Chapter 117: The Mysterious Mask

"What a streak of good fortune—I'm about to break through to the Divine Travel realm." Sensing this fluctuation, Yang Tian grinned, his face full of excitement, and his mind directly sank into his sea of consciousness.

On his entire soul body, dense soul energy surged; only a small portion of the residual soul energy from the soul crystal had been absorbed. The full soul body trembled violently.

The medicinal power of the Soul-Nourishing Lotus Seed was decreasing, continuously pouring into the soul body. With this nourishment, the trembling of the entire soul body grew more intense, and a thick black mist appeared above its head.

This state lasted for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. The medicinal power of the Soul-Nourishing Lotus Seed had been reduced by half. The entire soul body suddenly grew taller, and the surrounding medicinal power drained away frantically until it reached the size of half a palm, then slowly stopped.

"So this is the Divine Travel realm?" Sensing the disappearance of that tremor, Yang Tian murmured, then he patted his forehead with his palm, and instantly, Yang Tian's soul body floated out from above.

A ten-inch-tall soul body stood on top of Yang Tian's head, like a miniature version of Yang Tian, its pitch-black eyes looking around.

Yang Tian slowly directed the little soul figure to walk forward. The consumption was extremely high, but its speed was very fast, making a "whoosh whoosh" sound in the air, and it could fly in the void. Generally, breaking through to the Divine Travel realm corresponds to the Tongxuan realm.

Yang Tian possessed the soul crystal and the Soul-Nourishing Lotus Seed. His soul origin far exceeded others' by several times, and his entire soul body was exceptionally full. After directing the soul body to play for a while, Yang Tian sensed a trace of fatigue and quickly withdrew it.

"If only I could get a cultivation method for the soul." Yang Tian sat cross-legged on the ground, shaking his head and sighing. Such methods were too rare. Even after plundering so many holy sons, Yang Tian hadn't obtained even a fragment.

Over the next few days, Yang Tian practiced alchemy, ultimately ruining thirteen batches of medicinal herbs. Driven by an unyielding determination, he barely managed to refine a first-grade high-level pill before stopping.

Having stayed in the Ancestral Dragon Ring for nearly three months, he felt restless all over.

Outside Yang Tian's room, a lazy, graceful figure leaned against the door. Sensing that he was still cultivating inside, she pouted. If she remembered correctly, today was the last day of the bet.

"This little guy isn't thinking of backing out, is he?" After waiting another half hour, Meng Yunxi completely lost patience. Just as her jade-like hand was about to knock on the door, she stopped.

"What if I interrupt his cultivation and he goes into qi deviation?" Her long, narrow eyes flickered for a moment. Meng Yunxi forced herself to be a bit more patient and waited a while longer.

Half an hour later...

"Fine, you're lucky today. I'll give you an extra day." Stomping her little foot, Meng Yunxi frowned and said huffily. Just as she turned to leave, a faint, teasing voice came through.

"If you're in a hurry to admit defeat, I won't stop you."

With a hint of mockery, a bad premonition suddenly rose in Meng Yunxi's heart, but she quickly crushed it and said huffily, "You little slick, don't try to cover up with anything. I'm about to break through to a fifth-rank alchemist."

Meng Yunxi was certain Yang Tian would lose. Normally, extracting medicinal liquid alone took considerable effort, let alone the need to familiarize himself with soul power.

"Creak..." The door was pushed open, and a seductive figure swayed her willowy waist as she walked in gracefully. Her captivating eyes held a hint of cunning as she smiled at Yang Tian.

"So, little guy, have you come to admit defeat? Don't think you can pull any tricks in front of big sister." She sat directly on the bed and laughed.

"If I succeed in refining it, you'll promise me one thing—that's what you said, right? No backing out." Scratching his head, Yang Tian chuckled.

Hearing this, the bad premonition in Meng Yunxi's heart rose again. She glanced at Yang Tian with suspicion and said, "How could I lie? As long as big sister can do it, I'll satisfy you."

"You said it, no backing out." Yang Tian smiled. A pill suddenly appeared in his palm. "Here, fresh out of the furnace. Take a look yourself."

Looking at the pill in Yang Tian's hand, Meng Yunxi was momentarily stunned. Then she picked up the pill from his palm. When she sensed its warmth, her heart sank. When she detected its grade, her face turned bitter, and a pleading expression appeared on her face.

Seeing the plea on Meng Yunxi's face, Yang Tian's heart softened, but he quickly pulled himself together. "You're not thinking of backing out, are you? Are you going to break your word?"

"A first-grade mid-level Bone-Forging Pill. This must be fake. Don't try to fool big sister. One month is absolutely impossible." Meng Yunxi shook her head slightly, a look of resentment in her eyes.

