In the vast expanse of the cosmic memory space, where memory orbs floated like celestial bodies, streams of green strands weaved in from the void.

These strands of Qi snaked their way among the orbs, their purpose clear as they drilled into specific inferior orbs in the outer cluster.

Each strand of Qi, controlled with precision, infused into the orbs, swirling within until merging seamlessly with their essence...

With the influx of Qi, the orbs shimmered, its once dull glow now pulsating with subtle brilliance.

As the last strand of Qi flowed into one of the orbs, its size expanded ever so subtly, indicating an upgrade from an inferior to a low-quality memory orb.

“Sweet, another one successfully upgraded.” Bubai was pleased with the realized progress, but…

Enhancing a single inferior orb was already a costly feat, requiring a couple strands of true Qi each. To uplift them all seemed an insurmountable task, especially since there were hardly any signs of improvement in the memory space itself.

This lack of motivational evidence made the task even more daunting.

“Well, it’s just a matter of daily accumulation. Some parts of cultivation just wasn’t a matter that could be rushed through.”

As his consciousness drifted back to reality, a melodic voice, like a gentle breeze, stirred his senses.

"...It's one thing to relive your own memories, but to delve too deeply into the memories of others is dangerous, as it may affect you..."

Blinking back to awareness, Bubai found himself seated in a familiar library, the scent of ancient tomes filling the air. Sitting across from him, the silver-haired fairy’s stern voice imparted her final warning and advice.

“External memories, raw and unfiltered, may overwhelm you, clouding your judgment and leaving scars upon your spirit. Others learning this method don’t have a choice, but you do. Remember, the dream foundation offers a safeguard, and you can preview memories without taking the plunge. Use this advantage wisely, you’ll thank this fairy in the future..."

Indeed, Bubai had felt the strange impact from the emotions of the original owner during his browsing of the twins’ memories, especially during the encounter featuring WeiWei.

His green Qi had cleansed these influences after the fact, but it was still unknown if there were any other lingering impacts.

“Well, a very useful technique, but I suppose this is the danger of such power,” Bubai chuckled softly to himself.

The scene soon dissolved, leaving behind only the faint echoes of memory.

Bubai’s eyes flickered open to see the scene of his bedroom.

With a contented sigh, he stretched his limbs, feeling the tension of this cultivation session release. "Almost perfect timing.”

Memory viewing – it wasn’t just informative.

After judging the duration of selected memories, their playthrough could effortlessly serve as excellent timers.

Of course, he normally won’t waste time revisiting old memories.

It’s just that he had recently devised a strict schedule to maximize his time in order to achieve his goals by the end of the break.

Getting off the bed, Bubai crossed the bedchamber, his mind already turning to the myriad plans awaiting him during this one-week break.

Investing his time into cultivation and memory reviewing was important, but there were other matters that demanded his attention as well.

“Hmm, it’s my break, yes, but it doesn’t mean I shouldn’t go show my face to earn some brownie points. Maybe I can also spend some contribution points…”

North District. Afternoon.

Bubai's steps faltered, coming to a halt before the Book Pavilion’s grand double doors.

The corners of his lips twitched as he took in the paper sign on the door - "Closed for a week."

The elderly lady had said it in such a nice way, but in reality, it was her own well-deserved break, wasn't it?

With a resigned sigh, he ruefully shook his head and turned on his heels, “Well, guess I’ll allocate this time to make other preparations…”

West District.

The bell above the door jingled as Bubai stepped into a shop. He was immediately greeted by a mixture of scents - the rich aroma of aged wood, the faint hint of varnish, and the dusty musk of antiquity.

His eyes danced across the assortment of merchandise crammed into the small space...

Antique wooden furnishing stood proudly alongside their glass, bamboo, and sandstone counterparts, each whispering tales of ancient, rustic craftsmanship.

This was the He Hollow Emporium – a small furniture shop, yet it should not be underestimated for behind it stood a clan belonging to the Wu faction.

However, this time, he wasn’t here to furnish his tower.

“I just said I keep hearing the cry of the magpies. It turns out that Young Master Mo is here!”

