Chapter Two: Retribution

“No! Qinglan… you… you can’t do this…” Housekeeper Li stared at Qinglan in terror, yet her body uncontrollably withered before their eyes.

Mu Qinglan’s gaze locked steadily on her, while the scattered green spiritual energy joyfully returned to her body, making her aura solidify.

Housekeeper Li staggered and fell to her knees, her voice filled with despair: “No, please don’t, I was only following orders. It was Mu Chenxue who made me do this, not my own will…”

Qinglan sneered coldly, her voice dripping with scorn: “Only following orders?”

“Hmph.”

With a sharp wave of her hand, the last thread of spiritual energy fully returned to her body, and the green glow faded away.

The three collapsed to the ground, faces pale as ash, cold sweat pouring down, their internal spiritual power completely drained.

Soon, the lingering bone-chilling poison, no longer suppressed, began to flare up. It surged from deep within their marrow, pain crashing over them like a tidal wave, tearing at their viscera.

Qinglan did not spare them another glance. Turning away, her figure vanished into the misty night.

The three were covered in frost, and in agony, their breaths finally ceased.

A fierce beast nearby—an undead bear—heard the commotion and came rushing over, hoping for a feast, only to find three desiccated corpses devoid of any nourishment. It growled in displeasure, as if disgusted.

…

Qinglan walked down the mountain stone path. Along the way, countless flowers and leaves shielded her presence; neither people nor beasts could detect her.

Having reclaimed the three strands of spiritual energy, her realm stabilized temporarily at mid-stage Awakening. But how was she to retrieve everything else?

Throughout the journey, she had come to understand the body’s characteristics and needs.

The original body’s abilities were: Healing, Summoning, and Identification.

Healing: She could swiftly restore wounds for cultivators of the same or lower rank, even alleviate fatal injuries. In other words, with her nearby, death was unlikely.

Summoning: She possessed a profound affinity for wood elements, able to command plants at will.

Identification: She had sharp sensitivity to heavenly materials and earthly treasures, able to see through hidden valuables.

For years, these three talents had helped the Mu family seize countless treasures, ensuring the strongest protection for all teammates’ lives.

The problem with this body was that its spiritual roots had been severed, with seventy percent of its essence lost.

Thinking of the essence she had sent out, Qinglan felt a surge of anger.

Every person in that courtyard, spewing filthy words, had her spiritual energy!

Some had truly been on the brink of death and sought her aid—she saved them.

But most merely pretended to be pitiful, hoping to gain longevity and vitality from her essence.

The original self always reluctantly accepted, never knowing how to refuse!

“Those spiritual energies, I must reclaim them.”

…

“Mu Chenxue will soon know II'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.