Seamstress Qin Ximo

After Qin Ximo finished refining the yin energy she had drawn from Cao Xueyan, she opened her eyes, a complicated mix of joy and worry flashing through them.

What made her happy was that, in only a few days, she had already mastered the Hehuan Sect technique to perfection.

Not only had she become more adept at drawing and refining yin, but she could clearly feel that the grand array suppressing her on this immortal mountain had weakened to almost nothing.

That most recent cultivation session restored more than half of her strength, and her body felt no discomfort at all.

She had to admit, when the conditions were right, this dual-cultivation art advanced far faster than any method she had ever practiced.

It wasn’t just a shortcut — it was practically cheating.

Of course, Hehuan Sect techniques were said to affect one’s mind, but Qin Ximo was not someone whose will could be swayed so easily.

She barely felt their influence.

What truly worried her was something else.

Now that she had practiced a demonic dual-cultivation method, her Dao lineage was no longer pure.

She already lacked absolute confidence in overcoming the Nascent Soul tribulation.

Now, she had practically handed Heaven a weakness to exploit — a perfect excuse to strike her down.

Her chances of forming a Nascent Soul were even slimmer.

If demonic cultivators truly banded together to assault the righteous sects in the future — with the righteous path unable to produce even a few High-grade Golden Cores — who would protect the world?

They wouldn’t even be able to defend their own mountain gates.

Regaining her strength had taken time, and regardless of whether Lu Qianyun had lied or not, Qin Ximo felt it was necessary to search for that rumored method to break through to Nascent Soul.

“Did you finish refining it?”

Cao Xueyan leaned close with a bright, expectant look.

“Do you feel anything different this time?”

Her first dual cultivation since gaining the Qingqiu Fox bloodline — of course she was curious.

That simulation system was always trying to sell her strange solutions, but it did provide useful things.

Whether it was the early cultivation points or the Qingqiu Fox bloodline, all of it had been exactly what she needed.

Qin Ximo gently patted the girl’s head, and her fingers absently brushed the soft fox ear.

“There are many differences.

Which one are you talking about?”

Her tone had subtly changed the last few days, as if something inside her had softened.

Or perhaps, after centuries of cultivation, she was remembering who she originally was.

“Don’t tease.”

Cao Xueyan slapped away her wandering hand, cheeks pink.

“I’m asking whether this yin… this time — was it any different to refine?”

Even now, she still felt embarrassed saying such things aloud.

Especially in front of her own martial uncle.

Qin Ximo had mistaken her identity, seeing her only as someone resembling a past acquaintance.

But Cao Xueyan knew the truth — this was her, no matter the name.

Qin Ximo’s playful expression faded as she answered seriously.

“This time, the yin was purer.

Easier to absorb.

And the amount of strength I restored… was seven or eight times more than last time.”

“That’s all?”

Cao Xueyan looked disappointed.

Qin Ximo recovering quickly was great — it meant the Hehuan Sect disciples outside weren’t a threat.

Only Lu Qianyun remained troublesome.

“What more were you hoping for?”

Qin Ximo laughed softly.

“Think about my cultivation level.

A Golden Core cultivator — and a Ninth-turn one at that.

Every step forward normally takes years, even decades.

How could a few dual-cultivation sessions boost me dramatically?”

“True…”

“Right now, finding a method to help me break through to Nascent Soul matters more.”

Qin Ximo said.

“If it isn’t in this hall, we’ll search the other rooms.

And we’ll deal with the Hehuan Sect disciples outside afterward.”

Cao Xueyan nodded eagerly.

She had no loyalty to the Hehuan Sect.

If anything, she would happily see them all wiped out — considering the countless simulations where they drained her dry or discarded her recklessly.

Her resentment burned deep — second only to those demonic cultivators who used swords to stab her heart in certain simulations.

The two walked to the bookshelf and searched jade slip after jade slip.

“‘Yin-Yang Harmony Scripture’?
No use — requires male and female cultivators.”

“‘Heaven-Mending Divine Skill’?
A female-female supplement method… useful, but not for tribulation.”

“‘Thirty-Six Furnace Techniques for Training Perfect Dual Partners’?
…What in the world—”

Cao Xueyan skimmed only a few lines before nausea rose.

The degrading methods described were enough to make her skin crawl.

How could anyone write such things and still call themselves human?

Dozens of jade slips later, nothing contained any information about breaking into Nascent Soul.

Only dual-cultivation techniques and sinister secret arts.

The Hehuan Sect’s predecessor might not have been officially labeled demonic, but their research certainly painted another picture.

“What decent person invents this kind of technique?”

Cao Xueyan muttered.

“It seems nothing is here.”

Qin Ximo said.

“We should search the other rooms.”

Cao Xueyan nodded and turned to leave — but Qin Ximo suddenly pulled her back.

Before she could ask why, a loose robe was draped over her shoulders.

“You planned to walk out like that?”

Qin Ximo raised a brow.

Only then did Cao Xueyan realize — they were both still unclothed after cultivation.

Even during her wildest days with Xiao Menglan, they never walked around in public without clothes.

“I’ll get dressed!”

Cao Xueyan scrambled back, cheeks burning.

Qin Ximo watched her flustered movements, tail swaying behind her in sync with her emotions.

Suddenly, Qin Ximo felt life was blessed, to have met such a girl.

Back in the chaotic aftermath of their cultivation session, Cao Xueyan dug through the clothes, finding her own… only to discover tears and stretched fabric.

They weren’t cut — they were ripped.

She remembered Qin Ximo’s earlier loss of control and felt her face heat further.

Maybe it was better not to wear these anymore.

Qin Ximo approached, slipped an arm around her slender waist, and murmured,

“Wear mine instead.

They may not fit perfectly — I’ll adjust them.”

She pulled out a spare set:

An inner lining woven from Tianshan snow-silk, light and cool to the touch but warm once worn.

And an elegant white robe embroidered with gold trim, marked with the cloud patterns of Qingyun Sword Sect.

Luxurious clothes that Cao Xueyan had almost never worn in her life.

Qin Ximo patiently helped her dress.

The inner lining fit well enough, but the robe dragged on the floor… while the chest area was unexpectedly tight.

Qin Ximo stared in mild shock.

She remembered those curves being… less dramatic before.

Could they really grow from being touched too much?

“Fairy Qin, are you thinking something improper?”

Cao Xueyan huffed.

“Didn’t you say you’d adjust the robe?

I can’t breathe properly.”

Qin Ximo snapped out of it, smiling.

“Yes. I’ll fix it.”

A dignified sword immortal shrank her beloved sword down to needle-size and used it to carefully pull threads from the hem.

Then, kneeling before the girl, she began sewing with complete focus.

Cao Xueyan looked down at her — at the calm, serious expression of the woman stitching her clothes — and her heart thumped wildly.

T-This was definitely the robe’s fault.

Yes.

Absolutely the robe’s fault.