Mortal: I really didn't want to be reborn as Zi Ling!

The stone door to the secret chamber suddenly swung open.

The accumulated spiritual pressure surged out like a tide, pressing down the exotic flowers and plants planted on both sides of the passageway.

Zi Ling stepped out of the door, and before she could adjust to the outside light, a figure came into view.

"Ning'er—"

Zhou Yuan's voice trembled as she wrapped her arms tightly around her daughter.

Zi Ling froze on the spot, feeling her mother's fingers tightly wrapped around her back, the force so great it felt like she was trying to pull her back in.

The passageway fell silent for a moment, save for Zhou Yuan's suppressed sobs and the rustling of the spiritual plants in the breeze.

"Mother—I'm so old, why am I still like this—"

Zi Ling's face flushed red, and she couldn't help but complain.

"No matter how big it is, it's still a piece of flesh that fell from its mother's body!"

Zhou Yuan loosened her grip and took a half step back, looking her daughter up and down.

From the eyebrows to the chin, from the shoulders to the fingertips, his gaze was as meticulous as if he were examining a porcelain doll.

After confirming that she was not missing any limbs and that her breathing was relatively stable, she finally breathed a sigh of relief, and her eyes immediately reddened again.

"You little rascal, you broke through to a high level of cultivation a year ago without telling us! I was so worried about you!"

The slight feeling of emotion that Zi Ling had just felt vanished instantly.

"So, do I have to report to you every time I get up or go to bed?"

"How dare you speak to your mother like that?"

Zhou Yuan's face hardened, and she raised her hand. Zi Ling instinctively turned her head to dodge, but saw her mother's hand hovering in mid-air, not falling for a long time.

Zhou Yuan sighed softly, but it made Zi Ling's heart clench.

She took a half step forward, took her mother's arm, and shook it.

"What's wrong with you now? I've successfully formed my core; anyone who didn't know better would think I'd failed!"

"Madam probably feels that the young master has reached the Core Formation so quickly, and his cultivation will soon be surpassed, so of course she's worried!"

Fan Jingmei, who was standing to the side, suddenly spoke up.

Zi Ling turned her head away.

Fan Jingmei stood at the entrance of the passageway, half of her body hidden in the shadows.

At this moment, she had a smile on her lips and spoke in a light tone, but in her usually shrewd and capable eyes, there was a hint of despondency that was extremely difficult to detect.

Especially that "Young Master"—it was neither the affectionate "Ning'er Sister" of the past, nor the casual "Junior Sister".

"Then let's work hard."

Zi Ling released her arm from her mother's, walked over, took Zhou Yuan's hand with one hand, and reached out to take Fan Jingmei's hand with the other.

When Ziling took Fan Jingmei's hand, she noticed that the other woman's wrist stiffened for a moment.

Zi Ling turned her head to look, and Fan Jingmei's face had returned to normal.

A perfectly timed smile graced her bright face, as if the momentary stiffness she had felt just moments before was merely an illusion.

Zi Ling withdrew her gaze and did not point it out.

"I think you shouldn't worry about it, Mother. Senior Sister Fan has done a great job these past few years. Why not let her handle these matters and help her break through to the mid-stage of Core Formation as soon as possible?"

As Zi Ling walked, she spoke casually, as if chatting about everyday matters: "Of course, if Senior Sister Fan finds it troublesome, she can cultivate a few trusted confidants. Hmm—Senior Sister, your cultivation has reached the peak of Foundation Establishment for quite some time now, it's time to consider the matter of Core Formation."

The words were spoken, but there was no response from the side.

Zi Ling turned her head to look and saw Fan Jingmei biting her lip tightly, her eyes red-rimmed.

"Ning'er is absolutely right about that."

Zhou Yuan picked up the conversation, gently patting Fan Jingmei's hand: "Jingmei, you've worked so hard all these years. You're not young anymore, and it's my fault for neglecting you and delaying your cultivation. I'll get you a Dust-Clearing Pill when we get back—"

Before she could finish speaking, Fan Jingmei knelt down with a thud.

