29: Preparation

"This is the one!" Yao Delong's eyes lit up; this was the perfect treasure custom-made for Lin Qingxue!

She specialized in the Ice Soul Sword Art, and this bracelet could significantly boost her combat power!

One hundred and eighty Mid-Grade Spirit Stones was expensive, but it was worth it!

"Junior Sister, what do you think of this bracelet?" Yao Delong pointed at the Ice Soul Cold Jade Bracelet and turned to ask.

Lin Qingxue's gaze was also drawn to the bracelet, and a hint of amazement flashed in her cold eyes.

The bracelet's cold energy shared the same Origin as her Cultivation Technique, subtly harmonizing with it.

She could feel the powerful ice elemental power contained within it.

But seeing the glaring "180 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones" on the price tag, she instantly snapped out of it.

"Senior Brother, this bracelet is excellent." Lin Qingxue nodded, then rejected it in a calm but firm tone.

"But it is too precious; Qingxue cannot accept it!"

She was born into the Lin Family of the Ba Xia Dynasty; although it was a first-rate Family, she was not a member of the direct line.

Most of the Family's resources were skewed toward the direct descendants; she could only rely on her own efforts and the appreciation of her Revered Master.

As a Core Disciple of the Sect, her monthly salary was only 100 Low-Grade Spirit Stones (equivalent to 1 Mid-Grade).

One hundred and eighty Mid-Grade Spirit Stones was an unimaginable fortune for her!

Although Yao Delong could perform Alchemy, the required Materials were also expensive; how could she accept such a heavy gift with a clear conscience?

"Junior Sister, you are mistaken!"

Yao Delong had already anticipated her refusal. A gentle yet firm smile appeared on his withered face as he looked at her with burning eyes.

"Over the past few days, if not for your help, Junior Sister, I would have already perished at the mouths of the Yao Beasts in the Earth God Ravine, let alone obtaining news of the heavenly vein ganoderma.

This bracelet is a token of my regard, and more importantly, it's for the trip to White Cloud City in three days!"

He paused, his voice low and sincere:

"Junior Sister, on this trip to White Cloud City, fortune and misfortune are unpredictable. The auction will surely be a gathering of storms, with experts as numerous as clouds.

My cultivation is low, and my Lifespan is... only you, Junior Sister, are my greatest reliance!

The stronger you are, the safer our trip will be, and the greater the hope of obtaining the heavenly vein ganoderma!"

"In your hands, this bracelet can not only exert its maximum power to keep you safe but also help you defeat enemies and protect both of us."

Yao Delong spoke with earnestness, his eyes filled with sincerity.

"I am not an outsider, so do not decline. Your safety is also a concern of mine!

Only when you become stronger can you better protect my old life, right?"

"Senior Brother..." Lin Qingxue's heart shook violently!

Listening to Yao Delong's sincere and earnest words, which considered her and the safety of both of them at every turn,

looking at his cloudy yet trusting and dependent gaze, a warmth she had never felt before instantly breached her frozen defenses.

"Only when I become stronger can I better protect Senior Brother..." These words were like a key, unlocking a sturdy door within her heart.

She was not someone who couldn't recognize good intentions. How could she not understand Yao Delong's heart?

It was not just a material gift, but a heavy trust and entrustment! It was the bond of their intertwined fates!

Words of refusal could no longer be spoken. On Lin Qingxue's peerlessly beautiful face, the frost that hadn't melted for ten thousand years completely thawed at this moment.

She lowered her head slightly, her long eyelashes trembling like butterfly wings, as a moving blush quietly crept onto her fair earlobes.

Her voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz, yet it carried an indescribable tenderness:

"...Thank you, Senior Brother. Qingxue... will certainly not fail your trust."

[Ding! Target Lin Qingxue's Favorability +10. Current Favorability: 75 (Close Trust, Heartwarming, Budding Affection)]

The heavy stone in Yao Delong's heart fell away. He laughed heartily and, without hesitation, took out the Spirit Stones and bought the Ice Soul Cold Jade Bracelet.

He personally and gently placed the jade bracelet, which emitted a cold chill, onto Lin Qingxue's slender, snowy wrist.

The jade bracelet felt icy to the touch, but Lin Qingxue's heart was burning hot.

The jade bracelet instantly resonated with the Ice Soul spiritual power in her body. The wisps of coldness were not freezing;

instead, they made her feel incredibly comfortable, and her resonance with the ice soul sword also strengthened significantly.

She gently stroked the smooth and warm body of the bracelet, her heart filled with a mix of emotions.

Her gaze toward Yao Delong held a few more traces of indescribable, complex affection.

Afterward, Yao Delong went to the "Pill Formula Jade Slip" area, his gaze sweeping across like lightning.

