Su Ting

"I want better cultivation techniques. Right now my current Qi cultivation technique is better than average."

"But in front of supreme cultivation techniques of other geniuses, I'm way behind." Su Kang said his thoughts.

Cultivation techniques were divided into seven levels, and each level had four tiers—low, middle, high, and supreme.

A low-tier attack skill was weaker than a middle-tier one of the same cultivation level.

His current Five Sword Mansion technique was Exquisite-level, which was decent but not extraordinary. Meanwhile, his cultivation skills ranged between middle-tier and high-tier.

If he wanted to reach the Nascent Soul realm, he would need a Legendary-grade cultivation technique to ensure a stable and powerful foundation.

But this wasn't just about himself. He needed techniques for Bai Yunxi, and eventually, for his family as well.

"Good. Tell me specific details about techniques and skills that you need." Fate agreed.

Su Kang paused, his gaze thoughtful. He hadn't fully decided yet. This wasn't a choice to be made on impulse.

A cultivation technique needed to suit the user's environment and talent. If he chose something too advanced, it would be ineffective for his family, who lacked high-level spiritual energy to cultivate properly.

He needed time to think.

"I'll tell you my requirements later," he said finally.

....

Their journey was long, but eventually, the city's towering walls came into view.

The familiar skyline of Liyun City brought a sense of comfort. The Su Family manor stood tall among the estates of other noble clans, its walls radiating quiet authority.

As the spiritual boat descended, Su Kang stepped out first, followed by Bai Yunxi and the Moonlight Butterfly.

A few servants paused in surprise, their eyes drawn to the beautiful beast.

Bai Yunxi returned to her residence, while Su Kang escorted the Moonlight Butterfly to the spiritual pet section of the manor.

Just as he finished arranging accommodations, he overheard something that caught his attention.

His younger brother, Su Ting, had returned. A slow smirk tugged at his lips.

"It's been a long time since I saw that drama prince." He muttered.

Su Ting had always been known for his vibrant personality and keen intellect. In his leisure time, he preferred the company of young individuals and consistently sought new adventures.

Su Kang approached the doors of his brother's palace. He stepped inside to find the palace unusually quiet, there was no sign of the Su Ting.

If Su Ting wasn't home, there was only one place he could be.

The tavern was the first place that came to Su Kang's mind.

Su Kang navigated through the bustling streets of Liyun City. The air was thick with the scent of exotic spices, blending with the faint aroma of alcohol drifting from the city's drinking halls.

As he approached the tavern, the sound of laughter and clinking glasses grew louder, spilling into the streets.

The tavern was famous—not just for its top-quality spiritual liquor, but also for its reputation as a gathering place for the city's young elites.

Su Kang had been here before—mostly to drag his brother back home when his antics went too far.

Stepping inside, the familiar atmosphere washed over him.

The scent of roasting meats, the glow of lanterns, the hum of conversations interwoven with occasional bursts of laughter—it was the kind of place that thrived with life and indulgence.

And there, at the center of it all, was Su Ting.

Su Ting was holding court at a large table, his presence commanding attention.

Young noblemen and women surrounded him, their expressions enraptured as he spun one of his exaggerated tales.

His sharp handsome face was flushed with warmth, a half-filled cup of liquor in his hand as he gestured dramatically.

His voice rose and fell, each inflection carrying excitement and mischief.

The moment his story reached its climax, a hush fell over the room.

Then—eruption.

Laughter, applause, clinking glasses.

Su Ting grinned in satisfaction, basking in the attention.

Su Kang remained in the shadows, arms crossed, an amused smirk playing on his lips.

As the applause for Su Ting's story died down, a peculiar sensation tickled the edge of Su Kang's consciousness. His gaze drifted over the crowd, searching for the source.

At the edge of the gathering, a girl stood apart from the crowd.

Her long, flowing black hair cascaded over her shoulders, framing a porcelain-like face.

Her eyes were a lighter shade of red. She was wearing red and black coloured robe.

But what unsettled Su Kang was not her beauty—it was the fact that he couldn't see through her cultivation.

She looked no older than sixteen or seventeen, yet she carried herself with a stillness that belonged to those much older.

Their eyes met.

For a few tense seconds, neither of them looked away.

Then, as if silently acknowledging each other, they turned aside.

Su Kang frowned slightly, but he didn't move.

"Who is she?" He thought.

"Fate," he murmured in his mind.

"Look at her. Tell me about her destiny."

Fate looked at the young girl for a few seconds. Then he answered Su Kang,

Fate remained quiet for a moment, as if analyzing something deeply.

Then, it spoke.

"10,000 destiny points. Her luck and blessing are higher in quality compared to yours as well."

"So she is a core formation cultivator. But what is she doing here? Su Kang's mind raced.

"What do you mean by her quality of luck and blessing being better than mine?"

"This is my new ability after recovering. Now I can see the quality of destiny as well." Fate responded to him.

Su Kang ignored that for now. His thoughts were elsewhere.

Was she a threat?

"Did she wanted to harm my brother for some reason?"

"Or was she an acquaintance of Su Ting?"

His instincts leaned toward the first possibility.

"Looking at her expression, it's not hard to guess that she is not enjoying any of this." Su Kang further thought about this.

"Does she have business with my brother? Did he offend her?" Su Kang frowned, his mind racing.

Su Ting, seemingly oblivious to his brother's thoughts, was busy taking bows and accepting compliments with an exaggerated flair that was all too characteristic of him.

"Su Ting," Su Kang called out, his voice cutting through the din of the tavern.

Su Ting head snapped up, his eyes widening in surprise at the sight of him.

"Brother," Su Ting shouted loudly as he looked towards him.

Immediately surrounding people also noticed Su Kang, and they panicked. Su Kang was known disliking such activities.

"Brother, you're back!" He slammed his cup down on the table with a thump. Seeing this gesture, people started to slip away as soon as they could.

Su Kang ignored them and looked at his brother. The girl was not leaving this place, and looking at her expression, she didn't intend to leave this place.

"Let's talk as we go back." Su Kang said.

Su Ting nodded and gestured for everyone to continue without him. But before he left, he introduced the girl to him.

"This is Miss Yue, the daughter of the Yue family from the distant Xuantian Empire. She's quite the talented cultivator, and she's been sharing tales of her adventures!"

Su Ting grinned, gesturing toward her.

"She saved me from a malicious spirit during a treasure hunt. Since she was traveling alone, I invited her to Liyun City."

"It's an honour to meet you, Young Master Su," she said with a slight bow of her head. Her voice was like a gentle breeze, carrying with it an air of dignity and composure.

"Thank you, Miss Yue, for your assistance to my brother." He said, his tone sincere, but he kept his guard against her.