Yuee Mei's protest died in her throat; her bright eyes dimmed. Shoulders sagging almost imperceptibly, she lowered her gaze to the table.

Zhu Zhihao paid her no mind. Turning her gaze to the woman beside her, she commanded, "Fei Yan, you will accompany me."

Fei Yan’s polite smile returned. It held a new warmth now. She inclined her head gracefully. "As you wish, my lady." Her attention shifted to Su Kang; her eyes crinkled at the corners. "Young Master Su, it seems we will be exploring together. Let us do our best." She gave a slight bow from her seated position. "Allow me to introduce myself properly: My name is Fei Yan. I have been working for Lady Zhu at the Vermilion Jade Pavilion for years."

Su Kang returned the gesture. "It is this junior's honor to make your acquaintance, Senior Fei," he said, inclining his head.

Fei Yan’s smile widened, her gaze drifting down to the table. "You haven't touched your tea yet. Please, try it. It would be a shame to let it grow cold."

Su Kang nodded. Lifting the small, porcelain cup, he noted the tea was a pale, almost translucent green. Its aroma was clean. Cool. Like mountain mist. He took a sip.

The moment the liquid touched his tongue, it vanished. Transforming into a gentle, cool stream, it flowed down his throat, yet the energy did not settle in his stomach. Instead, it spread instantly from his dantian—a mild, invigorating cold that permeated his meridians.

It was profoundly gentle. Unlike the harsh, violent pill toxins he was accustomed to purging, this energy seeped through his entire body. It washed over his meridians. He felt his spiritual energy become effortless, like water flowing downhill, while minute impurities within his Qi were gently washed away. The amount of pure Qi within him increased slightly. While the effects were not dramatic, the qualitative improvement was undeniable; this was no ordinary spiritual tea.

Fei Yan watched his reaction. A knowing look was in her eyes. “This tea is brewed from the leaves of a Thousand-Year Frostheart Leaf,” she explained softly. “Some early-stage Core Formation cultivators use its core to refine pills, hoping to break through to the middle stage.”

She paused. Allowed the weight of her words to sink in. "Please, consider it a small gift for taking care of Yue Mei," she added. "But be aware: its effects are best when consumed sparingly. Drinking it more than once every six months will yield diminishing returns.”

Su Kang lowered the cup, a look of genuine appreciation crossing his face. "This junior is grateful for Senior Fei's generosity. The tea is truly remarkable."

Fei Yan simply nodded. Her polite smile remained unwavering.

His gaze shifted to Zhu Zhihao; his expression turned back to business. "Senior Zhu, regarding the other matter I mentioned—the cultivation scriptures…”

Zhu Zhihao raised a hand. She silenced him with a simple gesture. "Patience, Young Master Su.”

Her voice was calm, instructive. “The best techniques are often symbiotic with the resources a cultivator has access to. Some are what we call 'Resource-Dependent.' They offer rapid progress, but only if you can supply them with specific items or energies. If we find such resources within the secret realm, a corresponding technique would be the ideal choice for you."

She paused, violet eyes holding his.

"Others are 'Foundation-Based.' They rely on nothing but the cultivator's own will, talent, and tireless effort. Steady. Reliable. They offer no shortcuts."

Her gaze sharpened, cutting straight to the heart of the matter.

"Let us see what the realm offers first. The resources we find may guide your choice to a technique perfectly suited for them. If not," she concluded, setting her cup down with a soft click, "you can always choose a conventional technique. There is no need to make a hasty decision now."

Understanding dawned on Su Kang's face. It was a strategic approach he hadn't considered. "Senior's foresight is admirable," Su Kang said, nodding with genuine respect. "This junior understands and will follow your guidance.”

Having settled all important matters, he picked up his cup. He finished the rest of the Frostheart Leaf tea in a single, mindful swallow. Then, he stood. He straightened his robes.

"Then I shall take my leave now and prepare for our departure." He cupped his fist, bowing slightly to the women.

Zhu Zhihao acknowledged him with a nod.

Business concluded, Su Kang turned. He walked out of the pavilion.

