Qi Refinement, Fourth Layer.

  Liu Ba sat in silence, quietly feeling the new surge of power coursing through him. His soul body had become denser than ever its outline clear and solid, faint spiritual currents flowing through unseen meridians. The energy pulsed within him, calm yet vastly more potent.

  He couldn’t help but let out a low sigh.

  This was, without question, the easiest breakthrough he had ever made since arriving in this world.

  No deadly battles.No treacherous schemes.Not even months of grueling meditation.

  All it had taken was a single, free pill from the City Lord’s Mansion and he had effortlessly crossed the barrier that had held him back for so long.

  How was this any different from having food served to one’s mouth, clothes handed to one’s hands?

  He thought of the disciples of other sects each step forward a knife’s edge, each advancement a gamble with life itself.But here, in Luoshan City, disciples simply shut themselves in a chamber, swallowed a pill, and advanced in peace.

  The contrast was staggering so much so that Liu Ba felt a chill creep down his spine.

  He knew better than anyone: there was no such thing as a free meal.Especially not within a demonic sect, where the strong devoured the weak.

  So why was Luoshan City acting so benevolent?

  They gave disciples core cultivation methods, bestowed personal soul banners, and even provided precious pills to help them break through bottlenecks—voluntarily.

  What kind of hidden purpose could possibly lie behind such “kindness”?

  Surely, someone else must have noticed something was wrong?Or had they all simply drowned in this illusion of comfort forgetting where they truly were?

  Liu Ba knew such questions touched upon the deepest secrets of Luoshan City, ones no ordinary disciple could ever hope to uncover.

  And from Qin Yi’s earlier conversation with Feng Wuyá, one truth had already become clear the City Lord of Luoshan City was no man of virtue.

  A man who could order the assassination of his own sect’s disciples for profit had long abandoned the concept of mercy.

  For now, Liu Ba could do nothing but maintain his cover pretending to be nothing more than a talented but unremarkable cultivator, quietly observing and waiting for a chance to discover the city’s true nature.

  If the Luoshan Technique truly held no hidden dangers, then perhaps one of his clones could continue cultivating it.And if the Breakthrough Pill truly carried no ill effects, then he would find a way to obtain its recipe and let Liu Dan his distant counterpart attempt to refine it herself.

  As for the moment Liu Ba drew a deep breath and placed his hand upon the sealed door of the chamber.

  The invisible barrier shimmered faintly, almost as if alive.Sensing the aura of a fourth-layer cultivator, it dissolved soundlessly.

  Creak

  The heavy stone door swung open.

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  Zhao Ping was waiting right outside. The moment he saw Liu Ba emerge, he greeted him with bright enthusiasm, his face lighting up in genuine delight.

  “Congratulations, Junior Brother! You’ve successfully broken through to the mid-stage of Qi Refinement!”“I knew it! With your talent, a mere bottleneck wouldn’t hold you for long!”

  Liu Ba was about to respond modestly when Zhao Ping’s tone shifted slightly:

  “Now that you’ve advanced to the fourth layer, it’s time you start taking sect missions. You know the rule, right? Every disciple must complete at least one sect task each month otherwise, the sect will issue punishment. How about we head to the Mission Hall now and see what’s available?”

  Liu Ba blinked he had nearly forgotten about that rule.

  Ever since entering Luoshan City, everything had been too easy, too comfortable. He’d grown uncharacteristically careless.

  He hesitated briefly, then nodded.

  “Alright. But… the Mission Hall is outside the city, isn’t it? How do we get past the gates?”

  Zhao Ping chuckled heartily, reaching into his robe.

  “No need to worry about that.”

  He pulled out a small soul banner, roughly the size of his palm. It looked plain no symbols, no ornate design but as soon as Zhao Ping flicked it into the air, it swelled against the wind, transforming into a small, pitch-black skiff.

  He leapt onto the vessel, pulling Liu Ba up beside him before continuing his explanation:

  “Disciples from other sects must keep their physical bodies intact, so they rely on the ancient locust tree at the city’s center as an anchor to enter or leave the city.”“But we are spirits—our souls unbound by flesh. We can travel freely.”

  He gestured toward the black boat beneath their feet.

  “Still, it’s best to have a soul banner as a vessel. It shields our souls from the scorching sunlight and fierce winds outside, stores the spirits we harvest, and even provides additional combat power. Most importantly it contains a Spirit-Gathering Array, allowing us to cultivate continuously even beyond the city walls. Truly a marvelous tool.”

  Patting Liu Ba’s shoulder, Zhao Ping added earnestly:

  “Remember this, Junior Brother never leave the city without your soul banner. Forget it once, and you might not come back.”

  Liu Ba nodded, storing the warning in his mind.

  The skeletal skiff then rose silently into the sky, a faint streak of black light slipping past Luoshan City’s towering walls, vanishing into the distance.

  Meanwhile, in Sancai Workshop, within a hidden craftsman’s hall

  A slightly portly overseer paced frantically like an ant on a hot wok, his voice harsh and trembling with anxiety as he berated a terrified servant.

  “It’s still not ready? The Young Master departs tomorrow! Where are the Thunderstrike Talismans he ordered?!”

  The servant shrank under his glare, nearly stammering through his response.

  “M–Manager, Master Luo Xuan tried to rush the process a few days ago… he suffered qi deviation—his spirit’s damaged and he’s still recuperating. As for Master Sun Yuan… h-he got into a fight outside the mountain gate yesterday and was assassinated, so… we… we really can’t finish them in time—”

  “Then what about Yun Yan?!” the overseer roared, beard bristling. “Tell her to pick up the pace! If we delay the Young Master’s plans, none of us will survive it!”

  The servant’s voice cracked, tears nearly spilling from his eyes.

  “M-Mistress Yun Yan is already crafting the other talismans the Young Master requested she truly can’t spare the time…”

  The overseer’s brows knit tightly, a sinking feeling gnawing at his gut.

  “Then what about the others? Don’t tell me no one in this entire workshop can craft a fifth-grade talisman?”

  “The others…” the servant stammered. “The others are all busy working on lower-grade symbols or… or their skills just aren’t up to the task. None of them can meet the Young Master’s requirements…”

  “Useless! A bunch of worthless trash!”

  The overseer kicked over a nearby incense burner, his fury echoing through the hall.

  But once his rage burned out, only despair remained.

  He knew very well what awaited those who failed the Young Master.He had seen it himself how the previous overseer had been turned into a mindless puppet, forever stripped of his will.

  Just as he was sinking into panic, another servant burst into the room and whispered urgently into his ear.

  The overseer froze. His dim eyes suddenly blazed with renewed hope.

  “Is that true?” he demanded. “A fifth-grade talisman master here?”

  When the servant nodded, the overseer seized him by the collar, excitement and desperation colliding in his voice.

  “Quick! Invite him down at once!”

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