Zhou Che sat cross-legged, her memory beginning to search through the cultivation methods in her mind—the Heart Desire Lure.

The world has countless cultivation techniques. Though they all draw upon spiritual power, relying on spiritual power alone makes progress far too slow.

Thus, after endless years of refinement and perfection, people have processed the spiritual power cultivated by these methods to varying degrees. As a result, different methods transform spiritual power in different ways.

Hehuan Sect cultivators use desire as their foundation, and most of the techniques they practice are related to it.

You must remember, before cultivating the techniques of a demonic sect, you must first practice the Palm Heaven Passage! This technique absorbs the qi of heaven and earth and can convert spiritual energy into Sealing Demon Spiritual Power. It has a certain suppressive effect on demonic sect techniques and can, to some extent, reduce the influence of the Hehuan Sect’s desire aura on you.

Zhou Che recalled Lu Yu’s instructions, then gave a bitter laugh and began cultivating the Heart Desire Lure.

I carry the jade pendant given by Xiao Ningyu, the full functions of which I have yet to ascertain. How could I dare cultivate the divine abilities of the Tiandao Sect? If that jade has spiritual awareness, I would likely be exposed in an instant and be pursued and killed by demonic sect cultivators.

Thinking of this, Zhou Che sighed again, closed her eyes, and began regulating her breath.

The Heart Desire Lure—though it consisted of only a single form—was the foundation of all Hehuan Sect techniques.

Comprehend the spirit through the heart, release desire and indulge passion. Interweave spiritual power with desire, causing the spiritual energy entering the body to gradually fuse with the heart’s desires, thereby giving birth to what is called desire spiritual power.

And this desire spiritual power was the root of all cultivation techniques practiced by Hehuan Sect cultivators.

Time trickled away as Zhou Che sat in meditation.

Dusk gradually approached. After an afternoon of breath regulation, Zhou Che could already clearly sense the flow of spiritual energy in the surrounding air.

Gurgle~

A sound came from within Zhou Che’s stomach. Without a doubt, she was hungry.

From last night until now, Zhou Che hadn’t had a drop of water or a crumb of food.

As the pangs of hunger struck, she finally emerged from her meditative state. After stretching, she got off the bed.

‘Time to eat!’

Zhou Che reached out and rubbed her soft belly, then prepared to go out.

However, the moment she stepped forward, she tripped hard and sprawled face-first onto the floor.

This was the second time since she’d moved in here.

The threshold of Zhou Che’s abode was somewhat high, so one generally had to lift their feet high when entering or leaving; otherwise, like her, they’d end up flat on their face.

‘Damn, it’s so inconvenient being a woman. Having too good a figure is just a burden. I can’t see what’s under my feet because my view is blocked, and even walking is a hassle. I’m absolutely speechless!’

Slowly picking herself up off the floor, Zhou Che rubbed her sore forehead and grumbled in dissatisfaction.

Though young, after turning into a woman, her body proportions were surprisingly excellent. To use a popular internet phrase, she was the type where: looking down, you can’t see the tips of your toes.

She dusted off her clothes and straightened them out before heading outside.

Hehuan Sect disciples were divided into four types: Core Disciples, Inner Sect Disciples, Outer Sect Disciples, and Registered Disciples.

Their rank was ordered from highest to lowest.

Among them, Registered Disciples referred to people like Zhou Che—those who had just entered the sect and had not yet practiced inedia.

These individuals had yet to begin cultivation in earnest, not even having reached the Minor Attainment Realm, so they could be categorized as mortals just starting on the path of cultivation.

And because these Registered Disciples had not yet shed mortality or practiced inedia, eating, drinking, defecating, and sleeping were still essential needs for them.

Therefore, near the mountain gate square, the sect had specially established various shops to supply the disciples’ daily necessities.

Of course, these shops were naturally not free.

They were run by Outer Sect Disciples, so to obtain what one needed for daily life, one had to exchange goods and materials.

Since Outer Sect Disciples often went out to train and carry out missions, everything from various Dharma artifacts and spirit treasures down to the silver and copper coins of the mortal world could be used as exchange materials.

And for this, under Lu Yu’s prescient guidance, Zhou Che had long been thoroughly prepared.

She might not have much else on her, but money was the one thing she had in abundance.

Of course, Lu Yu’s purpose in having her bring so many coins was naturally to help her safely get through the stage of shedding mortality and practicing inedia.

Because during this stage, many people, due to inadequate preparation, signed numerous unequal treaties with those Outer Sect Disciples.

These treaties bound the Registered Disciples, resulting in many of their future cultivation resources being intercepted by those Outer Sect Disciples, greatly hindering their growth.

By the time Zhou Che arrived at the mountain gate square, the sun had already set.

Guided by the square’s lights, Zhou Che walked further ahead and soon entered a bustling and lively market street.

This flourishing area was where Hehuan Sect disciples went to trade for what they needed.

