Life Divine Tree

Xiao Bai, who had been lying at the cave entrance, pounced on Xiao Yu the moment he emerged. Xiao Yu caught him in one hand, held him in his arms, and stroked his silky fur. Then, a system voice sounded in his mind.

"Congratulations to the host for successfully rescuing Yun Yun. Reward: Life Divine Tree. The reward is being generated. Please receive it promptly!"

"Next check-in location: the Snake People Clan in the desert. Reward: Green Lotus Core Flame!"

Xiao Yu froze for a moment. This was the second Heavenly Flame rewarded by the system. It seemed he could possess multiple Heavenly Flames without even cultivating the Flame Mantra. At that thought, he could not help but smile in satisfaction. The cultivation technique he practiced had also been steadily strengthening his body. At present, Xiao Yu's physical strength was no weaker than that of a highly defensive second-tier magical beast, and his spiritual power had broken through the Mortal Grade as well. He felt that it was time to begin advancing toward becoming a Third-grade Alchemist!

After staying outside the cave for only a short while, Xiao Yu rose and carried Xiao Bai back inside. Aura-Dispersing Powder had been scattered around the area, so there was no need to worry about being discovered by magical beasts. Combined with the medicinal powder nearby that beasts hated, the cave was reasonably safe!

Upon returning to the cave, he saw that Yun Yun had already fallen asleep. He could sense that her wounds were slowly healing. She should make a full recovery in a few days, though the seal placed by the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King would likely take longer to break!

As night fell, Xiao Yu roasted another pheasant. Its tempting aroma even awakened Yun Yun from her slumber. However, unable to move her body, she could only watch longingly. Seeing her stubborn expression—wanting to eat, yet holding herself back to avoid troubling him—Xiao Yu tore off a chicken leg and handed it to her. After a fierce internal struggle, Yun Yun finally opened her rosy lips. The instant she bit into the chicken leg, her eyes lit up. Before long, she had finished it.

When she looked toward the other chicken leg on the grill, Xiao Bai anxiously squeaked and chirped beside them. Xiao Yu could only say, "You're seriously injured, so you can't eat too much meat. I'll go pick some fruit for you later!"

Yun Yun nodded slightly without saying anything. After Xiao Yu thoroughly finished off the pheasant, he went outside and picked some bright red fruit for Yun Yun. Deep into the night, Xiao Yu fell asleep beside the campfire with Xiao Bai in his arms, while Yun Yun continued sleeping as her wounds healed.

Buzz!

As Xiao Yu slept, a jade-green beam of light shot in from outside the cave and drilled directly into his dantian, jolting him awake.

Xiao Yu focused his mind and examined his dantian. There, a lush, jade-green tree stood tall within it. The surging sea of aura that had originally filled the area now vaguely gathered around the tree. Even the Bone Spirit Cold Flame within his body flickered and danced, as though welcoming this new guest!

"Could this be the Life Divine Tree rewarded by the system? What an incredibly dense life aura!" Xiao Yu exclaimed as he admired it. Little did he know that this dense life aura had not only startled him, but had also caused Xiao Bai, who had been sleeping soundly on his stomach, and Yun Yun, who was asleep while recovering from her injuries, to open their eyes.

Yun Yun looked at the powerful life aura continuously emanating from Xiao Yu in astonishment. It even accelerated the healing of her wounds. Meanwhile, Xiao Bai greedily absorbed the life aura, his body growing slightly larger as his snow-white fur became even smoother.

Yun Yun looked at Xiao Yu as though he were a mystery shrouded in mist, one that made people unable to resist drawing closer. She could not imagine which faction had produced such a gifted prodigy as Xiao Yu. Unable to figure it out, she stopped thinking about it and quietly absorbed the powerful life aura.

The night passed without incident. Once Xiao Yu saw that it was the Life Divine Tree rewarded by the system, he went straight back to sleep. After waking and stretching, he was surprised to discover that Yun Yun had gotten to her feet as well. "You recovered that quickly?"

Yun Yun nodded her pretty head. "Yes. I have to thank you for your help."

"Thank me? No need to be polite. It was only natural, only natural!" Xiao Yu assumed she meant helping her apply medicine earlier. Yun Yun gave him a strange look, making Xiao Yu's heart tighten slightly. Could she have discovered his secret?

Impossible! Xiao Yu quickly dismissed the thought. The system was the most mysterious existence there was. How could Yun Yun possibly have discovered it?

Yun Yun said, "I still need to stay here for some time. The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King's seal is rather troublesome!"

Xiao Yu nodded slightly. "Sure." Then he tossed Yun Yun a white jade bottle. "Don't go too far. If you want to bathe or pick fruit, scatter this Aura-Dispersing Powder around yourself. It can conceal your aura!"

Yun Yun caught the jade bottle. "Did you refine this?"

"Is that strange?" Xiao Yu asked calmly, turning back.

"Of course it is. Your talent is already so exceptional. How do you still have time to study alchemy and become an alchemist?" Yun Yun looked at Xiao Yu in shock.

As Xiao Yu scattered Aura-Dispersing Powder around himself, he said, "I'm a master of time management. Cultivating while refining medicine is no big deal. Is that really so difficult?" With that, he grabbed the fish spear beside him and plunged into the lake beneath the waterfall, sending up a spray of water!

Yun Yun was left standing there in a daze, murmuring, "Is that not difficult?"

A few minutes later, Xiao Yu surfaced with two fish skewered on his spear. Ever since discovering that Xiao Bai had an especially large appetite, he had started catching two fish—one for himself and Yun Yun, and one for Xiao Bai. Carrying the fish, Xiao Yu spread his Purple Cloud Wings and quickly flew back to the cave. Seeing Yun Yun sitting on the stone bed and attempting to break the seal, he did not disturb her!

After setting up a grill, he began roasting the fish. Xiao Yu continuously sprinkled on seasonings, and a fragrant aroma gradually drifted through the cave. Yun Yun opened her beautiful eyes, walked over to Xiao Yu, and said, "I know an alchemist who is quite skilled. I can introduce you to him!"

Xiao Yu picked up a grilled fish and handed it to Yun Yun. "No need. I have a teacher!" Naturally, Xiao Yu meant the Alchemy Canon. He also knew Yun Yun was referring to Gu He, but a Sixth Grade Alchemist was truly nothing in front of the Alchemy Canon!

Hearing that he had a teacher, Yun Yun was somewhat taken aback, but she said nothing more. She merely picked up the grilled fish and ate quietly. Silence settled between them.

Over the next few days, Xiao Yu cultivated while Yun Yun attempted to break the seal. After several peaceful days passed, Yun Yun looked at Xiao Yu and said, "I want to go down to the lake and take a bath!"

Xiao Yu nodded lightly. "Sure. Remember to bring the Aura-Dispersing Powder!"

"Mm!" Then she stood there with a faint blush on her face. Seeing that Yun Yun had not left, Xiao Yu asked in confusion, "What's wrong?"

"I want you to keep watch for me!" Yun Yun said, then quickly added, "Not to watch me—watch out for other people!"

Xiao Yu said with a laugh, "There shouldn't be anyone else around here!" But upon seeing Yun Yun's annoyed glare, he still agreed.