Although Xu Mei was also a curious girl next to Xie Qing, she chose to hug her disciple first and then carefully check his soul.


    "Hm? There are traces of minor injuries... but mostly everything is normal," Xu Mei thought, puzzled, after examining Xie Qing''s soul. "My mark should have activated when the soul damage reached 50%... that''s strange..."


    The woman was truly perplexed. However, not finding any problems, she could only give up.


    "And... you''ve reached the Soul Integration stage? That''s amazing!" Xu Mei praised, smiling brightly. "Good, excellent! A cultivator at the Soul Integration stage at 19 years old? That''s truly a bit shocking..."


    "You''re ttering me..."


    Xie Qing smiled, not even trying to hide his self-satisfaction with this fact. After all, the fact that a cultivator of his age had reached such heights was already considered something shocking.


    However, reaching the current stage at such a young age did not mean that his path would be just as easy from now on. He had already felt the difficulties when he reached the Nascent Soul stage, and the feeling would be stronger at the Soul Integration stage.


    After all, although a quick breakthrough was important, the foundation was paramount.


    "Let''s go. I need to check on my guard post first, and then we can continue our conversation," Xu Mei said, looking at Lyu Lyu, who was holding Xie Qing''s hand and hiding behind his back.


    Whoosh!


    A vortex rose around them, and they disappeared.


    ***


    Crack... crack...


    Sounds were heard as if something was starting to crack.


    The matter was near the barrier that was being protected by hundreds of cultivators. While the others were monitoring the area, two cultivators were sparring in a small corner that had been set aside for them.


    Bang.


    Xie Qing fell helplessly to the ground, and the training sword in his hand shattered into dust. He looked up at Xu Mei with a smile. She had not moved from her spot during the entire sparring session.


    "Good, not bad skills," she nodded and said with a smile. "Dear disciple, the techniques you''ve created are worthy of attention. I can only apud how well-bnced they are. However, the Sword God Strike still needs adjustments, as its base power is extremely weak."


    "I understand, but it''s very difficult to bnce this technique properly," Xie Qing exined, sighing. "It umtes power through the sword cultivator''s qi and the surrounding environment''s qi. So, you could say that the longer you ''charge'' it, the stronger the final attack will be!"


    "Well, since it''s your personal sword technique, you''re the best one to know how to improve it," Xu Mei nodded, and then pped her hands. "Alright, I''ve confirmed that your cultivation level is good and solid. I''m very pleased with you!"


    Xie Qing stood up and dusted off the dirt and dust from his clothes. He couldn''t help but smile, hearing her words. Each of his techniques had been honed to perfection, and he had spent hundreds of hours and days on them.


    So, it was nice to hear someone acknowledge his hard work.


    Xu Mei nodded, and then asked with a bright smile, "So... who is that girl?"


    "..."


    Xie Qing smiled awkwardly. He knew that he would have to tell her about Lyu Lyu sooner orter.


    "Her name is Lyu Lyu, we met..."


    Since he had nothing to hide, the young man told her everything. By the end of the story, Xu Mei looked calm.


    "Alright... I understand..." she muttered, twisting her mouth, and then sighed, saying, "Is there a ma on you that attracts women? This is already the... time?"


    "Ma?"


    Xie Qing smiled bitterly.


    ***


    Xie Qing had a long conversation with Xu Mei, and she told him thetest news. Although the devilish cultivators had not caused any trouble, the fact that they had been able to prate the barrier was already shocking news for them.


    "After a small investigation, it was found that there were about ten devilish cultivators in the past year who were actively spreading forbidden cultivation techniques," Xu Mei exined.


    Together with Xie Qing, they stood on a high defensive wall, looking down at the bright reflections that were being reflected on the surface of the barrier.


    Inhaling the slightly moist air, Xie Qing sensed a faint, almost imperceptible, stench of devilish qi. And if you''re wondering what kind of smell it has, imagine the smell of sewers and a drowned man.


    "Interesting... it seems that they can''t use this loophole too often, right?" Xie Qing asked, crossing his arms over his chest. His long sleeves fluttered in the wind.


    "That''s right. Moreover, we''re not missing a beat. There are qi suppression formations and spatial interference around the barrier. Most of the teleportation attempts are intercepted at the root," Xu Mei replied with a smile that looked very malicious.


    "What a cutie..." Xie Qing thought.


