Fanfic: Lay Flat

Chapter 72

The two of them sat down on the meditation mats, and Jiang Surou began to instruct.

"First, calm your mind and steady your emotions. Bring yourself to a state of serenity. Adjust your body to its optimal condition, and then we'll begin using the Yin-Yang Harmony Technique to establish the cycle of energy flow.

Your left hand will channel your spiritual energy into my right hand, while my right hand will channel my spiritual energy into your left hand, forming a continuous loop.

One complete cycle is known as a Zhou Tian. It requires one full hour to complete, and only after that can we stop. Do you understand?"

"Understood, wife," Han Feng replied with a nod.

"…What did you just call me?" Jiang Surou's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Senior Sister, of course. Why?" Han Feng asked, feigning ignorance.

"Don't lie to me. That wasn't what you called me just now. Little Fox, what did he say?"

Jiang Surou turned to the little fox for an answer.

The little fox grinned sweetly and replied,

"He called you 'most adorable, invincible, beautiful, gentle little sweetheart.'"

Jiang Surou: …

Han Feng: …

"Alright, let's begin. Hands out—palms together," Jiang Surou instructed, extending her hands.

Han Feng reached out, but instead of pressing his palms to hers, he clasped her hands.

"It's palms together, not fingers interlocked! Try that again, and I'll kick you out," Jiang Surou warned.

Finally taking her seriously, Han Feng behaved himself, and the two began the dual cultivation process.

They circulated their spiritual energy, letting it flow through their bodies as described in the technique, creating a harmonious cycle between them. With this method, the flow of energy in their bodies became more efficient, enhancing their cultivation.

As they absorbed spiritual energy from their surroundings, the energy they had lost during previous battles was quickly replenished.

Of course, part of the reason for this rapid recovery was their relatively low cultivation levels and limited reserves of spiritual energy.

Before long, an hour passed, and both of them had fully restored their spiritual energy.

Releasing her hands, Jiang Surou looked pleased.

"My cultivation has improved a little. It's not much, but it's noticeable. Before the Ancestor's Ceremony, I had just broken through to the eighth layer of Qi Refining. Now, I feel stable enough to aim for the mid-eighth layer. I didn't expect dual cultivation to be this effective."

However, Han Feng could only offer a wry smile.

"As long as it helps you, that's good."

"Why do you look so disappointed? Didn't your cultivation improve?" Jiang Surou asked.

"No, not at all," Han Feng admitted.

"That's impossible. Let me check. Let's try again!" Jiang Surou said, grabbing Han Feng's hands and initiating another cycle of dual cultivation. This time, she carefully observed his spiritual energy.

As before, there was no change in Han Feng's cultivation. She was puzzled and decided to try dual cultivating for another hour, keeping a close eye on him throughout.

Once again, while her own cultivation continued to improve steadily, Han Feng's showed no signs of advancement. Apart from replenishing his spiritual energy, his cultivation level remained stagnant.

"What's going on?" Jiang Surou frowned, her expression thoughtful—even her furrowed brows looked graceful.

"I don't know. Maybe simple dual cultivation just doesn't work well for me. But it's okay as long as it benefits you," Han Feng replied.

"Well… we've cultivated twice today. I'll come back in two days to cultivate with you again. It's almost dawn, so I'll take my leave," Han Feng said, cradling the little fox as he waved goodbye to Jiang Surou and headed toward the door.

Jiang Surou's eyes flickered with hesitation. She seemed to be contemplating something, struggling with a decision.

Finally, just as Han Feng reached the door, she called out,

"Wait. I have another idea."

"Oh? What is it?" Han Feng turned back, his curiosity piqued.

Jiang Surou stepped toward him, opened the door, and took the little fox from his arms. Handing it to her maid, who had spent the entire night standing in the cold outside, she said,

"Xiao Huan, take the little fox for now. Play with her and give her something to eat. Don't let her back inside."

"Yes, Miss," the maid replied, quickly taking the little fox.

The little fox looked utterly bewildered as it was carried away.

Jiang Surou then closed the door, locked it, and turned toward the stairs.

"Follow me."

Han Feng followed her upstairs. At the top, he saw that to the left of the staircase was a door leading to a hidden room. To the right was a cozy corner with a large bed adorned in soft, elegant colors. Near the window, there was a complete setup of tables, chairs, and meditation mats.

It was clear that this was a well-arranged living space, with the first floor serving as a living room and the second as a bedroom—perfect for a single woman living alone.

Jiang Surou walked to the bed, stood beside it, and took a deep breath to steady herself. Then she turned to Han Feng and said,

"I have another dual cultivation technique. You asked before what blessing I received from the Ancestor's Ceremony, didn't you? It's this technique.

This technique is far more effective than the Yin-Yang Harmony Technique. You should learn it—it's quite simple."

She pulled out a jade slip and engraved the technique into it before handing it to Han Feng.

Since neither of them was at the Foundation Establishment stage, they couldn't transfer information directly through divine sense.

Curious, Han Feng took the jade slip, placed it against his forehead, and absorbed the information within.

When he finished, his eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at Jiang Surou.

"This… this is a bedroom technique!"

"Yes, this is the technique the Patriarch blessed me with," Jiang Surou replied, her cheeks flushing red.

Wait a minute, isn't this the technique my ancestor, Han Xianzun, gifted to me? Did he give it to her just to help me seduce her? Han Feng thought, his suspicions growing.

"I see. So, Senior Sister wants to cultivate this technique with me?"

Blushing deeply, Jiang Surou turned her head away and said,

"Since it's a technique bestowed by the Patriarch, it's far superior to the sect's foundational techniques. It would be a waste not to use it.

Although… although I'm not ready to give you my body, and our relationship hasn't progressed to that point…

I can't just sit back and watch you make no progress while I keep improving. That wouldn't be fair to you.

So… we should use this technique.

And don't get the wrong idea! I'm only doing this for cultivation, not for… anything else."

"Understood. Thank you, Senior Sister," Han Feng replied with a small smile, his eyes crinkling into crescents.

"Stop smiling! You… you need to bathe first. There's a tub in the hidden room, with fire crystals to keep the water warm. Go take a bath. Once you're done…

…then come to my bed."

"Got it, Senior Sister. No problem at all," Han Feng said cheerfully, heading toward the hidden room.

So, in the end, dual cultivation still required taking off his clothes.

Meanwhile, Jiang Surou, her face flushed as red as a ripe apple, sat down on the bed with a soft sigh.

After confirming that Han Feng had gone to the hidden room, she collapsed onto the bed, burying her face in the pillow.

"This is so embarrassing, so embarrassing… ahhhhh!"

Chapter 73

Han Feng entered the secret chamber. Inside, there was an alchemy furnace and a meditation cushion, clearly indicating this was where Jiang Surou secluded herself and refined pills.

Toward the back of the room was a partitioned area with a large wooden bathtub.

A bamboo pipe continuously fed water into the tub, while another pipe drained it out, creating a constant flow.

The area around the bathtub was surrounded by fire crystals, which provided heat, ensuring that the water remained warm at all times.

Such extravagance! Han Feng thought to himself.

Then, an unsettling notion struck him.

The water comes from the mountain springs, which makes sense. But where does the drained water go?

Could it flow down the mountain and form a small stream?

Han Feng's brows furrowed as he recalled, Didn't I used to live at the base of this mountain?

Wait a minute… could it be that the water I drank back then… was Jiang Surou's bathwater?

Alarmed, Han Feng quickly opened the window to investigate. Outside, he saw a well, where the drained water collected. It didn't flow down the mountain.

Ah, excellent. Our Senior Sister Jiang is indeed a considerate person.

Relieved, Han Feng began to undress, stepping into the bathtub. Flower petals floated gracefully on the surface of the water, and soapwort was neatly placed nearby. Han Feng washed himself thoroughly, all the while enjoying the luxurious bathing experience.

He made sure to clean himself from head to toe, paying extra attention to certain areas, ensuring he was completely fresh and presentable.

Afterward, he dried himself with a towel conveniently placed nearby. Instead of putting his clothes back on, Han Feng wrapped the towel around his waist, picked up his clothes, and walked back out into the main chamber.

—

As he emerged, he saw Jiang Surou lying face-down on the bed, motionless. Her graceful, curvy figure was on full display, her small, perky buttocks raised prominently. Her position left nothing to the imagination.

Feeling mischievous, Han Feng approached her quietly from behind. Leaning down, he whispered softly into her ear.

"Senior Sister?"

"Mm?" Jiang Surou lifted her head slightly.

Taking the opportunity, Han Feng lightly smacked her pert behind.

Wow, that feels amazing—so soft, so bouncy!

"Ah! How dare you hit me!" Jiang Surou exclaimed, her eyes flaring with anger as she sat up abruptly, ready to teach Han Feng a lesson.

But before she could do anything, Han Feng swiftly pulled her into his arms, wrapping one arm around her slender waist and pressing his lips against hers.

However, this time, Han Feng's hands were far from well-behaved.

While one hand held her waist, the other ventured downward, gently kneading her rounded buttocks.

"Mm… mm…" Jiang Surou let out muffled protests, her voice filled with resistance. But Han Feng ignored her struggles. After a moment, her resistance waned, and she stopped struggling altogether, allowing him to do as he pleased.

—

Moments later, they parted, and Han Feng gazed into Jiang Surou's watery eyes, his expression soft and affectionate. Smiling, he murmured,

"Senior Sister, you're truly beautiful."

"Hmph, do I need you to tell me that? I'm the most beautiful woman on Luoxia Peak. You've really lucked out," Jiang Surou retorted proudly, though her slightly flushed cheeks exposed her embarrassment.

"Hahaha, you're right. If you hadn't chosen me back then, how could I have ended up with such a beautiful Senior Sister?"

"Pah! Who said you have me? I'm only doing this because regular dual cultivation isn't helping your cultivation. Don't think for a second that I've fallen for you. I'm just… pitying you, that's all. Don't get any weird ideas."

Seeing the usually icy beauty behaving so bashfully, Han Feng felt a surge of joy. Gently, he brushed a finger across her lips and teased,

"Such soft lips… why are they so sharp?"

