Inside the inner sect of Lingyun Sect, perfume quietly began to rise in popularity.
As it spread, subtle changes also started taking place throughout the sect.
The once dull sect robes, now paired with various scents and the figures of female disciples, took on a different charm.
When the women walked through the sect, they often drew curious glances. For many of them, it was the first time they had ever experienced such attention. They felt proud.
Each night, soft chatter could be heard all around the sect. Many of these conversations were filled with praise and discussions about perfume.
Some girls would excitedly share their newest scents, describing their unique fragrances and the stories behind them, sparking surprised gasps.
Others would sigh in regret that they couldn't get the scent they wanted.
The perfume culture slowly began to take root among the female cultivators.
Even Cheng Qian, who had recently been spending most of his time fishing outside, couldn't ignore it. Walking through the outer sect, he would often catch a whiff of fragrance in the air.
Some were light and refreshing, like a breeze through the mountains.
Some were deep and rich, like aged immortal wine.
Some even carried a faint ripple of spiritual energy, enough to clear the mind and boost one's spirit.
'That must be the premium version made from spiritual flowers.'
He hadn't expected there to be such wealthy female cultivators in the outer sect.
'Rich. Very rich.'
The rapid spread of perfume was closely tied to a few top female disciples in the inner sect.
These women were usually apprentices of Foundation Establishment cultivators. Since they wore perfume, of course they would gift some to their masters.
Even the male masters had to give some to their wives.
Perfume began to spread among the middle and higher levels of the sect.
When those at the top showed interest, the rest naturally followed.
During lectures or work assignments, those below would use perfume as a topic to flatter the higher-ups.
That gave perfume a social function. Its spread became inevitable.
To many who had never encountered perfume before, it felt like a key that opened the door to a new world.
Thanks to Xu Luoshui's clever marketing, the female cultivators experienced—for the first time—something refined and beautiful beyond cultivation.
Some had even fallen completely into it. Perfume became an emotional anchor, giving them a kind of confidence they had never known.
In this world of fragrance, talent and cultivation level didn't matter. What mattered was their ability to explain its meanings, to tell tragic and touching stories that others eagerly listened to.
Then, surrounded by the admiration of juniors and peers, they basked in a feeling of glory.
Cheng Qian arrived at his usual fishing spot. It was a small river formed by the streams of the outer sect peaks.
"Hey, Fellow Daoist. You're here."
"Good morning. How's the haul today?"
"Hahaha, luck's on my side. Pretty good."
Cheng Qian leaned forward to look into the basket.
'Seriously? A single fish, and you're acting like you struck gold?'
He cast his line and started fishing.
More than half a day passed. Not even a tiny fish bit.
'Seven days in a row with nothing? These fish in the cultivation world are too smart.'
Or maybe it was the fault of the guy fishing beside him.
"Fellow Daoist, can you not sigh so much?"
"I can't help it. I've got a mission tomorrow, and it's weighing on me."
"I thought you already finished your missions for the year?"
"Don't even bring it up. Somehow my dao companion back home heard about some kind of perfume. Now she insists on buying a few bottles. Eighty spirit stones each. What can I do? Gotta go earn more stones."
Cheng Qian didn't respond. After all, this whole thing had started because of him.
He gave a silent cheer instead. 'Hang in there, brother. Make more spirit stones for your wife.'
It was just like playing the stock market. When everyone around you starts talking about how much they made…
When even the cleaning lady starts giving stock tips…
That's when you should be getting out.
He hadn't expected perfume to spread this fast. In less than half a year, it had taken over the sect.
The market was nearing saturation. If they didn't take the next step, the numbers behind his joint venture with the Yu family wouldn't look great. And when the story behind it lost its shine, the appeal would fade fast.
As night fell, the riverside slowly emptied of fellow anglers.
Most people came here just to relax when they had spare time. But Cheng Qian was now a free man in the outer sect, so he could afford to treat fishing like something serious.
Even though his clone had found him a cultivation technique, his progress was still painfully slow without restoring his origin essence.
So he figured he might as well enjoy life.
