24: Chapter 24 Staying at Home

Ye Xiaoyao returned to his simple room, which was so barren it could be described as having nothing but four bare walls.

He backhanded the door bolt shut and moved the only piece of furniture—a broken wooden table—behind the door to brace it.

Although it was more for psychological comfort than practical use, it provided some peace of mind.

He sat cross-legged on the cold meditation cushion and let out a long, turbid breath carrying the scent of the mountains and forests.

"The trees desire stillness, but the wind will not cease..."

He muttered to himself, a hint of gravity crossing his brow.

"That scoundrel Lu Guan is vengeful; since he failed this time, he likely won't let it rest. It seems safer to play the turtle and keep my head tucked in for now."

The immediate priority was to improve his strength as quickly as possible.

Only with strength would he have the confidence to deal with trouble and the capital to explore the secrets of his own body.

He hesitated no longer and took out the three celadon medicine bottles from his Storage Pouch—the naqi pill he had bought at the trade fair yesterday.

Uncorking one of the bottles, a rich medicinal fragrance immediately permeated the air, refreshing his spirit.

He carefully poured out five dragon-eye-sized, warm-lustered, pale cyan Medicinal Pills and swallowed them one by one, washing them down with the spiritual spring water in his bamboo tube.

Once the Medicinal Pills entered his abdomen, they quickly transformed into several streams of pure, gentle warm currents that traveled slowly along his Meridians, finally converging into his Dantian.

The cyclone of spiritual power within his Dantian seemed like a parched sponge encountering a sweet spring, spinning and absorbing it joyfully.

It expanded slightly at a speed visible to the naked eye, and its color became deeper.

Ye Xiaoyao closed his eyes, cleared away all distracting thoughts, and exerted his full effort to circulate the Basic Qi Refining Technique, guiding the medicinal power and the thin Spiritual Qi in the air.

He completed the cycle, solidifying his Foundation at the Fourth Level of the Qi Refining Stage, and steadily pushing toward a higher level.

Meanwhile, on another hillside in the Outer Sect where the Spiritual Qi was relatively dense.

Several exquisite Immortal Caves were located here, serving as residences for the few wealthy or well-connected elite Disciples of the Outer Sect.

Outside one of these Immortal Caves, a few clusters of emerald bamboo were planted, appearing quite elegant.

Zhang Jiba's mountain-like, burly figure was standing in front of the Immortal Cave door.

He tried hard to straighten his back, wearing a simple, almost foolish smile, and reported loudly toward the inside of the Immortal Cave, his voice booming enough to startle the birds.

"Fairy Cao! Old Zhang has returned! I haven't been negligent at all regarding the task you gave me to watch Junior Brother Ye. My eyes were peeled wide like copper bells, I didn't even... uh, actually, I didn't watch when he went to the bathroom, but I kept a very close eye on him!"

The stone door of the Immortal Cave slid open silently, and Cao Sini stood at the entrance, dressed in a light pink gown, looking delicate and pretty.

She first frowned slightly, clearly dissatisfied with Zhang Jiba's loud voice and crude language.

But upon hearing the content, she endured it and asked: "Tell me in detail. Was there anything unusual? Especially... did he come into contact with anyone special?"

Seeing that the goddess was talking to him, Zhang Jiba became even more enthusiastic, gesturing wildly as he began to recount their encounter in the valley.

"Unusual? It was extremely unusual! Fairy, you wouldn't believe it, that Lu Guan brought two subordinates to block Junior Brother Ye in the valley! They were about to fight, and Junior Brother Ye was almost at a disadvantage..."

"Get to the point." Cao Sini interrupted him, her voice slightly cold.

"Yes, yes, yes!" Zhang Jiba shrank his neck and quickly got to the point:

"Just when Lu Guan was about to strike a heavy blow, someone suddenly descended from the sky—it was a Grandmaster wearing red! Oh my mother, that pressure scared me, Old Zhang, so much that I laid flat in the grass and didn't even dare to breathe!"

"A red-clad Grandmaster?" Cao Sini's beautiful eyes narrowed.

"A Core Formation Stage?"

"It must be! How could a Foundation Establishment Stage be that scary!"

Zhang Jiba patted his chest, still feeling lingering fear, and continued: "That Grandmaster saved Junior Brother Ye and even spoke a few words to him. I was too far away to hear what was said, then he told Lu Guan and his group to get lost, and Junior Brother Ye left after thanking him."

Cao Sini listened quietly, her slender fingers unconsciously rubbing the embroidery on her sleeve, her mind churning with thoughts.

A Core Formation Cultivator stepped in to protect him?

This was highly unusual.

The mysterious aura on Ye Xiaoyao that attracted her was indeed not simple; it could actually attract the attention of a Core Formation Stage True Person!