"Do you have a lot of experience?" Jiang Surou asked, narrowing her eyes at him.

"None at all. But you're a girl—I can't possibly make you take the initiative," Han Feng replied, his tone as casual as ever.

He gently removed her outer garment and coaxed her to lie down, saying,

"Come on, lie down. I'll handle the rest."

"Fine… fine," Jiang Surou said, sitting on the bed. But as she was about to lie down, she hesitated.

I, Jiang Surou, am a proud woman with ambitions as high as the heavens. How can I let myself be so passive in a situation like this? How can I allow myself to be subdued?

How can I lose my composure and let him have the upper hand?

The thought of her earlier submissiveness filled her with frustration. She couldn't understand why she had acted like that.

In the past, she had always maintained the upper hand when dealing with Han Feng. But now, it felt as though her dominance was slipping away, while Han Feng's confidence continued to grow.

Am I really going to let him take control?

Am I really going to let him have his way with me?

Determined to reclaim her sense of pride, Jiang Surou stood up, still wearing her thin inner garment, and declared with a raised chin,

"Come on, you beast. I'm not afraid of you!"

"Huh?"

Han Feng was momentarily stunned but quickly recovered. Ignoring her words, he began undressing her further. Before long, Jiang Surou was stripped bare.

Even in her vulnerable state, Jiang Surou maintained her proud demeanor, refusing to show weakness.

Han Feng then removed his towel, tossing it aside. Jiang Surou's eyes widened as she involuntarily glanced downward.

Her gaze lingered briefly, and her face turned crimson. Can't look. Can't look. This is so embarrassing!

Han Feng chuckled softly, then pushed her onto the bed.

Instead of closing her eyes in embarrassment, Jiang Surou stared at him defiantly, determined to maintain her composure.

"Hahaha, my strong-willed Senior Sister," Han Feng said with a chuckle. He bent down to tap her nose playfully before beginning to explore her with his hands.

As their passion grew, both of them found themselves increasingly captivated by each other. Their gazes softened, filled with unspoken affection.

Han Feng leaned down to kiss her gently and whispered,

"Senior Sister, are you ready?"

"Bring it on. I'm not afraid of you."

"Alright, here I come," Han Feng said, moving forward.

"Ah… it hurts! Can't you be a little gentler? You're not being considerate at all!"

"Understood, as you wish."

As they adjusted to each other, their movements became more fluid, their connection deepened, and their rhythm synchronized. Neither was willing to yield, both determined to assert themselves.

"Stop focusing only on that! Start channeling your energy and improving your cultivation!"

"Got it, I'm already doing it."

"Wait a minute! Why are you on top? Get down here! I refuse to let you dominate me!"

"Hehehe, as you wish, Senior Sister."

Chapter 74

Han Feng finally understood how strong-willed Jiang Surou was. Even in moments like this, she had to take the initiative and maintain the upper hand.

Her snow-white body, coupled with her soft, delicate breaths, left Han Feng utterly captivated. From the depths of his heart, he began to truly like this Senior Sister.

If, in the beginning, Han Feng and Jiang Surou had become Dao partners out of necessity, then now, both of them were genuinely starting to accept and even love each other.

Perhaps… they were truly falling for one another.

It was said that dual cultivation was the best remedy to deepen feelings between people. Looking at it now, this couldn't be more true.

Just as with Wang Mian and Zhang Xiu, who hadn't known each other for long but shared a deep bond—even when Wang Mian lost his cultivation, Zhang Xiu resolutely refused to leave or abandon him. Their daily dual cultivation had blurred all boundaries between them.

Dual cultivation required time. Han Feng and Jiang Surou spent an entire hour cultivating together before mutually conceding defeat and declaring the "battle" over.

Both lay on the bed, panting heavily. Jiang Surou's delicate body was drenched in a sheen of fragrant sweat, soaking the sheets beneath them, which were further marked by specks of plum blossom-shaped bloodstains.

"Senior Sister, are you tired?" Han Feng asked, holding Jiang Surou in his arms.

"Get away from me. You're too hot," Jiang Surou replied coldly, her tone as dismissive as a scoundrel who forgets their partner after putting their clothes back on—except in this case, she was the scoundrel.

"Hahaha." Han Feng chuckled, pulling her closer and holding her tightly against his chest. The softness he felt against him made Jiang Surou all the more captivating in his eyes.

Jiang Surou rolled her eyes at him and said,

"You're still calling me 'Senior Sister'? After everything, I'm already yours, and you can't think of something more affectionate? Stupid man."

"Well then, what do you want me to call you? Wife? Dear? Darling? Which one do you prefer?"

"None of them. Cultivators don't call their Dao partners things like that."

"Then what should I call you?"

"You… you idiot. How does my father address me? Can't you learn from him?"

The more Jiang Surou thought about it, the angrier she became.

Han Feng looked stunned.

"That… that doesn't seem appropriate."

"What's so inappropriate about it?"

"Alright then. If you insist…"

Han Feng seemed to steel himself before saying,

"Daughter?"

Jiang Surou's mind went blank, her face frozen in disbelief. Then, without hesitation, she opened her mouth and bit down hard on Han Feng's shoulder.

"Ow! It hurts! Let go! Didn't you tell me to call you that? I thought it was strange too—don't you already have a father? Why would you want me to be your dad? What a peculiar fetish!"

"I'll kill you!!!" Jiang Surou fumed, her fury boiling over as she prepared to hit Han Feng.

Han Feng caught her in his arms and laughed,

"Alright, alright, I was just joking! You're acting exactly like the little fox when she's angry.

I know you want me to call you 'Rou'er.' I have to say, 'Rou'er' does sound very nice."

Hearing this, Jiang Surou finally let it go. But then, Han Feng's next words sent her spiraling into anger again.

"But I still think 'Little Crispy Meat' sounds the best. What do you think?"

"I think you're asking for a beating!" Jiang Surou growled through clenched teeth. Her anger flared, and without hesitation, she reached out and grabbed Han Feng's most vulnerable area.

"Wait, wait! It hurts, it hurts! Be gentle with it! You can't be so rough!" Han Feng pleaded, taking a while to coax her into reluctantly accepting the nickname "Little Crispy Meat."

—

Han Feng then reached into his storage pouch and took out the Wings of the Gale Spring, the gift from his master. Handing it to Jiang Surou, he said,

"This was our first time dual cultivating, and I feel like I should give you a gift. But I don't have anything else good on me, so I'll give you this instead.

You're an Earth-Attribute cultivator, so you're not particularly fast. With these Wings of the Gale Spring, your speed will improve dramatically. Whether for pursuit or escape, they'll be incredibly useful.

Try them on!"

Jiang Surou stared at the treasure in astonishment and said,

"This is a mid-grade spiritual treasure. Are you really willing to give it to me? What will you use if you give it to me?"

"What's there to be unwilling about? I'm Wind-Attribute by nature, and speed is already my specialty. No one in the same realm can surpass me, so this won't make much of a difference for me."

Jiang Surou felt deeply moved. She realized that Han Feng truly was a good man—this "shameless scoundrel" wasn't entirely about provoking her.

But she still shook her head.

"No, I can't take it. This was a gift from our master. If she finds out you gave her gift to me, she'd be furious.

Our master, Peak Master Si Yu, has a temper. If she gets angry, both you and I will suffer the consequences.

Take it back. Besides, dual cultivating isn't exactly a loss for me—I've improved too. I've already advanced to the mid-eighth layer of Qi Refining.

A few more sessions, and I might even reach the peak!"

"Really? Then let's go for a few more rounds."

Han Feng felt a bit regretful. If he couldn't give the treasure to Jiang Surou, he wouldn't receive a better item in exchange.

From his perspective, giving the treasure to Jiang Surou would trigger a blessing from the mysterious ancestor who had granted him the Marriage Blessing. A single treasure would become two, benefitting both of them—a win-win.

However, he couldn't explain this to Jiang Surou because the mysterious ancestor had forbidden him from revealing the truth.

Han Feng silently put the Wings of the Gale Spring back into his storage pouch, deciding to find a better opportunity to give it away later.

Then, he turned over and prepared to start another round.

Jiang Surou, now visibly flustered, quickly said,

"No, no! Let's rest! We've already cultivated twice today with ordinary dual cultivation, plus this special session. The effects are already saturated. Give me a break.

I just lost my… innocence. It still hurts a little."

Seeing her pitiful expression, Han Feng's heart softened. He pulled out a basic Revitalizing Pill from his storage pouch and fed it to her to ease her discomfort.

It wasn't one of the high-grade pills from Ye Longyuan; those only worked for him.

After swallowing the pill, Jiang Surou said,

"You should head back. I'll clean up the sheets and replace them with fresh ones, then consolidate my cultivation."

Han Feng held her close, stroking her soft, round bottom, and said,

"Feels so nice holding you. How am I supposed to let go?"

Jiang Surou smiled softly and said,

"Cultivation is what's most important. We have all the time in the world—why rush? It's not like I won't dual cultivate with you again in the future.

By the way, has your cultivation improved at all?"

Jiang Surou placed her hand on Han Feng's dantian and sent a surge of spiritual energy to inspect. Moments later, she frowned.

"Why hasn't your cultivation advanced? What's going on?"

Han Feng shook his head and replied,

"It's fine. As long as you're improving, I don't mind. Even if I don't grow stronger, it doesn't matter."

Chapter 75

"That shouldn't be possible. Why hasn't your cultivation improved? We've been dual cultivating for so long, and my progress has been significant," Jiang Surou said, her delicate brows furrowing as she pondered the reason.

Suddenly, her eyes widened in realization, and she exclaimed,

"I've got it! You're at the peak of Qi Refining, the ninth layer, which is the limit. Your next step is Foundation Establishment, but until you cross that threshold, you won't be able to advance further.

Damn it, why didn't I think of this earlier? The reason you're not improving is that your cultivation is already maxed out!

Ahhh! I can't believe this! I thought regular dual cultivation wasn't effective, and now… now I've gone and… slept with you! You bastard, give me back my purity!"

