For the next three days, Lin Yue devoted himself to cultivation in the cave, refining the remnant of the Three-Leaf Golden Ganoderma.
Following the method he had thought of earlier, he didn't rush to absorb it. Instead, he placed the remnant in his palm and circulated the Chaos Cultivation Technique, guiding the life force within it to seep slowly into his body. The golden remnant gradually grew dim in his palm. Threads of pale golden energy flowed along his meridians before finally gathering in his dantian and merging with the pale golden vortex there.
At first, the energy didn't integrate smoothly. The spirit herb's life force carried a gentle yet tenacious power that clashed with the violent Chaos Energy in his body. Their collisions nearly disrupted his meridians several times. But he didn't give up. He patiently guided the energy, just as Pangu had taught him, overcoming hardness with softness and allowing the two energies to gradually harmonize.
Three days later, when the last trace of life force had entered his dantian, Lin Yue slowly opened his eyes, a glint flashing in them. He could clearly feel that the pale golden vortex in his dantian had grown much denser and now circulated more smoothly. The Chaos Energy around him had also become purer. Although his cultivation hadn't broken through, his foundation had become much more stable, bringing him one step closer to Mid-stage High-level Chaos.
It really worked... Lin Yue was delighted. He stretched his limbs, feeling strength fill his entire body. He clenched his fist, and Chaos Energy gathered at his fingertips, more condensed than before and seemingly more powerful.
Just then, a faint fluctuation of energy came from outside the cave. Lin Yue stirred, rose, and went to the entrance to look. A red figure stood gracefully outside: Su Qingyan.
She seemed to have finished refining the spirit herb remnant as well, and her aura was steadier than it had been three days ago. Her red robes fluttered lightly in the Chaos Airflow, and a hint of pride played about her face.
"You're pretty good at hiding." When Su Qingyan saw Lin Yue emerge, she raised an eyebrow. "I had to circle the area twice before I found this place."
Lin Yue was a little surprised that she had come looking for him. He stepped aside to let her in. "What is it?"
"Can't I come by for a look if there's nothing going on?" Su Qingyan entered the cave and glanced around. When she saw Pangu sitting cross-legged on a rock, her pupils contracted slightly. She could sense an unfathomable aura within him, as if he were one with all of Chaos. A hint of awe rose in her from the depths of her heart.
"Who is he...?" she asked in a lowered voice.
"He's my senior." Lin Yue gave a brief reply and didn't elaborate.
Pangu continued resting with his eyes closed, seemingly unaware that anyone had entered. His aura remained calm and undisturbed.
Seeing this, Su Qingyan didn't dare ask more. She turned her gaze back to Lin Yue. "I came to tell you that the spirit herb remnant worked well. My cultivation has stabilized at its current level." She paused, her tone carrying a hint of provocation. "It seems your refining method is somewhat useful, but... that doesn't mean you can beat me."
Lin Yue chuckled. "I never said I could beat you."
"But you definitely thought so." Su Qingyan lifted her chin. "How about this? Let's set a time for another match. Three months from now, at the rocky valley where we fought over the spirit herb. Whoever wins gets first pick the next time we find a treasure."
Looking at the competitive fire in her eyes, Lin Yue felt a hint of battle spirit rise within him too. After refining the spirit herb for the past few days, he had gained a new understanding of his own strength and wanted to test himself. Besides, he knew that strength was everything in Chaos. Rather than avoid conflict, he might as well face it openly.
"Agreed." Lin Yue nodded. "See you at the rocky valley in three months."
"Sounds good." Su Qingyan smiled. It was the first time Lin Yue had seen her smile so brightly. Even the Chaos Airflow around them seemed to soften a little. "But just making a date is no fun. How about we exchange a few moves right now? We'll stop before anyone gets hurt and use it as a warm-up."
Lin Yue had the same idea. He nodded. "Sure."
The two left the cave and went to a relatively open space. Chaos Airflow moved between them, carrying a trace of tension.
"I'll make the first move." As Su Qingyan spoke, a small flame gathered at her fingertip. It looked weak, but contained pure Flame Law. She didn't use her full strength, merely pushing the flame gently forward.
The flame turned into a streak of fire and drifted toward Lin Yue on a gentle wave of heat.
Lin Yue didn't dare let his guard down. He circulated the Chaos Airflow in his dantian and condensed it into a ball of light, sending it toward the streak of fire.
Pfft. The two collided. The streak of fire went out, and the ball of light scattered into specks of starlight, raising not the slightest disturbance.
"Not bad." A hint of surprise flashed through Su Qingyan's eyes. She hadn't expected Lin Yue to control his energy so precisely, countering her flame just right. She raised her hand again. This time, three sparks appeared at her fingertips and shot toward Lin Yue in a triangular formation.
Lin Yue shifted slightly, moving half a step to the left. At the same time, he condensed three balls of light, each meeting one of the sparks. There were three more soft pops, and the energy dispersed into the air after colliding.
"You're pretty agile." As Su Qingyan spoke, her figure blurred, splitting into two afterimages that attacked Lin Yue from either side. The flames at her fingertips grew more intense as well.
Lin Yue's pupils contracted slightly. This was the first time he had seen Su Qingyan use a movement technique, and he hadn't expected it to be so exquisite. He didn't panic. The Dao Rhyme Fragment in his dantian trembled faintly, letting him instantly sense which one was her true body. The energy fluctuations of the left-hand afterimage were slightly weaker, clearly a feint.
He decisively lunged to the right, dodging the true body's attack. At the same time, he condensed a ball of light and slapped it toward Su Qingyan's side. The strike came from a tricky angle, right when her previous force had been exhausted and her next had yet to gather.
Su Qingyan hadn't expected Lin Yue to see through her afterimages. Startled, she quickly pulled back and retreated, barely dodging the ball of light. She wasn't hit, but she was left looking a little disheveled.
"You've got some skill." She steadied herself and looked at Lin Yue with greater seriousness. "Looks like I'll have to cultivate hard over the next three months."
Lin Yue also withdrew his Chaos Energy. "Likewise." Though they hadn't gone all out, he had still felt Su Qingyan's strength during their spar. She wielded Flame Law with great proficiency. Without his Chaos Energy and Dao Rhyme Fragment, he would probably have struggled to gain the upper hand.
Su Qingyan gave him a long look, then glanced at Pangu inside the cave. She said nothing more, turning into a streak of red and disappearing into the Chaos Airflow.
Lin Yue gazed in the direction she had gone. Three months... I won't let you down either. He turned and went back into the cave. Seeing Pangu still resting with his eyes closed, he sat cross-legged beside him and began planning his cultivation for the days ahead.
He knew that simply stabilizing his cultivation wouldn't be enough to win the match three months from now. He had to make a breakthrough in that time. At the very least, he needed to reach Mid-stage High-level Chaos to have enough confidence to face Su Qingyan's flames.
Pangu seemed to sense his resolve. The corner of his mouth lifted in a barely perceptible smile, then returned to stillness. The cave fell quiet once more. Only the roar of the Chaos Airflow and Lin Yue's steady breathing intertwined, forming a melody of cultivation.
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