Chapter 16: I Really Have Nothing Left
Ye Changsheng returned to his ordinary, uneventful undercover life.
Ordinary and uneventful…
What a load of crap!
“It feels like… no, my body has been completely hollowed out.”
Ye Changsheng opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling, finding himself lying in a girl’s boudoir.
Last night, Luo Yingying had cultivated the Flower Transferring Art with him.
To describe his condition, Ye Changsheng was like an orange thrown into a juicer; he was utterly exhausted.
“Hehehe~”
Luo Yingying’s peerless beauty was reflected in the mirror as she hummed a cheerful tune while tidying her silky long hair.
Such a sight was delightful to the male gaze.
However, upon recalling Luo Yingying from last night, Ye Changsheng dismissed the thought. This must be what they meant by disillusionment.
“Brother Chang, you’re awake?”
Luo Yingying noticed Ye Changsheng from the mirror.
“You look so dazed. Need me to help you wake up?”
“Wake up?”
“Yes,” Luo Yingying flashed a mischievous smile. “Like, a morning bite?”
“???”
“Just kidding, Brother Chang. Don’t look at me like that, or I’ll feel like a man-eating demoness.”
“Aren’t the women of Wuhua Palace exactly that, man-eating demonesses?” Ye Changsheng rolled his eyes at Luo Yingying.
All things possess spirit, it’s just a matter of more or less Spiritual Power.
Humans, too, can naturally generate Spiritual Energy, and this portion of Spiritual Power is also known as Origin Spiritual Power.
The more Origin Spiritual Power one possesses, the faster their Spiritual Power recovers, which is beneficial for both combat and cultivation.
However, it is difficult to increase Origin Spiritual Power through conventional means after birth.
This is where the Wuhua Palace’s cultivation techniques shine. The Flower Transferring Art can absorb the Origin Spiritual Power of a Cultivation Cauldron, increasing the user’s upper limit before the Golden Core is formed, laying the foundation for future cultivation.
It’s a pity for those Cultivation Cauldrons who are drained dry. Once they lose their utility, they end up floating at the bottom of the Peach Blossom River by the village entrance, keeping the fish company.
“I won’t be irresponsible like the others!”
Luo Yingying’s delicate fingers produced a small white jade bottle. She walked to the bedside and placed it by Ye Changsheng’s pillow.
“Young Palace Mistress, what is this?”
Ye Changsheng sat up and uncorked the bottle. He inhaled a rich, earthy scent that invigorated him.
“This is a Refined Blood Ginseng Pill. It greatly replenishes essence. Brother Chang can have one pill, but no more, or you might explode.”
Among ginseng varieties, there exists an extremely rare type called Blood Ginseng.
In areas rich with Spiritual Energy, when wild ginseng absorbs Spiritual Energy over time and mutates, its skin begins to exude blood-red threads.
A Blood Ginseng is a thousand times more potent than regular ginseng and is highly sought after by cultivators, but using it merely as a health supplement is a waste.
A single Refined Blood Ginseng Pill is likely more expensive than a year’s worth of Spiritual Stones for Ye Changsheng.
“If the Elders find out, I’ll be in trouble again.”
“Don’t talk about Elders. I bought the materials with my own Spiritual Stones and refined this pill myself,” Luo Yingying said firmly. “How I use it is my own business, who can control that?”
Ye Changsheng was touched. This little girl did show him some kindness occasionally.
“Why are you still just sitting there, Brother Chang? Do you need me to feed it to you mouth-to-mouth?”
No thanks!
Ye Changsheng quickly took the pill before Luo Yingying could. As the pill entered his stomach, a warm sensation spread through his body, dispelling the gloom.
At this moment, Ye Changsheng was filled with vitality, even brimming with energy.
Luo Yingying gazed at Ye Changsheng’s ruddy complexion, smiling without uttering a word.
“Young Palace Mistress, why are you looking at me with such a grin?” Ye Changsheng found the rich girl’s smile particularly suspicious.
“Mmmph~ It’s nothing, but if Brother Chang wishes…”
“I don’t.”