This made her desire to investigate and a faint, imperceptible sense of crisis rise simultaneously.

It seemed she had to speed up her progress.

Only by reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage as soon as possible, possessing stronger strength and a higher status, would she have the qualifications to plan, and the opportunity...

To slowly gain control over the secrets he carried, and even the person himself.

She pondered secretly while remaining calm on the surface.

With a light sigh, as if she were lamenting or perhaps making a firm decision, Cao Sini said coldly to Zhang Jiba:

"Alright, I understand this matter. Continue to keep an eye on Ye Xiaoyao's movements, but be even more careful and discreet. Do not alert the enemy, and do not cause any trouble that might attract attention."

Upon hearing that the mission continued and he could still serve the goddess, Zhang Jiba was instantly delighted, his teeth showing in a wide grin.

His copper-bell-like eyes rolled, and that simple smile on his face was mixed with a hint of obvious fawning and expectation.

"Don't worry, Fairy Cao! Old Zhang will handle it perfectly! That... look at my mission this time, I completed it with all my effort, right? I said it before, as long as it's something you command, I would go through fire and water..."

"You want a reward?" Cao Sini saw through his thoughts and interrupted directly, her voice flat and emotionless.

Zhang Jiba wasn't embarrassed when his thoughts were exposed. Instead, he rubbed his large, fan-like hands together, his Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed, and he gazed longingly at Cao Sini, his eyes burning with a mix of passion and foolishness.

"Yes... I do want one... Fairy, I want... I want that..."

He stammered, his eyes drifting over Cao Sini, his meaning self-evident.

A hint of imperceptible disgust and disdain flashed in the depths of Cao Sini's eyes, but on the surface, she just curled her lips coldly:

"I originally saw that you were diligent in your work and intended to reward you with some Medicinal Pills and Spirit Stones. Since you are so greedy and insatiable, this reward is off the table."

After saying this, she gave Zhang Jiba no chance to speak, turned around, and flicked her sleeves, and the stone door of the Immortal Cave slammed shut behind her.

Zhang Jiba stood there with his mouth wide open, scratching the back of his head after a long while, muttering with a look of grievance and confusion:

"No... I hadn't even said what I wanted yet... Why is there no reward? Fairy Cao, you can't be like this..."

In Ye Xiaoyao's humble room.

Time slipped away during cultivation; a day and a night passed in the blink of an eye.

Ye Xiaoyao slowly opened his eyes, the sharp light within his pupils receding, and the aura around his body was significantly thicker and more solid than before.

Feeling the surging spiritual power within his Dantian, a hint of joy appeared on his face.

"I didn't expect these Medicinal Pills to have such a significant effect."

He muttered to himself, with a touch of disbelief.

"In just two days, with that bottle and more of the naqi pill, I have climbed directly from the initial stage of the Fourth Level to the Peak of the Fourth Level! At this speed, once I finish the remaining bottle and more of the Medicinal Pills, breaking through to the Fifth Level of the Qi Refining Stage should be a matter of course."

This cultivation speed far exceeded the level that a three-Spiritual Root Aptitude should have, and it was even comparable to some dual-Spiritual Root or even talented single-Spiritual Root Disciples.

The Medicinal Pills certainly played a great role, but Ye Xiaoyao knew clearly in his heart.

The most critical factor was likely the inexplicable mutation of his own body.

That warm current, that vigorous vitality, that essence of pure yang seemed to have fundamentally improved his Physique and increased the efficiency of his spiritual power absorption and conversion.

"Could it be that I have truly awakened some kind of special Physique?"

This thought made his heart race.

If that were true, then his path to immortality might face an unimaginable turning point.

At least, Foundation Establishment would no longer be a distant dream, but something with a clear path and sufficient confidence.

Strength was the only key to getting out of his current predicament and controlling his own destiny.

He needed more resources to improve faster.

After a moment of thought, Ye Xiaoyao counted out forty Low-Grade Spirit Stones from his Storage Pouch and packed them into a clean cloth bag.

Then he stood up, walked to the door, listened for a moment to confirm there was no unusual movement outside, and only then did he gently move the table from behind the door, unbolted it, and walked out.

He walked quickly to another simple house not far away and knocked on the door.

"Brother Chen, are you there?"

A response came from inside: "Brother Ye? Wait a moment!"

After some rustling, the wooden door opened, revealing Chen Shi's simple and honest face. Seeing Ye Xiaoyao, he smiled.

"Come in and sit!"

Ye Xiaoyao slipped into the room, and the two sat at the equally wobbly wooden table in the room.

Chen Shi poured a cup of clear water for Ye Xiaoyao and asked: "Brother Ye, looking at your expression, is something the matter?"

