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Ji Wuye's crimson eyes narrowed into intense slits as they briefly flickered towards the transparent screen hovering before him.

A faint, self-satisfied smirk tugged at the corners of his lips, crinkling the edges of his eyes as he nodded with undisguised pleasure at the stats displayed on the floating hologram.

As expected, the act of resonating with another elemental essence had granted him a subtle yet palpable boost to both his physical prowess and his internal Qi reserves—akin to the euphoric breakthrough from the 1st Martial Realm to the 2nd Martial Realm.

'250 points of Qi...' The words reverberated loudly in his mind, the overwhelming magnitude of such a statistic almost indescribable. Never could he have fathomed the day his natural capacity would transcend the 200 point threshold in any of his stats.

And this time, it was an achievement born purely of a martial art—entirely independent of the effects of any passive or active skills, or any items he had acquired or purchased from the Tower.

'It was tough back then,' Ji Wuye murmured, shaking his head slowly as he basked in the heady rush of power surging through his meridians.

The life-giving flow of Qi coursed endlessly through the twelve pathways, circulating between the three vital Dantian—Lower, Middle and Upper. In addition, his body also seamlessly absorbeb the ambient Qi.

Now, not only could he manifest and sustain a searing elemental Sword Aura for longer than the fleeting burn of an incense stick, but he could maintain the Great Sword Resonance for an entire day's duration.

'This...this is more than sufficient,' he thought, his crimson gaze shifting towards the door that led out from the dimly lit basement chamber of mortared dark brick.

...

Unhurried, deliberate steps carried Ji Wuye's ascending form, his tattered white martial robes swaying gently with each purposeful stride until he emerged onto the main floor—the medicinal herb shop's spacious central room.

His heightened senses were immediately assailed by a dizzying melange of sweet, earthy aromas permeating the air, the tantalizing fragrances of a thousand delicate botanicals intermingling in an intoxicating olfactory bouquet.

Laid out before Ji Wuye's gaze were neatly arranged low wooden tables, each surrounded by cushions resting atop simple yet elegant woven carpets.

Perched enticingly atop these surfaces was an assortment of freshly steamed buns, their pillowy white folds stretching taut around savory fillings of finely minced pork, earthy mushrooms, and aromatic chives.

Nearby, a rustic woven basket cradled a collection of translucent shrimp dumplings, their delicate skins glowing softly under the warm tendrils of sunlight streaming through the window's pane - the backlighting revealing plump, juicy crimson shrimp nestled alluringly within each tender parcel.

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On another table, an intricately lacquered wooden platter displayed artful slices of roasted duck, the bronzed skin glistening under a rich, subtly sweet honey-glazed sheen.

Scattered across the tantalizing arrangements were small porcelain cups filled with freshly brewed jasmine tea, their emerald liquid sending up wispy tendrils of fragrant steam, while a russet clay teapot stood sentry - ready to replenish any emptied cup.

Three young women clad in their loose martial robe were busying themselves with serving the appetizing spread, engaged in cheerful chatter that filled the air with lilting peals of laughter.

These women were none other than his Senior Sisters - their smiles and effortless camaraderie wholly undiminished despite the loosened linen bandages haphazardly wrapped about various portions of their bodies.

Seeing them so vibrantly joyful and healthy, even as they intermittently adjusted the makeshift dressings to keep the cloth bindings secure, confirmed one reassuring fact for him: his Senior Sister Lian must have thoroughly explained his plans.

As for now... this view...

Where the sunlit tableau that greeted him was almost surreal in its tranquil beauty - shafts of gentle morning light filtering through the apertures to cast a warm, buttery glow across their smiling faces as they politely covered their mouths between bites, savoring each delectable morsel.

The palpable warmth of their shared happiness seemed to radiate outwards, suffusing the entire room in its inviting embrace.

A faint, earnest smile tugged at the corners of Ji Wuye's lips as he drank in the heartwarming sight.

