Chapter 43: Jasmine as Master (Part 2)

Soon he will possess a new dantian—

A dantian imbued with divine power!?

To Yun Chue, who had been forever yearning for a way to repair his dantian, these few words from Julia were like thunder striking the earth.

He had told Xiao Ling Xi and Xiao Lie that he would return within three years—knowing clearly the state of his own dantian, he was also painfully aware that repairing it within that span and attaining the overwhelming power to conquer the Xiao family was a target so distant it seemed unattainable. He had made that promise in order to push himself to the absolute limit, because only such pressure could force him to break through under immense strain.

But now Julia was saying plainly—he could have a new dantian right away! And not just any dantian—a dantian endowed with divine power!

What exactly was this “divine power” Julia spoke of? He did not know. Yet the mere phrase “new dantian” sent a trembling, uncontrollable shiver through his heart. Suppressing the turmoil within, he fixed his gaze upon her eyes and said, “You said… it’s real?”

“Would the princess deceive you?” The girl’s pale, flushed face held no trace of jest.

Yun Chue fell silent—indeed, with her terrifying power, even dismissing the idea of a royal dantian as trivial, how could she deceive him, a cripple? In the eyes of ordinary people, or even in his own as the “divine physician,” granting a new dantian in such a short time was pure fantasy. Yet Julia spoke those words with clear, untroubled eyes and an aristocratic bearing, leaving him no hint of deceit.

Still, she bore a mane of scarlet hair unfit for the natives of the Tian Xuan continent; she was young in years, yet possessed an overwhelming dreadfulness of spiritual power. Her poison, which even he—a bearer of the Heavenly Poison Jewel—had never encountered, was legendary. Could the “impossible” she spoke of truly be another facet of her aura?

Perhaps she truly possessed some extraordinary method to grant him a new dantian in such a short span. If that were true, he would have every confidence in fulfilling his promises to Xiao Lie and Xiao Ling Xi.

Thinking this, Yun Chue’s eyes blazed with fierce resolve: “Then… tell me—what are the three conditions you require?”

Julia, knowing he could never refuse, spoke without hesitation: “First, you must agree to retrieve three items for me: one of the Ling Ming Luo flower, three spiritual pills of at least the Wu Xian level, and… at least seventy jin of purple vein spirit crystal!”

Yun Chue listened carefully. When she mentioned the Ling Ming Luo flower, his brow furrowed. He had heard of it from his master but had never seen one. His master had told him the Ling Ming Luo flower grows only in the darkest, most frigid lands—a withered, evil spirit’s bloom. Its stem and leaves are blackish purple, flowering only once every twenty-four years. When it blooms, it is extraordinarily gorgeous, a brilliant violet hue. Its petals are shrouded in a faint purple mist like the breath of the underworld, and as the mist swirls, it faintly emits the sounds of ghostly lamentations and laughter. The flower wilts within three days, only to wait another twenty-four years for the next bloom.

As for its uses, his master said nothing, only warning that anyone who approaches it will be invaded by cold air, causing prolonged coma or even death.

To journey to that dark, frozen realm to find a flower that blooms once in twenty-four years—and risks death merely by proximity—Yun Chue furrowed his brow but showed no greater reaction. If Julia truly could grant him a new dantian, such a demand was not excessive.

But the second item she named nearly made him choke on his words:

Three spiritual pills of at least the Wu Xian level!!! Are you kidding me!?

What is the Wu Xian level? That is a legendary realm beyond the reach of countless cultivators, one that even the lofty cannot glimpse. Across the entire the Cang Feng Empire, only a handful of individuals have ever reached the Wang Xian level, but none have ever attained Wu Xian! Those at the Wang Xian level are called “Sovereigns,” while Wu Xian is termed “Emperor,” implying that one who reaches it becomes the absolute ruler of a domain, unchallenged by any.

In the entire history of the Cang Feng Empire, not a single Wu Xian-level being has ever emerged in a thousand years.

And this girl—pink-lipped, delicate—demanded three spiritual pills from Wu Xian beasts! To obtain such pills, one must slay three Wu Xian beasts! Where does one even find such creatures? Even less so—across the Cang Feng Empire, who could provoke a Wu Xian beast?

