Volume One, Chapter Eleven: The Three Cultivate Together

“Not pleased?” Liu Ruoxi glanced at him, her words tinged with amusement.

“Pleased, absolutely pleased!” Su Haoming nodded vigorously, his head bobbing like a pestle.

What a ridiculous joke!

Two Daoist partners cultivating together—wouldn’t the system rebates just soar?

Opportunities like this, where one can reap rewards without lifting a finger, are as rare as finding a needle in a haystack!

“By the way,” Liu Ruoxi shifted the topic, “what do you plan to do with those foundation-establishing pills?”

Su Haoming hesitated. “Well... I originally thought...” He hadn’t carefully considered it yet; these pills were precious and had to be used wisely.

“How about giving one each to Lin Feixue and me?” Liu Ruoxi said bluntly. “You keep the rest.”

“That... works! Of course it works!” Su Haoming’s heart skipped a beat.

This was like being handed a pillow just as he was about to nod off—right to his heart’s desire!

With both Daoist partners successfully establishing their foundations, the system rebates would surely double! Brilliant!

“Then it’s settled.” Liu Ruoxi nodded. “I’ll head back to rest; I have guests to entertain tomorrow.”

Watching Liu Ruoxi retreat to her room, Su Haoming stood in the courtyard, momentarily dazed.

Today’s developments had completely exceeded his expectations.

But the outcome... hey, it seemed quite favorable.

Though the process was a bit tense, the two girls he once thought would clash had inexplicably formed a “strategic alliance”?

For him, it was like a pie falling from the sky—filled with meat!

The night passed quietly.

At dawn the next day, just as Su Haoming was deep in sleep, a crisp knock on the door awoke him.

“Get up, Lin Feixue is almost here,” came Liu Ruoxi’s cool voice from outside.

Rubbing his eyes, Su Haoming hurriedly dressed.

Opening the door, he paused in surprise.

Liu Ruoxi had already tidied the courtyard impeccably—swept leaves to one side and placed a stone table in the center, adorned with tea and several appetizing snacks.

“Wow, quite diligent today,” Su Haoming teased.

A rare faint smile appeared on Liu Ruoxi’s face. “When guests come, one must be presentable.”

As she finished speaking, soft footsteps echoed outside the gate.

Lin Feixue entered gracefully in a simple white dress, carrying a blue embroidered pouch, walking at a measured pace.

“Sorry to intrude,” her voice remained cool and detached. She surveyed the courtyard briefly before nodding lightly at Su Haoming in greeting.

“Please have a seat, Miss Lin,” Liu Ruoxi invited, and the three took their places around the stone table.

Without ceremony, Lin Feixue placed the pouch on the table and slid it toward Liu Ruoxi. “This contains the complete cultivation method of the Ice Soul Heart Classic. Please have a look.”

Liu Ruoxi accepted the pouch with a nod of thanks. “Thank you, Miss Lin. As it happens, I have also been compiling the Cold Ice Sword Manual. Its principles align well with the Ice Soul Heart Classic; we can study them together.”

Sitting nearby, Su Haoming listened to their easy, natural exchange and suddenly felt a bit superfluous.

It had only been one night!

How had these two become so familiar, as if they’d known each other for years? Their discussion of cultivation techniques was so seamless.

Women’s hearts are indeed unfathomable as the deep sea.

“Daoist Su,” Lin Feixue suddenly turned to him, “I heard from Miss Liu that you have several foundation-establishing pills?”

“Oh, yes,” Su Haoming snapped back to attention. “Three pills, all of good quality.”

“Such pills are rare. May I ask where you obtained them?” Lin Feixue sipped her tea delicately, directing the question to Su Haoming.

His heart skipped a beat, but he kept his expression calm and replied with a prepared evasive answer: “It’s a long story—an unexpected opportunity with a complicated process, not convenient to explain in detail.”

Such vague replies were common in the cultivation world; everyone had their secret encounters.

Lin Feixue did not press further but set down her cup a bit more slowly.

Liu Ruoxi sat composed, seemingly having anticipated this answer. She appeared unimpressed by the usual stock response but chose not to expose it.

“In that case,” Liu Ruoxi took the lead again, turning to Lin Feixue, “let’s proceed as agreed yesterday: each of us takes one pill, and the remaining one stays with Daoist Su.”

Lin Feixue nodded softly, “Agreed.”

She paused, as if weighing her words, then continued, “However, I have a suggestion, though I’m not sure if it’s appropriate to mention.”

“Feel free to speak, Miss Lin,” Liu Ruoxi encouraged.

“Why don’t the three of us form a cultivation alliance?” Lin Feixue proposed calmly. “We can assist each other and advance together.”

“A cultivation alliance?” Su Haoming was stunned—this was moving fast.

“Yes,” Lin Feixue explained. “Though I’m affiliated with the Golden Spirit Sect, as you know, it’s just a small gathering of scattered cultivators, lacking discipline and resources. I can come here often to cultivate the Ice Soul Heart Classic and Cold Ice Sword Manual with Miss Liu. They complement each other well.”

Turning to Su Haoming, she added, “As for Daoist Su...”

He suddenly felt like the subject of scrutiny.

“Although your cultivation isn’t high,” Lin Feixue said evenly, neither praising nor criticizing, “you seem quite fortunate. Perhaps you can assist us in other ways, such as acquiring special cultivation resources.”

Special cultivation resources?

Su Haoming’s heart leapt with joy.

He understood! They admired his “financial power”—no, his “resource integration ability”!

Perfect! With two Daoist partners teaming up, and him as the middleman (strike that) system host, the rebates would surely be doubly rewarding.

This was a win-win, or rather, a triple win!

“I have no objections! Absolutely none!” he declared immediately, fearing they might change their minds.

“Then it’s settled.” Liu Ruoxi nodded firmly.

She then pulled a small jade-green vial from her bosom and handed it to Lin Feixue. “This is a pill I refined last night. It might help meld our cultivation methods. Please give it a try.”

Lin Feixue accepted the vial, uncorked it, and a crisp chill mixed with a faint herbal fragrance wafted out. She brought it close to her nose, and for once, a rare look of surprise crossed her cool face.

“This is... the Cold Marrow Pill?”

“Exactly,” Liu Ruoxi nodded slightly. “I modified the original recipe by adding some Ice Crystal Grass and Moonlight Dew. It should suit your Ice Spirit root constitution better.”

Lin Feixue looked at Liu Ruoxi, genuinely astonished this time. “Miss Liu, you actually excel in pill refining?”

Liu Ruoxi’s tone remained composed. “I know a little. Didn’t Su Haoming give me some spirit stones? I had some spare time, so I bought materials to practice pill refining again, lest my skills get rusty.”

Su Haoming nearly dropped his jaw.

Good heavens! Liu Ruoxi was also a pill master? She’d been hiding her talents well! Such skill points were truly impressive!