8: Senior sister, you must be really hungry.

At the same time.

Liu Yan was Cultivating at home.

After most of the fire poison in her body was removed by Lu Yang, she felt her body was lighter than ever before.

Combined with the absorption of the Primordial Yang she had harvested, Liu Yan's Cultivation finally made progress, and the inexplicable irritability she used to feel had also vanished.

Liu Yan desperately hoped Lu Yang would come to find her sooner to completely clear the remaining fire poison, so she paid extra attention to any movement around her residence.

Suddenly, Liu Yan sensed a visitor.

Liu Yan's expression shifted, and she immediately used her Spiritual Sense to investigate.

She found a woman outside with a slender figure, lustrous skin, and a sharp Aura, standing with her hands on her hips.

It was none other than her arch-rival, Xia Yuxuan.

Xia Yuxuan was about the same age as Liu Yan, but her cultivation had always been one layer lower.

This caused Xia Yuxuan to always view Liu Yan as a rival and strive to catch up.

However, due to the fire poison, Liu Yan's cultivation had stagnated at the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining.

Now, Xia Yuxuan had just finished her secluded meditation and successfully made a Breakthrough to the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining, finally catching up to Liu Yan's cultivation.

She had come specifically with the primary goal of confirming whether Liu Yan was still stuck at the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining.

Secondly, since she had leveled the Realm, she was confident about challenging Liu Yan in the upcoming Sect Grand Competition, and even competing for the top three spots to obtain a Medium Grade Magical Artifact (at the same Realm, those with elemental advantages have the upper hand).

Xia Yuxuan stood outside, her voice carrying an intentional tone of concern: "Senior Sister Liu? Yuxuan has just come out of seclusion and came specifically to visit Senior Sister.

I heard that Senior Sister has been slightly unwell lately. I wonder if you are feeling any better?"

Liu Yan's voice came from inside the room, her tone flat: "Thank you for your concern, Junior Sister Xia. I am fine."

Xia Yuxuan's gaze swept over Liu Yan's wing-room, attempting to probe her Aura, while she smiled and said, "That's good. Hearing Senior Sister's voice, your breath is steady, so your cultivation must also... Hmm, still at the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining?

Don't lose heart, Senior Sister. A Bottleneck will always be broken eventually." The probing intent in Xia Yuxuan's words was obvious.

Liu Yan remained calm upon hearing this: "Cultivation cannot be rushed. Congratulations on your Breakthrough to the eighth layer, Junior Sister."

Liu Yan saw through Xia Yuxuan's intentions but did not want to argue with her.

Xia Yuxuan's mother was an Inner Sect Elder, and Liu Yan worried that offending her would invite unnecessary trouble.

Especially the matter of her accidentally draining six Cauldrons; if the other party found out and used it against her, it would be bad. She now only wanted to wait peacefully for Lu Yang to come and remove the fire poison.

After a few pleasantries, Xia Yuxuan changed the subject, her face wearing a mask of fake sympathy: "By the way, after I came out of seclusion, I heard some... rumors about Senior Sister.

Sigh, I heard Senior Sister has been looking for Water Spirit Root Cauldrons lately?" She took a step closer and lowered her voice, yet her tone carried a piercing sarcasm: "I also heard... Senior Sister has already used six of them?

Even that Old Man who's about to be buried... Oh, Senior Sister, why bother going through all this trouble?"

Liu Yan's face darkened slightly, her voice carrying a distinct chill: "I have my own plans. There's no need for Junior Sister to worry."

Seeing Liu Yan admit it, Xia Yuxuan covered her mouth and chuckled, her eyes filled with undisguised mockery: "Why push yourself so hard, Senior Sister? I feel sorry for you too!

If Senior Sister really needs to suppress the internal heat... I happen to have a Cold Spirit Bed bestowed by my mother, which is extremely effective.

As long as Senior Sister asks, for the sake of our Sect sisterhood, I wouldn't mind parting with it to let Senior Sister use it!

