[Wan Qingluan carefully examines your body with her senses]
[Then she exclaims in surprise: "Husband, your true qi has liquefied?!"]
[Wan Qingluan naturally knows that true qi only liquefies at the Essence Refining stage]
[She stares at you dumbfounded, at a loss for words]
[In Wan Qingluan's view, while it's astonishing that your true qi liquefied during Bone Tempering]
[She's equally puzzled that you only reached peak Bone Tempering in your eighties]
[She can't decide whether to call you a genius or a failure]
[After completing nine condensations, your externalized true qi can now break through early-stage Bone Tempering martial artists' defenses]
[And your casting range has increased to five zhang (about 15 meters)]
[This level of power in externalized true qi is something only peak Essence Refining martial artists can achieve]
[Your condensed true qi has become so thick it's almost viscous, making your actual combat strength terrifyingly strong]
[You could easily handle ordinary peak Organ Fortifying martial artists two major realms above you]
[Moreover, this condensation brought you another significant benefit]
[Your martial arts talent has strengthened once more]
[In your next simulation, your realm advancement will become even faster]
["Husband, join our Extermination Sect!" Wan Qingluan brings this up again]
["Qingluan, why do you keep asking me to join the Extermination Sect?" You ask while practicing in the courtyard]
[Wan Qingluan has mentioned joining the Extermination Sect many times over the years]
[You're starting to suspect the sect has some recruitment quota to meet]
[Wan Qingluan smiles playfully and crouches down to rest her head on your shoulder]
["Because you're truly suited for the Extermination Sect, husband."]
[You tilt your head slightly, bringing your faces close together]
["Why?"]
["The Extermination Sect's techniques advocate following one's heart, emphasizing mental clarity - the clearer your mind, the faster your progress."]
[You pull Wan Qingluan into your arms: "Are you saying my mentality fits these conditions?"]
["I've never met anyone more suited to this mentality than you."]
[The more Wan Qingluan understands you, the more she sees you as someone playing with the mortal world]
[You don't particularly feel this way about yourself]
[If anything, you consider yourself quite cautious]
[But because you know you're in a simulation]
[You unconsciously project an air of transcendental detachment, laughing at worldly affairs]
[Wan Qingluan, skilled at reading people, naturally picks up on this]
["What would I gain from joining the Extermination Sect?"]
["A sect-guarding level technique."]
["I'll join! I must join!" You hastily agree, afraid she might change her mind]
[If Wan Qingluan had mentioned the sect-guarding technique earlier, you would have agreed immediately]
[As soon as you speak, Wan Qingluan shoves the technique manual into your hands]
["Heavenly Desire Formless Technique."]
[You stare blankly at the manual: "You're just giving me a sect-guarding technique like this?"]
["Of course, you agreed to join the Extermination Sect."]
["Does everyone get one when they join?"]
["Depends on the inviter's mood."]
["Inviter? You mean... our Extermination Sect operates on referrals?"]
[Wan Qingluan gently strokes your chin: "Sometimes."]
["Great answer - explains absolutely nothing."]
[You understand - don't question the Extermination Sect's ways, as they follow their whims]
["Where's our Extermination Sect's headquarters?" You ask]
["We don't have one."]
["Then where do I go to... join officially?"]
["No such procedures. You're already a member."]
[Your confusion grows]
[The Extermination Sect's methods are truly unconventional, lacking any formal structure]
["Then how do I prove I'm part of this... organization?"]
[Wan Qingluan smiles mysteriously: "You'll know when the time comes."]
[Great, after all that talk, still no actual information]
[You stop pressing, since you've already obtained the Heavenly Desire Formless Technique]
[Everything else is secondary]
[The Heavenly Desire Formless Technique can be cultivated all the way to Dragon Transformation realm - incredibly powerful]
[Its most notable feature is allowing cultivators to freely alter their true qi's properties]
[Gaining an advantage against opponents in battle]
[For example, using yang-aligned true qi against yin-aligned opponents]
[Or vast, majestic true qi against explosive, fierce opponents]
[One month later, Wan Qingluan leaves]
[She says she's close to finding her path to Grandmaster]
[You've been genuine husband and wife for four years]
[Developing considerable affection between you]
[But you know this must eventually end]
[After all, it was all just an act]
[Wan Qingluan leaves decisively]
[That night you make love desperately]
[But come morning, Wan Qingluan straightens her skirts and leaves without looking back]
[After her departure, you take half a day off from cultivation]
[To mourn your deceased romance]
[Wan Qingluan leaves you a thousand internal spirit pills and a jade pendant]
[She says the pendant serves as proof of your Extermination Sect core membership]
[If you ever need the sect's help]
[Take it to the Dragon Gate Inn in the northern Cangwang Desert and find the innkeeper]
[You store the pendant away, with no intention of visiting the inn]
[Returning to focused cultivation]
[Another month passes]
[Your Art of Hidden Breath reaches perfection]
[Martial artists four realms above you can no longer discern your cultivation level]
["Skin Refining, Bone Tempering, Marrow Washing, Organ Fortifying, Essence Refining, Dragon Transformation, Grandmaster, Ultimate Grandmaster"]
["Meaning even Dragon Transformation cultivators can't see through me!"]
[If peak Dragon Transformation Wan Qingluan were still here, she couldn't sense your cultivation either]
[Once you advance to Marrow Washing, even Grandmasters won't be able to tell your level]
[You begin cultivating the Heavenly Desire Formless Technique]
[To your surprise, your progress is remarkably fast]
["Seems Qingluan was right - my mentality perfectly suits the Extermination Sect's techniques."]
[One day while cultivating]
[A group of people come looking for trouble]
[The jade-faced leader tells his seven or eight followers: "That's He Yu of the Extermination Sect - kill him!"]
[You've only been in the Extermination Sect for two months - not even past probation]
[Haven't had time to commit any misdeeds]
[Yet just for joining, people already want you dead]
["Is this the power of reputation?" You think wryly]
[You examine the fierce-looking group]
[Their strongest is the jade-faced leader at peak Marrow Washing]
[The rest are Bone Tempering]
[This lineup poses no threat - they're practically delivering themselves to death]
["Gentlemen, you must have the wrong person?" You try sounding them out]
["No mistake!"]
[The jade-faced youth produces a high-definition portrait of you]
[You startle - the painting looks exactly like you]
[You didn't expect such thorough intelligence work]
["He Yu, no denials now - prepare to die!"]
[The jade-faced youth charges at you]
[His followers cheer him on]
["Look! Young Master Yuan is attacking!!"]
[Clang—]
["Oh no! Young Master Yuan is dead!!"]
[You slash the jade-faced youth into eight pieces]
[His companions immediately wet themselves in fear]
[You restrain them and ask about the portrait's origin]
[You learn it's Extermination Sect tradition]
[For core members, the sect publicly releases their information]
[You're speechless: "Do they want their members dead faster?"]
[You conclude the Extermination Sect leadership must be slightly unhinged]
[Their methods are too chaotic, too free, too... happy]
[And since core members are usually Dragon Transformation or higher]
[No Bone Tempering martial artists like you]
[That's why they dared come directly]
[After all, one picks the soft persimmons]
[But they didn't expect you'd be an iron plate that breaks toes when kicked]
[You swiftly dispatch all eight]
[After looting, you only find some silver notes and low-level techniques]
["Damn, even poorer than me!"]
[You burn down your home of several years and leave quickly]
[Heading north]
[To the desolate Cangwang Desert at Great Qian's northern border]
[Planning to hide there for the rest of your days]