“Rumble!!!”
“Boom—”
Thunder roared across the sky, turning the dark night into what seemed like a roaring, frenzied black beast. Rain poured down in torrents amidst howling gales, heavy droplets pounding into the soil and pooling into small sheets of water.
Inside a thatched hut at the Taixuan Sect.
“Master! It hurts so much!”
“Ah!!”
That night, heat surged inexplicably in Yao Dai's dantian. The pain radiated from her abdomen through her entire body, turning every breath into excruciating torment. Clutching her stomach, she thrashed on the bed, her hands desperately gripping the bedding beneath her.
“Ah!!! It hurts so much! Master...”
Dense beads of sweat drenched the hair at her forehead, clinging to her cheeks and neck. A terrifying, spiderweb-like glow radiated across her body.
Wen Li quickly set up a barrier around the room. Walking over to the bed, she sliced her fingertip, and a drop of golden blood seeped from her palm. She formed a hand seal and cast a spell, fusing it into Yao Dai's dantian.
“Ah! Nngh, ah!!”
Yao Dai screamed in agonizing pain. As the golden blood completely entered her dantian, the glow on her body gradually faded, and the pain—like thousands of ants gnawing at her limbs and bones—finally began to subside.
“Master...”
Yao Dai murmured unconsciously with a dry, hoarse throat. Sweaty and utterly depleted of strength, she slumped by the side of the bed. Her blood-red eyes, wet with tears, gazed dazedly at Wen Li as if looking upon a deity descended from the heavens.
It was impossible to tell whether it was sweat or tears trickling down her skin, soaking into the collar of her clothes.
Though every ounce of her strength was exhausted, she couldn't help reaching out instinctively, clutching a corner of Wen Li's robes.
Like a wounded kitten seeking its master's protection, her expression was pitiably endearing.
Seeing that she was out of danger, Wen Li stopped channeling spiritual energy, quickly helping her up and pulling her into her arms.
“I didn't expect your body to be so unable to withstand my essence blood. We can't stay at the Taixuan Sect any longer. I'm taking you away to an icy realm to find an immortal herb. It will dilute the purity of my essence blood and ease the pain when you fuse with a new spiritual root in the future.”
With gentle tenderness, she wiped the sweat from the girl's forehead and neck with her sleeve. The concern deep in her eyes was plain for Yao Dai to see.
“Master...”
Yao Dai gasped weakly, forcing her breath into words. She forced a dependent, fond smile; though her face was deathly pale, she was still breathtakingly beautiful.
“I'm fine, it doesn't hurt... As long as I'm with Master, I'll go anywhere.”
“I don't want to think about revenge anymore, either. When the day comes that I have the power to protect Master, I will take care of it myself.”
She leaned affectionately against Wen Li's leg, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz.
[Ding! +5. Progress on saving the villain Yao Dai: 22%.]
“...”
Wen Li's hand paused as she wiped away the sweat, her fingers closing slightly. For a brief moment, she actually avoided Yao Dai's burning, utterly trusting gaze of admiration.
A flicker of dazed hesitation crossed her eyes before she finally closed them.
Wen Li picked up a black cloak, wrapped it around Yao Dai, and lifted her in a princess carry, leaving the thatched hut. “Forget revenge. I'm taking you away.”
Senior Brother Zhang, who had previously accepted bribes from the two, happened to spot her.
“Hey, there's a night curfew in the sect. You can't leave.”
“Scram!”
Wen Li didn't even raise her eyes. A single word caused Senior Brother Zhang, who was at the mid stage of Foundation Establishment, to bleed from the corner of his mouth.
His eyes widened in shock. She wasn't at the early stage of Foundation Establishment!
He initially wanted to sound the sect's alarm bell, but in the blink of an eye, Wen Li and Yao Dai were already gone. To prevent his bribe-taking from being exposed, he chose to keep quiet and refrain from reporting it.
...
“Master, where are we going?”
“To the extreme cold region in the southeast of Western Province. The Soul-Severing White Mi Fruit we need to find for you is a High-Grade Rank 3 natural spirit herb. It only grows in places where the temperature drops to nearly thirty below zero. It bears fruit only once every thousand years, yielding a single fruit each time, and is usually guarded by high-rank demon beasts. Its growing environment is extremely harsh and dangerous, making opportunities to find it exceedingly rare, with news of it almost unheard of.”
