230: A complete upgrade for everyone

Time in Medicine King Valley slipped away quietly over two months of enrichment and consolidation.

For Qin Feng, Xiao Chun, Xia Ya, and Ji Ruxue, these two months were a critical period for stabilizing and leaping forward in strength. With the full support of Li Changqing and Sikong Ye, who provided supreme pole pills, Xia Ya and Ji Ruxue successfully broke through their Bottlenecks. Their auras became more vigorous and sharp, steadily stepping into the Mid-stage Martial King Realm. Chu Tianhe, under the treatment of abundant resources, also thoroughly consolidated his Late-stage Grand Martial Master Realm. As his eyes opened and closed, a hint of his former sharpness reappeared.

The biggest change, however, came from their protective gear.

Qin Feng carefully divided the four heart-protecting scales bestowed by the Black Tortoise Saint Venerable. Using them as the core and supplemented by top-tier auxiliary materials selected from the treasury, he spent a great deal of effort under the indirect guidance of Master Ouyang Zhi to successfully upgrade his gold thread jade silkworm clothing, Xia Ya's "black tortoise carrying mountain armor," and Ji Ruxue's "Ice Spirit Ghost Shadow Bracers." These three pieces of armor, which were originally Earth Rank Peak Grade, underwent a startling transformation after fusing the Origin power of the Black Tortoise scales with many precious materials. Their defensive power, stealth, and compatibility with their masters all leaped forward, steadily crossing the threshold into the Heaven Rank Low Grade!

As for Xiao Chun's "mystic yellow mountain-suppressing mirror," which was already at the Heaven Rank Low Grade, after Qin Feng carefully nourished it with the remaining scale essence, the mirror's surface became increasingly chaotic and profound. The Concept of guarding the mind and protecting the soul became more magnificent and heavy, its quality faintly touching the edge of the Heaven Rank Middle Stage.

Four pieces of Heaven Rank armor! One of them was even close to the Heaven Rank Middle Stage! With such a configuration, let alone a Martial King, even many Martial Emperor experts would likely feel green with envy and harbor greedy thoughts. This was already the top-tier armament that Medicine King Valley could provide without causing a massive stir in the outside world.

In addition, with the tacit approval of the two Valley Masters, Qin Feng and Xiao Chun frequently visited the Alchemy Hall and the Scripture Pavilion. Relying on the occasional key tips about obscure techniques or lost methods provided by the daily intelligence system, combined with their own extraordinary Comprehension Ability, they actually made rapid progress in Alchemy. In two months, they were already able to stably refine various common Medicinal Pills of the Profound Rank High Grade. Although they were still far from the Great Master Realm, their learning speed and solid foundation already left many Disciples of the Alchemy Hall dumbfounded.

What made Li Changqing and Sikong Ye even more secretly gratified was that Qin Feng and his group did not just bury their heads in cultivation during these two months. With Qin Feng as the core, they also practiced the Four Symbols Formation more skillfully. As their equipment and levels improved, its power increased greatly. Facing an ordinary Martial Emperor, they might even have the strength to put up a fight.

On this day, Qin Feng sat quietly in the courtyard of Bamboo Rhyme Residence, his mind sinking into himself.

[Name: Qin Feng]

[Age: 19 years old]

[Rank: Mid-stage Martial King]

[Talent: Sword Heart (Advanced), Sword Bone (Advanced)]

[Cultivation Technique: Primordial Unity Qi Art (Third Layer Great Perfection), "Daoist Primordial Chaos Art" Volume 1 (Perfection)]

[Martial Skill: Finger Sword Among Flowers (Earth Rank Advanced · Proficient), Hundred Flowers Sword Technique (Earth Rank Advanced · Proficient), Wind Spirit Illusion Steps (Earth Rank Advanced · Proficient)...]

[Weapon: ink plum sword (Earth Rank Peak Grade)]

[Armor: white dragon armor (Earth Rank High Grade), heavenly silkworm jade thread garment (Heaven Rank Low Grade)]

[Special: daily intelligence system (Cooldown: Refreshes at zi hour)]

[Team Status: Su Yuchun (Mid-stage Martial King, Myriad Medicine Body, northern darkness star essence pearl, mystic yellow mountain-suppressing mirror - Heaven Rank Middle Stage, Green Wood Ghost Cry Vine Seeds),]

Xia Ya (Mid-stage Martial King, black tortoise carrying mountain armor - Heaven Rank Low Grade),]

Ji Ruxue (Mid-stage Martial King, Ice Spirit Ghost Shadow Bracers - Heaven Rank Low Grade)]

[Combined Attack: Four Symbols Battle Array (Proficient)]

Looking at the solid data and new configuration on the panel, Qin Feng slowly opened his eyes, a sharp light shining in them. The accumulation in Medicine King Valley was already sufficient, and their wings had grown full. It was time to spread their wings and fly high to pursue a broader world, as well as... that crucial second volume of the "Daoist Primordial Chaos Art."