“Tch~”
Ye Changsheng got out of bed and began tidying himself up.
Luo Yingying rested her chin on her hand and suddenly said, “Brother Chang’s clothes carry the scent of another girl.”
“That’s right.” Ye Changsheng didn’t try to hide it.
“You admit to cheating so quickly!?”
“What are you talking about, cheating? I’m not married to the Young Palace Mistress,” Ye Changsheng replied. “Senior Sister Ling Xiaoxing was injured in a fight with Chen Ye, and I carried her back.”
“Oh~ That’s nice. I’m so envious of Junior Sister Xiaoxing.”
Ye Changsheng sensed a hint of jealousy in her voice.
“Stop sniffing my clothes from now on, like a little pervert.”
*Snap*. Ye Changsheng flicked his finger at Luo Yingying’s forehead.
“Ouch!”
Luo Yingying pouted, looking like a wronged kitten.
“It’s getting late, Young Palace Mistress. You need to attend to matters at Wuhua Palace. Everyone is waiting for you.”
“But my hair isn’t done yet~”
“Then hurry up and comb it.”
“It’s slow when I do it alone.”
Luo Yingying’s implication was that she wanted Ye Changsheng to help her.
At her age, she was still acting like a child. Ye Changsheng couldn’t help but pick up the comb and gently smooth Luo Yingying’s silky long hair.
Luo Yingying was delighted, silently enjoying the moment.
Finally, as if fully recharged, she got dressed with renewed vigor and bid farewell to Ye Changsheng.
…
Ye Changsheng was sweeping fallen leaves in the courtyard with a broom.
The duties of a Cultivation Cauldron were not much different from those of an Outer Disciple; they often had to do chores.
Several Outer Disciples were slacking off together, chatting idly.
Suddenly, a crimson light shot up into the sky, followed by an imposing aura, like a dragon emerging from the sea, engulfing the entire Wuhua Palace and changing the very color of the sky.
The oppressive force spread outwards like a tsunami, descending upon everyone in Wuhua Palace, nearly shattering their courage and spirits.
“She’s out of seclusion! It’s the Palace Mistress emerging from seclusion!”
The Outer Disciples exclaimed, quickly falling to their knees and bowing their heads to the source of the light, displaying their utmost reverence.
Ye Changsheng, unlike the other disciples who were suppressed by the aura, retreated to a secluded spot unnoticed and looked towards the direction of the Springing Spring Forest.
“Luo Lihong has broken through from the Nascent Soul Stage to the Integration Stage.”
The intel on the Heartbreak Flower was closely related to Luo Lihong.
For years, she had been in seclusion, making it impossible to gather information.
Now that she had emerged, he needed to find a way to approach her.
“It seems a new operation is about to begin,” Ye Changsheng mused.
…
“Congratulations, Palace Mistress, on successfully breaking through the bottleneck! Congratulations, Palace Mistress, on entering the Integration Stage!”
The Elders guarding the Springing Spring Forest’s protective array rose and bowed respectfully to the maiden walking out of the misty clouds, showering her with praise.
The Elders’ faces were alight with undisguised joy; with a powerful cultivator in the Integration Stage, Wuhua Palace could now firmly establish its footing on Qixia Isle!
“Elders, you may dispense with the pleasantries.” The Elders heard a voice like a nightingale’s song emerging from a valley—calm and composed.
The maiden, stunningly beautiful, appeared before them. Dressed in black, her skin seemed like freshly fallen snow. Her icy eyes exuded an enchanting allure.
She was like a masterpiece sculpted by the heavens, descending upon the mortal realm, her beauty so profound that it made even the female Elders feel ashamed.
Despite her appearance and voice resembling the Young Palace Mistress, Luo Lihong’s aura was vastly different from Luo Yingying’s. As the elder sister, she was like an unmelting glacier, forbidding anyone to approach.
“Where is the Young Palace Mistress?” Luo Lihong inquired.
“Reporting to the Palace Mistress, the Young Palace Mistress is waiting for you outside.”
“Oh,” Luo Lihong’s voice was cold. “Has that man died yet?”