Beyond Wang Xian, one ascends to the heavens. Even five Wang Xian-level masters at ten stages could not defeat a single Wu Xian beast. That means all the Wang Xian-level cultivators of the Cang Feng Empire combined would not be able to overcome one Wu Xian beast. Three spiritual pills from Wu Xian beasts—when the heads of the four great sects hear such a demand, they will surely rage like thunder.

The third item Julia named made Yun Chue nearly sit down with a start:

At least seventy jin of purple vein spirit crystal—not purple vein heavenly crystal! Heavenly crystal is a divine treasure, a piece the size of a fingernail worth a fortune, possessed only by vast sects. Common cultivators dare not even dream of such riches. Purple vein spirit crystal is extracted from a heavenly crystal the size of a house, yielding roughly one piece the size of a fingernail.

So, seventy jin of purple vein spirit crystal—

“~!#$%……”

He had reason to believe that even all the purple vein spirit crystals across the Tian Xuan continent might not total seventy jin. And if such a quantity existed, its value would be enough to buy at least three entire Cang Feng Empires!

“You… are you… joking with me?” Yun Chue’s teeth chattered as he spoke. He was certain that anyone in the Cang Feng Empire who heard such a demand would be utterly speechless.

Julia’s face bore no hint of mockery. She fixed her gaze upon him and said calmly: “My poison has rooted itself in my very soul. Even as a bearer of the Heavenly Poison Jewel, it will take me at least several years to fully purify it. Once the poison leaves me, I must rebuild my body. These three items are essential for that reconstruction—none can be spared!”

“…What about time?”

“Thirty years!”

Thirty years? That finally allowed Yun Chue to relax slightly, nodding slowly: “Fine… I accept that condition!”

Nonsense! Thirty years—time moves on, so of course I’ll agree first and figure things out later. As for the Ling Ming Luo flower, the Wu Xian beast’s pills, and the seventy jin of purple vein spirit crystal… after all, I have thirty years. One step at a time.

“What about the second condition?” Yun Chue held his breath, having just survived the first. The second might be even more monstrous.

“The second condition: you must reach the Gong Xian level within thirty years!” Julia still stared at Yun Chue, her voice slow and clear.

“~!$%%……” Yun Chue suddenly felt the urge to spank this little girl on the butt!

He was growing more and more convinced this girl was toying with him!!

“Across the Tian Xuan continent, I do not know… but in the history of the Cang Feng Empire, no one has ever reached the Gong Xian level within thirty years… and more strictly, no one has ever reached Gong Xian at all.” Yun Chue spoke with feigned seriousness, though his twitching lips betrayed his fury.

“Will you accept or not?” Julia arched an eyebrow.

“Yes… yes, I accept!” Yun Chue answered without hesitation, all expression on his face settling into calm composure, his eyes reflecting an ultimate tranquility: “My first condition I may still have some doubts about. But as for this one, it is truly nothing to me. I said that in the history of the Cang Feng Empire, no one has ever reached Gong Xian within thirty years, merely to state that if given the same starting point, I would overturn the empire’s history! If I lose to any of the Cang Feng Empire’s cultivators, then I—truly I would be a failure!”

“Reaching Gong Xian in thirty years… is no idle dream!” Yun Chue’s eyes narrowed, his voice as steady as water.

He had expected her to be dazzled by such passionate words, yet Julia merely gave a slight nod. He felt a pang of disappointment: “But… why must you make me reach Gong Xian within thirty years?”

“A person’s life force corresponds to their spiritual power. My current ethereal body’s life force is drawn from yours. I must rebuild my body and perfectly preserve my previous strength. To do so, I must at least possess Gong Xian-level life force!” Julia spoke calmly, her expression serene.

Yun Chue nodded faintly, then suddenly felt a shock in his heart—

To ensure the rebuilt body and soul merge while retaining its original strength, it must have at least Gong Xian life force… so that means… her previous strength…

Was it above Gong Xian!?

No! Impossible! Absolutely impossible! It must be my misunderstanding! Yun Chue waved aside the absurd, ridiculous thought.

