Cultivation is Creation

There's an unwritten rule in cultivation novels - when a beautiful female cultivator suddenly takes interest in you, start planning your escape route. Preferably to another continent. Or in my case, another dimension.

I was practicing the Phantom Strike technique in one of the smaller training grounds, trying to perfect the movement pattern Azure had helped optimize, when that prickling sensation of being watched made me pause mid-strike.

"Qi signature detected," Azure reported helpfully. "Power level... oh. Oh my. That's significantly above our weight class. Peak Qi Condensation!"

I turned slowly, already dreading what I'd find. Sure enough, watching me from the edge of the training ground was a young woman in purple robes. Purple robes. The kind worn exclusively by Core Disciples.

During recruitment, disciples were evaluated and sorted into three potential tracks - Outer, Inner, and Core. The original Ke Yin had barely scraped into Outer Disciple potential, which made sense given his... well, my current situation. Core Disciples were the elite, either selected directly for their talent or advancing through sheer determination and skill. Either path commanded respect.

Which made her focused attention on my practice session deeply concerning.

I'd read about jade beauties in cultivation novels, but nothing had prepared me for the reality. She was breathtaking in the most literal sense - I actually found myself forgetting to breathe for a moment. Her features were perfect with an otherworldly quality that made even the most beautiful mortal women seem plain by comparison.

Long black hair fell like silk past her waist, and her eyes held hints of golden light. Her purple robes seemed to flow around her like water, each movement graceful enough to make celestial maidens jealous.

"Your form is quite good," she said, realizing she'd been noticed. "Especially for someone at your cultivation level."