Several more days passed in this manner. Zhang Xian was in his thatched hut, wholly absorbed in studying the art of puppetry. His desk was piled high with various precious materials.

Frowning, he calculated, “One piece of Heavenly Puppet Wood, five pieces of Profound Iron Essence, Spirit Pattern Jade, and Clear Lotus Silk…” As he tallied it up, he couldn’t help but sigh. “Twenty thousand sect contribution points are nowhere near enough. Looks like I’ll have to buy some more from Senior Sister Tiexin.”

Just then, his communication jade slip suddenly lit up. Liu Qingxuan’s gentle voice came through. “Zhang Xian, why haven’t you been attending classes lately?”

Zhang Xian replied with sincere earnestness, “Supervisor Liu, I’ve had a premonition these past few days that I’m about to break through to the sixth level of Foundation Establishment. I’ve been in secluded cultivation.”

“I see.” Liu Qingxuan’s voice carried a note of concern. “Well, you must work hard. If you need any help, just say the word.”

No sooner had the call ended than another message arrived, this time from Zhiyin of Heavenly Puppet Peak. “Zhang Xian, do you still have enough materials for making puppets?”

“Not really. I’ve almost run out of contribution points,” Zhang Xian answered with a bitter laugh. “I plan to earn some more sect contribution points and then buy some more.”

There was a moment of silence on the other end before the voice spoke again. “Actually, you could also trade with me directly using spirit stones.”

“That’s allowed?” Zhang Xian asked in surprise. “Doesn’t the sect forbid private transactions?”

“In principle, it’s not allowed.”

“But it’s fine if we change our identities. I’m a nominal patron of the Cloud Raiment Pavilion, and you are a distinguished guest of the Cloud Raiment Pavilion. We can trade using spirit stones, and I can even give you a twenty percent discount as a VIP. This is normal business dealings; it has nothing to do with the Yunmiao Sect’s rules.”

Zhang Xian: “…”

You’re something else.

“That’s fantastic! Sister, please get me one million spirit stones’ worth of materials first. I want the very best.”

And so, he continued burying himself in diligent cultivation. When skill falls short, spirit stones make up the difference.

In the evening, Lin Yinyin’s message suddenly arrived. “Brother, I have a surprise for you!”

“What surprise?” Zhang Xian asked curiously.

“Just wait and see!”

A short while later, Lin Yinyin arrived riding her sword. She pushed the door open furtively, her little face flushed pink. “Brother, I’ve missed you so much.”

“What about Master?” Zhang Xian asked.

“Hmph! Asking about Master as soon as we meet,” Lin Yinyin pretended to be angry before giggling again. “Brother, I came to soak in the spirit spring with you.”

Zhang Xian coughed twice and said seriously, “Yinyin, Master also said that your Nine Turns Jade Condensation Sutra is at a critical stage right now. You mustn’t slack off and waste all your previous effort.”

“Pah! Brother, your own thoughts are wandering,” Lin Yinyin covered her mouth and laughed. As she spoke, she pulled Zhang Xian to the hot spring behind the house.

Then she skillfully inserted two wood spirit stones and two water spirit stones into the formation node on the stone wall, along with one metal spirit stone and a drop of Dragon Saliva Jade Liquid.

Zhang Xian was full of question marks. We don’t have a metal spiritual root here; why are you adding a metal-attribute spirit stone?

Before he could ask, Lin Yinyin handed him the jade vial. “Here, this is for you.”

“Didn’t we agree this was a gift for you? Why are you giving it back?” Zhang Xian was even more confused.

Lin Yinyin said earnestly, “Brother, I know this is very precious, but you can’t just keep lending it to me forever. From now on, let’s soak in the same spirit spring together to avoid waste.”

Waste?

Zhang Xian indicated he didn’t even know how to write the word ‘waste’.

Lin Yinyin’s eyes darted around as she proposed another idea. “Having just two people in the spirit spring is still wasteful. How about I call Master over too?”

“What?” Before Zhang Xian could react, Lin Yinyin had already sent the message.

At that moment, atop Spirit Sword Peak, Li Fuxi was meditating when she suddenly received Lin Yinyin’s message: “Master! Come quickly to Brother’s place to soak in the spirit spring! I’ve already prepared it!”

Li Fuxi frowned and replied: “Nonsense! How utterly improper!”

