Meng Lin walked through the darkness, quickly arriving where her axe had fallen. It was buried halfway into the invisible ground, still pulsing faintly with blue light.
Without hesitation, she reached down and gripped the axe, pulling it free in one smooth motion. The familiar weight steadied her.
Around her, the dark shards from the creature floated in the air, unmoving but not lifeless. They hovered like fractured gss, twitching slightly, pulsing with dim violet energy.
She narrowed her eyes as they began to melt slowly—disintegrating into radiant threads of light, each a condensed strand of Qi.
Meng Lin blinked, unsure of what was going on.
Like strands of moonlight, the energy drifted toward her. Thin as a hair strand, each thread shimmered softly, yet they didn't scatter. Instead, they surrounded her, slow and deliberate, pressing gently against her skin as though seeking entry.
Meng Lin contempted for a second before she sat down in silence, folding her legs beneath her and letting the axe rest beside her knees.
She didn't feel any threat at the moment, plus she felt that if she didn’t start circuting her Qi, this energy might force its way into her anyway.
So there was no fear in her heart, only caution... and a strong sense of curiosity.
The moment she began to circute the Elemental Qi Convergence Method, she exhaled slowly as she felt a massive pool of energy seep into her body.
It was neither violent nor chaotic. Instead, it seeped into her like water into sand. The energy wrapped itself around her skin, then filtered inward—one strand at a time, slow yet overwhelming in number.
Within moments, her limbs felt warmer. Then heavier. A gentle pressure pressed against her from every direction, the sensation of countless streams of power filling her pores with energy.
She focused, circuting her Qi even more. It wasn’t the normal feeling of circution; instead, the Qi was abundant, dense, and thick enough to weigh on her muscles, yet light enough to float effortlessly around her body.
Time lost its meaning as she sat there, breathing slowly. The Qi threads never stopped coming, continuing like an unending tide.
Minutes passed. Or hours.
Her body felt like a furnace, her skin faintly glowing under the pressure of so much spiritual energy.
Then, without warning, the st wisp disappeared.
Silence returned.
Meng Lin opened her eyes.
The void was gone. She found herself sitting cross-legged with her axe lying beside her.
She didn't say anything for a long time, letting the silence settle inside her for a while. She felt the heat of sunlight against her skin and noticed the sun high up in the sky.
Then she got up, feeling every inch of her body full, her spiritual veins humming from the amount of Qi that surged through them.
"System"
[Meng Lin]
[Soul Wandering Stage (te)]
[Experience Points: 13 > 39%]
System Coin: 540
Immortal Jade: 4
Taoist Gacha Wheel: unavaible
Spiritual Roots: [Water > Fire > Gold > Wood > Earth]
Variant Elemental Qi: [Mud] [Erosion] [Water] [Darkness] [Fire] [Gold 20%] [Ice 2%] [Wind 1%]
[Heavenly Dao]
[Death]
[Comprehension 0.06%]
Main Cultivation Method: [Elemental Qi Convergence Method]
Side Cultivation Methods: [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation Method] [Brute Vortex Cultivation Method] [Bck Tortoise Essence Art, 5th Layer] [Imperial Water Art]
Techniques: [Celestial Moonlit Sword Art] [Hundred Unity Techniques] [Wrath of Thunder] [Physique Cleansing Sutra] [Vital Essence Exchange]
Secret Techniques: [Stelr Soul Shield]
Skills: [Immortal Flesh]
Ancient Spirit Seal: Crimson Tortoise Dragon
[Market] [Bcksmith] [Alchemy] [Daily Mission]
Meng Lin's brows lifted slightly as she thought, 'That... excessive.'
One fight. One encounter. Twenty-six percent increase.
“I see.” Her voice was barely above a whisper as she brushed a few strands of hair behind her ear. “Is this the pendant’s ability? To trap souls and transfer their Qi upon defeat? What kind of treasure is that?”
She looked at her hand.
The jade pendant rested there quietly, its surface smooth and unblemished—as though it hadn’t been the gateway to a battlefield just moments ago.
"I am surprised, though. The system didn't perceive this as something to be rewarded for... Although I guess I didn't do the heavy lifting myself."
"A soul prison… and a crucible," she murmured.
A faint idea surfaced in her mind, slowly at first, then it surged until she couldn't help but gleefully smile.
What would happen if I fed it more?
