Stealing Luck from the Heavenly Dao's Favorite

After reading Ethereal Grace's message, a surge of determination swept through Wei Yunxi. She had already transmigrated into this world—what was there to fear anymore?

She had countless cultivation novels as her foundation, she had already started reshaping her fate, and now, she even had access to a space-bound chat group. How could she not win this game?

Fleeting Cloud: Thank you, Seniors, for your guidance. I now know what I must do.

Leaving behind that final message, her consciousness exited the space.

Wei Yunxi's eyes snapped open. She sat upright on the bed, stretched lazily, then quickly composed herself. Sitting cross-legged once more, she entered a meditative state. She was only a hair's breadth away from breaking through to the third layer of Qi Refining.

Previously, her restless thoughts about going to Haoran Sect had kept her from making progress. But now that her heart was clear, she focused her energy and pierced through that final veil.

The breakthrough felt amazing. The rush of spiritual energy coursing through her meridians brought a deep sense of satisfaction. After circulating the qi through a full cycle, she guided it back to her dantian. The cluster of spiritual light at the bottom had grown denser once more.

Wei Yunxi opened her eyes and let out a soft sigh of contentment. Then she summoned from her storage space the jade slip containing the Soul Refining Art, which Ox-Head Horse-Face had gifted her. The dark-colored jade slip looked mysterious and ancient.

Ox-Head Horse-Face had warned her in a private message not to cultivate this art until she reached the third level of Qi Refining. After all, the soul was vital to any cultivator, and without a solid foundation, a novice might damage their spirit.

Wei Yunxi took a deep breath and carefully extended her spiritual awareness, beginning to read the contents of the jade slip.

The Soul Refining Art was originally a cultivation method used by ghost cultivators, designed to strengthen the soul. At its highest level, it could even allow one to reconstruct a physical body from their spirit alone—the ultimate goal of any ghost cultivator. For human cultivators, it was just as effective. And right now, this was exactly what Wei Yunxi needed.

According to the jade slip's classifications, her current soul strength already matched that of a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator—another pleasant surprise.

She guessed this had something to do with her transmigrated soul. As an adult soul now fused with a five-year-old body, her spirit had naturally grown more powerful.

Having confirmed all of this, she began silently reciting the incantations of the Soul Refining Art and entered deep cultivation once more.

What she didn't realize was that the moon had risen to its peak, and threads of yin moonlight were silently flowing into her cultivation room, merging with her spirit.

Haitang Courtyard

Du Ruolan had already learned that a Nascent Soul elder from Haoran Sect had arrived at the Wei family, and that he'd granted three additional entry slots. Which meant Wei Yunxi's acceptance into the sect was practically guaranteed now—a result she absolutely did not want to see.

Originally, with limited slots, it was only natural that her own daughter, with dual spiritual roots and the first to achieve Qi Gathering, would be chosen. No one had objected.

Even when Wei Yunxi later succeeded in Qi Gathering, she'd done it through unorthodox means. And with her cultivation stagnant for three months, it was reasonable to cut her from the list.

But now, with three more spots available, someone like Wei Lingyue would certainly push to include his daughter. It was his investment—and a chance to curry favor with the Feng family. Du Ruolan, however, didn't want Feng Jiayun's daughter stepping foot into Haoran Sect.

Having made up her mind, she sent out a voice transmission to Zhenzhu.

Early the next morning, Wei Yunxi emerged from her cultivation with a clear and invigorated mind. The comfort she felt far exceeded what she'd gained from absorbing spiritual energy alone. That was the benefit of soul cultivation.

After washing up, she prepared to head to the training hall following her morning spirit meal. Whether or not she entered Haoran Sect, advancing her cultivation came first.

Chunyu laid out the prepared meal from the kitchen and began assisting her with breakfast.

Just as Wei Yunxi reached for her jade chopsticks, Feng Xiu stepped forward and stopped her hand."Miss, please wait a moment."

Wei Yunxi obediently pulled her hand back and turned to Feng Xiu.

Feng Xiu reached into her storage pouch and retrieved a white jade bead. When she brought it near the spirit food, the bead slowly turned dark green. Her face darkened at once.

Wei Yunxi wasn't foolish. One look and she knew—this meal had been tampered with. The smile on her face disappeared.

Feng Xiu said grimly, "Miss, someone laced the meal with poison. I can't identify the exact drug, but based on the reaction of this bead, it's something highly dangerous."

Wei Yunxi didn't even need to guess who was behind it. Next to her, Chunyu had already collapsed to her knees in fear. After all, she'd been the one to retrieve the food.

"Chunyu," Wei Yunxi said calmly, "go find my father. Tell him I collapsed after breakfast. Tell him to come immediately."

Already sobbing, Chunyu nodded frantically and tried to rise, wiping her tears as she prepared to run.

But Wei Yunxi held up a hand. "Leave the tears. If you wipe them away, how are we supposed to fool the ones watching?"

Realization dawned on Chunyu. She nodded quickly and dashed out of Zhuohua Courtyard, tears streaming as she made her way to find Wei Lingyue.

Wei Lingyue was in the midst of discussing who should get the additional three entry slots when a servant interrupted.

"What's going on?" he asked.

"Chunyu reports that Miss Yunxi has collapsed."

Wei Lingtáo looked at his elder brother and said, "You should go check on her."

Wei Lingyue nodded and vanished in a flash of light.

When he arrived at the main courtyard of Zhuohua, he found Wei Yunxi sitting calmly in her chair, while Feng Xiu stood beside her, face cold.

Before he could speak, Feng Xiu stepped forward and said, "My lord, someone laced Miss's spirit meal with poison. The intent is clear—this was meant to harm."

Wei Lingyue's displeasure instantly shifted to cold fury. "Feng Xiu, explain in detail."

Feng Xiu didn't hold back or sugarcoat anything. She told him everything and pointed toward the tainted dish. "My lord, my cultivation is limited. I couldn't identify the exact substance. Please inspect it yourself."

Wei Lingyue's face darkened until it looked like a thundercloud. He extended his spiritual sense over the bowl of porridge, then picked it up and sniffed it.

His expression changed at once.

"Yunxi doesn't need to go to the training hall today. You stay and guard her well," he ordered Feng Xiu. "I'll personally investigate this."

Chunyu didn't need prompting. She was already kneeling and speaking through her tears. "My lord, I personally collected the food from the main kitchen. I received it straight from the chef. I didn't hand it over to anyone along the way, but I did run into Zhenzhu outside the courtyard. She stopped me and spoke for a moment."

Wei Lingyue's heart sank. He nodded and said, "Stay here."

Then, without another word, he vanished from the courtyard.

On his way out, he spotted Zhenzhu peering suspiciously into Zhuohua Courtyard. With a flick of his hand, he grabbed her by the neck.