"I'm about to break through again!"
Yunxi muttered under her breath, then swiftly retrieved the Xianling Grass from her jade token's space. She didn't want to attract attention. If the spiritual energy in the stronghold fluctuated too much, it would raise suspicion. Only the Xianling Grass could provide her with a stable supply of qi without causing a stir.
The Xianling Grass shook its leaves and began channeling spiritual energy into Yunxi while transmitting its thoughts.
"That was close just now. I thought you wouldn't make it, I was already prepared to sacrifice myself."
"Relax. I'm not that easy to kill. I'm about to break through, so help me with the qi I need."
Yunxi had already settled cross-legged on her cushion and begun guiding the spiritual energy through her meridians, expanding them while running her internal circulation. After compressing the qi into liquid form, she stored it in her dantian.
The Xianling Grass slowly released its energy beside her. After all, it had absorbed an entire mid-grade spirit vein in the Baohua Mountains, more than enough to support Yunxi's cultivation to the Golden Core stage.
This time, her breakthrough went smoothly. When the final drop of spiritual liquid settled, her cultivation had stabilized at the peak of the Foundation Establishment mid-stage. Just one more spark, and she could break into the late stage. But she forcibly halted it.
It wasn't that she didn't want to advance. It was because she had already made two consecutive breakthroughs, yet her techniques and arts hadn't caught up. At this rate, she would be nothing but a hollow shell.
To put it plainly, her cultivation level and actual combat ability didn't match. So, she chose not to rush forward. She planned to fully solidify her foundation before letting her cultivation flow forward naturally.
Afterward, she used her Huadian artifact to conceal her real level, adjusting it to look like she had just stepped into early Foundation Establishment.
Fortunately, between this breakthrough and the effects of the mental suppressant, she had survived the crisis of her physical body collapsing.
As soon as Yunxi opened her eyes, she put away the Xianling Grass. The Xunzong Mouse had already drooled all over the floor looking at it.
She pinched the mouse by the scruff of its neck and asked,
"Little thing, what did you just see?"
The Xunzong Mouse kicked its legs, its survival instincts kicking in.
"Master, I didn't see anything at all!"
"Really?"
"Really!"
Yunxi was in a good mood. She rubbed the Xunzong Mouse in her palm for fun. Only when the little thing fluffed up in annoyance did she finally speak again.
"I didn't plan to contract you. I just thought you were cute and wanted to keep you as a pet. But you took the chance and made yourself my contracted beast. Tell me, besides tracking, what else can you do?"
The Xunzong Mouse carefully smoothed its fur and sat in her palm, then replied through spiritual transmission.
"Actually, I have a trace of Treasure-Seeking Mouse bloodline. It's not pure, though, which is why I'm just an ordinary Xunzong Mouse. I can track cultivators by the scent of the treasures they carry."
As it spoke, it even checked its claws, its gestures oddly human-like.
Yunxi raised a brow.
"Then what kind of scent did you pick up from me?"
"The scent of a great treasure. Clearly, my nose wasn't wrong. Master has a portable space."
The Xunzong Mouse spoke boldly, seemingly unafraid of death.
"Is that your way of saying I wouldn't dare kill you?"
"I wouldn't dare! Master, I'm your contracted beast now. I swear to help you find all kinds of treasures. You won't lose out."
"You? With your measly first-rank strength?"
"I'll break through soon! If you give me two more of those fruits, I'll reach second rank for sure!"
The mouse sounded completely serious.
Yunxi, truthfully, had a bit of a soft spot for furry creatures. She also knew Xunzong Mouse weren't dangerous; most cultivators kept them as pets. She had just been giving it a scare.
Thankfully, the mouse was self-aware. Their contract was one of master and servant. She was the master, and if she died, the contract would execute the mouse as well. So there was no need to worry about loyalty.
Seeing that Yunxi remained silent, the mouse asked timidly,
"Master… even one fruit would be enough. I'll work hard to cultivate."
Yunxi flicked the little thing's forehead before answering.