He returned to his courtyard.

The soft glow of a spirit lamp illuminated the pavilion; Bai Yunxi was waiting for him in the main hall. Sometime after her formal introduction to the family ladies, she had moved into his courtyard. She had shed her shyness. She accepted it. The people knew of their relationship now, and his residence offered far better cultivation arrays.

She looked up as he approached. A question was in her emerald eyes. "How did it go?" she asked, her voice a hurried whisper.

Su Kang took her hand. He sat on the nearby bench. His touch was warm, reassuring. “Everything went well. Senior Zhu agreed to help." He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "You don't have to worry. It will all go smoothly.”

A relieved smile finally graced her lips. She leaned her head against his shoulder. “I am glad.”

They sat in silence then, letting the peace of the night wrap around them like a protective cocoon. Their fingers entwined. They simply enjoyed the quiet moment. After some time, she returned to her chambers; he left for his own.

Inside the cultivation room, he retrieved the jade box from his storage ring. The Soul Lotus Petal rested within. Its crystalline surface shimmered faintly. A quiet, calming presence filled the small chamber.

“Fate,” he called, focus turning inward. "Do you think this is enough for now? Or should I wait?"

“It should be sufficient,” Fate’s voice echoed in his mind. “At a bare minimum, ninety percent of the damage to your soul foundation will be healed.”

“Good.” A sense of relief washed over him. “Then I will start now.”

He sat down. Closed his eyes. His breathing became slow, rhythmic, as he calmed his heart and silenced the stray thoughts in his mind. He picked up the Soul Lotus Petal. Placed it on his tongue.

It dissolved instantly. There was no taste, no texture. It simply became a wave of pure, condensed soul energy. This energy was not violent or forceful; it was a cool, soothing river that flowed directly toward his sea of consciousness.

His awareness plunged inward. He descended to the gray, pentagonal platform that was his soul foundation. The surface was a broken landscape. It was marred by a network of fine, spiderweb-like cracks. At its very center, the faint, blue star imprint pulsed with a subtle, alien light, mocking his efforts to cleanse it.

The river of lotus energy arrived. It did not rush. It seeped into the gray platform.

The cool, silvery energy flowed into every crack and fissure, like water filling the dry rifts in the earth. A gentle hum resonated through his soul as the lotus’s power began its work. The process was slow. Meticulous. As the cool energy filled the fissures, patiently knitting the fractured foundation back together, he felt the tension in his soul begin to ease.

The soothing energy washed over the foundation. Slowly, it erased the damage.

The cracks began to close. One by one, the tiny fissures sealed, leaving behind only faint, ghostly lines. The larger cracks took more time; the lotus energy pooled around them, mending the spiritual structure.

An unknown amount of time passed.

Finally, only one area of damage remained: the cluster of cracks directly beneath the Blue Star Imprint. As the lotus energy approached this point, its mending power faltered. The imprint seemed to resist the healing. The energy was consumed at a much faster rate. The last of the lotus's power dissipated before it could finish the job.

His spiritual avatar sighed. He observed the flawed result. “This star imprint is truly a curse.”

The foundational platform was not the flawless, porcelain-like surface he had hoped for. But most of the fissures had vanished. Only a small, stubborn network of cracks near the blue star imprint remained. He was satisfied for now.

Su Kang’s consciousness returned to his body; he took a deep breath.

“Fate, how is it?” he asked. “I think I can practice my soul cultivation now.”

“The foundation will need more soul-related herbs to be fully restored,” Fate replied. “But for now, you can begin your practice.”

Su Kang nodded with a smile. Soul cultivation will be helpful in the long term, he thought. But it won't be useful in the realm. Not when I'm with a Nascent Soul expert. I need to focus on Qi and Body cultivation for now.

“I should start preparing for the exploration," he murmured. "I can't let them think I'm getting a free lunch." A wry smile touched his lips. "I'll be counting on you, Fate. For the treasure seeking.”

“I will try to sense treasures that have received the blessings of the heavens, but my senses are limited. Keep that in mind,” Fate cautioned.

“I will,” Su Kang said with a smile.