***
(Li Daji POV)
I watched as his back slowly disappeared from my view. After such a long time apart from one another, being truly face to face I couldn't even think of anything except how much I longed for that moment of reunion.
'*Sigh* Sorry I made that such a somber moment for our reunion Master. But don't worry it won't be so depressing next time, I swear!'
I raised my sleeves to wipe my eyes and could still feel the warm liquid drizzling down my cheeks even through the cloth.
I could still feel some of his remnant warmth from that hug, but it was quickly dissipating.
'Soon, Master, I'll be right beside you even if you don't really know it. It'll be fine though, because I'll know about it.'
After composing myself and fixing up my appearance I went back to my temporary residence to discuss my upcoming plan with Yi Feng.
A plan which involves a crucial person that I just met yesterday.
***
(Xue Jinzi POV)
Today was a pretty difficult day to get through, I could already feel the effects of the Cerulean Token I kept with me. To be honest I had all, but forgotten about it's fame that was being spread about.
Only now have there been more and more people coming to the arena to challenge me. The first one that came this morning was quite a surprise. He was already in the 3rd Realm, Essence Gathering, but after seeing my cultivation he backed off saying that he wouldn't bully Juniors.
I was glad when he said that, but just after a few more fights another came to challenge me. This time he was at least only in the 2nd Realm, Meridian Opening, but he didn't care much for his face it seems when it came to bullying a Junior.
We fought for a bit of time, in the beginning he easily had the upper hand, but after some time it started to become a stalemate as I slowly learned how to deal with him.
The main difference in our realm disparity wasn't the fact that he was stronger or even that he was faster.
It was due to the fact that he had the ability to use Qi. Qi was an extremely helpful utility for him. He could use it to flow it into his body for a boost in strength, consume a part of it to stabilize his body, or even use a large quantity of it to unleash a technique of his.
The second challenger was overconfident in his skills, not believing me as his threat, all because I was a realm lower. All of which meant his use of Qi was a bit too careless and meant that all I had to do was endure through his attacks to be able to outlast him.
It seems the use of someone's Qi is tied into their stamina as well. Although I couldn't actually tell how much Qi he had remaining I knew that had to have used quite a bit from the haggard appearance of the man in the end.
Seeing that man's abilities I had a newfound motivation to get up to the peak of Body Tempering. As soon as I crossed realms into Meridian Opening I knew that multiple opportunities would then open up as the access to Qi would be a vital part of being a cultivator, at least for me.
As for the rest of the day, that was also spent sparring and occasionally dealing with someone who wanted to challenge me purely for having the Cerulean Token in my possession. There was only a single person who challenged me as a Body Tempering, but he had to have been the most arrogant one of them all, even though he was the absolute weakest of them all in terms of both cultivation and skill. I have no idea where he even conceived the thought of besting me.
The rest consisted of those in the Meridian Opening stage and at the end of the day another Essence Gathering came to challenge me, but he wasn't like the one before and still insisted even though I was 2 realms below him.
Of course I lost miserably to him, but no one cheered for him. Face was a big thing and even challenging a Junior a realm below would lose face, but 2 whole realms were entirely different.
The rest of the matches I had with those Meridian Opening cultivators started giving me a little reputation of being able to stalemate them, but I still hadn't beaten any of them yet. In fact, of the ones I didn't stalemate they had beaten me quite easily with the meticulous use of their Qi.
They knew the right times to use it and gain the upperhand, but as they fought I learned. After a few matches I started trying to predict when they would use their moves and a few times I had actually managed to avoid an attack by pure prediction of their attacks, though I can't really tell if it was just luck or I was actually predicting it.
I started stretching while trying to get those aches out and up ahead I spotted a person along my path. It wouldn't have been anything too out of the ordinary, but the figure was one I had quite the close up encounter with yesterday.
I saw her wave her hand at me and I waved back. Soon she was upon me with a delightful smile.
We walked side by side and seeing her smile I figured she had a good day or something.
"Say Little Sister, do you mind if we switch places for a while?"
"Eh?"
'W-what? Switch places? What does she mean by that? S-she doesn't mean possession does she!?'
"Come on, do you mind?"
"W-wait just a moment! What do you mean by switching places?"
"It's exactly what I mean, I want to take your place, don't worry I'll only be doing it for 2 days!"
"Hah? You can't just come up to me and say that! Besides, I don't think you'll even be able to go there. Even if it was up to me to take you, there's gonna be another person who won't like you being there Sister."
"Don't worry I know! That's why I want to take your place."
"Huh? Y-you know?"