"Fine. I'll grant your wish. Time for a new name. You're so tiny, let's call you Dian Dian. You'll take my surname and be Wei Diandian."
Its beady black eyes immediately lit up. Pressing its front paws together in a bow, it replied,
"Thank you, Master, for bestowing a name. From now on, this little mouse is Dian Dian."
"Go cultivate. Once I finish up some matters, I've got questions for you."
"Yes, Master."
Dian Dian obediently nestled beside her cushion and began refining the power of the milk fruit it had eaten earlier.
Yunxi waved to dismiss her bath barrel, then sat cross-legged again. This time, she chose to enter her spatial dimension through her spiritual sense.
In truth, entering physically earlier had been risky. Fortunately, all the heavyweights in Baohua City had been distracted by the celestial phenomenon. Otherwise, her space might have been exposed. Now that her personal crisis was over, she had to be more cautious.
The moment her spirit entered the chat space, she sent out a message to everyone, letting them know she was safe.
[Ox-Head Horse-Face]:Little Cloud, remember to cultivate the Soul Refining Art. It will help stabilize your overly powerful soul.
[Survival is the Ultimate Truth]: Don't be so reckless the next time you go out on a mission.
[Ethereal Grace]:Let me know if you need any cultivation methods.
[Tribal Warrior]: If you're short on milk fruits, I can trade with you.
[Fleeting Cloud]: Thank you all for your concern. I'll be more careful from now on.
After that, she switched to a private chat with Star Trek. She had no intention of using someone else's help for free.
Elsewhere, in Haoran Sect's spirit herb fields in Baohua City, Wei Yunqing was tending to a Foundation Establishment herb when her wood-based spiritual energy suddenly faltered. Startled, she quickly formed a seal and retracted her qi, then pressed her hand to her chest, frowning.
That tightness in her chest had returned.
She knew exactly what it meant. It was always because of Wei Yunxi.
But why she felt this way, she couldn't explain.
Wei Yunqing clenched her fists.
She still believed that Yunxi had stolen her opportunities. Back in the clan, it was the hairpin. After entering the sect, it was the cultivation techniques and spiritual root-enhancing pills. Even if none of those things had ever surfaced, she was convinced Yunxi had taken them.
This belief was deeply rooted, to the point where she'd once wondered if she was losing her mind. But every time she calmed herself, she became even more certain she was right.
"Hmph! You'd better die out there."
Wei Yunqing hissed through gritted teeth.
"Junior Sister Yunqing, has the herb recovered?"
Ye Shaotian's voice came from behind, snapping her out of it.
She turned around and smiled.
"Senior Brother Ye, this Foundation Establishment herb has recovered. It just needs daily spiritual energy infusion to mature for use in pill refinement."
Ye Shaotian nodded and praised her ability with spiritual herbs, then examined the plant. Confirming it had come back to life, he reminded her to tend to it carefully before walking away with a smile.
Meanwhile, in another part of the fields, Zong Hao was still consolidating his cultivation. He had no idea Yunxi had just survived a brush with death.
Back inside the Haoran Sect's stronghold in Baohua City, Sheng Yuhong, who had been in seclusion, suddenly shuddered and opened his eyes wide. His sharp gaze swept the room before he slowly calmed the pounding in his chest.
Just now, for one brief moment, he had felt something dangerously close to death.
And that exact moment… was when Yunxi devoured and absorbed the soul.
===
"点点" (Diǎn Diǎn) means "tiny dots" or "little spots," often used affectionately for small things (e.g., raindrops, stars, or freckles).
Treasure-Seeking Mouse (寻宝鼠) in xianxia lore often have spotted fur (like stars or specks, akin to "点点") to symbolize their ability to "spot" hidden treasures.
Even if this mouse's bloodline is impure, the name "Dian Dian" subtly nods to its latent potential—like scattered clues (dots) it must follow to evolve.
Yunxi is a closet 绒毛控 (róngmáo kòng, "fur-lover") who enjoys teasing the mouse but also asserts control. By giving it her surname (魏点点, Wei Dian Dian), she reinforces ownership