Fuming, Jiang Surou raised her small fists, ready to punch Han Feng.

"I didn't realize this either," Han Feng said. "But it's okay. As long as you're making progress, I don't mind putting in extra effort."

"You don't mind putting in extra effort? You say that as if you've suffered some great loss. I'll beat you to death!" Jiang Surou exclaimed, her ice-cold demeanor completely gone, replaced by a mix of frustration, annoyance, and embarrassment.

Han Feng, holding her small undergarment, gently helped her get dressed.

Feeling his tenderness, Jiang Surou's anger subsided. She rolled her eyes at him and said,

"Put on your own clothes. I'll handle mine. You're only good at taking clothes off, not putting them on. I'll do it myself."

"Alright, understood," Han Feng replied playfully, kissing her on the cheek before jumping off the bed to dress himself.

Once they were both dressed, Jiang Surou pulled the sweat- and blood-stained bedsheet off the bed and stuffed it into her storage pouch.

"Give it to me. I'll throw it away for you," Han Feng offered.

"Do I need you to do that? What, are you planning to keep it as a souvenir? It has my maiden's blood on it—are you treating it as some kind of trophy?" Jiang Surou snapped.

"Of course not! I didn't mean it like that."

"Get lost, get lost! Don't bother me while I'm cultivating. You go train on your own, and I'll train on mine. Shoo! Just looking at you irritates me."

Pouting, Jiang Surou began pushing Han Feng toward the door.

Laughing, Han Feng hugged her tightly, giving her pert little bottom a playful pat before finally heading downstairs.

"Shameless pervert!" Jiang Surou shouted after him, her face turning bright red as she pouted. Then, she sat cross-legged on her meditation mat. However, the lingering soreness from her lower body made it difficult for her to concentrate. Every time she closed her eyes, her mind was flooded with vivid memories of their earlier intimacy.

"That damn man has completely disrupted my state of mind! A heart free of men's thoughts wields a sword with divine precision. Focus, focus!"

—

As Han Feng descended the stairs and opened the door, he saw that dawn was already breaking. Outside, the poor maid Xiao Huan was shivering in the cold wind, clutching the little fox for warmth.

Guilt immediately washed over Han Feng. While he had been enjoying himself upstairs, the maid had been left to endure the freezing night.

"Xiao Huan, I'm so sorry. You've suffered because of me," Han Feng said.

"Don't apologize to me," Xiao Huan replied, sitting on a stone with her lips pouted, looking like she was about to cry.

This man had locked her outside, leaving her in the cold all night.

"Little Fox, it's so cold out here. You could've brought Xiao Huan to my place to rest for a while," Han Feng said.

"There's a formation. I couldn't get in," the little fox replied, equally aggrieved.

"Ah… that's my oversight," Han Feng admitted.

He picked up the little fox and pulled ten spirit stones from his storage pouch, handing them to Xiao Huan.

"Xiao Huan, take this as my apology."

"Really? These are for me?" Xiao Huan's face immediately lit up. She eagerly accepted the spirit stones and said,

"Thank you, Young Master! You're such a good husband for our lady. You and her are a match made in heaven—a perfect couple destined for eternal happiness!"

"Haha, thank you. Go rest now; Senior Sister Jiang is cultivating."

"Alright!" Xiao Huan cheerfully ran inside.

Carrying the little fox, Han Feng returned to his own courtyard. He added the little fox's signature to the formation, granting her access so she could enter on her own in the future.

Han Feng lay down on his reclining chair, enjoying the breathtaking view of the sunrise.

The little fox curled up on his chest. Sniffing at him, she said,

"You smell like Sister Little Crispy Meat. Did you two do something naughty?"

"Kids shouldn't ask too many questions. Keep quiet," Han Feng replied lazily.

"No, I won't! What does 'naughty' feel like anyway?" the little fox pressed.

Han Feng, still half-asleep, said,

"One day, I'll head to the Spirit Beast Peak and find you a male fox. Then you can have your own naughty experience and figure it out."

At this, the little fox flew into a rage, hitting Han Feng with her tiny paws.

"How dare you suggest I mate with those lowly spirit beasts! Their bloodlines are diluted and inferior. How could they be worthy of me?

If I must mate, it must be with the noblest and purest of bloodlines among the beasts, so I can pass on the most exceptional lineage!"

"Alright then, you're always saying your bloodline is so noble. What exactly are you? Even that Keen Ancestor told me to treat you well."

"I don't know! I've lost my memory. But I'm no child—I feel like I'm quite old. And I think I used to be very powerful.

I really want to know who I am. If that Keen Ancestor knows me, maybe she can tell you. Ask her for me!"

"Alright, alright. I'll ask."

Han Feng closed his eyes and called out in his mind,

"Keen Ancestor? Are you there?"

[I'm here.]

The familiar voice of the Keen Ancestor replied.

"Do you know what kind of creature the little fox is? What's her origin?"

[I do.]

Han Feng waited for a response, but none came. Finally, he asked,

"Is it something you can't say?"

[No. You asked if I knew, and I answered. You didn't ask me to tell you.]

Han Feng felt a vein throb in his forehead.

Fair enough. I did only ask if she knew. Of course, she replied that she does.

"Can you tell me?"

[I can, but you must not tell anyone else—only the little fox. Her origins could bring disaster upon your entire sect.]

"That serious? Alright, tell me. I promise I won't share it."

[She is a Nine-Tailed Devouring Sky Fox, the last of her kind in existence. She also carries the bloodline of someone I knew.]

"A Nine-Tailed Devouring Sky Fox? I've never heard of that, but it sounds impressive. She must be incredibly powerful.

But if she's so strong, how did she end up in her current state?"

[I cannot say. You'll have to uncover the answer for yourself. However, know this: the Nine-Tailed Devouring Sky Fox is a taboo even among the demon beasts. Never reveal her name—it will bring catastrophic calamity.

Love it. Protect it. The rewards it will bring you in the future will be beyond your imagination.]

"Understood, Keen Ancestor. Thank you."

Cradling the little fox, Han Feng said seriously,

"Keen Ancestor told me your name—it's Nine-Tailed Devouring Sky Fox. But your name is a taboo. You can't tell anyone else, or it could bring disaster."

The little fox's eyes widened in shock.

"Huh? So… I'm a walking catastrophe?"

Chapter 76

"That might not be the case," Han Feng replied, shaking his head. He continued,

"I have a theory. Since your bloodline is so powerful, is it possible that you were once an incredibly strong powerhouse? But because your bloodline was so extraordinary, many people or beasts wanted to hunt you down. Outnumbered, you suffered severe injuries.

Then, you lost all your cultivation and even your memories, forcing you to regress to your most basic, juvenile state, relying solely on absorbing spiritual energy to survive.

That's why, even though you don't have cultivation, you still possess many innate abilities.

You can devour spirit stones, sense malicious intent, mesmerize and disorient enemies with your gaze, turn corpses into blood essence spheres to enhance cultivation, and even accelerate the growth of herbs, improving their age.

You've got a lot of talents."

"Huh? Am I really that amazing?" The little fox stood up on her hind legs, placing her front paws on her hips, her large eyes sparkling with pride.

"Of course, this is just my wild speculation," Han Feng added. "Maybe you're simply a child who hasn't been alive for long and hasn't yet found a way to cultivate properly. But the fact that your bloodline is extraordinarily precious is undoubtedly true."

"But… the little fox is called a Nine-Tailed Devouring Sky Fox, yet I only have one tail. I don't have nine tails."

"The number of tails doesn't matter. Maybe as you grow and mature, you'll develop nine tails?

But I think the key lies in the 'Devouring Sky' part of your name."

"Devouring Sky?"

"Exactly, Devouring Sky. I think you're extraordinary. You can swallow spirit stones, devour celestial spirit crystals, and even absorb spiritual energy from both the living and the dead.

Maybe when you grow up, you'll truly be able to devour everything."

"Devour everything?"

The little fox's eyes grew brighter and brighter, her self-esteem swelling with every word.

What Han Feng didn't know was that the first time he encountered the little fox, a massive shadow of a Nine-Tailed Devouring Sky Fox had appeared in the sky, giving the little fox a fright. If Han Feng had seen the bloodthirsty savagery in that fox's eyes, as well as the countless celestial stars reflected within them, he might have realized what "Devouring Sky" truly meant.

(If you've forgotten, feel free to revisit Chapter 4!)

"So, you absolutely must not reveal to anyone that you're a Nine-Tailed Devouring Sky Fox. If anyone finds out, it could bring disaster. Your bloodline is simply too valuable," Han Feng warned earnestly.

"Don't worry. I'm always careful. I just need to watch out for you. I keep feeling like you're planning to sell my blood."

"I'm not going to sell your blood."

"Swear it."

"Get lost."

Han Feng grabbed the little fox and tossed her aside, then sat down to meditate and practice the complete Xun Art he'd received.

He hadn't had a proper chance to explore the full Xun Art ever since receiving the blessing yesterday morning.

The Xun Art wasn't just a cultivation technique—it came with accompanying divine abilities. But knowing about these abilities didn't mean you could use them right away; they required diligent practice.

According to the Xun Art, its seven realms of divine abilities could only be unlocked by progressively raising one's cultivation.

The seven realms were as follows, each accompanied by a poetic name:

– Wen Qingfeng (Ask the Gentle Breeze)

– Wen Jiuxiao (Ask the Nine Heavens)

– Wen Xingdou (Ask the Stars)

– Wen Xuanji (Ask the Mysteries)

– Wen Xianque (Ask the Immortal Palaces)

– Wen Tianshu (Ask the Heavenly Pivot)

– Wen Shenzun (Ask the Divine Sovereign)

Of these, only the first three realms could be practiced and used while still in the mortal realm, also known as the realm of cultivators. After all, without reaching immortality, one was still bound by mortal limitations.

The fourth realm, Wen Xuanji, could only be unlocked upon reaching the realm of immortals.

As for the realms beyond Wen Xuanji, the intricate and dazzling descriptions in the text left Han Feng completely dumbfounded. He recognized every character, but together, they made no sense to him.