    In any case, ignoring the guy with the loose screws, the situation was mostly satisfactory. Despite the minor inconveniences, everything was stable.


    "How is the sect doing?" Xie Qing asked curiously.


    "What''s the matter... everything is mostly fine..." Xu Mei replied with a bright smile, which clearly showed that everything was simply excellent. "The cultivation techniques that you''ve passed on to the sect have helped us bridge a big gap. So, we''ve been able to cultivate several good seeds. Moreover, thanks to your reputation, many talents are choosing our sect!"


    "I''m d to hear that."


    Xie Qing nodded. From the beginning, he had no strong emotions towards the sect. He had only done everything for Xu Mei''s sake, as, although she was carefree, the sect was an important part of her life.


    Although she was carefree, which had caused the sect''s development to stagnate for many years.


    "The sect... hm... I''m supposed to be the main disciple, right?" Xie Qing thought and felt a little embarrassed. "Oh, damn it, I haven''t really been interested in this topic since the exam..."


    He was probably the most carefree disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect. However, no one med him -, no one dared.


    His reputation had created favorable conditions for the sect for many years. Moreover, the main disciples were grateful that this guy had decided not to interfere in the affairs of the main court.


    After all, imagine that while the rest have an average level of Core Formation, one monster already has a Soul Integration! This is like an adult man going to a sandbox and fighting for a toy shovel and bucket.


    "By the way, how is the construction of the huge mansion going?" Xie Qing asked.


    "Ah, you mean your new home? Well, let''s say that a lot is already done... it remains to find a person who will apply the formations and create a security system... I''m sorry, I can''t do it," Xu Mei replied with some embarrassment.


    "Formations... hm... what about the sect master, Zhang Mei? Will she agree to help us?" Xie Qing asked.


    "With her character... um... well, she''ll agree, but... you''ll have to do a few tasks for her," Zhang Mei thought for a moment and then replied, scratching her head. "I can put in a good word for you if you want."


    "Everything is fine, I''ll contact her myself," Xie Qing thought with a mischievous smile.


    ***


    At this time, Zhang Mei was meditating in her pavilion without a care in the world. Suddenly, a warmth appeared from the depths of her soul that instantly destroyed her concentration and tranquility.


    And in the next second, she heard a sigh.


    "Aah..."


    "***?!"


    Zhang Mei''s eyes opened, and she blushed with shame. This moan, full of pleasure... was horribly familiar to her.


    "This brat! Scoundrel! And Xu Mei, shameless, how can you sleep with your disciple?!"


    Her eyes were filled with despair. Xie Qing, whether intentionally or not, sometimes transmitted his hearing through the Soul Mark. Zhang Mei, as the other party, could hear all of this.


    Although she was initially annoyed... her face became drawn as she listened to every sigh and word from Xu Mei with red, shame-filled ears.


    "This... is so shameful! What am I even doing, in the end?!" Zhang Mei thought, ashamed.


    However, she couldn''t do anything about it. Everything she heard in her head was transmitted directly through her soul, so she could only resign herself to it.


    "I need to change my underwear..." she thought, ashamed.


    Two hourster, the sounds, fortunately, disappeared. And when the re-dressed Zhang Mei was able to breathe a sigh of relief, she heard a voice she hated.


    "Sect Master Zhang Mei? This is Xie Qing..."


    "Scoundrel!" Zhang Mei cursed the shameless man in her thoughts, but her face was cold, as was her voice. "What do you need?"


    "Hm? I sense a strange smell..."


    "Shut up!"


    Zhang Mei blushed deeply.


    "This damn thing can even transmit smells! How could I have forgotten...?"


    Of course, with Xie Qing''s intelligence, it didn''t take him long to figure out what the smell was. However, in order not to put Zhang Mei in an awkward position, he skipped over this topic.


    "In any case, I have a request for you, Sect Master..."


    "Hm?"


    ***


    A weekter, Xie Qing, Lyu Lyu, and Xu Mei returned to the Eastern Continent. However, they did not go to the sect, but to arge mansion located a hundred miles away, on the highest mountain.


    Luxurious gardens, fountains, sculptures, as well as horses and various animals served to protect the mansion.


    The main material of the mansion was made of a strong material, simr in quality and strength to the Immortal Stone.


    And now, all that remained was to apply the formations.