Chapter 7: Divine Refinement Art

Zhang Yanyan went through the materials one by one, committing every detail to memory.

She opened the photographs and profiles of the heads of each family, matching every face to its name so that she would not be discourteous if they crossed paths in the future.

As the Zhang heiress, learning about the connections and power structures within wealthy circles had been part of her education since childhood. The original host was merely young, with most of her attention focused on her financial management studies in preparation for taking over the family group in the future. She was by no means an ignorant young heiress who knew nothing of the world.

Her parents currently handled the family business in its entirety. Although she had not yet become directly involved, she was far from completely uninformed.

Now that she had taken the original host’s place, she had to gain a thorough understanding of Rong City’s power structure. As a member of one of the city’s most elite families, she did not need to know every detail, but she had to be aware of the important players.

To put it bluntly, with Zhang Yanyan’s current status, she was the one others needed to treat with caution and consideration. The only people who could make Zhao Yanyan exercise caution were a very small number indeed.

She spent the entire morning sorting through the connections and influence networks of everyone from the branches of third-rate families to the core members of the Four Great Families of Rong City. Every person she might come into contact with was matched with the corresponding memories in her mind.

By the time she finished going through all the information, it was nearly noon.

Her stomach began to rumble faintly. She had just risen to go downstairs when someone gently knocked on the bedroom door. Auntie Chen’s warm voice came from outside.

“Miss, it’s lunchtime. What would you like to eat? I’ll make it for you in the kitchen.”

“We have fresh ribs, fish, and vegetables. I can make any of them.”

Leaning back in her chair, Zhang Yanyan casually named a few dishes.

“Braised ribs, stir-fried lettuce, and tomato-and-egg-drop soup. Rice for the main dish. Keep it simple.”

“All right, Miss. I’ll get started right away.”

Auntie Chen readily agreed and hurried off toward the kitchen. Zhang Yanyan gazed at the closed door and quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

With her parents away, meals were actually more relaxing. She did not have to worry about putting on an act or accidentally revealing that something was wrong. She could simply eat whatever she wanted.

She rose and walked to the window, looking out over the enormous estate.

The Zhang family’s ancestral residence occupied several hundred acres. As one of Rong City’s top families, the estate was grand beyond measure, with gardens, lawns, swimming pools, pavilions, and viewing platforms arranged throughout the grounds.

There were dozens of people assigned specifically to her side of the household, including nannies, personal bodyguards, servants, a butler, a private gardener, and a family doctor. Each had their own duties, and everything was handled quietly and flawlessly.

Her parents had their own assistants, bodyguards, and support staff as well, ensuring that every aspect of the family’s internal and external affairs was managed without the slightest negligence.

Such a life in an elite family looked glamorous on the surface, but in reality, it came with complicated rules and an enormous amount to learn.

Zhang Yanyan let out a soft sigh before turning and entering the Cloudlight Dimension. With time moving ten times faster inside, it was the perfect place to cultivate. The Soul Refining Art had only just reached the entry level, and she needed to focus and hone it properly.

Within the dimension, mist drifted above the spirit spring. The jade stone beside it slowly released a gentle, soothing energy, while the seeds planted in the furrows had already sprouted tender green shoots.

The tenfold growth rate was truly no exaggeration. In barely a day, the seeds had broken through the soil. In a few more days, she would be able to eat fresh vegetables.

She sat cross-legged beside the spirit spring and closed her eyes, circulating the Soul Refining Art. The power of her soul gradually grew stronger, and her five senses became increasingly sharp. She could clearly perceive even the slightest movement within the dimension.

The feeling of having complete control over herself brought her immense peace of mind.

Time quietly passed in the outside world. After Auntie Chen finished preparing lunch, she waited downstairs for a long while, never daring to go up and disturb her.

It was not until after one in the afternoon that Zhang Yanyan finally emerged from her cultivation. Glancing at the time, she realized with surprise that she had long since missed lunch. She hurriedly got up and went downstairs.

“Auntie Chen, I got so caught up in what I was doing that I lost track of time. I’m sorry to have kept you waiting.”

Auntie Chen did not mind in the slightest. Smiling, she took the dishes from the insulated food container and placed them on the table. They were still steaming hot.

“It’s nothing, Miss. It’s good for young people to stay busy. The food’s been kept warm. Go ahead and eat.”

The braised ribs glistened with a rich red sheen and gave off an enticing aroma. The stir-fried lettuce was crisp and green, while the tomato-and-egg-drop soup was tangy, sweet, and appetizing.

They were all simple, home-style dishes, yet they filled her with a warm sense of comfort.

Zhang Yanyan picked up her chopsticks and ate in large mouthfuls. Having been hungry for half the day, she found everything especially delicious.

Auntie Chen sat beside her and watched with an affectionate smile, repeatedly reminding her to slow down and offering to serve her more if she was still hungry.

“There’s no need to trouble yourself, Auntie Chen. I can come downstairs on my own.” Zhang Yanyan answered around a mouthful of food. “I’ll be more careful next time and won’t miss mealtime again.”

