The treetop canopy was lush and thriving, with seas of clouds churning below.
Yu Shizun stood atop the branches and leaves, quietly watching Yan Zhen before her. He sat cross-legged, his left hand hovering palm-up while his right drew a talisman.
In his left hand rested a strand of Water Spiritual Rhymes, and his right was inscribing a Water Symbol. The two forces intertwined, creating the Rain Intent.
Of course, that alone wasn’t enough. He also needed to grasp the essence of rain itself.
This was something that could only be understood through insight, not words— the most difficult part. Yu Shizun couldn’t do much to help; she could only let him observe with his own eyes and comprehend it on his own.
By her estimate, it would take Yan Zhen three to five days just to get the basics, and at least ten days to truly master the Rain Intent.
Yet, to her utter astonishment, Yan Zhen grasped it on his first attempt.
The Water Symbol drew in Water Mystic Force and wove it together with the Water Spiritual Rhymes, forming clouds. The clouds then turned to rain, pattering softly into the dense foliage below.
Though it lasted only a moment and couldn’t yet be called a true success, he had made his breakthrough!
Yu Shizun inwardly marveled at the sight.
“As expected of Lady Chen Xi’s one and only disciple… No, it makes perfect sense that she’s his master. Without such talent, how could he have caught her eye?”
Under Yu Shizun’s watchful gaze, Yan Zhen tried twice more. On the third attempt, he successfully forged the Rain Intent. Amid the vast sea of clouds, he condensed a rain cloud that unleashed a gentle drizzle, moistening one corner of Rain God Peak.
Yan Zhen turned his head and asked, “Yu Shizun, does this count as success?”
Yu Shizun hummed in acknowledgment.
“Not quite. A gentle rain shouldn’t pass so fleetingly, nor should a downpour lack such momentum… The next rain you create can’t be just countless droplets falling from sky to earth. The rains of spring, summer, autumn, and winter are all different. You must hold an entire world of rain in your heart to forge the true Rain Intent… Do you understand, Yan Zhen?”
“I do. Thank you for your guidance, Yu Shizun.”
“That’s all I can teach you. The rest is up to you.”
With that, Yu Shizun gave Yan Zhen a deep look before tearing open a spatial rift and vanishing.
Yan Zhen took a deep breath and continued refining his Rain Intent. That day, Rain God Peak saw intermittent showers more than a dozen times.
Five days later, Yan Zhen successfully inscribed the Rain Talisman and fused it into his Sea of Consciousness. His Divine Soul advanced to Tier 6, the True Realm Zhen stage, bridging the Nether Realm and True Realm.
At that moment, Yan Zhen sat atop the sea of clouds crowning the tree, his mind coalescing within his Sea of Consciousness.
Now, his Sea of Consciousness was shrouded in a misty drizzle. Raindrops fell onto the surface, sending ripples across it.
This was the rain of renewal, the spring shower nourishing all things. It revitalized his Sea of Consciousness, clearing his mind as if a divine presence had descended. His Spiritual Power grew steadily with every passing moment.
—Soul Refining was finally complete!
Yan Zhen’s eyes snapped open, a sharp glint flashing in his pupils. The world looked entirely different to him now.
He could clearly “see” the flow and direction of the Power of Heaven and Earth!
With his Divine Soul at True Realm Zhen, a single thought could summon the Power of Heaven and Earth, allowing him to contend with a Mystic Lord powerhouse.
All that remained was to summon a thunder tribulation to temper his Divine Soul, advancing him to the True Realm where he could rival a Mystic Ancestor.
Once he reached the True Realm, items simulated by his Spiritual Power would be indistinguishable from the real thing in every way except their fundamental nature.
For instance, Beautiful Female Master often used her Spiritual Power to conjure comfortable beds and rooms. Occasionally, she would simulate outfits that Yan Zhen liked and model them for him.
“…First, report to Master. No—tell Yu Shizun first, then go to her together.”
