Lin Qianxue, Foundation Establishment Level 8

Thump!

Before Jiang Chen could even rush two steps, his entire body was pressed down, forcing him to his knees, which sank deep into the mud.

Cold sweat instantly drenched his back.

Too strong!

This feeling was not like facing a Senior Brother of the same generation at all; it was more like facing those exalted Peak Lords!

"Just kneel there and watch obediently."

Su Ye's tone was calm, as if he were talking about a trivial matter.

"To be able to personally witness this Revered Master teaching Junior Sister how to gather Spirit Medicine is your good fortune in this life."

Jiang Chen: "..."

Good fortune, my ass!

That's robbery! That's blatant robbery!

He could only watch helplessly as Lin Waner stuffed the seven-colored glazed flower, which he regarded as his life, along with three feet square of surrounding spiritual soil, into a Storage Pouch inscribed with "Purple Bamboo Peak Exclusive."

Even so.

After collecting the flower, Lin Waner looked at the surrounding accompanying Spiritual Plants with lingering interest.

"Senior Brother, these weeds seem to be sick too."

Lin Waner blinked her big eyes, her face innocent and pure.

Su Ye nodded approvingly:

"Since they are all sick, then don't favor one over the other."

"A family should be neat and tidy."

"Alright!"

Lin Waner cheered, her medicine hoe swinging so fast it was just a blur.

Wherever it passed.

Not a blade of grass remained!

Truly, not a blade of grass remained!

Even three inches of topsoil were scraped away!

...Taichu Square.

A deathly silence.

Everyone's gaze subconsciously fell upon the old man sitting in the third row, who was now trembling all over.

Pill Cauldron Peak's First Seat, Elder Yaochen.

At this moment, Yaochen's meticulously groomed white beard was twitching, clearly indicating he was overcome with anger.

"Bandits... hooligans... robbers!!!"

Yaochen finally couldn't hold back, slamming the table and letting out a sorrowful roar.

"That was the main ingredient this old man had reserved to refine the 'Taiyi Soul Nurturing Pill'!

This old man has been watching that flower for fifty years! Fifty years!"

"Su Ye, you brat! You're going too far! Too far!"

If not for his status, Yaochen would probably have rushed up to fight Yun Yuzhen to the death at this moment.

But he couldn't.

So he could only clutch his chest, shakily pull out a quick-acting heart-saving pill from his embrace, and swallow it with his head tilted back.

"Brother Yao, calm down, calm down."

An Elder next to him advised, suppressing a smile:

"Young people, it's inevitable for them to be competitive."

"And look at Su Ye's technique, digging it up with roots and soil. He clearly knows what he's doing; at least he didn't damage the medicinal properties."

"You call that knowing what he's doing?!"

Yaochen was so angry his beard bristled and his eyes widened:

"He even scraped away the topsoil! That's a Spiritual Vein node of Hundred Herb Valley! He's trying to cut off Hundred Herb Valley's Foundation!"

Above the high platform.

Holy Master couldn't help but burst into laughter, seeing the scene in the water mirror that resembled a locust plague.

"Giggle, giggle..."

She covered her mouth and chuckled softly, her body swaying like a flower in the wind, causing several male Elders around her to quickly avert their gaze, not daring to look further.

"Junior Sister, ah."

Holy Master leaned into Yun Yuzhen's ear, teasing:

"Your eldest Disciple is truly skilled at managing a household diligently."

"His 'Three Alls Policy' is even more thorough than those in the Demonic Sect."

Yun Yuzhen: "..."

At this moment, she too was somewhat torn between laughter and tears.

On one hand, Su Ye's domineering protectiveness and resource grabbing did appear... well, a little dashing.

The cultivation world was inherently a place where the strong preyed on the weak, and resources were seized through competition.

The reason her Purple Bamboo Peak had so few people was because she used to be too aloof and disdained to contend.

Now, Su Ye's assertiveness did bring her a lot of face.

