Battle Prowess Soars

Wang Mengde walked to the table where his relatives and friends were seated.

The atmosphere at this table was much more relaxed.

Yun Jingshan was the first to stand up, raised his glass, and said loudly, "Mengde, come on, let's have a drink!"

Wang Mengde smiled, raised his cup, and drank it all in one gulp.

Yun Jingshan finished his drink, wiped his mouth, and grinned, "Good wine."

Hou Qing, Zhou Zhenshan, Fan Yunzheng, Li Han, Shen Qingxue, and the others, regardless of what they thought in their hearts, all wore smiles, offered their congratulations, and raised their glasses.

Zhao Hongying picked up her wine cup, raised it to Wang Mengde, and drank it all in one gulp without saying a word.

Wang Mengde thanked them one by one and offered them a toast.

After walking around the area, I've already had dozens of drinks.

The spirit wine had a strong aftereffect; his face flushed slightly, but he remained conscious.

After several rounds of drinks and five courses of food,

The guests gradually rose to take their leave.

The Foundation Establishment cultivators went first.

White Crane True Person, Thick Earth True Person, Green Bamboo True Person, and others bowed to Liu Yuanming in farewell before transforming into streaks of spiritual light and disappearing into the sky.

Deacon Zhao, Zhou Wanshan, Li Yunshu, Zheng Tieshan, Han Mingyuan, Bai Suyi also took their leave and returned to their respective places.

The Liu clan members then took their leave.

Liu Jiyu walked up to Liu Yiyi, said "Take care," then glanced at Wang Mengde and turned to leave.

Liu Jichuan also came over, said "Take care" to Liu Yiyi, then gave Wang Mengde a cold look before following Liu Jiyu away.

The other members of the Liu clan took their leave one after another. Some were polite, some were indifferent, and some didn't even say goodbye before turning around and leaving.

Wang Mengde's relatives and friends also took their leave.

Yun Jingshan patted Wang Mengde on the shoulder and grinned, "Mengde, in a while, let's go beachcombing at the Shattered Star Archipelago together."

Wang Mengde nodded with a smile.

Hou Qing, Zhou Zhenshan, Fan Yunzheng, Li Han also said their goodbyes, exchanged a few polite words, and then turned and left.

Zhao Hongying walked up to Wang Mengde, glanced at him, said nothing, simply clasped her hands in a fist salute, and then turned and left.

Shen Qingxue followed behind Zhao Hongying, and paused slightly when she reached Wang Mengde.

She glanced at Wang Mengde, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she said nothing and turned to leave.

The courtyard gradually quieted down.

Only Liu Yuanming, Liu Yiyi, and Wang Mengde were present.

Liu Yuanming looked at Wang Mengde and said, "Five days from now, I will take you to borrow spirit fruits and pills so that you can raise your cultivation to the Peak Qi Refinement as soon as possible."

Wang Mengde cupped his hands in thanks. "Thank you for your trouble, Master."

Liu Yuanming said, "There's no need to be so polite with me."

After Liu Yuanming finished speaking, he looked at Liu Yiyi and said, "From now on, you should cultivate diligently and improve your cultivation level as soon as possible."

"Mmm." Liu Yiyi nodded obediently.

"I have something to do, I'll be going now."

After Liu Yuanming finished speaking, he turned around and flew away on his sword.

Liu Yiyi held Wang Mengde's hand and stood in the center of the courtyard, looking at the empty tables and chairs, a feeling she couldn't quite describe welled up inside her.

She turned to look at Wang Mengde, and seeing the faint blush on his face and the calm, steady look in his eyes, she felt a pang of heartache.

She squeezed his hand and whispered, "Don't pay attention to what they're saying."

"That's just how they are, don't take it to heart."

She knew that the Liu clan members, the Foundation Establishment cultivators, and the overt and covert warnings and reminders they gave today must have made Wang Mengde uncomfortable.

If it were her, she would feel uncomfortable too.

Who wants to be seen as a spineless opportunist?

