Luster Crystal Wine was a truly excellent vintage. The most potent spiritual elixirs often contained tallic or mineral ingredients, and spiritual wine was no different.
As an eighth-grade spiritual material, Luster Crystal Stone possessed unique properties that made it incredibly difficult to refine into powerful artifacts. Consequently, master winemakers had discovered a way to develop it into a specialized spiritual wine.
Drinking it over a long period could accelerate a cultivator's speed while subtly altering the attributes of their spiritual qi, infusing it with the characteristics of the crystal. Of course, it ca with negative side effects. If a cultivator in the Qi Induction realm dared to drink Luster Crystal Wine, a ruptured stomach would be the bare minimum; it wouldn't even be surprising if they drank themselves to death.
Therefore, unlike Monkey Wine brewed from spiritual fruits, this concoction could only be consud by cultivators at the Qi Refining stage or higher.
In the side hall of the residence, four small tables were arranged in two rows facing each other. Wang Yulou held a wine container, filling the cups of his three fellow Daoists one by one.
Originally, he had intended to bring Zhang Xuewu and Cui Dingyi along as a way to showcase his connections and network, while also placating old Cui. However, Lin Ying had arrived uninvited, which disrupted his planned arrangents. The unfortunate Zhang and Cui naturally lost their chance to enjoy the spiritual wine.
Staring at the faintly glowing Luster Crystal Wine inside her bamboo cup, Lin Ying bit her lip. She glanced at Wang Yulou's profile as he introduced the wine to Wu Faxian, feeling secretly astonished.
The Wang Clan, a re vassal of Hongdengzhao, actually possessed such resources?
In truth, this spiritual wine had nothing to do with the Wang Clan. It was entirely the result of Wang Yulou's own resourcefulness and enterprising nature.
Back when Wang Yulou ran the Great Goods Store, an unfortunate rchant had purchased a contract but stubbornly held onto a losing position to deliver the goods. In the end, the rchant went bankrupt and forfeited his entire estate to the store.
Among those assets were several jars of Luster Crystal Wine. At the ti, Wang Yulou's cultivation base was too low to consu such potent wine, and he was reluctant to sell it, so he had kept it in storage.
It was perfect for showing off during hospitality now.
"Fellow Daoists, when you drink this Luster Crystal Wine for the first ti, you will feel a sharp, stinging sensation on your tongue," Wang Yulou invited with a smile, lifting a cup carved from a smooth segnt of spiritual bamboo. "Don't mind it. Just swallow. Its unique properties will stimulate our Sea of Qi, producing an extraordinary effect. Co, let us empty our cups."
It wasn't that his silver cups were unusable, but rather that bamboo cups felt more grounded and natural. When dealing with coarse individuals like Zhang Xuewu and Cui Dingyi, fancy silver cups were appropriate. But when facing three peers who were also disciples of Azurewater Palace, using ostentatious silver would seem far too forced. Success was all in the details.
Lin Ying and Wang Yulou were relatively close in age, so they sat side by side on one side of the room. Perhaps this young lady was accustod to drinking elegantly, or perhaps she simply wasn't inclined to give him full face, for when Wang Yulou urged everyone to drain their cups, she only took a shallow sip.
"Excellent wine," Wu Faxian praised. "If I rember correctly, Luster Crystal Stones are produced in Nine Apertures Valley. It is no easy feat for us to obtain Luster Crystal Wine here in Droplet Cave Heaven. I hope you won't laugh at , but this is the first ti in all my years that old Wu has tasted such a rare delicacy, hahaha."
Wu Faxian had no background or master. He had achieved his current position entirely through his innate talent and his sophisticated social skills. When it ca to warming up an atmosphere, no one was more skilled than he.
"Then it is quite a coincidence," Wang Yulou replied smoothly. "I shall present each of you with half a jar to take back and savor at your leisure. Please do not find it ager; I do not have much of this spiritual wine left in my own stores. Consider it a token of my gratitude for your assistance today."
The group exchanged a few more polite pleasantries. Wang Yulou had used their presence today to intimidate and suppress Cui Dingyi, a matter that had been handled cleanly and efficiently. Accepting half a jar of eighth-grade spiritual wine was the perfect compensation, so they all accepted without further hesitation.
After chatting about recent interesting events in Dripdrop Cave, Wang Yulou turned his gaze toward Lin Ying. This female cultivator was incredibly sharp and perceptive. Sensing his gaze, she turned her head and offered him a subtle smile.
"Senior Martial Sister Lin, what brings you here so suddenly today?" Wang Yulou asked.
However, his attention was quickly drawn to the spiritual pet resting on her hand. It was an orange-red lizard-like creature, though it closely resembled a tiny salamander. It asured barely three inches long, looking exceptionally small as it lay across the back of Lin Ying's hand, shorter than her delicate fingers.
At that mont, it was stretching its neck to drink the Luster Crystal Wine from the bamboo cup, looking entirely absorbed in its treat. Yet Wang Yulou could sense that this small beast actually radiated the power level of the early stage of the Small Demon Realm, making it truly extraordinary.
"Speaking of which, this matter concerns Senior Brother Fan and Uncle Zhuo as well," the female cultivator explained. "Yuan Laosi of the Yuan Clan is about to be executed. That is why I made a special trip to inform Junior Brother Yulou."
When this woman spoke, her voice was nowhere near as lodious as his Dao companion Yingxi's, but her single-lidded eyes were highly expressive, appearing to focus intently on whoever she addressed.
When she ntioned Senior Brother Fan, her eyes shimred with affection as she looked at old Fan, causing the man to awkwardly focus on picking up food with his chopsticks. When she addressed 'Junior Brother Yulou', she stared at him without blinking, her expressive eyes and elegant eyebrows combining to convey a silent ssage, as if speaking a hidden language. Wang Yulou quietly picked up a piece of food as well.
"Yuan Laosi is going to be executed?"
Wu Faxian was the most shocked. He could not comprehend how soone from the powerful Yuan Clan could face execution—this ant an absolute disaster had occurred.
In contrast, old Fan and Wang Yulou remained perfectly composed. It was rely the death of another blind fool from a major family, nothing truly surprising. The Wang Clan had lost countless young mbers due to carelessness; Wang Yulou had long since grown accustod to such news.
Old Fan knew the underlying truth, but he saw no reason to explain the details to his two peers. The struggles among the higher-ups had nothing to do with low-level cultivators like them anyway. The three of them were just small fries, lacking even the qualifications to choose a side.
