Laugh bubbled from her lips, shaky but euphoric. She leapt to her feet, staggering only slightly before realizing—her exhaustion was gone. Instead, her body hummed with vigor, her mind sharper than it had ever been.
Her reflection in the mirror stole her breath.
Her cheeks glowed with a natural blush, her lips fuller, her skin smoother, like porcelain, her figure more slender and curvy. Every curve was more pronounced, yet balanced with slender elegance. Her hair shimmered faintly under the light, silky and lush.
She raised a trembling hand to her cheek. "This… this is me?"
It was more than beauty. It was power.
On instinct, she darted forward—and before she realized what had happened, she was already standing on the balcony, wind slapping her face. Her eyes widened.
She had crossed the room in less than a blink.
Her chest swelled with exhilaration. She laughed softly, breathless, giddy.
Again.
This time, she willed the energy to her legs deliberately. She focused, guiding it with her consciousness. Her body blurred—and in an instant, she was standing at the opposite end of the balcony.
A rush of delight flooded her.
This was speed at the first level. With training, she could cross entire cities in minutes.
But it wasn't only speed. She stilled, inhaling deeply. Her senses tingled. She could hear—the faint flutter of wings from a bird roosting in the estate's gardens far below, the distant trickle of water from the fountain.
Not divine sense. That was still far away. But the path had opened.
Her eyes landed on the jade bottle beside her pillow. The Memory Pills.
Her fingers hovered above it before she finally picked one up. The small pearl-like pill gleamed softly under the moonlight.
"If the Chi Pill remade my body," she murmured, "then this…"
She swallowed it.
The effect was immediate.
Her mind expanded. A wave of clarity burst forth, sharper than any blade. Suddenly, her memories—the teachers' lectures she had half-forgotten, the words from every textbook she'd read, even the street signs she had passed absentmindedly—flashed before her eyes, crystal clear.
She gasped, clutching her temples.
It wasn't just memory. It was understanding. Concepts that had once seemed impossible now unraveled with ease, their logic laid bare. She flipped open a random notebook, eyes scanning the messy formulas she had once struggled to grasp. In seconds, they fell into perfect order, every detail shining with obvious meaning.
Her lips curled slowly.
So this was what it felt like to be a genius. She no longer had to study hard from now on, a glance was just enough. She giggled with excitement.
The first rays of dawn spilled across the balcony, painting her in pale gold. After taking her bath, she sat quietly on the lounge chair, a cup of tea warming her hands. The night's chaos had settled into a steady calm inside her chest.
She wasn't just Su Ning anymore. She was stronger. Smarter. Reborn.
Su Ning descended the grand staircase dressed in her new uniform, tailored perfectly to her slender frame. The skirt rested just at her mid thigh, elegant. She wore a nice looking designer shoes, and an understated yet luxurious jade pendant around her neck.
Every detail radiated understated wealth and grace. Her hair, silky black, had been brushed until it gleamed like polished obsidian, and her skin—after yesterday's cultivation—looked porcelain-smooth, carrying a natural glow.
Although she hadn't slept all through the night, she felt energized.
Uncle Li, the elderly driver assigned by Fengshang Estate, was already waiting outside. A man in his late fifties with neatly combed silver hair, he stood ramrod straight in his dark suit. When Su Ning appeared, he bowed slightly, his eyes brimming with respect.
"Miss Su," he greeted warmly. His voice carried the practiced steadiness of someone who had served elites for decades. "The car is ready. It is an honor to be at your service."
Su Ning gave a faint nod, giving him the car key, her expression calm but not cold. "Thank you, Uncle Li. Let's head out."
The sleek, limited-edition BMW 7.0 polished until it reflected the morning sky waited by the gate. Its engine purred softly, a beast leashed under her command. Uncle Li held the door open for her with the reverence of someone serving royalty.
Inside, Su Ning leaned back against the leather seat, her jade necklace catching the sunlight. In her hands, she absentmindedly twirled a pen, her mind already half-immersed in the cultivation manual etched into her memory.
As the car glided out of Fengshang Estate, Su Ning allowed herself a faint smile.