Visiting a Flow Peak's Elder

-FROZEN LAKE SECT'S DUNGEON-

I've cultivated all night but I couldn't break through to the next layer. I've even used a lot of energy crystals... How much energy should I absorb before I could reach the second layer? *Sigh*

I got out of my storage ring after cultivating and found Bei still cultivating, she didn't even touch her food. How can she cultivate all night without even going to the bathroom... Wait... what's that smell? It smells like piss...

A sudden burst of aura came from Bei! What happened?

"She has broken through to the next layer. Normally, when you breakthrough, you release all the impurities from your body. That's why she pissed herself." That's fast! No wonder. Should I wake her up from cultivation, master?

"You better should. She needs to clean herself or it would stink here real bad." Right... Also, is it just me or upon looking a closer look, her white aura seems to have 2 layers. Does that mean that the layers are related to how many layers her innate realm is?

"That's right. It goes up to 5 layers and once it breaks through, these 5 layers will start to get thicker one by one. So a 6th layer innate realm would have 1 thick starting layer and 4 thin outer layers." Ohh, so that's how you gauge someone's cultivation realm.

"Pristine core has a green aura, spirit core has blue, and void has purple. You'll get to see other different colored auras later on." No wonder the elders emit blue colors besides the Grand Elder.

Anyway...

My current situation is so awkward... I could smell it and the piss even flows on the floor. Since I have my soul within her, I can talk to her in my mind.

Bei, I think it's time to wake up.

"Young master... I'm sorry I think I made a mess." Should you be a little bit more embarrassed than that? Thankfully, I haven't said that using my soul or else...

"It's ok. Here are some clothes... they're from my master's wardrobe so it should be for males but we don't really have a choice. I could also send you to the mansion so you can get a clean bath." Man... I don't really know how to handle girls.

"Hey Hundun, don't you have my storage ring? I should have some clothes there." Right. Since she died before, my master must have taken her stuff.

Out of nowhere, master came out of me and appeared floating around as a soul... I can't really get used to this ghost thing.

"Sure, I did. But what am I supposed to do with a dead girl's clothes? Of course, I threw all the things I didn't need. Not to mention, you don't really have that many treasures. You even have a collection of different under-" Well... he got a point.

"Shut up! Fine! I'll use this. You better not peak at me, young master..." I'm a healthy young man! But... ok...

"Of course. I won't dare do such things." I couldn't help myself but imagine random thoughts... In my defense, she's really beautiful.

Though, her, cleaning her own mess is really awkward to see right now... After that, she finally entered my storage ring.

"So, are you going to visit your elder in distress later?" Master went back into my soul realm.

Yes, I want to know what she's worried about. Also, since she's a merchant, she must have a good amount of energy crystals and cores since I need more. But master, is it just me or I feel like I'm not getting enough energy? Seeing Bo Zihao, I feel like I couldn't defeat him when the time comes.

"Bo Zihao is currently a 5th layer of pristine spirit. His cultivation is way faster than anybody else in the city but it's not all just about the energy realm. Just focus on your cultivation and I'll teach you the attraction art." It's the art you used against Bo Chong Zi and his lackeys, right?

"That's right. If you could learn how to use it with great control, even for a pristine spirit core, he won't be able to get close to you. That's why you better cultivate more. And don't expect that you'll break through to 2nd layer after 2 days of cultivating, you need to be patient." It's not that I'm impatient, it's just that I'm worried... My life depends on it and with a single mistake, I could die.

"Isn't life works that way? If you're not careful enough, you could lose your life. That's why some people kiss asses just to stay alive. Keep your focus straight. Your cultivation won't work well when your mind is troubled." You're right, master. I must be just overthinking.

"I'll make you a list of what to buy later on as well. It's time for you to practice alchemy, if you want to increase your cultivation rate, you better concoct cultivation pills. Unlike runes, the pill's effect is short but the effect is great. The only problem is you need to have lots of gold for this kind of cultivation." No wonder people could spend thousands of gold to get their hands of the energy gathering enhancement rune since pills are much more expensive.

"That's true but unlike runes, pills are made using high-quality herbs that have lots of energy. So, it doesn't only have condensed energy for disciples to cultivate but it also has different effects, like increasing the energy gathering rate for a short duration." So cultivation pills are like a combination of runes and energy crystals. The only difference is that it's much more expensive...

"But it's the best way to breakthrough faster than just cultivating energy from energy crystals. Anyway, you better get those materials." Of course, master.

...

After cultivating some time, I can hear her now calling me.

Are you done? Do you want to get out now?

"Yes, please."

When she came out of the storage ring, she ate the food I brought her last night and I feel like it wasn't enough.

"It's normal for her. She's known to be a cultivation addict. Once she started cultivating, she never stops. Not to even eat, or take a break. Unless, of course, when she's about to die from hunger and whatnot. That's why you probably prepare more food." I got that. I need to stock supplies.

"Hey, Bei. Here, take these." I handed her two talismans, a tier 1 energy suppression rune, and a tier 1 illusion rune.

"Thank you." Then out of nowhere, her appearance suddenly changed into my appearance! She looks like me now and the layers of her aura were reduced to 1 layer. These runes are working well!

"You're pretty sharp. You already realized their use." She's really a valuable ally to have but since we have to stay here, I couldn't let her come with me...

"Of course. I'm well aware of your master's vile and hideous ways." She really hates you, master...

"I will take that as a compliment, you masculine of a woman." Now now... don't start a fight.