Clutching her rumbling stomach, Zhou Che walked a short distance through the market before ducking straight into a restaurant.

The restaurant was lavish, but it wasn’t the finest in this place. Although Registered Disciples could trade for daily necessities in this market, there were still places they couldn’t go.

The area Zhou Che was in now was the outer perimeter of the market, while the center of the market was accessible only to Outer Sect Disciples and above.

The moment she stepped into the restaurant, she saw it was packed with diners. Immediately, a woman came over to greet her.

“Honored guest, please come inside. I’ll arrange a seat for you.”

Zhou Che glanced at the woman and then nodded.

This person had no spiritual power circulating around her; she was a Registered Disciple just like Zhou Che.

Presumably, lacking anything to trade with the market and struggling to survive, she had no choice but to serve in this restaurant.

Following the woman’s reception, Zhou Che was arranged at a corner spot on the second-floor balcony.

After ordering her meal, the woman went to prepare it.

Once she had left, Zhou Che finally turned her gaze toward a high platform at the center of the second floor.

On the platform at that moment, a group of women dressed in graceful, sheer gauze were dancing with abandon.

They too were all Registered Disciples like Zhou Che.

After observing for a while, Zhou Che also discovered that most of the service staff in this restaurant were all Registered Disciples. Altogether, there had to be around a hundred of them.

Thank goodness my master gave me plenty of money when I came here, or else I would probably end up just like them, only able to make a living by serving cultivators.

Zhou Che watched the alluring figures of the women on the platform, inwardly feeling grateful.

With her looks and figure, if she truly had to earn a living by serving others, her treatment would certainly be no different from that of the women on that platform.

The thought of herself dressed scantily, striking seductive poses in front of a large crowd, sent a shiver down her spine.

However, one thing did make Zhou Che very curious. After all, the Hehuan Sect was entirely composed of female cultivators, so why did they make Registered Disciples flirt and pose like this? Could it be that among these cultivators, some had a taste for the pleasures of the reflection in the mirror?

Just as Zhou Che was pondering this, the dance on the platform concluded. After the group of women departed, the thing that truly shocked her was finally brought onto the stage.

There, under the escort of an Outer Sect Disciple, seven men dressed in ragged sackcloth were led up.

And at this moment, the numerous female cultivators below finally showed expressions of excitement.

“Look at that lad, with skin so fine and tender. If you could seize his primordial yang, that Maiden’s Allure Art of yours would advance by leaps and bounds!”

“Forget it. With those thin arms and legs, how many rounds could he endure? I still prefer that dark-skinned, brawny man. Just looking at him drives me mad with desire! The very sight makes my entire body tremble!”

“Hey, what was that technique you cultivate again…”

The whispered conversations of a group of female cultivators drifted into Zhou Che’s ears. Looking at those men on the high platform, her heart trembled.

Without a doubt, these men were all mortals, and judging by their appearance, they were clearly people just like her—abducted slaves.

Before being discovered by the Tiandao Sect Leader, Zhou Che had signed an indenture contract to borrow money to buy medicine for her seriously ill mother.

Later, after her mother passed away from illness, she was sold to a wealthy household as a slave.

That household kept her like livestock, beating her at the slightest displeasure.

Unable to bear it any longer, Zhou Che escaped under the cover of a dark, windy night. This was how she later ended up wandering and being picked up by Lu Yu, who brought her back to the Tiandao Sect.

So, upon seeing people who had once shared the same fate, her heart couldn’t help but resonate with them.

“Fellow Daoists, please quiet down and listen to a few words from me, if you will.”

The cultivator escorting the seven slaves on the platform, after arranging the slaves neatly in order of height and build, addressed the crowd below in a clear voice.

Hearing this, the crowd below all fell silent.

At the same time, Zhou Che’s food was also brought over.

The serving woman exchanged a glance with Zhou Che, then bowed and turned to leave.

Once the cultivator on the stage saw that everyone’s attention was on her, she began to speak.

“These seven men are slaves I obtained during my travels and training. Though low in status, they all possess rare, superior-grade spiritual roots. And aside from this tall, dark-skinned one, the other six still have their primordial yang intact. If you can harvest and supplement it, I believe your cultivations will advance once again, fellow Daoists.

I have been here no fewer than ten times now, and I trust all fellow Daoists understand the rules. I won’t say more on the rest. The usual rules: if Registered Disciples wish to bid, the minimum auction price is one hundred taels of silver. For Outer Sect Disciples and above, it is ten low-grade spirit stones or a first-grade spirit pattern Dharma artifact. Talismans, formations, or secret treasures—none of these will be accepted!”

After the man finished speaking, the quiet crowd below erupted into bidding wars.

Zhou Che watched this scene, a complex feeling welling up in her heart. These Hehuan Sect cultivators had gone mad with obsession over the men’s primordial yang.

So, at this moment, what difference was there between this restaurant and the brothels that sold a woman’s first night?