Lü Zhong’s expression shifted as he listened to Guu Ximei’s confession. It went from composed and calm to startled and amazed, and finally settled into a deep silence.

Glancing at Guu Ximei in the corner of the room, he demanded in a low voice, "Do you dare swear a death-vow on the truth of what you just told me?"

It wasn’t that Lü Zhong couldn’t tell truth from lies; it was just that her words were too shocking to be believed. After all, anyone who heard that a Nascent Soul Sect was making a move against the Heling Sect would find it impossible to remain calm.

And the Limb-Attaching Sect was merely a proxy force cultivated by that very sect.

’This all seems strangely familiar,’ he thought. ’It’s remarkably similar to how the Five Spirits Sect used Demon Cultivators to seize Qingliu Market and ultimately destroy the Qingyang Sect. Truly, there’s nothing new under the sun.’

With a Nascent Soul Sect providing its full support from the shadows, the chances of the Heling Sect withstanding the Limb-Attaching Sect’s invasion were extremely low.

"I’ve sworn the vow. Can you let me go now, Fellow Daoist?" Guu Ximei asked, looking at Lü Zhong.

Her only purpose in life now was to avenge the extermination of her clan.

And so, she could not die before her revenge was complete.

Lü Zhong, already vexed by the news about the Limb-Attaching Sect, felt a spark of anger at her words. He gave a cold laugh. "You are at my mercy. I’m sure you understand that simple truth. This world runs on profit. Unless you can offer me something tempting enough to change my mind, your fate as a Cultist of the Limb-Attaching Sect is already sealed."

"..."

Guu Ximei was silent for a moment, her expression shifting as she struggled with an internal conflict. Finally, she spoke. "I can help you break through an entire Small Realm. In exchange, you let me go. How about it?"

"That’s absurd. Why should I believe you?" Lü Zhong replied with a humorless smile.

Everyone knew how difficult it was to advance one’s cultivation.

’Take me, for example,’ he mused. ’If it weren’t for the Four Spirits Technique, a Cultivation Technique with a built-in Spiritual Power purification effect, I’d probably still be stuck in the Mid-stage Qi Refining, unable to break through. No amount of miracle pills would have helped, since impure Spiritual Power would have sealed my future.’

’Breaking through a Small Realm just like that? If that’s not absurd, what is?’

"Fellow Daoist, let me explain," Guu Ximei said, biting her lip. A blush crept up her fair neck as she spoke. "Have you ever heard of the Lotus-Yin Primordial Body? A person with this Spirit Body gives birth to a strand of the Purest Yin Yuan within them. If we were to... engage in the Dual Cultivation Method, you could obtain this Yin Yuan."

Her chest trembled slightly. She pressed a hand against it, forcing herself to calm down, and took a deep breath. "I trust, Fellow Daoist, that you don’t believe... this kind of Yin Yuan would be incapable of helping you break through a single Small Realm?"

Lü Zhong remained silent.

He had, of course, heard of the Lotus-Yin Primordial Body.

The Charming Maiden Technique, a manual on the Dual Cultivation Method, recorded several constitutions and Spirit Bodies beneficial for the practice. The Lotus-Yin Primordial Body was one of them, and its identification method was incredibly simple; one could tell with a single glance.

Thinking of this, Lü Zhong immediately inspected Guu Ximei’s body and, just as described, found a mark resembling a green lotus.

Viewing it with his Qi Observation Skill confirmed it was genuine.

"Agreed!" he said without the slightest hesitation.

For Lü Zhong, this was a deal with all benefits and no drawbacks. Once he refined that strand of Yin Yuan, breaking through to the Qi Refining Ninth Layer was a certainty. It would save him a considerable amount of cultivation time.

With a storm brewing, every bit of strength he could gain was crucial.

Hearing Lü Zhong’s reply, Guu Ximei gave the young man before her a deep look, her thoughts unreadable. Her slender hands were already untying the sash at her waist.

Meanwhile, Lü Zhong secretly activated Malice Detection and confirmed there was no danger.

...

「Afterward.」

Lü Zhong sat cross-legged. The moment the Purest Yin Yuan entered his body, it transformed into a stream of exceptionally pure Spiritual Qi that spread through his meridians and limbs. Despite its vast quantity, it was unimaginably gentle.

He didn’t dare to be careless. He immediately began circulating the Four Spirits Technique, guiding the Spiritual Qi along its Circulation path as he always did, ultimately refining it into a wisp of pure Spiritual Power within his body. He repeated this cycle over a hundred times before the Spiritual Qi transformed from the Yin Yuan was completely consumed.

Unlike his previous breakthroughs, this one felt completely natural. Once his Spiritual Power reached its limit, it simply continued to grow as a matter of course.

Beyond his expectations, the amount of new Spiritual Power he gained was enough to double his previous total from the Qi Refining Eighth Layer!

’No wonder the power gap between Qi Refining cultivators widens so much in the Late-stage Qi Refining...’ A wave of joy washed over Lü Zhong as he felt the surging Qi Sea in his Dantian. The feeling of such an easy breakthrough was incredibly satisfying. He was finally another step closer to Foundation Establishment.

At the edge of the bed, Guu Ximei sat with her back to Lü Zhong, staring blankly into the Copper Mirror on the opposite wall. After a moment, she spoke in a cold voice, "Since the transaction is complete, shouldn’t you fulfill your promise, Fellow Daoist?"

Lü Zhong mulled it over for a moment before lifting a hand and removing most of the Prohibitions on Guu Ximei.

"What is the meaning of this?" Guu Ximei’s expression changed instantly as she whipped her head around to look at him.

"One can never be too careful. Since I have received such a great benefit, I won’t go back on my word. The remaining Prohibitions on you, Fellow Daoist Guu, will dissolve automatically in one hour."

With that said, Lü Zhong looked at Guu Ximei and said flatly, "Now, please leave, Fellow Daoist Guu."

Guu Ximei rose, her face devoid of expression, and got dressed. She quickly gathered her belongings.

Just before she reached the door, she stopped and suddenly looked back at the young man inside.

"What is your name?"

Lü Zhong didn’t look at her, his expression placid as he said, "You have fifteen minutes. If you fail to leave Water Summoning Village in time, don’t blame me for being ruthless."

At his words, Guu Ximei stamped her foot and vanished into the night.