Chapter 11: Your Power Has Been Stripped

In modern medicine, double pupils are a condition to be treated.
But in the lower realms, double pupils are a grand prize to be claimed.

“Jackpot.”
Bai Zhou was delighted, her costly efforts to craft this body and leave the Imperial Master’s residence well worth it.
She withdrew her hand, standing aside to watch the little beggar’s next act.

“You’re her mom?”
The oblivious Blood Soul Sect disciples eyed the sudden intruder warily. Unlike ignorant mortals, they could tell at a glance that the girl’s spiritual robe was of exceptional quality. Even doing nothing, her mere presence felt intimidating.
This was absolute confidence, born only from true strength.

The disciples exchanged glances and bowed in unison:
“Greetings, Senior. We were blind to your presence and disturbed you. As an apology, our Blood Soul Sect offers a Jade Blood Pill. This pill is extraordinary—even someone on the brink of death, with just a breath left, can be pulled back from the gates of the underworld.”
As he spoke, one disciple, with a pained expression, produced a jade bone vial and presented it respectfully.

“…”
The wait for a response was agonizing, especially with their lives on the line, their hearts nearly leaping into their throats.

“Not bad. I’ll take it.”
Her cool voice fell like sweet dew on the disciples, who sighed in relief, their tense bodies relaxing instantly.
Though each Jade Blood Pill cost thousands of mortal lives to refine, for the greater good of the Blood Soul Sect, the common folk would just have to bear the burden.

Bai Zhou lightly flicked her hand, and the jade bone vial floated into her grasp.
Pills, unlike weapons or artifacts, were consumables—she’d never have too many.

“Senior, our elder is urging us to return and collect the laundry. Could you kindly let us pass?”
The Blood Soul Sect disciples forced obsequious smiles, rubbing their hands like flies, desperate to leave this cursed alley.

Bai Zhou glanced at the little beggar, about to “rise from the dead.” Her veil hid her expression from outsiders, and the disciples didn’t dwell on it, let alone think to lift it.
“You may.”

The disciples were overjoyed, but her next word plunged them into despair.
“But the one blocking you isn’t me.”

Their fawning smiles froze, twisting into shock and doubt.

“Ugh…”
Ling Qingli’s body rose stiffly from the ground.
The grime on her face washed away, revealing a delicate yet bloodless complexion.
Her pupils split into two, Oo\\\oO, glowing purple.
They reflected not human emotion but an utterly rational gaze, coldly sweeping over every living being present.

“Her… her eyes?!”
One disciple screamed, his voice cracking with terror.
“Double pupils! It’s double pupils!”
“Run!”

The lead disciple reacted fastest, his spiritual energy surging as he transformed into a black shadow, bolting for the alley’s exit.
But Ling Qingli merely glanced at him indifferently.
No earth-shaking spiritual pressure, no dazzling spells.
The disciple’s blood shadow froze, as if hitting an invisible wall.
His spiritual energy crackled, then dissipated rapidly, revealing a face pale from backlash.

“No! His spiritual energy was nullified!”
As the strongest among them, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he instantly grasped the situation.
“I once read about ‘double pupils’ in the sect’s ancient texts. Legend says those with double pupils can easily see through enemies of lower realms, rendering their spiritual energy useless.”

In a panic, another disciple caught the anomaly:
“But my junior brother, weak as he is, is still at the peak of Qi Refining! This filthy begg—er, this girl was just a mortal before! How could a mortal nullify Qi Refining?”

The Foundation Establishment disciple shot him a look reserved for idiots:
“She has double pupils. Isn’t it normal for her to kill across realms?”
“…”

“What are you all blabbering about? She’s coming for me! Heart-Bewitching Chant! Quick, together!”
Another disciple roared, forming hand seals as a seductive melody poured from his mouth.
The others snapped out of their daze, unleashing the Blood Soul Sect’s signature soul-bewitching techniques, sending waves of mind-warping power toward Ling Qingli.

All mental assaults vanished without a trace three feet from her.
Her double pupils didn’t even shift, merely reflecting their futile struggles with cold indifference.

“This… it’s all ineffective? How is her double pupil so broken?!”
The Foundation Establishment disciple’s scalp tingled at the sight.
A sudden idea struck him. He turned to Bai Zhou, bowing so low his head nearly hit the ground, his tone pleading:
“Senior, we were wrong! Please ask your daughter to stop her divine ability! The Blood Soul Sect will surely visit to express our gratitude!”

Bai Zhou remained unmoved, only saying lightly:
“Can’t call her off.”

The Foundation Establishment disciple grew frantic:
“But Senior, aren’t you her…”
“Godmother.”
“…”

He wanted to say godmothers counted too, but Ling Qingli had already acted.
Right or wrong no longer mattered—she remembered that elbow strike and wanted revenge.
“Aaah! She’s coming!”

The Foundation Establishment disciple steeled himself, deciding to fight:
“Junior brothers, don’t panic! She can only nullify spiritual energy. Her body is still mortal. We outnumber her—use a war of attrition!”
“But… without spiritual energy, aren’t we mortals too?”
“…Shut up! You morale-crushing idiot! You go first!”

The war of attrition began, and as he predicted, the Qi Refining disciples, stripped of spiritual energy by her double pupils, became mortals. They hoped to overpower her with physical strength, but Ling Qingli slipped through them like a fish, untouchable.
Then she somehow acquired a dagger, and the scales tipped.

The Foundation Establishment disciple watched his juniors fall one by one under her blade. He realized her double pupils couldn’t nullify his own spiritual energy—killing her would be easy.
But his strength didn’t permit him to kill her in front of her godmother.

“Junior brothers, I’m sorry. Your senior must leave first. The Blood Soul Sect will remember your sacrifice!”
His spiritual energy erupted, and in a flash, he appeared five meters before Bai Zhou.
“Please, Senior, keep your promise.”

Bai Zhou said nothing, stepping aside to clear a path out of the alley.
“Thank you, Senior!”
Overjoyed, the disciple darted out, ready to report the double pupil’s emergence to his elder.
The next moment, excruciating pain engulfed him.
“Why…”
He stared in disbelief at his pierced chest, falling like a leaf to the ground.

Bai Zhou withdrew her hand.
“I promised to let you leave the alley. That’s all.”

By now, Ling Qingli had finished off the remaining Blood Soul Sect disciples. She turned slowly, locking eyes with the only living person left.
The next moment, she lunged forward.
“Mommy!”