Who wants to be warned and scrutinized from a superior position?

Wang Mengde turned to look at her, patted the back of her hand, and said calmly with a hint of a smile, "Don't worry, I didn't take their words to heart."

Wang Mengde said this, but that was not what he really thought.

He's a stingy person.

He wanted to Foundation Establishment as soon as possible, so that those arrogant members of the Liu clan and other Foundation Establishment cultivators would be polite and even humble in front of him.

Otherwise, one's thoughts will not be clear.

Liu Yiyi patted the Storage Bag at her waist with her slender hand, and in a flash of inspiration, ten white jade bottles floated neatly in the air.

She reached out and the jade bottles fell into her palm one by one. Her voice was soft but tinged with excitement. "You naughty fellow, today I got ten bottles of Seven-Pattern Spirit-Nurturing Pills, four pills in each bottle, forty pills in total."

As she spoke, she separated five of the jade bottles, held them up with her spiritual power, and handed them to Wang Mengde, her eyes brimming with affection. "These twenty are for you."

Wang Mengde glanced at the jade bottle on the table and shook his head. "Keep it for yourself. Refine it as soon as possible to improve your cultivation and increase the Yin-Nature Power within your spiritual power. Give me feedback when you're done."

Liu Yiyi insisted on pushing the five bottles of pills in front of him, looking at him seriously, her voice soft but firm. "The Seven-Pattern Spirit-Nurturing Pill has drug resistance. Taking it continuously will greatly reduce its efficacy. It can only be fully effective if taken a month apart."

Twenty pills are enough for me to cultivate for over a year. You take them; if you buy any more in the future, just give me some.

She paused, then added, looking directly into Wang Mengde's eyes, her tone calm yet carrying an undeniable certainty. "Now that we've become dao companion, we're family. You don't need to be so polite with me."

Wang Mengde looked at her.

The candlelight illuminated her face, revealing her large, round eyes filled with no hesitation or reluctance, only a frank and sincere honesty.

He paused for a moment, then nodded and put the five bottles of pills into his Storage Bag.

"Good."

Seeing that he accepted it, Liu Yiyi's smile deepened.

She patted the Storage Bag again, and this time took out even more items.

Demon-Binding Rope, second-grade spirit wine, Spirit-Stabilizing Pearl, Cold Jade Pendant, Green Bamboo Sword, spirit liquid jade bottle, Law Technique Jade Slip —she took out all the gifts she received today, except for a few that she could use.

It hovered in front of Wang Mengde.

"These are all the congratulatory gifts I received today. I don't need so many, so you can take them all."

As Liu Yiyi took them out, she spoke casually, as if she were handing out a few cheap candies.

Wang Mengde shook his head and refused. "Keep these for yourself."

"It's alright, it's alright, what's mine is yours." Liu Yiyi said, using her spiritual power to lift it and send it to Wang Mengde.

"Really, you don't need to."

Liu Yiyi opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but seeing Wang Mengde's unyielding gaze, she didn't insist.

She carefully put the items back into her Storage Bag, one by one, at a leisurely pace. Her face was expressionless, but her lips twitched slightly, as if she felt a little disappointed.

Looking at her profile, Wang Mengde suddenly remembered something and took out a Jade-Slip Key from his Storage Bag.

He handed the key to Liu Yiyi and said, "A few days ago, I had three keys copied. This is one of them. Here you go."

Liu Yiyi took the key, weighed it in her palm, and a glint of light flashed in her eyes, as if she had received some incredible treasure. She happily put it into her Storage Bag, her lips curving into a wide smile.

Seeing her joyful expression, Wang Mengde's heart softened. He reached out and took her hand, his palm warm and dry. "Come on, I'll show you the room prepared for you."

Liu Yiyi nodded, letting him lead her up the stairs.

The bedroom door on the second floor was ajar.

Wang Mengde pushed open the door and pulled Liu Yiyi inside.

The bedroom wasn't large, but it was decorated to be exceptionally cozy.

