In the Outer Sect of the White Crane Sect, numerous markets thrived, ranging from small roadside stalls to large bustling hubs. These markets catered not only to cultivators but also to the significant population of mortals living within the sect.

Mortals played a crucial role in maintaining the sect’s daily operations, performing menial tasks, working as servants for cultivators, and handling routine duties. Their contributions allowed cultivators to focus entirely on their cultivation without distraction.

With such a large number of mortals, the markets were always lively, resembling ordinary mortal markets found outside the sect.

Here, mortals shopped for daily necessities, spent their wages on goods, and bartered for supplies. The variety of shops offered everything from simple street food to weapons and cultivation pills, ensuring something for everyone.

The streets were crowded with mortals, bustling with activity, while a few low-level cultivators could be seen weaving through the throngs.

Although cultivators also frequented the markets to trade or purchase cultivation resources, mostly low-level cultivators, the Outer Sect's markets predominantly served the Outer Sect population, including Outer Sect disciples, menial disciples, and mortals working as servants.

Amidst the lively crowd, a young man and woman strolled down the busy street, drawing the occasional glance.

Liu Jian, dressed in the regal robe of an Inner Sect disciple, walked beside Xia Ling, who wore the attire of an Outer Sect disciple. The pair moved from shop to shop, laughing and teasing each other with ease.

Shopkeepers and clerks, knowing their place, bowed respectfully and treated the couple with utmost deference. Praise for their harmonious relationship often slipped from the lips of shopkeepers eager to curry favor, causing the pair to blush with embarrassment.

The market was filled with stores backed by Outer Sect disciples or menial disciples.

In the sect, mortals occupied the lowest position in the hierarchy, working as servants performing hard labor.

Menial disciples, on the other hand, were a step above mortals. As long as they possessed Spiritual Roots, they were allowed to cultivate using low-level techniques and could earn resources from the sect by exchanging contribution points, despite being tasked with menial jobs and chores.

Establishing a store in the market without any backing was nearly impossible, as unaligned shops would constantly face trouble.

Thus, each store had ties to at least a menial disciple, if not an Outer Sect disciple. Yet, compared to Liu Jian, the status of these backers was negligible.

Store clerks were well aware that even their backers would be powerless against an Inner Sect disciple, and so they tread carefully. It would be ideal if they could curry favor and establish connections, with failure being acceptable as long as they didn’t offend the other party.

As the day passed, the couple visited teahouses, shared lunch, explored flower gardens, and even took a gentle boat ride. Their laughter and playful banter painted an image of blissful affection.

"Sigh, when we're together, everything seems more enjoyable, but time flies by so fast," Liu Jian said as they walked side by side.

Xia Ling nodded, a soft smile gracing her lips. "I wish we could always enjoy days like this," she said, determination flashing in her eyes.

"I’ll work harder and break through to the Foundation Establishment realm, then take the trial to enter the Inner Sect so I can spend more time with you."

Liu Jian stopped and took both her hands in his. "Mmm, I know you can do it. Work hard," he said, gazing into her eyes with fondness.

The setting sun painted the sky in hues of orange and gold. Liu Jian glanced westward. "It's getting late. I'll walk you back," he said.

Xia Ling nodded, and hand in hand, they made their way to the residence area designated for Outer Sect disciples. Once they reached Xia Ling's quarters, she paused at the door, looking up at him with a mix of gratitude and affection.

"Thank you for today, Senior Brother Jian," she said softly. Before he could respond, she leaned up and pressed a quick, shy kiss to his cheek before darting inside and closing the door with a loud thud, her cheeks flushed as red as a ripe apple.

Liu Jian stood frozen in place, the warmth of her kiss lingering on his cheek. A moment later, a small, genuine smile spread across his face. He turned and walked away; his expression composed until he was out of sight.

As he rounded a few corners and put distance between himself and Xia Ling's quarters, the façade cracked. His steps quickened, and he broke into a run, laughter bubbling up from his chest.

"Ha ha ha ha!" He leapt into the air, pumping his fist triumphantly. "Woohoo!"

He skipped and spun down the street, his joy irrepressible. Passersby, including mortals and Outer Sect disciples, watched him with puzzled glances but dared not question or ridicule an Inner Sect disciple’s odd behavior. They simply stepped aside and continued on their way.

After a while, Liu Jian slowed down, his euphoria settling into a contented sigh.

