(Time: One Day Earlier)
Cang Xuan Sect, side hall of the Mission Hall.
Yao Yao stood in the center of the great hall, her exquisite face utterly calm. She held the languid Tun Tun in her arms and paid no heed to the many astonished and reverent gazes constantly cast her way. Even the tedious procedures of handing in the mission failed to stir her in the slightest. Her slender fingers gently combed through Tun Tun's soft fur, while her cool eyes drifted slightly out of focus.
"Barren State in the Western Region... I finally obtained the Dragon Suppressing Wood." She murmured inwardly, her fingertips unconsciously brushing across her storage ring, where that ancient piece of wood, dark as black jade, lay safely within.
This Dragon Suppressing Wood was recorded in ancient texts as the core main material for an ancient Spirit Rune—the Source Stabilizing Spirit Soothing Pattern. This pattern had remarkable effects in stabilizing a cultivator's turbulent blood and qi and calming fluctuations in one's source. It was especially suitable for those with depleted Genesis Qi and unstable foundations.
At the thought of depleted Genesis Qi and an unstable foundation, Yao Yao's brows faintly knitted together, almost imperceptibly. That fellow... he had been gone to Black Flame State for quite some time now. With how little restraint he had, spending "song-filled nights" with that girl Zuoqiu Qingyu, on top of all his running around outside, he was probably even more drained now, wasn't he?
When he returned this time, she would definitely use this Dragon Suppressing Wood to properly tend to him and strengthen his foundation while replenishing his origin. At this thought, an exceedingly faint trace of concern, along with a barely discernible hint of annoyance that even she herself had not noticed, flashed through her cool eyes.