78: Chapter 78 Then...be gentle.

"What are you doing?" Mu Wanqing took a wary step back, her hands instinctively shielding her chest, her eyes practically screaming, "Stay away from me."

She had been quite frightened by the way Xiao Ye had taught Lu Manman a lesson earlier; the trauma still lingered in her heart, making her truly afraid that Xiao Ye would say, "I didn't have enough fun just now, it's your turn."

"There's an Opportunity, do you want it?" Xiao Ye looked at her with a smile, one that was as kind and gentle as an old fox's.

He had now discovered a massive secret—deeply interacting with women of high talent resulted in the System rewarding him with excellent things!

Look, didn't he just obtain a divine skill—Telekinesis? In the future, when stealing... ahem, taking treasures, he wouldn't even need to lift a finger; with a mere thought, he could pull someone's undergarments toward him. How convenient.

If used in certain indescribable situations...

*Cough, cough*, off-topic.

He wanted to test just how high the probability of obtaining such a divine skill was.

Conveniently, there was one left here who hadn't been "developed" yet.

"An Opportunity? What kind of Opportunity?" Mu Wanqing perked up instantly, her eyes lighting up as she became as curious as a rabbit spotting a carrot, her ears practically standing on end.

"Do you want to raise your Spiritual Root Rank?" Xiao Ye casually tossed out the question in a leisurely tone.

Mu Wanqing's pupils shook, her mouth hung slightly open, and she froze in place, her head buzzing as if ten thousand bees were flying inside.

Raising Spiritual Root Rank? Does such an Opportunity really exist? She possessed a Heaven-Grade Low Grade Spiritual Root, an Aptitude that was among the best in the entire Great Qian Empire, ranking in the top five on the heavenly pride ranking.

What kind of Opportunity could raise a Spiritual Root? Especially a Heaven-Grade one? Wasn't this a Heaven-Defying change of fate?

She was too curious, and she craved it too much.

Spiritual Roots were innate and almost impossible to change after birth; this was a universally acknowledged ironclad rule in the cultivation world.

But now, someone was telling her it could be raised? It was as ridiculous as someone telling you that "taking medicine can make you ten centimeters taller."

"I do! Wang Defa, tell me quickly!" Mu Wanqing stomped her feet in anxiety, wishing she could pounce on him and throttle him to force the answer out, her lady-like image completely thrown to the winds.

"This is a spirit ascension pill; it can raise your Spiritual Root by one minor Rank."

Xiao Ye took out a round, full Medicinal Pill emitting a faint golden light from his Storage Pouch and waved it in front of her. The motion was like teasing a child, intentionally spinning the pill a couple of times to let the golden light flash before her eyes.

Mu Wanqing's eyes were instantly glued to the Medicinal Pill, her gaze so burning it could cook an egg, and drool nearly escaped the corner of her mouth.

"Oh, right—" Xiao Ye's tone shifted as he reached out to remove his mask, revealing a sharp-featured, strikingly handsome Face. The corners of his mouth curled up in a smile that was thirty percent wicked and seventy percent smug. "Actually, my name isn't Wang Defa. You should recognize me."

Now, he no longer needed to continue the disguise. After all, for what he was about to do, wearing a mask would be quite inconvenient—jie jie jie...

As for why he wore a mask while dealing with Lu Manman earlier? It could only be said that she didn't deserve to enjoy "French romance"; she wasn't high-class enough.

The moment Mu Wanqing saw "Wang Defa's" true Face, she was completely stunned. Her brain felt like it had been stuffed with paste, and her CPU directly fried.

Although Xiao Ye had become quite a bit younger after his Core Formation Breakthrough, his facial features and profile were still the same as before, without any major changes.

Mu Wanqing stared at his Face for a few seconds and recognized him instantly—wasn't this the Hehuan Sect Elder who had been staring at her at the entrance of the Secret Realm?

"You are... Xiao Ye? That Alchemist from the Hehuan Sect?" Her eyes widened, her voice trembling, as she pointed at Xiao Ye as if she had seen a ghost.

After the shock passed, her eyes involuntarily drifted back to the spirit ascension pill in Xiao Ye's hand, her gaze caught like it was pulled by a magnet, unable to look away.

This was a divine medicine that could raise her Spiritual Root Rank!