"What did you just say?! Master! Tell him that I have the body of a goddess! A demon like him couldn't see real beauty!" You sure do have a body of a goddess but please don't drag me into your fight next time...

"If you guys don't stop your pointless argument, I'm gonna take Bei's energy core and leave master here as well." I don't really have time for this.

"Please forgive me, young master. I won't do it again." Jeez... Bei seems to have calmed down faster than I thought while...

"If you do that, then I won't be able to cultivate-" That is why it's called a punishment, master.

"Ok, fine. Let's just leave." That's more like it.

...

-FROZEN LAKE CITY-

Wow, the last time I was dragged here, my head was covered so I wasn't able to see how lively this place is. There are lots of people going around. Shops are also packed. No wonder people from the peak are excited to leave and live here.

"It's accessible to one's needs. As long as you have the money here, your life would be easy but that doesn't make you a great cultivator. One must experience the struggle of life to make the best out of it." Yeah, like being stuck in a cave for a thousand years.

"Sassy brat..." Haha!

Just as planned, I went straight to Flow Peak.

-FLOW PEAK, ELDER LIU ZUN YAN'S RESIDENCE-

I think this is the place where the inner branch of the Liu family resides. The houses are big and lots of merchants with escorts are going in and out of the place. Unfortunately, I can tell that the guards here are even not at the peak of Innate Realm. The Liu family lacks good cultivators.

I've checked the place and found the famous house of Elder Liu Zun Yan. Asking only one person already pointed me in the right direction.

I approached the entrance and four guards, all of them are 9th layer of innate realm, stopped me from entering.

"Please show us your badge." I don't have a- wait... I do have one.

I showed them my rainbow badge and-

"Please, this way." They were expecting me.

The inside of the mansion is pretty much normal. I was expecting it to have expensive decorations but instead, I find this place calm and peaceful. There's a small light coming from an empty space of the ceiling that shines on a small garden. Water flows can be heard as well from the side of the garden. What a relaxing place.

They lead me to a room where Elder Zun Yan, sitting on her knees, is waiting with a teacup and a teapot on the table.

"It's my pleasure to see you again, venerable An Hei. I'm glad that you pay a visit to my humble home." Wearing a silky long pink sleeveless dress, a little bit loose, and a hair stick that tied her hair. She's unforgivingly gorgeous.

"This is the first time I've been welcome by such beauty. Since I'm already here, how about we start with the reason why you asked for my visit?" Last night, she was worried about being near the presence of the other elders.

"Before that, let me tell you about the story of my sister. A few days ago, she was ambushed by people from the Bo Family." Sheng Kai?!

"When she regains her consciousness, she woke up at her grandfather's alchemy shop." Wait... so Physician Cao Yao and Sheng Kai are related? I never would have guessed that at all...

"Thankfully, she was saved by Liu Hei An who's currently imprisoned at the Frozen Lake Dungeon." Little did she know that she is talking to this person. Though, I'm getting an idea of what her request will be.

"If he saved her, why did they imprisoned him?" I want to know more about what she feels about their judgment towards me.

"Bo's family's connection is the foundation of the sect. No one would go against their decision. Elder Xia and I did our best to fight for his freedom or at least a lighter punishment but since the son of one the elders died from this event, they gave him the worse possible way of dying. Giving not only death but shame for him and his family in front of all the citizens of the sect, public execution by the top disciple of the sect." When she says it that way, it sure is worse than I imagined. Even so, I admire her concern for someone from the same family that she doesn't even know or have met yet.

"I do understand what you're going through but I don't think that an outsider like me should involve myself with the elder's decisions." It's a good idea but it's better that I, as a prisoner, should stay secluded even if it's at the dungeon so I could stay out of other's eyes.

"Is there any way I could convince a venerable like you to help my family?" She's pouring tea while looking down... I could see the shape of her bosom from here! Is she deliberately offering herself for the sake of someone like me?! I couldn't help myself but feel awkward!

"Enjoying the view?" Master! Don't look!

"You know, I'm not married yet. Since you've said it yourself, you're an outsider... If you could be a part of the Liu Family, then you will have the right to involve yourself. With your current status, even the grand elder would think twice of offending you." So this is her real plan...

"Are you using the boy to get what you want? I didn't know that the Lady of Liu's family would be this daring." I didn't know a woman would go as far as this just to improve the reputation of her family.

"You're still so naive, Hei An. This is the real world. Her family is being disregarded that they might have suffered shame and humiliation for a long time. She is doing this for her family to survive. If this kind of treatment to your family stay like this for a couple more years, I'm afraid the Liu family would fall into its end." Uhhh... I have to admit... you're right, master. She decided to embarrass herself just to take a chance of saving not only a family member but the future of her family.

"I'm sorry I've said that... I"m just... I don't know what else to do. I may be the trade master elder but we're indebted to the Bo family. They only gave me the title just to take advantage of us! Our caravans towards the other sects were being attacked and robbed consistently for the last few years and Liu family has to pay a lot just to cover up the losses. We've investigated and we have suspicions that maybe, the Bo family is the one raiding our caravans just to sink the Liu family even deeper. Sooner or later, the Liu family won't last." Sick bastards! Bo family could do this to the people of the same sect! Why are they doing this?!

"I really don't want to involve myself with your sect business but since your a trade master, I think it's a good idea to strengthen my relationship with you. I'll be needing your help but in return, I'll make sure that the Liu family would have great benefits. How about that?" Suddenly, a ray of hope twinkled from her eyes. Damn... she's really beautiful.