I Will Help You Reach the Out-of-Body Realm

The door opened, and Ian Song's gaze fell on Fiona Chen, who was standing prettily outside. She wore a long white dress, her black hair cascading to her waist, and her bright, watery eyes made her look like a spirit of the night.

"Come in."

Ian invited Fiona inside, then closed the door behind her.

"Is it worth it?"

Ian picked up the teapot on the table and poured Fiona a cup.

"There's no such thing as worth or not. If I want to do something, I just do it." Fiona set the teacup down on the table. "Young Master Song, I want wine."

"Alright, I'll join you!"

Ian didn't stand on ceremony. With a flip of his hand, two wine jugs appeared. He tossed one to Fiona and raised his own. "Miss Chen, a toast to you."

"Young Master Song, I toast you as well."

"Cough, this wine is strong." Fiona wiped her mouth, her cheeks flushing red.

Then she got a chance to return home.

After more than twenty years apart, her parents had grown old, and her family had flourished thanks to her.

Her parents greeted her warmly.

But that warmth wasn't what she truly wanted.

Her relatives flattered and feared her, but none were close. Even her parents spoke to her with caution, afraid to offend. That feeling left her deeply uncomfortable, as if she and her parents now belonged to two different worlds.

After that, she only visited home every few years. She gave her parents many pills, but couldn't stop the fate of mortals. By the time she reached late Golden Core, they had both passed away, leaving only two mounds of yellow earth. Their deaths, and her insight into the gulf between mortal kinship and cultivator longevity, triggered the enlightenment that let her break through to Nascent Soul.

Once she formed her Nascent Soul, her status in the Chen family rose quickly. Her beauty drew many suitors among the male disciples. Her peer and rival, Ada Chen, was just as outstanding.

She never wanted to fight Ada Chen, but in a clan built on competition, someone or something always forced her to. Fiona felt helpless.

Unknowingly, she changed. Competing with Ada Chen became habitual—almost instinctual. If you don't fight, you fall behind. She didn't want to stop at Nascent Soul; she wanted to reach Out-of-Body, even Soul-Split, and become a true power in the Chen family.

"Young Master Song, do you think someone like me is pitiful?"

Before she knew it, Fiona had finished the whole jug of wine. Without using her true essence to dissolve the alcohol, her cheeks glowed red and her eyes turned hazy.

"No," Ian shook his head. "You're very real." He sighed. "Struggling against heaven, earth, and others is itself a joy. Why should we cultivators fear conflict?"

Don't be fooled by Ian's ability to travel worlds, grow stronger, and win beauties. He was still just a chess piece controlled by his system. But one day, he vowed to break its shackles and reclaim his own fate.

"Young Master Song!"

Hearing Ian's bold words, Fiona gazed at him with growing infatuation, unable to take her eyes off him.

"Come."

"Calm your mind and focus—remember the circulation route!"

Just then, a cool voice sounded in her ear. At the same time, a stream of true essence flowed from their point of contact into her body, moving along a precise meridian path she couldn't control.

Fiona's heart jolted. She immediately suppressed her emotions and focused on sensing the route of that energy.

The true essence circulated through her body twice, then merged into her Nascent Soul. Instantly, she felt her Nascent Soul grow denser and slightly expand.

"This is...!" Joy surged in her heart.

Just then, Ian's voice sounded again: "Guard against arrogance and impatience. Follow me and circulate your cultivation method along the same route!"

Hearing this, Fiona quickly gathered her emotions and began to operate her true essence according to his guidance, channeling it along the same route.

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Hearing Ian's bold words, Fiona couldn't help but look at him with infatuation, her gaze lingering on him, unable to look away.

"Come."

"Focus your mind and remember the route for channeling energy!"

At that moment, a cold voice sounded in her ear. At the same time, a stream of energy flowed into her body from their point of contact, circulating along a specific route she couldn't control.

Hearing this, Fiona's heart trembled. She quickly calmed herself and focused on sensing the path of the energy flow.

The energy circulated through her body twice, then merged into her Nascent Soul. Instantly, she felt her Nascent Soul grow more solid and powerful.

"This is...!" For a moment, joy filled her heart.

At that moment, the voice sounded again: "Guard against arrogance and impatience. Follow me and circulate your energy!"

Hearing this, she quickly reined in her emotions and channeled her true energy along the previously shown route.