"There's no need to compensate me."
Xun'er tilted her adorable little head, thought for a moment, then accepted the Triple-Pattern Essence Pills and the Gathering Qi Powder with a bright, blooming smile.
"But since it's Cousin Xiao Se giving them… I'll accept them."
"Thank you, Xun'er."
From Xiao Se's explanation, Zhu Zhuqing understood well the value of an Earth-rank low-level technique. She rose gracefully and bowed slightly to Xun'er.
"We're sisters. Don't be so formal."
Xun'er replied with a cheerful smile.
Zhu Zhuqing nodded gently. Under Xiao Se's guidance, she began switching to the new technique.
Time passed quietly. Unnoticed, nearly a month had gone by.
During that month, Zhu Zhuqing's former Soul Master foundation fully revealed its advantage. Using the strength she had accumulated in her past life, combined with Xiao Se's Essence-Nurturing Spirit Liquid, she rapidly surpassed Xiao Yu—reaching nine-star Dou Fighter.
This gave the clueless Xiao Yu tremendous pressure.
For a time, she threw herself desperately into cultivation. Near the end of the month, she managed to break through one more star, reaching seven-star Dou Fighter.
At the same time, Xiao Se—using the Azure Spirit Fire Lingzhi Ointment, the Azure Lotus Platform, and the upgraded Earth-rank version of Burning Art—also gained one star of strength.
As for Xiao Yixian, by consuming large amounts of poisonous herbs harvested from the Ice–Fire Yin Yang Spring and refined into medical toxins by Xiao Se, she smoothly broke through to six-star Dou Huang. Even Xiao Se and Xun'er—who were usually calm—felt a rare moment of speechless awe at her monstrous speed.
Xun'er, too, didn't remain her usual laid-back, Buddhist-style cultivator. With her innate talent, she completed the leap from eight-stage Dou Qi to Dou Fighter within a month and switched to a high-level Xuan-rank fire technique.
Inside the Hanhai protective barrier—
"Little pervert, why did you bring me in here? Can't you say whatever it is outside?"
Xiao Yu sat beside Xiao Se, cheeks scarlet, fingers gripping her skirt tightly as she looked away nervously.
Xiao Se chuckled lightly. "Close your eyes first."
"Y-You… you better not try anything weird! Xun'er and the others are still outside!"
Although her words said one thing, her trembling eyelashes betrayed her anticipation as she slowly shut her eyes.
But the kiss she imagined never came.
Instead, a strange, refreshing fragrance surrounded her.
"You can open your eyes."
Xiao Se smiled, touching the white treasure pouch gifted by Bibi Dong.
A moment later, a crystal-clear white herb appeared in his hand, dazzling like a pure snow lotus.
Smelling the fragrance, Xiao Yu instinctively opened her eyes and stared blankly at the herb.
"What… is this?"
Xiao Se smiled. "A celestial herb I found during training. It can directly increase your talent and cultivation—no side effects. I've wanted to give it to you for a long time, but back when you were only a six-star Dou Fighter, the medicinal power wouldn't have been enough to help you break through to Dou Shi. Now that you're a seven-star Dou Fighter, you can try it. As long as your luck isn't terrible, you should be able to liquefy your Dou Qi and become a Dou Shi."
(ps: In the original novel, Zhu Zhuqing consumed Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone and gained seven Soul Power ranks instantly even without refinement. Here, Xiao Yu has trained with a high-level Xuan technique for a year and has accumulated plenty of medicinal power. Celestial herbs stabilize the foundation and enhance potential—enough to give a seven-star Dou Fighter a chance at breaking through.)
"Break through… to Dou Shi?"
Xiao Yu covered her lips, eyes filled with disbelief. After a moment, she shook her head, trembling slightly.
"My talent… I know it well. Giving this to me would be a waste. Little pervert, you need it more than I do."
Her refusal sent a warm current through Xiao Se's chest.
He laughed. "Don't worry. Zhuqing and I already consumed ours. And this herb only works once—you can't use a second one for extra effect."
"…I see."
Hearing that, Xiao Yu's face softened into a gentle smile. She no longer resisted.
She sat cross-legged on the bed, and under Xiao Se's guidance, spent nearly five hours completing her breakthrough.
The next morning, at the first hint of dawn—
Inside the wooden cabin, no one slept. Even Xun'er was immersed in steady cultivation.
Ding—one month period completed. Congratulations, host. You have earned one exchange opportunity. You have earned one Wheel of Fortune draw.
Hearing the system's voice in his mind, Xiao Se slowly opened his eyes.
"A month already? Looks like we're close to Canaan Academy. System, give me the Wheel draw first."
Ding—congratulations, host. You have received a permanent travel ticket to the world of 'Fox Spirit Matchmaker.'
"Permanent?"
Xiao Se blinked. It was the first time he'd ever gotten a ticket with no expiration.
"So I can enter and leave that world whenever I want?"
Ding—correct.
Xiao Se's eyes brightened.
With this, he essentially had a personal safe haven. Whenever he faced an unbeatable opponent—or someone he wanted to drag down with him—he could slip straight into the Fox Spirit world.
As the saying from his past life's New Three Kingdoms went:
I love watching you hate me yet being unable to kill me.
Smirking to himself, he took out paper and pen, and once more began creating "unspeakable" art.
"System, exchange this masterpiece."
He admired the completed work with great satisfaction.
Ding—congratulations, host. You have exchanged for: Sword Intent of Sword Array Marquis Third Stage — from the world of 'Sword Mastery Supreme' in the Heaven Sword Continent.
"Sword Intent?"
Xiao Se's heart trembled.
More than a year had passed since he last received something from the True Spirit World. The last time was the Dragon Blood Grass from the Dragon Lair ruins of the Wild Ancient Lands.
And this… was even more valuable.
Sword Intent—able to directly amplify attacks, cut through void energy, even obliterate the soul.
With Sword Intent, anyone attempting a soul probe—so long as their soul wasn't vastly superior—could be instantly wounded in spirit or soul by his counterstrike.
In the original novel, Ye Chen rose to dominance largely thanks to Sword Intent.
"This time… I really struck gold."
Xiao Se couldn't hide the grin spreading across his face.
But his joy soon dimmed as he recalled who this Sword Intent came from. The Sword Array Marquis—he remembered vaguely—was an enemy Ye Chen encountered in the Life-and-Death Secret Realm. A ruthless man who killed for treasure, robbing anyone he met.
Yet despite his greed, in the final demonic invasion, he didn't flee.
He died fighting, at the hands of the demons.
(End of Chapter)
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