And with all the complex Daoist runes and symbols accompanying the text, he found himself utterly lost.

To be precise, the only realm he could currently comprehend was the first one: Wen Qingfeng (Ask the Gentle Breeze).

This realm allowed its practitioner to harness the power of the breeze, enabling them to soar through the skies with even greater speed. It also granted the ability to use the force of an opponent's attacks to redirect or neutralize them.

Every motion created wind, and every wind could be wielded by someone who practiced the Xun Art.

The wind—gentle and soft, yet formless and intangible—was also immensely powerful and sharp. It swept away clouds like a storm, using the power of the wind to break through opposing forces.

The version of the Xun Art that Han Feng had originally received from the Patriarch contained only the first realm, Wen Qingfeng, and none of the other six. However, Keen Ancestor's Marriage Blessing had completed the entire technique for him.

For the past two days, when Han Feng wasn't tending to his herbs, he spent his time lying on his reclining chair, cultivating the Xun Art.

As a Wind-Attribute Heavenly Spirit Root holder who had awakened his bloodline and gained the innate Wind Physique, Han Feng had a deep affinity for the power of wind. He could sense the subtle movements of wind elements in the world around him.

The little fox, however, was unimpressed by his ability. She dismissed him, saying, "What's the point of telling whether today's wind is blowing from the east or the west? That's all it's good for."

After mastering Wen Qingfeng, Han Feng had no urgency to test it out. Flying around didn't interest him much—reclining leisurely on his chair was far more enjoyable.

—

It had been two full days and nights since Han Feng left Jiang Surou's place.

Early that morning, Han Feng woke up feeling refreshed from his warm, comfortable bed. Stretching lazily, he murmured,

"Ah, this new bed and bedding were worth every penny."

He walked outside, intending to check on the herbs he had transplanted into his courtyard.

But just as he stepped out the door, he heard a faint disturbance—the protective formation around his courtyard was trembling slightly.

"An enemy attack?" Han Feng thought, alarmed. Quickly looking up, he saw Jiang Surou hovering in the air outside his courtyard, her face brimming with annoyance.

Clearly, she'd been blocked by the formation and wasn't pleased.

"Han Feng! Open this damned formation!" Jiang Surou demanded angrily.

Han Feng quickly deactivated the formation, allowing her to enter.

The moment she stepped inside, she crossed her arms and glared at Han Feng coldly.

Seeing her stormy expression, Han Feng chuckled and explained,

"Sorry about that. I forgot to mention that my courtyard has a formation. I bought it a while back to guard against Ye Longyuan's assassins. This formation actually saved my life once—it stopped two assassins, and my brother-in-law took care of them."

"Do you think that's what I'm mad about?" Jiang Surou responded icily.

Han Feng approached her, intending to hold her hand, but she kept her hands tucked under her arms, refusing to let him take them.

"Then why are you mad? Because I didn't come to see you these past two days? I figured you were stabilizing your cultivation, so I didn't want to disturb you."

"Do you think that's what I'm mad about?" Jiang Surou huffed coldly.

Han Feng's head started to ache. Why can't women just say what's bothering them? Why make me guess?

For the first time, Han Feng tasted the bitter confusion of love. Not knowing what to do, he spotted the little fox hopping over and quickly scooped her up, placing her in Jiang Surou's arms.

"Help me, Little Fox. Cheer up your Sister Little Crispy Meat."

"Is Sister Little Crispy Meat mad? Why? Is it because she hasn't hugged the little fox for a few days?"

Chapter 77

When Jiang Surou saw the adorable little fox, the corners of her lips finally curved into a smile. However, she still huffed and said,

"Don't try to sweet-talk me. Were you in on this too?"

"Huh? What did the little fox do?" the little fox asked, her voice filled with grievance.

Jiang Surou snorted and turned her gaze toward Han Feng.

"My maid told me that for the past two days, you and this little fox have been lying on that ridiculous reclining chair. Sunbathing during the day, sleeping soundly at night, and doing absolutely nothing else. Is that true?"

"Of course not! We also planted herbs," Han Feng replied earnestly.

"I…" Jiang Surou was left speechless. She felt like Han Feng existed solely to infuriate her.

"What I mean is, why haven't you been cultivating? After dual cultivating, you're supposed to meditate, stabilize your cultivation, and absorb spiritual energy. Only by cultivating can you make progress.

Cultivation is like rowing against the current—if you don't advance, you'll fall behind. If you don't cultivate, your enemies will surpass you and kill you.

And your enemies are as powerful as the Ye family. If you don't grow stronger, how will you protect yourself?

Everyone is cultivating, except for you. You spend your days lying around sunbathing and sleeping. How can you be so lazy? Don't you have any ambition?"

It was only then that Han Feng realized Jiang Surou was upset about this.

He wrapped an arm around Jiang Surou's shoulders and guided her toward the reclining chair. Smiling, he said,

"Who says I haven't been cultivating? I've been cultivating all along. I just don't understand why cultivation has to involve sitting cross-legged in one specific position. Why can't you cultivate while lying down?

After all, spiritual energy circulates within the body regardless of posture. As long as it's circulating, isn't that what matters?"

"Is that really possible?" Jiang Surou asked, her face filled with doubt.

"But throughout history, everyone has cultivated by sitting cross-legged. And now you're saying you can do it lying down? How is that even possible?"

"It's true. If you don't believe me, try it for yourself."

Han Feng pulled Jiang Surou down onto the reclining chair.

Still half-skeptical, Jiang Surou lay down and began attempting to cultivate.

Han Feng pulled up a small stool and sat beside her.

"I'm already at the peak of the ninth layer of Qi Refining. To advance further, I'd need to break through to Foundation Establishment, which is difficult without some fortuitous encounter.

Also, I'm not cultivating the Yin-Yang Harmony Technique. I'm practicing the Xun Art, a technique specific to Wind-Attribute cultivators."

"What is wind? It's ethereal and intangible. It's carefree and unrestrained. It flows as it pleases—it's the embodiment of natural law.

So, cultivating a Wind-Attribute technique emphasizes freedom and doing as you please to grasp the essence of the wind.

That's why the posture doesn't matter when cultivating. What matters is that the spiritual energy flows within your body.

During our dual cultivation sessions, we tried all sorts of positions, and didn't they all work?"

"Pah! There's a child here, and you're spouting nonsense!" Jiang Surou's cheeks flushed as she stroked the little fox in her arms.

"Don't worry about it. The little fox knows more than she lets on. So, how's it going? Do you feel spiritual energy circulating smoothly? Is cultivating like this easy for you?"

"No. Lying down feels awkward. I can't focus on circulating my energy. Sitting cross-legged is still better."

"Sigh, looks like you haven't reached my level yet. Don't be fooled by me lying on this chair all day—I'm absorbing the essence of the sun and moon, contemplating the vastness of the universe, and gathering spiritual energy to cultivate. You've got a long way to go to catch up to me."

"So, lying on your chair isn't just you being lazy?" Jiang Surou asked, her doubt lingering.

"Of course not. If you don't believe me, ask Wang Mian. For the past five years, I've spent most of my time on this chair, while he's been sitting cross-legged inside the house.

And what was the result? He only reached the fourth layer of Qi Refining, while I reached the ninth.

And that's despite me handling all the herb planting by myself. He didn't even cultivate as effectively as I did.

What does that tell you?"

"It tells me you have excellent aptitude, which makes your cultivation twice as effective with half the effort."

"It tells you that cultivating while lying down is also effective."

Han Feng stroked his chin as he observed Jiang Surou and suggested,

"Maybe the chair is too hard and uncomfortable, making it difficult for you to focus. Here's an idea—try my bed. I've been cultivating there at night."

"Alright then," Jiang Surou agreed, standing up.

Han Feng picked up the little fox and gently placed her on the ground, subtly pointing toward Jiang Surou's courtyard.

The little fox, ever perceptive, immediately understood his intentions. Muttering something about "daylight debauchery," she scampered off toward the loft atop the giant stone.

Completely unaware of what was happening, the pure, innocent, and lovely goddess of Luoxia Peak was being led straight into the wolf's den by a cunning schemer.

—

Once inside Han Feng's room, Jiang Surou glanced around and remarked,

"Your place is decently furnished. Small, but well-equipped."

"What do you mean, 'your place'? It's our place. What's mine is yours," Han Feng replied, wrapping an arm around her shoulders with a smile.

"Pah! What's yours is yours, and what's mine is mine. I'm not living with you. You stay in your courtyard, and I'll stay in my room," Jiang Surou said haughtily as she walked into the bedroom.

The bedroom was clean and well-organized.

"I didn't expect this from you. For a man, you're surprisingly tidy. The place is spotless. But why don't you ever make your bed?"

Han Feng chuckled.

"Spotless? That's easy. I just wave my hand and let the wind do the cleaning. I am a Wind-Attribute cultivator, after all.

As for making the bed—it's too much trouble. I'm going to sleep in it again anyway."

"You're so lazy. By that logic, if you undress to sleep at night, why bother wearing clothes during the day?"

"Well, if you're here, I wouldn't mind not wearing anything during the day either."

"Get lost, you shameless pervert."

Jiang Surou rolled her eyes at him before sitting on the edge of the bed. After slipping off her embroidered white shoes, she lay down on the bed and asked,

"Is this how I'm supposed to cultivate?"

"Exactly. Lie down, relax your arms, and focus on circulating your energy. Get into the cultivation state," Han Feng said, guiding her.

Jiang Surou obediently followed his instructions, lying flat on her back with her arms resting at her sides. She took a deep breath and attempted to calm herself.

"Close your eyes. I'll help you relax by massaging your body, clearing your qi and blood, and adjusting your meridians."

Closing her eyes, Jiang Surou allowed Han Feng to proceed. But the moment her eyes shut, Han Feng's mischievous grin returned, and his hands began wandering.

He started by massaging her arms, running his hands over them thoroughly before stealthily loosening her clothing. Gently pulling her robe aside, he continued massaging her collarbone, chest, and dantian.

