Chapter 10: The Uninvited Guest

Jiang Min was both startled and delighted.

She had never expected that consuming a peak first-tier demon core would yield such tremendous effects. According to the teachings of the Spiritual Communion Art, if the spiritual energy in one’s dantian manifested the harmony of yin and yang and the cycle of the four seasons, one had reached the pinnacle of the first level of Qi Refining.

Ordinarily, reaching this stage required a vast and prolonged accumulation of spiritual energy, steadily building one’s foundation for cultivation. For those with five spiritual roots, it was common to be stuck at this realm for several years, sometimes even decades.

Jiang Min had anticipated the demon core would elevate her realm, but she had not foreseen the richness of its demonic power, which directly propelled her to the peak of Qi Refining’s first level. Now, all that remained was to cultivate the second volume of the Spiritual Communion Art and she could cross the threshold into the next realm.

The power contained in a single demon core was evidently far superior to hundreds or even thousands of demon core embryos!

“No wonder no one wants demon core embryos, yet demon cores are so expensive… What a pity—I can’t afford them, so I’ll have to keep scavenging for scraps.”

“Still,”

“This harvest is already quite abundant. Once I return and consolidate my realm, I can attempt to break through!”

Jiang Min ended her cultivation and wasted no time. First, she used a black axe to dig a deep pit in the ground, then threw in all the ashes, filled the hole, stomped it down until firm, laid an old patch of turf atop it, scattered branches and leaves, and, after ensuring nothing seemed amiss with her spiritual sense, concluded her work.

“Right, I also need to retrieve the formation set outside.”

Jiang Min didn’t understand formations, only knowing their setup required materials—sometimes spirit stones, sometimes lamps, sometimes formation plates, sometimes demon cores or beast blood—the materials varied wildly. She guessed Li Mao was probably not adept at formations either, most likely using a formation plate. After searching for a while with her spiritual sense, she indeed found a buried plate under a tree outside the mountain fissure.

The moment she retrieved the plate, the scenery around her shifted and then quickly returned to normal.

“It’s actually an illusion array plate—it can mask one’s aura. What a treasure.”

Jiang Min’s face brightened with joy.

Such a plate was worth quite a sum.

But her excitement faded as she recalled Li Mao’s background.

She quickly regained her composure.

“No, I can’t bring any of these salvaged items back to Flowing Cloud Peak. I must find a place to hide them first.”

If she brought them back and someone discovered them, it would blatantly reveal her connection to Li Mao’s death. At least for now, she had to dispose of these items thoroughly, leaving no trace for anyone to find.

She immediately placed the spirit axe and formation plate into Li Mao’s storage pouch, only taking out a fire sword talisman to keep on her person. Then she walked back, arriving at a secluded muddy marsh.

This marsh was one she’d seen when Li Mao had bound and brought her here; thinking back, it was perfect for hiding things.

“Bind the storage pouch with string, sink it into the marsh, then hide the end of the string near this old tree with a mark for later retrieval… Ha, I really am clever!”

After completing her preparations, Jiang Min couldn’t help but praise herself with satisfaction. Keeping the storage pouch and its contents would only bring trouble; better to secure them elsewhere and eliminate future risks.

Once the turmoil passed, she would return for these valuables.

If they were still there, it meant fortune had favored her.

If not, so be it—they were never truly hers to begin with.

After hiding the storage pouch, Jiang Min ran to a nearby river, dove in, cleansed herself of all lingering aura, then dried herself with spiritual energy before heading toward Flowing Cloud Peak.

She returned to the small courtyard behind the library pavilion, utterly exhausted. Changing into clean clothes, she collapsed onto her bed.

Resting her head on her arm, she reflected on the day’s events.

“If it weren’t for the Shadow Sand clouding Li Mao’s vision and slowing his actions, I would’ve died there today…”

She remembered that when she was very young, her mother had given her a small pouch filled with stone powder, always telling her to carry it. If she ever faced danger, she was to scatter the powder—prepared with special ingredients—into a villain’s eyes, seize the chance to escape, and seek help from adults.

After joining the Eastern Spirit Sect, she had bought powder infused with Shadow Sand energy to replace the old stone powder.

“It seems the sect is not an absolutely safe place. From now on, I must use spiritual sense to remain alert at all times and keep talismans within easy reach.”

