Yè Shūlí took a deep breath. The Spirit Stone in her hand emitted a gentle glow, and Spiritual Energy poured into her body like a meandering stream.
She did not circulate Spiritual Energy according to the traditional methods of this world. Instead, drawing on the knowledge she had acquired in the modern world, she attempted to transform the Spiritual Energy into a purer form of energy.
This method was deduced from the principles of modern physics and chemistry, making it completely unique in this world.
"Sister Lí, why does this cultivation method of yours look a bit… unorthodox?" Jiǎng Yè scratched his head, looking utterly baffled.
The Spiritual Energy was rampaging wildly inside her body, bearing no resemblance at all to the cultivators he had seen before, whose Spiritual Energy was as docile as a little lamb.
It felt like…
Like an old ox ploughing a field, chugging along so laboriously that just watching made him feel exhausted on her behalf.
As time passed, the Spiritual Energy fluctuations around Yè Shūlí grew increasingly intense, eventually forming a small vortex that continuously absorbed the surrounding Spiritual Energy.
This strange phenomenon caught the attention of some nearby cultivators.
"What's going on over there? Is someone having a breakthrough?" A rat-faced man pointed in Yè Shūlí's direction, looking puzzled.
"Something's not right. Why are these Spiritual Energy fluctuations so bizarre?" Another burly man frowned. "It looks like some kind of evil sorcery!"
The man known as Chén Lǎo'èr stepped forward and said with a sinister grin, "If you ask me, nine times out of ten that's some heretical cultivation method. Who knows what kind of evil scum is practicing here? Let's go take a look!"
A boisterous crowd marched toward Yè Shūlí's location, their eyes filled with wariness and hostility.
Sensing someone approaching, Jiǎng Yè immediately stood up and glared watchfully at the newcomers.
"What do you want?" Jiǎng Yè stepped in front of Yè Shūlí, his tone unfriendly.
Chén Lǎo'èr looked Jiǎng Yè up and down, then smiled disdainfully. "Well, well, isn't this the Jiang Family's good-for-nothing? What, you find yourself a wealthy sugar mommy? I advise you to be smart and get lost right now, and don't get in our way while we vanquish demons and eliminate devils!"
Jiǎng Yè's face darkened, and he was just about to retort when he saw Yè Shūlí slowly open her eyes, a cold sneer curving the corner of her mouth.
The surrounding Spiritual Energy vortex vanished along with it, as if it had never existed at all.
"Vanquish demons and eliminate devils?" Yè Shūlí stood up, dusted off her clothes, and swept her icy gaze over the group. "Are you talking about me?"
Chén Lǎo'èr felt a sudden pang of cowardice under Yè Shūlí's gaze, but he put up a bold front and snapped, "Your cultivation method is so bizarre—if it's not evil sorcery, what is it?"
Yè Shūlí gave a light chuckle, a flash of mischievousness crossing her eyes.
Instead of explaining, she stretched out her hand, and a ball of pure energy gradually condensed in her palm.
This energy emitted a faint golden glow, brimming with a heart-pounding power.
"Want to witness my 'evil sorcery'?" Yè Shūlí's voice was icy, carrying a hint of danger.
Seeing the hair-trigger atmosphere, Jiǎng Yè instantly went into full drama-queen mode.
He sat cross-legged, mimicking Yè Shūlí's posture, formed an orchid hand-seal with both fingers, and took a pretentious breath. Then, shuddering violently, he let out an exaggerated cry, "Oh mama, the Spiritual Energy is so overwhelming, I feel like I'm about to ascend!" As he spoke, he wriggled his body like a drained loach, occasionally making "chug-chug" noises to imitate an old ox ploughing a field.
The surrounding people burst into laughter at his comical antics, and the tense atmosphere instantly dissipated quite a bit.
"I say, Chén Lǎo'èr, your eyesight leaves a lot to be desired! This is Sister Lí's newly researched trendy cultivation method, you understand? It's called the 'Quantum Entanglement Breathing Technique'. It can absorb the essence of heaven and earth, and the spiritual energy of the sun and moon. It cures all diseases and strengthens the body! You country bumpkin, you've clearly never seen the world!"