But on the other hand... this was too embarrassing!

Even scraping the topsoil? Is your Purple Bamboo Peak so poor it can't even make ends meet?

"Hmph."

Yun Yuzhen feigned composure, picked up her teacup, and took a sip, using it to hide the trace of a smile at the corner of her lips.

"Since it's a Secret Realm trial, it's naturally everyone for themselves."

"Jiang Chen's skill is inferior, he couldn't protect his treasure, who can he blame?"

"What's more..."

Yun Yuzhen paused, her beautiful eyes shifting, and said indifferently:

"Su Ye is right."

"That flower really was sick; look at its leaves, they're all wilted."

Pfft!

Yaochen, who had just swallowed a heart-saving pill, nearly spat out a mouthful of old blood upon hearing this.

Protecting one's own!

This was blatant favoritism!

This is what they call a crooked beam leading to a crooked pillar!

...Inside the Secret Realm.

Hundred Herb Valley had become completely barren.

The treasure land, once filled with Spiritual Qi, now looked as if countless wild boars had rooted through it, scarred and desolate.

Jiang Chen was still kneeling on the ground.

His eyes were hollow, his face ashen.

It's gone.

All gone.

The seven-colored glazed flower was gone, the Green Wood Spirit Liquid was gone, and along with it, his longing for beautiful love also flew away with the sky-filling dust.

"Let's go."

Su Ye looked at the Storage Pouch Lin Waner handed him, feeling satisfied.

This wave was extremely lucrative.

He didn't kill Jiang Chen.

After all, they were all fellow Disciples; it's good to leave a line in life for future encounters... for the next robbery.

"Wait."

Just as the three were about to leave, Su Ye suddenly stopped.

He turned around and looked at Jiang Chen, who was kneeling on the ground.

Jiang Chen's body trembled, a trace of fear flashing in his eyes:

"What... what else do you want to do? I only have these clothes left!"

Su Ye glanced disdainfully at his wrinkled Daoist robe.

"Don't worry, this Revered Master doesn't collect junk."

With that said.

Su Ye fumbled in his embrace for a while.

Just when everyone thought he was having a change of heart and would offer some compensation.

Su Ye pulled out a dark, hard object and casually tossed it to Jiang Chen.

Clatter.

The object landed in front of Jiang Chen.

It was a... gnawed Thunder Qilin Beast leg bone.

There were even several clear teeth marks remaining on it.

"This..."

Jiang Chen was stunned.

"Don't say Senior Brother doesn't take care of you."

Su Ye stood with his hands behind his back, looking like an otherworldly expert:

"Although the meat is gone from this bone, it's still quite fresh for making soup."

"Replenish some calcium; seeing how quickly you knelt, your knees must not be good."

After speaking.

Su Ye laughed heartily, no longer looking at Jiang Chen.

"Waner, Light Snow, next stop!"

"I heard Ye Yan of Blazing Sun Peak is playing with fire in the Lava Cave?"

"Let's go help him... put out the fire!"

Swoosh!

Three streaks of light once again soared into the sky, leaving only the arrogant laughter echoing in the valley.

Jiang Chen stared blankly at the dark leg bone in front of him.

After a long while.

Two lines of clear tears rolled down from the corners of his eyes.

"Su Ye..."

"May your whole family be thanked!!!"

At this moment.

All the Disciples from various Peaks watching the live broadcast, especially those with some good items, felt a chill down their spines.

That evil star.

He's here again!

And this time, he's brought two exceptional Junior Sisters, coming as a team!

Towards the Lava Cave.

Ye Yan, the Eldest Senior Brother of Blazing Sun Peak, who was currently shirtless and tempering his body in a lake of magma, suddenly sneezed.

"Achoo!"

"Strange, why did this magma suddenly feel a bit cold?"

Ye Yan rubbed his nose, unaware that a disaster named "Su Ye" was rapidly approaching him.