In the very center was a large spirit wood bed, covered with a bright red quilt embroidered with mandarin ducks playing in the water, the stitches fine and lifelike.

The bed curtains were red gauze curtains that hung down from the top of the bed and swayed gently in the candlelight, like a thin layer of red mist.

A pair of red candles sat on the low cabinet by the bed, their flickering flames casting a hazy, warm glow over the entire room.

A pot of Spirit Orchids sat on the windowsill, in full bloom. The pale purple petals shimmered softly in the candlelight and emitted a delicate fragrance.

The curtains were light pink, fluttering gently in the evening breeze like a young girl's skirt.

In the corner stood a mahogany wardrobe with exquisite carvings on its doors. Next to it was a dressing table with a bronze mirror and several combs on it.

Liu Yiyi stood at the door, her gaze sweeping over every corner of the room, finally settling on the bed covered with bright red bedding.

Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and her large, round eyes seemed to be covered with a thin layer of mist, sparkling like two gems washed clean.

She turned her head and looked at Wang Mengde, her gaze burning with desire.

"You naughty thing," she said softly, her voice gentle and slightly coquettish, the last syllable rising in pitch like a feather tickling the tip of one's heart, "It's time for our wedding night."

Looking at her expression, Wang Mengde felt both amused and annoyed, and gently flicked her forehead.

"You're really addicted. Go to the quiet room to refine pills and cultivate, accumulate the Yin-Nature Power within your spiritual power, and then we'll talk about it."

Liu Yiyi did not move.

She stood there, gently biting her lower lip, her gaze fixed on Wang Mengde, the mist in her eyes thickening as if it might overflow at any moment.

Her voice was very soft, as soft as a breeze. "Today is the big day that we become dao companion."

Wang Mengde looked at her.

Liu Yiyi hadn't changed out of her dress yet; the bright red gown made her skin appear as white as jade, and the dress cinched her waist perfectly, outlining her slender figure and full curves.

Her pretty face was as white as jade, glowing faintly in the candlelight. Her features were delicate and gentle, her eyebrows like distant mountains, her eyes like autumn water, and her lips still had a faint trace of rouge, making them rosy and full.

She gently bit her lower lip, gazing at him with alluring eyes that seemed to hold two pools of spring water, shimmering and captivating.

The gesture of biting her lip carried an unconscious charm, a blend of innocence and allure, elegance and allure, making it impossible to look away.

Wang Mengde's Adam's apple bobbed slightly.

I glanced out the window.

The sky outside the window hadn't completely darkened yet; the last rays of the setting sun still lingered on the horizon, turning the distant sea a dark red.

He looked away, his voice tinged with helplessness. "It's not even dark yet."

Liu Yiyi followed his gaze to the window, then turned to look at him. "It's already evening."

Her voice was soft and gentle, with an irresistible, coquettish quality.

As soon as she finished speaking, she stepped forward, reached out and grabbed Wang Mengde's sleeve, tugging at it gently like a spoiled kitten.

Wang Mengde looked at her, at her misty eyes, at her slightly flushed face, at the way she gently bit her lower lip.

He reached out and put his arm around Liu Yiyi's waist, then lifted her up in his arms.

Liu Yiyi gasped softly, her hands instinctively wrapping around his neck. The blush on her face deepened, spreading from her cheeks to her ears and then to her neck.

Wang Mengde carried her to the bedside.

He tossed her onto the large red brocade quilt.

Liu Yiyi landed on the soft bed, her hair falling loose and spreading across the red pillow, making her pretty face appear even whiter and more like jade.

She lay on her back, her chest rising and falling slightly, her eyes burning like a flame, making Wang Mengde's heart burn.

The bed curtains were drawn, and the candlelight flickered.

[The Luan-Phoenix Harmony Formula +5]

[Spirit Power Cultivation +5]

Late at night.

All was silent.

Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains, casting a thin silver line on the floor.

The candles had burned out, and only the moonlight from outside the window and the starlight reflected off the distant sea provided a faint glow inside the room.

