"Stop right there! Little Wuxiang, who have you brought with you?"
Suddenly, a teasing voice rang out. A burly man with a full beard, clad in armor, slowly emerged from the Forbidden Ground.
Su Wuxiang cupped his hands politely. "Greetings, Uncle Ji. This is Ye Kang. I'm bringing him in for a dip in Shattered Jade Pool."
"Ye Kang? Never heard of him. You know the rules: if your name isn't in the Merit Book, you can't go in."
"Uncle Ji, he's using my sister's turn. She should still have one left, right?"
Su Wuxiang gave a sly smile, his eyes turning sweet and innocent.
The Big Man paused, then furrowed his brow.
"You little sly fox. Your sister taught you that, didn't she? She does have one turn left. Once it's used, I'll cross it off. If your sister comes looking for me then, it won't do her any good."
"Don't worry. I wouldn't dare use her turn without permission. She told me to do this."
At that, the Big Man nodded and said to Ye Kang, "You, come with me."
"Go on."
Su Wuxiang gave him a shove. Ye Kang lurched forward at once, scrambling to follow.
He followed the Big Man straight into the Forbidden Ground. After passing along a mountain path, they arrived at a pool of emerald-green water.
Its color was as if it had been steeped in countless spirit medicines, yet it had no herbal scent at all. Instead, it brimmed with pure spiritual energy. Just one breath left him feeling refreshed and clear-headed, his Primordial Spirit bright and lucid.
"This is Shattered Jade Pool?"
"That's right. Shattered Jade Pool is the foundation of the Three Prefectures Department in Spirit Spring County. It comes from a portion of Spirit Spring. Though it can't compare