54: Chapter 54: Ye Qingcen Came to My Door Again

He silently chanted these two names in his heart, his killing intent surging like a tide.

But he did not flare up.

Because he knew that his current self was still not strong enough.

Qi Condensation 11th Layer, against Sun Yue of the Early Foundation Establishment, perhaps he could put up a fight.

But what about Sun Rui? That was a Mid Golden Core Stage expert! A single finger could crush him to death a hundred times!

"Strength…" Xiao Yuan took a deep breath, suppressing the raging fire in his chest, "My strength is still not enough."

He raised his head, his face having already returned to calmness.

"Many thanks to several Senior Brothers for letting me know." He cupped his hands, "I will remember this favor."

The few Disciples looked at each other in dismay, wondering where this Qi Condensation 4th Layer brat got the audacity to say such things.

Just at this moment, the reporting Disciple returned. He looked at Xiao Yuan with a disdainful expression and said, "Senior Sister Luo said she still has matters to attend to and will not come to see you. She said when she has time, she will come find you!"

Xiao Yuan frowned, smiled, and asked the other party.

"Is Su Li currently… still in the Earth Fire Room?"

"She is," that Disciple replied. "She has to go every day and stay for at least two hours."

Hearing this, Xiao Yuan understood in his heart that Su Li was worried he would see her disheveled appearance, which was why she didn't dare to meet him.

Moreover, even if he saw her, what could he even do?!

Aside from hurting Su Li's self-esteem, he could do nothing at all.

He cupped his hands toward the Disciple, and then shoved a Low-Grade Spirit Stone into the hands of each Disciple present.

"Please take good care of Senior Sister Su Li. Troublesome you to tell her that I might leave the Sect for three months, and after I return, I will come find her."

The group of Disciples took the Spirit Stones. Although it wasn't much, it wasn't a small amount either. The expressions of the few softened slightly, repeatedly stating that taking care of the Senior Sister was only natural.

Immediately, Xiao Yuan bid farewell to them and turned to leave the Artifact Refining Peak.

His back appeared exceptionally thin under the sunlight, but for some reason, as those peak-guarding Disciples watched, they always felt that this person… didn't seem so simple.

"Could this brat… be thinking of doing something foolish?"

"Forget it! Qi Condensation 4th Layer, what can he do? It wouldn't even be his turn to collect Su Li's corpse."

"That's true… Sigh, in this world, good people don't get good rewards."

The sound of discussion gradually faded into the distance.

Xiao Yuan walked along the mountain path, his expression as gloomy as water.

He did not go directly to the Earth Fire Room to find Su Li—going would be useless anyway, as Su Li might not necessarily see him.

Moreover, with his current identity of "Qi Condensation 4th Layer", he couldn't even get in at all.

But he already had a plan in his mind.

"Jing Country… must be visited," he muttered, "Bring back Luo Ziyan, and then—"

A cold gleam flashed in his eyes.

"Acquire the Pill Formula for the foundation establishment pill, allowing myself, Su Li, and Luo Ziyan to enhance our strength."

"Sun Yue, Sun Rui, I'll remember this debt."

He looked up toward the direction of the Artifact Refining Peak, as if he could pierce through layers of rock to see that black-clothed figure gritting her teeth and persisting amidst the earth fire.

"Su Li, wait for me."

"When I return, I will seek justice for you."

Although Su Li was currently arranged into the Earth Fire Room, with the marrow cleansing pill he gave her, lasting a few years would not be a problem at all.

Not to mention, Xiao Yuan had also given Su Li quite a few Spirit Stones.

After leaving the mineral vein, Xiao Yuan originally wanted to follow their past agreement and split the Spirit Stones in half with Su Li.

But Su Li did not want them, saying that her strength was low and carrying so many Spirit Stones on her body would only bring fatal disasters upon herself.

She knew Xiao Yuan had a place to hide Spirit Stones where they wouldn't be discovered, so almost all the Spirit Stones were on Xiao Yuan. She only took the few hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones that Xiao Yuan gave her.

However, it should also be enough for her temporary use!