Why... why must you ruin your own body like this?"

Xia Yuxuan sighed affectedly, "Sigh, as a fellow woman, I understand your difficulties.

It's just that acting this way... is ultimately damaging to your reputation, don't you think, Senior Sister?"

Every word from Xia Yuxuan was filled with condescending "concern" and blatant superiority.

Lending the Cold Spirit Bed was a lie; her true intention was to make Liu Yan beg her for it.

Liu Yan knew all this very well and naturally wouldn't fall for it.

"I appreciate your kind intentions, Junior Sister, but I don't need it. You'd better focus on your Cultivation. In a month, I'm afraid I will already be at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer."

Xia Yuxuan was somewhat surprised: "Is what you're saying true, Senior Sister? You've controlled your fire poison?"

Liu Yan said coldly: "No comment!"

Xia Yuxuan curled her lip, about to curse.

Just then, Lu Yang arrived.

As soon as he landed, Lu Yang saw Xia Yuxuan at the door.

He saw that she had a slender figure, fair and translucent skin, and delicate features, but her eyes were cold, revealing a hint of hostility.

Name: Xia Yuxuan

Gender: Female

Age: 28/150

Aptitude: Water Spirit Root

Cultivation: Eighth Layer of Qi Refining

Good and Evil Value: -20

...Lu Yang saw that Xia Yuxuan's Good and Evil Value toward him was actually negative, and his face immediately darkened.

This was clearly their first meeting, yet this woman already harbored such great malice toward him.

Although he knew she was unfriendly, Lu Yang still greeted her respectfully: "Greetings, Senior Sister Xia."

Xia Yuxuan looked at the Old Man before her who was about to be buried, thinking that surely Liu Yan couldn't have chosen this Old Man. She immediately inquired,

"Are you that Lu Yang with the five-element waste Spiritual Root?"

"That would be me."

Seeing Lu Yang confirm it, Xia Yuxuan immediately showed a look of disdain.

[Xia Yuxuan Good and Evil Value -20]

Xia Yuxuan shouted toward Liu Yan inside the house: "Senior Sister, your Cauldron has come to find you."

"Hahaha, I can't believe the rumors are true. Senior Sister, you actually like this kind of old geezer.

I can see that you are truly starving, Senior Sister."

Xia Yuxuan ignored Lu Yang in front of her and laughed out loud, mocking Liu Yan to the extreme.

Hearing that Lu Yang had arrived, Liu Yan immediately transformed into a red blur and flew out.

She landed directly beside Lu Yang and grabbed his arm with one hand.

She said coldly to Xia Yuxuan: "Since Junior Sister has such leisure time to mind others' business, why not go back and Cultivate sooner? Wouldn't it be more satisfying to surpass me as soon as possible?"

Before her voice even faded, she glanced at Xia Yuxuan and spoke with a sharp edge: "However, with Junior Sister's Heart-Nature, I'm afraid you won't have the chance."

After retorting, Liu Yan didn't linger for a second, transforming into a streak of light again and taking Lu Yang straight back into the room.

Xia Yuxuan stood frozen on the spot, staring intently at the closed door.

Something's not right! Her heart skipped a beat.

In that brief glimpse just now, she clearly saw that Liu Yan's figure seemed much slimmer, and those faint red marks that were permanently hidden under her veil had actually vanished without a trace!

I must have been seeing things.

Xia Yuxuan comforted herself.

But Liu Yan's provocative words were like sharp thorns piercing her ears.

Her reason was instantly torn apart by a surge of fury.

"You with the surname Liu!" Xia Yuxuan shrieked at the door, her voice sharp with anger, "We'll see at the Sect Grand Competition in a month!"

"I will definitely surpass you! When that time comes, I'll make you kneel before me and call me Senior Sister a hundred times, a thousand times!"

After leaving those harsh words, Xia Yuxuan turned and left.