Li An's eyelids fluttered open and the bright light of the room seeped into her consciousness. The citrus and minty scent of medicinal herbs assaulted her nose, making her frown. "Where am I?"
The dull throb in her waist reminded her of the recent events. Li An felt her body heavy and empty of spiritual energy. Her organs were probably absorbing it to heal her.
Li An slowly turned her head to the side and saw You Mei sitting next to her, head resting on the edge of the bed. She noticed the dark circles under You Mei's eyes. "I have probably been in a coma for more than two days."
Perhaps because Li An was staring at her, You Mei woke up. Her eyes blinked rapidly as she registered the fact that Li An was awake.
Tears welled up in her eyes and she began to cry, the sobs wracking her body.
"Li An, I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. I should have protected you."
Li An reached out, her hand gently squeezing You Mei's. "It's okay, You Mei. I'm here, and I'm safe. Everything will be alright."
"Yes, You Mei, you must suffer more and develop faster, so that I can achieve my goals." She had proven to be a very capable 'friend'; therefore, Li An did not want to see her wasting her potential.
You Mei's sobs quieted, her gaze fixed on Li An's calm, understanding expression.
"I just... I was so scared. I thought I lost you."
"Silly You Mei," Li An smiled softly. "You didn't lose me. I'm tougher than I look, remember?"
She gently brushed a tear from You Mei's cheek. "Now, let's talk about something else. Anything else."
You Mei cheeks turned a shade of red. "Even in this situation, she's the one worrying about me. I do not deserve to have her as a friend."
The sun was beginning to hide below the horizon, casting a warm, golden hue over the landscape of the sect grounds. The air was filled with the soft hum of evening insects and a gentle winter breeze that rustled the leaves of the pine trees.
"Do you remember the night of the Lantern Festival?" You Mei laughed lightly, her eyes sparkling with the memory. "We snuck out past curfew to release our own lanterns by the river. The sect guards were furious when they found out, but it was worth it. Watching those lanterns float away into the night sky, carrying our wishes... it felt magical."
You Mei continued to speak, and Li An continued to listen silently. A nostalgic moment that has happened many times in the past. You Mei felt her lips curl upwards. "Although Li An has changed, there are things that remain the same."
You Mei's gaze drifted to the horizon, where the last rays of the sun were disappearing. "I miss those days," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Everything felt so simple."
For a moment, the two of them sat in silence, the only sounds being the gentle rustling of leaves and the distant call of a nightbird.
Creak
The opening of the door disturbed their peace. The sect leader walked in with a straight back and a serious expression. "Li An, You Mei," he greeted them, nodding in acknowledgment.
"How are you feeling, Li An?" he asked, sounding genuinely concerned.
Li An managed a small smile. "I'm recovering, Sect Leader. Thank you for your concern."
"We found nothing conclusive, but it seems Elder Jiang might be somehow related to the recent events." The sect leader frowned deeply. "We investigated the explosion at her house. She hid all the traces, but we suspect she might have killed the surviving assassins after they failed their mission."
He paused, looking at Li An with a smile that reached his eyes. "You showed great bravery by warning the sect about the danger. As a token of my gratitude, I want to give you this." He held out a small, ornate box with wooden carvings of fire-spitting dragons.
Li An tilted her head slightly and the sect leader smirked. "This is a Spirit Pill. Not even inner sect disciples have access to this kind of pill."
"Oh?" Li An's eyes trembled. She had a great need for pills and treasures that could accelerate the process of creating hexanodes.
She accepted the box with a grateful head bow. "Thank you, Sect Leader. I appreciate it."
The sect leader nodded, his expression softening. "You've proven yourself a valuable member of our sect, Li An. Rest and recover. We need strong disciples like you."
After the sect leader left, Li An glanced at the spirit pill, but her thoughts were on his last words. "I am not naive enough to believe that I am important for the sect."
"I know I was only given this much attention because of my status as You Mei's closest friend," she thought. "But I'm not mad. That's just how the world works." And more importantly, it allows her to greatly benefit from the situation.
