Chapter Twelve

Although the location resembled the geography of a cave dwelling, it was, in truth, a thousand times more refined. The spacious courtyard was arranged in the traditional four-sided layout, and the mountaintop had skylights that let in abundant light, making the interior bright and airy. Just as the receptionist had described, the rooms were perfectly suited for girls, featuring canopy beds, dressing tables, and even a dazzling array of jewelry and accessories, all exquisitely crafted.

Unfortunately, both Li Mengze and Wen Yuanyuan cared little for such luxuries, merely glancing at them before moving on. The three each went to their own rooms, agreeing to meet again in the evening. Li Mengze first used a cleansing spell to tidy her room from top to bottom, then collapsed onto the bed. As the saying goes, nothing tastes better than dumplings and nothing feels better than lying down, and she found this to be true.

Unlike Ba Yicheng and Wen Yuanyuan, who did not rest after entering their rooms but instead sat cross-legged on meditation mats to restore their spiritual energy, Li Mengze quickly succumbed to sleep. When she awoke, the moon was high in the sky, and faint sounds drifted from outside. Checking the time, she realized their appointment was near. She promptly got up, tidied herself, and changed clothes. This outfit had been sewn by her mother and reinforced with a defensive formation by her father, making it almost equivalent to a spiritual artifact. She rarely wore it within the sect, but had chosen it for this outing.

Simple yet elegant, it was immediately recognizable as a premium item, not something easily found outside. When she stepped out, Ba Yicheng and Wen Yuanyuan were already seated at a stone table sipping tea. At the sight of their junior sister, they exchanged a glance—it was obvious she'd been sleeping. Perhaps, when she was young, adults had restricted her sleep, and now she could never escape the god of slumber's embrace.

Li Mengze felt a bit embarrassed. Sleeping was natural, a bodily necessity, so why did it seem almost shameful here? Seeing her discomfort, the other two said nothing more. After all, their junior sister possessed excellent spiritual roots and keen perception. Still in her teens, she had achieved a level of cultivation that would take others decades, a true prodigy.

"Tomorrow night marks the start of the auction. Tonight, there's a small exchange event—we can see if there's anything worth trading. After the auction, we'll leave." They had departed early, without joining their fellow disciples, specifically to give their junior sister some experience. Although she performed well in practice and never hesitated in battle, she usually stopped short of harming others. The real cultivation world was nothing like that; here, killing was not a crime.

Li Mengze didn't fully know their intentions, but she understood their purpose and was grateful. After all, if she really had to kill someone, to watch a living soul perish at her hands, she wasn't sure if she would be able to harden her heart. In this world, no one would collect evidence or arrest her for murder, nor proclaim the fairness of law. Despite the cultivation world's technology rivaling the twenty-first century, its brutality was closer to the animal kingdom—the strongest ruled.

She couldn't guarantee how she would react if someone used extreme measures against her.

Ba Yicheng led his two junior sisters to a tavern called Fortunate Arrival. Once they were seated in a private room on the third floor, he explained, "Don't let its humble appearance fool you—Fortunate Arrival is famous even in the cultivation world. The chef here is no less skilled than a spiritual cook; he can remove all impurities from ordinary foods, so everything is safe to eat. Anyone visiting Shangguan City always comes here."

Li Mengze and Wen Yuanyuan glanced at Ba Yicheng. So, not only spiritual cooks could purify ingredients and preserve spiritual energy—even in the mundane world, there were hidden talents. For a person with no cultivation to achieve this was remarkable; if he had spiritual roots, who knows how far he might go?

Li Mengze felt a pang of emotion. Spiritual roots were so vital to cultivation—how many gifted people had been barred from progress simply for lacking them? It wasn't that they lacked perception, merely the means to cultivate. Fortunately, heaven had been generous to her; not only did she possess spiritual roots, they were excellent. Otherwise, she couldn't imagine thriving in an unfamiliar world.

