Chapter 32 Beast Tide

Feeling the tingling numbness transmitted from her toes, Yun Li had long since reached her limit of embarrassment. Only after enduring it as long as she could did she finally speak up to ask.

"Alright, alright. It's a good thing it's just washing feet. If it were a bath, I really couldn't help you." Ye Fan muttered quietly.

"Senior Brother, what did you say?"

"Ahem... It was nothing... Let me help you put your shoes on."

Ye Fan helped Yun Li put on the wooden shoes. They fit perfectly and were very comfortable, as if these feet were made for these shoes.

"Do they fit?"

"Mm-hmm."

Yun Li let out a soft hum. She wanted to get up and try walking a few steps, but several attempts ended in failure.

"Senior Brother, can you support me?" Yun Li asked, her face flushed.

Ye Fan, thinking he might as well see this good deed through to the end, could only help Yun Li to her feet.

They tried a few more times, and she finally managed to stagger two or three steps.

But before Yun Li could feel happy about it, her legs suddenly gave way, and she almost fell again.

Fortunately, at the last moment, she bumped into Ye Fan's embrace. Otherwise, she would have surely ended up with a bruised and swollen face.

"It seems it's still too early. You'd better rest for a few more days."

Yun Li nodded, her face still red, and could only let Ye Fan make the arrangements.

Since she was an acquaintance of Murong Wan, Ye Fan naturally couldn't just abandon her and proceed alone. He had no choice but to delay here for a few days.

Fortunately, he had hunted enough Yao Beast cores before. Even resting for a few days wouldn't be a problem.

After recovering some strength, Yun Li's spirits improved considerably. After hesitating for a long while, she finally mustered the courage to speak.

"By the way, Senior Brother, can I see the Medicinal Pill you mentioned earlier?"

Ye Fan nodded and handed the new Pill Formula and the carefree pill to Yun Li.

She took the Medicinal Pill, smelled it, and carefully examined the Pill Formula. Suddenly, as if she understood something, she instantly turned into a steam engine, her face burning red.

"Senior Brother, you really are no good person," Yun Li scolded, her face flushed.

Although Ye Fan hadn't told her the purpose of this medicine, Yun Li, relying on her talent in the Dao of Alchemy, saw through the function of the carefree pill at a glance.

Seeing that Ye Fan actually carried such a thing with him and even wanted her help in refining it, Yun Li clearly misunderstood something again.

But Ye Fan maintained a completely serious expression, telling her this was a good thing for the benefit of the Sect, absolutely not as simple as she imagined.

Although Yun Li wore a skeptical expression, she still helped Ye Fan study the formula. Believing in her Aptitude, she was confident she could succeed in developing it soon.

Ye Fan originally intended to wait until Yun Li's injuries were fully healed before setting off. Who knew that something unexpected would happen that very night.

In the silent night, the earth suddenly began to tremble slightly. Ye Fan, who had been meditating with his eyes closed, abruptly opened them, as if sensing something.

"Something's wrong."

"Senior Brother, what's the matter?" Yun Li asked curiously.

"Shh... Something's coming... and there are quite a lot of them."

Ye Fan made a gesture for silence. With a few leaps, he ascended to a high point on the cliff. Peering into the distance through the scattered starlight, he couldn't help but frown slightly after a moment.

"It's a Yao Beast tide."

A Yao Beast tide, as the name suggests, is a group of Yao Beasts moving together. Their scale can vary, from dozens to possibly thousands. From afar, they look like a surging tide.

If a Cultivator is unfortunate enough to encounter one, the outcome is most often certain death.

The Yao Beast horde before Ye Fan consisted of Ironclad Rhinos, outstanding among first-tier Yao Beasts. These Yao Beasts have thick, tough hides impervious to blades and spears, and their temperament is extremely fierce. Once they attack, they fight to the death.

If they appear in groups, even a Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivator would find them quite a headache to deal with.

Seeing this, Ye Fan dared not delay. He picked up Yun Li and ran towards the distance.

If they were even a step later, the consequences would be unthinkable.

