Chapter 120: Who Protects Whom?

Yuanyang Pills are extremely difficult to refine; even Ye Hang would certainly be unable to refine them.

So without breaking through to the Liquid Realm, even if Ye Yuan found all these herbs, they would be utterly useless to Lü'er.

However, breaking through to the Liquid Realm might be very difficult for others, but for Ye Yuan, a Pill Emperor, it was a matter of minutes.

After two days in seclusion, Ye Yuan's realm had not yet been fully consolidated; otherwise, he could break through to the Liquid Realm right now.

His progress from the fourth level of Yuan Qi to the peak of the ninth level was too fast!

Although comprehending the state of心如止水 had minimized the hidden dangers of rapid realm advancement, if he did not consolidate properly, it would affect his future cultivation.

Ye Yuan naturally dared not take this lightly.

The best way to consolidate one's realm was undoubtedly through battle.

And the Boundless Forest was never short of demonic beasts; Ye Yuan could fight while consolidating his realm.

One of the preparations Ye Yuan needed to make was to refine a first-grade pill called Chongling Pill.

This pill could increase the chance of breaking through to the Liquid Realm; if it was of supreme quality, it could guarantee a one hundred percent success rate!

With Ye Yuan's current strength, refining a supreme-quality Chongling Pill was no problem!

Moreover, others needed a half-step Liquid Realm as a buffer when冲击 the Liquid Realm, but Ye Yuan had no such need.

Ye Yuan had experience冲击 the Liquid Realm; compressing Yuan Power was very simple for him, so there was no need to tread as carefully as others.

…

After tinkering in Feng Ruoqing's alchemy room for an entire night, Ye Yuan finally finished everything.

Leaving the alchemy room, Ye Yuan saw Feng Ruoqing and Feng Zhirou, but Hu Yanyong was nowhere to be seen.

Feng Ruoqing's face was filled with deep worry, which made Ye Yuan very curious.

"Teacher Feng, what happened?"

"Teacher Hu has been temporarily assigned by the academy to go to a small town on the border of the Qin Kingdom on business," Feng Ruoqing said.

Ye Yuan immediately understood and smiled, "Has Teacher Feng also been transferred?"

Feng Ruoqing admired Ye Yuan's quick thinking and nodded, "Tomorrow, another group of students will go for the alchemist assessment, and I'm leading them this time. Actually, Teacher Hu was originally planning to enter the Boundless Forest to protect you."

"Heh, a clever diversionary tactic. But if they want my life, they'd better have the skills!" Ye Yuan was not afraid but rather eager to try.

Seeing this, Feng Ruoqing said worriedly, "Ye Yuan, I know you're very capable, but your realm is too low now. Maybe you should give up on this trip to the Boundless Forest. You've passed the Nine Heavens Path; even if you don't undergo the Boundless Trial, they wouldn't dare do anything to you."

Ye Yuan shook his head, "No. I can afford to delay, but Lü'er's illness cannot. Suppressing her cold poison can only last another month at most; by then, even if my master comes personally, he won't be able to save her. Don't worry, it's just a Su Yishan; I don't take him seriously."

At this, Feng Zhirou said contemptuously, "With your arrogant attitude, you'll suffer a big loss sooner or later! You probably don't know yet? Just yesterday, Su Yishan successfully broke through to the fourth level of Liquid Realm! Now, even I might not get the better of him."

Ye Yuan was already used to Feng Zhirou's way of speaking and didn't mind her sarcasm.

"Fourth level of Liquid Realm? Hmm... indeed a bit troublesome." Ye Yuan frowned, stroking his chin.

"Hmph, scared now? I advise you to stay put in the academy; otherwise, you won't even know how you died!" Feng Zhirou continued to taunt.

Ye Yuan looked at Feng Zhirou and suddenly smiled, "You've already started cultivating the 'Reverse Water Art,' and your progress is quite good. Senior Sister Feng is indeed a genius! I think with Senior Sister Feng protecting me, this trip should be fine, right?"

Hearing this, Feng Zhirou's pretty face flushed, and she said coquettishly, "Who wants to protect you? A grown man needing a woman's protection, aren't you ashamed?"

"Come on, I may be a grown man, but I'm also your junior! Isn't it natural for a senior sister to protect her junior? Besides, you're third on the Martial List; if you don't protect me, do you expect me to protect you?"

Feng Zhirou was about to argue, but Feng Ruoqing interrupted, "Zhirou, both Teacher Hu and I have been transferred away for this Boundless Trial. Now, only you can protect Ye Yuan. Even if Su Yishan has broken through to the fourth level of Liquid Realm, he's probably no match for you. Besides, you owe Ye Yuan a great debt; a little repayment is only right, isn't it?"

Then, Feng Ruoqing turned to Ye Yuan and said, "Zhirou is shy and too embarrassed to thank you, so I'll do it on her behalf. The 'Reverse Water Art' seems tailor-made for Zhirou. She's been cultivating day and night these past two days, and she says her symptoms have eased quite a bit!"

At Feng Ruoqing's words, Feng Zhirou's pretty face turned into a lovely red apple, stunningly beautiful.

"Who wants to thank him? Hmph!" With that, Feng Zhirou fled away.

"This girl, I don't know what to say about her!" Feng Ruoqing sighed.

"Haha, Senior Sister Feng is genuine, just a bit mischievous. Let her be," Ye Yuan laughed.

Feng Ruoqing, for some reason, suddenly asked, "Ye Yuan, what do you think of Zhirou?"

"Ah? She's fine! Hmm? Teacher Feng, you're not playing matchmaker, are you?" Ye Yuan suddenly realized and asked back.

Feng Ruoqing's face also reddened, "I think you and Zhirou are quite suited."

For some reason, when she said this, Feng Ruoqing felt an inexplicable loss, as if something was missing.

Ye Yuan laughed it off, "Teacher Feng hasn't sorted out her own affairs yet, and she's already thinking of finding a husband for her niece?"

"I... I..." Feng Ruoqing panicked and blurted out, "I've devoted my life to alchemy and don't want to waste time on that."

As soon as she said it, Feng Ruoqing regretted it; she had cut off her own retreat!

Ye Yuan smiled, "Teacher Feng, don't play matchmaker; it's not your forte, haha."

Feng Ruoqing blushed again and fell silent.

Ye Yuan had politely declined Feng Ruoqing's goodwill.

As for finding a Dao partner, Ye Yuan had never considered it.

He bore a deep blood feud, and his future path would be extremely arduous. Being his Dao partner would not be easy; one misstep could lead to death and the end of the Dao.

Wouldn't that cause Ye Yuan even more pain?

Just as the two fell silent, the entire academy seemed to stir.

Ye Yuan looked up and saw a colorful path cascading down from the Nine Heavens Peak.

After several days, the Qinghong Path appeared once more!