No, she shook her head. Even without talent or spiritual roots, she believed in herself. Even if she had to enter the Dao through martial arts—the hardest path—she would persist, striving for immortality, enduring longer and farther, fearless and true to herself, never evil, never cowed by strength, always pressing forward, ever farther down the arduous road.

As Ba Yicheng and Wen Yuanyuan waited for their meal, they suddenly sensed a surge of spiritual energy around them. Li Mengze sat upright, her aura fluctuating—the unmistakable prelude to a breakthrough. There had been no warning; she had entered a state of enlightenment. Who knew what she had thought of—even a simple meal could trigger advancement. It was enviable.

The two quietly left the room, standing guard outside to prevent disturbance.

Li Mengze did not know what was happening, only that she had entered a mysterious state. Her body felt light, and spiritual energy flowed automatically along her usual channels without conscious effort.

She could even hear the sounds within her as she broke through—crisp and joyful, like a brook or falling leaves. There was no guidance, but the energy followed its own path.

When she finally opened her eyes, the room was empty, the table bare. Checking herself, she found nothing amiss; she had reached the late Foundation Establishment stage—a delightful surprise. Since entering Foundation Establishment, her cultivation had slowed, not for lack of energy or absorption, but for lack of time and opportunity. Now, having just left home, she had unexpectedly attained enlightenment, strengthening her Dao heart and breaking through her level—a boon for her future path.

Extending her spiritual sense, she immediately found her senior brother and sister waiting outside. Li Mengze was deeply grateful. Enlightenment must not be interrupted, and they had guarded her the whole time, regardless of how long it took. Had she caused them to miss the exchange event?

Outside, Ba Yicheng and Wen Yuanyuan sensed the stabilizing aura within and knew their junior sister had completed her breakthrough. Only then did they enter.

Wen Yuanyuan, without ceremony, pinched Li Mengze's nose. "Well, well, you made us play doorkeepers for you, huh?" This girl had uncanny luck—enlightenment, which others might never achieve in a hundred years, she stumbled upon as easily as breathing. No wonder their master often said good fortune was a kind of strength.

Li Mengze wasn't annoyed, grinning as she patted her chest. "When you and senior brother reach enlightenment, I'll guard your doors too—won't open for anyone." Though who knew if they would ever experience enlightenment; it wasn't exactly common.

Li Mengze had never considered that in the cultivation world, even things as common as cabbages were not easy to find. Cultivators, despite their appetites, mostly ate spiritual vegetables. There was a type remarkably like cabbage called Jade Spirit Greens—crystal clear, juicy as fruit, with abundant spiritual energy that could be absorbed directly upon consumption. It was highly sought after and much pricier than other spiritual vegetables.

Ba Yicheng found her words amusing—she seemed to think everyone’s path was as smooth as hers, with all blessings and no obstacles. The road of cultivation never lacked opportunities; it was simply a matter of seizing them. In nearly a century, he had never experienced enlightenment, while she, still in her teens, had already reached late Foundation Establishment. Perhaps, upon their return, Sword-Hidden Peak would gain a new Core Formation cultivator.

Though this medium-sized world was rich in spiritual energy and Core Formation cultivators were not rare, a teenager reaching that stage would be a prodigy anywhere—not something they would flaunt, but certainly something to celebrate. It would give Kunlun another talking point at the centennial competition.

"Senior brother, what time is it now? Did I make us miss the exchange event?" Li Mengze asked. She had never attended such activities and was quite eager.

Ba Yicheng smiled. "Let’s eat first. I’ve already ordered; after we finish, we’ll head to the auction. I hear there’s a top-level technique for mutated wind spiritual roots up for bid. Master has instructed us to improvise."

Li Mengze: o(╯□╰)o—had a day really passed already? She thought it had only been a brief moment. Embarrassed, she scratched her head. "Sorry for making you miss the exchange event. Maybe you were hoping to trade for something."

Wen Yuanyuan gave her a sidelong glance—had she been a man, she’d surely have lost her soul. Her phoenix eyes arched, lips curled, radiating charm.

"Little sister, what are you saying? You’re our junior, after all."