Li Feiyu

The door was blasted open by tremendous force, and the attendant flew backward, vomiting blood.

In that brief instant, Ye Xiu had not even managed to see how the person inside had struck.

This person was far stronger than him.

Ye Xiu made the judgment in an instant. He remained silent where he stood, watching the attendant struggle miserably on the ground before him.

Before he understood the situation, acting recklessly would only bring trouble upon himself.

Ye Xiu had always believed in playing it safe.

If something had no problems, then never touch it.

Just like now. Though the person inside did not seem easy to get along with, as long as they did not target him, he would act as though nothing had happened.

This heavy silence lasted for nearly half the time it took an incense stick to burn.

At last, Ye Xiu heard a soft cough from within the room.

"I heard you obtained the hooked tails of those Soul-Severing Scorpions. Two of them?"

Ye Xiu nodded and took out the items.

"Come in."

Having seen the goods, the person inside softened her attitude somewhat.

Ye Xiu nodded, completely ignoring the attendant's pleading gaze as he stepped inside.

The moment he entered, he smelled a rich medicinal fragrance permeating the room.

Within layer upon layer of curtains, a figure sat cross-legged.

With a light wave of her hand, the two hooked tails in Ye Xiu's grasp floated into the air and flew inward.

After examining them closely for a while, the person inside spoke again in satisfaction.

"These two hooked tails suffered very little damage. You exceeded the task requirements. Very good."

"Thank you for your praise, Senior Sister."

Ye Xiu bowed in thanks.

Her attitude was gentle now, yet when she had struck earlier, there had been no warning whatsoever.

This mercurial temperament was truly difficult for Ye Xiu to fathom. He could only take one step at a time.

"Tell me, what reward do you want?"

Li Feiyu looked at Ye Xiu before her with casual indifference. Although she was quite pleased by the excellent quality of the two hooked tails he had brought back, a mere outer sect disciple at the ninth level of Qi Condensation was not enough to make her view him differently.

"Senior Sister may decide. This junior brother would not dare disobey."

Naturally, Ye Xiu would not take the bait. He knew nothing about this Senior Sister's temperament or needs.

If he asked for too little, he would lose out. If he asked for too much, he would displease her.

The moment he answered that question, he would be unlucky no matter what.

Rather than that, he might as well kick the ball back to this Senior Sister.

A flicker of surprise passed through Li Feiyu's eyes at Ye Xiu's words.

Because of the cultivation technique she practiced, any promise she made was always fulfilled without fail.

Everyone in both the inner and outer sects knew this, and those who received her promise had always fought desperately to secure benefits for themselves.

Yet Ye Xiu had taken a step back of his own accord, something exceedingly rare. His eyes were clear as well, plainly without any pretense.

"In that case, take this Origin-Restoring Pill."

Knowing when to advance and when to retreat, with decent potential as well—Li Feiyu quietly decided to do him a favor.

The advancement tournament would be held before long. Though the Origin-Restoring Pill was a second-tier medicinal pill, once consumed, it could restore spiritual power without any restrictions, even in the midst of battle.

This was a genuine life-saving trump card. Aside from pills used for breaking through realms, this kind of pill was among the most precious.

As Li Feiyu spoke, Ye Xiu saw a jade bottle fly out from within and land before the curtains.

"Thank you, Senior Sister."

Ye Xiu bowed in thanks, then reached out to draw aside the curtains and take the pill bottle.

"Wait, what are you doing?"

The instant his hand touched the curtain, Ye Xiu suddenly heard Li Feiyu bark a sharp rebuke.

Ye Xiu's hand froze on the curtain. He did not understand why Li Feiyu had reacted so strongly all at once.

But Li Feiyu was somewhat anxious.

This curtain had been specially made for her to assist in cultivating her avatar technique. To prevent her soul from leaking out and becoming incomplete during cultivation, the curtain was covered in techniques that absorbed souls.

She could ignore such damage with the strength of her realm, but Ye Xiu was merely an outer sect disciple at the ninth level of Qi Condensation.

If his soul were absorbed before he reached Foundation Establishment, there was a high chance he would suffer severe injuries.

In her urgency, Li Feiyu could not spare another thought and directly struck out with her palm.

If it hit Ye Xiu now, at most he would suffer some bodily injuries. If she were any later, his soul might be harmed.

Bang!

Ye Xiu felt a force strike his chest, and then he staggered back two steps uncontrollably.

He had barely regained his senses when he saw Li Feiyu, dressed in black, staring at him with a dark expression.

"This Soul-Transferring Curtain is something even ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators would not dare touch. Are you tired of living?"

Li Feiyu looked at Ye Xiu sprawled on the ground and spoke irritably.

Ye Xiu, meanwhile, clearly had yet to react. He merely stared blankly at Li Feiyu.

Damn it, look at that dazed expression. His soul is probably damaged. Now I have to refine medicine to deal with it again, or those dogs Xu Tongming keeps will latch onto this matter and refuse to let go...

Thinking of this, Li Feiyu grew even more irritated.

She stepped forward and reached out to haul Ye Xiu up, but before her hand could reach him, she saw Ye Xiu stand up on his own.

"Senior Sister's lesson is correct. This junior brother was rash."

Feeling her impatience, Ye Xiu naturally did not dare trouble Li Feiyu any further.

"You... are you all right?"

Seeing Ye Xiu standing before her as though nothing had happened, Li Feiyu's eyes widened in astonishment.

It made no sense at all. He was only a cultivator at the ninth level of Qi Condensation. First he had encountered the soul-draining curtain, then he had taken a palm strike from her—how could he possibly be completely fine?

Though she had held back somewhat, the difference in their realms was not something that could be made up so easily.

Naturally, Ye Xiu knew the reason.

After awakening his ability, his body's strength had long surpassed cultivators of the same level. Back when he faced the Soul-Severing Scorpion, Ye Xiu had vaguely felt that perhaps he could contend with it using his physical body.

But of course, he would not reveal such a thing.

Faced with Li Feiyu's doubts, Ye Xiu merely flattered her.

"Senior Sister's control over her strength is precise to the finest fraction. This junior brother was not injured at all."

Li Feiyu stared at Ye Xiu, seemingly trying to read something from his face. Yet from beginning to end, Ye Xiu wore a smile, without the slightest trace of a guilty conscience.

After a moment of silence, Li Feiyu nodded lightly.

"Ye Xiu, is it? Since you are unharmed, then leave."

Ye Xiu nodded in acknowledgment. Going along with her words, he picked up the jade bottle that had fallen to the ground and headed outside.

Only Li Feiyu remained in the room, her expression complicated as she murmured to herself, "A powerful physique, an intact soul... Could it be that I took the wrong path...?"

By the time Ye Xiu left Li Feiyu's place, the sky had already begun to darken. Yet the Mission Hall before him remained bustling with voices.

The moment he emerged, he felt everyone's gazes converge upon him.

Before he could speak, a sharp shout rang out from the crowd.

"Ye Xiu, you are suspected of plotting against a fellow disciple. Surrender at once!"