After returning to Seven Stars Peak, Lin Shimeng did not go back to her room to rest or cultivate, but instead lay down on the rocking chair that Qin Xiao usually used.
At this time, there was no one in the courtyard. Qin Xiao and Yun Man should have both returned to their rooms to cultivate.
"Sigh, what exactly is wrong with me? Why do I care about his opinion? What would happen if I told Father? I believe Father definitely would not covet his resources. Sigh, I won't think about it anymore."
Lin Shimeng looked up at the starry sky, sighing with emotion. Perhaps she was truly tired, or perhaps she simply did not want to dwell on it, but slowly, she actually fell asleep.
When she woke up the next day, Lin Shimeng discovered that a coat was draped over her body.
There was no need to guess; it must have been Qin Xiao. Having cultivated to her realm, one naturally would not catch a cold. Only Qin Xiao, who could not cultivate, would think that cultivators were susceptible to such things.
Lin Shimeng was somewhat surprised. Generally, cultivators would never fall into such a deep sleep; even during rest, they retained an awareness of their surroundings. Yet when Qin Xiao draped the coat over her, she had not woken up at all.
Either she was utterly exhausted and had fallen into a profound slumber, or deep down, she did not resist Qin Xiao's presence, which was why her guard had been down.
"Disciple, you're awake. I saw you were asleep, so I didn't disturb you. You must have been exhausted from the long journey. If you want to sleep, go back to your own room."
Qin Xiao's Body Refinement had already broken through to the fourth layer, so he no longer needed to spend every moment in grueling cultivation. From time to time, he liked to stroll around the courtyard. The previous night, he had happened to see Lin Shimeng sleeping and instinctively fetched a coat to cover her.
"Thank you, Master. I don't need to rest. I must hurry and cultivate, or I truly won't be able to keep up with Yun Man. I'll return to my room first."
Not knowing how to face Qin Xiao, Lin Shimeng hurriedly offered her farewells.
Not long after, a disciple arrived at Seven Stars Peak.
"Uncle Qin, this is an invitation from the City Lord Manor, requesting your presence at a banquet tonight."
Qin Xiao opened the courtyard gate and saw that the messenger disciple indeed held an invitation.
"The City Lord behind this wouldn't happen to be Tan Wang, would it?"
Qin Xiao asked, looking somewhat perplexed.
"Replying to Uncle, it was indeed sent by City Lord Tan."
Seeing Qin Xiao's confusion, the disciple quickly answered.
"Very well, leave it here and you may return."
Qin Xiao took the invitation with a bewildered expression.
In his memory, he had no real interactions with Tan Wang. If forced to name one, it was that auction where he had snatched the Heart-Protecting Turtle Shell. Why on earth would the man invite him to a banquet?
Speaking of the Heart-Protecting Turtle Shell, Qin Xiao felt immensely grateful. Fortunately, he had managed to secure it back then, as it had already saved his life on several occasions.
Qin Xiao returned to his reclining chair and broke the seal on the invitation. Inside were polite pleasantries, claiming that a junior in the family greatly admired him and wished to offer formal respects, inviting him to grace them with his presence for a meal regardless of whether an apprenticeship came of it.
"Has Tan Wang lost his mind? Or is there some other motive behind this nonsense about family juniors admiring me and wanting to study under me?"
Lounging in his chair, Qin Xiao turned the matter over in his mind, yet found no logical explanation for Tan Wang's sudden hospitality.
More importantly, back at the auction house, Tan Wang had been closely associated with the Li Family Ancestor, even sharing a Private Room with him.
With that realization, the truth dawned on him. A Hongmen Banquet-this was undeniably a trap set to avenge the Li Family.
"That won't do either. If I go, it's a trap, but if I refuse outright, I offend the man openly. I've only just offended one City Lord, and now I'm to offend another right after returning? That's hardly ideal."
For a moment, Qin Xiao found himself in a difficult position. Forget about trying to rely on the Supreme Heavenly Dynasty; in this short span of time, he had already managed to cross paths with several high-ranking officials.