"Of course! Oh, I'm sorry Little Sister, I actually lied a little when I told you I'm his friend…"
At that moment my body froze.
'I-is she some kind of spy? W-what have I done! I was tricked!'
"I'm actually someone who had a bit of a deeper relationship than just a simple friend."
"O-oh."
'Eh? Oh, wait! More than a simple friend? What could that be? Bestfriend? No, that can't be. C-could it be that Big Brother has a secret lover!? Within his own sect and under Big Sister's own nose too!'
"Hey! It's probably not what you're thinking! So do you think we could switch?"
"I don't know, I don't think I should. It's for your safety as well Sister."
"Why don't you come to my house and think about it for a bit more? I think I could change your mind."
"No, I shouldn't.Big Brother will probably be worried for me as well."
"That's why we should do it quickly. Hey Little Sister, you've been trying to work your way up Body Tempering right? I have a good solution for you. Especially with your speed I'm sure you might even reach the peak of the realm after these two days."
"T-that quickly? But I'm only closing onto the 6th layer now."
"Don't worry, I know someone who's doing physical cultivation, she'll be able to both speed up your progress and strengthen what you have now as well!"
I stopped in my tracks and looked her right in the eye.
"Sister, are you trying to scam me or something? All this right now sounds too good to be true. Why do you want to replace me so badly?"
"It's just because… I want to spend time with him, that's all. It's just been a long time since I've seen him."
Hearing her words and seeing the look in her eye which reflected a gleam of light I couldn't help, but to believe it if only a little. But in the end there's no way she'll be able to pose as me. Just her height alone would disqualify her in similarities.
"I'm sorry, Sister. I can't."
"*Sigh* I didn't want to do it, but I guess I'll have to in the end."
Her delightful smile from the start had slowly deteriorated over this conversation, but now it resembled a sad smile.
"W-what are you going to do?"
I stepped back for self comfort as I gained a little clear picture of her full body.
"I'll just have to… kidnap you then. No hard feelings okay Little Sister?"
"Hah!? Wait!..."
My eyes widened at her words, but after only getting out a couple words I saw her hand flash towards me and the next thing I knew the edges of my vision quickly darkened to the center until I lost consciousness.
…
***
(Li Daji POV)
I caught the limp woman in my arms and softly whispered an apology.
"Sorry Little Sister, please allow me to be selfish this once."
With her in my arms I quickly went back to the house while making sure that no one would see me doing so.
Within the home I had a little underground section constructed, but I never had a chance to use it until now. I opened the cellar doors and down the stairs within the underground room was actually quite a cozy space to live in.
Originally the place was supposed to be some extra living space for that supposed team, but now since I only brought Yi Feng Those other rooms lay empty including this one.
I laid her down on a bed and as soon as I did I heard footsteps behind me as I saw Yi Feng come down.
"So is that girl my new roommate for a couple days?"
"Yep! Let's wake her up so you two can get to know each other, but first I'll have to wear everything she has since I'll be taking her place. So let's strip her!"
"You sound a little too excited to do this."
"Well, of course! I'll get to spend a little time with my Master. I want it to happen as soon as possible!"
"Humph!"
"Are you not going to help? Fine, I'll do it by myself!"
I quickly removed her robes and I saw a set of bindings around her breasts. I thought nothing of it and started to remove them, but after loosening them to a point I felt like her breasts just had a growth spurt. They had just enlarged by such a large amount that honestly it surprised me and as I kept taking it off I was dumbfounded by its size.
'What the hell! Isn't she just some young girl?! Why is her size so outrageous? I thought I was the biggest, but I guess there's always bigger. Hmm, is that why Master took her in? Because of her bust? No! Master isn't that kind of man, but to think I would actually be beat.
It's… not a great feeling, especially since she's some random girl that Master seems to like for some reason.'
After taking off all her clothing and accessories I plucked one of her hairs. After Looking at her body another moment I lightly smacked her breast. They jiggled back and forth as I looked at it with a bit of envy.
On the side I saw Yi Feng Look down at herself and unlike some people she smiled at herself. Seeing her smile I tapped that acupuncture point to start waking up the girl meanwhile I would transform.
With her hair I held it up between my index and middle finger to chant a few words. The hair glowed white for a few moments before it melded into my hand. What came next was of course the transformation.
My hair shorten some and changed its color to the same chestnut hair she had. My height rapidly shortened to match hers and my eye color changed to that Sapphire color of her's. The main thing for me was now the massive breasts I now had hanging off my chest.
Suddenly a scream slightly echoed in the room.
"Ahhh!!"