Bubai’s attention was drawn over to the voice. It was the shopkeeper, He An - a stout man with a friendly demeanor.

Approaching the shopkeeper, Bubai greeted him warmly, "Good afternoon, Lao An. I'm in need of some quality wood for a project I have in mind."

Lao An's eyes twinkled with curiosity as he surveyed Bubai. "Of course, Young Master Mo!”

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Taking out a couple of samples, the man introduced, “We have a fine selection of wood, ranging from imported deadwood and sandalwood to locally-grown ironwood and locust wood. What specifically are you looking for?"

Bubai’s gaze lingered on the grains of wood displayed on the counter before him, "I'll take a couple of blocks, two catty of mahogany and the other sandalwood.”

“Fine choices indeed.” Nodding, Lao An fetched the requested pieces, expertly measuring and cutting them to size before presenting them to Bubai. "Here you are, Young Master Mo. That’ll be 9 silver taels. Shall I wrap them for you?"

"That won't be necessary," Bubai replied, his mind already racing ahead to his next request. "But I do have one more thing I need. I'd like to place an order for a flat acacia wood slab, perfectly cut into a square shape, with an eight by eight grid carved onto it. Oh, and keep a border on the four outer edges of the grid."

Lao An's brow furrowed in confusion, but he nodded nonetheless. "Certainly, Young Master Mo. That's an unusual request, but we pride ourselves on accommodating our customers' needs. If you could pay a deposit of 2 taels, I'll have it ready for you by tomorrow."

Handing over the required amount, Bubai carefully stowed away the blocks of wood into his sack, his thoughts swirling with calculations.

Though it wasn’t specified that he had to bring a gift, he knew that every detail mattered. Only with full preparations could he seize the most benefits…

“Welcome to come again~”

When he stepped back out into the sparsely populated streets, Bubai's gaze turned toward his next goal. "Time to make preparations for another plan…"

Leaving behind the quaint furniture shop, Bubai headed toward the outer district.

East District. Sandstone Arch.

Lurking not far from the archway, Bubai’s divine sense extended, sweeping out to scout his surroundings.

It detected only a lone female law enforcer stealthily observing from a distant rooftop, her attention seemingly elsewhere.

Satisfied that there were no other campers inspecting the border, Bubai wasted no time and proceeded towards the archway.

However, when he passed through the archway, a slight frown creased his brow, prompting his eyes to discreetly glance down at his identity token.

Despite the momentary concern, his steps remained steady, showing no outward sign of alarm.

Thus, the outer district welcomed another guest, who eventually disappeared into an alley already invaded by the shadows cast by the setting sun.

Outer Sect. Eighth District. Night.

From a high vantage point atop a sandstone tower, a man cloaked in a black robe stood, his form a mere shadow against the velvet expanse of the night sky.

A mask concealed his face, adding an air of mystery to his presence as he surveyed the chaos below.

The outer district sprawled before him, its alleys and streets shrouded in darkness, pierced only by the flickering glow of distant torches and the cries from the nocturnal beasts.

It was just another night alive with the whispers of unrest.

"It never settles down, does it?"

With a light leap, Bubai descended from his lofty perch, his cloak billowing around him as he scaled the wall, eventually landing on the roof below.

Without stopping, he moved like a phantom, prowling over the rooftops and sometimes slinking down into the dark alleys below.

Navigating through the labyrinthine streets, he only paused occasionally to eavesdrop on the useful conversations of the outer disciples captured in his radar.

For hours he had been scouting the district, piecing together the puzzle of their words, searching for the threads that would weave the net for his true targets.

He was done with farming the poor crab and shrimp soldiers. Now, his aim was set elsewhere.

However, mapping out escape routes across multiple districts and reconnaissance of his targets without alerting them was a task that couldn't be accomplished in just a night or two.

He knew that he would need to be patient, to bide his time and gather as much information as he could before making his move...

Just when Bubai crept into another alley, his divine sense captured an interesting situation nearby.

With a heavy blade strapped across his back, a muscular baldy was charging toward the alley he was in.

He thought he had hid himself fairly well...

Bubai raised a brow. “Coincidence?”