She finished the lunch feeling thoroughly satisfied. Afterward, she returned to her bedroom and began planning her next steps.

Although the jade energy in the dimension was abundant, she could not simply deplete it without replenishing the supply. The spirit spring required a constant source of energy to keep operating, so she had to stockpile a large amount in advance.

For the next two days, she planned to focus on purchasing jade. The finest pieces would be kept for wearing and nurturing, while ordinary-quality jade would be fed directly into the spirit spring to replenish its energy.

The Zhang family was wealthy enough that this expense amounted to little more than a drop in the bucket.

Rong City was filled with jade wholesalers, high-end jewelry stores, and private jade galleries. By purchasing a large supply, she could ensure that the dimension continued to operate steadily while also accumulating enough energy to unlock the undeveloped regions.

At the thought, Zhang Yanyan’s eyes lit up. Stockpiling supplies, cultivating, and quietly guarding her family business—that was the kind of comfortable life she wanted.

Leaning against the headboard, she took out her phone and searched for Rong City’s jade markets. She marked the locations of the largest wholesale market, the high-end flagship stores, and the private jade galleries one by one, planning to set out first thing the next morning.

System ​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‍Eighteen remained quietly in her consciousness and never took the initiative to disturb her. It only spoke up when it was time to check in. Such a laid-back system was practically the ideal partner.

Looking at the store information on her phone, Zhang Yanyan’s lips curved into a faint smile.

Staying away from troublesome people, protecting her dimension and her family—this life was a hundred times more comfortable than her old one.

She did not enter the dimension again. Instead, she flipped through the original host’s high school photo album. The girl in the photographs was youthful and shy, with pure, innocent eyes, yet she had been swept up in the plot and ultimately met a miserable end.

Sunlight streamed through the window and fell across her body, warm and gentle. With the years peaceful and serene, Zhang Yanyan closed her eyes for a brief rest. The plans in her heart had already become perfectly clear.

First thing tomorrow morning, she would go to Rong City’s largest jade wholesale market and purchase ordinary jade in bulk to fill the dimension’s energy reserves.

In the afternoon, she would visit high-end jewelry stores and select several fine jade pieces for her own use and as a backup.

The day after that, she would go to private jade galleries to search for some less common rough stones or antique jade, ensuring that her jade reserves were more than sufficient.

Once she had accumulated enough jade, she would move into the small villa near Tengyuan and quietly wait for the start of the school term, completely breaking free from the original host’s tragic path.

As for giving the speech as the freshman representative, it would merely be a formality. She could handle it with ease.

If Song Ze came up to her again, she would simply reject him. Did she have to accept every person who confessed their feelings to her?

And if, after being rejected, he still refused to take the hint and harassed her persistently, that would be easy enough to deal with.

She let out a soft laugh and lightly tapped her fingers against the headboard.

She was the Zhang heiress, with bodyguards accompanying her wherever she went. If he truly angered her, she could simply call in reinforcements.

If he really continued pestering her without end, giving him a few beatings to vent her frustration would not be a problem. She would let him properly experience the confidence that came with being an heiress of a wealthy family.

She lightly touched the center of her brow. The Soul Refining Art continued to circulate slowly within her soul, sending a faint warmth throughout her body. Then she called out to her system.

“Eighteen, will I still be controlled by the original plot in the future? Will fate continue to follow the same script?”

【Host, rest assured. You are an outsider’s soul, and you came here precisely to rewrite the original host’s fate. The shackles of the plot have already lost their effect. You will absolutely never be controlled by it again. Otherwise, it would go against the very purpose of your transmigration and rebirth.】

With that definite answer, Zhang Yanyan was finally at ease.

So what if she had transmigrated into the role of a cannon-fodder female supporting character? With the Yunhua Space, a check-in system, the Cultivation Formula of Soul Refinement, and the backing of the powerful Zhang family, she alone would decide the path ahead.

Before bed, she made a point of reminding Eighteen, “Remember to wake me tomorrow morning so I can go buy some jade. Don’t let me oversleep and delay anything important.”

【Morning wake-up reminder set. Host will be awakened on time.】

Reassured, Zhang Yanyan closed her eyes and soon drifted into a deep sleep. In her dreams, there was only the peaceful, ordinary life she had always longed for.

This was the life she wanted.

With trump cards in hand, she could deal with whatever came her way. She didn’t need to hide or run away—she could still live the life of a winner.

When she woke, the sun outside was already sinking toward the horizon. The evening breeze drifted in through the gauze window, carrying a faint floral fragrance. Zhang Yanyan stretched, feeling every muscle and joint in her body loosen and relax.

Auntie Chen’s gentle voice floated up from downstairs, calling her to dinner.

“Miss, come down and eat! I made your favorite braised fish tonight, along with some mushroom soup. It’s wonderfully fresh—come down and have a taste.”

Zhang Yanyan answered with a smile and turned to head downstairs.

Her steps were light, and her spirits were bright.