The Catgirl Training Plan Begins!

"What chance?"

Zhu Zhuqing pressed him.

"Stay by my side like Yan'er, as my maid," Cao Kun said slowly.

"And become an outer disciple of Mount Buzhou."

"A maid? Mount Buzhou?" Zhu Zhuqing's eyes narrowed.

"Yan'er, explain it to her," Cao Kun said to Dugu Yan.

Dugu Yan stepped forward and calmly explained Mount Buzhou to Zhu Zhuqing.

It was the same account Cao Kun had given Zhao Wuji and Flender.

[An ancient Hidden Sect that had remained secluded for a thousand years, with unfathomable reserves of power, had now emerged to meet the changing times and welcome those with whom it shared a connection. Cao Kun was one of Mount Buzhou's representatives in this generation.]

"As the young master's maid, you'll attend to him, handle everyday tasks, and remain absolutely loyal."

"As an outer disciple of Mount Buzhou, you'll receive an initial inheritance and resources from the sect," Dugu Yan said. "You'll be obliged to protect its interests. By completing sect missions and making contributions, you can rise in rank and gain access to more advanced teachings and resources."

She glanced at Cao Kun, then continued. "The young master is generous to those close to him. I'm the best example."

"Following him is both an opportunity and a challenge."

"Whether you seize it and change your fate is ultimately up to you."

Zhu Zhuqing listened in silence, her thoughts racing.

A maid?

The position instinctively put her off. She was a daughter of the Zhu Family of the Star Luo Empire and had grown up being served by others.

Yet Dugu Yan stood before her: a maid with astonishing strength and potential. And wasn't this a way to free herself from the constraints of her Zhu Family identity?

An outer disciple?

A mysterious, powerful Hidden Sect... Perhaps this was an entirely new path, different from both the Star Luo Empire and Shrek Academy.

There were risks, but there were opportunities too.

She did not deliberate for long.

The moment she entered this courtyard, saw Dugu Yan's Soul Rings, and heard the words "change your fate," she had already made her choice deep down.

"I... accept."

Zhu Zhuqing rose and bowed deeply to Cao Kun.

This time, it was not out of courtesy. It was for the possibility of a wholly different future.

"Good."

Cao Kun nodded in satisfaction, a faint glint of triumph in his eyes.

The Catgirl training plan had officially begun.

"Since you've decided, you'll stay here for now, starting tonight. I'll have Yan'er deal with the academy."

"I'll personally arrange your training," Cao Kun said.

He stood, walked to a bookshelf at the side of the room, and took out an ordinary-looking beast-hide scroll. He handed it to Zhu Zhuqing.

"This is your first step: the foundational section of the Nether Shadow Body Refining Art and the Introductory Guide to Shadow Perception."

"The former will temper your body, making up for the weaknesses in strength and endurance you have as an agility-type Soul Master. It will also begin to awaken the 'shadow' and 'swiftness' traits of your Nether Civet Martial Soul."

"The latter will train you to sense and use shadow energy, so you can truly merge with the shadows rather than merely hide in them."

Zhu Zhuqing accepted the scroll respectfully. It felt slightly heavy and cool to the touch. Dense lines of tiny writing and diagrams covered the hide in strange silver pigment. Even a cursory glance told her how profound they were.

"Also..."

Cao Kun returned to the table and took a palm-sized jade bottle from a small furnace made of warm jade beside it.

The bottle held about half a cup of thick, jade-green liquid that gave off a rich herbal fragrance.

"This is Hundred-Herb Body-Tempering Elixir. Dilute it before drinking it. Combined with the Nether Shadow Body Refining Art, it will accelerate your body's tempering and purify your Soul Power."

"The first dose is the most effective."

He handed the jade bottle to Zhu Zhuqing. "Drink it here and now. I'll help guide its effects."

Zhu Zhuqing looked at the jade-green elixir. Without hesitation, she pulled out the stopper, tipped back her head, and drank the half cup down.

The elixir felt cool as it passed down her throat, then turned into a gentle yet immense surge of heat that swiftly spread through her entire body!

Unlike any medicine she had taken before, the heat did not batter her meridians. It seeped into her muscles, bones, and organs in countless fine, warm streams, bringing a tingling itch that felt strangely pleasant.

At the same time,

the Soul Power within her seemed to stir. It began circulating faster on its own, mingling with the heat and growing more active and concentrated!

"Clear your mind. Use your basic meditation technique and feel the medicine flow."

Cao Kun's voice sounded beside her ear. A warm palm gently came to rest against her back.

A vast current of soft, exceptionally pure Soul Power flowed from his palm. Like a precise guide, it directed the surging heat and restless Soul Power within her along the best possible path, washing minute impurities from her meridians and strengthening the tissues of her body.

Zhu Zhuqing felt warmth all over, as though she were soaking in a hot spring. Every cell in her body seemed to rejoice as it absorbed the pure energy.

Her Soul Power climbed rapidly, and her awareness of her body grew sharper and clearer.

She could feel the bottleneck at level twenty-seven, where she had been stuck for so long, beginning to give way beneath the flood of energy!

She did not know how much time passed. It felt like an instant, and yet it felt much longer.

Boom!

An invisible barrier within her seemed to shatter! Her Soul Power surged like a river, broke through the obstruction, and entered a new realm!

Level twenty-eight!

And it did not stop there. With the elixir still working and Cao Kun guiding it, her Soul Power continued to climb!

Level twenty-nine!

At last, it settled at the peak of level twenty-nine, just one step from level thirty and becoming a Soul Elder!

Zhu Zhuqing could clearly feel that plenty of the elixir's power remained unabsorbed within her. If she trained steadily for a few days and absorbed it completely, level thirty would come naturally!

She slowly opened her eyes. Shock and delight shone through her usually cool gaze!

Just half a cup of elixir and Cao Kun's guidance had carried her up two levels!

The effect was nothing short of miraculous!

More exciting still, she sensed subtle changes in her body. She felt lighter and more flexible, and her awareness of shifts between light and shadow had sharpened slightly.

"How do you feel?"

Cao Kun withdrew his hand, looking as composed as ever, as though guiding her had taken no effort at all.

"Thank you, young master!"

Zhu Zhuqing bowed deeply again, her voice filled with sincere gratitude this time.

The real increase in her strength was more convincing than any words could have been.

"No need to thank me. This is merely the first reward for the choice you made."

Cao Kun waved a hand. "You'll receive more in the future. But remember Mount Buzhou's rules: loyalty and contribution come before everything else."

"You're now both an outer disciple and a maid. Yan'er will explain your duties and arrangements."

"Yes, young master!"

Zhu Zhuqing spoke respectfully. "I... I'd like to..."