Ye Xiaoyao didn't beat around the bush; he placed the cloth bag containing the Spirit Stones on the table and said seriously:

"Brother Chen, I would like to ask for your help with something."

Chen Shi looked at the bag and then at Ye Xiaoyao, not touching the Spirit Stones, but asked directly:

"What is it? Brother Ye, tell me straight; if I can help, I certainly will."

"I would like to ask you to help me go to the trade fair and buy a few bottles of naqi pill."

As Ye Xiaoyao spoke, he pushed the bag toward Chen Shi.

Chen Shi was a bit puzzled: "Buy Medicinal Pills? Why don't you go yourself, Brother Ye? Is it that you don't have enough Spirit Stones? I have some here..."

Ye Xiaoyao shook his head, gave a wry smile, and said frankly: "Brother Chen, to tell you the truth, ever since I was chosen by the Saintess that day, I have provoked some jealous and envious people. Yesterday, on my way back from the Scripture Pavilion, I was even ambushed in the valley. I plan to go into seclusion and not leave for a while to avoid the limelight, so I would like to ask you to do me the favor of purchasing some Medicinal Pills needed for cultivation."

Upon hearing this, Chen Shi's expression immediately became serious, and he asked with concern:

"Ambushed? Brother Ye, are you hurt? Do you need my help? We are brothers, we don't fear them!"

Feeling Chen Shi's sincere concern, Ye Xiaoyao felt a warmth in his heart and patted his shoulder.

"Don't worry, I'm fine, and the other party didn't get the better of me. Right now, I just need to Cultivate in peace and improve my strength so they won't have an opportunity to strike. So, about buying the Medicinal Pills..."

"Leave it to me!" Chen Shi didn't hesitate to take the bag and nodded firmly.

"Brother Ye, you can go into seclusion with peace of mind. Leave the Medicinal Pills to me. We are brothers; forget about such a small matter, even if there is real trouble, I will definitely stand by your side!"

"Many thanks!" Ye Xiaoyao thanked him solemnly.

The two chatted a bit more about cultivation insights, then Ye Xiaoyao took his leave, returned to his room, re-bolted the door, and continued his seclusion undertaking.

The next morning.

"Knock, knock, knock."

The knocking sounded again, accompanied by Chen Shi's lowered voice: "Brother Ye, it's me."

Ye Xiaoyao opened the door and let Chen Shi into the room.

Chen Shi immediately took out four identical celadon medicine bottles from his Storage Pouch, placed them gently on the table, and laughed:

"Brother Ye, I didn't fail the mission! Forty Spirit Stones, exchanged for four bottles of naqi pill, take a look."

Ye Xiaoyao looked at the four bottles of Medicinal Pills, joy in his heart, and said repeatedly: "Brother Chen, thank you so much!"

Chen Shi waved his hand, just about to say "Why be so polite between brothers," when his gaze accidentally swept over Ye Xiaoyao, and he suddenly let out an "Eh," with a look of surprise on his face.

"Brother Ye, you... you broke through again? Fifth Level of the Qi Refining Stage!"

Ye Xiaoyao smiled and didn't deny it: "Just lucky, all thanks to the Medicinal Pills."

As he spoke, he picked up one of the bottles of naqi pill from the table and stuffed it into Chen Shi's hand.

Chen Shi was startled and quickly refused: "Brother Ye, this won't do! These naqi pill are valuable, I..."

"Brother Chen," Ye Xiaoyao pressed his hand, his tone sincere: "You just said we are brothers. Since we are brothers, we should share blessings. Now that I have temporary protection from the Saintess and am a bit better off financially, able to afford these Medicinal Pills, how could I forget a good brother who has shared hardships with me? You must accept this bottle of Medicinal Pills; it will definitely be helpful for your cultivation."

Chen Shi looked at Ye Xiaoyao's sincere eyes, then at the warm medicine bottle in his hand, his nose felt a little sour, and he nodded firmly. He stopped refusing, carefully put away the Medicinal Pills, his voice a bit choked:

"Brother Ye... thank you! Since it's like this, I won't be pretentious. You Cultivate in peace, I won't disturb you."

After seeing Chen Shi off, Ye Xiaoyao closed the door and returned to the meditation cushion.

He looked at the three empty jade bottles on the ground and then at the three new bottles of naqi pill, a flash of determination in his eyes.

"Taking pills to level up might not result in a Foundation as solid as the slow-grinding approach, but the current situation is pressing, so I can't worry about that. I'll increase my Realm first and gain the power to protect myself!"

He steadied his mind, took out another naqi pill to consume, and closed his eyes.

This time, his goal was very clear.

He would not leave seclusion until he reached the Sixth Level of the Qi Refining Stage!