Across the vast sky, clouds surged.

The three streaks of light hadn't flown too far before they descended upon a solitary, precipitous mountain Peak named 'Luoyan Peak'.

This place was still some distance from the Lava Cave, serving as a buffer zone within the Secret Realm.

Su Ye waved his large sleeve, and a gentle gust of wind swept across, cleaning a flat bluestone perfectly clean.

"Let's rest here for a bit."

Su Ye lifted his robe, casually sitting on the bluestone, his movements free and uninhibited.

Lin Waner, currently holding the bulging Storage Pouch like a small squirrel with a pinecone, excitedly scurried over.

"Senior Brother, Senior Brother, shouldn't we 'divide the spoils'... oh no, distribute the spoils of war now?"

Her lively big eyes sparkled with little stars named "greedy for wealth."

Su Ye reached out and lightly flicked her smooth forehead.

"What 'dividing the spoils,' that sounds so unpleasant."

"This is called rational utilization of idle Sect resources."

Lin Qianxue also put away her Flying Sword, standing quietly to the side; though her cold face showed no expression, there was a hint of curiosity in her eyes.

That was the legendary seven-colored glazed flower.

Earth Rank, top grade.

In the outside world, it would be enough to cause a bloody storm.

Su Ye took the Storage Pouch, and with a thought of his Divine Sense.

Whoosh.

The seven-colored glazed flower, still covered with fresh soil, appeared out of thin air, suspended between the three of them.

Under the sunlight.

Its seven leaves shimmered with colorful light, and its petals were crystal clear, seemingly containing the purest Dao rhyme of heaven and earth.

A rich medicinal fragrance instantly permeated the air; just taking a whiff made one feel the spiritual power within their body circulate a few times faster.

"Indeed, it's good stuff."

Su Ye stroked his chin, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.

The Supreme Bone trembled slightly.

In his vision, every single vein of this flower seemed like a manifestation of the Great Dao.

"Senior Brother, should we take this flower back to Revered Master?"

Lin Qianxue asked softly.

"Give it to that old... cough, why give it to Revered Master?"

Su Ye almost let slip, quickly correcting himself:

"Revered Master is a Great Power of Tribulation Crossing Realm; this thing isn't even enough to stick between her teeth."

"Moreover, this flower has been out of the soil for too long, and its medicinal properties are diminishing."

"Didn't I just say it was 'depressed'? Since it's depressed, we need to quickly find a way to let it find liberation."

Lin Waner blinked, a little bewildered:

"Liberation? How to liberate it?"

Su Ye grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth:

"Eat it."

"Ah?!"

Both girls exclaimed simultaneously.

Lin Waner's eyes widened even further, and she stammered, pointing at the flower:

"Di... directly eat it?"

"Senior Brother, this is a top-grade Earth Rank Spirit Medicine! Aren't we going to have Pill Cauldron Peak refine it into a Medicinal Pill?"

"What a waste of heavenly resources!"

Although Purple Bamboo Peak acted domineeringly, this act of rawly devouring an Earth Rank Spirit Medicine was simply the most wasteful of prodigal sons!

If outsiders saw it, they would probably suffer a myocardial infarction on the spot.

"Alchemy?"

Su Ye scoffed disdainfully:

"Those old fogeys at Pill Cauldron Peak, when refining a Medicinal Pill, they'd add eight hundred kinds of auxiliary ingredients, ultimately neutralizing the original spiritual essence."

"The so-called Great Dao is simple."

"The most primitive is often the most nourishing."

As he spoke, Su Ye's gaze intensely fixed on Lin Qianxue.

That look made Lin Qianxue's frozen Innate Sword Heart involuntarily skip a beat or two.

"Se... Senior Brother, why are you looking at me?"

Lin Qianxue subconsciously took half a step back, a blush creeping up her earlobes.

Although she had already had an in-depth exchange with Senior Brother.

