Chapter 21: I'll Accompany You

Three days later, Ye Liuyun took a Gu Yuan Pill and cultivated True Qi Seeds in the eighteen acupoints of his first tendon meridian.

Then, following the requirements of the Mysterious Origin Qi Refining Technique, he used Qi to open all those acupoints, shattered the entire meridian, and repaired it anew.

The process sounds easy, but the pain of shattering and then repairing a meridian is almost unbearable for ordinary people.

Fortunately, he has the foundation of an Immortal Overlord Body, and the Ten Thousand Gods Command resides in his Sea of Consciousness, keeping him constantly lucid and preventing him from fainting from the pain. Thus the whole process was perilous but safe, and completed smoothly.

Feeling the new meridian's breadth and resilience, and seeing the Qi surging within, he suddenly felt a renewed anticipation, wondering what it would be like when all nine meridians are rebuilt.

Even with a single meridian, he already sensed the Qi flowing three times faster than in the other meridians.

In these few days, his Soul can now probe a range of a hundred meters. The Soul responsible for attacks has also become much more resilient.

All the newly learned cultivation methods have reached Minor Achievement, thanks to the Metal Puppet, which not only trains with him but also provides guidance.

The pills are also fully prepared. He also used spatial nest wood to forge a gourd specifically for holding liquids.

Everything is ready, and he can set out.

So he bid farewell to Feng Wanru and first went to Wanbaoge. Besides selling the Yellow Tier Gu Yuan Pills he had refined these days, he also needed to buy a map and a bow.

Since hunting ferocious beasts there requires a ranged weapon, it would be much safer with a bow.

Among the one hundred Gu Yuan Pills Ye Liuyun refined this time, forty‑eight are Yellow Tier Supreme, and only six are Yellow Tier Upper.

The remaining forty‑six pills he didn't sell to her are naturally Mysterious Tier Lower pills.

Liang Xue took the pills and was marveling at his improved alchemy skill. Suddenly hearing that Ye Liuyun wanted to buy a map and a bow, she became curious.

Ye Liuyun didn't hide anything and explained his intention, startling Liang Xue into wide‑eyed amazement.

"Do you know how dangerous Henglin Shanmai is? It's a no‑man's land, so bandits run rampant and mercenaries are all desperados. Not to mention the ferocious beasts inside. If you need medicinal herbs, I can source them for you; there's no need to risk it!"

Henglin Shanmai is a transverse mountain range that blocks communication between Fengyang City and the outside world. Most outsiders who come to Fengyang City prefer to take a longer detour rather than cross the range and encounter bandits, mercenaries, and beasts.

Ye Liuyun replied indifferently, "Isn't that just a chance for training? If it weren't chaotic, I wouldn't go! Martial cultivation is inherently perilous; only real combat can make me grow faster."

Now the Ye Clan has no rivals left for him. If he wants to boost his strength quickly, blood‑soaked combat is undoubtedly the best method.

Ye Liuyun's real purpose for going to Henglin Shanmai was simply to pave his own future path of wandering.

He has always been interested in the outside world and is destined not to stay in the Ye Clan forever. Especially after securing the top rank in the inner residence this time, he feels even more restless.

Seeing that Ye Liuyun had firmly decided to go to Henglin Shanmai, Liang Xue no longer objected and sent Yu Er to take him to buy a map and a bow.

When Ye Liuyun returned with his purchases, Liang Xue was already waiting at the doorway with two horses, having changed into a black bodysuit.

The bodysuit fully exposed his figure, highlighting her even paler skin.

"She's really something!" Ye Liuyun swallowed his saliva as he watched.

"Do you like it?" Liang Xue deliberately leaned in, almost pressing against him.

Ye Liuyun's face instantly flushed bright red, and he kept stepping back.

Liang Xue giggled at his embarrassed state, finding teasing this clueless youth quite entertaining!

"What are you trying to do?" Ye Liuyun asked, curious about her outfit.

"I'll accompany you!" Liang Xue said outright.

She herself didn't know why she suddenly wanted to accompany a man out. Perhaps she was just bored in this small town.

Ye Liuyun didn't overthink it. Liang Xue's cultivation level is higher than his, so he has no worries, and having company on the road won't be too boring.

So he gladly agreed, mounted a horse with Liang Xue, and rode side by side out of Fengyang City.

"You really thought of everything! With mounts, we'll save a lot of time and stamina!" Ye Liuyun praised.

Although it was his first time riding a horse, he quickly adapted.

"How can you say that? Going on an adventure without any preparation?" Liang Xue retorted irritably.

It turned out they got hungry during a mid‑journey rest. Ye Liuyun hadn't prepared any food, and Liang Xue, in her haste, also brought none, so they had to continue on an empty stomach.

"Hehe! There's a small town not far ahead; we can go eat and rest a bit," Ye Liuyun said, glancing at the map before turning his horse sideways.

Liang Xue didn't think twice and followed.

But after running for a long time—half again longer than expected—they finally reached a town, which turned out not to be the one marked on the map. Ye Liuyun complained that Wanbaoge's map was inaccurate.

Since they were already there, they had no choice but to find a tavern and fill their stomachs.

Ye Liuyun learned a lesson, and after eating, he packed a lot of food to take away.

Before leaving, Liang Xue casually asked the owner about the route and realized Ye Liuyun had taken the wrong road.

Liang Xue glared at Ye Liuyun, snatched the map, and shouted, "You map‑loser! If you can't read a map, you should've said so! From now on I'll lead, and you follow me!"

Ye Liuyun, feeling guilty, didn't dare argue and obediently fell behind Liang Xue.

Just after Ye Liuyun and Liang Xue left the city, inside the City Lord's residence, City Lord Qin Yuan was discussing the Ye Clan's versus Mo Clan situation with a white‑haired elder.

The white‑haired elder respectfully said, "Since the Grand Elder of the Ye Clan was dismissed, our influence within the Ye Clan has weakened greatly; any further action against them will be even more troublesome!"

Qin Yuan wore a gloomy expression. "That waste can't even beat a junior! Does Ye Liuyun really have that much potential? Is it worth the Clan Chief's willingness to attack the Grand Elder?"

"Indeed! The Ye Clan's juniors—originally Ye Tianci, now with Ye Liuyun—might cause us to fall behind in the martial contest a month from now," the white‑haired elder said regretfully.

The power struggle among the three Great Clans mainly hinges on the younger generation, as they represent the future.

City Lord's daughter Qin Ziyan used to secure third place. If she can't even keep that this time, they will be seen as declining, and their status and power will naturally suffer.

Qin Yuan certainly knew this, yet he was powerless.

"These juniors stay within the clan, constantly watched by the elders, so they never get a chance to act..."

"Lord, there's a great opportunity now! That Ye Liuyun took the Wanbaoge Young Master Liang Xue to Henglin Shanmai! If both die out there, the Ye Clan will lose a genius junior and also incur Wanbaoge's wrath, leaving no chance of recovery. Then only the Mo Clan remains, a lone hand unable to clap..."

Upon hearing this, Qin Yuan's eyes grew brighter.

"Do as you suggested—find some elite guards! We must leave no trace for Wanbaoge to discover."

"Understood!" the white‑haired elder bowed and withdrew.

Ye Liuyun never imagined he'd be drawn into his family's power struggle, and Liang Xue never expected anyone in a small place like Fengyang City to make a move on her.

However, because they took the wrong road, they inadvertently evaded the pursuing guards and ended up behind them.