It was like a fierce, merciless beast, newly arrived in strange territory and unable to restrain its nature, wanting to fight and kill. However, the “Silk Extraction” technique cleverly confined it, allowing only a tiny portion to emerge from the sea of energy before gently soothing it.

Gradually, this fierce beast calmed down, finally transforming bit by bit into spiritual energy as fine as gossamer threads. Under Feng Miaojun’s guidance, it slowly squeezed into her meridians and began flowing throughout her body with her blood.

Its qualities were peculiar—sometimes cold as ice, frosting her eyebrows even in August, sometimes hot as fire, her skin burning enough to cook eggs. Moreover, these temperature changes happened in an instant, leaving her no transitional space.

Even though this power didn’t deliberately harm her, her blood vessels couldn’t withstand such rapid expansion and contraction. After struggling through one cycle, she quickly ceased her practice.

The spiritual energy retreated to her dantian, slipping through the mark and vanishing without a trace. Feng Miaojun knew it had returned to its true master.

She rolled off the bed, her body completely soaked, even the meditation mat drenched with sweat.

Feng Miaojun covered her face, laughing silently.

But halfway through her laughter, tears began to flow.

After countless hardships, she had finally found a path to survival in this strange world. She could cultivate, she could become stronger, and she had the opportunity to walk this war-torn land without fearing sudden calamities!

The freedom she had longed for had finally extended an olive branch to her.

As long as Yun Ya lived, as long as Yun Ya remained powerful, she too could grow stronger day by day.

For this man, she felt an inexplicable confidence.

In the Wei Kingdom, at the State Preceptor’s Residence.

Xiao Yan had just finished lunch there and was discussing with Yun Ya how this year’s torrential rains might lead to grain shortages when he suddenly saw the man’s expression darken.

The two were walking in the back garden when Yun Ya produced a pebble from somewhere and flicked it out. A sharp “squeak” came from the bushes, followed by silence.

Xiao Yan was puzzled: “What’s wrong?”

“A rat!” The usual calm and detachment on Yun Ya’s handsome face had disappeared, replaced by a faint killing intent.

It happened again! That previous time certainly wasn’t an illusion.

“…” The Great State Preceptor wasn’t a cat, so why would he want to kill a rat on sight? Xiao Yan couldn’t help scratching the back of his head.

The next day, Feng Miaojun, breaking with tradition, didn’t go to Smoke Sea Tower. Instead, she put on a spring-green summer dress and took Chen Dachang out with her.

After three months of diligent cultivation, her days had been particularly fulfilling, but one thing seemed less abundant:

Her purse.

When she first arrived in Caixing City, she had received rewards from the Prince of Jin and gifts from various nobles, making her quite wealthy. After the lake shark incident, the Prince of Jin had investigated the whole matter and, although Princess Hanyue had encountered danger because of her, it wasn’t Feng Miaojun’s intention, and she had helped save her afterward, so he had rewarded her again.

With these accumulated riches, Feng Miaojun had enough wealth to allow a middle-class family to live comfortably for two or three generations. But the problem was that she still aspired to cultivate.

The medicinal herbs she used were all expensive. The cheapest, red-blue flower, had blood-activating effects but was rare and difficult to collect. In apothecaries, half a qian’s weight sold for three taels of silver, and she used a whole jin for each medicinal bath. The other fifteen herbs were all more expensive than the red-blue flower, not counting the paste she took orally…

After more than sixty days, her spending wasn’t just like flowing water—it was a waterfall.

Reducing expenses was impossible; cultivation itself was a money-burning profession. As the saying goes, “Wealth, companions, methods, and place”—wealth being listed first for good reason. So now she needed to think about increasing her income.

It was nearing autumn, but the summer heat hadn’t subsided, and people on the streets still wore light clothes and short shirts. Caixing City was filled with tall buildings and prosperous markets. Even ordinary people wore garments more colorful than those in the Wei Kingdom or her original An Xia. Wealthy young men often paraded through the streets in fine clothes on spirited horses.

She walked and browsed, enjoying the sights, with Chen Dachang following close behind. More than three months had passed since the lake shark incident, and Feng Miaojun had spared no expense in providing good medicine for him, so Chen Dachang’s injuries had mostly healed.

Today, Feng Miaojun had other plans and hadn’t brought her secret guards. The task of protecting her fell solely on Chen Dachang, making him extra vigilant. Although that incident was in the past, and the Prime Minister’s residence no longer planned to abduct Feng Miaojun, weren’t there always kidnappers in such large cities? They were skilled at using sleight of hand to lure children, and his young miss wasn’t yet twelve years old and looked so delicate and adorable—what if she were kidnapped?

Unaware of his concerns, Feng Miaojun took him around the most prosperous central street in the eastern district. Time passed quickly; she had been in the Jin capital for just over a hundred days, and there were always new things to see. The nobles of Jin should no longer be interested in the State Preceptor’s new disciple, so she had waited until now to go out boldly, not worrying about being followed.

After touring around and getting a sense of the place, she pointed to a large-fronted restaurant and said, “Let’s go in for some tea.”

This restaurant was at the end of the street with a large sign that read “Immortal Prospect Tower,” standing alone. It was just past nine in the morning, after breakfast time, but early market meals were still available. As Feng Miaojun and Chen Dachang entered, they saw the main hall was spacious, fitting at least fifty tables, with one-third already occupied, indicating good regular business.

“A private room,” said the waiter who approached. Chen Dachang tossed out some silver, and the two were led to a lakeside private room. Feng Miaojun first ordered a plate of cooked water chestnuts to peel slowly, then asked the waiter, “Do you have lotus root powder?”

“Yes, yes, all freshly ground from lotus roots, with yesterday’s newly preserved sugared osmanthus!”

“I’ll have a bowl.” She then ordered a bowl of fish ball noodles, two flower rolls, and a dish of stir-fried eggs with ground immortal seedlings.

“G-ground immortal seedlings?” The waiter had never heard of this.

“Just tell the kitchen; they’ll know,” Feng Miaojun waved her hand. “And a plate of deep-fried eel segments with basil.”

The waiter couldn’t help looking back at the menu hanging at the counter—they didn’t have these items. This young miss had quite demanding requests. Basil? Did they need to buy it from an apothecary?

Feng Miaojun noticed Chen Dachang sitting at a table opposite the private room and pointed at him: “The same for him!”

Goodness, the waiter’s eyes widened. Eating here wasn’t as economical as at outside eateries, but each flower roll was the size of his fist, substantial with flour. What she ordered could feed at least three little girls, yet it was just for her?

But the one who pays is the boss, and the rest wasn’t his business. He nodded and went down.