"Yes, four days from now, he will be publicly executed right in front of Azurewater Palace, with the sect master himself supervising the punishnt," Lin Ying continued. "Any Azurewater Palace disciple currently serving as a Town Guardian Cultivator must attend to observe, learn, and reflect upon themselves."
Old Fan lost his appetite as well. He set down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth with a silk cloth, and asked, "The sect master is supervising the execution?"
The current sect master of Dripdrop Cave was a mber of the Yuan Clan, though linked through a marriage alliance. For the sect master to be unable to protect Yuan Laosi and even be forced to personally oversee the execution ant the political currents were incredibly deep.
"Yes, I ca to find Junior Brother Yulou precisely to remind him to arrive on ti. The execution is set for noon; do not be late."
Old Fan fell into deep thought. Wu Faxian glanced between the two people opposite him, his mind working rapidly.
'If I rember correctly, Lin Ying is at the eighth layer of the Qi Refining stage. When I saw her three years ago, she was at the peak of the seventh layer. This ans she is likely under fifty years old, probably between forty and fifty.'
'Wang Yulou seems to possess a single Water spirit root, aning both of them should be capable of breaking through to Foundation Establishnt before the age of one hundred. Now, Lin Ying has personally traveled here just to see her Junior Brother Yulou...'
'That night at White Thatch Fishing Port, only a section of the alligator dragon's tail was salvaged, and Wang Yulou claid all of it. A hero protecting a fair maiden?'
'Interesting, very interesting.'
Today, Wu Faxian had gathered at least three critical pieces of information. First, Wang Yulou possessed incredible political skill, and the Wang Clan excelled at cultivating their younger generation. Second, Wang Yulou's personal strength was significant; the three of them had severed an alligator dragon's tail, and he had claid the entire prize. Third, this young man and woman might develop a deeper relationship in the future. Therefore, he needed to make every effort to forge a strong bond with Wang Yulou!
This junior brother of his possessed limitless potential. If he himself failed to achieve Foundation Establishnt in the future, he could arrange for one of his children to study under the tutelage of Wang Yulou, ensuring his family's safety.
---
Once the simple banquet concluded and the guests had departed satisfied, Wang Yulou sent off his three peers and imdiately summoned Qin Churan.
"Go and call the five cultivators at the late stage of Qi Induction and the seven at the mid-stage. I have duties to assign."
Qin Churan accepted the command and departed, while Wang Yulou retrieved the small human-faced snake scale shield he had personally refined.
In his quest to attain his Golden Core, Patriarch Mangxiang had squeezed the entire Wunan Basin so hard that everyone trembled, precisely because he possessed the authority to grant favors and opportunities. Now that Wang Yulou had beco the leader of Riverbend Fishing Village, he too possessed the authority to grant favors.
However, Wang Yulou was nowhere near as ruthless as Patriarch Mangxiang. Patriarch Mangxiang used his Peak Purple Mansion power to exploit Qi Refining and Foundation Establishnt cultivators. In contrast, Wang Yulou was rely at the Qi Refining stage, and those he commanded were only at the Qi Induction stage. He needed to manage them delicately and gently, ensuring everything was mutual and voluntary. Only then could it last for a long ti.
No, a mutual arrangent wasn't exploitation; it was a win-win scenario!
Thinking of this, Wang Yulou smiled. His heart was ultimately not completely cold. He could be ruthless toward his enemies and opponents, but he was still far from the cold detachnt of Patriarch Mangxiang or Di Shui Xianzun.
The statue of the Immortal Venerable before him remained silent as always. He stared at it disrespectfully for a long ti before letting out a soft sigh.
He needed to be more ruthless. He needed to learn from Jiang Baobian and Mu Changze, and from Cui Dingyi, who had been willing to cripple his own son without hesitation. Those individuals were the truly ruthless ones. So had claid the status of Core Disciple at a young age, so had fought their way up from the bottom to marry into a great clan, and so had even forged a path from a re mortal martial artist to a Qi Refining cultivator. Every single one of them excelled in cruelty far more than Wang Yulou.
Yet had any of them attained true freedom or secured a path to immortality? None of them—even that level of ruthlessness was not enough!
Wang Yulou watched the statue of the Immortal Venerable in silence. After a long while, voices finally echoed from outside the quiet room. Lowering his gaze and closing his eyes, he swept his divine sense over the dozen or so cultivators standing behind him.
"Co forward. First, join in paying respects to the Immortal Venerable."
The Qi Induction cultivators were startled by the statue inside the quiet room. To use ninth-grade white elm wood just to carve a statue, Senior Wang was truly extravagant. However, after bowing to the Immortal Venerable under Wang Yulou's guidance, the crowd looked at Wang Yulou—now dressed in the official robes of an Azurewater Palace disciple—with entirely different eyes.
Young and accomplished, possessing a Qi Refining cultivation base, backed by a powerful background, boasting extensive networks, skilled in leadership, and a prominent figure within the sect—his future was boundless! If they could align themselves with such a powerful figure, setting aside Qi Refining, they might even stand a chance at achieving Foundation Establishnt.
Now that the respects had been paid and the authority of the sect had been established, Wang Yulou turned around to deliver his instructions. His expression was calm, but his voice carried imnse weight and conviction, causing everyone who heard it to straighten up in awe.
"I have three tasks that I need you to execute flawlessly. First, determine the exact number of spirit fish harvested from Riverbend Fishing Village each day. The leaks and theft caused by the Cui family have been stopped by my hand. I will not monopolize these resources entirely, but before I distribute anything to you..." Wang Yulou paused, his gaze sweeping over the five late-stage Qi Induction cultivators. His eyes carried an intense, predatory pressure, like a tiger watching its prey. "...Before that, I need to know the precise daily yield of spirit fish. Every single day! I will not assign specific individuals to this task. Go and handle it yourselves. Those with capability will naturally distinguish themselves through their actions and results."
"The second task is to redesign the layout of Riverbend Fishing Village. Move the docks inside the water gate, and ensure all fishing boats are moored inside the water gate after nightfall. The houses of the village must be reconstructed further away from the lake. I will not tolerate a single household living within five hundred ters of the shore. Minimizing casualties is the only way to ensure more people are available to catch fish. Whoever wishes to oversee this task, take two steps forward!"
