Chapter 126: Don’t Cry, Here’s a Candy for You

When Ji Tianxin opened her eyes, she immediately noticed the changes in her body.

She raised her hand and examined her palm. "Oh, I've advanced."

She had expected it would take much longer to reach the next stage, so she was surprised that it had happened just last night. However, breakthroughs in cultivation often depend on destiny and timing, so she didn't dwell on it with much astonishment.

Still, she knew the next breakthrough would likely require a long period of consolidation. The faster one advances, the more time is needed to stabilize one's cultivation foundation. Ji Tianxin understood this principle well, especially now that she had entered the Formless Stage.

She sat up, crossed her legs, and closed her eyes to peer into her own body.

Her brow furrowed slightly in surprise. Her physical constitution had changed; her body had become even purer and more translucent than before. A milky-white aura flowed slowly within her, as if cleansing every impurity from her frame. Deep within her dantian, a golden glow about the size of a half-fist floated gently, sending golden light coursing through her limbs and bones.

A spark of joy flickered in her heart. Her primordial spirit had merged even more seamlessly with this physical form, meaning that her body would gradually undergo a complete transformation. While a martial artist’s physical body could become incredibly resilient, even a body of steel and iron was, in the end, still merely human. But the body Ji Tianxin once possessed had been a near-divine vessel.

Furthermore, given the current speed at which her primordial spirit was recovering and merging with this body, she believed it wouldn't be long before she could forge her own spiritual-quality space. Once such a space was created, she would be able to store anything infused with spiritual energy. Since all things possess spirit, all things could be stored within that space, granting her a private, sanctified world of her own.

She opened her eyes and looked down at herself. She was still wearing the same clothes from yesterday. Had she gone to bed without even changing? She remembered drinking a bit too much last night, and then... and then... she had gone out to catch some air.

It seemed her master had returned as well. Master?

She climbed off the bed and walked slowly to the door. As soon as she opened it, she saw Suqing standing there with a plate balanced on her head, looking at her with an expression of utter grievance.

The moment Suqing saw Ji Tianxin, she couldn't hold it in any longer and burst into tears of injustice.

Ji Tianxin frowned slightly. "What’s wrong?"

"Master Bai said Suqing allowed her mistress to get drunk, so she ordered me to stand here as punishment," Suqing sobbed.

Ji Tianxin: "..." She suddenly felt a pang of guilt toward Suqing.

She blinked, stood on her tiptoes, and reached out to gently pat Suqing’s shoulder. "My apologies, Suqing."

Suqing pursed her lips, her eyes rimmed with red. How was she supposed to know her mistress had gone off to sneak drinks last night? No wonder her mistress had told her to go rest; she had clearly planned to go drinking behind her back. Thinking of this, Suqing felt even more wronged, her brows knitting together in a wavy line, looking like a pitiable little thing.

Ji Tianxin reached into her waist pocket and, after some effort, produced a piece of candy. She coaxed softly, "Don't cry. Here, have some candy."

Suqing stopped crying instantly, her mood shifting faster than turning a page. She took the candy with a giggle. "Hehehe, thank you, Mistress." With the candy in hand, she promptly abandoned her punishment.

"Where is Master?" Ji Tianxin asked.

"Master Bai was spotted by Old Master Ji, who just came out of seclusion today. The Old Master and the General have invited Master Bai to the front hall," Suqing said, recalling the fawning and obsequious look on the Old Master’s face when he saw Master Bai earlier that morning.

Ji Tianxin nodded. "That’s good." Good, that meant her master wouldn't be coming to lecture her for a while.