After Mu Ye secured the goods, he and Han Tianyi swiftly retraced their steps, filling in the tunnel behind them.
Finally, the two returned to the surface in the valley on the western outskirts of Heaven Dou City.
They exchanged a smile. Before they could say much, the faint sounds of battle reached them from the direction of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Han Tianyi closed his eyes and spread his Spiritual Power, secretly observing from far away.
When he heard the declaration that the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was fully independent and severing ties with the Tang Sect, amusement surfaced in his eyes.
Whether he considered it from the standpoint of the Body Sect or his current position in the Spirit Pagoda,
the Tang Sect's falling-out with the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was clearly excellent news.
As for Huo Yuhao, the ungrateful wolf whom Mu Ye suspected had caused the Body Sect's secret arts to be lost and appropriated by Shrek,
although he had founded the Spirit Pagoda, the organization today was no longer what it had been ten thousand years ago.
The Qiangu Family wielded immense influence, openly and covertly controlling more than half the power in the Spirit Pagoda's council, effectively turning the position of Spirit Pagoda Master into a hereditary office of their family.
Now, Su Xun was clearly far more outstanding than Qiangu Zhangting, whom the Qiangu Family had poured enormous resources into raising.
And there was Na'er as well.
In Han Tianyi's eyes, given some time, Leng Yaozhu would lead the Leng Family faction to possess top-level strength far surpassing the Qiangu Family's.
Then their chances of helping Leng Yaozhu claim the position of Spirit Pagoda Master would be extremely high!
When that happened, Su Xun would surely become the next Spirit Pagoda Master after her.
Thus, seeing the Tang Sect, which had always been something of a sworn enemy to the Spirit Pagoda, lose such a major reserve of strength naturally made him even happier.
Thoughts flowed through both men's minds, but their feet never stopped as they swiftly departed.
However, they were not foolish enough to return directly to Heaven Dou City.
They even headed to other cities, changed their appearances, and enjoyed themselves for several days before dividing the spoils and going their separate ways.
"Martial Uncle, take both the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew and the Primordial Immortal Herb back for Su Xun."
"With you personally handling things, along with this Pseudo-Ferocious Beast-level Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew, Su Xun's Eye Root will surely complete a gold-level Second Awakening."
"Moreover, unlike a hundred-thousand-year Immortal-Grade herb whose intelligence has been destroyed and which has never taken human form, this Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew will probably provide a hundred-thousand-year Head Soul Bone as well."
"Su Xun will definitely gain a considerable boost this time."
"According to the records, the Primordial Immortal Herb can help refine Soul Power and condense a Soul Core. It'll be perfect to use when the time is right."
Mu Ye handed the two Immortal-Grade herbs, sealed in special materials, to Han Tianyi, making sure to explain the details of their use from the information he had gathered.
Only after Han Tianyi accepted them did he look at the remaining herbs, his eyes burning with eagerness:
"To think we found both the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum and the Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng."
"The Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum is a hundred and thirty thousand years old. Its quality speaks for itself."
"Although the Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng is only seven thousand years old, it's known as the Empress of Ginseng. It's naturally eighth-grade, and once it reaches ten thousand years, it can transform into ninth-grade and attain Immortal-Grade quality."
"Even at seven thousand years, it's already precious enough."
"These two Immortal-Grade herbs complement each other. Using them separately would be too wasteful. I'll study them carefully when I get back and see whether I can combine them with other spiritual ingredients."
"After all, this won't just benefit Ruheng. Su Xun's Martial Soul encompasses both his body and soul, so he needs it too!"
Han Tianyi felt helpless upon hearing this. Clearly, this old rascal had not taken a single word of his earlier advice to heart.
Still, he said nothing more. After patting Mu Ye on the shoulder, he left first.
Mu Ye then returned to Heaven Dou City as well.
Upon seeing Mu Ye, Zhen Hua rolled his eyes irritably and drawled sarcastically:
"Well, well, who do we have here? Weren't you so decisive when you walked off the job? Now you remember to come back?"
