Chapter 113: His cultivation ruined, Ji Bai's defenses broke

Jiang Yuan in the prison cage was not merely locked up; those magma chains had been threaded through his body.

Even one of those chains pierced his abdomen! That is the location of his dantian.

He had been crippled.

As it turned out, Ji Bai that day wasn't just looking for him to chat.

On those chains threaded through him, there were even rule restrictions set by Ji Bai.

It can be said that anyone who dares approach Jiang Yuan will be known to Ji Bai.

Now——

Feeling the disturbance of the earth-core fire, Jiang Yuan slowly lifted his gaze; those eyes were no longer bright, even desperate.

"A Li,"

He knew that Shen Qingli was already acting.

But he could no longer help; he was completely immobilized in this prison cage.

The venerable Heavenly Star Old Ancestor, a prominent figure of Sheng Long Tian, was crippled in this sunless underground.

Even Yuan Changzai couldn't do such a ruthless thing! But Ji Bai did.

"What a pity."

Sensing the Heavenly Star Old Ancestor's pain, Yuan Changzai slowly shook his head.

But what Ji Bai said was also right; Jiang Yuan had already grown rebellious bones, so he naturally had to be crippled! Womanly benevolence would only bring harm upon oneself.

However, Yuan Changzai's divine sense turned back to the alchemy platform, also watching Shen Qingli.

Just now, he could also sense that the disturbance of the earth-core fire arose because of Shen Qingli.

"Sorry, I've never used earth-core fire before; I handled it improperly." Shen Qingli admitted.

Ji Bai, however, was unsure, saying, "It's fine as long as Young Master Shen isn't hurt."

"Thank you, Sect Master Ji." Shen Qingli expressed gratitude, but a shadow fell over her heart.

This mishap also let her discover that the earth-core fire had been tampered with, at least differing from before.

This sect master called Ji Bai possesses a subtle power that feels extremely strong to her.

As of now, it actually feels like the most threatening aura to her.

"Sect Master Ji."

This is Di Jin's voice.

Unhurried yet carrying an irresistible dominance!

Hearing it, all the female cultivators were startled, then became even more excited.

Because they saw Di Jin, the one who made that sound, lazily leaning back in his own seat.

By rights, the host platform should be higher than the guest platform; Di Jin, being a junior, moreover a live-in son-in-law and childhood groom, should certainly have a weaker aura than Ji Bai, this two-generation sect master.

Yet he did not; instead he gave off an overbearing, indulgent vibe as if he were seeking vindication for his wife's elder sister.

In fact, Di Jin was indeed seeking vindication for Shen Qingli, and with a single sentence he shocked the heavens!

"Using the power of rules to suppress my elder sister's aura—do you have any shame?"

"……"

The whole venue fell silent!

Those who didn't understand were silenced by Di Jin's "treasonous" words.

Those who understood what rule power was all stared fixedly at Ji Bai, including Yuan Changzai and the other old fogeys of the Hunyuan Sect lurking in the dark.

Even Ji Bai himself was startled, yet he calmly regarded Di Jin, saying, "I don't know how to address you, sir."

"Sir?"

"Honorific?"

Everyone was shocked!

What kind of person is Ji Bai?

Even when facing Shen Qingli, who had exterminated the existence of the Su Nv Sect, he still regarded himself as an elder, never having the slightest sense of inferiority.

Di Jin merely said a word, yet he directly used an honorific.

For he clearly knew that anyone who could at a glance see his use of rule power would not be a nobody.

"Originally I, Ji Bai, was confident that only I could use rule power within Sheng Long Tian. Now it seems perhaps not?" Ji Bai was probing Di Jin.

Since it had been exposed, he no longer hid it.

"Only you?"

Di Jin smiled faintly, and once again broke Ji Bai's defenses.

"What about Jiang Yuan—what did you do to him?"

Just like that, he bluntly asked the question Shen Qingli most wanted to know.

Ji Bai's complexion underwent a subtle change, "How can you say that, sir?"

"Feigning ignorance? He is the first person in Sheng Long Tian to have touched rule power."

Di Jin made it clear, his pair of ink-black eyes even carrying a smile; his lazy posture unchanged, yet it made Ji Bai feel pressure!

He was, completely unlike his former self from yesterday!

Even Old Dog Huang gazed at Shen Kuo with an admiring, reverent look.

"I don't care about your sect's internal affairs, but don't think you can harm my sister; what just happened isn't over."

After speaking, Di Jin didn't look at Ji Bai anymore, but turned his gaze to Shen Qingli by the alchemy platform, his eyes clear, as if saying, "Sister, just relax and refine your pills; you needn't worry about anything else."

Shen Qingli nodded lightly, indicating she understood.

Di Jin then glanced at the Nine Li beside her; its furry body shuddered, giving a sensation as if all its hair had been plucked, a feeling of terror.

Instantly energized, the Nine Black realized—this is displaced anger! It never imagined such a thing would happen just now~

Alright, just keep an eye on it.

The Nine Black, whose ear was being held, didn't dare to nap.

Meanwhile, the seniors of various factions who knew Jiang Yuan were all asking Ji Bai to pass on their greetings to Jiang Yuan.

Even though Ji Bai was resourceful, he was visibly overwhelmed, quite harried.

On the Chang Shui Shen clan side, Shen Kuo quietly asked, "A Jin, have you discovered anything else?"

"Dad, don't ask, I've got something on my mind—I need to lean on you for a bit." After saying that, Di Jin tilted their head and rested on Shen Kuo's shoulder.

Shen Kuo: ……

What's going on?

Shen Qinghuang also asked, "Uncle, what's wrong with the little guy?"

"Cough." Shen Kuo could only say, "I'm weak, tired."

"Weak?" Huang Laohu chuckled, "You call your family's child bridegroom weak? Speak clearly—where exactly did you pick him up? Tell me too, I'd like to find one as well."

"Senior Huang, you know it's rare to come by, right?" Shen Qinghuang joked, "It all depends on fate."

Huang Laogou looked regretful, and Shen Qinghuang added, "Besides, if you really wanted one, you'd need your little duck to go through what my little sister has—would you be willing?"

"Then forget it." Huang Laogou immediately refused.

Nowadays, in Sheng Long Tian, who doesn't know Shen Qingli's experiences?

The more successful she became, the more her past was exposed.

The Shen clan made no effort to hide it, so naturally everyone in Sheng Long Tian basically knew.

"This is it." Shen Qinghuang wanted to tell everyone that everything his little sister now possesses is what she deserves and is entitled to. No one has the right to be jealous of her.

Even the petty small-minded people had to suppress their sourness and admit that Shen Qingli truly deserved it.

This is what Shen Qinghuang hoped to see: their little sister has already endured enough hardship; he hopes her future will be smooth sailing, with no more petty people crossing her path.

He himself fears neither grudges, rumors, nor petty people, and he understands that people aren't resources—it's impossible for everyone to like them—but he still hopes that such a fine little sister will receive endless love and blessings.

Thus, Shen Qingli displayed her solid alchemy fundamentals under the earnest gazes of many, with goodwill.

"Huh, a different method from yesterday?"

"Nothing flashy, but very skilled."

Though Shen Qingli modestly claimed she hardly practiced alchemy, she had actually trained diligently in that space for countless days and nights.

However, compared to her cultivation time, the time she spent on alchemy was indeed relatively less.

Now she has discarded all flashy techniques, starting from the basics, using mental power to control earth-core fire and refine the essence of medicinal ingredients, thereby becoming ever more integrated with this fire, this medicine, and this cauldron.

Thus, the Nine Black was startled!