Almost instantly, four individuals stepped forward. Wang Yulou nodded in satisfaction and said, "Excellent. The four of you will each be responsible for one sector of the relocation and reconstruction. Churan, divide the areas for them and supervise their progress. Do not allow them to slack off or cut corners. I only care about the final outco, and I will personally reward the one who performs the best!"
A reward? The four cultivators imdiately recalled the low-grade artifact that the young martial artist Li Changming had received, and their hearts burned with anticipation.
The sect was vast and offered a high ceiling of potential, but its lower limit was unforgiving, and these low-level Qi Induction cultivators occupied the absolute bottom. For them, under the strict calculations of the sect, earning a single low-grade artifact was incredibly difficult. The rit Hall of Clear Spring Palace listed nurous low-grade artifacts, but they simply could not afford them! A single rit point in Azurewater Palace was worth five spirit stones, while a rit point in Clear Spring Palace was worth only half a spirit stone. A late-stage Qi Induction cultivator earned a re ten Clear Spring Palace rit points a year from their duties.
"Senior Wang, how should I divide the sectors for their relocation work?" Qin Churan asked boldly.
In truth, this was a deliberate display of her standing. While the others remained silent, shrinking back like frightened quail, she alone dared to speak up. This young woman wore her ambition openly, a trait that Wang Yulou deeply appreciated. After all, only incompetent leaders feared capable subordinates. Was Wang Yulou incompetent? If he were incompetent, then the entirety of Dripdrop Cave would be filled with fools!
"The dock relocation will count as one sector," Wang Yulou mused. "The relocation of the two banks will count as two separate sectors. As for the fourth sector, construct several large halls beneath the golden platform; I will have use for them in the future. These matters are complex. The four of you will remain behind afterward so I can explain the details."
Wang Yulou felt a hint of helplessness. Although becoming a leader ant having many subordinates to employ, he still had to personally oversee the finer details if he wanted the work done correctly.
"Now for the third matter. I intend to host a Riverbend competition three months from now. Anyone at the mid-stage of Qi Induction or higher is eligible to participate. We will test magical combat and the practical skills required of a cultivator stationed at Riverbend Fishing Village. After combining the scores for both categories, the highest-ranking individuals will be assigned the best positions. The old Cui Family Gang is a thing of the past, and it will find no place in our future. Do you understand?"
Wang Yulou directed his gaze toward the forr subordinates and relatives of old Cui. Their faces turned pale with fear, and they hurriedly voiced their compliance. Yet alongside their terror, they also felt a surge of pleasant surprise. Even Qin Churan's eyes flickered with astonishnt. No one had anticipated that Wang Yulou would possess such magnanimity, willing to retain old Cui's followers even after dismantling his faction.
Finally, Wang Yulou offered a smile of encouragent to the gathered crowd. "Beautiful Water Lake is magnificent, and it teems with valuable spirit fish that give Riverbend Fishing Village its purpose. But within those waters also dwell demon beasts. Those creatures attack our boats and raid our village; they are entirely malevolent. But should we abandon the spirit fish simply because demon beasts exist within the lake? Of course not. Both the fish and the beasts are products of Beautiful Water Lake. Since we accept the riches of the fish, we must also accept the threat of the beasts."
Seeing that the crowd looked thoroughly bewildered—unable to tell if they were rely acting confused to flatter him or truly failed to grasp his point—Wang Yulou remained perfectly content to paint a grand vision for them. This was called uniting hearts and minds to forge a new era for Riverbend Fishing Village!
"The sa principle applies to all of you. Everyone possesses flaws and weaknesses, but you also have unique strengths. Utilizing your strengths while avoiding your shortcomings is my responsibility as your leader. I only desire for Riverbend Fishing Village to prosper, and I hope you can shoulder greater responsibilities so that my own cultivation may proceed more smoothly, hahaha."
The crowd dispersed, but the events that had transpired upon the golden platform were only the beginning. The storm unleashed by Wang Yulou's ascension to true leadership had just begun to gather.
After guiding the four chosen Qi Induction cultivators, Wang Yulou sent them on their way, intending to sit down and resu his cultivation. However, he noticed that one female cultivator from the group had not departed. Instead, she was lingering near the entrance of the quiet room, acting rather suspiciously. He spoke up to question her.
"What is it? Are you here to report soone as well?"
"No, Senior Wang," she replied timidly. "Little Fish simply does not understand what you intend to use the large halls for. You specified their dinsions, but the internal layout requires structural pillars for support. It would be far too tedious to alter them after construction is complete. If you could clarify your requirents, these halls can be finished much sooner."
The young woman stood nervously outside the doorway. Wang Yulou scanned her briefly and realized she possessed a rather distinctive appearance. She had a head of smooth black hair, though the very tips of her locks were tinged with a faint white color. Her fra was small and delicate, looking as though a strong gust of wind might blow her away. Yet her cultivation base stood at the tenth layer of the Qi Induction realm, making her the most powerful among the five late-stage and eight mid-stage cultivators who had gathered earlier.
"What is your spirit root composition?" Wang Yulou asked, his brow furrowing.
Bai Xiaoyu froze, remaining motionless for a long mont before answering, "A dual spirit root... Water and Earth."
"How old are you?"
Wang Yulou observed Bai Xiaoyu intently, his eyes growing brighter as various thoughts raced through his mind. Perhaps because he had rarely interacted with low-level cultivators recently, he had entirely overlooked this hidden talent. A dual spirit root cultivator who had already reached the tenth layer of Qi Induction. Could the Wang Clan of Anbei Kingdom recruit her directly from Dripdrop Cave? Or perhaps he could marry her himself, adding another valuable Foundation Establishnt Seed to his family line? No, a cultivator with a dual spirit root should never have been left in a place like Riverbend Fishing Village. Even if her family background was lacking, the sect should have placed her in a secure environnt to cultivate until she reached the Qi Refining stage at the very least.
"Twenty-seven... I only recently reached the tenth layer," Bai Xiaoyu whispered, appearing thoroughly terrified. "Senior Wang, perhaps we should return to the topic of the large halls."
Seeing her trembling state, Wang Yulou chose not to press further, deciding instead to approach the matter gradually. A man could not afford to act too rashly like his younger brother Wang Yu'an. Speaking of which, how was Yu'an faring over at Hidden Dragon Abbey? A flicker of longing passed through Wang Yulou's eyes before he pushed it aside and began to explain the architectural details thoroughly.