Jiǎng Yè said smugly, not forgetting to shoot a flirtatious wink at Chén Lǎo'èr.
Chén Lǎo'èr was left completely dumbfounded by Jiǎng Yè's performance, totally at a loss.
He had originally intended to use this opportunity to humiliate Yè Shūlí and pick up some benefits along the way, never expecting that brat Jiǎng Yè would mess it all up.
Watching Jiǎng Yè play the fool, Yè Shūlí couldn't help the corners of her mouth twitching upward.
She stood up, brushed the dust off her clothes, swept her gaze across the crowd, cleared her throat, and said, "First, let me correct the cognitive error of this... well, this big brother."
"First, this isn't any evil sorcery; it's science! According to the law of conservation of energy and the principle of mass-energy conversion, I am transforming Spiritual Energy into a purer form of energy to improve cultivation efficiency.
Second, you call me bizarre, but I actually think you're the bizarre one. Isn't my cultivation method just different from yours? Does that somehow inconvenience you? Is it because I'm too pretty that you're jealous?"
Hearing Yè Shūlí's explanation, the onlookers nodded in agreement.
Although they didn't understand the law of conservation of energy, they felt that Yè Shūlí's words sounded very logical and made complete sense.
Moreover, they knew what kind of person Chén Lǎo'èr was—just a petty scoundrel who bullied the weak and feared the strong. Perhaps he really was just jealous of Yè Shūlí.
"Chén Lǎo'èr, stop talking nonsense here! What does a young girl's cultivation have to do with you?"
"That's right, I think you're just jealous of her!"
"Hurry up and leave, stop making a fool of yourself here!"
Accused by the crowd, Chén Lǎo'èr's face alternated between pale and flushed with anger. Driven to rage by humiliation...
He clenched his fists, glared viciously at Yè Shūlí, and squeezed a sentence through his teeth: "You..."
"You... you just wait for me!" Chén Lǎo'èr stammered out that harsh threat after struggling for a long time, and then scurried away tail between his legs with his lackeys.
After all, two fists couldn't beat four hands, and a wise man doesn't fight when the odds are against him. Of the thirty-six stratagems, running away is best!
Once Chén Lǎo'èr left, the onlookers who had been watching the show also dispersed one after another, talking amongst themselves as they walked about Yè Shūlí and Jiǎng Yè.
"That young girl is amazing, her cultivation method is so unique!"
"Yeah, and that young fellow isn't bad either, he was really standing up for her."
"I reckon their future prospects are limitless!"
When the crowd had mostly cleared out, Jiǎng Yè finally let out a long breath of relief. He collapsed onto the ground in a lazy sprawl and began to complain: "Oh mom, I'm exhausted to death! Sister Lí, this 'Quantum Entanglement Breathing Technique' of yours consumes way too much stamina! I feel like my entire being has been hollowed out!"
Watching Jiǎng Yè put on his act, Yè Shūlí couldn't help laughing. "Alright, stop pretending, get up. You did a good job just now, you actually have quite a bit of acting talent."
Jiǎng Yè sprang up from the ground with a whoosh, looking immensely pleased with himself. "That's a given! I'm a cultivation genius whom acting just happened to hold back! Sister Lí, how about it? Want to consider me? I guarantee I'll be your beast of burden, serve you hand and foot, and pour tea for you..."
"Stop right there, stop right there!" Yè Shūlí quickly interrupted him. "You'd better focus on your cultivation instead of letting your mind wander with all sorts of wild ideas all day long."
Just as the two of them were talking, they suddenly sensed a powerful aura approaching.
Yè Shūlí's expression shifted, and she whispered, "Someone's coming!"
Jiǎng Yè also wiped away his cheeky smile and looked around alertly.
A man dressed in black with a stern expression descended from the sky, landing right in front of them.
His gaze like torches, he swept his eyes over Yè Shūlí and Jiǎng Yè, and said coldly, "What people are you?"
Yè Shūlí and Jiǎng Yè exchanged glances, both feeling an ominous premonition rising in their hearts...
Just as Yè Shūlí was about to speak, Jiǎng Yè seized the initiative, pointed at the man in black, and said in an exaggerated tone, "Oh my, big brother, are you playing the role of Men in Black? With an outfit like that, it's a crime you aren't acting! It's just that this entrance is a bit cliché—can't you come up with something new? Like, riding a broom or stepping on a skateboard?"