If she raised her Spiritual Root from Heaven-Grade Low Grade to Heaven-Grade Medium Grade, her Aptitude would Rank in the top five of the Great Qian Empire's heavenly pride ranking—no, the top three! She would directly push Tang Shisan down and take his place while stepping on his punchable Face!

The heavenly pride ranking was an official list released by the Great Qian Empire, recording information on the young geniuses and talents from across the country, ranked by a combination of strength and Aptitude. While not necessarily one hundred percent accurate, it held significant reference value.

For example, Tang Shisan: twenty-five years old, Heaven-Grade Low Grade Spiritual Root, fifth level of Foundation Establishment, having comprehended Sword Intent. He was incredibly powerful and ranked third on the heavenly pride ranking.

The one ranked first was the First Prince of the Great Qian Empire—Qian Long. Heaven-Grade Medium Grade Spiritual Root, twenty-six years old, seventh level of Foundation Establishment. There was only a one-year age difference between the two, and a two-level gap in their Realm, but their combat power was similar. In fact, Tang Shisan was even a sliver stronger—because he had the boost from his Sword Intent, giving him more explosive power. If they truly fought, it was uncertain who would win.

However, Qian Long was the First Prince after all, and this heavenly pride ranking was personally ordered to be compiled by the Sovereign of the Great Qian Empire. Him being ranked first was only natural; those who understood, understood.

It was just a Face-saving project for the royal family, much like the "Outstanding Employee" awards in certain workplaces.

"You... you're really willing to give it to me?" Mu Wanqing swallowed hard, her voice trembling as she looked longingly at the spirit ascension pill in Xiao Ye's hand, looking very much like a puppy waiting to be fed, her tail practically wagging.

"Of course—" Xiao Ye nodded with a smile, one so kind it made one's skin crawl. Then his tone shifted, revealing a classic merchant's grin. "However, you have to..."

Mu Wanqing's heart skipped a beat, a chill running down her spine. She asked warily, "Have to what? Tell me quickly! Stop keeping me in suspense!"

Xiao Ye pointed under that silk tree, which had already been shaken bare, at Lu Manman, who was still blowing bubbles. He said with a smile, "It's simple—just do the same as her."

Mu Wanqing followed his finger and looked at Lu Manman under the tree, whose clothes were disheveled, hair was a mess, eyes were vacant, and mouth was still sputtering. Her mouth twitched violently, and her Face turned pale instantly.

"...In your dreams!"

"Two pills." Xiao Ye held up two fingers, the golden spirit ascension pills flipping between his fingertips like two little golden beans. "Plus, I'll guarantee you a spot in the top ten of the Grand Competition, and throw in one perfect dust-descending pill. A full one-stop service for your Core Formation Breakthrough, with after-sales support included."

Mu Wanqing's mouth opened and then closed.

Two spirit ascension pills. If she took them, her Spiritual Root would jump from Heaven-Grade Low Grade directly to Heaven-Grade High Grade, skipping two Ranks—then she wouldn't just be in the top three of the Great Qian Empire's heavenly pride ranking, she would be number one! She would trample Qian Long and punch Tang Shisan; the number one Prodigy of the Great Qian Empire, who else but her?

And the top ten in the Secret Realm Grand Competition—even the tenth place—meant being able to soak in the Blood Pool for three days.

With the cultivation speed of a Heaven-Grade High Grade Spiritual Root after taking the spirit ascension pills, she could raise her level by at least two minor stages in three days.

If she made it to the top three of the Grand Competition, she was confident she could break through to Foundation Establishment Perfection, leaving her just one step away from Core Formation.

And Xiao Ye even promised to give her a dust-descending pill—a perfect dust-descending pill!

This was a grand Dao leading straight to Core Formation! It was paved perfectly smooth, with flowers even planted along the roadside.

How could she refuse? She absolutely couldn't!

The only obstacle was that damned sense of shame, like a small pebble stuck in her shoe; it was uncomfortable to walk, but not enough to make her stop and take the shoe off.

But in the Face of the Great Dao, what was shame? Could it be eaten? Could it be spent like a Spirit Stone? Could it make her live five hundred years longer?

"Fi... fine." Her voice was as soft as a mosquito's hum, her Face already so red it could fry an egg, even her ears steaming. "Then you... be gentle."