Chapter 13

Yan Luoluo collapsed onto the bed, completely drained of strength, too lazy to even twitch a finger.

Two full days and nights of high-intensity artifact crafting had all but sucked dry her mental energy.

Inscribing Formations, controlling the flame, adjusting spiritual patterns... every single step demanded ultimate focus, and the slightest slip would ruin everything. Her nerves had been stretched taut like a fully drawn bowstring, and she only finally relaxed once the very last ring was finished.

The result? She was as exhausted as a mortal who had pulled a week-long all-nighter.

Yet this kind of depletion was not without its rewards.

In the world of cultivation, your stage determines how high you can climb, but your Divine Sense determines how far you can go.

1. Defense and Suppression: - If a cultivator's Divine Sense is as fragile as scattered sand, no matter how high their cultivation stage, they risk being directly crushed by an enemy's Divine Sense. The light consequence is damage to the sea of consciousness; the heavy consequence is the complete destruction of their divine soul. Example: Three hundred years ago, a Deity Transformation stage cultivator with a weak Divine Sense had his sea of consciousness shattered by a Nascent Soul stage evil cultivator's mental attack, leaving him permanently crippled.

2. The Bane of Demonic Tribulations: - When cultivators break through realms, the Demonic Tribulation is inevitable. The stronger one's Divine Sense, the easier it is to maintain clarity and avoid being seduced by inner demons. Example: When the sword cultivator Gu Qinghan was undergoing her Nascent Soul Demonic Tribulation, thanks to her formidable Divine Sense, she slashed away her inner demons in a mere three breaths, astonishing the entire sect.

3. The Cornerstone of All-Round Development: - Whether it is alchemy, talisman-making, artifact crafting, or comprehending cultivation manuals, a powerful Divine Sense allows a cultivator to achieve twice the result with half the effort.

Though Yan Luoluo felt half-dead right now, her sea of consciousness had unconsciously been forged into something much denser.

It was like loose sand being compressed and gradually transforming into solid bedrock.

True powerhouses in the cultivation world are invariably developed across all fronts: - Physical Combat: Achieving physical sanctification, breaking all laws with sheer physical might (though Yan Luoluo's cultivation stage was mediocre, her talent for physical combat was exceptionally high). - Cultivation Stage: Abundant Spiritual Power, crushing opponents with realm superiority (Ye Wuchen is a classic example). - Divine Sense: Perceiving all things, immune to inner demons (those with a strong Divine Sense can even predict an opponent's moves in advance).

Yan Luoluo's goal was crystal clear—since her current cultivation stage fell short of others, she would push her physical combat and Divine Sense to the absolute limit!

Ye Wuchen stood outside the door, his Divine Sense gently sweeping over the little disciple sprawled across the bed like a pancake, a trace of a smile flashing in the depths of his eyes.

Her sea of consciousness was a fraction denser than it had been yesterday.

He raised a hand in a light flick, and a gentle wave of Spiritual Power quietly flowed into Yan Luoluo's body to help soothe her fatigue.

"Sleep," he murmured softly. "You have your matches tomorrow."

In her sleep, Yan Luoluo unconsciously rubbed against her pillow and mumbled, "Master... these rings... you can't sell them this cheap..."

Ye Wuchen: "......"

Was she thinking about making money even in her dreams?

Ye Wuchen gently pushed open the bedroom door. Moonlight filtered through the lattice window, laying a layer of silver frost across the blue-jade floor tiles. Yan Luoluo was fast asleep on the bed, unusually still instead of tossing and turning as she typically did, curled up quietly with a soft pillow instinctively clutched in her arms.

She looked like a little fox that had finally tired itself out from making mischief.

The corners of his lips curved upward. His gaze swept over the small mountain of rings piled on the desk, and with a flick of his sleeve, nine hundred rings floated up into the air all at once, spreading a starlight-like radiance across the room.