All the suffering—let the clone handle it. If he still had to live a hard life even with a clone, what was the point of having one?
With his trash-level talent, the only way he could change his fate was with spirit stones.
******
On the other side, Xu Luoshui slowly opened her eyes in her cave dwelling.
All around her lay grayish-white ash, the kind that only appeared when spirit stones had been fully used up.
She had reached the fourth layer of Qi Refining.
Eight thousand spirit stones.
It was fast. But it was also incredibly expensive.
During this period of on-and-off seclusion, not only had the perfume business exploded, but her connection with Yu Dazhi had grown a lot closer.
After all, she still had to make all kinds of essential oils from different flowers. Back and forth, their relationship deepened, or at least Yu Dazhi felt that way.
In truth, everything was intentional on Xu Luoshui's part.
Senior Brother Xiao had recently gone into seclusion to break through to Foundation Establishment. Senior Brother Liu had grown closer to her too.
But none of that really mattered. With Yu Dazhi, there were actual interests involved. And she had not forgotten what the Yu family had done.
Unless she dropped a thunderbolt big enough to blow them to pieces, her heart wouldn't be satisfied.
Xu Luoshui emerged from seclusion again, disappearing from public view for more than half a year.
She wore a custom outfit tailored by herself. On her legs were white silk stockings made from heavenly silkworm thread, designed for cultivators. Her heels tapped crisply on the ground as she walked.
Her sweet bun hairstyle swayed gently as she moved, leaving a trail of fragrance behind. Disciples she passed couldn't take their eyes off her.
Innocent and cute, mixed with something strangely seductive—all in one person. It was a contradiction most inner disciples had never seen before.
Her skirt reached just to her knees. As her legs crossed with each step, it was like a black hole pulling in every gaze around her.
She made her way to the inner sect's busiest market. Under a storm of stares, she walked up to the second floor of the Yu family's store.
The shopkeeper didn't even dare look at her. He kept his head down.
Xu Luoshui sat on the chair, elegantly crossing her legs. Her silk-covered foot playfully nudged her heel.
"Go. Call Yu Dazhi for me. And bring the account books. I want to see them."
"Yes, ma'am."
No one in the shop dared cross this 'fairy.' She was one of the owners behind the perfume business and a direct disciple of Ancestor Haoyu.
Some even whispered that she was the future dao companion of Yu Dazhi, the prodigy of the Yu family. Possibly the next matriarch.
Xu Luoshui glanced at her silk stockings with a slight frown. 'Still not good enough. Not tight enough. I will have to ask the senior sisters to help me find better materials.'
As she walked through the market, most people couldn't take their eyes off her. They had ever seen this kind of bold, striking outfit before. It was fresh, daring, and stirred something deep inside.
Of course, there were still some cultivators who weren't moved by appearances. They noticed something else—her cultivation.
In just half a year, she had reached the fourth layer of Qi Refining.
Her looks and outfits were already being talked about endlessly among lower and mid-tier inner disciples. But her cultivation level was now spreading among the top-tier ones, and even reached the ears of some Foundation Establishment elders.
******
Meanwhile, Xiao Wenchuan, who had just advanced to Foundation Establishment, quietly left his place of seclusion and went to visit his master.
He was different now. Stronger, with a new status. And his ambition had grown with it.
"Master, I, Xiao Wenchuan, have returned after completing my breakthrough."
"Good, very good. Here, this is the spiritual weapon I prepared for you. Refine it as soon as you can."
"Thank you, Master. There's one more thing I'd like your guidance on."
"Speak."
"Master, I want to ask for your help in becoming dao companion with Junior Sister Luoshui. Would you be willing to speak to Ancestor Haoyu for me?"
"I've had that thought too. But... the timing isn't right."
"The timing?"
"You need to go into seclusion again. Refine the spiritual weapon. You only have one year."
He looked at the disciple he had raised since childhood.
"Ah... I didn't plan to tell you this so soon, but the Monster Beasts are coming again."
In the Tianyan Domain, monster beasts were once again approaching the borders.
All Foundation Establishment cultivators would be sent to the frontlines.