The morning light spilled softly through the window as Lin Ke''er finished her morning routine. She carefully tucked the cultivation pills she had prepared into her robes, the warmth of the small pouches brushing against her skin. A change of clothes was slung across her back, and in her hand, she gripped a longsword.


    It was no magic tool, but a finely crafted sword of tempered iron, with a small amount of materials used in magic tool crafting mixed into the blade. It was sharp, though lacking the ability to channel spirit qi or unleash spells like a true artifact. Yet, it was affordable and efficient for her needs.


    Once everything was packed, Lin Ke''er stepped out of her room. Her gaze turned toward the distant mountains, where the early morning fog still clung to their peaks. In the distance, faint beastly roars echoed through the air, reminding her of the dangers she would have to face..


    Most cultivators were reluctant to venture into the mountains. The rewards were great, but so too were the risks. Not everyone had the courage to face such uncertainty. However, Lin Ke''er had grown weary of the struggle to make ends meet.


    She longed to grow stronger. If she could break through to the later stages of Qi Refining, everything would be different. Every endeavor would yield more than it did now. And with more resources, she could reach greater heights in her cultivation. Perhaps one day, she might even break through to Foundation Establishment, or even beyond. For that, she knew she had to take a gamble.


    As she walked out the door, she saw Lu Jing just stepping out as well. A smile immediately formed on Lu Jing''s face at the sight of Lin Ke''er. But Lin Ke''er offered no such smile in return, her face cold as she ignored Lu Jing and walked past her without a word.


    Lu Jing, unfazed by Lin Ke''er''s demeanor, let her lips curl into a smile. Lin Ke''er was leaving. The opportunity she had been waiting for had arrived.


    As Lin Ke''er stepped out of the courtyard, she found no trace of Ye Chen. She had secretly hoped Ye Chen might come early to send her off, but clearly, that wasn''t the case. It seemed he truly had nothing left to give her.


    A sense of waste filled her thoughts. Her visit to Ye Chen the previous day to remind him felt like a futile effort. After all, a useless person like Ye Chen being taken away was of no consequence to her.


    Moreover, it was evident that Lu Jing''s intentions were driven by Ye Chen''s resources. If Ye Chen truly had nothing left to offer, Lu Jing would surely stop wasting her time.


    Turning back, Lin Ke''er gazed at the dilapidated courtyard, her heart brimming with resolve. She swore to herself, "It is better to rely on oneself than on others."


    She would never again live in such a crumbling house. She would not remain in Silver Moon Market either. She was determined to move to Green Cloud City. Whether it was Ye Chen or Lu Jing, both were destined to belong to worlds far removed from her own.


    With this thought, Lin Ke''er''s confidence grew. Filled with anticipation for the future, she took a firm step forward, heading toward the meeting place of her team.


    ...


    The morning sun filtered gently into Ye Chen''s room as he woke up leisurely. After being attended to by the maid and finishing his morning routine, he suddenly recalled that Lin Ke''er had probably already set off.


    But Ye Chen paid no mind. So what if she left? He proceeded with his usual daily routine.


    First, he practiced his cultivation method in the morning. Then, he focused on his external training. Before he knew it, the morning had passed.


    After a brief rest at noon, he began researching new spells. Once that was done, he started refining pills. He made two batches each day.


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    Most of the time, he focused on making Qi-Nourishing Pill. Once his stock of Elephant Blood Pill ran low, he would make those as well. After everything was finished, it was time for rest and relaxation.


    Ye Chen knew the importance of balancing work with rest. While the cultivation world lacked the internet, it was not devoid of cultural entertainment. Many common folk lived off the prosperity of cultivators.


    To hear a song, one didn''t need speakers. Just summon a mortal songstress. If one desired a performance, a seat could be secured with just a small fee. For a thrill, one had more than ten choices, even without counting the street vendors. Mortals and immortals alike could entertain and be entertained. All of it was supported by specific sects of cultivators.


