Qin Ming smiled as he watched four blue spirit crystals fall from the air.
Each of them took one.
Holding the crystal in his hand, Qin Ming felt its cool touch, brimming with energy.
"In the past, my master would give me spirit crystals to upgrade my talents. I never expected how hard it would be to obtain one myself!"
Ma Qiang grinned as he held his crystal. "Somehow, the ones we earn ourselves just feel better, don't they?"
Liu Zonghuo let out a long sigh. "Hard-earned indeed! I almost got crushed to death by that ghost!"
Qin Ming put away his spirit crystal.
As he turned around, he saw Qing Xuan already heading outside.
Her long braid swayed from side to side, exuding an air of confidence and grace.
This girl was truly unique!
Her combat style in the illusion realm had been fierce, and that final strike that slew the ghost scholar—though it appeared simple—must have contained profound mastery of spiritual techniques.
Qin Ming and the others took a carriage back to the rear courtyard of Drunken Immortal Pavilion.
Yun Shuiyao was already waiting there.
"You all returned half a day earlier than I expected."
"Master, couldn't you have given us some hints about how to break through the spirit realm? We almost died in there!"
"Each spirit realm only exists once—there is no prior experience to rely on! The strength can be roughly judged by the overflow of baleful energy, but what happens inside and what you gain is all up to luck!"
"I see."
Standing beside them, Qing Xuan softly recounted what had happened in the spirit realm to her master, Yun Shuiyao, particularly emphasizing Qin Ming's composure and quick thinking.
Yun Shuiyao nodded, then stood up and walked over to Qin Ming.
"Qin Ming, congratulations. You have earned the qualification to join the Five Elements Alliance.
Our alliance is divided into five halls—Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. Which one would you like to join?"
Her autumn-water-like eyes shimmered with admiration.
"If you wish to join my Flame Hall, I would personally welcome you!
As a gift for becoming my disciple, I will even give you Qing Xuan's spirit crystal."
Qing Xuan: |ʘᗝʘ|!
She was immediately displeased and bit her lip anxiously.
"Master, that's so unfair! Why should my spirit crystal go to him?
Besides, if he doesn't want to join, then he doesn't have to! I don't want a eunuch as a junior brother!"
Qin Ming perked up at that.
"Senior Yun, I truly wish to acknowledge you as my master, but I don't like being the youngest disciple.
And to be honest, I prefer the title of 'senior brother.'
If Qing Xuan becomes my junior sister, then I—"
"Zheng~!"
Qing Xuan unsheathed her black gold blade and pointed it straight at Qin Ming.
"Say one more word!"
"Enough!" Yun Shuiyao let out a cold snort.
"Qin Ming, your request is not difficult. I agree!
From now on, Qing Xuan will be your junior sister."
Qing Xuan stomped her foot in frustration.
"Hmph!!"
"Qing Xuan, hand over your spirit crystal. Your master needs to use it."
"Master, I worked so hard to get this…"
"If I say it's a gift to him, then it is. Next time I visit the Five Elements Alliance, I will get another one for you."
With that, Yun Shuiyao took Qing Xuan's spirit crystal and placed it in Qin Ming's hand.
Qing Xuan glared daggers at Qin Ming, her chest rising and falling in anger.
"My dear junior sister, don't be so upset.
You've already reached the Spirit Communion Realm, while your senior brother here is only at the third stage of Body Tempering. I desperately need this crystal to enhance my talents.
Thank you!"
"Hmph!" Qing Xuan turned and stomped toward the house, her fair cheeks puffed up in frustration.
As she walked, she muttered under her breath, "Damn eunuch! Just wait until Master isn't around—I'll get my revenge!"
Yun Shuiyao then led Qin Ming to a secluded chamber.
In the center of the room stood a square Eight Immortals table and a redwood chair.
On the table rested a large incense burner.
Yun Shuiyao handed Qin Ming three sticks of incense.
"Since you have now acknowledged me as your master, let's keep the ceremony simple given the circumstances. Kneel."
Qin Ming took the incense sticks and immediately knelt on the prayer mat.
"Master above, please accept my bow."
"First, pay respects to the past leaders of the Five Elements Alliance."
Qin Ming bowed toward the incense burner.
"Next, pay respects to our current leader, Jin Yangzi. He is not in Fluorite Imperial City at the moment, but I will arrange for you to meet him once he returns."
"Yes, Master."