Jiang Surou felt increasingly relaxed and comfortable, though she couldn't quite enter the cultivation state. However, Han Feng's massage techniques were undeniably effective, leaving her feeling utterly at ease.

Chapter 78

Gradually, Jiang Surou began to feel that something was off.

"Does clearing qi and blood require massaging the chest?"

"Of course! The chest is the convergence point of all the body's acupoints, the central hub, and the most critical area.

What is qi and blood if not spiritual energy and the blood in your body? All the blood in your body relies on your heart to circulate. How can you not massage this area properly?"

"I see. That makes sense."

A moment later, Jiang Surou asked again,

"Does massaging also require taking off my pants?"

"Naturally. Massaging through clothes is just rubbing fabric. To properly locate the acupoints and meridians, the clothes need to come off, so I can massage effectively."

"Oh, I understand now. You can continue."

"Alright."

After finishing massaging her flawless, jade-like, long legs, Han Feng picked up her delicate feet and began to play with them.

It had to be said, Jiang Surou was like a work of art. Whether it was her appearance or her figure, every part of her body was so perfect and flawless that it pleased the eye.

And the sensation of being able to freely touch and admire her made Han Feng feel a rush of satisfaction.

After playing with her feet for a while, Han Feng's mischievous hand began to knead her legs and slowly moved upward.

"Wait, does that… area also need massaging?"

"Of course! There's a lot of knowledge involved in this…"

"Stop! If you keep talking, I'll make you explain where you learned all this nonsense."

"Hehe."

Han Feng stopped speaking, and a moment later, a soft, enticing sound echoed from the bed.

Realizing the time was right, Han Feng stood up, removed his own clothes, and climbed onto the bed.

Positioning himself beside Jiang Surou, he leaned down, intending to gently kiss her soft, rosy lips. But just as he was about to make contact, the beauty beneath him opened her eyes.

Jiang Surou's gaze carried a hint of amusement and mockery as she said leisurely,

"Did you really think I'm some naïve girl you can fool so easily? From the moment you invited me into your room, I knew exactly what you were planning.

You went through all this trouble giving me a massage, but in the end, isn't it just another ploy to dual cultivate? Little man, did you think I wouldn't see through your tricks?

Why not skip the pretense and go straight to the final step?"

Han Feng chuckled and said,

"How could I? Massaging the body before dual cultivation helps relax the mind, improve circulation, and enhance the effectiveness of cultivation."

"Is that so? Then from now on, every time we dual cultivate, you have to massage me first. If you skip even once, you're not coming in."

"Deal. No problem."

Han Feng laughed heartily, leaned down, and kissed her deeply. Then he pulled the blanket over them and pressed forward with determination.

The bed shook as the waves of passion rolled, Jiang Surou's soft gasps filling the air. Only after she pleaded softly for mercy did Han Feng finally end the "battle."

—

By midday, the two had cultivated twice before stopping. Jiang Surou's cultivation level advanced slightly once more.

After wiping the sweat from her body, Jiang Surou got dressed, stood up, and said,

"Come on, accompany me to the market. You owe me new clothes. Got it?"

"Of course, my dear wife."

The two left their home, carrying the little fox, and used their swords to fly down the mountain to browse the market.

Hand in hand, they strolled through the streets like a pair of celestial lovers on a date. Along the way, countless envious eyes turned toward Han Feng.

What could they do? His Dao partner was simply too stunning.

It was a clear testament to how everyone admires beauty.

Jiang Surou was indeed a vision of beauty. No matter what she wore, she exuded elegance. While most women relied on clothing to enhance their looks, Jiang Surou's beauty and figure elevated the clothes she wore, making them look extraordinary.

She also picked out several outfits for Han Feng, her sense of aesthetics far superior to his.

For reasons unknown, Han Feng seemed particularly fond of azure-colored robes. Perhaps it had something to do with the one Wang Mian had once gifted him.

Previously, Han Feng had always worn dull gray servant robes, which were not only unattractive but also faded from frequent washing. Later, when Wang Mian gave him an azure robe, Han Feng was instantly captivated by the color and developed a fondness for it.

When Jiang Surou asked him why he liked that color, Han Feng told her honestly. Her response was to roll her eyes repeatedly, teasing that his true first love was Wang Mian.

Han Feng also used what little spirit stones he had left to buy Jiang Surou some protective spiritual artifacts.

Jiang Surou, knowing his financial situation, didn't mind that the items were inexpensive.

After all, she understood that this man, despite his poverty, always gave her the best of what he had.

Two medicinal herbs, each over thirty years old, and a Wind Spirit Sword worth 1,800 spirit stones—these were practically all of Han Feng's possessions, and he gave them all to her.

Even the cultivation technique granted to him by the Patriarch was shared with her without hesitation. Later, he'd even attempted to give her the Wings of the Gale Spring that his master had gifted him.

This man was always doing his utmost to give her the best, and how could she not be moved?

However, what Jiang Surou didn't know was that this cunning man gave her these gifts because doing so allowed him to receive tenfold better rewards.

For instance, at this very moment, Han Feng was staring at the pile of female clothing, spiritual artifacts, and other treasures listed in his blessing notifications, unsure of how to deal with them all.

—

As any man knows, accompanying a woman on a shopping trip is exhausting. Han Feng went from initial excitement to complete exhaustion in just one afternoon.

That evening, they returned home, and Han Feng fell asleep the moment he hit the bed.

For the next month, Han Feng remained idle.

Apart from occasionally tending to his herbs, he spent his time dual cultivating with Jiang Surou every two days. And each session wasn't just once—it was multiple rounds per night.

Before, Han Feng had disliked dual cultivation, finding it exhausting to entertain his Dao partner, exert himself, and focus on cultivation. Sunbathing and lying around was far more enjoyable. "Only a fool would dual cultivate," he used to think.

Now? Han Feng: "Woof, woof, woof!"

—

After a month, Jiang Surou finally reached the peak of the eighth layer of Qi Refining. The dual cultivation technique bestowed by the Patriarch truly delivered outstanding results.

Jiang Surou entered seclusion to consolidate her cultivation, instructing Han Feng not to disturb her.

Han Feng eagerly anticipated her breakthrough. Once she broke through, he would receive a tenfold return, allowing him to advance from the ninth layer of Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment.

Delight filled his heart.

It was common knowledge that Qi Refining had nine layers, and the next step was Foundation Establishment.

After three days of seclusion, Jiang Surou successfully broke through.

That very night, Han Feng received an immense feedback of spiritual energy and a surge in his cultivation.

Yet, after his breakthrough, Han Feng was surprised to find no Foundation Establishment platform in his dantian. Nor could his divine sense leave his body.

Confused, he heard the blessing notification:

[Jiang Surou, your Dao partner, has broken through to the ninth layer of Qi Refining. You have received a tenfold blessing return.]

[Current cultivation level: Qi Refining—Eleventh Layer.]

Chapter 79

The smile on Han Feng's face gradually faded.

The joy he had felt at the prospect of reaching Foundation Establishment slowly sank into despair.

He widened his eyes and asked internally,

"Keen Ancestor, what's going on? Isn't Qi Refining supposed to have only nine layers? Where did this eleventh layer come from?"

In his mind, Keen Ancestor's voice replied,

[The blessing return process works as follows: once the host reaches the peak of any minor realm, if the returned cultivation can allow for a breakthrough, it will. However, the process of breaking through to a major realm, including the understanding and insights required, still depends on you.

Blessings only provide returned cultivation; advancing to a higher realm requires your own effort.

Cultivating immortality has never been just about accumulating energy. If all it took was sufficient energy to break through, then why would there be a need for enlightenment about the laws of heaven and earth, the rules of the universe, or the comprehension of the immortal path?

Until you successfully break through, any excess cultivation from the blessing will continue to accumulate but will not push you into the next major realm.

So, for Foundation Establishment, you have to condense your foundation platform yourself.

If you remain lazy, you might end up at Qi Refining layer 10,000, able to tear apart Nascent Soul experts with your bare hands, but still stuck in Qi Refining.]

Han Feng fell silent for a long moment after hearing this.

So it turned out that he still had to condense his own foundation platform to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage.

The transition from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment was one of the fundamental breakthroughs, requiring no comprehension of laws. Once the foundation platform was condensed, the breakthrough could be achieved.

However, the process carried risks. Countless cultivators remained stuck in Qi Refining, unable to break through to Foundation Establishment.

If only he had a Foundation Establishment Pill to assist him. That would increase his chances of success significantly.

It seemed he needed to ask Jiang Surou if she had a recipe for a Foundation Establishment Pill. He'd have to figure out how to gather herbs and refine one for himself.

At this point, Han Feng had no idea just how valuable a Foundation Establishment Pill was.

—

Lying in bed, Han Feng continued resting and attempted to condense his foundation platform. If he could successfully condense it on his own, he wouldn't need to spend money on a Foundation Establishment Pill.

After all, asking Bai Nuo to refine one for him would require splitting the results fifty-fifty.

However, for some reason—perhaps because Han Feng couldn't cultivate on his own—the process of condensing his foundation platform proved exceptionally difficult. Every time he gathered the spiritual energy in his dantian into a cohesive form, it would immediately dissipate.

By mid-morning, Han Feng had no choice but to temporarily abandon the effort. It seemed that achieving Foundation Establishment wouldn't be something he could accomplish quickly.

Placing the little fox on his shoulder and grabbing a hoe, Han Feng prepared to head to his herb garden to enjoy the simple pleasures of rural life.

—

As he stepped out of his room, however, he saw Jiang Surou approaching from the sky, accompanied by a young man.

The man appeared to be in his twenties, with a handsome face and a warm smile.

Han Feng deactivated his protective formation and invited the two inside.

"Senior Sister, you're here. Judging by the look of it, you successfully broke through," Han Feng said with a smile.

Jiang Surou nodded.

"I did. I've reached the ninth layer of Qi Refining. Han Feng, let me introduce you to someone. This is our senior brother, Gao Hai, one of Master's inner disciples. He's at the Foundation Establishment stage."

"Greetings, Senior Brother Gao," Han Feng said, setting down his hoe and cupping his hands in greeting.

