809: Nephew Yao, Yi'er...

The City Lord's Mansion of Bhikshu City and the defending soldiers took the second spot, enough to compensate for the city's losses and greatly enhance its foundation. The other large and small Sects and Loose Cultivators who came to help also received generous rewards far exceeding their expectations based on their military merits and contributions. Each one was beaming with joy, feeling immensely grateful to the Yin Yang Sect and Yao Delong.

The atmosphere of the entire battlefield, amidst the sadness, was also permeated with the joy of a harvest.

Yao Delong had little interest in these Yao Beast corpses; what he was most concerned about at this moment were Han Ruyi and Qiong Shuang in the guest house.

With a flash of his figure, Yao Delong turned into a stream of light and sped toward the guest house area in the city.

When he landed outside the familiar courtyard, he immediately saw Qiong Shuang pacing back and forth outside the Secret Chamber door, looking anxious yet forcing herself to endure. This little girl was quite dutiful, never leaving her post, her large eyes scanning the surroundings alertly from time to time.

"Big brother! You're back!" As soon as Qiong Shuang saw Yao Delong's figure, she instantly rushed over like a cheerful little bird, her face practically screaming "praise me," her large eyes sparkling. "The Beast Tide has retreated, hasn't it?! I knew that with big brother taking action, any Demon King would be nothing but a clay chicken or a pottery dog! Look, look, I haven't left this place for a single step! I've been guarding it firmly! Not even a fly was let in!" She puffed out her small chest, looking like she had performed a great deed and was ready for a reward, just short of wagging a tail.

Looking at her adorable, credit-seeking appearance, Yao Delong's tension and gloom after the great battle dissipated quite a bit. He couldn't help but laugh heartily, "Good! Well done! Qiong Shuang is the most reliable!"

In high spirits, he waved his hand and pulled something directly from his Storage Ring.

It was a bracelet! Its entire body was crafted from a silver-white exotic ore that looked like neither gold nor jade. The body of the bracelet was carved with extremely intricate and exquisite Cloud Dragon patterns, and it was embedded with several dazzling Star Crystals that constantly refracted a seven-colored halo!

The bracelet itself emitted a soft yet pure Star Power, and one could tell at a glance it was no ordinary item! It was exactly the flashy and valuable low-grade heavenly artifact that Qiong Shuang loved most—the "Starry Cloud Dragon Bracelet"!

"Here, your reward! Since you guarded well, there'll be more in the future!" Yao Delong casually tossed this treasure, which would be enough to make ordinary Nascent Soul Cultivators fight to the death, to Qiong Shuang like he was throwing a jellybean.

"Wow—!!!"

Qiong Shuang let out an earth-shattering scream, her small face instantly flushing red with excitement, her big eyes filled with stars! She caught the bracelet and looked it over repeatedly, unable to put it down. The brilliant radiance reflected off her small face, making it glow.

Although she was of the Yao Race and couldn't use many Magic Treasures that required fine control, something like this—which could serve as beautiful jewelry, passively draw in Star Power to assist in cultivation, and most importantly, was worth a fortune and sparkled—simply struck the greed point deep in her Soul!

"Thank you, big brother! Big brother is the best! I'll definitely guard even more firmly in the future!" Qiong Shuang hurriedly slipped the bracelet onto her wrist, shaking it left and right to admire it, smiling so wide her eyes were nearly closed. Her previous fatigue and tension vanished instantly.

Yao Delong smiled and shook his head, turning his gaze toward the Secret Chamber. His Divine Thought had already probed inside, clearly perceiving that Han Ruyi's aura had completely stabilized. Majestic spiritual energy was circulating orderly within her body; she had successfully broken through to the Late Nascent Soul Stage and was now consolidating her cultivation. He felt very gratified.

The Beast Tide had retreated, the powerful enemies had fled, his fellow disciples were safe, his lady friend had broken through, and his little follower had received her desired reward... Though this battle had been fraught with danger, it had finally come to a successful conclusion. Yao Delong's tensed nerves relaxed completely, and a wave of deep exhaustion washed over him.