    Silver Moon Market even offered a variety of novels. All of them were fantasy-based. The stories featured ordinary people who suddenly gained a miraculous encounter and rose to become gods or ancestors. The plots were highly dramatic, with immortal maidens, witches, and more. And since there were no editorial restrictions, some even had illustrations.


    Ye Chen couldn''t help but feel his eyes widen with amazement. However, after finishing his pill refinement session in the afternoon, he did not rest. Instead, he decided to head out.


    Since Lin Ke''er had left, it was time to visit Lu Jing and present his gift. Ten mid-grade Qi-Nourishing Pill would be worth five days of pill refining earnings. A solid profit.


    Once he exchanged this batch of pills for spirit stones, he could buy more valuable gifts. But just as Ye Chen was about to leave, the maid came in to deliver a message: "Fellow Daoist Ye, a female cultivator has come to visit. She claims to be Lu Jing."


    At the sound of those words, a smile immediately appeared on Ye Chen''s face. So, Lu Jing was decisive, wasn''t she? Lin Ke''er had only left in the morning, and by afternoon, Lu Jing was already coming over to stake her claim. A true talent indeed.


    "Please invite her in," Ye Chen said with a wave of his hand, waiting in the courtyard.


    Before long, a female cultivator entered the courtyard under the maid''s guidance. It was Lu Jing. She wore a long green dress that looked like it was bought off the rack. But when Lu Jing wore it, it was as if the dress was tailor-made to highlight her figure.


    While Lu Jing''s waist was not as slim as Lin Ke''er''s, the exaggerated curves of her figure made it appear far more delicate in comparison. Her waist seemed so slender it could be encircled by a single hand. Her long hair was styled up, and her mature features were exquisitely refined. Clearly, she had put effort into her appearance, making her undeniably captivating.


    Ye Chen couldn''t help but feel that Lu Jing had truly great assets. If it was his past life, even a messy photograph of her would''ve driven countless men to sleepless nights.


    "Fellow Daoist Lu, what brings you here? Please, make yourself comfortable," Ye Chen asked, feigning confusion.


    Lu Jing''s almond-shaped eyes blinked slightly, as if sending a spark of electricity, and she playfully feigned a touch of reproach. "Fellow Daoist Ye, are you no longer welcoming me? Should I leave?"


    Ye Chen laughed heartily. "How could that be? I was just about to go to your place to look for Ke''er, and yet here you are, Fellow Daoist Lu."


    Upon hearing this, Lu Jing smiled, gracefully pressing down the hem of her long skirt before sitting down with an elegant bow. Though the day was still young, Ye Chen felt as though he had just witnessed the full moon rise.


    "I came here for this very reason," Lu Jing began. "Ke''er left early this morning to enter the mountains. I feared you might make a fruitless trip, so I stopped by to inform you. Has Ke''er not told you?"


    Ye Chen''s expression darkened at her words. "She''s already gone into the mountains? I only just found out."


    Seeing the change in Ye Chen''s expression, Lu Jing felt a surge of triumph, but she quickly masked it, saying, "Fellow Daoist Ye, please don''t misunderstand. Ke''er probably didn''t want to worry you, which is why she didn''t mention it. She definitely still cares for you.


    “Oh, and Ke''er mentioned that the leader of the team she joined has a younger brother who''s quite talented. Only nineteen years old, and already at the fifth level of Qi Refining. She said he gives off a sense of security just by looking at him.


    “She also said that he''s very warm towards her. So, Ke''er probably didn''t tell you, fearing you might misunderstand and come to see her off. But please, don''t mention that I told you. Ke''er is still young, and I''d hate for her to be upset."


    Watching Lu Jing''s performance, Ye Chen couldn''t help but chuckle. This mature woman, Lu Jing, was no less skillful at playing her cards than Lin Ke''er. Could she be any more considerate?


    If Ye Chen were truly a simp, he might have been crushed by such an act. One might even think he''d be on the verge of despair. But it was clear the two women shared more than just a living space.


    Yesterday, Lin Ke''er came over, subtly badmouthing Lu Jing.Today, Lu Jing arrived, immediately serving up her own brand of subtle manipulation.


    The two truly were in perfect sync.