He stood up, his gaze sweeping over his companions in the courtyard, who also had steady auras and eyes filled with eagerness.

"Everyone," Qin Feng spoke, his voice steady and firm, "it's time for us to bid farewell to the two Valley Masters."

Changqing Hall, rear garden Quiet Room.

Li Changqing and Sikong Ye sat opposite each other, a burner of incense curling between them. After hearing Qin Feng come to bid farewell on behalf of everyone, the room fell into a brief silence.

Sikong Ye gently rubbed his teacup, his gaze passing through the window lattice, seemingly looking toward the Bamboo Rhyme Residence. His voice carried an unconcealable reluctance and worry: "Senior Brother... are we really going to let Xiao Chun leave just like that? She is a Myriad Medicine Body, a rare genius in the path of medicine once in a thousand years, and the future hope of our Medicine King Valley. If she stays in the valley, with the strength of the entire valley focused on her training, resources poured in, guidance from famous teachers, and the occasional favor from the Old Ancestor... perhaps in ten or twenty years, there would be hope of touching the Holy Realm of the Medicine Dao..."

His words were full of longing for a glorious future and deep unease about potentially losing this "hope." As the Vice Valley Master of Medicine King Valley who had dedicated his life to the path of medicine, he knew too well what a "Myriad Medicine Body" meant—it was almost a ticket to touching the legends of the God of Medicine.

Li Changqing remained silent, the expression on his face complex. How could he not want to keep this peerless treasure in the valley, carefully carving it and witnessing it bloom with a light that would shine through the ages? That would be an unprecedented golden age for Medicine King Valley and the most brilliant page he could leave as Valley Master.

After a long time, he finally let out a long sigh, which was filled with helplessness and a deeper sense of awe.

"Junior Brother," Li Changqing's voice was somewhat low, "how could I not know your thoughts? I want to keep her here even more than you do."

He paused, his gaze becoming distant, as if recalling the vast holy might and the The unspeakable existence in Xuantian Valley: "But, the Holy Ancestor had words beforehand... 'Do not force her to stay; let everything follow its natural course.'"

These eight words were spoken very lightly, yet they weighed a thousand jin, pressing down on Sikong Ye's heart.

"Holy Ancestor..." Sikong Ye's body shook slightly, and the unwillingness in his eyes gradually turned into helplessness and relief. Yes, that was the Black Tortoise Saint Venerable, the guardian deity of Medicine King Valley, the supreme existence who had just ascended to the Saint Position due to Xiao Chun's kindness and the ancestral Bloodline returning. His instructions could not be disobeyed and must contain deeper considerations that they could not fully understand at this moment.

"Besides," Li Changqing adjusted his emotions, his tone recovering some of its usual wisdom and gentleness, "a young eagle must eventually leave the nest to soar through the Nine Heavens. Xiao Chun's path may not lie entirely between the Alchemy furnaces and medicinal fields. Her destiny, her fortune, and even the tempering she needs to experience probably lie within that broader Jianghu. If we forcibly confine her to a single valley, it may seem like protection, but it might instead stifle her true potential and opportunities."

He looked at Sikong Ye with an earnest gaze: "What we can do is not to tie her to our side, but to prepare her luggage, point out the possible risks on the road ahead, and then... believe in her, and believe in the companions around her."

Sikong Ye was silent for a long time before finally nodding slowly, letting out another long sigh: "Senior Brother is right. I was thinking wrongly, obsessed with 'possession' and instead potentially losing the way of 'fulfillment.' It's just..." He gave a bitter smile, "thinking about her leaving to face the blood and wind, the schemes and deceptions of the outside world, I simply can't let go."

"Even if you can't, you must." Li Changqing stood up and walked to the window, watching the swaying shadows of the bamboo in the courtyard. "This is her path. And we will always be the backing she can return to."

He turned around, the steady smile belonging to the Valley Master of Medicine King Valley reappearing on his face: "Let's go, Junior Brother. Let's give them a proper send-off and give our 'Named Disciple' one last lesson on the 'Jianghu'."