Li An understood better than anyone how the weak fought and the importance of alliances and relationships. While the world might not always be fair, she knew how to navigate this treacherous ocean called life.
You Mei turned to Li An with a set jaw, leaning closer to the bed.
"You've been asleep for three days," You Mei said, her voice steady. She reached into her robe and pulled out a small, intricately carved wooden box. It looked almost identical to the one from the sect leader. Opening it, she revealed a single spirit pill resting inside.
You Mei held the box out to Li An, keeping strong eye contact. "I have something for you," she said with a firm tone. She pushed the box gently towards her.
Li An looked at the pill, then at You Mei, her brow furrowing slightly. She shook her head and raised her hand in a silent refusal. However, You Mei's expression remained unchanged.
Without a word, You Mei took Li An's hand and placed the box in her palm, closing her fingers around it. Her intent was clear. She straightened up, her eyes never leaving Li An's.
"Whatever is mine, is also yours."
Li An opened her mouth as if to protest, but You Mei's eyes narrowed dangerously, daring her to refuse it again. Li An's shoulders relaxed, and she nodded once, accepting the gift.
"I will use it well."
You Mei's lips formed a perfect crescent shape. She reached out and patted Li An's hand gently, then stepped back, allowing Li An to examine the pill. Li An looked at the box, her fingers tracing the intricate dragon carvings, before closing it with a soft click.
They smiled at each other.
· · ────── ·𖥸· ────── · ·
Li An entered her house and sat at her small, wooden table. "Ah, the recovery power of cultivators is really astonishing." She had remained bedridden for two more days under the careful watch of the medicine elder and You Mei. Her wounds had quickly healed, and the strength returned to her body.
"As long as the meridians, the heart and the brain are not damaged, cultivators can recover easily with pills or herbs." Li An let her back rest against the chair and sighed. "Spiritual energy stimulates cell regeneration in the human body, making cultivators a type of superhuman. This world is truly amazing."
She placed the blue spirit pill on the table before her, studying it with a focused gaze. The pill's surface was smooth and gleaming, emanating a faint, almost imperceptible glow.
She had never heard of the spirit pill before, but she could feel the highly condensed spiritual energy inside the small sphere. Not only was it condensed, but it was also extremely pure, identical to the spiritual energy found in nature.
"If it works the same as other pills, I should be able to convert the pure energy into my own signature spiritual energy." Li An thought about the process of consuming healing pills. They were made with the spiritual energy of the pill refiner, yet other cultivators were still able to consume them.
The reason behind it was the purity of the healing qi inside, which was similar to the one found in nature. The purer the energy, the more effective the pill was.
"Wait a second." As Lian continued to examine the spirit pill, a crazy thought began to take shape in her mind.
"What if I could use this pure energy to create my artificial hexagonal meridian system?" she mused. "Instead of relying on my own condensed spiritual energy, which is limited and takes time to refine, I could use the pure energy from these pills to accelerate the process."
The idea took root, growing more compelling the more she considered it. "These pills could provide a nearly limitless supply of the energy I need," she thought, her fingers lightly tapping the table in contemplation. "If I can convert this energy directly into my hexagonal meridians, my progress could be much faster than anticipated."
Her fingers paused. "Let's do it." Li An was cautious, but she was never against taking a calculated risk when necessary.
...
Over the next eight days, Li An dedicated herself to this new approach. She carefully consumed portions of the spirit pill, channeling the pure energy to her hands without going through her meridians.
To others, this would be impossible. But Li An could manipulate spiritual energy with the help of the electromagnetic fields she created.
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"The results are astonishing." Li An was meditating on the cold stone floor, staring at a bright gold hexanode double the size of the ones made through her own condensed spiritual energy.
In just over a week, she managed to form forty hexanodes!
