Chapter 105 Master is Injured

In the main hall of Holy Son Peak, Xiao Ming had changed into a black-patterned brocade robe, his long hair loosely tied up, his aura dense and composed as he sat cross-legged beside the couch in the main hall.

With a faint shimmer from the storage ring on his fingertip, the crystal he had obtained from the depths of the Blood Pool—fist-sized and containing endless essence of blood energy—floated above his palm.

Even though it was not the first time he had seen it, Xiao Ming could not help but let a trace of amazement flash in his eyes.

The crystal rotated slowly, its deep, restrained blood-red light pulsing as if alive, illuminating the entire hall in a crimson glow.

The blood energy within was incredibly pure and vast as a sea; merely being near it made the blood in his body faintly boil.

He attempted to draw out a wisp of blood energy to absorb, but upon the slightest contact, he felt the blood in his body surge; forcing it would surely lead to a backlash.

"As expected..." Xiao Ming whispered, withdrawing his hand. There was not much disappointment in his eyes, but rather a flash of understanding and solemnity. "Nurtured by heaven and earth, formed over ten thousand years, the blood energy within is no longer comparable to ordinary blood energy; it is nearly Origin energy. My cultivation is still shallow, and forcing absorption would do more harm than good, likely causing me to explode and die."

He then put the crystal back into his storage ring, took out a white jade bottle, poured out two Dragon-eye-sized Medicinal Pills with a lustrous sheen, and swallowed them.

The Medicinal Pills dissolved upon entering his stomach, turning into two warm currents that rapidly merged into his limbs and bones; he quickly calmed his mind and began to Cultivate.

Time passed quietly in the silence of cultivation, and a day and a night slipped by in the blink of an eye.

The following afternoon, Xiao Ming seemed to sense something and slowly ended his session. The Devilish Qi surging around him gradually calmed, and a faint, dark glimmer flashed and vanished from his eyes.

Although he had not achieved a Breakthrough, his cultivation had clearly improved by a notch, taking him a step closer to the Middle Stage.

A stream of purple light flowed into the hall like water, silently coalescing before Xiao Ming.

The radiance faded, revealing You Li's ethereal and stunning figure.

She was still dressed in a black palace gown, her silver hair flowing down, and her fair face appearing like semi-transparent jade porcelain in the dim light of the hall.

The moment she appeared, those amethyst-like eyes locked onto Xiao Ming without blinking. She leaned forward slightly, her petite nostrils fluttering almost imperceptibly, as if catching a unique scent she was infatuated with and addicted to. Her focused posture carried a non-human purity and persistence.

Xiao Ming seemed long accustomed to her demeanor and did not mind, though he felt that compared to before, there was an inexplicable meaning in the way she looked at him now. Hmm... perhaps it was just his imagination!

Xiao Ming raised his eyes and asked: "You're back? Is my Revered Master alright?"

Upon hearing this, a look of "contemplation" appeared on You Li's stunning face; she tilted her head slightly, her long silver eyelashes drooping.

She was silent for a moment, first shaking her head very slightly, and then, slowly nodding.

Xiao Ming was taken aback by her contradictory actions, speechless in his heart: 'No, is she alright or not?'

You Li seemed to have finally organized her words, and her ethereal voice slowly sounded: "Revered Master, your Revered Master... is not in any serious danger. She only sustained some minor injuries and has now recovered for the most part."

She paused and continued: "It's just that... she seems to have been afflicted by some kind of method within her body that is difficult to eradicate for the time being. Every so often, her spiritual energy will become stagnant, her body will feel weak and limp, and her five senses will also become exceptionally sharp... and fragile."

After listening to You Li's description, Xiao Ming's brows gradually furrowed, coldness gathered in his eyes, and his fingertips tapped unconsciously on his knee.

He finally understood why You Li had shaken and then nodded—the external injuries were fine, but this insidious negative effect was clearly a persistent problem.

He was just about to curse, asking which old geezer dared to use such despicable means against his woman... ah no (wrong, wrong), against his Revered Master, but then, not knowing what he thought of, his mind stirred, and he said indignantly:

"It's these kinds of underhanded, shameful tricks again." Xiao Ming's voice was deep, carrying undisguised chill and disgust, "Do you know where my Revered Master is now?"

"In the Vice Sect Master's sleeping quarters." Seeing his expression turn cold and his aura deepen, You Li mistook it for her Revered Master worrying about his Revered Master's safety, so she softened her ethereal voice further and comforted him, "Revered Master, there is no need to worry too much. Your Revered Master has profound cultivation and has already activated the heavy Restrictions within the hall, and is currently doing her utmost to clear that negative state. Her safety should be ensured."

What You Li did not know was that beneath her Revered Master's angry exterior, he was feeling unprecedented joy and excitement. He was not excited because his Revered Master was injured, but because of such an opportunity—

This anomalous fate was unpredictable, and even the System could not see through it. Xiao Ming had long thought that his Revered Master would surely not be in any serious trouble, but this heaven-sent opportunity could not be missed. If he took this chance to be alone with her, show some proper concern, or solve that so-called problem for her, wouldn't he be able to further close the distance between Revered Master and disciple? This was definitely killing two birds with one stone!

Thinking of this, Xiao Ming had made his decision. He prepared to let the little female ghost return to the soul-containing jade to rest.

He was just about to speak, but when his gaze fell back upon the stunning beauty standing quietly before him, he saw You Li still gazing at him without blinking. Her amethyst-like eyes clearly reflected his figure, and her focused posture seemed to suggest that the whole world could only hold him alone.

She lifted her face slightly, and on her stunningly beautiful face, a dazed expression akin to waiting for praise, combined with complete dependence, was faintly revealed, like a little kitten quietly waiting for its Revered Master's comfort after completing a command.

Xiao Ming's mouth twitched again; he always felt that ever since he had subdued the "Phantom", his little female ghost had been looking at him strangely.

He finally took a deep breath, his heart softening, and the cold calculations from just moments ago were diluted somewhat by this pure gaze.

He slowly reached out, with a gentleness even he had not noticed, and gently stroked You Li's cool, smooth, long silver hair, as if stroking the finest silk, whispering, "You've worked hard, go back and rest well."

Feeling the warm touch on her head and the rare doting and tenderness in her Revered Master's words, a truly satisfied smile slowly spread across You Li's usually expressionless face.

She even subconsciously narrowed her eyes slightly and nudged her little head forward, like a cat that had finally received affection; the ethereal aura around her seemed to soften in an instant.

After enjoying a round of her Revered Master's loving caresses, You Li turned into a stream of purple light and, feeling satisfied, merged into the soul-containing jade on Xiao Ming's chest and disappeared.

The hall returned to silence. Xiao Ming's fingertips seemed to still retain the touch of those cool strands of hair. He slowly withdrew his hand, his thoughts settling in his eyes, eventually turning into a deep, pool-like calm. He stood up, adjusted his robes, and without further hesitation, stepped out of the hall, heading towards the sleeping quarters of the Sect's Vice Sect Master, Luo Hongyi.