Chapter 75

Night fell, Jin Chen Peak.

The moonlight was like water, spilling into that exquisite courtyard.

Five huge golden stones were still arranged in a mysterious formation, glowing with a cold luster under the moonlight.

Jin Hai sat cross-legged in the center, golden light flowing around his body, his breathing long and steady; he had already sunk into cultivation.

In a nearby side room, a graceful figure tossed and turned on the bed, unable to find peace.

"Umm... umm..."

Xu Qinghuan lay with her eyes open, staring at the top of the bed, her enchanting and pretty face showing a hint of listlessness.

She hadn't slept well at night for some time now.

Tonight, she was suffering from insomnia again.

"It's all that hateful old thing's fault... for harming me like this..."

She pursed her rosy lips, and a soft, delicate hum escaped from her upright nose; her voice carried a hint of grievance, a hint of anger, and a hint of complexity that even she herself couldn't explain.

She had been lying on this side for a long time and was about to turn over.

By the bedside, a thin, straight figure had appeared silently.

"Ah...!"

Xu Qinghuan's delicate body trembled violently, and a layer of misty water instantly welled up in her beautiful eyes.

She instinctively wanted to scream, but held it back at the very last moment, letting out only a short, stifled sob.

She covered her mouth, her enchanting face filled with horror and complex emotions.

"You... why have you come again... what do you want now..."

Her voice was as thin as a mosquito's, her hands covering her mouth tightly, fearing that if her voice were any louder, it would alert Jin Hai outside.

Jiang Ye looked down at her from above.

He smiled faintly, the smile appearing particularly unfathomable in the dim light:

"What do you think?"

The next day.

The sky had not yet fully brightened.

A thin figure swept silently out of Jin Chen Peak.

Jiang Ye felt refreshed, his steps light and quick.

He looked up at the faint white light on the eastern horizon, a look of satisfaction flashing in his aged eyes.

He did not linger, his figure flickering as he disappeared into the misty morning fog.

Outer Sect, Martial Arts Arena.

As the sky brightened, many disciples had already gathered on the arena for morning practice.

Xu Qinghuan's figure appeared at the edge of the arena.

Her steps today were much slower than usual, walking carefully step by step, as if there were some inconvenience under her feet.

"Xu Xu Shijie, why is your complexion so rosy today!"

A sharp-eyed female disciple approached, looking at Xu Qinghuan's face with surprise.

That face, which was already enchanting and pretty, was glowing with an indescribable luster today, rosy and full, like a flower watered by rain.

"That's right, that's right, Xu Xu Shijie, your complexion is just too good."

Several other female disciples gathered around, exclaiming in a flurry of voices.

"Oh my, it goes without saying, Zhang Zhang Shixiong Jin Hai must have bought Xu Xu Shijie some top-quality nourishing herbs."

"I'm so envious of Xu Xu Shijie; if only I could be noticed by an inner sect true disciple too."

"Isn't that the truth! I've been practicing martial arts these past few days and my Qi and blood are depleted; the few pills the sect gives out aren't enough at all. Xu Xu Shijie has Zhang Zhang Shixiong Jin Hai doting on her, it's really different!"

A group of female disciples surrounded Xu Qinghuan, looking at her glowing face with eyes full of envy and longing, chattering incessantly.

Xu Qinghuan forced a smile, which was slightly unnatural but still enchanting and moving.

She coughed lightly, her voice soft: "Hehe, it is true... I did eat some nourishing herbs."

The female disciples nearby were even more envious upon hearing this.

A few sharp-eyed ones noticed that Xu Qinghuan was walking exceptionally slowly today and couldn't help but ask curiously:

"Xu Xu Shijie, did you hurt your foot?"

Xu Qinghuan's expression stiffened slightly, then she said with a smile: "Yes, I was practicing too hard and accidentally hurt my foot..."

"Xu Xu Shijie really doesn't leave us any room to live..."

"Having such an excellent fiancé and still working so hard to practice martial arts..."

"Xu Xu Shijie is the role model for us female disciples!"

The female disciples nearby immediately began to flatter her, their sycophantic tones becoming more and more exaggerated.

Not far away, a cold figure stood quietly at the edge of the arena.

It was none other than Liu Yiyi.

Her cold eyes swept obscurely over Xu Qinghuan, who was being endlessly flattered by the female disciples, her gaze lingering for a moment on her overly rosy face, a look of undisguised disdain appearing on her pretty face.

"Disgusting."