"Master, what's wrong? Why are you frowning so deeply?"
Yun Man, having finished her night of cultivation, stepped out into the courtyard for some fresh air and happened to catch sight of Qin Xiao's troubled expression.
"Disciple, tell me, is there a way to turn down an invitation without offending the other party?"
Helpless, Qin Xiao could only consult her.
"Turn down what?"
Yun Man blinked, entirely baffled by the sudden question.
"Well, look at this. Tan Wang invited me to a banquet tonight. I have no desire to go, but I also don't wish to provoke him needlessly right now. Do you have any ideas?"
Qin Xiao handed the invitation directly to her.
"Is that all? Simple. Just claim you've had a sudden epiphany and need to enter Secluded Cultivation-long-term Secluded Cultivation at that. Activate the Formation immediately; as long as you don't step outside, he can only assume you're genuinely in seclusion. Is a meal more important than cultivation? If he holds a grudge just because you were delayed by an epiphany, then whether you went or not wouldn't have made a difference; he would have been offended either way."
Yun Man viewed the problem practically: if one did not wish to go, seclusion was the universal answer. After all, enlightenment was unpredictable and could strike at any moment, necessitating closed-door cultivation.
"There's truth in that. In any case, my relationship with him was never good to begin with, and this is most likely a trap. Secluded Cultivation it is-major Secluded Cultivation!"
Prompted by Yun Man's words, Qin Xiao saw the light. Once the Formation was raised and he declared seclusion, he would be entirely free from such social entanglements.
Without delay, Qin Xiao found a piece of wood in the courtyard and carved eight bold characters onto its surface: Sudden epiphany, two months of Secluded Cultivation.
He placed the wooden board squarely at the entrance, activated the Formation, and dismissed all external concerns.
"Master, what is the meaning of this? Why did you suddenly activate the Formation again?"
The activation of the protective barrier drew Lin Shimeng out of her room to investigate.
"Here is the situation. The competition for entry into Spirit Medicine Valley is only two months away, so I have decided that Seven Stars Peak will enter long-term Secluded Cultivation for these two months. During this period, no one is permitted to leave or enter. I am now assigning your objectives."
Seeing that Lin Shimeng had emerged, Qin Xiao addressed them both directly.
"What? Long-term Secluded Cultivation?"
Lin Shimeng stared in bewilderment. Why such an abrupt decision?
"This is my decision as your master, and as disciples, you need only follow it. From now until we emerge, Spirit Liquid will be supplied without restriction. My expectation for both of you is to break through to the mid Nascent Soul stage. Are you confident?"
Since he was locking himself away for two months, he naturally wanted to see his disciples make a tangible breakthrough.
At the Nascent Soul stage, progress was naturally slower than before, but with an unlimited supply of resources for two months, advancing a minor realm was hardly an unreasonable demand.
"Master, I have confidence. It won't even take two months."
Yun Man agreed readily without a second thought.
Seeing Yun Man accept so easily, Lin Shimeng felt compelled not to fall behind, though inwardly she felt rather dubious. Advancing a minor realm within Nascent Soul in a mere two months was something she had never even dared to imagine.
"Good. Since you both have confidence, return to your chambers and begin. Remember, resources are not an issue; use whatever you require. I may be temporarily short on Spirit Stones, but Spirit Liquid is inexhaustible here. Take as much as you can utilize."
Having depleted his reserves on treatment, Qin Xiao's stock of High Grade and Middle Grade Spirit Stones had been exhausted, along with his previous stores of Spirit Liquid. However, the daily accumulation was more than enough to sustain their modest consumption indefinitely.
Meanwhile, upon receiving the report from his surveillance disciple, Grand Elder Yao Tiansheng was consumed by fury.
"Impudent brat, retreating into Secluded Cultivation immediately, are you? Very well. I'll let you keep your head for two more months. The moment you step outside the Sect, there will be countless ways to dispose of you."
Yao Tiansheng glared into the distance, utterly enraged at the missed opportunity.