With the moon high in the midnight sky, the branch pavilion of the Azure Sword Sect was illuminated by a gentle, silvery light due to its pale glow.
Night had fully settled in, the last traces of daylight long gone, leaving the world beneath bathed in the moon’s quiet brilliance.
The artificial lake beneath the pavilion gleamed like polished silver, its surface perfectly still, reflecting the heavens in such clarity that it seemed as if the stars themselves had descended to rest upon the water.
Gentle ripples occasionally disturbed the lake, causing the moonlight to dance across its surface in delicate waves, creating a mesmerizing spectacle.
The pavilion stood in serene stillness, its outline softened by the night, blending into the tranquil scene as though it were a part of the reflection itself.
The soft rustle of the night breeze, carrying the faint scent of lotus blossoms, only added to the illusion of stillness, as if time itself had slowed beneath the moon’s watchful gaze.
In the silence of the night, dim candlelight flickered softly in the heart of the pavilion, casting gentle shadows on the intricately carved wooden screens.
The warm glow illuminated the rich tapestries that whispered tales of valor, their vibrant colors muted by the night’s embrace.
Two young men sat within, their features highlighted by the flickering flames.
“His innate talent was not enough to get selected as a sect disciple,” One of them scoffed, the flickering candlelight casting a disdainful shadow across his sharp features, “And yet, that fool even went ahead and joined the Crimson Sky Sect, exchanging the resources senior brother Marcus had sent to the Empire over the years for fleeting power.”
The other young man asked cautiously, “But senior brother Xander, couldn’t he use the quota allocated to senior brother Marcus, since he’s also a core disciple?”
Core disciples had the authority to recruit new outer sect disciples, even those with minimal talent.
Each core disciple was granted a limited number of positions, allowing them to choose recruits based on potential or connections.
So, he couldn’t understand why Julius couldn’t secure a place.
Wasn’t he family? So, why hadn’t Julius been chosen?
Surely Marcus would look out for him, especially ‘considering’ that he had even been sending resources to the Empire for the ‘Royal Family’ to use.
The young man, Xander smirked, a glint of arrogance flickering in his eyes, “Senior brother Marcus isn’t one to squander his precious quota. Especially now that it is reserved for his niece Isabella.”
Dorian raised an eyebrow, his curiosity stirring, “Oh! Why her?”
He paused for a moment, his gaze sharp, “Since that you’ve sworn a Dao oath, it’s safe for me to reveal the truth…”
Xander’s eyes grew darker, a glint of hunger flickering beneath his calm demeanor.
He leaned in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, “It’s her physique… not just any ordinary one.”
Dorian’s eyes narrowed in thought, but before he could speak, Xander continued, his tone now tinged with both greed and a strange desire.
“Three years ago, when Senior Brother Marcus traveled to the Empire, he carried something valuable with him — an Ice Shard Stone. You’ve heard of it, haven’t you? A rare material known for enhancing Yin Qi weapons. But… that’s only part of its true power.”
Dorian’s interest deepened, and he leaned in slightly, “What else can it do?”
A sly grin tugged at Xander’s lips, clearly savoring the moment, “The Ice Shard Stone has another ability — it can be used to sense cold element Heavenly and Earthly treasures, including physiques. During that trip, when senior Marcus visited his brother’s estate, the stone began to faintly glow. And, as he neared his niece Isabella, the light grew stronger, until it shone like a beacon.”
Dorian’s eyes widened slightly, realization dawning, “So she has…?”
“A Yin physique,” Xander confirmed, his voice almost a whisper.
“One of the rarest and most coveted physique in the cultivation world. When he brought the stone near her, it erupted into a brilliant blue light, bathing the entire room in an ethereal glow. The cold Qi surrounding her was undeniable — pure, untainted.”
Dorian’s interest deepened.
A Yin physique was not just rare; it was a Heavenly Treasure.
Cultivators sought such physiques for countless reasons, but the most sinister among them…
Xander leaned back, satisfaction evident in his eyes, “That’s when senior Marcus realized her true value. She’s not just a woman with a rare physique, but a perfect cauldron for cultivation.”
Dorian’s eyes flashed in disbelief, though the truth was hard to ignore.
A cauldron — someone whose body could be used to absorb and refine Yin Qi for cultivation.
It was a forbidden technique, frowned upon in most righteous sects, but in certain circles, it was a fast path to unimaginable power.
Xander chuckled darkly, his voice dripping with dark amusement, “Senior Marcus knew he had stumbled upon a treasure beyond compare.
