She suddenly smiled, her voice smooth and teasing.
"Hmm, you could ask me for anything, fellow Daoist. With the right exchange… I can accomplish any task you desire."
I returned her smile, calm and unreadable. Honestly, I didn't want to waste time exterminating the Lu Clan. If anything, I pitied the innocents entangled in their bloodline. Still, loose ends were dangerous.
Without a word, I flicked a gleaming pill toward her—a tenth-tier cultivation treasure that would make most cultivators kneel with gratitude.
"Eliminate the Lu Clan's bloodline," I said evenly. "Spare the children and the servants. They are but leaves on the same tree don't burn the whole forest."
She caught the pill between her fingers with elegance, her eyes flickering in surprise. A graceful smile bloomed across her lips.
"Pleasure doing business again, fellow Daoist." Her voice was sincere, her tone carrying a faint reverence now.
She didn't just see me as a client anymore. She saw an opportunity. A gate to something deeper.
She reached into her robes and handed me a golden token engraved with divine runes.
"I hope our cooperation continues to flourish," she said, her voice dipping into a seductive hum. "This token grants you unimpeded passage through any clan or auction house under our influence. And if you ever use it within our clan, I will personally come to greet you."
I nodded, unsurprised. As expected, this clan wasn't merely high-scale clan—it was likely the number one Clan in this Lower Realm. and while the middle realm was truly more even profound
From what i remember it said That Divinity transformation was only Rare there
And beyond that… the Higher Realm awaited, where Divinity Transformation cultivators were commonplace, and Spirit Severing Masters led the top sects. The world truly was vast. I was still just an ant… but an ant with wings.
I took the token and gave her a glance, letting the silence stretch before asking calmly,
"May I ask fellow Daoist's name?"
She tilted her head slightly, her eyes shimmering with interest.
"You may call me Yan Mei," she replied, her voice both alluring and deep, like a siren whispering through moonlight.
I didn't flinch. I responded coolly,
"Then you may call me… Li Qinghai."
And with that, I turned and flew into the sky without another word, leaving only a breeze and silence in my wake.
Yan Mei watched my silhouette vanish into the clouds. A quiet sigh escaped her lips.
"Li Qinghai…" she murmured. The name felt fabricated, too clean, too controlled. Who was this man?
He possessed the aura of a Divinity Transformation cultivator, yet he walked like someone who didn't fear the heavens. He was absurdly rich, dangerously handsome, and carried himself with a casual indifference that could unsettle even sect leaders. And then there was the question that refused to leave her mind:
Why the Lu Clan? Why ask for their destruction… but not carry it out himself?
She shook her head, summoning the people in the shadows once more.
"Spare the servants, children, and teenagers. Slaughter only those who bear the Lu Clan's bloodline."
The figures in the dark bowed in perfect unison—and vanished like dust in the wind.
She smiled faintly, her eyes lingering on the sky.
"Fellow Daoist Li Qinghai… I hope we meet again fast again."
---
As I soared through the clouds, I pulled out the three manuals I had recently acquired—each radiating an ancient aura:
Azure Array Formation – A shimmering grid of blue glyphs that empowers allies, especially those aligned with water, ice, or lightning.
Ethereal Prism Array Formation – A cultivation marvel that refracts Qi into multiple channels, enabling breakthroughs in one realm simultaneously.
Eternal Skyward Barrier Array – A defense so powerful, it could block attacks from even Nascent Soul cultivators if fully mastered.
I yawned, stretching mid-flight with a lazy smile.
"What a harvest…" I murmured.
These arrays would be crucial for safeguarding the mountain peak I called home. The peak was vast—large enough to hold three mansions comfortably. But my current strength wasn't enough to protect it through sheer force. Intimidation and illusion… those were my weapons for now. Until the day I become stronger
One day passed in the blink of an eye, and I returned to the mountain. Not a hint of fatigue touched me. As I landed gracefully, I spotted the two girls—Xue Lian and Lu Qing—chatting and laughing like sisters beneath the waning sun.
A strange warmth rose in my chest. For someone like me, who never had a family… they were close. Maybe not blood, but something real. I could at least be a guiding figure, a protector.
A master… or maybe, a father.
I smiled as I descended, my voice filled with teasing sarcasm.
"Hmm… are my two disciples enjoying themselves?"
Both girls instantly stood, bowing with hands cupped in respect. Not a word spoken, but reverence etched in every movement.
First, I handed Xue Lian a Perfect Foundation Establishment Pill. Her aura was stabilizing, but her foundation… she would soon surpass me if I stagnated.
Then I gave Lu Qing a Qi Nourishing Pill, a rare treasure even in the higher clans. Her eyes widened before she bowed deeply.
Just then, a familiar chime echoed in my mind.
[System Notification: Giving 3rd-tier and 4th-tier Pills. Reward: 8078x conversion. Now converting to 10th-tier pill]
I merely nodded, expression flat. With my pill reserves, such gifts could barely catch my eyes.
Still, it was the highest multiplier I'd seen. I sighed inwardly—knowing the next reward would likely be lower.
Then I handed Lu Qing the three newly acquired techniques. Her eyes lit up, a genuine smile blooming on her face. My heart fluttered at the sight—so easily pleased, so bright.
Yet from the corner of my eye, I noticed Xue Lian's expression stiffen. Her lips twitched slightly in a silent pout.
Ah. I had forgotten to give her something too.
A flicker of realization, then memory. From the old man I looted—the Heaven-Ranked Robe.
I coughed softly, drawing her attention, and handed it over.
"This is the Lord's Robe," I explained. "High defense. Restrictive now, but its full power reveals itself in the Divinity Transformation stage… or when one returns from the Broken Void."
She took it silently, her blank expression masking the small skip in her heartbeat.
Lu Qing stared at her Lord Mask, while Xue Lian clutched the Lord Robe. I explained further.
"The Lord Mask changes your appearance, enhances your presence. The robe protects your body. Neither is at full power yet, this two are Heavenly ranked so cherished them"
Both girls looked at each other, hesitant… and slightly guilty. They felt spoiled. But I saw through it—beneath their confusion was rising curiosity. Curiosity about me.
Who was their master, really?