Li Shen stood quietly at the edge of the courtyard, watching the place where the Skin Weaver had vanished into ash.
A complicated feeling stirred in his chest.
Envy.
Admiration.
And a strong sense of longing.
Against the same enemy, he had spent considerable effort preparing—drawing talismans, setting traps, and carefully observing its weaknesses.
Even then, he had only managed to injure the creature.
Yet Lin Qingyu had stepped forward and ended the battle with a single strike.
Clean.
Decisive.
Effortless.
The difference between them was painfully clear.
Second Realm cultivators really are terrifying, Li Shen thought.
He remembered something his superior, Master Yan Rui, had once told him.
"Every advancement in cultivation isn't just stronger energy—it's a transformation in power itself."
---
The Realms of Cultivation
The first stage of cultivation was known as Spirit Threshold.
At this level, practitioners absorbed Yin energy and refined it into spiritual essence. Crossing the Spirit Threshold meant stepping beyond ordinary humanity.
The second stage was called The River of Shades.
This realm contained nine distinct levels, often referred to as the Nine Bends.
Each step forward drastically increased the density and strength of a cultivator's spiritual energy.
If Li Shen's spiritual power resembled a faint firefly drifting through summer darkness…
Then Lin Qingyu's power was a blazing torch.
Beyond the River of Shades lay the third stage:
Bridge of Echoes.
Master Yan Rui, the commander of the Blackwater City Spirit Warden Office, had already reached this realm.
Li Shen had never seen him fight.
But he knew enough.
Even local magistrates greeted Master Yan Rui with deep respect.
Lin Qingyu—usually arrogant and fearless—became unusually obedient when speaking with him.
Once, a group of notorious bandits had surrendered immediately after learning Master Yan Rui was nearby.
Just the rumor of his presence had been enough.
Li Shen exhaled quietly.
I still have a long road ahead.
He pulled out a small notebook from his sleeve and quickly scribbled something down.
---
Research Log – Supplementary Test
Test Subject: Skin Weaver Spirit (Mid-tier Phantom)
Purpose: Evaluate damage potential of upgraded Spirit-Breaking Talismans.
Result: Comparable to scratching a giant with a needle.
Conclusion: Further improvements required.
---
Just then, Lin Qingyu walked over.
She leaned forward slightly and patted his shoulder.
"Well?"
"How was my strike just now?"
Her bright eyes curved into crescents.
Her expression clearly said:
Praise me.
Li Shen immediately raised his thumb.
"As expected of the famous Ghost-Slaying Blade of Blackwater City."
Lin Qingyu's smile widened instantly.
"You didn't do badly either," she said proudly, placing her hands on her hips.
"If you hadn't exposed that monster's disguise and freed me from its spell, the fight might have dragged on longer."
Li Shen waved his hand modestly.
"Just a small trick."
"Your strike was what truly ended it."
"Your talisman techniques are impressive," Lin Qingyu replied.
"They're better than any charm user I've seen."
"And I've never seen a blade user stronger than you."
Soon the two fell back into their usual routine of mutual compliments.
---
After the battle, they did not leave immediately.
Instead, they carefully searched every room of the estate.
Spiritual traces still lingered in the air, thick like fog.
Only after confirming that no hidden spirits remained did they prepare to depart.
Lin Qingyu stretched her arms.
"Let's get out of here."
"The Yin energy in this place makes my skin crawl."
Li Shen nodded.
Gray mist drifted through the courtyard like funeral cloth.
"Agreed."
Suddenly, Lin Qingyu's eyes brightened.
"To celebrate finishing the mission," she said, "let's go eat at Golden Lotus Pavilion tonight."
"They have incredible dishes."
"Braised shrimp, honey-glazed duck, fragrant tofu, lotus pastries…"
Li Shen frowned slightly.
Golden Lotus Pavilion was the most famous—and most expensive—restaurant in the city.
One meal there could cost several silver coins.
His monthly salary barely covered basic expenses.
"Maybe we should just eat at the Office kitchen," he suggested carefully.
Lin Qingyu waved her hand.
"Relax."
"I'm paying."
Li Shen's expression changed instantly.
"In that case, Golden Lotus Pavilion sounds perfect."
Lin Qingyu laughed.
She had grown up in a wealthy household and never worried much about money.
To her, sharing food with friends mattered far more.
---
Just then, Huang Guangli slowly woke up nearby.
At first his eyes looked unfocused.
Then he suddenly remembered the horrifying transformation of his stepmother.
He jumped to his feet in panic.
"Where… where is that monster?!"
Lin Qingyu pointed casually toward the ground.
"Over there."
The pile of black ash shifted slightly in the wind.
The boy stared at it with wide eyes.
"It… died just like that?"
The towering demon from earlier still haunted his memory.
He had truly believed he would die.
Yet the Spirit Wardens had destroyed it so easily.
His father had been right.
These cultivators truly were protectors of the realm.
After a moment of hesitation, Huang Guangli spoke again.
"My Lords… can you take me away from here?"
"You want to leave?" Lin Qingyu asked.
The boy nodded nervously.
"I'm scared to stay here alone."
Li Shen fell silent.
The child had lost both parents.
His home had become a haunted ruin.
Living here alone would be impossible.
Fortunately, the Spirit Warden Office had long ago established systems to help victims.
"Don't worry," Li Shen said gently, kneeling down.
"Soon someone from the Office will come for you."
"They'll take you to the Shelter Hall."
"There are many children there, and people who will take care of you."
He glanced around the empty estate.
"This house still belongs to you."
"When you grow up, you can decide what to do with it."
Shelter Hall was an institution built by the dynasty to care for orphans, widows, and the elderly without family.
Li Shen himself had once lived in such a place.
Years ago, a wave of supernatural disasters had left countless children without parents.
He had been one of them.
Life there had been difficult.
Food was scarce.
But it had kept him alive.
After a moment, Huang Guangli spoke again.
"My Lord…"
"I don't want to go to Shelter Hall."
He looked up at Li Shen with determined eyes.
"I want to join the Spirit Warden Office someday."
"I want to become someone like you—someone who hunts demons and protects people."
Li Shen smiled faintly.
Every child dreamed of heroism at some point.
"We'll talk about that when you're older," he said gently.