Not humans, as that would only cause problems. Plus, she had no interest in sughtering cultivators—though she had little mercy if they stood in her path.
No, she was thinking about Spirit beasts. If she were to hunt them—kill them—and use the pendant to capture their souls.
It could work.
One encounter had pushed her cultivation by over a quarter.
How far could she go with ten peak stage Rank 4 beasts?
Twenty?
"Interesting," she said aloud, the word ced with eagerness.
She suddenly remembered something and looked up at the sky, wondering about the time.
****
**Thousand Lotus Pavilion**
A sacred pce for alchemists and especially for those seeking rare pills and spiritual herbs. It was established by one of the few righteous sects in the Luo Kingdom, the Three Petal Sect, and with its connections, it had grown into the most prestigious auction house in Qinghe City.
Today, its halls were filled to the brim as cultivators moved through the corridors, some stopping by herb stalls to haggle while others moved through the halls, headed for the auction.
Among them, noticed by most, walked a woman in a flowing white robe, her steps leisurely as she examined her surroundings.
Meng Lin felt quite lucky, knowing that she didn't miss the auction today. It wasn't surprising to her to be lost in cultivation for a whole day; if anything, it was too regur now.
Walking through the hall, Meng Lin's steps carried her toward one of the side counters, away from the noise of the gathering crowd.
Behind the polished wooden desk stood a middle-aged man in bck robes, his eyes scanning her as she approached.
Without a word, she reached into her sleeve and retrieved an engraved token.
The man’s eyes glowed slightly with a blue light before they widened slightly.
He bowed, respectful but quick. “An honored guest. Please, this way.” He gestured for a maid that had been standing at the side.
With a polite gesture, the maid beckoned Meng Lin forward and led her away from the central hall.
They moved through a narrow hallway with ntern lights, muffled by sound-inscribing formations.
It wasn’t long before they arrived.
The booth sat high above the main auction hall, protected by a semi-transparent spiritual veil that shimmered with a formation.
Inside the booth, Meng Lin saw plush seating, carved wooden tables, and a tray of freshly made delicacies, ranging from fruits to pastries, all radiating a soft spiritual aura.
Meng Lin’s eyes lingered on the food, a faint memory stirring. The aura reminded her of the Rank 3 meal she had back in the Scattered Isnds Region, although the dishes before her now were Rank 2.
She muttered something under her breath, settling into the plush seat, feeling more rexed as she took a glowing berry from the tray and began to eat.
The maid stood silently by the side, waiting for any orders. Meng Lin didn’t acknowledge her, instead turning her gaze toward the auction floor below, curious about the upcoming items.
Looking down, Meng Lin observed the crowd entering the auction hall, a steady stream of cultivators filling the rows of seats arranged for over 50 meters.
She noticed a few individuals wearing masks, while others did not. It seemed the auction hadn't started yet, as the stage was still closed.
Her gaze moved up to the private booths above the hall. Some of them were already occupied, the indicator being a faint blue light shimmering above the veils that separated each section.
She noticed two private booths with crests, most likely representing prominent families, as she was able to recognize the Luo family crest; however, the other one she didn't.
Turning to the maid, Meng Lin asked casually, “Who occupies the other booth with the crest? I only recognize the Luo family’s.”
The maid, standing quietly by her side, bowed slightly before answering. “That booth belongs to the Yue family, one of the four powerful families within Qinghe City. They are second only to the Luo family in influence.”
Meng Lin nodded thoughtfully. She had known that Qinghe City was ruled by sword cultivators as well as several families, but she hadn't really noticed it that much—maybe because she hadn't been going out.
She stopped observing and continued to eat the Rank 2 foods before her. Although they didn't do much for the current her, they still felt incredibly delicious.
Around her, the private booths were slowly filling up, and the cultivators below all filled the venue—roughly a thousand cultivators, at least half at the Foundation Establishment Realm.
As the lights dimmed and the atmosphere shifted, the auctioneer's voice cut through the murmur of the crowd as an old man came onto the stage. “Ladies and gentlemen, we begin!”
"My name is De Lee, an elder of the Three Petal Sect, and I will be your auctioneer for this event," the old man announced with a smile.
With a flick of his hand, the stage lights brightened, and the first item rolled out: a simple slip of parchment. “A Rank 3 Alchemy Slip, containing detailed instructions for refining the Spirit Cleansing Pill. The starting bid is 200 middle-grade spirit stones.”