"This is incredible," Li An thought, her eyes closed as she meditated, feeling the new nodes settle into place. "The pure energy from the pill is not only compatible with my system but seems to enhance it. At this rate, I could complete the artificial hexagonal meridian system much sooner than I ever imagined."
Li An opened her eyes, a faint smile playing on her lips. "I lost one hexanode with Su Bing, but I won forty in return, and of better quality." The spirit pill had opened a new path for her, one filled with potential.
"If my artificial meridians are made out of pure energy, doesn't that mean I can absorb as much spiritual energy as possible from the world around me?" The mere thought caused a lump to get stuck in her throat.
"It is getting late. I need to go check the pill prices tomorrow in the cultivator market."
· · ────── ·𖥸· ────── · ·
The sky was covered in gray clouds, drowning You Mei in darkness as she made her way back to the place she dreaded the most.
It was supposed to be a good day; under the strict guidance of the sect leader, she had finally broken through to the fifth stage of the Foundation realm. Her muscles ached, and her spirit was weary, but there was a sense of accomplishment that kept her steps light.
You Mei pushed open the creaking wooden door and stepped inside. The interior of the house was simple and modest.
The walls, made of rough-hewn stone, were bare except for a few worn tapestries. The furniture was sparse and functional, a small wooden table and chairs in the main room, a couple of shelves with basic utensils, and a small hearth for cooking.
The air carried the faint scent of herbs and the slightly musty odor of an old building. You Mei took a deep breath, feeling the familiar embrace of her home. She had been out for some days in order to cultivate at the sect leader's residence, so the house required some cleaning.
You Mei stopped in front of the back room and stared down at her shaking hand on the door handle. "Be strong."
She entered the room, and her eyes softened as she gazed upon her mother. The woman lay unmoving in bed, covered with a thin, threadbare blanket. Her skin was pale, and her eyes were dull and unfocused.
You Mei felt a pang of agony in her chest. Her mother's breaths were shallow and slow, and her limbs were thin, almost skeletal.
You Mei approached the bedside and offered her a warm smile. Sitting down on the edge of the bed, she took her mother's hand gently in hers.
"Mother, I've had quite the day," she began, her voice filled with a cheerfulness she didn't entirely feel. "The sect leader was really tough on us today, but I finally broke through my cultivation stage."
There was no reply, but You Mei was not expecting one. She reached for a small bowl of congee she had asked a servant to prepare earlier, the rice gruel still warm. She scooped a spoonful and brought it to her mother's lips.
"Here, Mother, let's get you some food," she said softly. Her mother's lips parted slightly, and You Mei carefully fed her the spoonful, watching as her mother swallowed with great effort.
You Mei felt her eyes become moist and gritted her teeth.
"I will not cry anymore." Her facial muscles relaxed. "I will save you, Mother."
She gently brushed her mother's hair back from her forehead and adjusted the blanket to ensure her mother was warm. After sitting back down, You Mei began humming a soft lullaby she remembered from her childhood, hoping it might bring some comfort.
The weather was turning colder lately, but the only chill You Mei feared was the one inside her heart.
Leaning down, she stopped singing and kissed her mother's forehead. "Rest well, Mother. I'll always be here for you."
As the night deepened, You Mei remained by her mother's side, hand in hand. In their household, winter had never really left.
· · ────── ·𖥸· ────── · ·
Li An walked through the bustling cultivator market, her eyes scanning the various stalls and stands that lined the narrow streets.
The air was filled with the hum of conversation, the clinking of coins, and the rich aroma of exotic herbs. Brightly colored banners fluttered in the breeze, advertising all manner of treasures and goods for cultivation.
Li An approached a stand that caught her eye. Behind the wooden counter stood a middle-aged merchant with narrowed eyes.
The man was robust, and his face was covered with a messy beard. His eyes were sharp and calculating, taking in every detail of the market around him. Li An could only guess he was an experienced merchant.
He wore a simple yet well-made yellow robe, and his hands moved deftly as he arranged small boxes of pills and vials of glowing liquids. "He is an inner sect disciple, and since he doesn't wear the white robes of an elder, his cultivation is likely in the Spirit realm," Li An analysed.
