Exiting the meditation chamber, Tang Xi was greeted by a young servant who waited patiently outside. Upon notig her mistress emerge, the servant quickly bowed in a respectful greeting but couldn't hide her look of astonishment at the imposing aura Tang Xi exuded. Her retly advanced level was evident to ah a cultivator's perception.Still adjusting to the sensation of adva, Tang Xi gazed at the servant calmly but curiously.

  — "How long was I in the meditation chamber? And where are my father and Ah Tao?" — she asked, her voice calm yet imbued with authority.

  The servant lifted her face, still somewhat overwhelmed by the pressure of the new aura.— "Miss, you've been in the chamber for five days! Ah Tao is training in the meditation rooms, and your father left early this m with Mr. for an iion of the shops."The shock was evident in the servant's tone, especially as she noticed that her mistress had reached the 3rd level, a feat she would never have imagined possible in such a short time.

  Tang Xi nodded slightly, abs the information.— "Uood. Thank you for inf me."The servant bowed again, and Tang Xi proceeded toward her quarters. The corridor was silent, and the serenity of the surroundings gave her a moment to refle her steps.

  Entering her room, she found Ah Tao already waiting, as if she had been informed of her arrival. The young maid was kneeling, anizing some items on a table, but quickly stood up upon seeing her mistress.Tang Xi couldn't help but smile at the enthusiasm in Ah Tao's eyes.— "Ah Tao, you should have stayed training to stabilize your level. gratutions on reag the 4th level. I'm proud of you."Ah Tao blushed at the praise, but there was a determined sparkle in her gaze.— "Thank you, Miss. But my duty is to be by your side. And gratutions on reag the 3rd level in such a short time! I already imagine you surpassing all the geniuses iy. They won't stand a ce!"

  Tang Xi let out a low ugh, appreciating Ah Tao's loyalty ahusiasm.— "Very well, Ah Tao. But now let's do something different. Let's disguise ourselves and take a walk around the city."Ah Tao's eyes widened, her excitement evident.— "Yes, Miss!"

  The two moved swiftly, with an efficy that showed how aced they were to such preparations. Tang Xi sed her refined cloak for a simple dark-toned mase tunic that cealed her strikiures. With a touch of skill, she tied her hair into a low bun and donned a hat that partially shaded her face.

  Ah Tao followed suit, opting for a simir outfit. Though less refined in her choices, her disguise was equally ving, making her resemble a young apprentice.

  They looked at each other, and Tang Xi gave a slight approving smile.— "Done. Now we're just two curious young cultivators expl the city."Ah Tao ughed, already anticipating the fun.— "Yes, Miss. Let's find out what's happening out there!"Together, they discreetly left the quarters, desding the stairs and passing through the main gate. With her aura now carefully suppressed, Tang Xi appeared to be airely different person. The city streets, bustling with life and activity, awaited their new adventures.

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  In the northern part of the city, Tang Wei walked through the busy ercial streets alongside his long-time friend, Liao Wei. Both bore serious expressions as they assessed the businesses around them. The st of medial herbs and the murmur of versatioween merts and ers filled the air, but the tension alpable.

  Before Liao Wei's arrival, the situation iy had bee problematic. The Shang Family, always known for their business ing, was being increasingly arrogant. Retly, they had begun threatening to cut off the supply of spiritual pills to the hunting teams that depended oaroked his beard in thought. If it were only on spiritual pills, his family's shop and the Treasure Pavilion could meet the demand. However, the real issue y with the high-quality, rare pills that only the Shang Family could sistently produce. The reason? Their daughter had bee an inner disciple of the Spiritual Herb Valley, one of the rgest ters for alchemy and medial cultivation in the region.

  This exclusive support had transformed the Shang Family into a dominant for local erce. Other fas iy preferred not to interfere, coldly and calgly watg as the flifolded. None of them wao offend the Shang Family, waiting to see how Tang Wei would hahe pressure.

  Now, with Liao Wei's arrival, the Shang Family seemed to have slightly retreated. But Tang Wei khis was only temporary."How long will this truce st?" — he wondered, his surroundings.Liao Wei, by his side, remained silent for a moment before saying:— "Their arroganly grows because they believe themselves untouchable with the support of the Spiritual Herb Valley. But every position has its price, and they are not without weakang Wei hough his mind was elsewhere, focused on a matter even more pressing. His daughter.

  'She wants to participate in the Four Families' petition,'— he thought, recalling his ret versation with her.The petition restigious event that would determihe allocation of resources from the bck spiritual iron mine, a local specialty. Although the extracted ore was low-level, he khis was a crucial opportunity for her to test herself, even if the oute wasn't first pce. More than that, he had already decided that, regardless of what happened, he would withdraw his forces from Moonlit Grove City and seo the Pace of a Thousand Daos.

  Tang Wei paused for a moment, looking at the sky, now painted in golden hues by the setting sun.

  'She will have te her own path. In the Pace of a Thousand Daos, she will have a much rger stage to shine. But in doing so, I will have to face old problems that o longer be postponed.' —The thought brought a shadow of worry to his eyes. He remembered the message Liao Wei had delivered. It was a warning, and ohat could not be igo protect his daughter, he would have to leave her on her own, at least temporarily.

  Liao Wei noticed Tang Wei's distra and offered a faint smile.— "Whatever is weighing on your mind, you will find a solution. Your daughter is strong, Tang Wei, and so are you.".