With her Yin physique, he could accelerate his cultivation far beyond the limits of ordinary practitioners. It was sheer luck, but who could blame him for seizing such an opportunity?”
Dorian’s mind raced as he absorbed the gravity of the revelation.
If Isabella was truly being prepared as a cauldron, her fate was sealed in darkness.
Few survived such a process, and those that did were left broken, their mind and cultivation crippled.
“And now,” Xander continued, “Senior Marcus is waiting for the perfect moment to use her. That’s why he’s not wasting his resources or his quota on anything else. Everything he has, everything he is, is to focus on Isabella to nurture her, and what she can offer him.”
Dorian’s stomach churned at the thought, but he masked his emotions behind a stoic expression.
In this world of cultivation, power ruled above all, and those without it were nothing more than tools for the ambitious.
“So that’s it,” Dorian said quietly, “That’s why you’re protecting the mortal Prince? To get close to Isabella?”
Xander nodded, his smile cold, “Exactly. If I went to the Empire and suddenly brought her back, it’d raise suspicion. But now that I know the Prince was the one who most probably killed those Body Strengthening Cultivators, I can use that as a cover — make it seem like I ‘accidentally’ discovered her talent while dealing with him.”
“If that little prince can really kill those at mid-stage, he must possess the talent necessary to join our sect. Meanwhile, Senior Brother Marcus will utilize his quota to secure Isabella’s entry into the sect.”
“Does she even know what she has?” Dorian questioned, ‘concern’ mingling with curiosity.
“Unlikely. She has been living in obscurity, unaware of her true potential,” Xander replied, a predatory smile creeping onto his lips.
A shadow of doubt crossed Dorian’s face, “But Senior Brother, what if she has already lost her purity? Wouldn’t that affect her potential?”
Xander waved his hand dismissively, a smirk curling his lips, “It does not matter. Only when she reaches the Qi Gathering realm will her physique awaken fully, manifesting her Essence, Spirit, and body Qi that will give birth to her Primal Yin Qi. Dual cultivating with her at that stage will yield results far beyond our imagination.”
“So, once we secure her, what’s the plan? We can not just take her and expect no questions to be asked.”
Xander’s eyes narrowed, his once casual demeanor hardening into something more calculating.
“Once we secure her, I will bring her to the sect to meet Senior Brother Marcus,” Xander said, his tone steady but filled with dark intent, “He will guide her into the Qi Gathering realm, and when she reaches it, her Yin physique will awaken on its own.”
Dorian folded his arms, brow furrowed, “And if the higher-ups discover what we’re doing?”
Xander’s eyes gleamed with cold confidence, “Ah! About that, no need to worry. Third Elder Lin, senior brother Marcus’s master, already knows. As long as the other Elders are kept busy with their own cultivation, they won’t care about her.
She’s nothing to them now. And as a core disciple, Marcus holds enough power that no one will question what he does with a mortal girl. Even if someone suspects, they will look the other way.”
Xander’s tone grew darker, a twisted smile creeping across his lips, “Right now, she’s insignificant. But given time, nurtured properly, her Yin energy will become a priceless treasure. Do you think senior Marcus would ever let her slip away?”
A shadow passed over Xander’s face before it twisted into a grin, cruel and filled with vile anticipation.
“Once senior brother Marcus is done with her, drained her of what he needs, he’s promised me she’ll be mine. Imagine that — having such a rare physique at my disposal.”
His words dripped with desire, the thought of controlling such power igniting a dark flame in his eyes.
“But why wouldn’t Senior Brother Marcus just keep her for himself, to fully exploit the benefits?” Dorian questioned, his eyes narrowing.
“That’s not an issue. Cause even with such a rare physique, it could take her years — decades even — to reach the peak of the Qi Gathering realm. And the resources she’d drain in the process…” Xander paused, a cold glint flickering in his gaze, “Is she truly worth that much?”
Xander’s grin twisted into something darker, a flicker of hunger flashing across his face, “That’s exactly why Senior Brother Marcus will hand her over to me. He’s too patient for something so… delicate.”
His voice dropped, his thoughts trailing into dangerous territory, “Her body, her Yin Qi… She’ll fuel my rise, and she’ll be mine to… enjoy as I see fit.”
Dorian felt a cold knot tighten in his gut, unease curling through him.
The more Xander spoke, the clearer it became that Isabella’s fate was sealed, her life reduced to nothing more than a tool for their ambition.
Could they really manipulate her existence so easily, bend her will to serve their dark desires?