[Wan Qingluan carefully examines your body with her senses]

[Then she exclaims in surprise: "Husband, your true qi has liquefied?!"]

[Wan Qingluan naturally knows that true qi only liquefies at the Essence Refining stage]

[She stares at you dumbfounded, at a loss for words]

[In Wan Qingluan's view, while it's astonishing that your true qi liquefied during Bone Tempering]

[She's equally puzzled that you only reached peak Bone Tempering in your eighties]

[She can't decide whether to call you a genius or a failure]

[After completing nine condensations, your externalized true qi can now break through early-stage Bone Tempering martial artists' defenses]

[And your casting range has increased to five zhang (about 15 meters)]

[This level of power in externalized true qi is something only peak Essence Refining martial artists can achieve]

[Your condensed true qi has become so thick it's almost viscous, making your actual combat strength terrifyingly strong]

[You could easily handle ordinary peak Organ Fortifying martial artists two major realms above you]

[Moreover, this condensation brought you another significant benefit]

[Your martial arts talent has strengthened once more]

[In your next simulation, your realm advancement will become even faster]

["Husband, join our Extermination Sect!" Wan Qingluan brings this up again]

["Qingluan, why do you keep asking me to join the Extermination Sect?" You ask while practicing in the courtyard]

[Wan Qingluan has mentioned joining the Extermination Sect many times over the years]

[You're starting to suspect the sect has some recruitment quota to meet]

[Wan Qingluan smiles playfully and crouches down to rest her head on your shoulder]

["Because you're truly suited for the Extermination Sect, husband."]

[You tilt your head slightly, bringing your faces close together]

["Why?"]

["The Extermination Sect's techniques advocate following one's heart, emphasizing mental clarity - the clearer your mind, the faster your progress."]

[You pull Wan Qingluan into your arms: "Are you saying my mentality fits these conditions?"]

["I've never met anyone more suited to this mentality than you."]

[The more Wan Qingluan understands you, the more she sees you as someone playing with the mortal world]

[You don't particularly feel this way about yourself]

[If anything, you consider yourself quite cautious]

[But because you know you're in a simulation]

[You unconsciously project an air of transcendental detachment, laughing at worldly affairs]

[Wan Qingluan, skilled at reading people, naturally picks up on this]

["What would I gain from joining the Extermination Sect?"]

["A sect-guarding level technique."]

["I'll join! I must join!" You hastily agree, afraid she might change her mind]

[If Wan Qingluan had mentioned the sect-guarding technique earlier, you would have agreed immediately]

[As soon as you speak, Wan Qingluan shoves the technique manual into your hands]

["Heavenly Desire Formless Technique."]

[You stare blankly at the manual: "You're just giving me a sect-guarding technique like this?"]

["Of course, you agreed to join the Extermination Sect."]

["Does everyone get one when they join?"]

["Depends on the inviter's mood."]

["Inviter? You mean... our Extermination Sect operates on referrals?"]

[Wan Qingluan gently strokes your chin: "Sometimes."]

["Great answer - explains absolutely nothing."]

[You understand - don't question the Extermination Sect's ways, as they follow their whims]

["Where's our Extermination Sect's headquarters?" You ask]

["We don't have one."]

["Then where do I go to... join officially?"]

["No such procedures. You're already a member."]

[Your confusion grows]

[The Extermination Sect's methods are truly unconventional, lacking any formal structure]

["Then how do I prove I'm part of this... organization?"]

[Wan Qingluan smiles mysteriously: "You'll know when the time comes."]

[Great, after all that talk, still no actual information]

[You stop pressing, since you've already obtained the Heavenly Desire Formless Technique]

[Everything else is secondary]

[The Heavenly Desire Formless Technique can be cultivated all the way to Dragon Transformation realm - incredibly powerful]

[Its most notable feature is allowing cultivators to freely alter their true qi's properties]

[Gaining an advantage against opponents in battle]

[For example, using yang-aligned true qi against yin-aligned opponents]

[Or vast, majestic true qi against explosive, fierce opponents]

[One month later, Wan Qingluan leaves]

[She says she's close to finding her path to Grandmaster]

[You've been genuine husband and wife for four years]

[Developing considerable affection between you]

[But you know this must eventually end]

[After all, it was all just an act]

[Wan Qingluan leaves decisively]

[That night you make love desperately]

[But come morning, Wan Qingluan straightens her skirts and leaves without looking back]

[After her departure, you take half a day off from cultivation]

[To mourn your deceased romance]

[Wan Qingluan leaves you a thousand internal spirit pills and a jade pendant]

[She says the pendant serves as proof of your Extermination Sect core membership]

[If you ever need the sect's help]

[Take it to the Dragon Gate Inn in the northern Cangwang Desert and find the innkeeper]

[You store the pendant away, with no intention of visiting the inn]

[Returning to focused cultivation]

[Another month passes]

[Your Art of Hidden Breath reaches perfection]

[Martial artists four realms above you can no longer discern your cultivation level]

["Skin Refining, Bone Tempering, Marrow Washing, Organ Fortifying, Essence Refining, Dragon Transformation, Grandmaster, Ultimate Grandmaster"]

["Meaning even Dragon Transformation cultivators can't see through me!"]

[If peak Dragon Transformation Wan Qingluan were still here, she couldn't sense your cultivation either]

[Once you advance to Marrow Washing, even Grandmasters won't be able to tell your level]

[You begin cultivating the Heavenly Desire Formless Technique]

[To your surprise, your progress is remarkably fast]

["Seems Qingluan was right - my mentality perfectly suits the Extermination Sect's techniques."]

[One day while cultivating]

[A group of people come looking for trouble]

[The jade-faced leader tells his seven or eight followers: "That's He Yu of the Extermination Sect - kill him!"]

[You've only been in the Extermination Sect for two months - not even past probation]

[Haven't had time to commit any misdeeds]

[Yet just for joining, people already want you dead]

["Is this the power of reputation?" You think wryly]

[You examine the fierce-looking group]

[Their strongest is the jade-faced leader at peak Marrow Washing]

[The rest are Bone Tempering]

[This lineup poses no threat - they're practically delivering themselves to death]

["Gentlemen, you must have the wrong person?" You try sounding them out]

["No mistake!"]

[The jade-faced youth produces a high-definition portrait of you]

[You startle - the painting looks exactly like you]

[You didn't expect such thorough intelligence work]

["He Yu, no denials now - prepare to die!"]

[The jade-faced youth charges at you]

[His followers cheer him on]

["Look! Young Master Yuan is attacking!!"]

[Clang—]

["Oh no! Young Master Yuan is dead!!"]

[You slash the jade-faced youth into eight pieces]

[His companions immediately wet themselves in fear]

[You restrain them and ask about the portrait's origin]

[You learn it's Extermination Sect tradition]

[For core members, the sect publicly releases their information]

[You're speechless: "Do they want their members dead faster?"]

[You conclude the Extermination Sect leadership must be slightly unhinged]

[Their methods are too chaotic, too free, too... happy]

[And since core members are usually Dragon Transformation or higher]

[No Bone Tempering martial artists like you]

[That's why they dared come directly]

[After all, one picks the soft persimmons]

[But they didn't expect you'd be an iron plate that breaks toes when kicked]

[You swiftly dispatch all eight]

[After looting, you only find some silver notes and low-level techniques]

["Damn, even poorer than me!"]

[You burn down your home of several years and leave quickly]

[Heading north]

[To the desolate Cangwang Desert at Great Qian's northern border]

[Planning to hide there for the rest of your days]