The owner of that voice was a man dressed in a black robe lined with golden velvet. His face was hidden behind a mask, revealing only a pair of mesmerizing eyes and elegant lips.
Just one look at his tall frame and the curve of that dangerous smile was enough to leave one both enchanted and uneasy. There was no doubt—this man was deadly, especially to the opposite sex.
Though he'd been standing in the courtyard for quite some time, not a single passerby had noticed his presence, as if he were invisible.
Earlier, when Lingyue and Little Squeak rescued the dog, this man had been silently watching the entire time. As for that single word—"Interesting"—it was unclear whether he meant it for the girl or the pet.
And then, just as mysteriously as he appeared, the man vanished like he had never existed.
The incident with the vicious dog soon became old news, and during that time, Lingyue remained in high spirits. She was thrilled by the cauldron's newly awakened healing powers.
At first, the whole thing overwhelmed her, but after some reflection, she understood.
Immortal Alchemist Mr. Red Mist was unmatched in healing, yet there were no records or manuals on acupuncture or detailed treatment techniques in the books he had left behind. That could only mean he had used the cauldron itself as a medium to treat complex and difficult ailments.
"If I could heal that dog… doesn't that mean I might be able to help people too? Like my mother?"
With this sudden thought, Lingyue's heart began to pound. Without wasting any time, she rushed home to the Eastern Manor.
Using a simple excuse, she tested the cauldron's healing ability on Granny Liu first. But to her disappointment, when she released the spirit smoke into Granny Liu's body, all she saw were hazy, unclear images.
It seemed that a human body was still too different from that of a dog.
"The cauldron's power is still too weak…"
Though a little disheartened, Lingyue now had just one goal—raise her cultivation level as fast as possible.
Days passed in the blink of an eye. In the meantime, she sold several more batches of Qingmu fruit, and her savings had now reached nearly five hundred silver coins.
Using this money, she bought more plant seeds from the medicinal store. Bit by bit, her dimensional space was growing more diverse with different herb species.
One morning, just as the sun peeked over the horizon, Lingyue sat cross-legged in meditation on her bed. Using the Xuan Yin Jade pendant at her neck as a medium, she started drawing Yuan energy into the jade to form a dark mist—this was the Dark Yin energy her mother, Ye Huangyu, had spoken of.
When a martialist reaches the fifth rank of Body Training, they can begin to separate the Dark Yin from the Yuan energy of heaven and earth. Using this energy, martialists temper and strengthen their bodies, refining their eight meridians. Once all eight meridians are fully cleared and circulation is smooth, a martialist officially steps into the lower Celestial Realm.
Normally, it would take a martialist five to ten years to reach this point. But Lingyue was different. With the Vitality Condensing Liquid and the Xuan Yin Jade to assist her, her training efficiency was many times higher.
Through the jade, large amounts of Dark Yin energy flooded into her eight meridians, strengthening her veins and tendons.
Boom!
With an explosive surge, one of the blockages in her meridians broke through.
"Sixth Rank of Body Training." Lingyue opened her eyes in delight. Her breakthrough had expanded the Yuan energy within her body, greatly enhancing her strength.
Leaping from her bed, she couldn't wait to test her new powers. Hearing the morning roosters crow, she knew the day had just begun, so she made her way into the courtyard.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Each punch and sweeping kick she delivered caused the air to ripple like waves. Before she knew it, the small decorative mountain in the courtyard had been pulverized. Rocks and rubble now covered the grass.
"Six lightning strikes… I've finally mastered the Thunder Burst Fist."
Nodding in satisfaction, Lingyue was certain that even if she faced her cousin Ye Saint now, she would be able to defeat him.
Not yet satisfied, she began practicing the Jade Flower Hand technique next, pushing her body further as the morning sun slowly rose overhead.
"Ever since the spirit smoke appeared, my cultivation and recovery speeds have soared. The cauldron left by Mr. Red Mist is truly an incredible treasure." With her energy gradually withdrawn, Lingyue wiped the sweat from her brow, her cheeks glowing with a healthy blush.
Meanwhile, in the dining hall, the rich aroma of delicious food filled the air.
Since moving into the Eastern Manor, the household's treatment of Lingyue had changed significantly. Now that she was in her adolescent years, Ye Huangyu had specifically ordered the kitchen to prepare nourishing meals for her daughter every day.
On top of that, Lingyue had secretly been adding a few drops of Vitality Condensing Liquid into both her mother's and Granny Liu's meals.
Though they remained unaware, all three of them had shown marked improvements in health—Granny Liu's chronic aches had even vanished.
After finishing breakfast, Lingyue was about to leave for the forge when she noticed Granny Liu frowning over the account ledger.
Since both she and her mother were carefree by nature, the household finances had always been left to poor Granny Liu.
"Granny Liu, is something wrong with the accounts?" Lingyue asked, approaching her.
"It's not a big issue. Our monthly allowance has been steady ever since we moved here. It's just…" Granny Liu hesitated, "the family head's birthday is coming up next month. We'll need to prepare a proper gift, just like everyone else."
Ah, of course—Ye Gu's birthday. It was a major event within the Ye family. In previous years, Ye Huangyu had avoided attending because of their strained relationship. But now, things were different. Ever since Lingyue's stunning performance during the clan competition their status has changed. It would be impossible for them not to attend.
Though life in the Eastern Manor was better, their monthly stipend was only enough to cover basic living and servant expenses. A worthy birthday gift for the house master would cost more than they could spare.
"I see. Don't worry about it, Granny Liu. I'll take care of the gift. Just wait—Grandfather will be pleased." Lingyue's confident words immediately soothed Granny Liu's worried expression.