Ye Wuchen closed his eyes slightly, and his majestic Divine Sense swept like a tide over every single ring— - Checking the stability of the Formations (to ensure they wouldn't suddenly kick up a huge fuss the way the Twin Lotus rings had) - Testing the capacity of the storage space (he spotted at once that Yan Luoluo had sneakily crammed an extra "Yearning Mirror" function into the couple's rings) - Verifying the strength of the anti-theft prohibitions (only to discover that his little disciple's master-binding Formation could actually block the Divine Sense probing of a Deity Transformation stage cultivator)

"She is certainly cautious," he chuckled softly. With a flick of his fingertips, all the rings fell into their pre-prepared jade boxes according to their categories.

These jade boxes had also been crafted by Yan Luoluo's own hands, each lid carved with intricate "Triple Locks": 1. Blood Identity Verification: Opening them for the first time required a drop of the owner's blood to bind ownership. 2. Divine Sense Imprint: Anyone else's Divine Sense touching them would trigger a lightning strike (the thunder patterns sponsored by Jingzhe). 3. Self-Destruct Procedure: If dismantled by force, the rings inside the box would instantly teleport back to Yan Luoluo's storage cabinet.

It could honestly be called the most powerful anti-theft system in the cultivation world!

Ye Wuchen amusedly toyed with one of the jade boxes, only to notice a line of tiny characters engraved on the bottom: "Whoever dares steal these rings, let heavenly lightning strike them—Crafted by Master Yan"

"......"

He shook his head helplessly, flicking his sleeve to stash all the jade boxes into a dedicated storage pouch.

Under the moonlight, the red thread on Ye Wuchen's finger was faintly visible. He stared at it for a moment, then suddenly channeled his Spiritual Power into it—

"Hum!"

The previously hidden red thread flared brilliantly, its other end connecting to Yan Luoluo's ring finger, casting a warm golden-red glow in the night.

Sleeping soundly, Yan Luoluo seemed to sense something. She unconsciously curled her fingers and mumbled, "Master... split the spirit stones fifty-fifty..."

Ye Wuchen laughed in spite of himself, his fingertip gently hooking the red thread: "Sleep. Tomorrow will wear you out."

After all, the physical combat grand tournament wouldn't show mercy just because someone stayed up late crafting artifacts.

That night, Yan Luoluo slept fitfully.

The Spiritual Power within her meridians surged like a tide, and her Hùndùn Spiritual Root greedily devoured the spiritual energy of heaven and earth while she remained fast asleep—the cultivation barrier of the third tier of the Golden Core stage quietly broke open after those two days of high-intensity exhaustion!

Yet the price for this skyrocketing cultivation was the silent approach of the Demonic Tribulation...

Yan Luoluo stood upon a boundless snowfield, cold winds whipping shattered snow across her robes. She looked down at her hands—these were clearly the hands of a powerful senior cultivator, brimming with Spiritual Power, the fingers long and slender.

"Could this be... the Integration stage?" she muttered to herself.

Suddenly, a glaring splash of crimson in the snow caught her attention.

A child of about ten lay in a pool of blood, dark hair scattered messily across the snow, un-dried bloodstains still smearing his pale face. Yet even unconscious, those delicate brows and eyes already hinted at a breathtaking, otherworldly grace in days to come.

It was a young Ye Wuchen!

Yan Luoluo's pupils constricted, but her body moved on its own, stepping forward to scoop the child up into her arms.

"A supreme single spiritual root?" She heard "herself" chuckle with amused interest. "Quite the fine material indeed."

The dream's timeline rushed forward. - Year One: - Young Ye Wuchen remained reticent after waking, yet he would secretly warm up tea for her before quietly retreating to the side. - She tossed him a basic cultivation manual, and three days later, he was emitting sword qi. - Year Five: - Teenage Ye Wuchen was already half a head taller than her, his white robes fluttering as he practiced swordsmanship, frequently drawing female cultivators from the mountain below to visit. - Impatiently, she set down a prohibition: "Anyone who dares step foot in this valley again gets fed to the poison bugs!" - Year Ten: - The day Ye Wuchen achieved Great Completion of his Golden Core, heavenly lightning shattered her favorite pavilion. - She grabbed him by the ear and scolded, "Unfilial disciple! Pay for the damages!" - Yet he just smiled and handed over a lightning rod he had crafted himself: "Master, use this for the next lightning tribulation."