Under broad daylight, such an intense gaze still made her a little shy.

"Light Snow."

Su Ye waved his hand, his tone softening a bit:

"You cultivate the Path of Emotionless Sword, but your Innate Sword Heart is too rigid; excessive rigidity easily breaks."

"This seven-colored glazed flower contains seven attributes of Spiritual Qi, just like the seven emotions and six desires of life."

"With the power of this flower, you can temper your Sword Heart, allowing your Sword Intent to reach a state of both rigidity and flexibility."

When it came to serious matters, Light Snow's expression also became solemn.

She bit her lower lip and whispered:

"But Senior Brother... I'm only at the Foundation Establishment Fifth Heaven."

"The medicinal power of this Low Grade Heaven Rank Spirit Medicine is too violent, I'm afraid..."

If it were a Golden Core Stage Cultivator, they might barely be able to absorb it.

But for a Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator to swallow an Earth Rank Spirit Medicine raw, it was no different from swallowing a pack of explosives.

It could very well lead to an explosion of the Physical Body and death.

"What are you afraid of?"

Su Ye stood up and took a step to stand before Light Snow.

His large hand naturally wrapped around her slender waist, which could be held in one grasp.

A warm sensation spread.

Light Snow's delicate body trembled, but she didn't struggle. However, her originally cold eyes instantly turned into a pool of spring water.

"With Senior Brother here, even if it's the stars in the sky, you can swallow them."

Su Ye's voice was low and magnetic.

That powerful confidence made it seem as if nothing in this world could stump him.

"Sit properly."

"Senior Brother will personally act as your Protector."

Light Snow took a deep breath, and a warm current surged in her heart.

She no longer hesitated, sitting cross-legged on the bluestone.

Her long sword rested across her lap, her five centers facing the sky.

Su Ye sat cross-legged behind her, his palms pressed against her thin back.

"Waner, go guard the surroundings."

"If anyone dares to approach, knock them out and throw them down the mountain."

"As you command!"

Seeing this, Lin Waner no longer joked around. She grabbed her medicinal hoe and darted to the top of a large tree, vigilantly scanning her surroundings.

"Open your mouth."

Su Ye flicked his finger.

The seven-colored glazed flower instantly disintegrated. The most essential stamen part transformed into a seven-colored torrent, directly entering Light Snow's mouth.

The most essential stamen part, transformed into a seven-colored torrent, directly entered Light Snow's mouth.

Boom!

It melted upon entry.

Immediately after.

A terrifying energy, like a volcano that had accumulated for a thousand years, erupted within Light Snow's body!

"Ugh!"

Light Snow groaned, her beautiful face instantly turning pale.

The violent medicinal power seemed to tear her Meridians apart inch by inch!

Pain!

Bone-deep pain!

Just when she felt she couldn't hold on any longer.

A warm, domineering, and familiar power continuously surged into her body from behind.

It was Senior Brother's Spiritual Qi!

That was the pure Spiritual Qi transformed by the Heaven Swallowing Demonic Art, carrying a domineering force that devoured all things, instantly rushing into the chaotic torrent of medicinal power.

"Suppress!"

Su Ye silently roared in his heart.

The terrifying Divine Sense of a nascent soul sixth heaven Cultivator, combined with the pressure of the Supreme Bone, formed a dense net within Light Snow's body.

The medicinal power, which had been as wild as an unbridled horse, instantly became as docile as a lamb under this pressure.

"Circulate your Cultivation Technique, focus your mind and calm your Qi!"

Su Ye's voice boomed in Light Snow's Sea of Consciousness.

Light Snow dared not neglect it and immediately circulated the Purple Bamboo Peak Mind-Cultivation Technique.

With Su Ye's guidance, the refining process became exceptionally smooth... Taichu Square.

At this moment, countless eyes were fixed on the water mirror in mid-air.

In the picture.

It was the scene of Su Ye helping Light Snow refine the Spirit Medicine.