Liu Yiyi had fallen into a deep sleep, her breathing even and long, with a faint smile on her lips, as if she were having a sweet dream.

One of her hands was still resting on Wang Mengde's chest, her fingers slightly curled, like a sleeping kitten.

Wang Mengde closed his eyes and focused his inner vision.

Within his Dantian, the spiritual energy was more abundant than before, and the Yin-Nature Power contained within it had also increased significantly.

He silently sensed that during his recent cultivation, the Luan-Phoenix Harmony Formula had circulated for several cycles, increasing his spiritual power by fifteen points.

3 PM.

After advancing to the Eighth Layer of Qi Refinement Refining, it takes thirteen minutes to complete one cycle of cultivation using Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

It takes one hundred cycles of spiritual energy to increase one's spiritual power by one point, which is one thousand three hundred minutes.

An increase of fifteen points in spiritual power is equivalent to sixteen days of arduous training.

The results were pretty good.

He quietly got out of bed, tucked Liu Yiyi in, put on his outer robe, and left the bedroom.

They arrived at the underground training chamber downstairs.

The walls of the secret chamber were inlaid with glowing Spirit Stones, emitting a soft light.

Wang Mengde sat cross-legged on the futon and took out two pills from his Storage Bag.

These are two mid-grade, second-level Meridian-Expanding Pills given to me by Zhou Zhenshan.

Wang Mengde put the elixir into his mouth, closed his eyes, and began to refine it using the Phoenix Turning Harmony Resonance Art.

The medicinal power transformed into a warm current, flowing slowly along the meridians. Wherever it passed, the meridian walls seemed to be gently torn by an invisible hand, expanding slightly, and the meridians' resilience also increased slightly.

Although the changes are subtle, they accumulate over time and eventually lead to a qualitative change.

After refining the two Meridian-Expanding Pills, he opened his eyes, sensed the changes in his meridians, and nodded in satisfaction.

Then, he took out a jade bottle from his Storage Bag and poured out a Seven-Pattern Spirit-Nurturing Pill.

He put the pill in his mouth, closed his eyes, and began to circulate the Luan-Phoenix Harmony Formula.

As the pill entered his stomach, a powerful medicinal force exploded forth, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples.

The medicinal power transformed into countless tiny spiritual energy particles, flowing through the meridians to every part of the body.

The Luan-Phoenix Harmony Formula circulated wildly, absorbing every single spiritual particle into his meridians. The particles circulated along the entire body's energy pathway again and again. With each cycle, the spiritual particles were refined, becoming purer and more condensed, eventually flowing into his Dantian and becoming part of Wang Mengde's own spiritual power.

[The Luan-Phoenix Harmony Formula +8]

[Spirit Power Cultivation +8]

Wang Mengde repeatedly circulated his cultivation Cultivation Method, refining and absorbing every last bit of the Seven-Pattern Spirit-Nurturing Pill's medicinal power.

Time passed quietly during his cultivation. After an unknown amount of time, he opened his eyes and exhaled a long breath.

He had already refined and absorbed all the medicinal power contained in that Seven-Pattern Spirit-Nurturing Pill.

He used his divine sense to look inward, and the spiritual energy in his Dantian became even more abundant.

My spiritual power has increased by twenty-four points.

Midnight.

Wang Mengde felt a mix of emotions.

After advancing his Eighth Layer of Qi Refinement Refining, refining a Seven-Pattern Spirit-Nurturing Pill only increased his spiritual power by twenty-four points.

At the Seventh-Level Qi Refinement, a Seven-Pattern Spirit-Nurturing Pill can increase spiritual power by forty points.

The higher one's cultivation level, the more spiritual energy is required for advancement. This is an ironclad rule in the cultivation world that no one can change.

However, twenty-four points of spiritual power are equivalent to twenty-six days of arduous training.

One pill is equivalent to nearly a month of arduous cultivation; this efficiency is quite remarkable.

