Suddenly remembering the group outing they’d discussed recently, Xu Ziqi turned to Yan Yu and asked, “Hey, about that team-building activity—I’ve been doing part-time work outside lately, so I’m not sure about the date.”
After a moment’s thought, Yan Yu quickly confirmed, “Yeah, we’re going hiking this Saturday.”
“Really? If it’s Saturday, I’ll need to adjust my schedule. Otherwise, I won’t be able to make it.”
Once Yan Yu answered, Xu Ziqi muttered to herself, mentally reviewing her part-time shifts for the week and realizing she’d need to rearrange things.
Meanwhile, Wu Yan lay sprawled on her bed, wearing pajamas and a face mask that accentuated her figure. Overhearing the conversation, she chimed in, equally unsure about the outing’s details. “Are we climbing Qingxu Mountain? The one next to us?”
Before the others could respond, Zhou Jiamin—seated diagonally across from Wu Yan in adorable pajamas, engrossed in a novel—answered without looking up, “Yeah, the one with Qingxu Temple at the summit.”
Wu Yan nodded. “Oh, so it really is Qingxu Mountain. Got it, thanks!”
Zhou Jiamin simply hummed in acknowledgment before refocusing on her book.
Xu Ziqi, who had never visited Qingxu Temple but had heard about its famous blessings, turned away from her homework and asked her roommates, “I heard the temple’s protective charms are really effective—is that true?”
Wu Yan replied, “Probably. Every weekend, tons of people go there to pray for blessings or give thanks.”
“If that’s the case, I should get a few charms this Saturday.”
Curious, Wu Yan asked, “Why the sudden interest?”
Xu Ziqi sighed. “With the world going through such massive, unprecedented changes, I want to give them to my parents. I just hope they can stay safe through all this chaos.”
“Ah, that makes sense. No wonder you—someone who’s always chasing money and slacking on studies—suddenly care about temple charms.”
Listening to their exchange, Yan Yu thought of her own family back home—her parents and younger sister, who had barely survived a disaster a few days ago thanks to the help of a mysterious supernatural being.
A contemplative look crossed her face as she wondered if she, too, should take this chance to pray for her family’s safety at Qingxu Temple.
The Next Morning
Long before her usual wake-up time, Yan Qi—determined to train and strengthen her true body’s power—rose early.
Still in her pajamas, she sat cross-legged on her bed, absorbing the surrounding spiritual energy. Only when her alarm finally rang at dawn did she end her morning cultivation session.
“Sigh… That’s enough for today. Time to get up and go for a test run.”
Stretching, she climbed out of bed, washed up, and changed. After a few minutes of preparation, she gave herself a quick once-over in the mirror—satisfied that she looked presentable—then headed downstairs.
“Xiao Qi, you’re up so early today?” Li Caifeng, still groggy from sleep, blinked in surprise at her daughter.
“I’m going for a run,” Yan Qi replied.
“Oh? That’s good! Just don’t go too far, okay?”
“Got it.”
After lacing up her sneakers, Yan Qi stepped outside. Taking a deep breath, she began a slow jog down the still-empty street.
Five minutes in, feeling no fatigue, she gradually increased her pace.
She kept pushing herself, speeding up bit by bit, until—half an hour later—her body finally protested. Slowing to a stop, she checked her phone.
A grin spread across her face. “New personal record.”
“The cultivation method I modified after becoming the Daoist Empress is no joke. Even though I’ve only trained for seven hours and haven’t condensed a trace of true qi yet, my physical abilities have already improved dramatically. If this keeps up, even without magic, my enhanced body alone will be enough to handle most dangers.”
Glancing at the rising sun, she turned back, ready to jog home.
“Hmm… Should I give this cultivation technique a name?”
As she ran, inspiration struck.
“How about… Spiritual Vortex Technique? Simple, direct, and to the point.”
Pleased with the decision, she hummed a little tune she’d made up and continued on her way.