"Good day," Li An greeted him with a friendly nod. "I am looking for information on Spirit pills and treasures infused with pure spiritual energy."
The merchant looked up, his expression shifting to one of interest. "Ah, Spirit pills and pure energy treasures," he said, his voice smooth and practiced. "You have expensive tastes, young lady. These items are not common and certainly not cheap."
Li An nodded with her hands held loosely behind her back. "I understand. Could you tell me about the prices and the exchange process?"
The merchant leaned on the counter, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "Spirit pills, my dear, are not something you can buy with mere gold coins. They are exchanged for high-value items or through favors and connections within the sects."
He chuckled and adopted a teaching tone. "As for treasures with pure spiritual energy, they are even more rare and expensive. Only the wealthiest cultivators or those with powerful backers can afford such luxuries."
He gestured to a small box filled with shimmering, multicolored pills. "These are common cultivation pills, used to aid in minor breakthroughs and healing. Even these cost a small fortune. Imagine the price of something as potent as a Spirit pill."
Li An thanked the merchant and moved on. She was only interested in Spirit pills because the other cultivation pills were often impure and could only offer short-term help.
Her eyes took in the various stalls and their wares. She noted the prices of different weapons, pills, and herbs, each more expensive than the last. Li An did not know much about business and marketing, but everything in this cultivator market seemed to be too expensive.
An outer sect disciple receives a weekly salary of 8 gold coins, while an inner sect disciple receives 20, and a personal disciple receives extra resources from their teacher. Thus, the price of 1200 gold coins for the weakest weapon in the market looked atrocious to Li An.
Swords and spears forged with spiritual metals, glowing with an inner light, were displayed prominently in the wealthiest stands, their prices far beyond her current means. Each item represented years of cultivation and effort, so their sellers jealously guarded pouches of rare herbs and vials of potent elixirs.
As she walked through the market, Li An's frown deepened. "It will be extremely tough to achieve my goal of an artificial hexagonal meridian system made up of pure spiritual energy," she thought. "These resources are far beyond my reach, and my talent in trading and economics is lacking. Trying to make money this way is out of the question."
She paused in front of a stall selling spirit herbs, watching the merchant haggle with a customer. The economics of the village were complex and unforgiving, favoring those with wealth, power, and connections. To a certain extent, it wasn't much different from capitalism in her previous life.
She knew that she would need to find another way to obtain the resources she needed.
As she wandered through the cultivator market, her eyes caught sight of a commotion near a pill stall. Curious, she moved closer and saw two inner sect disciples in a heated argument. One of them was a male disciple with a rat-like appearance. He was small and wiry, with a pointed nose, beady eyes, and thin, greasy hair that clung to his scalp. His thin lips were twisted in a sneer as he faced off against his opponent.
"I saw the Enlightenment pill first!" the rat-like disciple hissed with a raised eyebrow. "It's mine by right!"
"You're delusional, Xiao Ren. I was here before you even noticed the stall. That pill should be mine." The other disciple was glaring at him with a distorted face.
He had a tall, athletic build and chiseled features. His hair was dark and glossy, tied back neatly, and his eyes were a piercing blue that seemed to spark with intensity. He stood with an air of confidence, but his frustration was evident in the way he clenched his fists.
A small crowd had gathered to watch the show, murmuring among themselves. "An Enlightenment pill," someone whispered. "It can help someone create their own spirit energy technique or martial art. It's no wonder they're fighting over it."
Li An found this concept intriguing: did the Enlightenment pill increase the brain capabilities temporarily, or how did it work?
"Unfortunately, I am not qualified to have this information since I don't have a high cultivation realm."
"Who do you think will win?" another voice asked. "You Bing is a disciple under the Grand Elder, but Xiao Ren is stronger and known for his cunning."
Li An did not have to think a lot to know the result. "This You Bing lacks control over his emotions and is clearly not on the side of reason from the way his eyes are trembling."