Until one day, a group of men in black surrounded the valley.

"The Demon Lord's remnants, you really are hiding here!" The leader sneered, raising his sword.

Only then did she learn—Ye Wuchen was actually the son of the previous Demon Lord, and this pursuit was something he could never escape, destined from a decade ago.

"Go!" She shoved Ye Wuchen away, her Integration stage Spiritual Power erupting completely, "Remember, you have always been my disciple!"

The last thing she saw before blood stained her vision red was Ye Wuchen's bloodshot eyes and a heart-rending— "MASTER!!!"

"Gasp—!"

Yan Luoluo bolted upright from the bed, cold sweat soaking her clothes. Trembling, she touched her chest, where the searing agony of being pierced by a sword still seemed to linger.

Outside the window, the sun was already high in the sky, and Ye Wuchen's voice drifted in from outside: "Luoluo, it's time to set off for the grand tournament."

Stunned, she looked down and discovered that the red thread on her ring finger had somehow begun to manifest, glowing with an eye-catching, blood-red light...

Yan Luoluo stared at the section of red thread suddenly visible on her ring finger, a question mark slowly rising over her head: "⊙▽⊙ What is this? Why is there a piece of red thread right here?"

She instinctively gave it a tug, but the red thread didn't budge at all, even emitting a faint golden shimmer as if mocking her futile efforts.

Crap, could this thing actually be tied by the Heavenly Dao?!

Before she could figure it out, the shouting of a time-keeping disciple echoed from outside: "The physical combat grand tournament—third quarter of the Chen hour begins now—"

"I'm going to be late!!!" Jolting awake, Yan Luoluo instantly threw the red thread to the back of her mind, springing up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

She completed the following operations in three minutes: 1. Formed hand seals to change clothes (her Dharma robes put themselves on automatically, but the sash was still crooked). 2. Performed the Clear Water Charm to wash her face (only to use too much force and splash water all over herself). 3. Dashed forward using the Wind-Flight Technique (shooting out the door like an arrow released from a bow, "whoosh").

Yet the moment she charged three yards out, the back of her collar was grabbed by someone—

Holding her with one hand like a struggling, clawing kitten, Ye Wuchen turned her around and walked back with a blank expression. "→_→ What's the rush?" he said coolly. "Eat something first."

Yan Luoluo thrashed her limbs: "(?????)????? But the match is about to start!"

"It starts at the third quarter of the Chen hour, it's only the first quarter now." Ye Wuchen pressed her down at the table. "You haven't eaten in three days; do you want to pass out in the ring?"

No sooner had the words left his mouth than Yan Luoluo's stomach cooperated with a loud "growl—".

Yan Luoluo: "......" (Traitor!)

Laid out on the table were: - A bowl of spiritual-energy-infused Snow Lotus spirit rice porridge (capable of instantly restoring physical stamina) - Three Scarlet Flame beast meat patties (to boost blood vitality) - A pot of Calm-Heart Tea (specifically to guard against inner demon disturbances)

Just as Yan Luoluo was about to feel touched, she heard her master deliver a finishing blow:

"If you get knocked out of the ring because you passed out from hunger..." Ye Wuchen ladled her porridge in a leisurely manner, "Don't say you're my disciple; this Venerable cannot afford to lose that face."

Yan Luoluo: "......" (The porridge suddenly lost its appeal)

"And another thing." He picked up another meat patty and piled it into her bowl. "If people get the wrong idea and think the Lingxiao Sect mistreats its disciples, I'll dock half a year's stipend."

Yan Luoluo: "!!!" (Is that human speech?!)