Qin Ming once again bowed three times toward the incense burner.
Yun Shuiyao then sat down on the redwood chair.
Dressed in flowing white robes, she was surrounded by curling wisps of smoke, resembling a celestial maiden.
"Qin Ming, are you truly sincere in acknowledging me as your master today?"
"Master, your disciple is absolutely sincere."
"Good! Complete the disciple's ceremonial bow."
Qin Ming kowtowed three times before rising to his feet.
Yun Shuiyao reached into her sleeve and pulled out a thick stack of silver notes—nearly two thousand taels in total.
"Master, this is…?"
"This is all for you. Keep it safe and don't let your fellow disciples see it."
"Master, I've noticed that our Drunken Immortal Pavilion isn't exactly thriving in business. Two thousand taels is a huge amount…"
"Take it," Yun Shuiyao said earnestly.
"Since I have accepted you as my disciple, I must treat you with sincerity. The other disciples are outside the palace, and their safety is protected by the Five Elements Alliance.
But you are different. You are inside the Taiyin Palace, where the Grand Princess kills without hesitation. Many transmigrators like you have perished at her hands.
If you want to survive in the palace, you'll need silver to smooth things over. Keep it on you in case of emergencies."
Qin Ming felt a slight warmth in his heart.
They had met by chance, and he had merely acknowledged her as his master.
He had yet to contribute anything to the Five Elements Alliance, yet Yun Shuiyao treated him with such generosity—giving him both a spirit crystal and now a large sum of silver.
"Your disciple thanks you, Master."
"Qin Ming, is there anything else in the palace that you need my help with?"
Qin Ming thought for a moment before speaking in a hushed tone.
"Master, there is indeed something. When I first transmigrated into this world, I killed a eunuch named Xiao Qinzi. In the palace, I have been impersonating him."
"What?" Yun Shuiyao was visibly shocked.
"You mean… you… you're not actually a eunuch?"
"Master, I never said I was. You all just assumed…"
A faint blush spread across Yun Shuiyao's face.
Discussing such a topic with a young and vigorous man made her feel a bit uncomfortable.
"We misunderstood. Since you're not truly a eunuch, doesn't that make your situation even more dangerous?"
"Master, I have my own ways. But I do need your help with something—please investigate Xiao Qinzi's background for me.
See if he had any acquaintances from the same hometown in the palace. I'm afraid of slipping up one day and exposing myself."
"I understand. That is indeed a serious risk. This matter must be handled immediately. Did he have any distinguishing features?"
"Master, I only know that his waist token was inscribed with 'Xiao Qinzi.'
He had a fresh scar running from his left eye down to his neck.
He was about the same height as me, bore some resemblance to me, and was from the Western Prefecture of Cold Night City."
"Understood. Once I find something, I'll have Qing Xuan deliver a message to you.
If I can resolve the matter, I will do my best to take care of it for you."
"Your disciple is deeply grateful, Master."
"No need for thanks. It's getting late—go and handle your tasks.
Oh, and if possible, bring some food for your martial uncle."
"Your disciple obeys!"
…
Qin Ming bought four sesame pancakes.
After arriving at the Demon Suppression Tower, Qin Ming did not immediately head to the prison where Mu Sizhe was held.
Instead, he sat down in front of a bookshelf.
To avoid suspicion, he casually placed an open book in front of him, pretending to read while slowly channeling his spiritual energy.
He took out two blue spirit crystals and swallowed one first.
In an instant, golden characters appeared on the Locking Heaven Gourd.
[Spirit crystal energy detected. Talent upgrade available. Please select.]
"Upgrade Copy Talent."
[Copy Talent (Sequence 9) successfully upgraded to Level 2. You can now copy the talents of two transmigrators.]
"Hulu Godfather, if I use another spirit crystal, can I upgrade Copy Talent to Level 3?"
[Upgrading from Level 2 to Level 3 requires two spirit crystals.]
Qin Ming: …
Forget it! Better to invest this spirit crystal into my Concealment Talent.
[Concealment Talent (Sequence 103) successfully upgraded to Level 2. Now allows perfect concealment of breath, bloodline, and cultivation level. Increases speed by three times during combat.]
Qin Ming was genuinely surprised—he hadn't expected the Concealment Talent to gain such an incredible effect after leveling up!
A threefold speed boost during battle?
This was practically an assassination cheat code!
666! Absolutely insane!