"Four large halls, two residential compounds, a small courtyard garden, and two training grounds. It sounds extensive, but since you will only be building on the vacant land left behind by the relocation, the difficulty is not as high as it seems. You can employ mortal master builders to assist you. The primary focus lies within the purpose of each structure."
"The first hall will be the Immortal Venerable Hall..."
"The second hall shall be nad the Archives Hall. It will be responsible for recording and storing the records of Riverbend Fishing Village. For instance, whenever a demon beast attacks, the details of the raid, casualties, and the species of the beast must be ticulously recorded."
"As for the compounds, one will serve as the residence for the Town Guardian Cultivator, which is myself—a dedicated place for receiving prominent rchants and ensuring their security."
"The other compound needs to be much larger. I intend to use it as the collective living quarters for the Qi Induction cultivators. You must ensure that each cultivator receives a small personal courtyard containing two courtyards, six rooms, and two lounges. All Qi Induction cultivators must reside there whenever they are not on duty. If anyone refuses to live there, it simply indicates an unwillingness to comply with the sect's managent, which will make it easier for to handle them in the future... Hmm? Do not look at with such an expression. Grouping the cultivators together allows us to respond to demon beast attacks far more rapidly as a unified force. Furthermore, this arrangent offers other hidden benefits for them, do you understand?"
"I understand! Little Fish understands perfectly!"
"Excellent. Make the courtyards aesthetically pleasing. We cannot simply construct massive stone halls; we require greenery and landscaping to keep their minds balanced and composed. Finally, the two training grounds. One will be dedicated to martial artists, and the other for the Qi Induction cultivators. This is the ultimate purpose of gathering them together. By living, practicing spells, and cultivating alongside one another daily, their teamwork will naturally beco seamless, allowing them to defend against demon beasts with far greater efficiency."
Bai Xiaoyu had not expected Senior Wang to plan everything with such ticulous detail. She looked at him with profound surprise, while Wang Yulou himself sighed with emotion after finishing his explanation.
"It might also keep a few more of them alive, ah."
Bai Xiaoyu offered a deep bow to Wang Yulou. Looking at this senior who was roughly the sa age as herself, she said earnestly, "Senior Wang, it is truly a blessing to have you as our Town Guardian Cultivator."
"Go on then, work hard. If I discover that you are slacking off, I shall have your Senior Martial Sister Qin discipline you with a whip!"
Seeing his efforts appreciated, Wang Yulou offered a few words of smiling encouragent, though he did not forget to include a light threat. The young woman flinched in fear, causing Wang Yulou to feel a twinge of guilt. This girl was highly responsible, even returning specifically to clarify the finer points. Originally, his strategy had been to let them begin construction, criticize them occasionally to break their spirits, and eventually mold these four individuals into his loyal confidants. Recruiting her now wouldn't change much.
"Have the mortal architects draw up the initial blueprints first, and then I will offer further adjustnts. Take this token from my residence. As long as I am within the compound, you may use it to enter and seek guidance at any ti."
Bai Xiaoyu accepted the small silver token. Feeling the pulsing spiritual light within the silver tal, she tucked it carefully into her robes as if it were a priceless treasure, before bowing to take her leave. Watching her retreat, Wang Yulou finally voiced the lingering question in his mind.
"With your dual spirit root aptitude, why have you remained buried here in Riverbend Fishing Village?"
Suspicion was second nature to mbers of the Wang Clan. If you were not suspicious, you were unworthy of the Wang na. The small young woman did not answer imdiately. Instead, she stood frozen for a long ti. Just as Wang Yulou extended his divine sense to investigate, Bai Xiaoyu turned around, her eyes completely filled with tears.
"Senior Wang, you are actually Little Fish's greatest benefactor. That old scoundrel Cui wanted to force to marry his son to pass on my lineage to the Cui family. Therefore... during the spirit root testing ceremony, he bribed the sect official, forcing to remain in Riverbend Village under the guise of possessing a five-elent spirit root."
Wang Yulou's pupils contracted, and he let out a silent sigh. 'Old Cui, you truly are a piece of work.' He understood the old man's motivations completely, but understanding did not an he would show rcy to the Cui family.
"Why did you not report this to the previous Town Guardian Cultivators?"
Even though the young woman was weeping bitterly, Wang Yulou's suspicion remained active. This was simply how the Wang Clan operated. In an adjacent quiet room within the compound, Wang Xianzhou, who was currently refining elixirs, had been monitoring the conversation. He sent a telepathic ssage praising Wang Yulou, confirming that he was indeed a pure-blooded descendant of the Wang Clan.
However, his questioning only caused Bai Xiaoyu to weep even harder.
"Old Cui... he held my mother captive. She is over fifty now, and I haven't been allowed to see her for many years... Senior Wang, I remained silent before because I did not want to appear as though I were exploiting your kindness to beg for favors. Senior Martial Sister Qin is bold and decisive, but I am not like her. You have only just broken the Cui Family Gang. If I had brought this up imdiately, it would look as though... as though... Little Fish did not want to be that kind of person."
The young woman wept miserably, her small, frail fra looking utterly pitiful. Because cultivation could slow the aging process, despite being in her twenties, she still resembled an eighteen-year-old girl. Any ordinary man would have felt an overwhelming urge to protect her.
'Yulou, I believe this Little Fish girl is well-suited to be your primary wife, and then you can take young Qin as a concubine. As for Lin Ying, if the opportunity arises, the two of you would make a powerful political alliance, though we needn't force any genuine affection there.' The lonely old man currently tending the furnace offered his relationship advice.
'Forget it, Lin Ying and I are impossible. That woman is as sharp as a demon, and her age is significant. She is twice as formidable as Zhou Yingxi; I could never handle her!' Wang Yulou held a deep impression of Lin Ying. His words made it difficult to tell if he was criticizing her intelligence or her age, which was roughly two and a half tis that of his companion Yingxi. Of course, for cultivators, age was never a true barrier.
'Do you favor that little girl from the Zhou family? I object—Mu Changze is entirely unworthy of having a son-in-law as excellent as you!' Wang Xianzhou felt his teeth grinding with frustration. Why should a scoundrel like Mu Changze beco Wang Yulou's father-in-law?
'Ancestor, please focus on your refining. I only wish to focus on my cultivation right now.' After their encrypted telepathic exchange, Wang Yulou turned back to the weeping Bai Xiaoyu and said, "Old Cui will never be able to mistreat you again. If he attempts any further villainy, co directly to , and I shall settle the matter with him personally!"