Soon, the man burst into the alley, his eyes blazing with fury when he set his sights on Bubai.

"I knew I didn’t recognize it wrong. It’s you!”

Well, seems it was no mere coincidence.

With a thunderous crash, the muscular man slammed his large blade onto the ground, sending a current of sand rolling across the ground of the alley.

“Thief, don’t think you can escape from me this time! Give me back my treasures!" he growled, his words dripping with venom.

Behind the mask, Bubai's expression remained unreadable as he assessed the man.

A scar across one cheek, that shaved head and heavy sword...

Recognition soon flickered in his mind. This was one of the three men from the hunter group that was lucky enough to “find” an inferior-grade spatial storage pouch.

They were also “lucky” enough to be relieved of their ill-gotten gains during his seventh district heist.

He thought their fate ended there, but it seems karma had caught up to him...

The muscular man didn’t continue his tirade any longer. Without stopping to consider why his opponent was still so calm, he eagerly lunged forward, his heavy blade slicing through the air with lethal intent. “Masked coward, taste my Xiongba smash!”

Bubai glanced at the incoming blade. So slow. He lazily raised his hand...

"Ha, don’t underestimate me. Ask around and you’ll know-" The muscular man's sneer abruptly falter, disbelief painting his features when he witnessed the bare hand intercepting his blade, stopping it dead in its tracks.

Bubai dully stared at the bloke. Oh, his strength wasn’t bad. Unfortunately, his brain didn’t seem to bright.

Bubai's grip tightened, his fingers acting like razor-sharp claws that effortlessly grasped the edge of the heavy sword.

A smile slowly crept across his masked face, his voice cold and devoid of mercy. "Since you delivered yourself to my doorstep, then... I’ll help myself."

East District. Tower.

With the door rumbling shut behind him, Bubai proceeded along the corridor stretching out before him, heading toward the storage room, its door standing slightly ajar.

On his way over, he heard the faint swishing sounds emanating from within, like the whisper of silk against steel.

With a gentle push, he slid open the door, his eyes immediately drawn to the beauty performing a mesmerizing sword dance in the room’s open space, her violet hair swaying through the air in a waterfall of shimmering strands.

She seemed oblivious to his presence, lost in the fluidity of her elegant sword skills.

It was as if the sword was an extension of her very being, every thrust and swing a manifestation of her innermost emotions.

Bubai leaned against the doorframe, his arms crossed over his chest, a smile sneaking onto his face.

Watching the sword maiden’s performance, Bubai felt a sense of peace wash over him, the rhythmic motion of her dance soothing his troubled mind.

Of course, he wasn’t idling while waiting. While he marveled at her skill and beauty, he silently circulated his Qi, gradually drawing upon the energy of the tower to supplement his own reserves.

Each flourish of the beauty’s sword seemed to chip away at time itself, and eventually...

With a flourish of her sword, Xiao Lan entered the final stance of the sword manual, her blade seeming to shimmer against the dim light as it pointed straight at Bubai.

Her sharp eyes flitted over toward him, reflecting the intent of the sword in her heart.

Swish! With Qi as her fuel, she slid across the ground towards him, the sword piercing through the space between them, aimed directly at his throat!

But just as the sword was mere inches from piercing his skin, Bubai tilted his head ever so slightly, a playful smile dancing on his lips.

In one swift motion, he reached out, his hand closing around the hilt of the sword, grasping the cool, soft hand and guiding it away from his neck with ease.

At the same time, his other arm encircled her willowy waist, pulling her into his embrace.

Their bodies pressed together, the heat of his body mingling with the coolness of his steely woman.

Staring into her eyes, Bubai seemed to feel her suppressed frustrations under her mask. This was… unsurprising.

For months, she had been locked up in his tower, yet the considerate woman didn’t voice a single complaint.

Now, his promotion to Foundation Establishment had granted him some confidence, and he knew it was high time he took her out for a well-deserved walk.

So, Bubai's smile widened, speaking out in a low and soothing. “I’ll be free recently.”

Xiao Lan’s glassy eyes blankly stared back at him in silence.

“Want to accompany me on a walk?”

The date with destiny hung in the air like a harbinger of spring.