"Today was a good day," he murmured, touching the cheek Xia Ling had kissed. His heart swelled with happiness as he relived the moment.

Ever since they had survived that encounter with the Vermillion Clawed Bear, their bond had deepened. Now, with this new milestone, he was more hopeful than ever about their future.

Chen Rongwei had just left the bustling market, his bag filled with various pills to heal injuries, restore Blood Essence, and aid in cultivation. Alongside the pills, he’d purchased a hefty amount of Spirit Beast meat and Spiritual Herbs. He sighed, thinking of all the Spirit Stones he'd spent, then began heading back to his residence in the Outer Sect.

As he walked, a familiar voice called out, causing him to pause and turn. To his surprise—and irritation—he saw Liu Jian approaching, grinning widely with an unmistakable air of joy.

Observing Liu Jian’s overly cheerful expression, Chen Rongwei decided he’d rather avoid him altogether. He snorted, putting on a cold expression, and continued walking, hoping Liu Jian would take the hint and leave him alone.

But Liu Jian was in high spirits and determined to engage. Despite their rocky past and distant relationship, he seemed more than willing to strike up a conversation.

"Yooo..." Liu Jian greeted with a wave, his grin still wide from earlier. "Long time no see!"

Having just escorted Xia Ling back and still feeling the surprise of her kiss, which put him in a good mood, he happened upon Chen Rongwei and, in high spirits, decided to approach and say hi.

Chen Rongwei merely snorted and kept walking, but Liu Jian quickened his pace to walk beside him.

"Fufu, it’s unbelievable that you'd end up joining the same sect as me," Liu Jian chuckled.

"So, how do you like it here? If there’s anything you need or don’t understand, just come ask me, your Senior Brother!" Liu Jian emphasized the "Senior Brother" part with a playful tone.

Chen Rongwei gritted his teeth at Liu Jian’s patronizing tone. "No, thank you. I don’t remember us being close, so you’d best get lost," Chen Rongwei snapped.

"Oi oi oi, is that how you talk to your Senior Brother? You should call me Senior Brother Liu!" Liu Jian responded with a teasing grin.

"Senior Brother Liu," Chen Rongwei said through gritted teeth, "Do you mind fucking off?"

Liu Jian only laughed, shaking his head. "Tsk tsk, as foul-mouthed as ever, I see. Look, we come from the same hometown and now we’re both disciples of the same sect. Let’s forget the past and look forward, hmm?"

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Chen Rongwei sped up his pace, clearly uninterested, but Liu Jian kept up, oblivious to the cold silence from his side.

"Ah, you’re still at the 9th stage of the Qi Condensation realm?" Liu Jian remarked, glancing at Chen Rongwei with a smirk.

"Ha ha ha, don’t you remember not long ago you mocked my cultivation level? And now I’ve surpassed you and am already at the 1st stage of Foundation Establishment realm, and you’re still stuck at the same realm. Tsk tsk tsk, you need to work harder to cultivate. Junior Brother, do you need this Senior Brother to guide you?"

"Shut it! I don’t need your help!" Chen Rongwei’s annoyance was clear.

Unfazed, Liu Jian laughed again. "I’m just trying to be nice; you know."

Liu Jian kept pestering Chen Rongwei, occasionally rubbing salt into the wound, teasing him about his cultivation level. He felt a sense of satisfaction, as it was usually Chen Rongwei who annoyed him, but now the situation was reversed.

As they walked side by side, Chen Rongwei coldly ignored Liu Jian, who kept babbling and laughing. Suddenly, a group of people appeared from the opposite direction, and seeing the man who led the group, Liu Jian immediately approached and greeted him warmly.

"Greetings, Senior Brother Wu," Liu Jian said, cupping his hands in respect. Chen Rongwei followed suit, offering a polite greeting as well.

"Mmm." Wu Yulin nodded, a smile spreading across his face. "It seems like you’re in a very good mood, Junior Brother Liu. Did something good happen?" he asked warmly.

"Haha, nothing special, nothing special." Liu Jian waved his hand with a wide grin.

Liu Jian and Wu Yulin exchanged a few words, both smiling as the warm atmosphere lingered. Chen Rongwei didn’t join the conversation, instead standing aside, observing silently.

"Your cultivation has advanced greatly. Keep up the good work, and congratulations on entering the Inner Sect," Wu Yulin said with a nod.

"Thank you very much, Senior Brother. I’m just lucky," Liu Jian replied, his smile filled with happiness.