The man in black clearly hadn't expected Jiǎng Yè to say that. He froze for a moment, his brows furrowing slightly.
He glanced coldly at Jiǎng Yè, a hint of impatience in his tone: "I don't have time to waste words with you. What people are you?"
Yè Shūlí gave a light cough, signaling Jiǎng Yè to stop fooling around.
She stepped forward, offered a slight bow, and said neither servilely nor overbearingly, "Senior, we are rogue cultivators just passing through. May I ask what business you have with us?"
The man in black looked Yè Shūlí up and down, a flash of surprise crossing his eyes.
He hadn't expected this seemingly delicate woman to possess such composed poise.
Pondering for a moment, he said, "My name is Yè Xiāo, and I am an executive of the Shadow Pavilion. I have come on the orders of the Pavilion Master to investigate a matter."
"What matter?" Yè Shūlí asked.
"I heard that you have cultivated a peculiar cultivation method, which has attracted the attention of quite a few people." Yè Xiāo's sharp gaze locked onto Yè Shūlí. "I want to see your cultivation method."
Hearing this, Jiǎng Yè immediately sprang forward, pointing right at Yè Xiāo's nose and saying, "Hey, what's wrong with you? What business is it of yours what cultivation method we practice? You're violating our privacy rights, understand? Be careful or I'll sue you!"
A flicker of cold light flashed through Yè Xiāo's eyes as he said coldly, "Kid, you'd better not meddle in other people's business."
Jiǎng Yè glared right back without the slightest bit of fear. "What? Want to fight? Come on, who's afraid of whom! Sister Lí, go get him!"
Yè Shūlí pressed a hand to her forehead. This guy was truly a terror who loved chaos.
She took a deep breath and said to Yè Xiāo, "Executive Yè, there is nothing particularly special about our cultivation method. It's just..."
Before she could finish her sentence, she suddenly felt a powerful pressure emanate from Yè Xiāo, locking her firmly in place.
A murderous glint flashed in Yè Xiāo's eyes as he said coldly, "It seems you refuse to cooperate."
Yè Shūlí and Jiǎng Yè's expressions changed as an ominous premonition surged in both of their hearts.
Yè Xiāo's strength was unfathomable; he was likely an opponent they could not handle...
Yè Xiāo slowly raised his right hand, a ball of black energy condensing in his palm, emitting a suffocating aura.
Looking at Yè Shūlí and Jiǎng Yè, a cruel smile hooked the corners of his mouth: "Then don't blame me for being unpolite."
At that exact moment, a voice suddenly rang out: "Stop!"
A figure flashed over from afar at lightning speed, arriving before Yè Xiāo in the blink of an eye.
The newcomer wore white clothes, possessed a handsome face, and carried an ethereal temperament, resembling an immortal descending to the mortal realm.
"Who are you, sir?" Yè Xiāo asked, a trace of wariness flashing in his eyes as he looked at the newcomer.
The newcomer smiled faintly and said, "I am Yún Yì, a disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect. This young lady is a friend of mine, so I must ask Your Excellency to grant me some face."
Yún Yì's face flickered uncertainly; he hadn't expected to run into someone from the Heavenly Sword Sect here.
The Heavenly Sword Sect was a top-tier power on the Xuanhuan Continent. Although he was an executive of the Shadow Pavilion, he still couldn't afford to offend them.
Pondering for a moment, he ultimately withdrew the energy in his palm and said coldly, "Since Young Master Yún has spoken, I will grant you this face. However, I will not let this matter rest so easily."
With that, he turned around and left, disappearing into the night.
Yún Yì watched the direction of Yè Xiāo's departure, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
He turned back around, and said to Yè Shūlí and Jiǎng Yè, "Are the two of you alright?"
Yè Shūlí shook her head and said, "Many thanks to Young Master Yún for stepping in to help."
"Just a trivial matter." Yún Yì smiled slightly. "You two look tired. Why don't you come rest at my estate first?"
Yè Shūlí and Jiǎng Yè exchanged glances, both feeling that Yún Yì was somewhat peculiar...