129: This medicine is quite strong, it's just right for Master Shi.

Ling Xi pushed open the bamboo door, and the evening breeze, imbued with the unique refreshing Spiritual Qi of Zizhu Peak, surged in, yet it failed to smooth her slightly furrowed brows.

She did not lie down, but sat cross-legged on the edge of the bamboo bed, her fingertips unconsciously resting on her knees.

Closing her eyes, fragmented memories of her previous life, like tides under the moonlight, silently washed over her Sea of Consciousness.

Once she commanded the Heavenly Lan and overlooked countless domains, but now she had become a Core Formation Realm young girl in the Xuanhuang Great World, apprenticed to a Peak Master whose depths she couldn't fathom.

This complete sense of passivity made her uncomfortable, like suddenly losing her sword on the battlefield, possessing the insight of an Emperor's soul but lacking the corresponding strength to wield it.

A faint sigh bloomed in her heart.

She understood that she had not yet adapted to the identity of a Disciple.

The pride of an Emperor, ingrained in her bones, still silently clamored, making it difficult for her to easily accept being protected and taught.

A wisp of Spiritual Qi quietly gathered at her fingertips, slowly circulating along the trajectory of the Heaven Devouring Dao Art.

The Spiritual Qi flowed like a stream through her Meridians, gently washing away the shackles of her Physical Body, and also allowing her chaotic thoughts to gradually settle and clarify.

Strength was the Foundation of everything.

Instead of idly speculating, it was better to seize every moment to improve herself.

With her thoughts clear, the last trace of hesitation in Ling Xi’s eyes vanished.

She completely calmed her mind, no longer dwelling on those thoughts, and fully operated the Heaven Devouring Dao Art.

The surrounding Spiritual Qi was drawn to her, gathering like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea, and even the moonlight filtering through the bamboo window seemed to dim a few shades.

Her Core Formation Realm cultivation, urged by the Emperor-level Cultivation Method, began to solidify and ascend little by little.

The next morning, the morning glow pierced through the thin mist, enveloping Zizhu Peak in a soft golden light.

Gu Changge still leaned lazily in the bamboo chair, saying to the System in his mind, “Sign in!”

“Ding, congratulations to the host for successful sign-in, you have gained five thousand years of cultivation!”

“Ding, congratulations to the host for obtaining a Supreme Emperor Weapon: Myriad Law Returning to the Void Cauldron!”

Gu Changge’s Divine Sense swept over the cauldron, his gaze lingering on its belly for half a breath, as if weighing something.

“Myriad Law Returning to the Void Cauldron… The cauldron body is thick, and the Dao Rhyme is restrained. It should be good for stewing meat, the heat should be even.”

After finishing his daily sign-in, Gu Changge called his three Disciples before him.

Ling Xi stood quietly to the side, now dressed in a neat, fitted outfit, her eyes serene, having completely concealed the ripples of last night within her heart.

Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu stepped forward. Xiao Ruobai took out several Storage Rings of different styles but all brimming with Spiritual Qi, respectfully placing them on the stone table in front of Gu Changge.

“Master!” Xiao Ruobai said, his voice a little proud.

“These are the gains Junior Brother and I made in the Secret Realm, and some were ‘taken’ from… uh, from certain short-sighted individuals who tried to snatch our things.”

Gu Changge smiled slightly, casually picked up the ring engraved with a burning flame pattern, swept his Divine Sense over it, and chuckled softly.

“Oh, quite a haul indeed. That old fellow Lie Tianxiong’s half-lifetime savings are quite substantial… You two look through them yourselves, keep whatever is useful.”

After speaking, he lightly pushed the rings back.

“Yes, Master.”

Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu responded, then picked up the rings and probed them with their Divine Sense, searching carefully.

“Junior Brother, look at this ‘Nether Iron Crystal.’ Its Yin-Sha Qi is condensed and doesn’t dissipate, perfect for tempering your Primordial Sword Intent.”

“Hmm, it is indeed suitable.” Fang Hanyu nodded.

“Senior Brother, this bottle of ‘Dragon Blood Body Tempering Pill’ has abundant Qi and blood, which will greatly benefit you in refining the Foundation of your War God Body.”

“Good, I need this.” Xiao Ruobai grinned.

As the two were searching, Xiao Ruobai seemed to suddenly remember something. He turned to look at Ling Xi, who was standing quietly to the side, a hearty smile on his face.

“Junior Sister, don’t just stand there! Come and look with us! Is there anything here that you can use? You’ve just joined, you can’t lack Cultivation resources!”