“Let's go to the largest auction in Western Province first to inquire for information and see if we can get lucky and buy one.”
Because Yao Dai's condition was unstable, Wen Li did not travel by flying sword. Given that the journey to the extreme cold region spanned thousands of miles, she summoned a flying vessel to take them to the nearest teleportation array first.
Within the Heavenly Yuan Kingdom.
Yun City.
This was a border town of the Heavenly Yuan Kingdom, as well as the nearest city with a teleportation site that could transport them directly to the extreme cold region in one go.
Yao Dai walked with her arm wrapped around Wen Li's left, while Wen Li pulled the proud, reluctant four-year-old child, Xie Tinglan, with her right hand. The three of them walked into Yun City, asking for directions to the teleportation array along the way.
Of course, she was five-foot-seven while Xie Tinglan was far too short, so she was actually tugging on the sash around his waist.
“I can walk on my own. I don't need you pulling me.”
“Is that so? Then who was it that got distracted by the roasted pig on the roadside and almost got abducted by mortals like a child?” Wen Li rolled her eyes.
“Who knew you humans had so many wicked schemes? You wouldn't even spare a child.” Xie Tinglan's face turned dark with embarrassment. “Of course I noticed them following me! I just didn't want to bother with those ants. Even if you hadn't come, they couldn't have caught me! I am the majestic Ancient Soaring Serpent, a great demon!”
He sounded especially proud on those last three words, even opening his mouth to let out a roar.
Not wanting to listen to his endless blabbering, Wen Li bought two skewers of sticky glutinous rice balls from a roadside vendor.
“You...”
She shoved one straight into Xie Tinglan's mouth. His eyes widened in anger, but just as he was about to speak, his mouth was stuffed full. Tasting a hint of sweetness, his black pupils—which he had specially disguised—blinked, and he quickly began chewing.
Delicious, though a bit sticky. What is this stuff?
“Don't (chew chew chew) think (chew chew chew) you can bribe (chew chew chew) me!” Although it was delicious, Xie Tinglan's neck was stretched out stiff with pride.
Wen Li gave the other skewer to Yao Dai.
Yao Dai accepted it sweetly and joyfully. “Thank you, Master.”
She took it with her left hand, while her right hand remained tightly wrapped around Wen Li's arm.
Going out with two children gave Wen Li a massive headache.
The three arrived in front of a grand gate, above which hung a plaque bearing three words: “Teleportation Pavilion.”
Stepping inside, the three saw several directional signs.
They read “Fourth-Grade Cultivation Kingdom,” “Third-Grade Cultivation Kingdom,” “Second-Grade Cultivation Kingdom,” and “First-Grade Cultivation Kingdom.”
Visiting such a place for the first time, Yao Dai asked, “Master, why aren't there any Fifth-Grade or higher Cultivation Kingdoms?”
Before Wen Li could explain, a burst of laughter suddenly echoed from behind them. “Little sister, you must have just entered the path of cultivation. How can you not even know such basic common sense?”
The three turned their heads to look, seeing an enchantingly attractive woman with an alluring figure swaying her hips as she walked over. Beside her stood a group of young cultivators, both male and female, all wearing the same sect robes.
Naturally picking up on the mockery, Yao Dai's face chilled.
However, Wen Li held her back and looked calmly at the woman. “Common sense is merely what people pass down by word of mouth. Did you know all of this the moment you were born? Did you fail to drink up all of Meng Po's soup in your past life, or did the excess water in your brain dilute its purity?”
Hearing such a sharp insult delivered without a single vulgar word, Yao Dai instantly straightened her back. As expected, I still have a lot to learn from Master.
Hearing those words, the female cultivator's smile turned cold. Her eyes scanned Wen Li, but unable to sense any spiritual energy fluctuations from her, she couldn't easily judge her cultivation realm.
Being quick to adapt to the situation, she let out a sneer. “What a sharp tongue.”
With that, she turned around and led the other cultivators away.
However, Wen Li's attention fell upon the man walking at the very front of the group; he appeared to be the true leader.
“Master, what's wrong?” Yao Dai asked curiously.
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