Qingcheng Mountain's Fourth Peak — Qingyue Peak.
Luo Cong'an returned to the quiet cave-dwelling she typically used for meditation.
Crossing her legs, she sat down and sank her mind into her spirit platform, trying to steady her chaotic thoughts.
Within her sea of consciousness, a conversation was taking place.
"You are not me."
"I am you."
"But I don't know any 'Master' you keep going on about."
"You will. You'll remember." Luo Cong'an frowned slightly.
"That still has nothing to do with killing Xiaoqiu!"
"She has the scent of the Master on her. She deserves to die!"
Even someone as gentle as Luo Cong'an couldn't help but snap at that point. "Your deranged obsession with control is truly revolting!"
"No wonder your so-called 'Master' chose to leave you."
The moment she said those words, Luo Cong'an wasn't sure whether the voice had been hurt—but she herself felt inexplicably nervous.
After a brief silence, the voice replied: "You are me. I am you. If you insult me, you're only insulting yourself."
"Nonsense!" she retorted. "How could I possibly be someone so shameless and perverted—someone who only ever thinks about that man!"
A chuckle came in response.
"I'm nothing but the desire you severed—your so-called 'goodness.' Don't pretend to be some virtuous saint. People like you always talk high and mighty… but I bet your body would surrender faster than anyone's once the time comes."
"Y-You shut your mouth!" Luo Cong'an's face flushed red with shame and anger. She roared in fury.
As the head of an entire peak, she was always treated with the utmost respect. When had she ever been insulted like this?
If someone had said this in reality, she would've made sure they paid dearly for it.
But this voice came from within her very own consciousness. And it knew everything about her.
Just as the voice had said: I am you. You are me.
Was she supposed to destroy herself?
Just then, Luo Cong'an's expression shifted. A strange premonition bloomed in her heart.
And then—like a dam bursting—an avalanche of noise exploded in her mind.
Voices poured in, twisted and frenzied, stabbing into her soul like barbed wire.
"Kill her!"
"Go—go now! What are you waiting for?!"
"Found her—found her!"
"I want her—I want her so much…"
"Smells so good… go on, eat her! She deserves to die!"
"Shut up! Shut up, all of you—shut the hell up!!"
With a final roar from Luo Cong'an's true self, the cacophony was finally swept away.
She fought to maintain composure. "What is all this?"
"I told you—they are the fragments of obsession cut away."
"Then what am I supposed to do?"
"Find the Master. Once he's found, we will be whole again." The voice fell silent after that.
Luo Cong'an slowly opened her eyes, suddenly aware of a chill clinging to her skin.
Only now did she realize that at some point, she had broken out in a cold sweat. Her white robe was soaked and clinging tightly to her body, revealing her graceful, curvaceous figure.
—
Halfway down the mountain.
Lin Jingqiu found her senior sister, Zheng Qing, practicing her techniques.
Zheng Qing hailed from Qingcheng Mountain itself, a rising star among the younger generation. Currently, she'd been assigned to an official position by the state, so she seldom returned to the sect.
That's why Lin Jingqiu had come looking for her the moment she got the chance—otherwise Senior Sister would likely be busy again soon.
"Senior Sister Zheng!"
From a distance, Lin Jingqiu waved and called out brightly.
There weren't many people on Qingyue Peak, so she wasn't worried about losing face.
A woman in Taoist robes stood nearby, her fingers forming seals. A towering tree conjured from spiritual energy manifested before her—its bark and leaves vividly detailed, a majestic sight.
Lin Jingqiu gasped in amazement, covering her mouth with her small hand.
"Senior Sister, that's amazing!"
Zheng Qing had only shown a little flourish, but hearing her junior's awed admiration brought a hint of satisfaction to her heart.
She cleared her throat lightly. "You're overpraising me. It's just a minor technique—not worth mentioning."
Lin Jingqiu giggled inwardly.
Heh, I know exactly what's going on in that head of yours, Senior Sister. No need to act modest with me.
But outwardly she played along, grinning as she continued, "Oh come on, no need to be so humble with me."
She grabbed Zheng Qing's arm with a smile and said sweetly, "Teach me, won't you? I want to learn that spell too!"
Zheng Qing glanced at her and said with a bit of hesitation, "It's not that I won't teach you. The technique isn't some great secret."
"But you have to be in the Qi Condensation stage to use it."
"Without spiritual energy to drive it, how are you going to practice?" She spoke deliberately, hoping Jingqiu would realize the difficulty.
Right now, the official Qi Condensation method hadn't been made public. Many talented disciples like Jingqiu were still stuck at the starting line.
Even if the method were available, reaching Qi Condensation might still take a year or two.
But Lin Jingqiu gave a sly little smile.
"So what you're saying is—if I've already entered Qi Condensation, then I can learn it?"
Zheng Qing nodded. "Of course. Though that's probably something to look forward to a year from now—"
Before she could finish, she noticed Lin Jingqiu covering her mouth and letting out a mischievous little "ke-ke-ke" laugh.
The kind of laugh you hear from villains when their plans succeed.
And sure enough, the next moment, Lin Jingqiu cleared her throat and put on an air of nonchalance.
"Oh, that? Well… I may have just had a teensy little bit…" She pinched her fingers together.
"…a teensy bit of good fortune. I accidentally stepped into Qi Condensation!"
Zheng Qing was dumbfounded by the dramatic flair, lightly smacking Jingqiu on the forehead—prompting an indignant yelp.
"Senior Sister! Don't go around hitting people on the head!"
"You little rascal, trying to mess with your senior?" Zheng Qing scolded half-heartedly. But then her expression shifted.
"…Wait, seriously? You've actually reached Qi Condensation?"
Lin Jingqiu puffed her chest a little, clearly proud.
"Would I lie about that? I can already sense spiritual energy flowing through me. I even started to feel resonance with Qingcheng Mountain's Qi Condensation method!"
She lifted her chin, waiting to be praised.
Zheng Qing could no longer hide her surprise.
"Really?"
"Really!"
Jingqiu nodded emphatically.
"You told Master?"
"Just came from her place."
Hearing that, Zheng Qing finally relaxed.
If Master had already verified it, then there was no issue. At least, she didn't have to worry about Jingqiu stepping onto some deviant path.
Just as Zheng Qing was about to say more, her Dao robe twitched.
She reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone. On the screen, the name Team Leader flashed.
Zheng Qing frowned and picked up.
On the other end, a man's deep voice came through.
"Zheng Qing, come to the city at once. We've got solid intel—we'll be able to capture that rogue cultivator for sure this time!"
There was a trace of barely concealed excitement in his tone.
"Where?"
"No, don't bother with the specific street. Just drive straight to the Sunflower Orphanage."
Hearing the address, she hung up and turned to leave.
"Hey, wait a second!" Lin Jingqiu grabbed her arm.
Sunflower Orphanage?
Her heart tightened.
"I'm going too!" she said firmly.