"Face it, You Bing, you've already disgraced yourself once in the outer sect competition. Don't make it worse by refusing to admit your loss here as well." Xiao Ren smirked while crossing his arms.
You Bing saw the disapproval in the eyes of the spectators and his face darkened. It was better to give up when the chances of winning were slim.
He reluctantly stepped back, allowing Xiao Ren to take the pill. Xiao Ren pocketed it with a victorious grin. "Good boy, You Bing," he said with a sneer. "Don't disgrace yourself further. You are not You Rou."
Xiao Ren walked away while humming a happy folk song, and You Bing's eyes turned bloodshot. "Let's see if you are still singing when I become a great elder of the sect."
Unwilling to stay there for even one more second, You Bing stormed through the market and almost collided with Li An. Without warning, he shoved her to the ground and raised his chin. "Watch where you're going."
Li An kept her head down, shaking uncontrollably.
"I'm sorry, Senior Brother." There was a loud thud as she kowtowed towards You Bing, rivers of tears falling to the cobblestone road. "I have sinned greatly for standing in front of such a genius."
The other cultivators nearby frowned, casting scornful glances at the astonished You Bing. "He's lost his composure," one whispered. "Not the temperament of a righteous person at all."
"I... I..." You Bing wanted to say something, but he didn't know what. The girl was already apologizing the best she could, so what could he blame her for? In the end, he just left with a flushed face.
Li An remained on the ground for a moment, her thoughts racing. "Often, one causes their own downfall by not being able to think calmly in times of crisis," she reflected. "In a righteous sect, reputation is the lifeblood of cultivators."
Li An liked to see the building of a reputation akin to sculpting a delicate statue from the finest porcelain. Every action, every word, every glance must be meticulously crafted to perfection, for a single flaw can shatter the illusion entirely.
A single moment of weakness, a whisper of scandal, a shadow of doubt can unravel the years of painstakingly gained credibility. In the blink of an eye, what was once revered can become reviled.
In this area, righteous sects were more demonic than demonic sects—organizations made for cultivators who worshipped strength and benefits above everything.
Li An did not care about this double-edged sword, but she wasn't afraid to use it against her enemies.
Li An walked away, blending back into the crowd. Today she was there as an observer, so it wouldn't be good if she attracted too much attention. "I have to thank the previous body owner for the gloomy and scrawny appearance. It helps a lot."
After a few minutes of walking, she turned a corner and was met with a sight that made her pause in surprise. Before her stood a stand selling chopped up meat from wild beasts, each piece meticulously tagged by its cultivation level.
On the counter, large slabs of flesh were neatly arranged, their colors ranging from deep red to almost black, indicating the varying levels of spirit energy concentration contained within each piece. Li An could smell the rich, metallic scent of raw meat.
Her lips twitched when she saw a cut of meat tagged with a small, handwritten label saying "Essence Condensation realm - 60 000 gold coins". She didn't even understand how someone in this village had enough money to buy that.
Behind the counter, a burly merchant with rough, calloused hands and a thick beard was busy sharpening a large cleaver, his eyes keenly observing the crowd. He was not hiding his aura at Essence Condensation middle stage, warning any thief who thought he or she could get lucky.
Next to the raw meat, Li An saw jars of dried herbs and vials of blood arranged in neat rows. Each was labeled with details about their origin and cultivation benefits, promising to enhance strength, speed up recovery, or aid in breakthroughs.
"Mhmm? Strange... the meat of wild beasts seems to have an effect on the physical body, but not on the spiritual energy of a cultivator." Li An's eyes shone as she thought of a possibility. "Maybe it is possible for humans to cultivate their bodies similarly to wild beasts."
Unfortunately, the Gentle Sword Sect did not have any records about body cultivation or anything similar in the library available for the outer sect.
Li An was not disappointed. The Gentle Sword sect was just the beginning of her journey in this new world. There was a vast land full of mysteries waiting for her to explore.