Zhuge Muyu was already over a thousand years old, having spent centuries refining his essence to reach his current level. Reaching his current cultivation level had taken real effort and dedicated focus, and his strength was more than respectable by any standard in the Spirit Realm.
Still, in Yunxi's eyes—someone who had been leveling up nonstop and cutting down enemies along the way for a century—he was full of openings that a true veteran would exploit. That said, the one she truly needed to guard against wasn't the man himself, but the evil soul that might eventually replace him. So after getting onto the carriage, she stared straight at Zhuge Muyu without hiding it, her gaze unblinking as she searched for any sign of possession.
The young man felt deeply uncomfortable under Yunxi's sticky gaze, his skin crawling at the intensity of her stare, yet his face showed the shy look of an innocent young man. Whenever his eyes met hers, he would hurriedly look away as if embarrassed by the attention, then quickly start a new topic, clearly trying to draw her attention elsewhere to break the silence.
"Xi Yun Zunshàng, may I ask which family you come from? Muyu has never heard your name before in this region."
Yunxi sat beside him and took the chance to pull over his well defined hand, her palm meeting his as she began gently rubbing it with her fingers. She spoke with a casual air.
"This Lord comes from the hidden Su family. I hit a bottleneck in cultivation, so I left the clan to look for a chance to break through. I only arrived in Songran City a few days ago. I didn't expect that my opportunity would be with you."
After speaking, she fixed her blazing gaze on his handsome face.
A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes at the mention of the clan. He quickly smiled and replied, "Muyu has heard of the Su family. During the recent war between good and evil, they specifically sent people to the ancient battlefield to assist. They're a true role model for our generation."
Yunxi sighed softly when she heard that. "Muyu, the Su family only has a good reputation on the surface. That prestige is bought with the lives of many Su family disciples. I was originally on the rotation list to go to the ancient battlefield as well, but my strengths aren't in direct combat, so I used breaking through to mid Unity as an excuse to avoid it."
His heart stirred at the confession, and he gently tried to console her. "Zunshàng, being born into a great family means there are many things you can't control. Since you enjoy the clan's support, you naturally have to give something in return."
Yunxi withdrew the hand that had been holding his and sighed helplessly, her shoulders drooping.
"This Lord understands that principle. That's exactly why I want to raise my cultivation as quickly as possible, so I can at least keep my life once I'm on the battlefield. Disciples who returned injured are still in seclusion, and some even damaged their foundations permanently. All of that's thanks to the cruelty of evil cultivators. Who knows what will happen when I go there myself?"
His eyes shifted slightly, and he didn't continue the topic. Just then, the carriage stopped in front of Xianke Ruyun.
The shopkeeper had seen Yunxi leave early in the morning with a gloomy expression. Now she was back with an even higher level young master from Dengyun Tower. He immediately understood what was going on, yet he still greeted them with a warm smile.
"Honored guest, you're back."
Yunxi swept away her earlier gloom. She smiled brightly, nodded at the shopkeeper in greeting, and led Zhuge Muyu toward her small courtyard.
After watching them leave, the shopkeeper returned inside. A waiter leaned over and whispered, "Uncle, that Zunshàng is really something. She changes a male cultivator from Dengyun Tower every day. She must be swimming in spirit stones."
The shopkeeper didn't deny it. He just knocked the young man on the head with a firm thud. "Call me Shopkeeper in the inn. Other people having spirit stones is their business. Just keep it to yourself and don't spread nonsense."
"This isn't someone you can gossip about. Someone who has cultivated to this level wouldn't really be bewitched by looks. The cultivators from Dengyun Tower are just furnaces she buys with spirit stones to help her break through."
The waiter smacked his lips but nodded obediently. Just then, a guest called out to order a spirit meal, so he hurried off to work.
Back in the small courtyard, the two had barely stepped into the main room when Zhuge Muyu suddenly knelt in front of her. His knees hit the floor and he said in a deep voice, "Please, Zunshàng, save me."
Yunxi had no idea what he was trying to pull with this sudden display. She flicked her sleeve, lifted him with spiritual power, and frowned.
"Muyu, what do you mean by this?"
He pressed his lips together as if making a huge decision. He looked up at her puzzled face and spoke. "Zunshàng, if you're willing to take me away from Dengyun Tower, I'm willing to follow you to the ancient battlefield and become your exclusive furnace. I only ask that after you leave the ancient battlefield safely, you will give me my freedom."
Yunxi dropped her puzzled look, carried Li Li into her arms, and sat down in the main seat. She studied him carefully, her eyes scanning his form. "Muyu, didn't Tower Master Han promise before that as long as you helped this Lord break through, he would let you leave Dengyun Tower? Did I hear that wrong?"
Zhuge Muyu smiled bitterly. "Zunshàng, do you really think the Tower Master would let money trees like us go? He didn't just say that to me. The brothers who believed him before have all vanished without a trace."
Yunxi gently rubbed Li Li's head and smiled faintly. "And what does that have to do with this Lord? My dealings with Dengyun Tower are just a transaction. You help me break through, I pay spirit stones. There won't be any ties afterward. Why would I go looking for trouble?"
He lifted his head, his gaze urgent.
"Zunshàng, you're about to head to the ancient battlefield. There's always the risk of falling or being seriously injured. I can help you."
Yunxi looked at him with an expression that clearly said she wasn't buying it. "You can replenish this Lord's spiritual energy, but spirit stones and pills can do that too. I can't exactly bring you along for dual cultivation in the middle of a fight, can I?"
Zhuge Muyu shook his head. "Zunshàng, you misunderstand. I have a single wood element spirit root, and my innate talent is healing. I only awakened it after breaking through to Out of Body. I was afraid the Tower Master would notice and refuse to let me leave even more, so I kept it hidden."
Yunxi raised her brows and looked at him with clear interest.
Seeing that she was tempted, he carefully organized his words. "Zunshàng, Han Qingwen adopted me when I was young. After I reached Foundation Establishment, the cultivation method he found for me wasn't an aggressive wood element art. It leaned toward dual cultivation. I wasn't willing to accept that, so during one trip outside, I got lucky and picked up a Wood Spirit Pearl.
I fused it with my spirit root and successfully broke through to Out of Body. After that, I realized my wood element spiritual energy had powerful healing effects. After being drained, I can quickly recover my cultivation. It also nourishes the meridians, and cultivators who dual cultivate with me benefit even more. That's when the Tower Master tightly grasped me in his hands.
If not for Jin Xiu angering you this time, the Tower Master would never have let me appear before you."
He finished speaking and looked at her with pleading eyes.
Yunxi replied calmly, "Come closer. Let me check your spirit root."
She made it clear she wouldn't act without proof. He was grinding his teeth with hatred inside, but for the sake of the evil god's grand plan, he still stepped forward respectfully.
A thread of spiritual power as thin as a hair slipped into his body and went straight for his dantian. He endured his body's instinctive reaction and let it enter.
Yunxi didn't go too far. She only circled his spirit root once before withdrawing her spiritual power. Then she smiled.
"Muyu, you really are this Lord's benefactor."