"Greetings, Junior Brother Han," Gao Hai replied with equal courtesy, smiling as he continued,

"Junior Brother Han, you're truly a heroic young man. I watched your performance in the secret realm—your combat prowess is unparalleled.

With your help on this mission, I'm sure we'll complete it successfully."

"Mission? What mission?" Han Feng asked, surprised.

Jiang Surou frowned.

"You don't know? Every disciple is required to complete at least one mission per month."

"We're required to complete missions? Then how is it that I haven't received a mission in the past five years?"

Hearing this, Jiang Surou's expression darkened.

"Of course, you had tasks. How do you think the sect supports tens of thousands of disciples for free? Back when you were a servant disciple, your task was to tend to the herb gardens and turn in herbs every month. That was your mission.

In the sect, whether you're an elder or a disciple, everyone contributes.

Elders contribute by completing missions and teaching disciples.

Disciples of Danxia Peak contribute by refining pills, disciples of Qizhen Peak contribute by crafting artifacts, and disciples of the Spirit Beast Peak raise spiritual beasts.

For us, the disciples focused on cultivation, we also have our monthly missions.

Everyone contributes their strength to sustain such a large sect."

"I see. So, what's our mission this time?" Han Feng asked.

Jiang Surou turned to Gao Hai.

"Senior Brother, please explain."

Gao Hai nodded and began,

"Here's the situation. The Yin-Yang Sect is located on the southeastern coast of Tianxing Continent, and the thousands of miles surrounding it are under our protection. As cultivators, it is our duty to protect ordinary civilians from the threats of demonic cultivators and other evildoers.

After all, civilians provide the population base that supplies us with talented disciples.

This morning, we received intelligence from a fellow disciple. On Jue Ming Island, 800 miles to the east, an entire city is under threat. A demonic cultivator has arrived there, planning to slaughter the entire population to refine blood pills. He intends to use the deaths of tens of thousands to help him break through to Foundation Establishment.

As righteous cultivators of an immortal sect, it is our responsibility to put an end to such heinous, inhumane acts."

Han Feng's expression darkened as he nodded.

"That's only right. The lives of common people are no less important. Just because cultivators have power doesn't mean they can disregard the lives of civilians. People like that are disasters waiting to happen. If left unchecked, they'll only grow stronger and kill even more in the future."

Having come from a humble background himself, Han Feng deeply despised cultivators who slaughtered ordinary people.

Gao Hai nodded approvingly.

"Junior Brother Han, your sense of justice is truly admirable. After this incident was reported to the Sect Leader, the task was assigned to Luoxia Peak.

Master Si Yu then instructed me to lead two Qi Refining disciples to handle the matter.

Unfortunately, among Master's disciples, only three are currently at the Qi Refining stage. I had no choice but to seek out Junior Sister Jiang and you."

"Alright then. Let's go quickly. If we're late, all the civilians will be dead."

"Agreed. Once we've dealt with the demonic cultivator and returned to the sect, we'll receive over a hundred contribution points, which can be exchanged for various resources.

At that time, I'll split the contribution points evenly among the three of us."

With that, Gao Hai soared into the air.

Han Feng and Jiang Surou followed suit, flying eastward on their swords.

—

As they flew, Han Feng turned to Jiang Surou and asked,

"Senior Sister, how many disciples does our Master have?"

Jiang Surou answered seriously.

"Master has been with the Yin-Yang Sect for nearly a century. Over that time, she has accepted a total of twenty-six disciples, including you. Currently, there are three Core Formation disciples, twenty Foundation Establishment disciples, and three Qi Refining disciples."

"Three Qi Refining disciples? Who's the other one?"

"Your old nemesis."

Han Feng froze for a moment before immediately saying,

"Ye Longyuan?"

Chapter 80

Gao Hai chuckled and said,

"That's correct. Master rarely accepts Qi Refining disciples because she believes they're not yet worth her personal guidance. She thinks it's sufficient to train them carefully once they reach Foundation Establishment.

Moreover, as a Peak Master, she's extremely selective when choosing disciples. Her standards are incredibly high—only Heavenly Spirit Roots or Earthly Spirit Roots are acceptable. She won't even consider disciples with mere top-grade spirit roots.

The fact that the three of you were accepted as disciples during the Qi Refining stage is entirely because all three of you possess Heavenly Spirit Roots, which are worth cultivating early."

"So that's how it is. Looking at how pathetic Ye Longyuan is, I almost forgot he's a Heavenly Spirit Root," Han Feng said with a smirk.

Jiang Surou couldn't help but laugh, giving Han Feng a sidelong glance before saying,

"Alright, we all know you're amazing. But don't underestimate others too much, or you might end up falling into their trap. That guy is still thinking about your Dao partner, so you'd better focus on cultivating and improving yourself to protect her."

"Of course. I'll definitely protect my wife. Once I reach Foundation Establishment, let's see who dares to mess with us," Han Feng said, laughing as he held Jiang Surou's hand.

Seeing their affectionate interaction, Gao Hai smiled and said,

"When you break through to Foundation Establishment, you'll become one of Master's personal disciples. Your status will be much higher than mine. Master's personal disciples are all rare Heavenly Spirit Roots.

For someone like me with an Earthly Spirit Root, my status is limited to that of an ordinary inner disciple."

"Haha, but breaking through to Foundation Establishment is so difficult," Han Feng said, laughing it off before turning to Jiang Surou.

"Senior Sister, do you know of any recipes for Foundation Establishment Pills? Or where I could buy one?"

"Foundation Establishment Pill? You're thinking about using one?" Jiang Surou asked, surprised.

"What's wrong? Can't I use one?"

"It's not that you can't—it's just incredibly expensive. A single pill costs 100,000 spirit stones, and even then, it's not something you can just buy. They're typically auctioned off at prices between 150,000 and 200,000 spirit stones."

"150,000 to 200,000 spirit stones?! That expensive?!"

"Of course. After all, it's a pill that can increase the success rate of breaking through to Foundation Establishment. Once someone achieves Foundation Establishment, their lifespan extends to 300 years. Who wouldn't be tempted by that?

The reason Foundation Establishment Pills are so expensive isn't that the recipe is particularly rare—it's the materials that are hard to come by. The rarer the materials, the more valuable the pill. And the rarer they are, the fewer pills alchemists can produce, which leads to low success rates. That's why an alchemist capable of refining Foundation Establishment Pills is considered extremely skilled and valuable.

At the very least, you'd need a top-grade alchemist with sufficient experience, or better yet, a master-level alchemist for a more reliable result.

In our sect, there are fewer than five alchemists capable of refining Foundation Establishment Pills.

The sect reserves these pills as rewards for disciples who achieve great merit. Occasionally, a few are sold at auction, but they're immediately snatched up. With so many wealthy elders and large families around, we junior disciples wouldn't even dare to dream of getting one."

If even someone like Jiang Surou, from a wealthy family, considered the pills prohibitively expensive, there was no need to mention someone like Han Feng, who was practically broke.

Han Feng now began to doubt Bai Nuo's claim of being able to refine Foundation Establishment Pills.

Since obtaining one was out of the question, and breaking through on his own seemed difficult, Han Feng could only resign himself to lying flat for the time being.

Ah, lying flat really was the most comfortable option.

But for now, they had to deal with that evil cultivator.

—

Where there were sects, there were also rogue cultivators. Sect disciples enjoyed the protection of their sects, living relatively secure lives, while rogue cultivators had more freedom but faced constant uncertainty. Both paths had their pros and cons.

Seeing how slowly Han Feng and Jiang Surou were flying, Gao Hai frowned and said,

"Junior Brother, Junior Sister, we need to pick up the pace. The civilians over there are still suffering. We have to hurry.

If you don't mind, I'll go ahead. By the time you arrive, I'll likely have already dealt with the evil cultivator. We can then just bring his head back to report the mission's completion."

"It's fine, Senior Brother. You can fly at full speed; don't worry about us," Han Feng replied.

As he spoke, he pulled Jiang Surou onto his flying sword. Spreading the Gale Wings of the Spring Current on his back, he stowed the sword and, holding Jiang Surou close, flew eastward at full speed.

Gao Hai, noticing that Han Feng's speed was not only on par with his own but even slightly faster, smiled and said,

"Truly worthy of a Wind-Attribute Heavenly Spirit Root. With that winged spiritual treasure, your speed is remarkable. In that case, let's go full throttle."

The three flew eastward at maximum speed.

Holding Jiang Surou, Han Feng could feel the soft, bouncy sensation of her pert hips pressed against his waist. Holding her slender, delicate waist, he felt immensely satisfied.

Han Feng particularly enjoyed hugging Jiang Surou from behind. Sometimes, after they'd exhausted themselves during dual cultivation and were resting, he'd also hold her like this while they slept together.

After a month of dual cultivation, their relationship had grown much closer, shedding the unfamiliarity they had at first.

—

Flying eastward, passing several small islands, they finally arrived at their destination: Jue Ming Island.

According to the intelligence report, the incident had occurred slightly south of the island's center. The island was quite large, at least several times the size of the Yin-Yang Sect's territory.

The island was inhabited entirely by mortals. Due to its proximity to the mainland, most of the residents made their living as fishermen, occasionally trading with the mainland.

At the island's center lay a single city nestled within a basin.

Even from a distance, the three could see a massive formation radiating a terrifying aura of blood.

"There's malice! Such strong malice!" the little fox suddenly shouted.

"I see it!" Han Feng replied, his expression grim.

Inside the formation was a city, its walls reduced to rubble, corpses littering the ground.

The blood from the corpses was continuously being absorbed into the formation and funneled into a swirling sphere of blood energy.

The sphere spun rapidly, gathering more and more blood energy, steadily taking form.

Once complete, the sphere would likely be consumed by the evil cultivator to help him break through to Foundation Establishment.

However, as Han Feng looked at the sphere, he couldn't shake the feeling that it seemed strangely familiar.

Turning to the little fox, he asked silently with his eyes.

The little fox, capable of extracting essence from corpses and condensing it into blood spheres to boost others' cultivation or accelerate herb growth, immediately understood his gaze. She first looked confused, then flew into a rage.

