Chapter 3: The Spirit Runemaster & The Bathing Beauty
Mist Cloud City. Myriad Treasure Pavilion.
Jiang Yi sat in his study, browsing through the vast library of knowledge in his mind.
"Alchemy..."
Since breaking through to the Sky Spirit Realm, he wanted to utilize his System Reward: Master-Tier Alchemy Knowledge.
He had the theory, the recipes, and the techniques perfectly memorized. But he lacked one crucial thing: Fire.
"To refine pills, one needs a 'True Fire.' Usually, only experts at the Spirit Core Realm (Yuan Dan) can manifest fire from their own Qi. I'm not there yet."
Jiang Yi tapped his finger on the desk, frowning. "How can I get a flame strong enough for alchemy without waiting years to level up?"
Suddenly, a memory flashed in his mind.
"Right! Spirit Runemasters!"
In this world, besides Martial Artists, there was another noble profession: Spirit Runemasters. They cultivated Mental Energy instead of Qi. They could inscribe runes to summon wind, lightning, and... Fire.
"If I become a Runemaster, I can use a 'Flame Rune' to heat the furnace. It offers even better control than raw Qi."
Jiang Yi stood up and rummaged through an old dusty chest in the corner of the room. He pulled out a tattered yellow book.
[Divine Sense Scripture]
Three years ago, Jiang Yi had begged Grandmaster Gu, the most famous Runemaster in Mist Cloud City, to accept him as a disciple. Grandmaster Gu had tested him, shook his head, and called him "talentless trash."
However, out of pity, the old man had tossed him this basic manual before kicking him out.
Back then, Jiang Yi couldn't understand a single word of it. It was like reading a heavenly script.
"But things are different now."
Jiang Yi smirked, opening the book. His Peak Comprehension (System Reward) activated instantly.
" The Spirit is the root, the Mind is the blade. Visualize the void, and the Spirit Sea shall open..."
The obscure sentences that once gave him a headache now flowed like clear water. He understood the essence instantly.
He sat cross-legged and closed his eyes.
Ten minutes passed.
Buzz.
A strange, invisible vibration hummed in the air.
Jiang Yi felt a cool sensation in the center of his forehead. A wisp of invisible energy—Mental Energy—seeped out. It didn't use his eyes, yet he could "see."
He pushed the energy outward. It passed through the roof, floating into the sky.
"Incredible..."
From this "God's Eye View," he saw the entire Myriad Treasure Pavilion manor. He saw servants carrying trays, guards slacking off, ants crawling on the ground. No one noticed his invisible gaze.
"With this, I can spy on enemies... or see through walls. It's a god-tier skill."
His thoughts wandered, and his Mental Energy drifted toward the inner courtyard—the Master Bedroom.
Steam was rising from the window.
Inside, a figure was stepping into a wooden bathtub filled with rose petals. The steam blurred the view, but the ivory skin and voluptuous curves were unmistakable.
It was his wife, Lady Ruoyan.
She was currently a Spirit Core Realm expert—a full realm higher than him.
Just as Jiang Yi's "gaze" lingered on her collarbone, Ruoyan's eyes snapped open.
"Who is spying on me?!"
BOOM!
A terrifying aura of a Spirit Core expert erupted from the bathroom. Her Qi slammed into Jiang Yi's invisible Mental Energy, shattering it instantly.
"Ugh!"
In the study, Jiang Yi groaned, holding his head. The connection was broken.
"Crap. She's sharp."
Before he could recover, the door to his study was kicked open. A wet, towel-wrapped, and very angry Lady Ruoyan stormed in.
"Which rat dares to—" She froze when she saw Jiang Yi rubbing his temples. "Husband? Was that... you?"
Jiang Yi looked up, grinning sheepishly. "Sister Ruoyan, don't be mad. I just learned the Divine Sense Scripture and... uh... lost control of the range."
"You learned it?" Ruoyan's eyes widened in shock. "Grandmaster Gu said you had zero talent for Mental Energy."
"Maybe I'm a late bloomer," Jiang Yi stood up and walked toward her. The towel she wore was slipping slightly, revealing the creamy skin of her shoulder. "Besides, I wasn't spying. I was just... admiring my property."
Ruoyan blushed, her anger vanishing. "You little villain... you almost gave me a heart attack."
Jiang Yi pulled her into his arms, ignoring the dampness of her skin. "I was interrupted. How about I help you finish washing?"
"You just want to take advantage of me..."
"Is it working?"
"Yes..."
...
Half a Month Later.
For two weeks, Ruoyan used her authority to buy piles of "Soul Nourishing Herbs" for Jiang Yi. With the resources of the wealthy Pavilion and his cheat-like comprehension, his progress was terrifying.
Crack.
In the training yard, a crisp sound echoed inside Jiang Yi's skull.
Pain shot through his head, followed by a rush of coolness. The barrier in his mind—the Spirit Sea—had shattered wide open.
Whoosh!
Invisible Mental Energy erupted from his forehead like a tsunami.
"Break!"
Jiang Yi stared at a massive stone lion statue ten meters away. He didn't move a muscle. He simply willed it.
BANG!
The solid stone statue exploded into dust, as if hit by a giant invisible hammer.
The shockwave shook the nearby trees, causing leaves to rain down.
Jiang Yi took a deep breath, retracting the energy.
"Scary," he muttered, smiling. "This power is invisible and instant. If I use this in a fight, I could crush a Sky Spirit expert's brain before they even draw their sword."
He clenched his fist.
"Now my Spirit Sea is open. I have the power, but I lack the technique. I need to learn how to condense a Natal Rune to truly become a Spirit Runemaster."
He looked toward the north of the city.
"Grandmaster Gu... last time you called me trash and kicked me out. I wonder what face you'll make when I visit you today?"
Jiang Yi adjusted his robes.
"Also, I heard the City Lord's daughter, Lady Zi Ling, is currently studying under him."
A wicked glint appeared in his eyes.
"System says I need more Goddesses. I think it's time to meet her."