Yan Zhen leaped lightly, letting gravity guide him from the treetops down through the branches like descending a staircase. He dropped nearly a hundred feet before spotting the ceiling of the Tree Cave. With another leap through the entrance overhead, he landed before Yu Shizun.
She had clearly sensed his breakthrough long ago and was already standing, waiting for him.
“Not bad. Congratulations.”
Yan Zhen scratched his cheek, a bashful smile on his face.
“It’s all thanks to your dedicated guidance, Yu Shizun—and letting me absorb so much Water Spiritual Rhymes.”
“Let’s go see Lady Chen Xi.”
“Mm.”
This time, Yan Zhen opened his arms first, grinning widely. Yu Shizun’s expression softened, and she leaned into his embrace. Together, they slipped into the Fire Refining Starry Sky.
Atop the altar, Chen Xi looked down at the pair—one big, one small—with approval.
“You’ve both done well. Little Yu’er, consider this one I owe you.”
Yu Shizun bowed slightly.
“You’re too kind, Lady Chen Xi. Shishi merely did what she could. It was all thanks to Yan Zhen’s own insight. I don’t deserve your favor.”
Chen Xi didn’t respond. Instead, she turned to Yan Zhen.
“Zhen’er, your master is giving you a day off. Return tomorrow for body refining—but remember, no more breaking the rules, or I won’t go easy on you.”
Yan Zhen flushed with embarrassment and scratched his head.
“Got it, Master.”
“Go on. Your master has something to discuss with Little Yu’er.”
Yan Zhen paused, shooting Beautiful Female Master and Yu Shizun an odd look. He couldn’t help but wonder what they were going to talk about—something involving him, no doubt.
He acknowledged her with an “oh” and obediently withdrew from the Fire Refining Starry Sky.
Yu Shizun was equally curious.
“What did you want to say, Lady Chen Xi?”
Chen Xi smiled faintly, her expression rich with meaning.
…
After leaving the Fire Refining Starry Sky, Yan Zhen emerged from Yu Shizun’s Cave Mansion and headed toward the mountainside.
He had long since refined the five rings, but how should he give them to the girls? Straightforwardly? Or with a surprise?
Yan Zhen pondered as he walked, but he couldn’t think of a good way to surprise them.
“Better just hand them over directly. Hiding them in food or pills? The others might be fine, but if Long Ying ate one by accident… that’d be mortifying.”
He couldn’t very well exclude Long Ying.
Lost in thought, Yan Zhen reached the mountainside. He figured they must have finished cultivating after all these days and returned by now.
He rang the formation bell at Cave Mansion Number One—Mentor Yu Xuan’s—but got no response. Opening his own cave, he found Long Ying absent too. Voices drifted from Cai Lian’s side instead.
Were they gathered there for afternoon tea?
Yan Zhen pushed open the dividing door and walked over. Sure enough, all three women were there, seated half around a stone table. But the mood seemed off.
As Yan Zhen appeared, their gazes snapped to him in unison. Yet none spoke—not even Long Ying launching into her Meat Bomb Impact pounce. Instead, she pouted, looking thoroughly displeased.
—Why does this feel ominous?
A twinge of guilt stirred inexplicably in Yan Zhen. Racking his brain, he couldn’t recall doing anything wrong. Could it be… because he’d quietly claimed Little Aunt Yu Qing and Aunt Bai Lan?
That didn’t make sense; he’d already cleared it with them.
Bewildered, Yan Zhen sat between Cai Lian and Mentor Yu Xuan, draping an arm around each.
“What’s wrong with you all?”
The two women didn’t resist his embrace but kept their brows furrowed, hesitant to speak. They seemed to want to chide him for being a philanderer, yet couldn’t bring themselves to say harsh words. Instead, they fixed him with looks full of quiet reproach.
Across from them, Long Ying crossed her arms under her chest, thrusting her already impressive peaks even higher—enough to draw any eye. Like a pint-sized judge in court, she demanded, “Yan Zhen Zhen, do you have something going on with Yu Shizun?”
