thing away—and then demand payment on top of it? How unreasonable!
But right now, he was in a splendid mood!
If not for Wen Shuangbai and her team securing the Taihua Stones and claiming first place, Dugu Hong’s disciple would have ranked in the top three of the Sword Pavilion. And if that had happened, the old thief wouldn’t have been furious enough to leave.
After a moment’s thought, Qian Lai asked, "Xiao Cao, after supervising them these past two days, what do you think of these disciples?"
Cao Xing: "…"
How should he answer?
Cao Xing: "…They seem very, very poor?"
This was the first time anyone had ever asked if the Law Enforcement Hall provided meals. In two days, they had eaten eight times.
If not for their focus on breaking through earlier, he suspected they might have eaten twice an hour.
Qian Lai: "Oh? No disciples from prominent families?"
Cao Xing: "None."
Qian Lai: "There’s one surnamed Lu, right? Not from the Lu Clan?"
Cao Xing: "He’s from Lu Village. His mother worked as a cleaning maid for the Lu family before he was born, but later returned to the village to farm."
Qian Lai’s eyes gleamed with approval. "Xiao Cao, you’ve improved! In just two days, you’ve learned their life stories inside out!"
Cao Xing: "…"
No, he hadn’t wanted to know. But Lu Jiayao wouldn’t stop talking, trying to win sympathy so they could stay in the Law Enforcement Hall longer.
What kind of people were these? Back in his youth, even his neighbor from Cao Village hadn’t been this shameless.
"In that case, give each of them an extra sixty thousand spirit stones." Qian Lai paused, gazing through the half-open window at the distant, eternal mist-shrouded mountains. A thought crossed his mind, and he sighed. "May their journey ahead be smooth."
---
The next day, the entrance of the Law Enforcement Hall was packed.
At the very front of the long line stood a woman in green robes with a red sash tied around her waist. She stared at the glittering pile of spirit stones in her storage pouch, barely daring to breathe.
Holy heavens, so many!
She had estimated between forty and fifty thousand—but there were a hundred and ten thousand here!
Had the Law Enforcement Hall made a mistake?
Today, only five counters were open, each with its own long queue. The first in line were all members of the "[Today’s Fortune: Riches]" group chat, along with their junior sister.
They exchanged glances.
Wen Shuangbai loved money, but that didn’t mean she could accept it without question. "Senior Sister, why is there so much?"
The Law Enforcement Hall disciple replied, "The Taihua Stones added sixty thousand spirit stones to each of your rewards. Did you not account for that?"
Wen Shuangbai: "!"
This felt like receiving an unexpected sixty-thousand-year-end bonus. Overwhelmed, she immediately said, "Thank you, Senior Sister!"
The disciple smiled. "Don’t thank me. It was Elder Qian Lai’s decision."
"Thank you, Elder Qian!" Wen Shuangbai pressed the storage pouch to her chest, warmth flooding her heart.
In the original novel, Elder Qian Lai was a named character—the rival of the female lead’s master—and naturally met a tragic end. Wen Shuangbai had been heartbroken when she read it because she adored his name.
In the book, the protagonist’s team never received this extra sixty thousand.
But then again, Qian Lai despised Dugu Hong—it made sense he wouldn’t give his disciple any rewards.
After collecting their spirit stones, the five gathered in a nearby bamboo grove, each brimming with joy and chattering excitedly.
Shen Hefeng was ecstatic. "The hundred thousand I owe for the Spirit-Devouring Banner—finally, I can pay it off! Hahahaha! As expected of me! The number one of the Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion! Ahahaha…"
Lu Jiayao beamed. "My mom’s been eyeing the village chief’s spirit field for ages. Now I can go back and buy her one! Hehehe…"
Yin Xuan handed his share to Wen Xin without even looking. "Split it between the two of you, alright?"
Wen Shuangbai shook her head. "I don’t need it. I have my own."
Wen Xin: "There’s so much! I can’t possibly use it all. Senior Brother, you should keep it for yourself—buy something nice to eat."
"…No need." Yin Xuan lowered his eyes. "Junior Sister, you take it first."
Wen Shuangbai and Wen Xin exchanged a glance.
Both sisters understood why their senior brother said that—he was preparing for the worst-case scenario.
Wen Xin nodded obediently, "Alright, then I'll save it for you, senior brother."
Xie Ziyin finished checking the items and instinctively glanced at the three junior siblings nearby. Just as he was about to leave, Shen Hefeng suddenly called out, "Wait!"
Xie Ziyin looked over, "?"
"Senior Sister Zhuohua is looking for us..." Shen Hefeng fiddled with the Mystic Heaven Mirror, his tone disbelieving as he said, "She invited us to her place for a medicinal bath?"