When Julia’s gaze returned to him, it grew stern and proud: “The third condition… kneel and pay homage to me as your master!”

“…”

“…………”

Yun Chue stared at her, unable to speak a single word.

“You refuse?” Julia arched an eyebrow, her beautiful, youthful face bearing a dignity that sent shivers through his heart.

“…What year are you, exactly?” Yun Chue asked, utterly conflicted.

Julia’s eyes dimmed slightly, but she answered: “Thirteen.”

“Thirteen… years…” The answer matched her appearance perfectly, yet sent a shiver through Yun Chue’s spine: thirteen years old! He gasped in amazement—she was only thirteen! Her spiritual power was terrifying, her mind and bearing mature beyond her years, her speech carried the weight of centuries, and he had thought she must be hundreds of years old… truly, only thirteen!

Yet Yun Chue quickly regained his composure—after all, if she was only thirteen, then no matter how fearsome her power, no matter how noble or mysterious her origins, no matter how cruel or haughty her nature, no matter how mature her intellect… she had barely reached thirteen years of experience! He, with memories from two lifetimes, would find her a natural opponent! No matter how powerful she seemed, she was still just an unripe girl.

“Do you think I’d suddenly find you easier to deal with now that I’m only thirteen?” Julia’s eyes gleamed coldly.

That single sentence struck Yun Chue’s heart. He quickly shook his head: “Of course not. I asked your age to tell you—I’m sixteen, three years older than you. You’re younger than me, so as my master… it’s a bit… inappropriate, isn’t it?”

“Age?” Julia let out a disdainful, icy laugh: “Even if the strongest being in this land knelt before me for ten years, I would not deign to look at them twice. I chose to become your master as a favor to you—yet you refuse?”

“…” The arrogance in her tone choked the breath from Yun Chue’s lungs.

Without hesitation, he bowed: “Very well… I will accept you as my master. But I will not kneel to you.”

“Reason.” Julia’s voice remained calm.

“I can kneel to elders, to those who have done me favors… even to my wife. But kneeling to a little girl I’ve only just met—I cannot do it. It is the most basic dignity of a man!” Yun Chue shook his head, his voice unwavering.

“Hmph…” Julia smiled, her beauty like a blooming jasmine, yet her voice carried a cold, sinister edge: “You cannot decide that!”

When her words faded, Julia’s right hand shot out like lightning, gripping Yun Chue’s shoulder. Instantly, Yun Chue felt as though mountains had settled upon him. Overwhelmed by an unstoppable, colossal force, he collapsed to his knees, falling heavily to the ground before Julia.

“You!” Yun Chue’s face flushed with anger, attempting to rise—yet Julia’s power rendered him utterly powerless. Even expending every ounce of his strength, he could not lift his body a single inch.

“Immediately kneel and pay homage to me, and I will officially become your master. Not only will I replace your dantian, but I will also guide your path in spiritual cultivation.”

Struggling, Yun Chue heard Julia’s cold, disdainful voice in his ear. He shook his head violently, whispering low: “You… give up? I won’t… even if I forgo the dantian… I will never… to a little girl like you… Ugh!!”

Before he could finish, a heavy force pressed his upper body to the ground. Julia lifted her ice-pale, snow-white foot and placed it upon his shoulder. With a slight pressure, a sharp crack echoed as his bones shifted out of place. Yun Chue’s twisted head struck the cold earth with a sickening thud—the kneeling ritual was complete.

Julia’s foot remained upon his shoulder, her hands clasped before her, sneering: “Do you think your bones are so hard, so impressive? Without strength, you cannot even refuse to kneel to me. What right do you have to pride yourself in such things? In the face of an absolute master, your supposed dignity and arrogance are nothing but a joke!”

Julia’s words were like cold water, drenching Yun Chue’s head. He stood frozen, then slowly smiled—for she was right. Without strength, one has no right to speak of dignity or pride. His recent display of arrogance, in her eyes, must have seemed absurd beyond measure.

“Though unwilling, you have at last knelt. From this moment, I am your master. As your master, do you have any questions?” Julia’s foot rested upon his shoulder, regarding him from a position of supreme dominance.