This was the first Furnace he owned upon his initial arrival in the Otherworld, and it was also a mortal unable to cultivate—a life that had a clear beginning and end, leaving no room for doubt.
But now, looking back?
Absolutely not so.
Did Qiu Lianyue notice him from the very beginning, and was she accompanied by a powerful figure from the Profound Yellow Seven Realms?
Yet, if that was the case, why did she not take any action?
Song Yan was shocked, finding it hard to comprehend.
Qiu Lianyue also scrutinized him, then suddenly raised her finger and began calculating.
With a flick of her finger across the void, as if caressing the line of cause and effect, she could completely see through a person in an instant.
Her long, alabaster finger flicked a few times before slowly retracting. She pointed to the seat opposite, saying, "Sit."
Song Yan lowered his head, cheeks flushed, not daring to look at her.
Wang Susu giggled beside him, saying in a sultry voice, "Filial son, sit. This is the second young lady of the Qiu residence."
Song Yan sat down awkwardly, mumbling, "Yes... Qiu... Qiu Second Miss."
Qiu Lianyue took a couple of bites of sweet tofu pudding and said, "I really like the tofu pudding you make. I’ve heard about your situation, and I was thinking of accepting you into the Qiu residence to specialize in making tofu pudding and bean curd in the dining hall, how does that sound?"
As her words fell, a commotion arose around them.
Discussions erupted.
"The Qiu residence, isn’t that the residence of Grand General Qiu?"
"You silly boy, quickly agree!"
"Hurry up and agree, this is a great opportunity to ascend!"
On ordinary days, Song Yan was known for his good character, and the surrounding neighbors hoped for his success, so someone began urging him.
Song Yan paused in silence, then said, "I still need to ask my father’s permission."
Qiu Lianyue nodded.
...
...
Several months later, in early winter...
The Qiu residence.
The night was dark, the wind was high, and light snowflakes drifted down.
Qiu Lianyue took off her dress, wrapping her beautiful body in a warm quilt. The charcoal in the heater emitted a faint pine fragrance, warming the cold room. However, there wasn’t much charcoal in the furnace, indicating that the second young lady of the Qiu residence was oppressed within the household.
At that moment, a shadow suddenly appeared before her, gripping her snow-white neck. A coarse voice emerged from the darkness.
"Speak! Why do you have two powerful cultivators serving as your maids?"
"Wang Qingya?"
"Indeed, but I am actually a cultivator myself. I merely took over Wang Qingya’s body. Don’t change the subject, speak up!"
Song Yan held Qiu Lianyue’s neck tightly.
If she were just a mortal, he would have had feelings for her.
But upon seeing Qiu Lianyue here, with Wang Susu and Yu Xuanwei serving as her maids, he already knew that Qiu Lianyue was far from a mere mortal.
Since she invited him into the Qiu residence, it was apparent she had noticed his unusual nature.
Thus...
He observed for a short time. Finding nothing suspicious, he decided to strike decisively.
Strike first to gain the upper hand, delay and suffer the consequences.
If the opponent was from the Profound Yellow Seven Realms, their weakest point would be their body.
"Don’t try any tricks. If I sense anything wrong, I’ll take us both down," Song Yan’s voice was icy.
Qiu Lianyue suddenly laughed.
Qiu Lianyue said, "Brother Song, here’s the situation: This world has some problems, so the Three Saints went mad. Earth Burial, Blood River, Dragon, and I invaded from an outer world. Our intention was to refine the Three Saints and thus merge with the Dao."
Song Yan asked, "Is merging with the Dao the pursuit of a Saint?"
Qiu Lianyue nodded, then added, "To merge with the Dao, one must first control the Three Realms. The Blood River Saint arrived first, followed by a tremendous battle, a period of recuperation and healing. Then came Earth Burial, who collaborated with Dragon to seal the Hou Saint. But Hou Saint was secretly released by certain cultivators, severely injuring the Dragon Saint and escaping thereafter. Once the seal was broken, Earth Burial, seeing the Hou Saint escape and the weakened Dragon Saint, devoured Dragon. The remaining, various inscriptions on the Dragon Stele bore the ’Earth Burial Forbidden Talisman’, which, when comprehended, offered celestial possibilities—the Palace Master of the Five Spirits Celestial Demon Palace, leaving behind a cultivation technique called the ’Dragon Burial Law.’ That titanic battle was earth-shattering. I was a mere bystander, originally hiding and waiting for an opportunity, but feeling the timing wasn’t right, I refrained from acting. Because of this, I became particularly interested in that realm and eventually met Brother Song."
"Being with Brother Song, I felt quite happy."
Song Yan listened attentively.
Qiu Lianyue’s account illuminated the past events of that land.
The one who released the ’Hou Saint’ was likely Gu Mohan and his group... no wonder, he thought, someone as strong as Gu Mohan wouldn’t just fall to Di Cunxin’s petty realm—Gu Mohan got swept up into the battle of saints.
"What’s the lord’s plan now?" Song Yan asked.
Qiu Lianyue tugged at the quilt, then flirtatiously tapped Song Yan with her legs, saying with a smile, "Brother Song used to hold me from behind, make love, and then have a pillow talk. Now you’re calling me ’my lord’—I’ve honestly gotten unused to it."
"Well then... Sister Qiu?"
"Heh, what I aim to do is still to seize control of the Three Realms. However, even though Xi, Nuwa, and Hou are mad, they somewhat form a faction. Blood River, Earth Burial, and Dragon are another faction. As the Seventh Saint standing alone, I have to disguise myself as a Half-Saint, naturally desiring to find someone to ally with. Brother Song, do you think we could work together?"
"What is the Dao Fruit?"
"Brother Song, it’s your own opportunity, something profoundly mysterious likely plucked from another world. Rest assured, if this Dao Fruit could be taken, I would’ve snatched it long ago, rather than being in this situation."
"What’s your plan then?"
"Wait until both sides are exhausted. Although the Saint Xi is powerful, Earth Burial released Dragon and allied with Blood River. Three Saints are against one—Saint Xi is bound to lose eventually. What we need to do is find the right opportunity, allowing for mutual exhaustion among them and then reap the benefits at the right moment," Qiu Lianyue said with a sly smile. "What does Brother Song think?"
Song Yan said, "Naturally, I follow the lord’s guidance."
Qiu Lianyue said, "Brother Song still harbors precaution against me. If... the lord wants to be with you?"
Song Yan didn’t respond, pulling up the quilt, pressing down hard.
Amidst the lady’s sudden cries, the waves surged tumultuously...
Song Yan knew this might be his last venture at the brink of annihilation.

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Cultivation through Skin Making