“I need to learn Phantom Step and Clear Spirit Sword Technique quickly, then buy a dagger at the market. If I ever have to fight up close again, I’ll at least have a way to protect myself.”

“I’ll start practicing right now.”

Despite her fatigue, Jiang Min felt invigorated and sat up, pulling out the two martial arts manuals she’d bought off a street vendor earlier.

She opened Phantom Step first.

The script was not particularly elegant, nor were the illustrations, but fortunately, the diagrams were clear enough to be useful.

“Horn, Neck, Base, Room… These are all names of constellations. So, this footwork requires stepping on the positions of the twenty-eight constellations, moving in specific directions to come and go freely, advancing and retreating with elusive patterns.”

“I wonder where the seller copied this from—ha, it looks quite formal. There’s both diagrams and breathing techniques, so I’ll start practicing!”

Seeing that dusk had not yet fallen and lying down was dull, Jiang Min decided to practice this dubious footwork.

She moved the table and clutter from her room, clearing a large enough area, and used a brush to mark the positions of the twenty-eight constellations on the floor according to the manual.

Horn, Neck, Base, Room, Heart, Tail, Sieve.

Dipper, Ox, Woman, Void, Danger, Chamber, Wall.

Stride, Bond, Stomach, Hair, Net, Beak, Ginseng.

Well, Ghost, Willow, Star, Spread, Wing, Chariot.

After finishing the constellation positions, Jiang Min held Phantom Step in her right hand and looked to the instructions.

“The Azure Dragon coils to the left, its horn at the forefront—let the energy flow to the chest and sink to the dantian.”

She stepped onto the Horn star, inhaling deeply.

“The Golden Dragon lies low, its neck bent in concealment—let the breath flow freely and depart without stagnation.”

She moved to the Neck star, lowering her body slightly and exhaling.

Following the manual, Jiang Min stepped through the twenty-eight positions, indeed feeling a light and nimble sensation, sometimes leaping like a dragon, sometimes pouncing like a tiger, vividly mimicking the spirit of the four mythical beasts.

She reviewed her movements.

Her first attempt didn’t feel particularly mysterious or elusive, but it was smooth and agile, without any awkwardness or blocked breathing, so she kept practicing.

Jiang Min repeated the steps, familiarizing herself through repetition.

Not until the moon was high and the chorus of insects rose did she, drenched in sweat, reluctantly stop her practice.

By now, she was much more familiar with the footwork and understood why the technique was so cheap.

“There’s something missing—it feels like it only captures the form of the four beasts, not their true essence.”

“Well, it only cost a single low-grade spirit stone; I can’t expect too much. Still, after half a day’s practice, my movements do feel noticeably more agile.”

“In the future, if I get the chance, I’ll seek the true constellation step. If I become an outer disciple, I’ll be qualified to enter the scripture pavilion and choose proper martial arts. The sect’s collection surely won’t disappoint.”

Outer disciple!

Whether or not she possessed the peachwood branch, her goal was always to climb higher, enduring every hardship. Now, with the mysterious peach branch’s aid, her resolve was even firmer. If life isn’t lived with ambition, how dull a hundred years would be.

The night grew deep.

After washing up, Jiang Min sat cross-legged and began to cultivate.

Her plan was to spend a few days consolidating her realm, preparing thoroughly before attempting to break through to the second layer of Qi Refining.

But before she could attempt her breakthrough, trouble arrived three days later.

This day,

Several unwelcome visitors arrived at the small courtyard behind the library pavilion: a steward from the Discipline Hall, two Discipline Hall disciples, a miscellaneous worker from the Pill Refining Hall, and a young woman clad in an azure robe of the outer disciples, her demeanor icy and ethereal.

They had only one purpose: to summon Jiang Min, who was cultivating, outside.

“You are the Flowing Cloud Peak worker, Jiang Min?”

The azure-robed woman stood facing the wind, asking coolly.

Jiang Min had already guessed her identity and could only muster the courage to reply, “I am the disciple.”

Upon hearing this, the woman’s expression abruptly chilled. She waved her hand forward and commanded in a low voice:

“Seize her!”

Jiang Min’s pupils contracted. The two Discipline Hall disciples who had stood behind the azure-robed woman immediately stepped forward, each grabbing one of her arms, twisting them behind her back and pressing down hard, forcing her to bow her head before the woman.