"Just because others can't doesn't mean I can't." Pouting, Yang Tian's face was full of pride. If he took out that first-grade high-level pill, wouldn't it scare her to death?

Meng Yunxi gave Yang Tian a suspicious look, rolled her eyes, and said huffily, "Fine, fine. Whatever condition you want, just say it."

"You said it, no backing out. This is something you can definitely do." Hearing this, a sly grin spread across Yang Tian's face.

"What are you going to do? I advise you not to have any crooked ideas." Sensing Yang Tian's sly expression, Meng Yunxi instinctively leaned back and warned.

"Uh..." Seeing Meng Yunxi's wary look, Yang Tian was taken aback, then his face darkened. He pouted and muttered, "Who wants you anyway..."

"What did you say?" Meng Yunxi's eyes widened. She was furious. Her brows shot up, and her cheeks tightened.

"N-nothing." Waving his hands hurriedly, Yang Tian quickly took out a piece of lingerie. A faint fragrance rose, and he handed it to Meng Yunxi.

"You... you... how could you not learn anything good? Where did you get this?" Looking at the sheer lingerie in Yang Tian's hand, Meng Yunxi's seductive face flushed red, a rare sight, and she spat.

"Oh... I didn't ask you to wear it. Why are you so nervous?" Lifting his head, Yang Tian patted his forehead and said helplessly, "Look at who's embroidered on it."

"Who's embroidered?" Meng Yunxi glanced at Yang Tian suspiciously, then picked up the sheer lingerie. When she noticed a coquettish figure on it, the blush on her cheeks deepened.

The nearly naked figure was extremely voluptuous, with fair, rosy skin as if she had just bathed. Meng Yunxi looked at the portrait with a flushed face and was about to scold when her expression suddenly froze.

"This... this is Gu Lingyun... You don't have a crush on her, do you? She almost killed you that day. That old woman is very annoying." Meng Yunxi's mind began to wander.

"Pfft..." Hearing this, the corners of Yang Tian's mouth twitched involuntarily. He looked at Meng Yunxi as if she were an idiot, then told her about Gu Lingyun and Gu Mo.

"Giggle..." After hearing Yang Tian's account, Meng Yunxi burst into laughter, her chest heaving. The allure made even Yang Tian freeze for a moment.

"Oh my god, she and her nephew..."

"You want me to spread this news?" After a while, the blush on Meng Yunxi's face faded. She looked over the item and immediately understood Yang Tian's intention.

"Exactly. Your auction house spans the entire Eastern Continent. I don't think this should be too difficult, right?" Scratching his head, Yang Tian smiled slightly.

"I can agree, but big sister will have to take quite a risk. If I'm found out, I'll be in big trouble." Shaking the lingerie in her hand, Meng Yunxi gave a playful smile. "Give me another bottle of the companion substance of the Life Spring Water, and I'll help you. How about it?"

"Do you think the companion substance is a head of cabbage? No way, no way. Change the condition." Shaking his head like a rattle-drum, Yang Tian flatly refused.

"If you don't agree, don't expect to get this lingerie back. I'm canceling my promise just now." Glancing at Yang Tian, Meng Yunxi shook the lingerie in her hand, a hint of roguishness in her tone.

"You..." Yang Tian was speechless, but he didn't dare to make a move. This woman was a genuine War King expert, and Yang Tian was no match for her.

"I can give you the companion substance, but I want a cultivation method for the soul." Squinting his eyes, Yang Tian said with some anticipation.

"You wish. This thing is a core secret in the clan. I can't give it to you. You don't want to be hunted by the Meng family, do you?" Rolling her eyes, Meng Yunxi pouted.

"If you want it, I do have a way, but I don't know if you dare to go." Seeing Yang Tian's disappointed look, Meng Yunxi suddenly spoke.

"What way?" Yang Tian answered without thinking.

"A few days ago, many strong experts came to the Ten Thousand Great Mountains. Someone accidentally entered a cave dwelling but died inside. It's said to be the cave of a War King. It hasn't fully opened yet. A strong expert like that would surely have soul cultivation secrets. I wonder if you dare to go?"

"Also, the cave dwellings outside are nothing like those in the Martial Dao Mountain. They hide killing formations inside, and you might lose your life."

Hearing this, Yang Tian frowned. He wasn't afraid of killing formations, but now there were countless people after his techniques. Going there would be like a lamb walking into the tiger's den.

"Here, this is a treasure. Those below the War Emperor realm can't see your true face." Seeing through Yang Tian's thoughts, Meng Yunxi took out a mask-like object and smiled sweetly.

"Eh?" Taking the mask from her hand, Yang Tian examined it for a moment, then a look of joy spread across his face. He rubbed his hands together gleefully, but when he saw Meng Yunxi's knowing smile, his face instantly fell.