All the meticulous planning, ceaseless effort and single-minded self-improvement he had devoted himself to in such a fleeting span of time...

'Just to be able to enjoy this simple peace...' he mused to himself.

It was then... they finally noticed his presence.

"Junior Ji!" The lilting voice of his Senior Sister Shen Bi called out, her face lighting up with a cheerful smile as her gaze alighted upon his tall frame.

"Where have you been hiding all this newfound strength?" Shen Bi exclaimed, playfully poking Ji Wuye's arm with an impish grin.

Her lithe, almost delicate frame seemed almost paradoxically unsuited for a martial artist at first glance, yet this was the very same fiercely protective Senior Sister who would boldly leap to his defense - unafraid to threaten those much larger and outwardly more formidable than herself.

Rising up on her tiptoes, she insistently tugged at his sleeve until Ji Wuye had no choice but to obediently lower his body into a half-kneeling crouch before her.

Leaning in conspiratorially, Shen Bi's expression morphed into one of mock severity as she whispered, "You've been holding out on us this whole time, haven't you? You should have told me you'd grown this incredibly strong!"

Though her words sparked with undisguised excitement, as Ji Wuye subtly shifted back slightly to create a polite distance between them, his acute gaze caught the glimmer of something more profound nestled behind the joy shining in her eyes - a glint of barely concealed worry, the kind of protective concern only an elder sibling might harbor for their younger kin.

'She's still the same as ever,' Ji Wuye thought with an inward chuckle, gently taking her hands in his own as a warm smile spread across his features. "You're right, as always. I promise, you'll be the first to know if my power grows any further."

"The absolute very first?" she pressed, narrowing her eyes at him playfully.

"The very first," he affirmed solemnly, though the amused twinkle in his crimson gaze betrayed his lighthearted tone.

In truth, Senior Sister Shen Bi wasn't particularly diminutive in stature. Her height was nearly on par with their taller Senior Sister Qiu Xia. It was only because Ji Wuye himself towered over most that she seemed petite in his eyes.

"I'll be holding you to that promise," Qiu Xia chimed in pointedly, brandishing her chopsticks like an impromptu weapon - a piece of roasted duck meat dangling precariously from their lacquered tips as she fixed Ji Wuye with a sidelong glance. "And don't think you can sweet-talk your way out of it like you used to."

"Would I dare?" Ji Wuye replied with an exaggerated look of wide-eyed innocence, earning him a warm chorus of knowing laughter from his Sisters.

Meanwhile, their eldest Senior Sister Lian Rougang had already begun pouring fragrant streams of steaming jasmine tea into an empty cup stationed at the unoccupied place setting.

Smiling warmly, she patted the plush cushion next to her invitingly and started arranging choice morsels onto the vacant plate before her. Her simple, understated actions conveyed a clear, silent invitation for Ji Wuye to join them.

...

This shared breakfast - this tranquil moment of cherished company - was perhaps the most genuinely contented Ji Wuye had felt in a long time.

The room's warm ambiance was suffused with the bright peals of their laughter as he regaled them with carefully edited snippets about when and how his power had grown, his insatiably curious Senior Sisters persistently peppering him with a barrage of questions.

But the delightful scene was abruptly interrupted by the soft, tentative sound of a single knock on the door - seeming to turn all eyes instinctively toward the entrance situated just steps away from where they were gathered.

Despite its understated nature, the quiet rap carried an strange, unplaceable weight that compelled Ji Wuye to rise and answer its bidding.

He pulled open the door, only to find himself meeting the startlingly familiar gaze of a pair of crimson eyes - mirror images of his very own - staring steadily back at him.

"Big Brother Ji," a recognizable voice called out tentatively. It was Mu Lan Rou, though she was not alone this time.

Positioned behind her with carefully guarded expressions stood a small cluster of the Sect's Inner Disciples, their calculating eyes fixed warily upon Ji Wuye as their hands rested in seemingly nonchalant readiness upon the hilts of the jians strapped at their waists.