"I still have something to attend to. Excuse me," Wu Yulin said, leading his group away.

"Take care, Senior Brother," Liu Jian called after him.

As Wu Yulin and his group walked further away, Liu Jian and Chen Rongwei resumed their journey.

"Wow, Senior Brother Wu is really awesome," Liu Jian remarked, still excited. "His talent is very impressive, and his cultivation is on another level. I can’t tell exactly where he’s at, but I can feel how strong he is. He’s good to all the other disciples and diligent, truly a role model."

Wu Yulin was among the top disciples in the Inner Sect—famous and popular for his outstanding talent, strong background, good looks, and warm personality.

Liu Jian continued to walk beside Chen Rongwei, babbling on about Wu Yulin’s accomplishments, clearly praising him as they walked.

Chen Rongwei, who had been observing Wu Yulin’s demeanor closely during their interaction, suddenly spoke up. "Did you perhaps ever offend Senior Brother Wu?"

Liu Jian looked puzzled. "Offend him? Why would you say that? We’re very close, don’t you see how warm and nice Senior Brother Wu was to me just now?"

Chen Rongwei simply shrugged. "Never mind."

Liu Jian went right back to praising Wu Yulin’s achievements, talking non-stop, while Chen Rongwei quietly listened. His mind, however, was elsewhere. During their earlier interaction, he had caught a brief cold glint in Wu Yulin’s eyes towards Liu Jian, but it vanished in an instant.

Chen Rongwei recalled the strange incident not long ago when Liu Jian had been attacked by a pair of Vermilion Clawed Bears. The attack seemed suspicious—Vermilion Clawed Bears didn’t live in the area where Liu Jian had been ambushed. Chen Rongwei had heard rumors about it and couldn’t shake the thought that the attack might have been a setup by someone.

And Senior Brother Wu is known for his skill in Spirit Beast Taming, Chen Rongwei thought, connecting the dots. Could it be him? After all, he said he could help me deal with Liu Jian.

Chen Rongwei glanced sideways at Liu Jian, who was still blabbering on about Wu Yulin’s greatness. If it were his past self, he might have accepted Wu Yulin’s offer to deal with Liu Jian. But now, despite hating Liu Jian and wanting to beat him up, he was determined to rely on his own strength.

Tch... this dumbass is so annoying. Just wait until I increase my cultivation—I’ll beat you up so bad you’ll remember it for life, Chen Rongwei thought, his patience wearing thin.

The two walked together, one in silence while the other kept talking, until they reached a fork in the road. The Outer Sect area was the largest and most populous, divided into many zones. Liu Jian headed toward the Inner Sect, while Chen Rongwei turned toward the residential area where his residence was located.

"Remember, Junior Brother! If you ever need help, just come find me—your Senior Brother will take care of it," Liu Jian called out, waving as he walked away.

Chen Rongwei scowled, muttering under his breath as he walked away. After a moment, he stopped, turned back, and called out, "You better be careful and watch your back."

Liu Jian stopped and turned back, his grin widening. "What? Junior Brother, are you looking for trouble with me? Ha! Bring it on. You’re still decades too young to challenge me!" He laughed boisterously, striding away with a cocky swagger, having misunderstood that Chen Rongwei wanted to challenge him.

"Stupid bastard!" Chen Rongwei spat, storming off toward his residence. He had only meant to give a warning, but now he regretted even speaking up.

Chen Rongwei's residence in the Outer Sect was a simple, small house. After returning, he immediately set about cooking Spirit Beast meat with Spiritual Herbs, a meal that would aid in restoring his Blood Essence.

Once the food was ready, he devoured it with gusto, letting out a satisfied burp. Sitting on his cultivation mat, he swallowed a few pills, closed his eyes, and began cultivating. His breathing gradually slowed, becoming calm and rhythmic.

His body started to absorb and digest the meal while drawing the medicinal essence from the pills. Slowly, the surrounding Qi was drawn into his body, replenishing the Qi in his Dantian, which had been depleted during the fight earlier in the day. The medicinal effects gradually worked to heal his deep injuries, while his Blood Essence slowly regenerated.

Meanwhile, Liu Jian entered the Inner Sect area and headed to his residence. Every Inner Sect disciple was allocated a decent house with a courtyard and servants to attend to their needs.

