Chapter 19: Going with the Flow

Upon reading the celestial words, Wei Yunxi suddenly felt an overwhelming surge of courage. She had already crossed into this world—what was there to fear? With the foundation laid by countless novels, her own resolve, and now the chat group within her spatial ring, she refused to believe she could not change her fate. Determined, she pressed onward.

Ephemeral Mist: “Thank you, esteemed seniors, for your guidance. I now know what I must do.”

Leaving these words behind, her consciousness withdrew from the space.

Wei Yunxi’s eyes flew open, and she sat up abruptly in bed, stretching lazily before gathering her energy. Settling into a cross-legged position, she entered a cultivation state. At this moment, she was just one thin barrier away from breaking through to the third level of Qi Refining.

Previously, her mind had been unsettled by the prospect of training at Haoran Sect, so she had never pierced that final veil. Now that her heart was set, she seized the opportunity and pushed straight through to the third level.

The sensation of breaking through was exhilarating—the fullness of spiritual energy flooding her meridians left her deeply satisfied. She guided the surging energy for a complete circulation, then stored it all in her dantian, where the cluster of spiritual light at its base grew brighter.

Wei Yunxi opened her eyes, letting out a contented sigh. Then she withdrew from her space the Soul Refining Manual that Ox-Head and Horse-Face had given her—a black jade slip, mysterious at first glance.

The two had privately instructed her to begin cultivating this only after reaching the third level of Qi Refining. The soul is vital to a cultivator, and as a novice, one could easily harm it without sufficient foundation.

Taking a deep breath, Wei Yunxi slowly extended her consciousness and carefully read the contents of the jade slip.

The Soul Refining Manual was a ghost cultivator’s art, meant to strengthen the soul. At its pinnacle, one could reconstruct a physical body with the soul alone—the ultimate goal of all ghost cultivators. Yet this technique was equally valuable for human cultivators, precisely what Wei Yunxi needed now.

According to the manual’s divisions of soul strength, her own soul had already reached the early Foundation Establishment stage—another pleasant surprise. She surmised this was likely due to her transmigrated soul; after all, she was an adult soul merged with a five-year-old child’s body, inevitably enhancing her spiritual strength.

Having confirmed all this, she silently recited the Soul Refining incantation and entered cultivation once again.

Unbeknownst to Wei Yunxi, as the moon climbed high, strands of lunar yin energy drifted into her training chamber, seeping into her soul.

Begonia Court

Du Ruolan had already learned that a Nascent Soul True Lord had arrived at the Wei family and granted them three additional sect entry quotas. This meant Wei Yunxi’s admission to Haoran Sect was now certain—a result she did not welcome.

Previously, with limited spots, her daughter—blessed with dual spiritual roots and the first to succeed at drawing spiritual energy into her body—had entered the sect unopposed. Later, though Wei Yunxi also succeeded, it was said she had used shortcuts, and her cultivation had not advanced in three months, leading to her removal from the list.

But with three new quotas, Wei Lingyue would surely send this daughter to the sect, treating it as both an investment and a gesture toward the Feng family. Yet Du Ruolan did not want Feng Jiayun’s daughter to go to Haoran Sect.

Sorting her thoughts, she sent a messenger talisman to Pearl.

The next morning, Wei Yunxi emerged from her cultivation, feeling refreshed—more so than after absorbing spiritual energy. She knew this was the benefit of soul refinement.

After washing up, Wei Yunxi prepared to eat her spiritual meal before heading to the cultivation hall. Whether she went to Haoran Sect or not, improving her skills was paramount.

As usual, Spring Rain laid out the spiritual dishes from the kitchen and attended to her mistress.

Suddenly, Feng Xiu stopped Wei Yunxi’s hand as she reached for her jade chopsticks.

“My lady, please wait a moment.”

Obediently, Wei Yunxi withdrew her hand and turned to look at Feng Xiu.

Feng Xiu touched the storage pouch at her waist and produced a white jade bead. Bringing it near the meal, the bead slowly turned dark green, and her expression changed drastically.

Wei Yunxi was no fool; she instantly understood something was wrong with the food, and her smile vanished.

Feng Xiu immediately said, “Miss, someone has tampered with your meal—it’s been drugged. I can’t tell what kind, but judging by the bead’s color, it’s something vicious.”

Wei Yunxi didn’t need to guess who was behind this. Spring Rain, beside her, had already fallen to her knees in fright—the meal had been collected by her.

“Spring Rain, go to my father now. Tell him I fainted after breakfast and ask him to come at once.”

Spring Rain, already in tears, scrambled to her feet. As she was about to wipe her face, Wei Yunxi stopped her.

“Go as you are—don’t wipe your tears. Otherwise, how will you fool certain people?”

Spring Rain caught on and dashed out of Zhuohua Court, tears streaming, to find Wei Lingyue.

Wei Lingyue was discussing who should get the extra three quotas with the head of the family when a servant rushed in to report that something had happened to Wei Yunxi.

“What’s going on?”

“Spring Rain says Miss Yunxi has fainted.”

Wei Lingtao glanced at his elder brother and said, “Brother, you should go see her first.”

Wei Lingyue nodded, then vanished from the Hall of Consciousness in a flash.

Reaching the main courtyard of Zhuohua Court, he found Wei Yunxi sitting calmly in her chair, with Feng Xiu standing grim-faced beside her.

Before Wei Lingyue could speak, Feng Xiu stepped forward.

“Master, someone has drugged Miss’s spiritual meal—an unforgivable act.”

Wei Lingyue’s dissatisfaction instantly turned to fury.

“Feng Xiu, explain in detail.”

Feng Xiu wasted no time covering for the family, recounting the incident and pointing to the tainted food.

“Master, my cultivation is too low to identify the poison. Please examine it.”

Wei Lingyue’s face darkened. He extended his spiritual sense over the porridge, picked up the offending bowl and sniffed it. His expression changed at once.

“Yunxi need not go to the cultivation hall today. Feng Xiu, guard her closely. I will investigate this matter.”

Spring Rain, without prompting, knelt and said, “Master, I collected the meal from the main kitchen, directly from the cook—no one else touched it. Only, outside Zhuohua Court, I met Pearl, who stopped me for a few words.”

Wei Lingyue’s heart sank. “Stay here,” he ordered, then disappeared from the court.

As he left, he caught sight of Pearl lurking outside, peering into Zhuohua Court. With a wave, he seized her by the neck.