The ten female cultivators Han Qingwen summoned into the room filed in with measured steps, all possessing distinct looks and graceful figures that drew the eye. Their cultivation was clearly at the Refining Void stage, each woman a unique beauty in her own right, making the atmosphere within the hall feel like stepping into a vibrant sea of blossoms by mistake.
Yunxi smiled at the display and turned her head toward her companion.
"Yun Po, see if there's anyone you like among them."
Yun Po smiled back, her eyes narrowing into thin crescents.
"Big sister Xi Yun really knows how to look after me."
After speaking, he looked over the female cultivators one by one, examining them with a slow, deliberate gaze as if he were picking out a favorite item from a shop shelf.
Li Li also seemed to be joining the fun, its small form alert and curious. It squatted on the stone table and stared at the ten beautiful cultivators with unblinking intensity. After a while, it looked bored with the silent parade, turned around, and leapt into Yunxi's arms. It found a comfortable position against her chest and squinted its eyes in contentment, pretending to nap, with only the slight swaying of its tail showing it was not actually asleep.
In reality, Li Li was transmitting its voice directly to Yunxi's mind.
"Zunshàng, the early Refining Void female cultivator in the lotus pink robe has two souls in her body. One is asleep right now. The one controlling the body should be an evil soul, but for some reason, it hasn't fully devoured the other soul."
Yunxi's expression didn't change at the startling revelation. She raised a hand to stroke Li Li's head, her fingers moving rhythmically through its fur, while transmitting her reply back.
"Li Li, can you be sure the soul that hasn't been devoured is the original owner's?"
"Most likely. That's why it's hidden so well, even the evil soul hasn't noticed it."
After thinking for a moment, Yunxi transmitted a new instruction to Yun Po.
"Choose the female cultivator in the lotus pink robe."
Yun Po's gaze just happened to land on the female cultivator standing at the very end of the line, the one wearing the delicate lotus pink robe. After receiving Yunxi's message, she didn't ask further questions about the choice. This was someone else's territory, so it was better to take her first and talk later. She put on a look of sudden interest and turned to Han Qingwen.
"Tower Master, how should this Dengyun Tower disciple be addressed?"
Han Qingwen didn't expect Yun Po to pick her specifically and replied calmly to the inquiry.
"She joined Dengyun Tower not long ago. Her name is Xia Yiwan."
"Xia Yiwan. That's a good name. I will take this one."
"This—"
Han Qingwen hesitated, his words trailing off as if there was more he wanted to say on the matter. The chosen Xia Yiwan originally wore a faint, practiced smile, but when she saw the Tower Master's hesitation, she spoke up.
"Tower Master Han…"
Yunxi raised her brows at the sudden tension and spoke first.
"Tower Master, let them withdraw for now. This Lord has something to ask you."
Han Qingwen was at a loss about how to persuade Yun Po to change his mind without causing offense, and Yunxi's words gave him a convenient way out. He nodded.
"Alright."
He waved his hand and had the ten Dengyun Tower disciples leave the hall. Xia Yiwan was clearly unhappy, her lips pressing together in a thin line, while another female cultivator in a purplish-red robe frowned almost imperceptibly as they turned. Then they all exited the room together.
Once the others were gone and the door was sealed, Yunxi got straight to the point.
"Tower Master, you seemed hesitant earlier. Is there a problem with the disciple my younger brother chose?"
Han Qingwen sighed before answering, his shoulders dropping slightly.
"Xia Yiwan joined Dengyun Tower only a month ago. If it weren't for your younger brother's cultivation requirements, I wouldn't have wanted her to meet you."
Yun Po frowned in displeasure, her expression darkening as he looked at the older man. "Tower Master, if you think there's an issue, why bring her out to receive guests at all? My sister and I paid spirit stones for this service. You can't fool us."
Han Qingwen realized his explanation was unclear and waved his hand to placate them. "You have misunderstood. There's nothing wrong with Xia Yiwan herself. I'm just worried she can't devote herself fully to helping Yun Po Daoyou stabilize his cultivation."