Grief-stricken and indignant, Yan Luoluo bit into the meat patty, chewing with a loud crunch as if she were gnawing on Ye Wuchen's bones.

A quarter of an hour later, Ye Wuchen wrapped an arm around Yan Luoluo's waist and swept his sleeve— Teleportation!

Opening her eyes again, the two of them were standing right at the edge of the physical combat grand tournament ring. Before the surrounding disciples could even react, Ye Wuchen had already released his grip, calmly walking over to the special viewing area next to the judges' seats.

Silence fell over the entire audience for a fraction of a second, before it erupted into chaos: "Xuanxia Immortal Venerable?! Wasn't he in seclusion for nearly seven hundred years?!" "The last time he showed his face was during the Immortal-Demon War when he split the Demon Abyss with a single sword..." "Wait, did he just carry that four-element spiritual root disciple over?!"

Ignoring the commotion entirely, Ye Wuchen smoothed his robes and sat down. As he did, his peripheral vision swept over Yan Luoluo, who was still in a daze, and he sent a Voice Transmission: "If you dare lose, I'll dock a year's stipend."

Yan Luoluo: "!!!" (Is that encouragement or a threat, hey!)

[Extra Vignette · Side Story] 1. Regarding Master's Soul-Searching Questions About Childhood Yan Luoluo (munching on a Spirit Fruit while stealing glances at Ye Wuchen): "Master, when you were little... were you exceptionally poor? Not even a thick winter coat?" Ye Wuchen (pausing mid-page of his book): "?" Yan Luoluo (with a heartbroken expression): "Look at you, dressed so lavishly now, but back then you were actually lying in the snow with nobody looking after you, not even a blanket..." Ye Wuchen (slowly closing his book): "What did you dream about?" Yan Luoluo (alert): "N-nothing! I just suddenly felt that... diligence and thrift are virtues!" Ye Wuchen (narrowing his eyes): "Stipend docked by one month to cover the mental damages of your daydream scriptwriting." Yan Luoluo: "???" (You can do that?!)

2. Regarding the Cost of Quitting the Match Yan Luoluo (staring at her muscle-bound martial cultivation opponent in the ring, swallowing hard): "Master... is it still too late for me to forfeit?" Ye Wuchen (calmly sipping tea): "You may." Yan Luoluo (eyes lighting up): "Really?!" Ye Wuchen: "Two years' stipend docked." Yan Luoluo (instantly bristling): "(Anger｀Д′Anger)!! You're exploiting me! You're extorting me! You're—" Ye Wuchen (glancing at her): "Three years." Yan Luoluo (collapsing instantly): "...I'm getting on stage right now!" (clenches fists with teary eyes)

3. Regarding Master's "Gentleness" (When Yan Luoluo gets blasted flying by an opponent's punch) Ye Wuchen (curling a finger, the red thread quietly giving her a yank) Yan Luoluo (executing a swallow-turn mid-air and landing steadily): "Huh? I didn't actually fall?" Judge (shocked): "Such core strength! Such balance! Truly worthy of an Immortal Venerable's disciple!" Ye Wuchen (Voice Transmission): "If you dare lose, you'll copy the Hùndùn Heart Scripture one hundred times!" Yan Luoluo (body shuddering violently): "!!!" (Combat power instantly skyrockets by 200%)

4. Regarding the Post-Match Interview Bystander Disciple (admiringly): "Uncle-Master Yan, how did you suddenly burst out with such strength today?" Yan Luoluo (with a profound expression): "You wouldn't understand. This is what we call 'poverty drives progress'." Ye Wuchen (coughing lightly nearby) Yan Luoluo (instantly changing her tune): "Ah no, it's Master's brilliant guidance!Heavenly Dao (munching melon seeds in the clouds): "Tsk tsk, the red thread I tied is more useful than a ruler~" Yan Luoluo: The longest road I've ever walked in my life is Master's setups! Ye Wuchen: Indeed, and there are even longer ones ahead, such as the path of a Dao companion.