Once Ye Yirui left, the hall fell into brief silence.
It was Ancestor Ye who finally broke it with a soft cough. "Ran Xi Daoyou, do you have a way to repair the damaged dantian?"
Yunxi nodded. "There is a method. It's recorded in the inheritance of Yixian Gate, but it requires the Genesis Azure Lotus. Does Medicine King Valley have one in cultivation?"
Ancestor Ye plucked out two more beard hairs and coughed softly. "The Genesis Azure Lotus is a supreme treasure from ancient times. It has long gone extinct. How could Medicine King Valley possibly have cultivated it?"
Yunxi let out a soft sigh of regret. "In that case, I fear the Young Valley Master's younger brother's injuries…"
For the first time, sorrow flickered across Ancestor Ye's face. He spoke in a low voice. "A'Rui once believed her brother suffered this grievous injury in order to save her. She has blamed herself all these years. To see Xiao Chen walk the immortal path again, she has been cultivating desperately, advancing her alchemy rank with relentless effort.
Thanks to her persistence, Xiao Chen's soul has been restored with the help of the Soul Restoration Pill. Only the damage to his dantian remains her heart's deepest wound.
When Yixian Gate reappeared, A'Rui went there herself. Unfortunately, she lacked the strength to earn their inheritance, which is why she turned to Ran Xi Daoyou for help."
Yunxi already knew all this, so she nodded. "Young Valley Master Ye's love for her brother runs deep. She even wanted to take him to Haoran Sect for treatment. However, because I planned to come to the Central Region for the Five Region Grand Tournament and promised to personally examine his injuries, she chose to wait for me here instead."
"I see. Then we must trouble you, Ran Xi Daoyou," Ancestor Ye said.
"I am only fulfilling my promise," Yunxi admitted honestly. "I may not be able to help Ye Yuchen."
The next moment, both Yunxi and Xun Kun sensed several auras rushing toward them, while several stronger ones charged straight for the outskirts of Medicine King Valley.
Ancestor Ye's expression darkened, and he vanished on the spot.
Yunxi and Xun Kun reacted swiftly as well. In the blink of an eye, they appeared above Medicine King Valley, leaving the intruders who stormed into the guest hall grasping at air.
"What is going on?" Xun Kun frowned.
Spreading her divine sense, Yunxi observed the situation inside Medicine King Valley. She quickly saw several cultivators rummaging through Ye Chengbi's belongings, clearly searching for a storage ring.
After confirming that there was no storage ring on Ye Chengbi's finger, they prepared to leave. Yunxi recognized the female cultivator leading them—she was the same one who had offered to arrange Ye Yirui's travel earlier. Her name was Aunt Ran.
Xun Kun, sensing battle at the valley entrance, turned to Yunxi. "Ran Xi, I'll handle the valley gate. The rest are yours."
"Understood."
The two split up immediately.
Yunxi flashed forward, blocking Aunt Ran's group with a smile. "Were you looking for me, or for this?"
She lifted her palm, revealing a black token resting in her hand.
Aunt Ran's expression shifted. She had not expected Yunxi to be here. When she discovered Ye Chengbi's soul lamp had gone out, she knew something had happened and mobilized forces. She had led one team to retrieve Ye Chengbi and whatever he carried, while another went to steal the valley's vital treasure, the Shengji Tree.
But she had not expected the token to be in Yunxi's possession, nor that she would be completely outmatched by her.
Aunt Ran quickly clasped her hands in a respectful salute. "I came here under the Young Valley Master's orders only to retrieve Ye Chengbi's body. I had no intention of offending an honored guest."
"Quite the act you put on. Since you're here, why not stay and keep me company?"
Yunxi's smile widened, revealing small white teeth. The sight was unsettling, forcing Aunt Ran to retreat rapidly. But neither she nor her group had the cultivation to escape. In an instant, Yunxi's technique, Universe in the Sleeve, swept them all into her sleeve.
She reappeared in midair, looking down at the fierce battle raging at Medicine King Valley's gate.
It was a one-sided massacre. Xun Kun was overwhelming his opponents. The valley entrance was shrouded in thick demonic qi. In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Xun Kun and Ancestor Ye returned to the guest hall.
After sitting down, Ancestor Ye sighed heavily. "How disgraceful, for our sect to harbor such a traitor. Truly shameful."
Yunxi raised an eyebrow and transmitted her voice to Xun Kun. "What were those people at the gate trying to do?"
"They stole the valley's guardian treasure, the Shengji Tree. This ancestor of the Ye family caught them in the act, so we rushed to intercept. What about you?"
"They came searching for that token in Ye Chengbi's possession. Including the one you have, I've now seen three black tokens with identical material but different patterns. I suspect these tokens are connected to evil cultivators. Otherwise, they wouldn't have risked so much to retrieve it."
"Hand them over to Medicine King Valley for interrogation. Ye Chengbi is already dead, and he wasn't acting under the valley's orders. I won't hold them responsible. What happens next is their internal affair, and I want no part of it."
Xun Kun was calm and rational. He wanted to uncover the truth, not create more conflict.
"Very well. Wait for me half a day. Once I've examined the Young Valley Master's brother, we'll return to Huaxian Gate."
Xun Kun immediately nodded. If he returned alone, he would likely get lost.
At that moment, Ye Yirui appeared in the hall, anxiety on her face. "Ancestor, is the Shengji Tree safe?"
"All is well," Ancestor Ye replied with a wave of his hand. "Xun Kun Daoyou helped me reclaim it."
Xun Kun and Yunxi simultaneously flicked their sleeves, dumping out a group of bound cultivators at Ye Yirui's feet.
"These disciples were the ones who tried to steal the Shengji Tree. You may interrogate them as you wish."
"And these were Ye Chengbi's trusted aides. They stormed in earlier to search his storage ring. We don't know exactly what they were after, so we'll leave them to you as well," Yunxi added.
Ye Yirui cupped her hands in gratitude, then signaled for attendants to escort all the captives away.
Aunt Ran shouted desperately, "Young Valley Master, I'm innocent!"
But she was silenced in the next instant.
Ashamed to remain any longer, Ancestor Ye rose and said, "I will search for any other traitors. Please, make yourselves at home."
He vanished in a flash of light.
Ye Yirui stepped forward, bowing. "Please don't take offense. Ancestor only left so quickly because he feels ashamed."
Yunxi waved casually. "We're pressed for time. Take me to see your brother."
"Of course, this way."
Ye Yirui had assumed there was no hope left, so Yunxi's willingness to examine her brother filled her with joy. She quickly led Yunxi and Xun Kun to her private courtyard.
As a mechanism on the wall shifted open, a wave of icy air surged out. Yunxi sniffed the air, catching the distinct scent of millennia-old ice.
Ye Yirui led the way down into a secret chamber where Ye Yuchen lay sealed in an ice coffin.
Looking at him, Yunxi couldn't help but admire his striking features, though his pale complexion was far from healthy.
Sadness flickered in Ye Yirui's eyes. When Ye Chengbi returned, he told her that repairing her brother's dantian would require the Genesis Azure Lotus—a treasure lost since ancient times. Where could she possibly find it?
Even knowing the answer, Ye Yirui clung to a sliver of hope. With a wave of her sleeve, she opened the ice coffin.