Having returned with a full haul, Mu Ye was in an exceptionally fine mood. He did not take issue with Zhen Hua's attitude and generously offered:
"I restocked some fresh ruby shrimp a few days ago. Want a taste?"
Zhen Hua's eyes lit up, but then his face filled with wariness:
"Let me make this clear first: I don't have any Heavenly Forged Metal left in stock."
Mu Ye rolled his eyes and said irritably:
"Do I look like someone who cares about your measly piece or two of Heavenly Forged Metal? You think everyone's as stingy and tightfisted as you?"
Zhen Hua's eyes widened:
"Would you listen to yourself? Don't you fucking blush even a little when you say things like that?"
Mu Ye gave a light cough, feeling somewhat guilty, but quickly covered it up and glared back:
"Just tell me whether you're eating or not. If not, I'm leaving. I happen to have things to do, and I don't have time to fool around with you."
With that, he turned to leave.
Zhen Hua immediately grabbed his arm, bowed, and gestured invitingly:
"God of Cooking, this way, please."
The corners of Mu Ye's lips curled upward, and his mood grew even brighter.
Shrek City, Spirit Pagoda.
The hundredth floor.
Su Xun and his Beloved Teacher lounged together on a beanbag sofa upholstered in genuine Evil-Eyed White Tiger leather. He cracked sunflower seeds while occasionally spearing fresh-cut fruit with a high-end custom fork and feeding it between his Beloved Teacher's red lips.
Whenever fruit juice trickled from the corners of her luscious lips, he thoughtfully wiped it away with a napkin.
The two leisurely enjoyed the afternoon, watching the nearby training room with interest.
Inside, Na'er and Gu Yue moved nimbly, trading blow for blow.
Suddenly, Gu Yue's dark eyes shifted slightly, and she called out:
"Su Xun, Aunt Leng, what are you eating? Save some for me!"
Na'er, who had been staring intently at Gu Yue with a stern expression, poised to seize an opening and strike her original self hard, immediately swallowed. Her gaze involuntarily drifted toward Su Xun and Leng Yaozhu.
In the next instant, Gu Yue locked Na'er's arm with one hand and pressed the other against her face, forcing the distracted Na'er straight to the ground.
At the same time, she planted her softly rounded, just-developing backside directly onto Na'er's lower abdomen, pinning her firmly as she asked:
"Do you yield?"
"You little brat, how dare you sneak up on me! Yield, my ass! Let go and fight me again! If I don't beat you until you're crawling around looking for your teeth, I'll take your surname!"
Seething with rage, Na'er struggled wildly, determined to settle who was stronger.
Gu Yue remained unmoved, so Na'er appealed to Su Xun and Leng Yaozhu for help.
"Su Xun! Aunt Leng! Just look at her!"
"Didn't I tell you this little brat was full of wicked schemes?"
"She's only been here a few days, and she's already openly bullying your precious darling!"
"Can you really stand for this?"
"If I were you, I certainly couldn't!"
Gu Yue remained unmoved.
Su Xun and his Beloved Teacher exchanged a glance, both smiling helplessly.
This girl Na'er was really... they did not know what to say.
Still, she did have a point. After all, they had spent three and a half years together. Naturally, their feelings for her ran much deeper than for Gu Yue, who had only recently joined them, and some favoritism was inevitable.
Thus, after feeding his Beloved Teacher another piece of fruit, Su Xun stood up, ready to "dispense justice."
Just then, his Soul Communicator rang. Su Xun picked it up and looked, his eyes brightening.
He immediately turned to his Beloved Teacher and said:
"Teacher, Elder Han is back. He wants me to go see him now, so I'll leave things here to you!"
With that, he took off.
Na'er had thought the Honorable Judge Xun was about to come over, uphold justice for her, and turn the tables to give Gu Yue a thorough bullying.
But she had never expected her promising situation to vanish in an instant.
Grief welled up within her, and she wailed:
"Su! Xun! You big meanie! I'm never playing with you again!"
Before you continue