Wen Shuangbai immediately turned around, "What kind of bath?"
"A medicinal bath!" Shen Hefeng repeated, "Senior Sister Zhuohua said we just broke through and need to soak in one to stabilize our cultivation. Are you all going?"
Without hesitation, Wen Shuangbai was the first to speak up, "I'm in."
Lu Jiayao chimed in, "Me too!"
Xie Ziyin thought for a moment before nodding, "Sure."
Everyone turned to the silent senior brother.
Yin Xuan hesitated, "I..."
He had woken up very early today.
Since he hadn't advanced, maybe he didn’t need to go?
Wen Shuangbai immediately coaxed him, "It's fine, senior brother. You can sleep while soaking."
"Alright then," Yin Xuan agreed.
The group headed toward the main peak where Li Zhuohua resided.
Along the way, Xie Ziyin noticed Wen Shuangbai glancing at him several times, her gaze filled with intense curiosity.
As he followed Shen Hefeng up the jade-green stone steps, he suddenly stopped when she looked at him for the seventh time, turning to demand, "Is there something on my face?"
Caught in the act, Wen Shuangbai didn’t fluster. Instead, she nodded seriously, "Yes, something dirty."
"..." Xie Ziyin shot her a cool glance and warned, "Keep staring, and I’ll charge you."
Wen Shuangbai was stunned, "Are you that desperate for money?"
Over the years, the original owner had racked up considerable debt while developing special elixirs.
The 110,000 earned from the recent competition was only enough to cover part of it—he still owed hundreds of thousands.
Xie Ziyin sighed lightly, "A little."
Wen Shuangbai, "..."
She immediately turned her head away and refused to look again.
Before arriving, Wen Shuangbai had assumed that the main peak, being the sect leader’s residence, would be extraordinary—perhaps even dazzling.
But it wasn’t.
Shen Hefeng had been here a few times before and led the group past the main hall to Li Zhuohua’s courtyard, Zhuohua Yard.
The path was eerily empty, as if no one lived there.
Zhuohua Yard was the same. In the spacious main hall stood five medicinal tubs, with disciples from the medical pavilion carefully pouring multicolored elixirs into them.
By the time Wen Shuangbai and the others arrived, the preparations were nearly complete.
A woman in red robes stood nearby, arms crossed, watching. When the five entered, she skipped pleasantries and said directly, "Get in and soak."
"Understood, senior sister." Shen Hefeng set an example, plunging in first and splashing water everywhere. "Senior Sister Zhuohua, why are you being so generous today, inviting us for a medicinal bath?"
Li Zhuohua frowned slightly at the splashes and replied, "The sect leader ordered it."
Her mother’s exact words had been to encourage bonding with these junior siblings.
Having soaked in this bath herself when she first entered the Enlightened Aperture Realm, she found it incredibly effective—stabilizing cultivation and toughening the body.
So she figured her juniors could use it too. Perfect for fostering camaraderie.
Ah, so that’s why.
It must be for the upcoming Mystic Heaven Grand Competition.
Lost in thought, Wen Shuangbai placed a hand on the tub’s edge and nimbly slipped in without a single splash.
Li Zhuohua glanced over, admiration flashing in her eyes.
Such precise control!
The medicinal bath was a pale jade-green. At first, Wen Shuangbai only felt comfort, like a mother’s embrace.
But gradually, something felt wrong.
The seemingly gentle elixir seeped into her meridians and bones—agonizing pain followed.
Her face instantly paled.
Just then, Shen Hefeng and Lu Jiayao let out bloodcurdling screams beside her.
"AHHH! IT HURTS!"
"Oww—Senior Sister, what did you put in here?!"
"A medicinal bath." Li Zhuohua walked over, placed a hand on each of their heads, and mercilessly shoved them back under the liquid. "It’s expensive. Don’t waste my goodwill."
Hm? Expensive?
Wen Shuangbai glanced thoughtfully at Xie Ziyin across from her.
The man’s face was pale, his slightly furrowed brows betraying discomfort. Yet he remained seated, eyes closed, actively absorbing the elixir’s energy.
If even a medical cultivator reacted like this, it must be truly valuable.
Without another word, Wen Shuangbai began meditating.
Under Li Zhuohua’s iron grip, Shen Hefeng and Lu Jiayao had no choice but to endure.
She checked on everyone impartially.
Junior Sister Wen and Junior Brother Xie were doing well.
As for the last one...
The tub’s surface showed no sign of a person—only silver hair floating amid occasional bubbles.
Had something gone wrong?
Li Zhuohua’s heart skipped a beat. She rushed over, plunged her hand in, and pulled out... a peacefully sleeping face.