“Master! The spirit liquid is so precious; what a pity it would be to waste it!” Lin Yinyin wheedled. “I’ll use a Water Mirror Technique to separate Brother from us; we’ll each soak on our own side; I guarantee he won’t be able to see anything!”

Li Fuxi: “…”

After much hesitation, Li Fuxi decided to go take a look anyway. Seeing the two already waiting by the spirit spring’s edge, she said sternly with a stiff face, “What kind of spectacle is this!”

Zhang Xian hurriedly explained, “Master… perhaps it would be better if you and Yinyin went back to soak in one pool together? I’ll soak here by myself; at most I’ll just use a few more spirit stones and spirit liquid.”

“No!” Li Fuxi said severely. “The spirit liquid is far too precious; how can we waste it so casually! You two cultivate here properly; your master will take her leave first.”

“Aiya!” Lin Yinyin immediately hugged Li Fuxi’s arm. “Right now we can’t even absorb all this spiritual energy! Master, let’s do it together; otherwise, it really would be wasteful.”

Seeing Li Fuxi pause in her steps, Lin Yinyin added, “Don’t worry, Master! It’s absolutely safe!” As she spoke, she immediately cast a Water Mirror Technique right in the middle of the spring water, splitting the spirit spring into two halves and isolating Zhang Xian on the other side.

Li Fuxi bit her lip, wrestling with herself for a moment before finally being unable to resist the temptation of the spirit spring any longer. She gave a cold nod. “Just this once.”

With that said, she waved her hand and added an even sturdier water mirror barrier. Then she slowly loosened her outer robe and stepped into the water along with Lin Yinyin.

In the Spirit Spring.

The Water Mirror Technique blocked their view from each other’s side.

But faint rustling sounds of clothing being removed and soft sounds of water gently moving still clearly reached Zhang Xian’s ears.

Zhang Xian took a deep breath and silently recited his Heart-Calming Mantra.

On the other side…

Lin Yinyin whispered, “Master… from now on… shall we soak in the spirit spring together like this?”

Li Fuxi had half-submerged herself in the water but still revealed her large eyes above its surface; her ear tips were slightly red. “N-no… this is far too improper…”

“Then… how about next time Brother and I go soak at your place behind your house?” Lin Yinyin pretended not to hear her objection and continued proposing ideas.

Li Fuxi hesitated for what felt like an eternity before finally letting out a muffled “…Mmm…”

There was no helping it—she needed this spirit spring too much.

“Mmm… but going to Master’s place might not be good either… what if we get discovered? Wouldn’t that be bad? Master, your cultivation is higher; better if you come over here instead…”

She leaned close to Li Fuxi’s ear and lowered her voice even further: “…Master… you wouldn’t want others to know about us soaking in this spirit spring together… would you?”

Li Fuxi’s mind went blank for an instant; she instinctively replied, “…That works too… I’ll come over…”

Zhang Xian: “…”

Each of them harbored their own thoughts as they silently cultivated through the night.

The next morning…

Li Fuxi grabbed Lin Yinyin by her collar and hauled her up with an icy expression. “Go attend morning classes at Cloud-Piercing Peak!”

Lin Yinyin was dragged away looking utterly aggrieved but still managed to wink at Zhang Xian before leaving.

At noon…

Zhang Xian received another message from Lin Yinyin:

“So? Was it surprising or not?”

Zhang Xian replied helplessly:

“Nonsense…”

Lin Yinyin sent back:

“Hmph! Not interested? Then next time I won’t invite Master over…”

Zhang Xian thought for a moment before replying:

“…Come on over…”

He swore—he was only doing this for Master’s sake so she could raise her realm faster—absolutely no other thoughts whatsoever.

Nighttime…

“Master, come quickly~”

Li Fuxi slipped over under the moonlight towards Zhang Xian’s spirit spring location.

The next night…

“Come quickly~”

And again the next day…

“Come~”

And so passed one month…

“Cough…”

By now, Li Fuxi had long since become familiar with the routine—but when she arrived at the spirit spring location today—she found only Lin Yinyin alone there waiting…

“Where’s Zhang Xian?”

Lin Yinyin slapped the water idly, looking bored.

“Hah! He went during the daytime today—got the flying boat from Zhiyin Sister—asked for leave to return to his hometown.”