His knee slammed against the jade floor tiles, the dull thud echoing through the passageway.

She lowered her head, her shoulders trembling slightly, and tears fell drop by drop onto the floor tiles, quickly spreading into a small water stain.

"Jingmei was raised by Madam herself, these are all her duties, how can you say it's hard work? As for Core Formation—Jingmei has already failed once, how could she dare to waste the sect's Dust-Clearing Pill again!"

Zhou Yuan was a sentimental person, and her eyes reddened after Fan Jingmei said that.

She bent down and reached out to help Fan Jingmei up: "Don't say that. I've never treated you like an outsider. What's one failure? Let alone one Dust-Clearing Pill, even two or three, with your achievements over the years, would be enough to exchange for it—"

"Alright! Alright!"

Zi Ling was at her wits' end. Unable to bear this scene, she quickly interrupted the two: "You two—today is supposed to be my joyous day of successfully forming my core! Why are you crying like this?"

She stepped forward and pulled Fan Jingmei up from the ground without saying a word: "Senior Sister, get up quickly. It's just a Dust-Clearing Pill—Mother, don't just give her the Dust-Clearing Pill, prepare a set of 'Heavenly Fire Liquid,' 'Snow Spirit Water,' and 'Illusion-Destroying Pill' for Senior Sister as well. As long as Senior Sister successfully forms her Core, our Miaoyin Sect will have four Core Formation cultivators in charge, making us a considerable force even in the vast Chaotic Star Sea."

Zhou Yuan wiped her eyes and glared at her daughter with annoyance.

That brat, she doesn't know the value of firewood and rice until she's in charge of the household.

The items that aid in Core Formation are all strategic resources, and are priceless even when available.

It wasn't that she was unwilling to give it to Fan Jingmei, but rather that it was already a luxury for an ordinary cultivator to have even one Dust-Reducing Pill.

Heavenly Fire Liquid and Snow Spirit Water are one thing, but the value of the Illusion Annihilation Pill is in no way less than that of the Dust-Descending Pill.

As she was feeling distressed, another thought involuntarily popped into her mind.

Fan Jingmei offered strong support, but what about Zhuo Ruting, who is busy in the outer reaches of the sea year-round?

We can't favor one over the other, can we?

The thought of it made her heart tremble.

Don't you feel bad about your son squandering your grandfather's wealth?

Upon hearing this, Fan Jingmei waved her hands repeatedly.

Before he could even utter a word of refusal, Zi Ling pressed him back down.

"I don't want to waste any more words. I'm sure you know who I am. I have neither the time nor the interest to manage the Miaoyin Sect. In the future, it will probably be up to you and Senior Sister Zhuo to work hard. I hope you won't refuse."

Fan Jingmei's lips moved slightly.

She looked at the little girl who used to snuggle in her arms, now a high and mighty Core Formation cultivator.

But those clear almond-shaped eyes were full of sincerity.

In the end, she didn't say anything, she just kept nodding.

Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.

"Alright, alright, if you cry again, get out!"

Zi Ling waved her hand, feigning anger, and said, "Anyone who didn't know better would think I failed to form my core and died!"

"Pah! Pah! Pah!" Zhou Yuan raised her hand and smacked Zi Ling on the head. "What nonsense are you spouting? Spit it back on!"

Zi Ling covered her head, looking at her mother in disbelief.

Wen Siyue, who was standing to the side, rarely saw her young mistress make a fool of herself, and couldn't help but burst out laughing.

However, before she could finish laughing, Zi Ling glared at her fiercely.

Those eyes clearly said—you're in for a beating tonight.

Wen Siyue shuddered and quickly covered her mouth, shrinking behind Zhou Yuan.

"Oh, right, Mother."

Zi Ling looked around the cave: "Where's my father? Today is my big day, why isn't he here?"

As Zhou Yuan was wiping Fan Jingmei's tears, she casually replied, "Recently, Mad Shark Island placed an order for a large batch of supplies. Your father was worried that those Core Formation cultivators were unreliable, so he went along to deliver the goods."

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