"Madman! Absolutely a madman!"

Elder Yaochen was no longer clutching his chest; he was now pinching his philtrum.

He looked at the seven-colored glazed flower that was directly crushed and swallowed, his heart aching so much that he trembled.

"That's a Heaven Rank Low Grade!"

"If combined with 'Nine-Leaf Ganoderma' and 'Cold Pond Dragon Saliva', this old man is confident he can refine a furnace of Heaven Rank Low Grade 'Seven-Revolving Glazed Pills'!"

"He actually... actually let someone swallow it raw?!"

"This is wasting treasure! This is a crime!"

The surrounding Elders also looked at each other, their faces filled with heartache.

This method of use was a million times more wasteful than a cow chewing on peonies.

Only about one-tenth of the medicinal power could be absorbed; the remaining ninety percent would dissipate into the Heaven and Earth.

What a spendthrift!

Too much of a spendthrift!

Above the high platform.

Yun Yuzhen sat gracefully in the main seat, a moon-white palace dress accentuating her cold and noble temperament.

Only at this moment.

This aloof Peak Revered Master's mouth twitched slightly.

"This Rebellious Disciple..."

She cursed inwardly.

Not just because of Su Ye's wasteful behavior.

But also because... wasn't that hand on Light Snow's back placed a bit too low?

And the way he was transmitting Spiritual Qi, no matter how she looked at it, there was an indescribable ambiguity.

That was her Disciple!

That was her Fifth Disciple!

"Cough, cough."

Feeling the strange glances cast around, Yun Yuzhen lightly coughed twice and forcibly tried to save face:

"Brother Yao, you are mistaken."

"As the saying goes, make the best use of everything."

"As long as it can improve the Disciple's strength, let alone swallowing it raw, even using it to soak feet would be worth it."

Pfft!

Elder Yaochen, who had just woken up, heard this, rolled his eyes, and fainted again.

Using Heaven Rank Low Grade Spirit Medicine to soak feet?

How rich is your Purple Bamboo Peak?!

...Within the Secret Realm, on the Peak of Luoyan Peak.

As time passed, Light Snow's aura began to climb steadily.

Her Foundation, which had been slightly unstable due to challenging higher Realms, became incredibly solid under the immense medicinal power of the seven-colored glazed flower.

Buzz!

A clear sword cry emanated from within her body.

That was her Innate Sword Heart cheering.

With Su Ye's help, not only was the medicinal power not wasted, but it was forcibly compressed by the Heaven Swallowing Demonic Art, integrating into every inch of Light Snow's flesh and blood without a single trace lost.

Foundation Establishment Fifth Heaven... Peak!

Pop.

It was as if a layer of window paper had been pierced.

Light Snow's delicate body trembled, and the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi frantically poured in.

Breakthrough!

Foundation Establishment Sixth Heaven!

But this was just the beginning.

The medicinal power of the seven-colored glazed flower was simply too vast; even after being suppressed by Su Ye, it still flowed endlessly like a great river.

"Not enough."

Su Ye felt the condition within Light Snow's body, his brows slightly raised.

"Since you've eaten, then eat your fill."

He closed his eyes slightly, and the Supreme Bone glowed faintly.

Boom!

The Heaven Swallowing Demonic Art within Su Ye's body operated at full power. The Spiritual Qi from a ten-mile radius around was forcibly plundered, forming a huge Spiritual Qi funnel that poured into Light Snow's body.

"Charge!"

Under the dual assault of external Spiritual Qi and internal medicinal power.

Light Snow's aura surged again!

A quarter of an hour later.

Foundation Establishment Seventh Heaven!

Half an hour later.

Foundation Establishment Seventh Heaven Peak!

At this point, a thin layer of frost had formed on Light Snow's body surface, but beneath the frost, seven-colored auspicious light flowed, appearing sacred yet enchanting.

"Break!"

Su Ye let out a low roar and slammed a palm onto Light Snow's back.

