Azure Moon Nine Provinces

She might have many cultivation techniques, but he definitely could not take them now.

He had to make her accept judgment first. They could talk after she became his maid.

But when Xiao Yu thought of the system's usual tricks, then considered Bai Yue's personality...

He immediately grinned. He could raise her Sin Value again.

He really went out to catch wild chickens.

Less than half an hour later, half a roast chicken was stuffed into Bai Yue's hands.

Xiao Yu also brought over some water in a severed section of bamboo.

Seeing the blind Bai Yue, he brazenly took her hand and made her hold the bamboo tube. "This is water!"

Bai Yue instinctively tugged at her collar.

She did not know whether he was peeking at her. After all, she could not see.

Smelling the fragrance of the meat before her, she seemed to recall her days at the Jade Maiden Sect.

Sitting beside her, Xiao Yu ate while holding an Eagle Claw Saber. "Let's put the cultivation techniques aside for now. I want to ask some basics first. I don't really know much about cultivation. In the year since I joined the Hehuan Sect, I spent eight months as a menial disciple. I've been an outer disciple for less than four months, and I don't even have a master!"

"I want to know why I can't use magical artifacts. Those people could control flying daggers from afar, so why can't I?"

Bai Yue first took a bite of the roast chicken, her expression helpless. "Mm... you're in the Body Tempering Stage. The Body Tempering Stage is the first step of cultivation. Put simply, Body Tempering cultivators are merely mortals with better fighting skills. They have no spiritual power, so they can't unleash the power of magical artifacts or use spells!"

"You can only use movement techniques, internal arts, weapons, tools, and things like that!"

"The Body Tempering Stage is about strengthening the body. Only after opening up your meridians can you attempt to draw qi into your body. Once you guide spiritual qi into your body, you enter the Qi Refining Stage. Only then can you use spells..."

As she spoke, Bai Yue tried a bite of the roasted meat in her hand.

It was dry and tough, without the slightest flavor.

When she had been a sect leader, she had eaten delicacies from mountain and sea and drunk immortal nectar.

After chewing twice, she found it truly hard to swallow.

But when she thought of her dead disciples, she forcefully swallowed the meat in her mouth.

Her cultivation had currently fallen to the Body Tempering Second Layer, but to recover from her injuries, she needed pills and resources.

It was certainly inconvenient for her to obtain them herself. She could only make him get them.

For now, she had to steady him!

She did not know what was wrong with her. Those four hours yesterday remained deeply etched in her memory.

Even now, the tips of her ears were still red.

Her hair had been pinned up as well.

It was as if she had somewhat resigned herself to it.

She was still somewhat afraid. Whenever she cursed at him, Xiao Yu would insert flowers.

She was truly scared.

After taking another bite of meat, she spoke softly.

"Above the Qi Refining Stage are the Foundation Establishment Realm, the Golden Core Stage, and the Nascent Soul Realm!"

"But those are too far away for you. Even if you found cultivation techniques now, they would be useless. You need to temper your body first, strengthen your flesh! You must find a low-level spell for tempering the body!"

"You have to start cultivating from the beginning! Only by laying a solid foundation can you have better reserves of spiritual power when you reach the Foundation Establishment Realm later!"

"I gave it some thought just now. Giving you cultivation techniques now would be useless. You have to reach the Qi Refining Stage before you can begin cultivating!"

[Detected that wicked woman Bai Yue received food but refused to reward the host with cultivation techniques, and even deceived the host with her words. Sin Value has risen to 72%!]

The corners of Xiao Yu's lips rose. He now knew how to raise her Sin Value.

He simply had to treat her better. Since she was a wicked woman, even if others treated her well, she would still harm them.

While eating roast meat, Xiao Yu looked at her. "Then help me temper my body!"

Bai Yue froze for a moment, then stammered, "No one else can help with body tempering... you can only temper yourself..."

Xiao Yu sneered. "How did you temper your body before? Don't you want to restore your cultivation? How do you plan to do that?"

Bai Yue's voice grew slightly panicked. "I... I was born with an Innate Dharma Body, so I never tempered my body... To temper the body, you need to train your flesh, along with medicinal herbs and pills."

"For me, it would take one or two years at the slowest, or a few months at the fastest. For you... it might take longer!"

Xiao Yu narrowed his eyes.

He had just seen something about body tempering in that Joyful Union Art.

The body-tempering method in the Joyful Union Art was extremely fast, but it required two people working together as one!

Xiao Yu picked up the Joyful Union Art again. Reading its description, he immediately felt it was somewhat difficult.

Bai Yue, sitting opposite him, let out an annoyed breath. "What are you looking at?!"

Seeing that she still dared to raise her voice, Xiao Yu immediately slapped her.

Slap—!

Bai Yue's blind eyes widened with fury.

Xiao Yu immediately grabbed her hand. "Know your place! Curse at me again, I dare you!!!"

Bai Yue became afraid at once and instinctively clenched the corner of her clothes.

But despite what she said, she was utterly unwilling in her heart.

How could he treat her like this?

Hadn't she already been speaking to him properly?

Why did he hit her just because of a disagreement...

Xiao Yu, meanwhile, was deep in thought.

He directly pulled Bai Yue into his arms.

Blushing, Bai Yue wiped the corner of her mouth and spoke softly. "You said before that you wanted to leave this place. Actually, you should head west!"

"This is the westernmost part of Hexi Province. To the west and south lies the sea. To the east is Donghua Province, and to the north is Heluo Province. If you flee east from here, you'll definitely be caught by righteous cultivators!"

Xiao Yu's voice sank as he suddenly pulled Bai Yue closer. "Didn't you say the west is the sea?"

Bai Yue's brows trembled. "Mm, you can travel south by sea to Nanhua Province in southern Hexi Province. There's no war there."

"If you head east by land, there's only a dead end waiting for you!"

Xiao Yu's expression darkened. He certainly did not believe the route she suggested.

He tore off a large chunk of roast meat, then gulped down some water.

Yesterday, they had been gathering herbs nearby when they encountered people from the Profound Spirit Sect.

Had the fighting already reached their doorstep?

Had the Hehuan Sect destroyed the Jade Maiden Sect, only to be crushed by the Profound Spirit Sect afterward?

Xiao Yu stood up helplessly. "This is too troublesome."

Bai Yue slowly exhaled. "With the war so tense, forget Rogue Cultivators—even members of great cultivation families have to be interrogated and have their identities verified before passing through checkpoints. Someone of unknown origin like you would very likely have their soul searched! Then the fact that you're from Demon Province won't stay hidden!"

Xiao Yu picked up the bamboo container and drank from it leisurely.

He raised his hand, intending to send Bai Yue into the Judgment Chamber.

Xiao Yu looked beyond the forest, his expression thoughtful.

He did not dare go up the mountain. Who knew how far those people had fought their way in?

Looking toward distant Jiangliu City, Xiao Yu's eyes darkened. "Let's go take a look at Jiangliu City!"