The crowd buzzed with interest. Several alchemists straightened in their seats. The Spirit Cleansing Pill wasn’t rare, but the knowledge to refine it successfully was tightly held.
A man in a red robe from the central area raised his paddle. “Two hundred and fifty middle-grade spirit stones.”
Almost instantly, a woman dressed in azure, from a booth on the left, countered. “Three hundred.”
Meng Lin raised an eyebrow. A pill instruction slip for a Rank 3? It didn't hold much value to her, it wouldn't increase her alchemy percentage since it was a grade lower.
The bidding rose steadily before finally another bid quickly followed from a booth that had the crest of the Luo family.
There was a moment of silence as no one in the crowd continued to bid—either not interested or not daring to bid against the Luo family. The auctioneer smiled knowingly.
“400 going once... twice... sold! To the Luo family’s booth!”
De Lee cpped gently. “Congratutions. Now, for our next item.”
A jade tray was brought forward, covered by a silk cloth. When De Lee pulled it off, a jade bottle with a clear white pill appeared. “A Rank 3 Essence Restoring Pill,” the auctioneer announced.
“This pill can significantly replenish blood essence as well as corrupted spiritual energy. It is highly sought after by cultivators preparing for a breakthrough. The starting bid is 250 middle-grade spirit stones!”
Meng Lin smiled as she leaned back in her chair. Although she wasn't interested in this item, considering it was a pill, she couldn't help but wonder if higher-grade pills would appear.
The bidding began almost immediately.
“Three hundred!”
“Three-fifty!”
“Four hundred!”
The numbers rose quickly, most of the bids coming from rogue cultivators and small sects. And as the price climbed to 420, a representative from a small sect clenched his jaw and raised his token.
“Four-fifty!”
But a moment ter, a crisp, slightly mocking voice echoed from a private booth above. “Seven hundred.”
No one raised a counter-bid as the price had clearly crossed the true value.
De Lee didn’t look surprised. “Seven hundred middle-grade spirit stones. Going once… twice… sold!”
He nodded, and the jade bottle was respectfully carried offstage.
“For our third item,” he continued, “something a bit more… exotic.”
A robed attendant stepped forward, holding a cloth-wrapped bundle. With a flourish, the cloth was pulled away to reveal a faintly glowing fang, veined with traces of purple lightning.
The auctioneer’s voice dropped, slightly serious. “This, dies and gentlemen, is the fang of a Rank 4 Azure Howl Serpent. It contains residual lightning essence—a powerful material for weapon forging or talisman crafting. Starting bid: 600 middle-grade spirit stones.”
Whispers filled the hall as cultivators leaned forward, eyes glinting with interest. A Rank 4 beast fang with residual elemental essence was far from common.
Meng Lin held a finger under her chin. Her gaze flicked toward the item once, more curious than tempted. She could feel the raw power emanating from it, but she didn't need it. And if she did want it, she could get it from the system market.
“Six-fifty!” someone shouted from below.
“Seven-fifty!”
“Eight hundred!”
The bids climbed fast. Even if not compatible with everyone’s cultivation path, the value as a forging material made the fang a worthy prize.
Then the bidding slowed.
And then, from the Yue family’s booth, a calm yet tender voice spoke:
“One thousand.”
It was the first time someone from that booth had spoken. And the voice was so young at that.. The hall quieted, the previous bidders lowering their paddles one by one.
De Lee nodded with a smile. “One thousand middle-grade spirit stones to the Yue family. Going once, going twice… sold!”
Whispers broke out again, spreading like ripples through the crowd.
“Was that… a youth’s voice?”
“I thought the Yue family’s young master was still in a coma…”
“Yue Li… is that really him?”
Meng Lin narrowed her eyes thoughtfully, reclining deeper into her seat, she couldn't help but turn to the maid, who also seemed to be paying close attention.
The maid leaned from the side, speaking quietly. “I heard Yue Li’s soul core was damaged in a secret realm. They said he wouldn’t wake for years. But if that’s him bidding, he must’ve recovered.”
Meng Lin remained silent, swirling the tea in her porcein cup as the item was sealed away and respectfully taken offstage.
She had little interest in family matters, but a person who returned from a coma, only to make their appearance through a bid, she couldn't help but think, especially about the item that was bid.