However, Liu Jian's residence was more remote, located near a serene waterfall. He had chosen this spot for its quietness, allowing him to focus on cultivation. Unlike others, he preferred not to hire servants, cherishing the solitude.

Humming a cheerful tune, Liu Jian entered his room. After settling down, he activated the Qi-gathering array, consumed a few pills, and sat cross-legged on his cultivation mat. Absentmindedly, he touched his cheek where his Junior Sister had kissed him, still feeling the warmth lingering there.

"Hehehe," he chuckled, a wide grin spreading across his face. Shaking his head, he wiped the smile away and forced himself to focus.

Drawing a deep breath, he began cultivating. The Qi-gathering array made the surrounding Qi denser, and his body greedily absorbed the abundant Qi, creating a swirling vortex that flowed into him.

After spending the day with his Junior Sister, it was time to cultivate seriously. Surprisingly, Liu Jian's cultivation progressed exceptionally well—better than usual. For him, spending time with his Junior Sister wasn't a hindrance to his cultivation but an integral part of it. Orion's advice still echoed in his mind: Everyone has their own path to tread.

Liu Jian believed that happiness and a good mood were crucial for his personal cultivation path. Spending time with his Junior Sister—whether talking, meeting, or going on a "date"—left him in high spirits, which significantly enhanced his cultivation efficiency.

Unlike Chen Rongwei, who used to pursue fun for its own sake in the past, Liu Jian saw these moments as essential to his progress. Since adopting Orion's advice, he stopped burdening himself with unnecessary worries about cultivation and focused solely on his own cultivation path, noticing remarkable improvements.

The proof of this method was clear. Liu Jian had progressed from the 8th stage of the Qi Condensation realm to the 1st stage of the Foundation Establishment realm. His foundation was solid, and he had passed the Inner Sect trial with ease, earning his place among the elite disciples.

For Liu Jian, love and joy were not just emotions; they were the key to unlocking his full potential. Though his method of boosting cultivation was vastly different from others, he didn’t mind—this was his own unique path. Fortunately, it was not only enjoyable but also highly beneficial.

The kiss given by Xia Ling gave Liu Jian a significant boost, allowing his cultivation to progress rapidly. Sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed, he focused intently on absorbing the surrounding Qi. The Qi flowed greedily into his body, rushing swiftly into his Dantian. Inside, a pool of cyan-colored liquid Qi glowed, and a small sphere floated just above its surface.

In the Qi Condensation Realm, cultivators condense Qi from a mist-like form into liquid within their Dantian. Once all the Qi is condensed into liquid, they break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm. Now, as a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Realm, Liu Jian’s task was to transform all the liquid Qi in his Dantian into a Golden Core. Successfully forming a complete Golden Core would allow him to break through to the Golden Core Realm.

Currently at the 1st stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm, Liu Jian carefully controlled the pool of liquid Qi within his Dantian. A small stream of liquid Qi rose upward, flowing steadily into the sphere above. Gradually, the sphere grew larger as he added more liquid Qi to it, forming a new layer around the sphere. Using the Qi he absorbed from the outside world, he solidified the newly formed layer of liquid Qi.

Hours passed, and a faint wind swirled around Liu Jian’s body as his cultivation reached a critical moment. Within his Dantian, the new layer of liquid Qi encasing the sphere had nearly solidified.

Boom!

A deep, echoing sound reverberated through his Dantian. Liu Jian opened his eyes, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.

"Finally, I’ve broken through to the 2nd stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm," he said softly.

In his Dantian, the cyan-colored sphere had grown noticeably larger. A second layer of solidified Qi had successfully formed, and Liu Jian could feel a surge of power coursing through his body.

Exhaling deeply, Liu Jian murmured, "It’s all thanks to Junior Sister." A small smile lingered on his lips as he began planning for another "date" tomorrow and a surprise gift for Xia Ling.

"Ha ha ha," Liu Jian's laugh echoed through the room.

Meanwhile, Chen Rongwei, despite an entire night of cultivation, hadn't made much progress. His Blood Essence, lost during the previous fight, had only recovered about 30%, and he still had injuries that were slowly healing.

Chen Rongwei sat cross-legged, eyes closed, multitasking as he absorbed Qi from his surroundings and cultivated.

He also absorbed the properties and benefits of the pills and food he had consumed, worked on recovering his Blood Essence, and focused on guiding the medicinal effects to heal his injuries.

"Urgh..." Chen Rongwei groaned, his face contorting in pain.