[Tier 3 Peak Grade · origin breaking pill Formula]: Within one hour after consumption,

it can forcibly raise the Realm of a Cultivator below the Golden Core Stage by one minor stage. The lower the Realm, the more obvious the effect, but the greater the burden on the body!

After the medicinal effect wears off, one will enter a twelve-hour weakness period (spiritual power circulation becomes sluggish, and strength drops to 60% of the original Realm). Price: 80 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones.

[Tier 4 Low Grade · golden profound pill Formula]: After consumption, it can help a Golden Core Stage Cultivator directly break through a minor stage (Early Golden Core Stage → Middle Stage, Middle Stage → Late Stage).

It cannot be used for a Golden Core Perfection to break through the Nascent Soul Bottleneck.

After consumption, cultivation cannot progress for one year, and the difficulty of breaking through to Nascent Soul increases. Price: 160 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones!

"origin breaking pill... golden profound pill..." Yao Delong's eyes flickered with sharp light.

The origin breaking pill was a trump card for desperate moments! The golden profound pill was preparation for rapidly increasing his cultivation during the Golden Core Stage in the future. Although the side effects were huge,

as long as he had yin yang points... he bought the two Pill Formula Jade Slips without hesitation! Another 280 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones spent!

Before leaving the Treasure Pavilion, Yao Delong also collected his previous mission reward and chose a Medium Grade Spiritual Artifact longsword.

Afterward, Yao Delong and Lin Qingxue parted ways at the Luoxia Peak crossroads.

"Junior Sister, go back to the peak first to refine and familiarize yourself with this bracelet. I still need to go to the Myriad Medicine Pavilion to purchase some Materials for refining pills," Yao Delong said.

"Alright, be careful, Senior Brother."

Lin Qingxue nodded. The Ice Soul Cold Jade Bracelet on her wrist emitted a faint blue light, making her cold features look a bit softer.

Yao Delong watched his Junior Sister fly away on her sword, then turned and walked straight toward the Myriad Medicine Pavilion in the market at the foot of the mountain.

Before he even arrived, a familiar fragrant breeze wafted over.

"Brother Yao!" A graceful purple figure, like a swallow returning to the forest, crashed directly into Yao Delong's arms.

Luo Yan's eyes were seductive, her breath like orchids, as her arms tightly encircled his waist.

Her plump and soft body pressed tightly against his withered frame.

Her voice was full of thick longing and burning desire:

"I've missed you to death! No talking about pills this time; accompany me first!"

Without a word, Yao Delong felt a warm spiritual power wrap around his wrist,

and he was half-led, half-pulled by Luo Yan into that familiar, luxurious quiet room.

As soon as the door closed, the spiritual power around Luo Yan suddenly surged, guiding Yao Delong to sit cross-legged on the Warm Jade Spiritual Bed.

Inside the quiet room, the "Primal Yang Locking Art" operated on its own, and a mysterious aura was stirred.

A vast and pure source of true essence, through this mysterious connection,

transformed into a stream of spiritual essence that nourished and tempered, surging toward the other party to help cleanse and consolidate their Meridians.

Almost at the same instant, a clear and pure source of Yin Essence was guided by a secret technique and flowed back.

This strange intersection of Yin and Yang occurred repeatedly within Yao Delong's Meridians and Dantian.

He clearly felt that his own primordial yang power, under the repeated nourishment and tempering of such pure Yin Essence, was undergoing a qualitative leap!

He even faintly felt the spiritual power barrier of Qi Condensation Perfection in his Dantian's Qi Sea begin to vibrate violently; the opportunity to break through to Foundation Establishment seemed to be right before his eyes!

[Ding! Completed one Dao Rhyme Resonance with the target!]

[Target's Cultivation Technique: Profound Rank Medium Grade "Hundred Herbs Art" (Wood Attribute Technique)]

[Obtained yin yang points: 15!]

[Current yin yang points: 32+15=47!]

[Favorability: 85 (Obsessed and Dependent)]

As the clouds and rain subsided, Luo Yan lay on Yao Delong's chest, drenched in fragrant sweat. The blush on her beautiful face had not yet faded, and her eyes were filled with intoxication and shock.

She could clearly feel her cultivation slowly rising; this was more than she could achieve in a year of bitter cultivation!

The surprises this man brought her were simply endless!

"Brother... you really are my lucky star..."

Luo Yan's voice trembled, filled with attachment and adoration.

Yao Delong also felt his physical state was better than ever, and the restless sensation of being about to break through became clearer.

He gently patted Luo Yan's smooth back and got to the point:

"Sister Luo, I have indeed come to sell some pills and also need to purchase a batch of Materials."