Watching the Yao Beast tide drawing closer and closer behind them, Yun Li's small face paled. Subconsciously, she pressed herself tightly against Ye Fan's chest, praying incessantly in her heart that the two of them could escape alive.

But the speed of the Ironclad Rhinos far exceeded Yun Li's imagination. The distance between the two sides was actually shrinking, and it looked like they were about to be caught.

"Senior Brother, put me down and escape alone. Otherwise, we'll both die," Yun Li said after a moment's hesitation, thinking to herself that since Ye Fan had saved her life, it was better for just one person to die than for both to perish.

"Put you down? Then who's going to do Alchemy for me?"

Ye Fan smiled, completely dismissing her words. Looking at a protrusion on a distant cliff wall, he took a running start, gathered strength, and leaped high into the air.

Almost at the exact moment Ye Fan jumped, the Yao Beast tide composed of Ironclad Rhinos rushed past just beneath his feet. One step later, and both of them would have been trampled into paste.

With a few more leaps, Ye Fan reached the mountainside. Watching the Yao Beast horde recede like a tide below, Yun Li's heart pounded wildly. She practically buried herself into Ye Fan's body.

"We're safe now."

Ye Fan's gentle reassurance allowed Yun Li to relax a little.

Only then did she realize their faces were barely an inch apart. She could even clearly feel Ye Fan's breath.

Everything that had happened over the past two days instantly flooded her mind. Yun Li felt her brain go blank, and she subconsciously planted a kiss on Ye Fan's cheek.

"Senior Brother, you saved me again... consider this a reward."

Yun Li struggled free from Ye Fan's embrace and, swaying unsteadily, ran to the side, hiding behind a tree, unwilling to come out.

Smelling the faint lingering fragrance on his cheek, Ye Fan was also a bit stunned. Then, he could only offer a wry smile.

"Forget it. Let fate decide."

The two of them seemed to have reached a tacit understanding, not mentioning anything that happened that night.

Over the next ten days, Ye Fan carried Yun Li as they headed towards the mountaintop, healing her injuries while hunting Yao Beasts, conveniently accomplishing both tasks.

Only after witnessing Ye Fan's skills firsthand did Yun Li realize she had underestimated this Senior Brother of hers.

No matter what Yao Beast they encountered, none could withstand a single casual finger strike from him. This level of cultivation far surpassed that of a Personal Disciple from Pill Cauldron Peak.

"Qi Refining Realm eighth layer, or even ninth layer?!"

Yun Li wanted to ask something, but on second thought, she kept her mouth shut. After all, everyone has their secrets.

Yun Li suddenly felt immense pressure. She could only devote herself wholeheartedly to improving the carefree pill, wanting to help Ye Fan in this way.

Her efforts paid off. After several days of hard work, Yun Li finally succeeded in refining the new version of the carefree pill.

"Senior Brother, it's done! Do you want to test and see how effective it is?"

Yun Li looked excited, as if seeking praise for her achievement.

"Test it? With you?"

Suppressing a laugh, Ye Fan's single sentence instantly broke Yun Li's composure.

After spending this time together, the two were already very familiar. Yun Li had regained her lively nature, and similar jokes were commonplace.

Yun Li suffered a silent defeat, her pretty face turning as red as an apple.

"Pah, pah, pah! Who said you should test it now? After the Assembly ends, find your Dao Companion and test it slowly," Yun Li scolded, her face flushed.

"I won't need it even after it ends. My body is perfectly fine."

Ye Fan put away the carefree pills with satisfaction, thinking to himself that he had finally settled one matter.

As for Yun Li, logically, her injuries should have healed long ago. Yet, she always claimed she had no strength and needed Ye Fan to carry her every day.

There were less than ten days left until the end of the Trial Assembly, but Ye Fan had already collected over a hundred Yao Beast cores. This result should be more than enough for him to easily take first place.

But just as Ye Fan was about to reach the foot of the mountain, over a dozen Disciples from the Joyous Union Sect suddenly blocked their path.

Their ill-intentioned expressions made it clear they weren't there to ask for directions.