She parted her red lips and spat out the two words softly.

At the same time.

Jiang Ye arrived at the Duty Hall on Jiding Peak.

He had just stepped into the hall when Gongsun Hong, who was busy behind the desk, stood up with a "swish," his refined face instantly filled with smiles.

He hurried forward in two or three steps, his loud laughter echoing in the hall:

"Elder Jiang! Congratulations on successfully embracing the pill!"

If Gongsun Hong's politeness toward Jiang Ye before was mostly for Wen Yueyao's sake.

Then his warmth at this moment was heartfelt admiration.

An elderly Transformation of Force martial artist from a small county town who could actually embrace Qi into a pill in just over ten days.

Such progress made it impossible for him not to look at him with new eyes.

Jiang Ye cupped his hands politely:

"Many thanks, Elder Gongsun."

He got straight to the point:

"This old man has come today to collect the elder token and robes."

"Haha, Elder Jiang, rest assured, I have already prepared them for you!"

Gongsun Hong laughed heartily and turned to instruct a disciple.

The disciple walked quickly into the back hall and soon returned holding a tray.

The tray was made of green jade, and several items were neatly arranged on it.

A dark green elder token, a set of neatly folded elder robes, and three exquisite jade porcelain bottles.

"Elder Jiang, the twenty thousand contribution points rewarded to you by the sect have already been recorded into your token."

Gongsun Hong stepped forward personally, holding the token with both hands and handing it to Jiang Ye.

Jiang Ye took the token; it felt warm and smooth to the touch, and its weight was solid, much heavier than the previous deacon token.

He nodded slightly and tucked the token into his robes.

Gongsun Hong pointed to the three jade porcelain bottles and introduced them:

"These three bottles are the benefits that sect elders can collect every month."

He picked up the first bottle:

"This is the Qi-Replenishing Pill, specifically for Embracing the Pill Realm martial artists; it can help quickly restore true Qi."

He then picked up the second: "This is the Qi-Condensing Pill, to assist in nourishing true Qi."

Jiang Ye nodded slightly.

He had heard of these two types of pills; they were both items of great value, each bottle selling for no less than three thousand taels of silver on the market.

Being able to collect them monthly showed that the sect did not treat its elders poorly.

When Gongsun Hong picked up the third jade porcelain bottle, his expression became a bit more solemn.

He gently opened the stopper and tilted the bottle slightly.

A drop of emerald-green liquid lay quietly at the bottom of the bottle.

The liquid was crystal clear, like condensed spring water, emitting a faint, refreshing fragrance.

Just looking at it made one feel refreshed and happy.

"This is..." Jiang Ye was slightly startled.

"Elder Jiang, this is the Tianqing Spirit Liquid." Gongsun Hong's voice lowered a bit, carrying a hint of solemnity:

"This is the true foundation of our Tianqing Sect."

He paused and continued:

"Don't look at it as just a tiny drop; its miraculous uses are infinite."

"It can assist in cultivation, deepen one's foundation, and can also assist in healing wounds; its life-saving effect is even stronger than the Great Returning Pill."

"If taken over a long period, it can even solidify one's essence, nourish one's vitality, and prolong life!"

Hearing this, a rare look of shock appeared on Jiang Ye's face, "Prolong life?!"

This term touched his heartstrings more than any talk of assisting cultivation or life-saving healing.

He asked instinctively: "Can this Tianqing Spirit Liquid... be bought with silver?"

Gongsun Hong laughed and shook his head: "This is a true non-sale item; only the core figures of the sect can enjoy it."

As he spoke, Gongsun Hong lowered his voice: "Sect elders can collect one drop per month. True disciples can collect three drops per month. Peak masters can collect seven drops per month."

After listening, Jiang Ye had a clearer understanding of the preciousness of the Tianqing Spirit Liquid.

He immediately tucked the three jade porcelain bottles away carefully, close to his body.

Just as he was about to rise and take his leave, Gongsun Hong suddenly smiled and took two bottles of pills from his own sleeves, stuffing them into Jiang Ye's hands.

"Elder Jiang, congratulations on successfully embracing the pill; this is a small token of my sincerity, two bottles of Qi-Replenishing Pills, please do not refuse."

Jiang Ye wanted to decline, but looking at Gongsun Hong's warm and sincere gaze, he finally smiled and accepted the pills, cupping his hands politely:

"Then many thanks for your kindness, Elder Gongsun."

The two exchanged a few more pleasantries, and Jiang Ye took his leave.