Ling Xi was slightly startled, seemingly not expecting to be invited so suddenly.

She looked up at Gu Changge, and seeing that he had no objection, she hesitated and took two steps forward, softly confirming, “Can… can I also have some?”

“Of course!”

Xiao Ruobai’s tone was matter-of-fact, even carrying a hint of “why would you even ask” surprise.

“You’re my Junior Sister! Master hasn’t given you a welcome gift yet, so Senior Brother will make up for it first!”

As he spoke, his Divine Sense moved, and he directly retrieved several glowing treasures from the ring space, pushing them all towards Ling Xi.

Before her, spiritual light flickered: a bottle of “Jade Marrow Dew Condensation Pill” exuding a green glow, with an elegant medicinal fragrance, clearly a High Grade Medicinal Pill for stabilizing Foundation and purifying Spiritual Qi.

A “Snow Spirit Ginseng,” warm and smooth throughout, engraved with spirit-gathering runes, containing pure wood-element vitality, and even a small pile of High-Grade Spirit Stones of various attributes, brimming with Spiritual Qi, enough for her to Cultivate for a long time… Although Fang Hanyu didn't speak, he silently picked out a piece of “Cold Fragrance Jade” with a soft, moon-like luster from a pile of Materials. With a flick of his finger, the jade stone lightly landed on top of the pile of treasures, his intention self-evident: this is also for you.

Ling Xi looked at the sudden appearance of a pile of treasures, far exceeding her expectations, and was momentarily at a loss.

On one hand, her heart was shaken, curious about what these two Senior Brothers had experienced in the Secret Realm to be able to so easily produce so many valuable resources.

On the other hand, an indescribable warmth quietly surged in her heart.

Although she ultimately achieved the position of Great Emperor in her previous life, she came from humble beginnings. When she first began to Cultivate, for a low-grade Medicinal Pill that could aid in Breakthrough, she had once camped in a Yao Beast den for three days, nearly being torn apart by the beast pack.

For half a broken Jade Slip of a Cultivation Technique, she fought to the death with Cultivators of the same realm, only to snatch it with a body full of injuries. At that time, even “trust” was a luxury.

So, the relationship between Master and Disciple, and Senior Brother and Junior Sister, could be like this.

No scheming, no guarding, only honest sharing and generous giving.

This atmosphere, more unfamiliar to her than the dense Spiritual Qi of Zizhu Peak, also inexplicably loosened her taut nerves by half.

She took a deep breath, suppressing a faint, almost imperceptible moisture that welled up in her eyes, and pushed that shock and melancholy back into her heart.

Her fingertips gently brushed over the cool jade and the warm spirit ginseng. She solemnly bowed to her two Senior Brothers: “Thank you, Senior Brothers, for your generous gifts.”

Xiao Ruobai laughed heartily and waved his hand: “What’s with the politeness! If you need anything in the future, just tell Senior Brother!” Fang Hanyu also nodded slightly.

Just then, Xiao Ruobai paused again, his Divine Sense seemingly having discovered something among the pile of bottles and jars.

A mischievous smile played on the corner of his mouth. He accurately took out a white jade Medicinal Pill bottle carved with a pattern of a fierce tiger descending a mountain.

He shook it at Fang Hanyu beside him, lowering his voice and chuckling: “Hey, Junior Brother, look at this ‘Fierce Tiger Blazing Sun Pill’… The medicinal properties are quite potent, perfect for Martial Uncle Shi.”

Fang Hanyu glanced at the Medicinal Pill bottle, the corner of his mouth seemed to curve upward ever so slightly, as if he could already envision Martial Uncle Shi’s surprised and delighted expression upon receiving this Medicinal Pill.

He chuckled softly and whispered, “Hmm, Martial Uncle Shi… will be very surprised.”

Ling Xi watched her two Senior Brothers’ perfectly synchronized, slightly mischievous teasing from the side, listening to them openly discuss sending this kind of “tonic” to an elder.

The sense of distance and alienation she had felt from being new here couldn't help but dissipate a little more.

The Spiritual Qi at her fingertips quietly settled, and a thought she had never had before arose: perhaps, temporarily setting aside the pride of an Emperor and staying peacefully on Zizhu Peak might not be a bad thing.

At least here, she wouldn’t have to fight desperately for a Medicinal Pill, nor would she have to constantly guard against hidden attacks.

Just then, footsteps came from outside the peak, accompanied by Xuan Yangzi’s loud voice, drawing closer.

“Junior Brother Changge! Xiao Ruobai! Hanyu! We’re here! Heard you all came back?!”