Jian Dan sat cross-legged in the bathtub, absorbing the medicinal elixir while circulating the first layer of the Jade Bone Demon Body Art. The spiritual herbs came from her spatial realm—the one to three-star plants before the bamboo hut perfectly suited for foundational body tempering.
The technique meticulously honed her skin, fusing the elixir's fortifying properties with spiritual energy to strengthen and expand her dermal layers. The process felt like being scrubbed inside and out with steel bristles, the pain so intense it numbed her scalp.
After two hours, the elixir's potency was fully absorbed. Jian Dan had broken through to the first layer of Ice Skin—her first step in body cultivation.
Exhausted from three sleepless days of inheriting memories, dealing with Du Yanran, and navigating the Zhao household under surveillance, she collapsed onto the bed. "No imminent threats? Then better be sleep."
As her consciousness sank into her sea of awareness, the magnolia pendant at its center rotated slowly, its silver glow dazzling amidst the starry expanse. Her spiritual form, a shimmering orb, drifted closer, orbiting the flower. With each revolution, motes of silvery light merged into her, bringing a refreshing clarity—like ice water on a scorching day.
She didn't yet understand the mechanism, but that didn't stop her from basking in its benefits.
At dawn, Jian Dan stretched in the garden, then jogged for thirty minutes with weighted bands. Body tempering required patience; she no longer possessed her past life's Divine Transformation physique.
After sipping spirit spring water, she joined the Zhao family for breakfast.
"I'm taking Zihan for his check-up," Qian Yi apologized. Ziyu, meanwhile, had plans with friends but promised to accompany Jian Dan tomorrow. Soon, only Zhao Mufeng remained. He ushered her into his study, serving premium Longjing tea. The brew was exquisite—clear liquor, lingering aroma—but devoid of spiritual energy. Just leaves without essence.
"You mentioned matters to discuss?" Zhao Mufeng prompted. "If I can help, I will."
Translation: "Don't push if I refuse."
Jian Dan smiled. "Only you can, Father."
"Mother transferred all her assets to me before passing. They were held in trust until I turned eighteen. Before that, I only received living allowances."
Zhao Mufeng nodded. "She worried you'd be exploited. We agreed on this."
True enough. To the Zhaos, money was trivial. He'd paid dearly to retain Jian Rou's antique dowry—and with Jian Dan compliant now, those funds would slither back.
Jian Dan smiled sweetly, with a pair of dimples faintly visible on her cheeks, making Zhao Mufeng feel as if Jian Rou had returned, the woman as gentle as water. He just... shook off the thoughts in his mind and continued to listen to Jian Dan's next words.
"Mother said you safeguarded her dowry. There's an heirloom vanity case—passed down the Jian line. She insisted I preserve it for my future daughter."
At vanity case, his pupils flickered and then immediately returned to normal, as if nothing had changed. He still had a fatherly expression and nodded with a smile: "This is natural. After all, this is also your dowry. I haven't touched the things since your mother left. They are all intact in the bank safe. Now the things should be handed over to you for safekeeping. When I have time, I will take them back."
Jian Dan listened to Zhao Mufeng's evasive words, and a wave of anger rose in her heart. If this person was not her blood relative, she would be considered a sin by the heaven if she attacked him directly. She would grind him to ashes directly.
"Why must I play this farce?"
In just a moment, the anger was suppressed, and Jian Dan's face became much colder. In the Dharma Ending Age, it was not allowed to attack mortals, not to mention that it would increase the difficulty of one's own cultivation path because of such an unworthy person. "Not worth tainting my Dao."
Yet that fleeting malice didn't escape Zhao Mufeng. His hairs stood on end. Adjusting his posture, he studied his suddenly frosty daughter. "Was that... her?"