"Is that you, Zhe Gu?! How did you end up like this?" Uncle Jiu looked at her, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"If Senior Brother can have his lucky breaks, why can't I?" Zhe Gu replied. "Shortly after we parted ways, I stumbled upon an opportunity of my own. I found a cultivation method, some pills, and even a precious Sumeru Ring. Thanks to those pills, I've already reached the tenth level of the Earth Master realm. I came here today to ask for your help in guarding my breakthrough."
Jiu's expression shifted. "You're breaking through to Celestial Master? When?"
"Tonight!"
"So soon?"
"I have no choice. My spirit and mana have been polished to their absolute limits; I can't wait any longer!" Of course it's soon, you fool, she thought to herself. I've been waiting decades for this day. Just you wait, Lin Feng-chiao. Once I become a Celestial Master tonight, you'll never escape my clutches.
Seeing Uncle Jiu's furrowed brow, Qiu Xia, who had been standing to the side, spoke up. "Master, let Auntie proceed with her breakthrough. I still have another set of the array I gave you; it should be enough to protect her."
Uncle Jiu sighed in relief. "That's good. Otherwise, we'd have to rush back to Maoshan. Surviving the Three Tribulations of Heaven, Earth, and Man is no easy feat for a prospective Celestial Master."
Zhe Gu wasn't entirely sure what realm Qiu Xia had reached, but she guessed he was at least an Earth Master. After all, during the year he spent at the Mortuary, she had witnessed his terrifying cultivation speed. Sorcerer, Daoist, Human Master he broke through those three realms as if bottlenecks didn't exist, easily shattering every limit.
"Little Qiu Xia, tell Auntie," Zhe Gu asked curiously, "what realm have you reached now?"
"My cultivation is the same as Master's," Qiu Xia replied without any intent to hide it, thinking that Zhe Gu might eventually become his master's wife. "I am in the Celestial Master realm."
Zhe Gu's eyes nearly popped out of her head. "Qiu Xia, you're already a Celestial Master?!"
He nodded. "I broke through on the same day Master crossed his tribulation."
"Then why haven't you gone to Maoshan to receive your official registration? If the sect knew about your talent, those reclusive Patriarchs would all come out just to teach you."
"My situation is unique, and it's better if not too many people know. For now, only Master and my two senior brothers know about my breakthrough."
"Junior Sister," Jiu added sternly, "Qiu Xia's situation is indeed special. Do not spread word of his breakthrough recklessly."
Zhe Gu gave him a dismissive look. "Don't worry, Senior Brother. I know what's important."
Compared to Uncle Jiu's breakthrough, Zhe Gu's tribulation was much smoother. Though her Heavenly Tribulation was stronger than his, the Earthly Tribulation was easily handled with Qiu Xia's aura, and the Human Tribulation was a breeze with two Celestial Masters acting as her guardians.
Interestingly, while Jiu had faced nine bolts of lightning, Zhe Gu faced ten. This resulted in her forming an Eight-turn Golden Core, making her foundation slightly stronger than Uncle Jiu's.
After becoming a Celestial Master, Zhe Gu's appearance already enhanced by her Red Lotus Physique reached a new level of stunning beauty. Uncle Jiu looked at her and offered his congratulations. "Congratulations on reaching the Celestial Master realm, Junior Sister. When do you plan to return to Maoshan for the Celestial Master banquet?"
"We'll talk about that later," she said dismissively. "By the way, Senior Brother, I found a pill during my lucky break that I don't recognize. Could you take a look for me?"
As Jiu was about to answer, Qiu Xia chimed in. "Auntie, why don't you take Master to his room to study it? I'll finish cleaning up the Mortuary."
Zhe Gu gave her nephew a mental thumbs-up for the assist. She practically dragged Uncle Jiu to his room and pulled out the pill from her spatial ring.
"Look, Senior Brother, it's this one."
Uncle Jiu frowned as he examined the fiery red pill. "I've never seen a pill like this before. To determine its effect, one must..."