It wasn't that Xiao Yuan had never thought about taking Su Li and Luo Ziyan away from the Jade Maiden Palace. But being a Loose Cultivator wouldn't be as free as he was now.

Not to mention coming into contact with higher Cultivate resources. For instance, if he were a Loose Cultivator, could he enter the Spirit Stone mineral vein and accumulate such a bountiful batch of Spirit Stones for himself?!

As a Loose Cultivator, could he rely on coming into contact with resources for refining pills of the Foundation Establishment Stage? As for the foundation establishment pill, that would be even more of a pipe dream!

Such Medicinal Pills were all controlled in the hands of the Sect, and for a Loose Cultivator to get their hands on them, the difficulty was simply too great! So great that there was a risk of losing one's life at any moment!

...

In the small cabin of Xiao Yuan in the North District of the Herb Garden.

Actually, there wasn't much to pack—everything valuable was inside the Creation Cauldron Space, and this small dilapidated house only had a bed, a table, and a dust-covered rush mat.

Xiao Yuan sat by the bed, just preparing to stand up and set off when his brows suddenly furrowed.

Within his perception range, a figure was walking toward this side.

Peak of Qi Refining Level 9, Half-step Foundation Establishment, the aura was somewhat familiar…

Xiao Yuan was stunned for a moment, then the corners of his mouth hooked into a playful smile.

"Why did she come?"

Outside the wattle fence, Ye Qingcen stopped her footsteps.

Today, she was wearing a light cyan long dress, her hair bun meticulously coiled, and her face still maintained that cold, aloof expression of keeping strangers at a distance.

But those eyes couldn't help glancing toward the small courtyard.

"I heard he came back…" she muttered inwardly, "And he's still alive… It's good as long as he's alive…"

She bit her lip, feeling again that her thought was too shameful.

Having been treated like that by Xiao Yuan back then, she should hate him! Hating him to the core, hating him with irreconcilable enmity!

However…

Upon hearing the news that he had returned from the mineral vein, her first reaction wasn't anger, but rather… a sigh of relief?

Then, possessed by some inexplicable impulse, she walked all the way over here.

"I'm just going to see if he's really alive," Ye Qingcen found an excuse for herself, "I'll leave right after looking, absolutely no nonsense!"

Just as she was thinking this, the door of the cabin opened.

Xiao Yuan walked out, leaning against the doorframe, looking at her with a beaming smile.

Their eyes met.

A clear trace of joy flashed in the depths of Ye Qingcen's eyes—that joy was impossible to hide, and she hadn't even noticed it herself.

But the next second, she immediately put on a straight face, slightly lifting her chin, and resumed that expression of "this Senior Sister is very noble".

"Cough." She cleared her throat, her tone icy cold, "I heard you returned from the mineral vein, I… just happened to pass by and confirm it."

Xiao Yuan raised an eyebrow: "Passed by?"

"That's right, passed by." Ye Qingcen turned her face away, refusing to look at him, "Since you're fine, then I'll be leaving."

After finishing her sentence, she turned around and prepared to leave.

But those steps were as slow as a crawling snail.

Xiao Yuan looked at her back, unable to hold back a chuckle.

This woman, three years not seen, her tsundere skills have grown quite a bit.

He strode forward, wrapped his arm around her waist, and scooped her up horizontally into his arms!

When he left this time, although the creation cauldron had sufficient energy, who would complain about having too little energy? Since there was a power bank that delivered itself right to his door, of course he couldn't possibly miss it.

"Ah—!" Ye Qingcen let out a cry of surprise, her entire person dumbfounded, "You, what are you doing!"

Her hands pressed against Xiao Yuan's chest, her face instantly flushed red, and her voice became distorted:

"Xiao Yuan! Let go of me! If you don't let go again, I won't be polite! I really won't be polite!"

Xiao Yuan lowered his head to look at her, his gaze half-smiling: "Not polite? Then go ahead and make a move."

This woman clearly had the cultivation of Half-step Foundation Establishment, and could subdue his "Qi Condensation 4th Layer" self with just a flick of her finger, yet now she was fidgeting like a shy little bride.

If she were really going to be impolite, she should have already made a move against Xiao Yuan long ago.