Bai Xiaoyu stared at Wang Yulou through her tears, slowly approaching the threshold of the quiet room. She knelt outside the door and perford several deep kowtows. Ultimately, Wang Yulou could not bear to watch any longer and stepped forward to lift her up himself. Unlike Qin Churan, this girl possessed a gentler disposition and would not do sothing as drastic as knocking her forehead bloody to prove a point.
"Alright, go on now, and find a way to reunite with your mother."
'Yulou! You haven't even asked if that worthless son of the Cui family ever laid a finger on her!' the ancestral leader barked impatiently over the telepathic link, practically shouting in his ear.
'Let it rest, Ancestor. I am not the type of person to demand compliance in exchange for a favor.'
Wang Yulou was a direct and honorable man, free of any vulgar impulses. Regardless of whether Bai Xiaoyu chose to follow him, a genuine bond had been ford, and she was well worth cultivating. This attitude thoroughly exasperated the ancestor. He abandoned his refining furnace entirely and marched out from the adjacent quiet room, startling Bai Xiaoyu. Wang Xianzhou was a man with one foot in the grave; he had very few remaining concerns in life, and Wang Yulou's marriage prospects occupied the top of that list. Since his ti was short, he felt no sha in acting shalessly. Looking at the startled Bai Xiaoyu, he winked broadly and asked, "Little girl, did you and that worthless son of the Cui family ever... hmm?"
Wang Yulou pinched the bridge of his nose in sheer exasperation, turning his face away in sha. 'My dear Ancestor, you... ah!'
Bai Xiaoyu naturally understood the underlying aning of the old man's question. Her cheeks flushed crimson as she toyed with the edge of her robes, answering shyly. "Cui Yanzong's cultivation was inferior to mine, so he could never overpower . Old Cui once attempted to bind to force the matter, but I declared that if I were defiled, I would take my own life on the spot. Therefore, he forced Cui Yanzong to focus entirely on his cultivation while restricting my own resources, waiting until their cultivation levels were equal before attempting to force again."
Bai Xiaoyu possessed considerable wisdom of her own, managing to find a precarious breathing room beneath the oppression of the Cui family until Wang Yulou arrived to shatter their power. Hearing her explanation, Wang Xianzhou clapped her on the shoulder and praised, "A fine girl, truly clever! Go on, tend to your duties."
Bai Xiaoyu fled with a bright red face, leaving Wang Yulou to murmur quietly, "Ancestor, I..."
"Say no more! She possesses Water and Earth, while you have Water and Fire. Both of you are dual spirit root cultivators containing the Water elent. Your first child will almost certainly inherit a Water spirit root. At the very least, you will produce a triple spirit root child, and with a bit of luck, a single Water spirit root isn't out of the question! The Wang Clan will gain another Foundation Establishnt cultivator! Secure her, boy! You absolutely must secure her! Droplet Cave Heaven is a marvelous place for raising talent, especially beautiful young maidens, hahahaha!"
The ancestor's original duty was to serve as a protector, but he had concluded that his most critical task was to secure a small army of companions for Wang Yulou and sire a massive lineage! Young Qin possessed an excellent temperant alongside a Wood-Water-Gold triple spirit root. Since Gold generates Water, and her chosen technique was specifically designed to refine tal into Water, it complented Wang Yulou's Guishui energy perfectly—truly auspicious. This Bai Xiaoyu was even more extraordinary, boasting a rare dual spirit root. As for Lin Ying, she was the ideal candidate for a political marriage; the Lin family boasted two Foundation Establishnt cultivators and could be considered a prominent clan within the sect—also an excellent choice.
With these grand designs in mind, Wang Xianzhou found a renewed purpose in life. He pulled out two jade vials of spiritual elixirs and thrust them into Wang Yulou's hands, urging, "Hurry and resu your cultivation. These are specialized pain-relieving pills I crafted for you; give them a trial run."
Only by rapidly elevating his cultivation base could Wang Yulou claim multiple companions and sire nurous descendants. With more children, the Wang Clan would naturally flourish.
Forcing a wry smile as he sat back down before the statue of the Immortal Venerable, Wang Yulou uncorked the vial labeled 'Golden Eye Snake' and prepared to swallow the pill within. Ti to begin the refinent!
"Hold on, let explain the effects first," the ancestor interrupted. "This pill was refined using the venom of the Golden Eye Snake as its primary ingredient, operating on the principle of fighting poison with poison. Once consud, it will entirely sever your five physical senses while rendering you immune to pain. However, it will not impede your ability to guide your spiritual energy using your divine sense. I have calibrated the potency carefully; it will last for roughly an hour. The mont you perceive either your physical senses or the sensation of pain beginning to return, it indicates the dicinal effects are waning. The unique aspect of this pill is that experiencing the total loss of your five senses for the first ti will feel incredibly agonizing to your mind. But if you endure it, this absolute sensory deprivation will significantly enhance the developnt of your divine sense."
Staring at the purplish-red pill, which was roughly the size of a fingertip, Wang Yulou's expression soured. "Ancestor, are you entirely certain that fighting poison with poison is safe?"
Wang Xianzhou offered a disdainful smile, his eyes filled with absolute confidence. "Among cultivators at the Qi Refining stage, diocre alchemists refine basic spiritual powders, average alchemists refine standard elixir pills, but master alchemists refine specialized core pills and toxic elixirs. This is because, within low-level alchemy, the overbearing properties of toxic and core materials are the easiest to manifest. Furthermore, I have long since abandoned standard pill recipes—for the Qi Refining stage, at least. So long as I am provided with the raw herbs and spiritual materials, I can compose unique elixirs at will. Swallow this golden snake toxin pill without fear; it was custom-tailored precisely to your spirit root and cultivation base."
Wang Yulou nodded solemnly, foregoing any empty words of gratitude. The ancestor's alchemy skills had been forged through decades of attempting to heal his own damaged Dao foundation, making his expertise undeniable. Using such skills to craft a re auxiliary cultivation pill was a simple matter.