"What are you looking at me for? Mine and his are nothing alike! His method is so low-level. He only refines blood energy, wasting all the essence of the flesh, and even consumes a huge amount of blood energy inefficiently.

He has to kill tens of thousands of people to make a single blood pill. If it were me…"

"Shush!" Han Feng quickly clamped a hand over her mouth.

Refining pills from innocent mortals was absolutely unacceptable—a line no decent human would cross.

At that moment, within the formation, the evil cultivator wasn't idle. He was locked in an intense battle with a young girl.

Chapter 81

The evil cultivator wore a gray hemp robe, his face marred by a knife scar. His beard was scruffy, and his eyes exuded a fierce, sinister aura. In his hand was a curved blade, extraordinarily sharp, which he swung relentlessly at the little girl.

The little girl looked to be no older than ten, small and slender. Her long blue hair was tied into twin ponytails, and she wore a blue dress adorned with delicate ornaments made of seashells and starfish. She appeared as refined and lovely as the daughter of a noble family.

Despite her young age, the little girl was remarkably skilled. As she exchanged blows with the evil cultivator, she found herself at a disadvantage but still managed to unleash streams of water arrows. These arrows left the evil cultivator covered in wounds.

"We're still too late. Everyone here is already dead," Gao Hai said grimly.

Han Feng immediately responded, "Not everyone is dead—there's still that little girl! Quickly, we need to break the formation and save her!"

Jiang Surou frowned. "The key question is, can we judge by appearances alone? Is the evil cultivator that man, or could it be the little girl?"

"Doesn't matter. Break the formation first. Whoever panics is the evil cultivator," Han Feng said decisively.

With that, the three of them launched an all-out assault on the formation.

Their strikes caused the formation to shake violently, drawing the attention of those inside.

The little girl noticed the newcomers and immediately called out,

"Heroes, please save me!"

The man's eyes flickered with malice as he pointed toward them and shouted,

"Who are you? Stop meddling in my business and get lost! If you keep attacking my formation, I'll make sure none of you leave here alive!"

There it was—confirmation that the man was the evil cultivator.

Gao Hai, continuing his assault on the formation, shouted back,

"Who are you, and why are you killing people to refine blood pills? Do you not realize this region is under the jurisdiction of the Yin-Yang Sect? Surrender at once and return with us to face justice!"

"You're from the Yin-Yang Sect?" The evil cultivator's expression instantly darkened.

Clearly, he needed to finish refining the blood pill quickly. If they called for reinforcements, it would spell trouble.

As a rogue cultivator, the last thing he wanted was to provoke sect disciples. Kill one, and more would come. Kill more, and even stronger ones would follow—it was a never-ending cycle.

Raising his blade, the evil cultivator unleashed several arcs of blade energy that sliced through the formation and shot toward Han Feng and the others.

The three quickly swung their swords to block, shattering the blade energy.

Seeing this, the evil cultivator launched wave after wave of blade strikes to hinder their attacks on the formation.

His goal was simple: to prevent them from breaking the formation long enough for the blood pill to finish refining. Once it was ready, he could grab it and escape without engaging these sect disciples.

Han Feng and the others found themselves frustrated, constantly deflecting his attacks. He could attack them, but they couldn't retaliate against him through the formation.

The blue-haired little girl inside gritted her teeth. Turning toward the three outside, she shouted,

"I can hold him off, but you have to break the formation quickly! Don't let his blood pill form—you must hurry!"

With that, the little girl's body floated gently into the air. She raised her small hands and shouted,

"Through the ages eternal, let the threads of the sea rise!"

Her hair suddenly transformed into strands of water, which formed a curtain that wrapped around the evil cultivator.

The evil cultivator immediately swung his blade to slash at the water threads.

But no matter how many he cut, the water reconnected and continued to flow.

The countless water threads wrapped around the evil cultivator, attempting to bind him. However, he wasn't so easily subdued. With his excellent footwork, he dodged the threads, slashing them apart just before they could ensnare him.

Even so, the little girl successfully kept the evil cultivator occupied, giving Han Feng and the others precious time to attack the formation.

"Hurry! Time is of the essence! Attack the formation with everything you've got. We don't understand formations well enough to exploit the weak points, so brute force is our only option!" Gao Hai urged as he struck the formation with his sword.

Han Feng and Jiang Surou followed suit.

Watching the little girl inside, Han Feng remarked with amazement,

"Who is that little girl? At such a young age, she can go toe-to-toe with a ninth-layer Qi Refining cultivator and even launch water arrow attacks. Her hair can even turn into water. That's incredible."

Jiang Surou thought for a moment and said,

"She might have a Water-Attribute Spirit Root. Still, for someone so young to be this powerful—she's truly exceptional."

Gao Hai sighed and said,

"Don't be fooled. She's not human; she's a demon."

"A demon? That little girl is a demonic beast? But she doesn't have any of the characteristics of a beast. Is her transformation really that perfect? And aren't beasts capable of transforming usually strong enough to crush our entire sect? Why is she struggling with a Qi Refining cultivator?" Jiang Surou asked, surprised.

"I don't know. All I can tell is that she's a demon. I used my divine sense to probe her, and she has none of the internal organs of a human," Gao Hai replied.

"Whether she's human or a demon, she's helping us stop the evil cultivator. That makes her a good demon. Let's focus on breaking the formation!" Han Feng said firmly.

The three intensified their attacks, bringing out their best magical treasures and channeling all their strength into breaking the formation.

With their relentless assault, cracks began to spread across the formation. It wouldn't hold much longer.

Inside the formation, the evil cultivator grew increasingly anxious as he saw the cracks spreading. He stopped trying to fend off the little girl and abandoned the blood pill, which was not yet fully formed, to seize it prematurely.

But the little girl wasn't about to let him have his way. With a shout, she sent her water threads surging toward him once more.

The evil cultivator, gnashing his teeth in frustration, roared,

"You're forcing me to do this!"

Raising his blade, he infused it with spiritual energy and his own vitality, drawing in the blood energy permeating the air. He was preparing a killing move to eliminate the little girl.

The little girl puffed up her cheeks and shouted in her childlike voice,

"I'm not afraid of you! Bring it on!"

"Under the protection of eternity, gather all forms into a dragon!" she cried.

A massive water sphere formed in her hands. With a push, it transformed into the head of a giant, shimmering blue dragon that surrounded her protectively. The dragon opened its mouth, releasing a massive torrent of water that surged toward the evil cultivator.

The evil cultivator roared and charged forward, his blood-infused curved blade clashing directly with the water dragon.

The two forces collided, with the evil cultivator pushing through the torrent to strike at the little girl. His blade slashed into the dragon's head, shattering it in an explosive burst of water.

Both the evil cultivator and the little girl were sent flying, crashing heavily to the ground.

Chapter 82

The little girl crashed heavily to the ground, lying sprawled in a pitiful state. She struggled to stand but couldn't muster the strength to do so.

Her body was covered in wounds, crisscrossed with injuries, and her small, dirt-streaked face showed no trace of blood.

This puzzled Han Feng. Even demonic beasts bled, didn't they?

What exactly was this little girl's species?

"Quick, break the formation! The little girl can't hold on any longer!" Gao Hai roared, his voice filled with urgency as he, Han Feng, and Jiang Surou put everything they had into attacking the formation.

The cracks in the formation grew wider and more numerous, accompanied by the sound of splintering. It was clear the formation wouldn't last much longer.

The evil cultivator, seeing this, gnashed his teeth in frustration. His eyes burned with hatred as he roared,

"You're forcing my hand!"

He suddenly leaped into the air, landing in front of the blood pill. Snatching it up, he glared at the three outside, his bloodshot eyes filled with fury.

"This was a commission—a single blood pill in exchange for fifty thousand spirit stones. Everything was going perfectly, and then that strange little girl showed up. And now, you three as well!

Forget it! I'm not selling this pill anymore. You can all go to hell!"

With that, he swallowed the blood pill in one gulp and sat cross-legged, immediately beginning to refine it.

"Not good! He's trying to refine the blood pill to break through to Foundation Establishment. Quickly, break the formation and stop him!" Gao Hai shouted, his anxiety mounting. He threw everything he had into attacking the formation, even risking injury from backlash.

Finally, through their relentless efforts, the formation shattered with a thunderous crash. A thick, nauseating stench of blood and rot wafted out, making the three nearly gag.

"Little Fox, check on the little girl and give her a Revitalizing Pill. We'll deal with the enemy!" Han Feng commanded, tossing the little fox toward the injured blue-haired girl.

Gao Hai led Han Feng and Jiang Surou in a charge toward the evil cultivator.

Their speed was incredible, and in the blink of an eye, they reached the cultivator.

The three raised their swords to strike, but just as they were about to land their attacks, the evil cultivator's eyes snapped open. His irises were filled with swirling blood energy, resembling a vortex.

Suddenly, his aura exploded outward, sending a massive shockwave rippling through the air. The force struck Gao Hai, Han Feng, and Jiang Surou, sending them all flying backward.

"Hahahaha!" The evil cultivator's laughter rang out, unrestrained and maniacal.

"So this is all it takes to break through with a blood pill? My Blood Qi Foundation Platform is far stronger than an ordinary Foundation Platform.

No wonder those hypocritical righteous cultivators covet blood pills so much.

By condensing the blood and qi of tens of thousands of mortals, I've forged my crimson foundation!

Hahahaha! You're all going to die. Every last one of you!"

Still laughing maniacally, the evil cultivator hefted his curved blade and charged toward Gao Hai.

Among the three, Gao Hai was the strongest at the early Foundation Establishment stage. Naturally, the evil cultivator aimed to take him down first.

If he could kill Gao Hai, the two Qi Refining cultivators would be easy pickings.

—

Meanwhile, the little fox reached the blue-haired girl and tried to help her up, but she was too heavy for the small fox to lift.

The little girl lay there, barely clinging to life, unable to move. Her pitiful state was heart-wrenching.

The little fox, growing increasingly anxious, said,

"Big Sister, wake up! Eat this pill quickly!"

