Madam Li

While Commander Luo waited for the recruitment trials to conclude so he could visit Madam Li, Fang lay sprawled in boredom on the endless field of grass.

'Hey, Corbin,' lazily called Fang. 

'Hm?' 

'Say... why don't you tell me more about yourself?' Fang proposed, drawing random lines on the ground with one of his claws. 

'Why the sudden curiosity?' Inquired Corbin.

'Well, you introduced yourself as a legacy,' replied Fang. 'Naturally, I want to know if you have any abilities besides draining me of my talents.' 

'Abilities-wise, I can't respond as of now since you don't even have a shred of qi in your body.' Before Fang could start complaining, Corbin quickly added, 'I could answer some of your questions when there is enough qi supplied to the ring, but until then, I'm only privy to the information I already provided.' 

A few minutes of silence passed, then Fang said, 'Okay, so you're an entity with the voice of an old man, stuck inside a weird black ring, with no significant memories except a few snippets left by your creator―did I get everything right?' 

Corbin kept quiet, neither denying nor confirming Fang's analysis. He had an inkling that the only way to uncover the details of his long-forgotten past was by gaining access to a large amount of qi.

In truth, Corbin kept some information from Fang.

They were not close enough yet, plus those memories wouldn't help him in any way during his early cultivation. So instead of outright lying, he just omitted a few details. 

'When the time is right, I'll tell the kid everything. Until then, I must help him reach the Void Sequence and gain access to the graveyard created by those bastards.' Thought Corbin while Fang fell asleep.

――

Meanwhile, the recruits were finally selected, and Commander Luo delivered a speech to boost the morale of both the winners and losers, increasing their drive to cultivate and get stronger.

He detested delivering speeches, especially the kind intended to uplift the spirits of the losers.

His mentality was based on the saying "The strong rule and the weak have no right to complain".

If you're weak, train like a dog and strive relentlessly to defeat your enemies instead of lamenting your lack of strength.

Indulging in self-pity was a guaranteed path to death in the cultivation world, an experience he narrowly avoided firsthand.

Life's playing field is never fair, so don't expect to match those with greater talent or resources unless you're willing to put in the effort.

This mentality had been ingrained in him and his sister since they were young children by their father. Even though he had been exiled and harbored a deep hatred for everyone in the Su family, he still adhered to their lessons and ideologies.

Their family was full of old hypocrites who didn't practice what they preached. He swore to change that when he finally unclogged his meridians and unlocked the full potential of his Extreme Yang Frost Physique. 

Commander Luo was pulled out of his thoughts when he eventually reached the temple situated on the tallest peak.

The building presented a striking contrast, appearing both grand and simple at the same time. A soothing jasmine scent wafted from its large doors, which were adorned with beautiful tapestries depicting ancient dragons and majestic phoenixes dancing in the moonlight.

Commander Luo quickly entered and navigated through a maze of lavishly furnished corridors, eventually stopping in front of an unassuming wooden door. 

Before he had the chance to knock, a pleasant voice made its way trough and told him to enter. 

The door opened by itself as soon as the words faded, revealing an enchanting garden filled with exotic, wild plants. Animals of various colors and sizes played or lazily slept on the lower branches of the trees.

In the midst of this enchanting scene, a woman in a flawless, bright-red cheongsam performed a tea ritual. Her allure was undeniable as the dress accentuated her modest curves, while a silk veil concealed her face, mysteriously drawing the observer's attention even closer.

Her flawless, slender hands held a masterfully crafted teapot that gleamed like a pearl as she poured intoxicating jasmine tea into the cup opposite her.

"I hope you have a taste for jasmine tea, commander." said the mysterious lady in a soothing tone.

Commander Luo accepted the invitation and sat down, immediately stating the reason for his visit.

"Oh, you have a new furry friend for me? How nice of you!" Said the lady after Commander Luo finished explaining.

Intrigued, the lady asked to see her new pet, so Commander Luo held out his hand and the spirit beast bracelet materialized.

Retrieving the bracelet, she immediately infused her qi inside with the intent of pulling out the beast inside.

――

Fang was quietly sleeping, when suddenly, he felt a strong pull and opened his eyes. 

Before he heard a small giggle from behind, the large garden full of trees and mesmerizing flowers captured his attention.

"My, my, what a nice specimen!"

Turning around, he saw a mysterious woman wearing a veil over her face and a stunning red dress, accompanied by a young man with an icy temperament that was as white as snow from head to toe.

'This is Miss Li, so you better pretend to be an ordinary beast, lest you slip up and get yourself killed by experimentation.' Calmly informed Corbin inside his mind. 

Fang started trembling upon hearing his words, leading Madam Li to misunderstand and perceive him as one of those seemingly imposing figures who easily succumb to fear.

"I suppose I'll take him off your hands," Madam Li remarked, turning to Commander Luo. "Go inform the Treasury Warden that I've granted you permission to choose an item."

Commander Luo rose from his chair without sparing a glance at the trembling Fang, and offered a slight bow of gratitude.

As all this unfolded, Fang focused on steadying his breathing and devised a strategy to acquire the required demonic beast core for his cultivation.

While Fang strategized, Corbin pondered, 'I hope she still feeds her pets quality cores, or the poor kid might end up getting himself killed trying to outwit this old, cunning fox.'