Ling Xue and Zhao Gang worked tirelessly on their cultivation journey, and their long hours of diligent practice brought them close to the threshold of Foundation Establishment. They could clearly sense an elusive barrier just ahead, as if with one more push, they could break through. Yet, no matter how hard they tried, they could not take that crucial step.
Anxiety gnawed at Zhao Gang's heart. After much contemplation, he decided to seek help from his master, the Grand Master of the Northern Jin Kingdom. In his memory, his master had always been an enigmatic figure of profound wisdom. He firmly believed that she could provide him with guidance to overcome this predicament.
With hope and anticipation in his heart, Zhao Gang set off on the arduous journey to find his master. After a long trek, he finally arrived at her location, only to find that what awaited him was a terrifying betrayal.
The Grand Master of the Northern Jin Kingdom possessed a beauty that could topple nations. Her skin was as white as snow, smooth and delicate as if it could reflect light, resembling jade carved from mutton fat. Her eyebrows arched like distant mountains, slightly raised at the corners, exuding an innate air of pride and authority.
Her eyes were like deep pools of water—mysterious and profound—glimmering with a cold light that sent shivers down one's spine. The rare purple hue of her irises seemed to contain endless magical power; a mere glance could ensnare one’s soul, making escape impossible.
Her nose was elegantly sculpted, adding dimension to her features. When her lips curved slightly upwards in a hint of a smile, it carried an air of danger rather than warmth.
Her long, lustrous black hair cascaded down her shoulders like a waterfall, with a few strands occasionally dancing in the wind, enhancing her ethereal and mysterious presence. She wore a magnificent purple robe embroidered with golden mystical symbols that shimmered brilliantly in the sunlight.
Tall and graceful, she exuded an aura of nobility and cold elegance with every gesture. Her long, slender fingers were painted with vibrant purple polish, resembling sharp claws ready to deliver a fatal blow to her enemies.
Beneath this beautiful exterior lay a heart filled with evil and greed. Her gaze often revealed an insatiable thirst for power and strength; she would stop at nothing to achieve her goals—even betraying her own disciples.
She immediately recognized the immense potential within Zhao Gang and saw him as an excellent vessel for her ambitions.
In Zhao Gang's moment of vulnerability, the Grand Master proposed to assist him in dual cultivation to help him reach Foundation Establishment. In reality, she intended to absorb his cultivation power for herself. A powerful vortex of spiritual energy enveloped Zhao Gang before he could react; he could only watch helplessly as his strength was gradually siphoned away.
As time passed, Zhao Gang felt his power being stripped away in large amounts; it was as if he had been hollowed out, leaving him in unbearable pain.
Ultimately, when this horrific plundering came to an end, Zhao Gang's cultivation plummeted from near Foundation Establishment to the seventh layer of Qi Refinement.
"Master, why?" Zhao Gang asked in confusion.
"My breakthrough to Golden Core may depend on your strength," she replied coldly. "I need your power to assist me. My Xuanmen is currently embroiled in internal strife; once I achieve Po Jin Dan, I will stand alone at the top. At that time, unifying Jin State will be within our grasp."
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