You glanced at Wan Qingluan who had suddenly appeared and said, "None of a child's business!"

Though confusion lingered in her eyes, Wan Qingluan truly didn't press further.

You couldn't help but frown slightly.

You felt that in this simulation, Wan Qingluan's thirst for knowledge seemed much weaker than before.

She hadn't even asked once how you knew about the flaws in her cultivation technique.

Even if she had asked, you would've just spouted nonsense, but her complete lack of curiosity still struck you as odd.

This version of Wan Qingluan didn't seem nearly as unhinged.

"Is this another one of the Extermination Sect's new tricks?" you wondered silently.

You invited Wan Qingluan into the courtyard, where the two of you sat around the stone table on stone stools.

You asked, "Did you see the message I left for you at the Dragon Gate Inn?"

Wan Qingluan nodded. "Yes. You said you had something very important to tell me?"

With a faint smile, you directly placed the Extermination Sect token and bounty key on the table.

Wan Qingluan's red lips parted slightly in surprise. "Oh? How do you have this key?"

"So they really are your Extermination Sect's belongings," you said with an I-knew-it expression, quite pleased with your acting performance.

Wan Qingluan nodded. "Where did you get it?"

"A patient couldn't afford the pill fees, so they traded it to me."

After examining the key twice, Wan Qingluan asked, "Can I have it?"

You waved grandly. "Between us? We're practically best buds! For you, a friendship price—five hundred thousand taels!"

Wan Qingluan's delicate brows furrowed. "You don't actually want money."

Your heart skipped a beat. "Shit! Almost forgot this woman's scarily perceptive—she might see through my Oscar-worthy terrible acting."

Quickly composing yourself, you tried to appear more natural.

With calm composure, you said, "You saw through me. I just wanted to see how important this key is to your Extermination Sect."

The corner of Wan Qingluan's lips curled slightly. "You could say it's quite important."

"Oh? How so?"

After glancing at you, Wan Qingluan explained about collecting all five keys.

Listening intently, you paused after she finished.

You began questioning: "So if you gather all five keys, Sect Leader Yan will do anything for you?"

"Anything at all," Wan Qingluan replied, her tone identical to the third simulation.

Trying to match that timeline's mindset, you asked, "Even kill herself on the spot?"

"That too."

You: "Damn."

You and Wan Qingluan completed the scripted NPC-like dialogue.

You didn't dwell further—that would seem too deliberate.

Handing over the key, you told her to give you something interesting in exchange.

After some thought, Wan Qingluan gave you a Mind Awakening Technique manual.

The technique could clear one's spiritual platform and maintain mental clarity.

"Hold up—mental clarity?" You skeptically flipped through the pages. "Coming from an Extermination Sect member, how credible is that?"

Unfazed, Wan Qingluan calmly said, "Without practicing the Mind Awakening Technique, we'd be even crazier."

"Fair point, absolutely flawless!" You couldn't help but applaud her.

You mused that the Extermination Sect's ancestors must have worried endlessly over their descendants—knowing their techniques would drive them mad, they created the Mind Awakening Technique.

Like endlessly adding water to flour then flour to water—eventually the brain would short-circuit from internal conflict.

Glancing at Wan Qingluan mid-thought, she suddenly stated, "You're insulting me."

"Lady, I haven't said a fucking word."

"Your eyes are wrong."

"If that's what you think, I can't help it."

"Now you can't help it? You had plenty of solutions when pursuing me."

"Are you mixing up scripts or something?"

After a thoughtful pause, Wan Qingluan said, "My apologies, got too immersed in character."

You: "......"

"Then I'll take my leave."

Wan Qingluan rose from the stone stool and walked toward the courtyard gate.

You also stood to see her out, having achieved your goal with no intention of detaining her.

At the gate, Wan Qingluan hesitated briefly.

Turning back with a hint of expectation in her eyes, she asked, "Don't you have anything else to say?"

You spread your hands. "Nothing comes to mind."

Pursing her lips, Wan Qingluan ultimately said nothing and simply left with a swish of her hips.

Frowning, you called after her, "Next time, could you pat your own ass?"

Wan Qingluan snorted without looking back.

Watching her departing figure, your calm demeanor gave way to excitement.

"Go on, collect those keys diligently, make your wish..."

One month later.

You achieved Initial Achievement in the Mind Awakening Technique.

Your martial talent now handled top-tier techniques with effortless ease.

The technique sharpened your mental focus and clarity.

Most importantly, it helped maintain lucidity against mind-affecting attacks—like soundwave assaults—with greater composure.

On a whim, you activated both the Mind Awakening Technique and Divine Micro-Vision simultaneously.

To your delight, this directly elevated Divine Micro-Vision from Initial Achievement to Small Success!

Ecstatic, you exclaimed, "This Mind Awakening Technique truly refreshes! I've never felt more clear-headed!"

At Small Success, Divine Micro-Vision succeeded five or six times out of ten attempts, with cooldown reduced from six days to two.

But the greatest improvement was duration—exploding from fifteen minutes to four hours!

That endurance would make anyone's jaw drop.

Four hours sufficed for refining third or fourth-grade pills, vastly increasing practicality.

Pondering further, you activated both techniques again and began sixth-grade pill refinement.

With double buffs, you smoothly produced five sixth-grade pills, reaching Small Success proficiency.

You edged closer to seventh-grade pill refiner status. Achieving that would allow assisting Deng Rusong in Reviving Yang Pill refinement.

Successfully reviving Aunt-Shifu with the pill would fulfill Xie Huide's dying wish.

With Divine Micro-Vision's epic advancement, you decided to strike while the iron was hot and began comprehending Earth Source.

You immersed yourself in new cultivation.

However, the next day, Jiao Mingxu visited.

He informed you Jiao Xiaoyao's wedding would occur in two days and requested you serve as officiant.

You advised him to be socially savvy and invite Deng Rusong instead.

At this, Jiao Mingxu stiffened his neck, insisting both he and He Youshan only wanted you as officiant.

After consideration, you agreed.

Firstly, you knew the couple remained grateful for your past help and respected you deeply.

Secondly, Jiao Mingxu barely interacted with Deng Rusong—among hundreds of ordinary Danxia Sect disciples, few developed close ties with the sect leader.

You were the exception—even among all personal disciples, you stood closest to Deng Rusong.

Two days later.

Jiao Xiaoyao's wedding commenced at a large courtyard Jiao Mingxu had purchased in Youtong County.