Just as he was about to swallow it, Wang Xianzhou suddenly intervened once more, looking slightly embarrassed as he added, "Wait, it has been too long since I last made this, and I just recalled another critical point. The first ti you consu a sensory deprivation pill, you will lose all perception of your own existence. You won't even feel where you are sitting or what posture your body is maintaining, leaving you in an endless void. At that mont, you must rely on two things: first, the focus of your mind, which allows you to think and initiate movent. The movent I speak of refers to your divine sense. The mont you direct your divine sense through sheer willpower, you will instantly locate your physical form and begin refining your energy channels. Furthermore, due to the absolute lack of sensory interference, your divine sense will beco incredibly sensitive, as though you have stepped out from a raucous marketplace into the absolute stillness of a deep forest. Well, I cannot describe it perfectly; you must experience it yourself. In short, pills derived from golden snake venom are primarily used by cultivators to train their spiritual perception. In the future, whenever you utilize similar sensory deprivation elixirs, ensure you are in an absolutely secure location before consuming them. Alright, begin!"
Wang Yulou hadn't been particularly frightened initially, but the ancestor's extensive warnings left him feeling rather anxious. He turned his head to exchange a glance with the old man leaning against the doorfra. The ancestor's eyes were filled with fierce encouragent: 'Go on, Yulou, do not lose face!'
Abandoning all further hesitation, Wang Yulou swallowed the tiny red pill in a single gulp, sending it straight into his stomach. The toxic pill was coated in a thin layer of protective casing derived from spiritual rice. With a slight nudge of his spiritual qi, Wang Yulou dissolved the casing, unleashing the true elixir within. The core pill was barely the size of a soybean, shimring with a golden-red hue. The ancestor had adjusted its potency perfectly for Wang Yulou's current strength, aning it would suppress his senses for roughly forty-five minutes.
'Gone? I am completely gone?'
Hearing, taste, sight, sll, and touch—the sudden loss of all five physical senses produced an overwhelming sensation of complete non-existence. Wang Yulou found himself entirely unable to even command his lips to speak. He focused his willpower to command his divine sense, and instantly, a new world unveiled itself before him.
Without the interference of physical senses, his understanding of his surroundings reached an entirely new level. The rushing sound of his own blood could no longer distract him, and the minute vibrations of his heartbeat no longer caused the slightest disturbance. Under the perception of his divine sense, every object, person, and distant bird appeared far more vivid and real than ever before. He could perceive their exact positions with absolute clarity. He commanded his divine sense, mobilized his Guishui spiritual qi, and began the process of refining his energy channels.
Seven minutes passed without any sensation of pain. Fifteen minutes passed, still perfectly numb. By the ti forty-five minutes had elapsed, the progress Wang Yulou had made in refining his channels was roughly equal to the sum of all his previous independent efforts combined!
As his physical senses gradually rushed back, the chaotic noises of the outside world flooded his mind once more. Yet he found himself thoroughly accustod to this ordinary chaos, feeling no lingering discomfort.
"How was it?"
"A divine elixir!"
"The raw ingredients cost thirteen spirit stones per pill just to provide forty-five minutes of effect; it had better be divine!" Wang Xianzhou chuckled, rapping Wang Yulou lightly on the head upon seeing his solemn expression. "Consu your pills diligently. Co, try the second variety!"
The ancestor possessed no shortage of spirit stones, a fact Wang Yulou understood perfectly. Yet a pang of sorrow hit his heart; if the ancestor had been able to achieve Foundation Establishnt, he would never have been reduced to serving as a re protector for a junior, and could instead have pursued his own path to immortality.
"Why does it seem to move?" Wang Yulou asked, examining the green pill in his palm with confusion. This elixir was significantly larger than the previous golden one, roughly the size of a quail's egg. Yet within its translucent surface, a distinct undulating motion could be seen. Even a fool could tell this item was far from ordinary.
"An absolute masterpiece among Qi Refining stage elixirs," the ancestor boasted. "I call it the Silkworm Soul Pill. Sealed within is a complete, living frost silkworm. Upon its death, this creature instantly secretes a unique toxin that completely paralyzes its predator, granting its kin an opportunity to escape. Therefore, I had to seal it alive so that it would perish inside your stomach, triggering the maximum potency of its natural toxin. The effects of this pill last longer, roughly two hours, varying slightly based on the size of the silkworm. It will not suppress your five physical senses, but it will strip you of all physical mobility—absolute paralysis—while simultaneously blocking all sensations of pain. The auxiliary ingredients I added are designed to stimulate the responsiveness of your spiritual ridians, which should significantly enhance your refining speed. Try it; there is no need for psychological hesitation. I raised these silkworms in pure spiritual water; they are cleaner than you are."
Staring at the pale green pill, Wang Yulou closed his eyes, opened his mouth, and swallowed it whole. The dicinal effects manifested rapidly. His body beca entirely rigid, though his sight, hearing, and other senses remained perfectly intact. He sat cross-legged like a living statue, utilizing his divine sense to guide his energy refinent. Without the enhanced perception provided by total sensory deprivation, his base refining speed was slightly slower. However, because the ancestor had infused the pill with ingredients that hyper-activated his ridians, his overall efficiency per unit of ti actually surpassed that of the golden toxin pill.
By the ti the dicine began to fade, Wang Yulou discovered that roughly thirty minutes of refinent under the Silkworm Soul Pill yielded results equivalent to forty-five minutes under the golden snake toxin pill. He halted his cultivation and praised eagerly, "Ancestor, this Silkworm Soul Pill is even more miraculous!"
Wang Xianzhou, who had been dozing off nearby, shook his head, warning him not to celebrate too early. "Foolish child, inspect the condition of your ridians before you speak. Both of these elixirs possess incredibly overbearing properties, and you utilized them back-to-back. Check if any damage has occurred."
Directing his divine sense inward, Wang Yulou quickly located exactly six minor tears within his spiritual pathways. "Six instances of ridian damage... Ancestor, this..."
Wang Xianzhou replied calmly, "Do not worry. I shall refine another batch of pills specifically to heal your ridians. Focus on steady recovery for now while I calculate how to minimize the material costs."
The spiritual pathways were the very conduits of a cultivator's power; they could not be allowed to suffer any lasting harm. Consequently, any herbs or materials capable of repairing ridians—whether they were spiritual grasses, rare woods, or precious minerals—commanded exorbitant prices. After all, every cultivator feared unexpected injuries and always kept a few healing pills on hand when exploring the world.