This palm had no destructive power, but it contained an extremely profound force that directly helped her break through the final barrier.

Rumble!

A powerful surge of Qi swept outwards from Light Snow as its center.

Bluestones cracked, and trees bent.

Lin Waner, who was on guard in the tree, felt her feet sway and almost fell down.

"Wow!"

"This is too fierce!"

Lin Waner stared dumbfounded at Light Snow.

At this moment, Light Snow was bathed in ice-blue sword light, her originally cold temperament becoming even more ethereal, like a true Ice and Snow Sword Immortal.

Her cultivation... had firmly stabilized at the Eighth Heaven of Foundation Establishment!

Breaking through three Realms consecutively!

This was the terrifying effect of Earth Rank High Grade Spirit Medicine coupled with a Prodigy Protector like Su Ye!

Whew—

Light Snow slowly opened her eyes.

At that instant, her eyes seemed to transform into two sharp swords, their edges fully revealed, even cutting subtle ripples in the air.

She felt the surging, ocean-like power within her body, her eyes filled with disbelief.

From Foundation Establishment Fifth Heaven to Eighth Heaven.

Normal Cultivators would need at least ten years of arduous cultivation, or even longer.

Yet she had only used one hour!

"Senior Brother..."

Light Snow turned around, looking at the man with a calm and composed expression, and the string called "reserve" in her heart completely snapped.

She suddenly threw herself into Su Ye's arms.

No matter how cold she usually was, at this moment, she couldn't help but have red eyes.

"Thank you, Senior Brother!"

This was not just an improvement in cultivation.

It was also Senior Brother's unreserved pampering of her.

That was an Earth Rank Spirit Medicine; Senior Brother could have kept it for himself to advance his cultivation, but he gave it to her without hesitation.

Soft fragrance entered his embrace.

Su Ye naturally embraced her, gently patting her back, feeling the cool and soft touch, secretly pleased.

This wasn't a loss.

If the flower was gone, he could snatch another one.

But his Junior Sister's favorability had maxed out.

"Alright, alright."

"You're a big girl now, still crying."

"Waner will see and laugh at you."

Su Ye said with a teasing smile.

"I won't laugh!"

Lin Waner jumped down from the tree, her face full of envy as she approached, saying sourly:

"I want a hug too, I want to break through three Heavens consecutively too..."

"Senior Brother is biased, only giving delicious things to Fifth Junior Sister."

Seeing Lin Waner's pouting lips that could hang an oil bottle, Su Ye chuckled and shook his head:

"Don't worry, you'll get yours."

"Where's our next stop?"

Lin Waner instantly perked up, pulling out a crumpled map from her embrace:

"Lava Cave!"

"I heard that Senior Brother Ye Yan of Blazing Sun Peak found a 'ten-thousand-year fire essence' there and is preparing to refine it."

"That's a fire-attribute Supreme Treasure!"

Hearing the words "ten-thousand-year fire essence," Su Ye's eyes also lit up.

"ten-thousand-year fire essence?"

"Coincidentally, Waner, you have a Water Spiritual Root, and water and fire are incompatible."

"But if this Fire Essence is used to temper your Physical Body, or perhaps... saved for Fourth Junior Sister?"

Su Ye stroked his chin, then shook his head.

"No matter who it's for, it definitely can't be for Ye Yan."

"I've already thought of the reason."

The two girls looked at him in unison, their eyes full of curiosity.

Su Ye stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the crimson sky in the southeast, and said earnestly:

"Playing with fire leads to bedwetting."

"As the Senior Brother, I have an obligation to correct my Junior Brothers' bad habits."

"Let's go!"

"Let's go help Junior Brother Ye... quit fire!"

Clang!

Sword light shot into the sky. The three figures once again transformed into streaks of light, carrying a formidable bandit-like aura that struck fear into people's hearts, and rushed straight towards the Lava Cave...