Before he could finish, Zhe Gu shoved the pill into his mouth.
Jiu never expected a sneak attack from her. Before he could react, the pill was in his stomach. Immediately, he felt as if his body were on fire, a searing heat radiating from within.
"Junior Sister, what are you doing?! What kind of pill was that?" Jiu demanded, eyes wide. Zhe Gu didn't answer. Instead, she walked to the door and locked it tight.
"Why are you locking the door? What is that pill?"
"You'll find out soon enough," she purred. "Lin Feng-chiao, I told you that you wouldn't escape my clutches."
"Could it be...? Junior Sister, don't do this! A forced melon isn't sweet!"
"Who cares if it's sweet? As long as it quenches my thirst! Are you ready, Senior Brother?"
"No!"
Outside, Qiu Xia heard the commotion from the room and let out a knowing grin. "Master, just stay in there for the night. Is it fate? Whatever Heaven ordains is the greatest! I'd better prepare some kidney-nourishing food for Master tomorrow morning."
The night passed quickly. By the next morning, Qiu Xia had prepared a massive feast, much of it consisting of restorative ingredients: goat whip, dog whip, offal, wolfberry, okra, and more.
It was well past noon when Uncle Jiu and Zhe Gu finally emerged. The two presented a stark contrast. Uncle Jiu was deathly pale, his legs trembling as he walked. Zhe Gu, on the other hand, looked radiant and refreshed, even more energetic than she had been after her breakthrough.
Jiu entered the hall and saw the spread on the table. His face darkened instantly. "Qiu Xia, what is the meaning of this?"
"Master, I felt you might need it, so I went out early to buy these. If Daoist disciples were allowed to eat beef, I would have bought some bull parts too."
Feeling his dignity trampled, Jiu glared at him. "I don't need any of this. I'm perfectly fine."
Qiu Xia looked at him skeptically. "Are you sure, Master? Because if not, I'll just clear it away."
"I !" Looking at the restorative meal, Jiu actually did want to bolster himself. He was exhausted after last night and felt incredibly drained. But with his disciple and junior sister watching, he was too embarrassed to dig in.
Seeing this, Zhe Gu smiled gently. "Senior Brother, don't let our disciple's kindness go to waste." With that, she served him a bowl of the restorative soup.
Uncle Jiu: "..."
In the following days, Zhe Gu visited frequently. Every time she did, Qiu Xia prepared a restorative feast for his master. To help Zhe Gu spend more time with Jiu, Qiu Xia even taught her a modified Shadow Clone technique effectively an External Incarnation.
Once she mastered it, Uncle Jiu's true "suffering" began. Every morning required a heavy dose of restoration. Although they weren't exactly "cultivating" at night, their progress didn't suffer. Those who took the Fiery Heart-shaping Pill and engaged with another cultivator would form a special constitution. Even after the pill's effects wore off, the benefits remained.
Thus, even though Jiu wasn't actively training at night, his mana grew at a lightning pace. However, every morning found him at his weakest. Without Qiu Xia's grand restorative meals, his recovery would have taken much longer.
To ensure he wasn't disturbed, Qiu Xia entered a deep meditative state as soon as night fell. This way, no matter how much noise Jiu and Zhe Gu made, he wouldn't be bothered.
The Celestial Master realm is divided into several stages. One focuses on the Yin Spirit, another on the Yang Spirit, and a middle state of Yin-Yang balance. Cultivators choose their path based on their individual nature.
Most orthodox Taoist disciples choose to condense a Yang Spirit, then transform their Golden Core into a Nascent Soul. Once the Nascent Soul reaches a certain level, the Yang Spirit and Nascent Soul merge to form the Primordial Spirit.
In contrast, those on the evil path focus on strengthening the Yin Spirit. Once the Yin Spirit is powerful enough, it aids the Golden Core in transforming into a Nascent Soul. Finally, the Yin Spirit and Nascent Soul merge into the Primordial Spirit.
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