"I happen to possess two ridian-repairing recipes that ca alongside my cultivation thod. I can share them with you," Wang Yulou offered. Not every cultivator who practiced the Source Vein Guishui Qi thod was a skilled alchemist, so the associated recipes were permitted to be shared. Of course, the core cultivation manual itself remained strictly confidential—according to sect regulations, every disciple could only practice it individually and was strictly forbidden from passing it down to their clan. This rule explained why the arrival of the Hongdengzhao rit Hall in Clear Stream Market had drawn such a massive, frenzied crowd. At that ti, the rit Hall permitted cultivators who exchanged points for techniques to pass them down privately within their families.
"Those two won't do," the ancestor dismissed with a wave of his hand. "The formulas are ancient; tis have changed completely. A portion of the ingredient nas listed back then differ entirely from modern terminology, and so of those plants may have completely lost their spiritual potency over generations. Even if we managed to compile the ingredients, you wouldn't dare consu the resulting pill. Rest and recuperate for two days while I continue to refine my calculations."
---
A few days later, an uncharacteristic crowd gathered before the gates of Azurewater Palace. In truth, the gathering was modest, consisting of barely two hundred individuals. After all, the total number of Azurewater Palace disciples hovered around one thousand. These individuals were all Qi Refining stage Town Guardian Cultivators stationed throughout Droplet Cave Heaven, summoned here today to attend the special execution of Yuan Laosi as a mandatory learning experience.
Wang Yulou was entirely unfamiliar with the local social landscape and recognized very few of his fellow disciples, forcing him to stand alongside Lin Ying in an obscure corner. Ji Yuan had signaled for Wang Yulou to join his group, but the young man chose to decline. With Yuan Laosi facing execution, the stability of the Yuan Clan's position was highly questionable; Wang Yulou saw no reason to involve himself with them. Furthermore, he technically belonged to Patriarch Mangxiang's lineage within Hongdengzhao, aning the various internal factions of Dripdrop Cave had very little bearing on his long-term prospects.
Neither Wu Faxian nor Fan Gaozhu arrived today. Since they did not hold positions as Town Guardian Cultivators, they lacked the privilege of staring at a corpse to contemplate the strict boundaries of sect law.
Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Lin Ying in their secluded corner, the two carried on a quiet, sporadic conversation.
"Tell , with Yuan Laosi facing death, did the Yuan Clan choose not to intervene, or were they simply powerless to save him?" Lin Ying wore a pristine white robe today, looking even more striking than she had in her green attire. Standing among a sea of standard blue Azurewater Palace uniforms, she resembled a solitary white lotus blooming amidst a cluster of green leaves. Nurous male cultivators cast frequent, lingering glances toward their corner, though Wang Yulou maintained a perfectly impassive expression, deliberately avoiding looking at her. This woman was a deeply calculating creature; had any other acquaintance been present, Wang Yulou would have steered entirely clear of her.
"I have no idea," Wang Yulou replied smoothly. "I have only been here for a few months; I understand nothing of these matters."
As he spoke, he subtly shifted his footing, edging toward the periter of the crowd to maintain a strict three-foot distance from her. He was deeply concerned that so arrogant admirer of Lin Ying might erge to cause him trouble; wasn't that precisely how traditional cultivation stories played out? Formidable won were invariably surrounded by endless complications, and anyone with a shred of sense would maintain their distance.
"You claim to understand nothing, yet you handled Cui Dingyi with imnse sophistication," Lin Ying remarked softly, her words causing Wang Yulou's underlying urge to eliminate old Cui to flare once more. How had a re third-layer Qi Refining cultivator managed to beco so widely known? Wu Faxian knew of him, Ji Yuan knew of him, and now, it appeared even Lin Ying was thoroughly acquainted with his reputation. 'Old Cui, you truly possess an incredible talent for causing complications.'
"How do you happen to know him as well?" Wang Yulou inquired, testing her ground.
"Answer my question regarding the Yuan Clan first, and then I shall enlighten you," Lin Ying countered, her single-lidded eyes blinking with amusent as she leaned a fraction closer to him. "A fair exchange of information, wouldn't you agree?"
"I have no familiarity with the Yuan Clan, nor have I ever interacted with them," Wang Yulou replied, noting a sudden movent at the front of the crowd.
In truth, he had experienced one brief intersection with them when a mber of the Yuan Clan seized the position of Town Guardian Cultivator at the mining node that had been promised to him. However, the Wang Clan had smoothed over the matter gracefully, and Patriarch Wang Xianmao hadn't uttered a single word of protest—there was no reason to forge a blood feud over such a minor dispute.
Upon the stone steps before Azurewater Palace, a portly middle-aged man clad in deep blue robes appeared, his expression thoroughly grim. The mont he stepped forward, the murmuring crowd fell into absolute silence.
"It is beginning. Let us watch," Wang Yulou murmured. Seeing that Wang Yulou remained entirely tight-lipped, Lin Ying was forced to abandon her probing for the mont. She sought information from him because of his connection to Elder Zhuo Chi, whose family had aligned with several other clans to suppress the Yuan Clan. Lin Ying's own family was rely one of those lesser participants, prompting her to search for any critical insight. Wang Yulou appeared unassuming, but he might prove to be a valuable link.
"All disciples of Dripdrop Cave, maintain absolute silence!" a grand elder of Azurewater Palace commanded, stepping forward alongside the sect master to enforce order. Once complete quiet settled over the plaza, the sect master finally spoke.
"Azurewater Palace disciple Yuan Ping'an failed to respond to a fellow disciple's distress signal, an offense that warrants ten years of hard labor within the mineral mines."
"Furthermore, he gathered a crowd for decadent indulgences, thoroughly neglecting his responsibilities as a Town Guardian Cultivator—an act of utter absurdity that warrants the complete stripping of his cultivation base, casting him permanently into the mortal realm."
"Finally, he raised a clamor within Droplet Heaven, insulting his seniors and demonstrating completely unruly behavior, a transgression that demands fifty strikes from the Punishnt Hamr."
"However, Perfected Man Hongli has issued a formal decree: 'Yuan Laosi deserves death, and the discipline within Azurewater Palace has grown far too lax. Execute him directly before the palace gates to serve as a stark reminder to all stationed Town Guardian Cultivators.'"
The sect master paused montarily. Wang Yulou could distinctly hear the collective, synchronized sound of two hundred disciples swallowing hard. The sound was so uniform that it produced a low, rumbling resonance across the plaza, born entirely of sheer terror. For so inexplicable reason, amid that tense silence, Wang Yulou instinctively glanced at Lin Ying, only to find her staring intently at him. Sensing his gaze, her lips curled into an elegant, proper smile, and she offered him a brief wink. The gesture sent a chill down Wang Yulou's spine, prompting him to ntally recite his clan's rules several tis over. This woman was truly dangerous; he had to remain entirely on guard.
