The Samurai Men did not hesitate.

In one synchronized motion, they cupped their hands and bowed deeply, their voices ringing with reverence. "Congratulations, Madam, on your breakthrough."

As if on cue, Mushu's team, Pharsa's warriors, and the rest followed suit, bowing respectfully.

Ling Li's lips curved into a small smile as she lifted a hand, signaling them to rise.

"Thank you," she said, her voice carrying a quiet strength, a force that resonated deeply. "Please rise."

Ling Li then turned to the Samurai leader, her expression softening ever so slightly. "Please extend my deep gratitude to your Master."

The Samurai leader bowed once more. Without another word, the seven warriors vanished into thin air, their departure swift as the wind.

Shi Min finally exhaled, feeling the tension drain from his shoulders.

Ling Li turned toward the mansion, cradling Chin Chin in her arms, the little one still sniffing from earlier tears. "Let's go in," she said, her gaze lingering on Four Eyes.

Four Eyes' expression was unreadable.

Something simmered in his eyes, an emotion Ling Li couldn't quite decipher.

Guilt crept into her heart.

She tilted her head slightly, her voice softening. "I'm sorry I made you worry."

Four Eyes exhaled slowly, looking at her with an intense gaze before scoffing lightly. The relief in Four Eyes' features was unmistakable, but he wasn't ready to let go of his frustration just yet.

"You!… " he muttered before cutting himself off, shaking his head.

Ling Li chuckled, gently rubbing Chin Chin's back as they made their way inside.

Meanwhile, across the Hidden Valley, silence settled like a suffocating blanket.

The martial factions, who had waited with bated breath to seize the alchemy's treasures, now felt only dread.

For a cultivator to withstand twenty-five lightning strikes and survive - no, thrive — meant one thing.

They had challenged someone beyond their reach.

Someone beyond mortality.

Someone the heavens themselves had attempted to punish and failed.

The realization sent chills down their spines.

Not one of them would dare approach the mansion again.

As Ling Li stepped through the grand back entrance of the mansion, followed by her family, the lingering traces of divine energy still clung to her, like whispers of the heavens reluctant to part from her presence. The servants and guards stationed inside, led by Butler Peng, instinctively bowed their heads lower than usual, a subconscious response to the overwhelming aura Ling Li exuded. Though she had masked her true cultivation in the past, her breakthrough left traces of undeniable power, one that could not simply be hidden.

The family gathered quickly in the main hall, the atmosphere thick with a mixture of awe and anticipation. Shi Min stood at the forefront, his sharp eyes observing his mother with newfound reverence. Mushu and Pharsa stood nearby, along with Four Eyes, Lily, Ren, and the rest of the core members who had witnessed the celestial storm that had descended upon the alchemy.

Ling Li turned to face them fully, her silver hair cascading down her back, catching the chandelier above as if the strands were woven with pure moonlight. "I owe you all an explanation. Everyone sit with me," she began, her voice calm yet resolute.

When everyone was settled down, Ling Li lifted her palm, and with a mere thought, several pill bottles and elixir vials appeared in the air before her, floating effortlessly in the refined flow of her qi. The sight alone sent waves of astonishment through the group.

"These," Ling Li gestured toward the artifacts suspended in the air, "are no ordinary pills, elixirs, or essences. Each of them was crafted from materials long believed to be unattainable, each carrying properties that defy the very laws of nature."

Ling Li's eyes swept across the room as she continued.

"Azure Bone — renowned for its ability to fortify both flesh and soul, reinforcing one's foundation to an unimaginable extent.

Ice Lotus — the peak of elemental refinement, capable of purging impurities and granting extreme resistance to ice-based attacks.

Ruby Coral — a rare treasure from the depths, enhancing blood vitality and martial energy recovery at a rate ten times faster than any known medicine.

Snow Ginseng — a miraculous herb with near-infinite regenerative properties, capable of reviving near-dead meridians. And lastly…"

Ling Li extended her fingers slightly, and the faint shimmer of a pitch-black gem emerged, a presence so potent that the very air seemed to grow heavier.

"The Ten Thousand Year Old Black Jade. A celestial material that surpasses even sacred relics. It possesses the ability to refine qi to the purest state imaginable and extend one's lifespan beyond what was thought possible."

Gasps filled the room, the sheer weight of the revelation nearly suffocating.

"These… " Ling Li continued, lowering the objects onto the table carefully, "are what I have crafted. They are heavenly-defying creations, and their mere existence will shake the very foundation of the martial world."

A solemn silence followed her words as every individual in the room processed the gravity of what had been laid before them.

Then, Ling Li's expression hardened slightly. "That is precisely why my breakthrough and immortality must remain a secret."

Shi Min straightened slightly. "You mean because of the inevitable jealousy, right?"

Ling Li nodded. "If word spreads that I've become immortal, cultivators from all corners - sects, rogue warriors, and hidden masters alike, will come for us. Not to honor us but to claim these creations for themselves and to challenge me. If they know I have defied heaven and succeeded, they will not allow our family to exist in peace. It will be an endless war."

Pharsa clenched her fists, her eyes darkening. "Even those who have supported us before would turn. Greed changes people."

Everyone understood.

Ling Li's gaze swept over them all. "That is why this remains a secret. Not just mine, but all of ours."

A weight settled over them, the magnitude of their responsibility dawning upon them.

After a beat, Shi Min exhaled, composing himself. "That's not the only matter we need to discuss."

Ling Li lifted a brow, waiting for Shi Min to continue.

Shi Min exchanged glances with Mushu and then began. "Over the past four days, the attacks haven't stopped. Multiple factions have tried to take the mansion, believing that something powerful was being forged inside. Each time, we pushed them back with the help of the Samurai team."

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