He needed rest, and even more, he needed to properly summarize the gains and losses of this battle, as well as plan how to increase his strength faster to "teach a lesson" to that fox spirit who dared to tease him!

"The Integration Realm... is not out of reach!" Yao Delong sat cross-legged in the quiet room, his mind sinking into his body. Feeling the spiritual energy surging like a river in his Meridians—more pure and condensed after being tempered by the great battle—and those three ceaselessly rotating Vitality Divine Wheels containing majestic life force and terrifying power, an unprecedented sense of confidence welled up.

He clearly recognized that with his current Void Refinement Mid-stage cultivation, by relying on his Great Sun Sacred Body and his affinity with the Yin Yang Laws, plus the support of a Dao Artifact like the immortal slaying dark kite, his combat power was already close to the Peak of the Early Integration Stage when fully unleashed!

"Once my cultivation progresses and reaches the Late Void Refining Stage or even Perfection..." Yao Delong's eyes flickered with sharp light, "I will elevate my Origin Power, supplemented by the solidifying of the Heart Sword from 'Heart Sword Without Trace'... and combined with the final Profound Truth of the Nine Transformations of the Vast Sun... I might even be able to touch the threshold of the Middle Integration Stage!"

Once this thought arose, it was like a prairie fire, making his heart burn with heat. The "teasing" from the Nine-tailed Fox Yuyi further transformed into a strong motivation—strength! He needed even greater strength! Only by being strong enough could he hold the right to speak, force those high and mighty existences to bow their heads, and protect everything he wanted to protect!

For the next few days, Bhikshu City was immersed in the busy recovery after a narrow escape.

The Cultivators and army in the city were busy cleaning the battlefield, collecting the remains of the martyrs, and repairing the damaged city walls and Formations. The air was thick with the smell of blood, medicinal herbs, and Talismans.

As for Han Tianzheng, the City Lord, he became even more cautious after this ordeal. To prevent a possible counterattack by the Beast Tide or retaliation from remaining high-level Yao Beasts, he sent out elite scout teams for several consecutive days deep into the outer areas of the Great Desolate Forest to strictly monitor the movements of the Yao Beasts, not daring to be the least bit negligent.

Yao Delong stayed in the city for the time being. His reason was simple—to wait for Han Ruyi to come out of seclusion.

Having received that sparkling Starry Cloud Dragon Bracelet, Qiong Shuang had long since been overjoyed. These past few days, she was either flaunting her wrist in front of Yao Delong or running off to help Han Tianzheng's people count the spoils of war, acting like a little money-grubbing supervisor.

Han Tianzheng naturally knew Yao Delong was here and that his daughter was in seclusion in Yao Delong's guest house, breaking through to the Late Nascent Soul Stage. He felt both worried and expectant, visiting personally several times over the course of a few days. Every time he saw Yao Delong leisurely sipping tea with a profound aura outside the door, a sense of indescribable awe and gratitude welled up in Han Tianzheng's heart.

"Nephew Yao, Yi'er she..." Arriving once more, Han Tianzheng couldn't help but ask.

Yao Delong set down his teacup and smiled slightly, his tone certain. "City Lord Han, rest assured. Yi'er's aura is stable, and her spiritual energy is restrained. She has reached the Late Nascent Soul Stage and is currently consolidating her Realm. I expect she will emerge from seclusion in a day or two."

"Really?! The Late Nascent Soul Stage?!" Hearing this, Han Tianzheng's sturdy frame shook, and a look of immense joy erupted in his eyes!

He knew well that although his daughter's Aptitude was good, breaking through to the Late Nascent Soul Stage was by no means easy. Under normal cultivation, without ten years of hard work and the assistance of a large amount of resources, it would be absolutely impossible! Now, not only had she broken through, but she had broken through two Realms in succession, and her aura was so stable... The look he gave Yao Delong was filled with shock and indescribable gratitude.