"Since the True Person's decree stands, drag Yuan Ping'an forward."
Two cultivators clad in the uniforms of the Grotto Heaven Patrol Team dragged Yuan Laosi forward like a dead dog, positioning him at the base of the palace steps. Above stood the sect master and the grand elder, two formidable Foundation Establishnt figures. Below stood over two hundred Town Guardian Cultivators.
Yuan Laosi caught sight of his maternal uncle, a sudden spark of hope flickering across his gaunt, haggard face. He strained his neck toward the sect master, attempting to speak.
"Ah... ah... ah..."
Only hollow gasps erged; his tongue had already been severed from his mouth. He attempted to transmit his thoughts through divine sense, but two heavy Soul-Pinning Nails had been driven deep into his skull, completely locking down his ntal faculties. The sect master refused to cast a single glance toward him, keeping his eyes fixed on the distant horizon as if his mind had drifted into so detached, transcendent realm. Yet his subsequent words revealed that he was far from detached.
"Execute him. The hour has arrived."
Not a single disciple or elder—not even mbers of the rival Zhuo family—wished to claim the task of executing Yuan Laosi. Such an act would draw the perpetual resentnt of the Yuan Clan, making the executioner's position a thoroughly unenviable one. Consequently, the task was delegated to a peak Small Demon Realm spiritual beast maintained by the sect—a massive water monkey. The creature usually spent its days lounging in various corners of Azurewater Palace, accepting treats from disciples and acting as a collective pet. Today, the ti had co for it to perform a true service for the sect.
Demon beasts at the Small Demon Realm possessed significant intelligence, and having lived among humans for so long, this creature was exceptionally sharp. It understood perfectly that executing a mber of the Yuan Clan was an invitation for endless trouble. However, Wu Faxian had recently presented it with two jars of eighth-grade Monkey Wine. Thoroughly intoxicated and emboldened by the alcohol, it possessed the necessary liquid courage.
Under the intense scrutiny of the crowd, the massive ape swayed unsteadily as it approached Yuan Laosi, dragging a dium-grade artifact longsword in its elongated arm. The beast stood nearly ten feet tall, its arms disproportionately long, causing the sword blade to scrape against the stone tiles with a rhythmic, grating tallic screech that scraped uncomfortably against everyone's nerves. The water monkey lacked the ability to channel spiritual qi through the weapon; it relied entirely on the inherent sharpness of the blade and its own brute strength.
Realizing that he was about to be decapitated by a beast, Yuan Laosi thrashed frantically against his restraints, but his struggle was entirely futile. He had beco a re sacrificial pawn in a grand political struggle. The ape lifted the heavy blade, and Yuan Laosi closed his eyes in grim resignation, yet the blow did not fall imdiately. The crowd began to murmur in confusion. The intoxicated water monkey had reached into its fur to retrieve a half-empty flask of wine, pouring the contents directly down Yuan Laosi's throat.
The man sputtered and coughed violently from the burning alcohol, his head spinning from the sudden intoxication. The mont his head dropped from dizziness, the ape's long arm flicked downward, and the sharp blade cleanly severed Yuan Laosi's head from his shoulders. A spray of dark crimson blood mixed with wine erupted across the stone tiles. The monkey caught the falling head, placed it back onto the stump of the neck, and even sared a bit of its own saliva over the seam in a grotesque attempt to stick it back together.
Under the grand elder's command, Wu Faxian stepped forward with a thoroughly reluctant expression to lead the drunken beast away. Wang Yulou was genuinely astounded by Wu Faxian's seamless ability to blend into the background; if the man hadn't moved, Wang Yulou wouldn't have even realized he was present.
The two patrol cultivators stepped forward to carry the lifeless body away, leaving nothing behind but a widening pool of blood upon the stone plaza to prove an execution had occurred. The sect master stared at the mixture of blood and wine for a long ti without speaking. So long as he remained silent, neither Wang Yulou nor any of the other Town Guardian Cultivators dared to utter a word or shift their positions.
A young, junior cultivator at the third layer of Qi Induction quickly ran forward with a large bucket of water, thoroughly scrubbing the stone tiles until every trace of Yuan Laosi's existence was washed down the drains. Noting the intense gaze of the crowd, the young boy offered a timid, embarrassed bow before running off with his bucket. He looked barely fourteen years old, a thoroughly naive youth who understood nothing of the tension filling the air.
The sect master finally broke his silence, his voice sounding incredibly strained, as if a sharp blade were scraping against his throat. "Yuan Laosi is dead. Every one of you must reflect upon his fate and learn from his transgressions. The rules of our sect are carved in iron, and the duties assigned to you are absolute responsibilities that you must shoulder."
His voice grew louder and faster, filled with a sudden, venting fury as he glared down at the gathered crowd. "Before the law of our sect, no amount of background or lineage will afford you special treatnt! No matter how imnse the danger you face, your responsibilities remain absolute!"
Wang Yulou noted the logical fallacies in the sect master's speech, but given the man's visibly unstable emotional state, he kept his mouth firmly shut.
"In the future, I shall hold every single one of you to the exact sa standard that claid Yuan Laosi's life! Every single one of you!"
The sect master's gaze swept over the crowd like a physical weapon, casting a freezing glare over every disciple who belonged to the rival factions that had orchestrated the downfall of his family line. The ssage was unmistakable: 'I have morized your faces, and you will eventually pay the price.'
An absolute, suffocating silence gripped the plaza. None of the Town Guardian Cultivators dared to speak, for the sect master's words were fundantally unassailable—the rules of the sect had to be obeyed, and duties could never be abandoned. Within the frawork of Dripdrop Cave, his declaration was absolute truth.
Glancing at Lin Ying as she bit her lower lip, Wang Yulou felt a sudden chill regarding his own future prospects. If even a well-connected woman like her felt terrified, it ant the sect master and the Yuan Clan were truly prepared to go to extres.
He had only just secured his long-awaited position as the leader of Riverbend Fishing Port, yet the higher-ups had engaged in a political feud, and the losing side had decided to retaliate by enforcing a brutal, unforgiving crackdown upon everyone below them. At that mont, only a single word echoed within Wang Yulou's mind: 'Incredible.'
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