Yunxi stroked Li Li and asked calmly, "Oh? Why is that?"
Han Qingwen answered helplessly, his gaze flickering toward the door.
"Xia Yiwan is also a pitiful one. Her family wanted to send her to become a concubine to a Mahayana Zhēnzūn whose lifespan was nearly exhausted. If she went, the outcome would be obvious to anyone. At best, she would lose all her cultivation to his needs. At worst, she wouldn't even keep her life.
Of course she refused the arrangement. Her family then cut off her cultivation resources, leaving her stuck and unable to break through to the Refining Void stage. She didn't want to be controlled like a puppet, so she pretended to agree, then escaped on the way to that Zhēnzūn's residence.
By coincidence, she ran into Dengyun Tower disciples midway through her flight. They pitied how hard her cultivation path had been, helped conceal her trail from her family, and brought her back to Dengyun Tower.
You both know Dengyun Tower survives in the cracks of the world. Our disciples help cultivators stuck at bottlenecks break through, but it's all voluntary on their part. They do it to exchange for cultivation resources they otherwise couldn't afford. After breaking through, they can leave Dengyun Tower smoothly, just like Muyu did.
So after careful consideration, Xia Yiwan chose to join Dengyun Tower. With my help, she broke through to the Refining Void stage, but she is still in the consolidation phase. Songran City is not far from that Mahayana Zhēnzūn's cultivation ground. If she leaves with you, it might bring trouble to our honored guests.
Also, helping someone stabilize cultivation requires corresponding techniques. She isn't fully proficient in them yet, and I'm afraid she would waste Daoyou's time."
The explanation sounded reasonable enough on the surface, but it only made Yunxi more certain about choosing Xia Yiwan. She acted indifferent to the warning and said to Yun Po,
"Yun Po, this concerns your cultivation. You decide for yourself. Your sister will just pay the spirit stones."
Yun Po put on a hesitant look, her eyes darting back and forth, then finally made up her mind and said, "Big sister, it's rare for me to meet a female cultivator who suits my tastes so well. My instincts tell me she is the most suitable. It's her."
She then looked at Han Qingwen and smiled. "I understand the Tower Master's meaning. If any issues arise during this process, this Lord will bear them all and won't trouble Dengyun Tower."
At that point, Han Qingwen couldn't persuade him further without appearing suspicious. Pushing the matter would only raise questions, and he wouldn't underestimate any cultivator, especially a high-level one like this. He had already explained the pros and cons, and since the other party still insisted on the choice, he couldn't refuse. He nodded.
"Since the honored guest is willing, Dengyun Tower won't spoil your mood. I will make the arrangements now."
Yunxi smiled at Yun Po, her eyes light with a playful glint.
"Yun Po, you got your wish this time. Next time we cultivate in the clan's secret grounds, you have to give the spot to your sister."
Yun Po's eyes flickered as she smiled and nodded.
"Big sister Xi Yun, don't worry. Your little brother definitely won't compete with you for that."
As Han Qingwen turned away to leave, he heard everything they said. Knowing they didn't take him seriously at all, that was why they spoke so casually about clan matters in front of him. A sharp glint flashed through his lowered eyes as he quickly left the room.
A quarter hour later, Han Qingwen returned with Xia Yiwan at his side. Yunxi once again acted generously toward the Tower. She removed the black storage bracelet from her wrist and tossed it directly to Xia Yiwan.
After checking the wealth that was inside the bracelet, Xia Yiwan's smile deepened noticeably. She was clearly very satisfied with the compensation.
Yunxi smiled at Yun Po.
"Let's go. Once we're back, focus on stabilizing your cultivation. Don't say I wasn't considerate as your sister."
Yun Po cupped her hands with a wide grin. "Many thanks, Big sister Xi Yun."
She then stepped forward naturally, took Xia Yiwan's hand in hers, and said with satisfaction, "I will have to trouble Yiwan to accompany this Lord for a while. Once my cultivation is stable, I will send you back."
Xia Yiwan had already received her instructions from Han Qingwen and nodded calmly. "Alright."