Time slipped away. The summons for the Southern Region’s Demon Sweeping Assembly arrived right on schedule.

“It’s finally beginning.”

Zhang Xian stood on the prow of the spirit vessel. Unfortunately, limited by the False Core technique, his cultivation realm hadn’t budged; he remained stuck at the third level.

However, sitting on a mountain of spiritual treasures, ordinary Golden Core cultivators were no longer his match.

Lin Yinyin bounded up to him, her small face glowing with excitement. “I’m really riding on Big Brother and Master’s coattails this time! I finally get to see the legendary Southern Capital.”

The Southern Capital. The heart of the Great Xia Dynasty and the majestic crown jewel of the Southern Region.

Zhang Xian smiled. “Let’s go. Master has just emerged from seclusion. We should pay our respects.”

Lin Yinyin grinned slyly. “Oho! Big Brother, you finally get to deliver that big gift of yours?”

Inside the sword chamber, the spiritual mist had yet to clear.

Li Fuxi sat cross-legged on a prayer mat in the center, her eyes slowly opening. A tangible sword intent flashed in her gaze—sharp, lethal—before sinking back into a pool of profound stillness.

Vast power circulated within her body, smooth and flawless—the hallmark of the Late Golden Core stage.

Over a hundred years.

The chasm that had trapped her at the Mid Golden Core stage had finally been shattered.

When she saw Zhang Xian and Lin Yinyin enter, a trace of warmth softened Li Fuxi’s expression.

Her gaze lingered on Zhang Xian. Without this disciple, she might have succumbed to the despair of her damaged foundation, rotting away in some nameless cave until her lifespan turned to dust.

“Congratulations on your breakthrough, Master! Late Golden Core stage!”

Lin Yinyin offered a delicate jade box like she was presenting a treasure. “Master, Master! This is my congratulatory gift!”

Li Fuxi opened the box. Inside lay a sword case made of glazed glass, flowing with iridescent light and exquisite craftsmanship.

“You are thoughtful, Yinyin.” Li Fuxi smiled, enjoying the cool touch of the case. It was valuable, and as a sword cultivator, she genuinely liked it.

She set it aside gently, her gaze drifting—seemingly by accident—toward Zhang Xian.

Zhang Xian stepped forward silently and offered a simple, unadorned jade box. At Lin Yinyin’s suggestion, he had swapped out the original packaging that bore the “Cloud” character.

Seeing the plain box, Li Fuxi’s heart skipped a beat. A premonition struck her.

She hesitated for a split second before taking it. With a pulse of spiritual energy, she popped the lid.

A single, lustrous spiritual pill lay quietly inside.

A Nascent Formation Pill!

This was a peerless treasure that countless Peak Golden Core cultivators would fight to the death to possess!

“This… A Nascent Formation Pill?” Li Fuxi’s voice trembled.

She had mentally prepared herself, but seeing the pill right in front of her was a massive shock.

“Wow!” Lin Yinyin covered her mouth in exaggerated surprise. “Oh my! Master! What are we going to do now? We made a bet, remember? The loser has to fulfill any wish of the winner.”

She bit down hard on the word “any.”

Heat rushed straight to Li Fuxi’s face. She forced a mask of calm.

“N-nonsense! When did I agree to that? That was your bet with him. Uh…”

She stammered, her thoughts in chaos. “Ah, right! The bet was for a ‘full supply.’ This… this is just one pill. It doesn’t count.”

Her voice faded at the end, lacking all conviction.

Zhang Xian watched his Master’s rare fluster with amusement. He spoke warmly, “Master, ignore Yinyin’s nonsense. This is just a token of your disciple’s respect. Please accept it.”

Looking into Zhang Xian’s clear, smiling eyes, Li Fuxi’s chaotic heart settled. She took a deep breath, suppressing the blush on her cheeks.

“T-then, thank you.”

[Ding! Successfully gifted Li Fuxi a Nascent Formation Pill. Triggering Return System. Received: Nascent Formation Pill x100.]

[Nascent Formation Pill: Earth-grade pill, Epic rarity. Greatly enhances cultivation for Late Golden Core and Early Nascent Soul cultivators. Effects diminish with repeated use.]

[Special Warning: Host is in the False Core realm. Consumption will result in death by explosion.]

[Ding! Current Favorability: 63.]

A faint, imperceptible smile touched Zhang Xian’s lips.

Just as Li Fuxi carefully stored the jade box into her storage ring, before she could even catch her breath—

Zhang Xian flicked his wrist.

He produced another identical jade box. Only this one was significantly larger.

He pushed it toward Li Fuxi.

“Master, one must accept defeat gracefully.”

His relaxed tone sent Li Fuxi’s heart leaping into her throat.

With a mix of inexplicable fear and anticipation, she slowly opened the new box.

Inside, there was no padding. Just pills. Rows of them.

Densely packed Nascent Formation Pills—at least twenty! Each one radiated the same pure, terrifying Daoist rhythm.

The visual impact was ten times—no, a hundred times stronger than before!

Buzz!

Li Fuxi felt the blood rush to her head. A dizzying sense of suffocation slammed into her.

“Th-this… You…” Li Fuxi pointed at the dazzling box, incoherent. “Where did you get so many Nascent Formation Pills?!”

She was now certain that the “minor world” behind Zhang Xian was real. He wasn’t just a mysterious young master; he was backed by something terrifying.

Not even the top aristocratic families of the Central Continent could casually toss out a box of Nascent Formation Pills like this!

Zhang Xian maintained his mysterious smile. “Master, don’t worry about the origins. You only need to know that these are all yours.”

Li Fuxi pressed her red lips together, her fingers twisting the hem of her robe.

Finally, her defenses crumbled under the sheer weight of the wealth before her.

She closed her eyes, her long lashes trembling. “I… I admit defeat.”

But as the words left her mouth, a shameful thought intruded. Her face exploded into a crimson flush.

“But… my Nine Turns…”

She froze.

What the hell am I saying?!

She wished she could slap herself. Why did she bring up the Nine Turns Jade Condensation Sutra herself? That was practically inviting him to take advantage of her!

“Master, what are you saying? Nine Turns what?” Lin Yinyin leaned in, eyes twinkling with feigned curiosity.

Li Fuxi’s eyes widened in sheer mortification. “N-nothing!”

She choked out the word, unable to salvage the situation.

Seeing her look like she wanted to burrow into the ground, Zhang Xian finally laughed.

“Let’s put that debt on hold. This disciple hasn’t decided how to collect it yet.”

He watched Li Fuxi’s body tense up, his gaze lingering.

“No rush, Master. We have plenty of time.”