He thought to himself that the light had become profound.

It is said that the outer Alchemy Hall of the Evergreen Sect also has a mid-grade third-rank Spirit-Treasure Pill that can directly enhance spiritual power, with effects far exceeding those of the Seven-Pattern Spirit-Nurturing Pill.

Vermilion Fruit and Jade Spirit Fruit can also directly enhance spiritual power.

Five days later, his father-in-law, Liu Yuanming, took him to borrow money, not knowing how many spirit fruits and pills they could get.

At that time, with the Vermilion Fruit, the Jade Spirit Fruit, the Seven-Pattern Spirit-Nurturing Pill, the Spirit-Treasure Pill, and dual cultivation all working together, the speed of cultivation improvement is expected to be quite considerable.

Thinking of this, Wang Mengde perked up and took out a brocade box from his Storage Bag.

The brocade box was opened, revealing a fist-sized, fiery red spiritual fruit. The fruit's surface was as smooth as a mirror, with faint flame-like patterns flowing inside, radiating scorching spiritual energy.

The entire spiritual fruit resembled a solidified flame, slightly warm to the touch.

This is a congratulatory gift from Blazing Fire True Person: a third-tier spiritual fruit, the Vermilion Fruit.

Wang Mengde held the Vermilion Fruit in his palm and examined it carefully.

The peel is a bright red, like a ripe persimmon, or a solidified flame, with a faint shimmering light on its surface.

I leaned closer and took a sniff. A sweet, slightly burning fruity scent filled my nostrils. Just smelling it made my spiritual energy in my Dantian stir slightly.

He lowered his head and bit off a piece of fruit.

The moment the fruit entered his mouth, Wang Mengde's eyes widened slightly.

The taste was indescribable.

It's like biting into a berry brimming with honey; the juice bursts in your mouth, perfectly sweet and refreshing, neither too sweet nor too bland, with a subtle burning sensation, like a mouthful of warm honey water sliding down your throat.

The flesh is soft, smooth, and melts in your mouth, requiring almost no chewing before flowing down your esophagus into your stomach like a clear stream.

Tasty.

The thought flashed through Wang Mengde's mind, but before he could savor the sweet taste, an extremely intense spiritual power exploded within his body.

The spiritual energy came too fast and too fiercely, like a volcano that had been suppressed for a long time suddenly erupting, or like a thunderclap exploding inside the body.

A scorching stream of air rose from the abdomen and swept outwards in all directions, surging wildly along the meridians. Wherever it passed, the meridians felt as if they were being washed by boiling water, both hot and swollen.

Wang Mengde's expression changed slightly. He dared not be negligent in the slightest. He immediately closed his eyes, focused his mind on his Dantian, and began to circulate the Luan-Phoenix Harmony Formula.

As the Cultivation Method was activated, the spiritual energy within the body was guided to circulate slowly along the meridians.

The spiritual power emanating from the Vermilion Fruit was simply too immense; even with his full cultivation Cultivation Method, he couldn't refine it all in a short time.

One week.

Two cycles.

Three cycles.

The spiritual energy surged and flowed through his meridians. With each cycle, the violent medicinal power was tamed to a degree, becoming gentler and purer, eventually flowing into his Dantian and becoming part of his own spiritual energy.

[The Luan-Phoenix Harmony Formula +8]

[Spirit Power Cultivation +8]

Wang Mengde absorbed and refined all the spiritual power contained in the Vermilion Fruit in his stomach. He opened his eyes, took a bite, and continued refining it.

Half an hour later, Wang Mengde absorbed and refined all the energy contained in the entire Vermilion Fruit.

He opened his eyes, used his divine sense to look inward, and found that both the Luan-Phoenix Harmony Formula and his spiritual power had increased by eighty points.

Eighty points of spiritual power!

This is equivalent to more than eighty days of arduous cultivation while refining Spirit Stones!

Wang Mengde secretly clicked his tongue in amazement; the effects of this third-tier spiritual fruit were truly remarkable.

