Jiang Bai spent the entire night awake, practicing the Eight-Nine Profound Art. Thanks to the Hidden Moon Stone, he didn't have to worry about his cultivation fluctuations being detected by Ming Shifei and Xie Bao. His foresight to prepare was indeed warranted.
As he began circulating the technique, his body absorbed spiritual energy from the surroundings like a sponge, pulling it in relentlessly. The spiritual energy seemed to gravitate toward him, rushing into his dantian.
His cultivation speed was remarkable; in just one night, he reached the third level of the Transforming Ordinary stage. However, as soon as he broke through, his cultivation speed significantly decreased. Still, the fact that he went from being an ordinary person to the third level in one night would make any cultivator in the Celestial Spirit World green with envy.
Jiang Bai took a moment to assess his current condition. He felt much lighter and more energized as a cultivator. Previously unwell, he now experienced a level of comfort he hadn't felt before. His body felt robust, and every breath seemed to purify him further. When he clenched his fists, he could feel the tremendous power within his seemingly frail physique.
He made a hand seal, and spiritual energy surged within him, enveloping his entire body in an instant. His handsome appearance morphed into that of a frail old man as he utilized the transformation technique included with the Eight-Nine Profound Art. This technique differed from the Seventy-Two Transformations, which were primarily for escaping dangers and focused more on shape-shifting.
The Eight-Nine Profound Art was a true Taoist protective skill. With focused intent, everything in the world could be transformed, adhering to the principles of the Hunyuan Wujidian Way. Mastery of this skill would lead to physical sanctification, invincibility, and immunity to all laws, enabling one to validate the Hunyuan Wujidian Way.
Though Jiang Bai was still only at the Transforming Ordinary stage and far from mastering the profound secrets of the Eight-Nine Profound Art, the basic transformation technique was difficult to detect unless someone highly skilled, like Du Guqing, were to observe him. However, this transformation consumed a sizeable amount of energy, and he could only maintain this form for less than three minutes with his current spiritual energy.
After a night of practice, Jiang Bai felt invigorated rather than fatigued. He stood up, exhaled a breath of stale air, opened the door, and stretched lazily in the rising sun. The sunlight hit his face, causing Little Bell, who was outside his room, to stare at him in awe. She noticed her master looked even more handsome than the day before, although she couldn't pinpoint the exact reason.
After staring for a while, she caught Jiang Bai looking at her with a playful smile, making the innocent girl blush and lower her head. In a voice barely above a whisper, she said, "Master, breakfast is ready. After I help you wash up, you can eat."
Jiang Bai nodded in response, asking, "What about Mr. Ming and Mr. Xie?"
"Both gentlemen have already eaten in the front hall," Little Bell replied.
Little Bell quickly arranged the washing supplies for Jiang Bai and assisted him as he got ready. He felt a bit awkward being pampered, accustomed to doing things himself. As she reached to wipe his face, he gently blocked her hand, took the towel, and said, "I can manage that myself from now on."
"Did I not do well, Master?" Little Bell's eyes welled with tears.
Jiang Bai quickly reassured her, "No, it's not that. I'm just used to being independent and don't want to impose on others."
He patted Little Bell's head, feeling a wave of emotion. At her age, he had only played games, while Little Bell had to take on maid duties. "From now on, call me 'Young Master' instead of 'Master'; it sounds too formal."
"Yes, Young Master," Little Bell replied, her hair bun getting a bit messy, but she beamed with joy.
When she learned that a master would be moving into the courtyard, she was initially scared, fearing a cruel master based on the butler's warnings of how many servants had suffered in the chaos outside the city. In a world where immortals lived, the lives of ordinary people often seemed expendable.
However, Little Bell felt fortunate. This master appeared kind and forgiving, even comforting her when she cried. Yet, she also sensed that he wasn't very sharp since he insisted on doing things himself and consoled her.
Little Bell couldn't help but think he was exceptionally handsome. If Jiang Bai knew how conflicted she felt, he would likely be exasperated.
Accompanying Little Bell to the dining room, Jiang Bai found Ming Shifei and Xie Bao already enjoying their breakfast, which consisted of millet porridge and steamed buns. There were two kinds of buns: fresh meat and chive-egg.
Having practiced all night, Jiang Bai was starving and didn't hesitate to dig in, greeting the two casually as he sat down. The buns were surprisingly delicious, and the millet porridge was fluffy and sticky, perfect with the pickles.
Ming Shifei ate with poise, alternating between bites of bun, sips of porridge, and bites of pickles. In contrast, Xie Bao devoured his breakfast ravenously as if in a contest, gulping down fist-sized buns whole and slurping a large bowl of porridge in no time.
Ming Shifei shook his head at the spectacle. Xie Bao mocked Ming Shifei's refined manners even further. Jiang Bai picked up on the tension between the two; it seemed that their animosity ran deeper than just differing backgrounds.
The rapport between Du Guqing and Qin Xiaofeng appeared much more amicable than this pair. After Jiang Bai entered and greeted them, there hadn't been another word spoken among them. The only sounds were those of Xie Bao eating, creating a heavy atmosphere.
"Why do you keep fidgeting with your legs?" Xie Bao finally snapped, unable to contain himself.
"Careful!" Ming Shifei retorted curtly.
"Do you want to fight?" Xie Bao slammed his palm down hard on the table, leaving a deep imprint on the thick wood. Had he not tempered his strength, he could have shattered it.
"Brute! You only know how to fight; you lack refinement!" Ming Shifei continued to eat at his own pace, seemingly unfazed.
"Just because you wear a long robe doesn't mean you're a scholar!" Xie Bao shot back.
Feeling insulted, Ming Shifei glared at Xie Bao. "Are you seeking death?"
"Let's settle this, you sissy!" Xie Bao laughed, clearly unbothered.
Just as it seemed they would come to blows, Jiang Bai knew he had to intervene to prevent a fight. Just as he was about to speak, a servant rushed in, announcing, "Master, Miss Du Guqing has arrived!"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Bai's eyes narrowed in surprise. He thought to himself, "What brings her here?"