She pulled out a Revitalizing Pill, a gift from Jiang Surou, and fed it to the girl.

The pill dissolved immediately upon entering the girl's mouth, transforming into medicinal energy that coursed through her body. However, her injuries showed no signs of improvement.

The little girl, her consciousness fading, mumbled,

"Water… water…"

The little fox, now frantic, replied,

"Where am I supposed to find water for you? You can't drink seawater! Hang in there a bit longer. Once they defeat the bad guy, they'll take you to the sect to heal you.

We're all good people—and good demons. You don't have to worry."

"Water…" The little girl's eyes rolled back, and she fainted.

—

On the battlefield, Gao Hai was struggling against the evil cultivator. Despite being at the Foundation Establishment stage, Gao Hai was being completely overwhelmed.

The evil cultivator's Blood Qi Foundation Platform was ferocious and chaotic, far more powerful than an ordinary Foundation Platform. However, it came at a cost, as it wreaked havoc on his own body due to the excessive foreign blood energy within him.

It was a double-edged sword—lethal to both the enemy and the user. But its sheer power was undeniable.

Even Gao Hai, a seasoned Foundation Establishment cultivator, found himself no match for the newly advanced evil cultivator. Injuries began to accumulate on his body as he was forced to retreat repeatedly.

Seeing this, Han Feng knew he could no longer remain idle. Gripping his Wind Spirit Sword tightly, he unleashed a blade of wind energy that sliced through the air toward the evil cultivator.

The feather-like wind blade shot straight at the enemy. The evil cultivator, seeing that the attack came from a mere Qi Refining disciple, dismissed it outright, making no effort to block.

It wasn't until the wind blade pierced through his arm that the evil cultivator realized his grave mistake. He had underestimated Han Feng.

Snarling, he turned to face Han Feng and swung his curved blade in a wide arc.

Han Feng met him head-on, raising his sword to counter the strike.

The two weapons clashed with a deafening clang, sending shockwaves rippling outward. Both combatants were forced back, but in vastly different states—while the evil cultivator steadied himself after a few steps, Han Feng was sent flying, blood churning from the impact and sustaining minor internal injuries.

Smirking coldly, the evil cultivator sneered,

"Impressive, kid. Playing the weak to catch the strong, huh? Even that Foundation Establishment guy couldn't take one of my blows without injury, yet you, a Qi Refining cultivator, manage to hold your ground?

Something's definitely off about you. If I kill you and refine you into a blood pill… hahahaha, that's going to be one delicious treat!"

With that, he ignored the others and charged straight at Han Feng.

Gao Hai and Jiang Surou immediately moved to intercept, attacking the evil cultivator from both sides. But their speed couldn't match the cultivator's, who closed the distance to Han Feng in the blink of an eye.

Han Feng snorted coldly and activated the Wen Qingfeng technique from the Xun Art. His speed surged as he leapt backward, creating distance while simultaneously summoning two small whirlwinds with a wave of his hand.

The whirlwinds struck the evil cultivator in quick succession, forcing him back twice.

Using this opportunity, Han Feng widened the gap between himself and the cultivator. Gao Hai and Jiang Surou finally caught up, their swords slashing down at the enemy.

The evil cultivator gritted his teeth and let out a cold snort. He took their strikes head-on, allowing their swords to pierce his body. Then, with a flash of his curved blade, he slashed Gao Hai, carving a deep, bone-revealing wound across his chest. Following up, he delivered a swift kick that sent Gao Hai flying, before turning his blade toward Jiang Surou with lightning speed.

Chapter 83

Seeing the incoming attack, Jiang Surou didn't have time to dodge. She quickly raised her sword horizontally to block the blow.

With a deafening clang, her sword was sent flying from her hands. The force of the impact caused a severe backlash, making her cough up blood as she was thrown backward.

Han Feng, enraged, clenched his teeth. Seeing the evil cultivator about to pursue Jiang Surou, he immediately charged forward at full speed. Unleashing a whirlwind, he blasted the evil cultivator away and caught Jiang Surou in his arms.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. My Wood-Attribute Spirit Root might not excel in combat, but it gives me strong vitality and recovery. Killing me won't be easy. Don't worry about me—go fight!" Jiang Surou wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and pulled out a whip from her storage pouch. She lashed it at the evil cultivator.

Caught off guard, the evil cultivator was struck hard by the whip. Although it didn't cause him much harm, the whip visibly extended, transforming into a vine that tightly bound him.

Seeing this opportunity, Han Feng and Gao Hai seized the moment. One from the front and one from the back, they drove their swords through the evil cultivator's chest.

Believing they had secured victory, smiles appeared on their faces.

However, the evil cultivator merely sneered, showing no sign of pain. Blood energy suddenly surged from his wounds, his aura exploding outward. A powerful wave of energy swept through the area, flinging all three attackers away.

Han Feng barely managed to shield Jiang Surou with his body, absorbing most of the impact on his back.

All three crashed heavily to the ground.

The vine that had bound the evil cultivator snapped and fell apart, scattering across the ground.

Struggling to stand, Gao Hai's expression turned grim as he said,

"This is bad. He's burning his blood energy to draw power from his Blood Qi Foundation Platform. His combat strength has skyrocketed, far surpassing all three of us!"

"What do we do now?" Han Feng asked, wiping blood from his mouth.

"We have to call for reinforcements!" Gao Hai declared.

Just as he spoke, he suddenly looked toward the west and exclaimed with joy,

"No need! Reinforcements have arrived!"

Han Feng and Jiang Surou turned to see two streaks of light approaching from the west. The two figures weren't using flying swords or tools but were instead flying through the air on their own, clearly Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Han Feng and Jiang Surou didn't recognize them, but seeing help coming from the direction of their sect, they felt a sense of relief.

With two Foundation Establishment reinforcements, defeating the evil cultivator seemed certain.

Gao Hai waved excitedly and called out,

"Senior Ye Qingyun, Senior Ye Liuchuan! Over here! Come help us kill this enemy!"

Hearing this, Han Feng's expression darkened instantly.

The reinforcements were from the Ye family!

Jiang Surou noticed Han Feng's grim expression. Grasping his hand, she reassured him,

"It's okay. This is a sect-assigned mission. The Ye family wouldn't dare to act against us now. The only way they'd risk it is if they killed all three of us. And if they do attack you, do you think Senior Brother Gao Hai wouldn't report them?"

The newcomers were both middle-aged male cultivators. Gao Hai referred to them as seniors out of respect for their age, not their cultivation level.

The two Ye family members halted midair, surveying the battlefield.

Upon spotting Han Feng, Ye Qingyun sneered,

"Well, well. Isn't this the little thief who declared eternal enmity with our Ye family? What a coincidence to run into you here."

Han Feng's face was stern, and he remained silent, carefully observing their attitudes.

Gao Hai frowned and said,

"Gentlemen, this evil cultivator is particularly troublesome. Let's join forces to kill him. We can split the credit evenly afterward."

"Quiet, you brat. This isn't your place to speak," Ye Qingyun snapped coldly before turning to the evil cultivator and saying,

"Where's the blood pill?"

The evil cultivator snorted,

"You're too late. They pushed me too hard. I couldn't beat them, so I had no choice but to swallow the blood pill and break through to Foundation Establishment just to survive!"

Hearing this, Gao Hai, Han Feng, and Jiang Surou's faces all changed dramatically.

In disbelief, Gao Hai asked,

"The blood pill… was commissioned by the Ye family?"

"Silence!" Ye Qingyun roared, striking Gao Hai with a palm. Gao Hai spat out a mouthful of blood as he was slammed to the ground. Han Feng and Jiang Surou immediately rushed to support him.

Ye Qingyun's gaze turned icy as he glared at the evil cultivator.

"How dare you swallow the blood pill meant for the Ye family? We meticulously selected this location to refine the blood pill, all for the sake of helping my nephew, Ye Longyuan, break through to Foundation Establishment.

Do you realize the risk we took to refine that pill? And you had the audacity to consume it?"

The evil cultivator, unwilling to back down, shot into the air and shouted,

"Ye, when they broke the formation, the blood pill wasn't fully formed. Do you think I, as a peak Qi Refining cultivator, could've fought off one Foundation Establishment and two peak Qi Refining cultivators?

If I hadn't swallowed the blood pill, I'd already be dead, and the pill would've been taken by them. You wouldn't have gotten anything!

I've already ingested the pill. I won't take a single spirit stone for my services. Fine, I'll move further away and refine another blood pill for you. We can make a new deal!"

Ye Qingyun nodded and said,

"You make a valid point. We were late, and these three troublemakers ruined everything.

Here's the plan: let's kill these three pests first. Then we can find another suitable location for refining blood pills.

They've heard too much about our dealings. We can't let them leave alive!"

"Agreed. I've been wanting to kill this lot!" the evil cultivator responded.

With that, the three Foundation Establishment cultivators—all radiating murderous intent—turned their gazes toward Han Feng and his group.

They could barely handle one evil cultivator. With two mid-level Foundation Establishment cultivators joining him, this was a certain death sentence.

Gao Hai, his face twisted in rage, gritted his teeth and said,

"Back in the ancestral secret realm, I already suspected that no one in the Ye family was decent. But now, to kill tens of thousands of innocent civilians just to help Ye Longyuan reach Foundation Establishment?

Shameless!

You're utterly shameless! You're the disgrace of the immortal sects!"

"Hmph. Young man, you're so naïve. Have you never heard the phrase 'the victor is king, the loser is scorned'? The cultivation world is a place where the strong prey on the weak. The only reason you think otherwise is because Elder Tie Lian has protected you too well, making you believe the cultivation world is some kind of utopia.

This naivety will do you no good. Our Ye family believes all disciples should understand the harsh reality of the cultivation world. Only then can they truly grow."

Gao Hai ignored him. He pulled a bronze mirror from his chest and shoved it into Han Feng's hands. Quickly, he said,

"Junior Brother Han, you're fast. Take Junior Sister Jiang and flee. Call for reinforcements as you run. This mirror records the entire battle and contains evidence of the Ye family's crimes. I'll hold them off to buy you time."