One fruit is equivalent to more than eighty days of arduous cultivation; no wonder the disciples of those great immortal cultivation clans improve their cultivation so quickly.

Resources are the greatest shortcut on the path to immortality.

He calmed himself down and took out a few more items from his Storage Bag: a mid-grade magic robe and a mid-grade Law Artifact inner armor given to him by Liu Yuanming, as well as a mid-grade magic Law Artifact fishing rod given to him by Zhao Hongying.

He first unfolded his mid-grade robe and laid it on his lap.

The robe was dark blue, the fabric as soft as water, and the hem was embroidered with fine protective spiritual patterns, each pattern shimmering with a faint spiritual light.

He slowly channeled his spiritual power into his robe, and the spiritual patterns on the robe suddenly lit up. Rays of spiritual light spread from the hem of the robe to the collar and cuffs, making the entire robe seem to be illuminated, radiating a warm glow.

Wang Mengde put on the robe, probed with his divine sense, and began to refine it.

The array patterns on his robe resonated with his spiritual power, merging together like invisible threads that tightly bound the robe to him.

After the refining was completed, he had a thought, and the spiritual light on his robe began to flicker, communicating with his mind.

Next is the inner armor of a mid-grade magical Law Artifact.

The inner armor is jet black, thin as paper, and feels almost weightless in the hand, yet it has a substantial weight to it—the texture resulting from the compression of spiritual energy to its limit.

The surface of the nail is covered with scale-like patterns, each scale engraved with a miniature protective array, layered and interlocking.

Wang Mengde put on the inner armor close to his body and began refining it by infusing it with spiritual power.

The array patterns in the inner armor are more complex than those in the robe, and the refining process takes longer.

When the last array pattern connected with his mind, he felt a cool power surge from his inner armor, covering his entire body as if an invisible armor was tightly enveloping him.

With this mid-grade magic robe and mid-grade inner armor, his survivability will be greatly improved.

Then came the mid-grade Law Artifact fishing rod that Zhao Hongying gave her.

The fishing rod is about ten feet long, dark brown all over, with a slender and tough body and a faint glow on its surface.

A thin, transparent fishing line, as fine as a hair, is attached to the tip of the fishing rod, with a small fishhook at the end, engraved with delicate spiritual patterns.

Wang Mengde gripped the fishing rod and infused it with spiritual energy.

The fishing rod trembled slightly, a glimmer of light flashing within it, creating a subtle connection between him and the rod.

With a thought, the fishing line shot out silently, drawing a graceful arc in the air, precisely striking a teacup in the corner, and then silently retracting.

The fishing line retracts and extends smoothly without any resistance, providing an excellent feel.

Finally, Wang Mengde took out the second-tier Storage Bag that Liu Yuanming had given him.

He held the Storage Bag in his palm, infused it with spiritual energy, and began refining it.

Refining Storage Bag is much simpler than Law Artifact; in just a short while, he established a connection with the Storage Bag.

He probed into it with his divine sense, and found that the internal space of the Storage Bag was about ten feet square, and the contents inside were clearly visible.

Sixty-six Medium-Grade Spirit Stones.

Two mid-tier Tier 3 Substitute Talisman.

Ten level 3 beginner-level Shrinking Earth Talisman.

Ten mid-level, third-tier attack Talisman- Sword Aura Talisman.

The ten second-tier beginner level Voice Transmission Talisman and the twenty first-tier beginner level Voice Transmission Talisman should be Talisman directly connected to Liu Yuanming.

Looking at the dazzling array of treasures in the Storage Bag, Wang Mengde sighed inwardly.

His father-in-law is really generous.

Sixty-six Medium-Grade Spirit Stones are worth six thousand six hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

In addition, those third-tier Talisman are all quite valuable, especially the two mid-level third-tier Substitute Talisman, which are life-saving treasures.

This gift is truly substantial.

With the mid-grade magic robe, mid-grade inner armor, and these Talisman, his overall combat strength has greatly increased.