Five Spirits Manor.
The scenery was serene.
Mountain streams.
Flower fragrance.
Birdsong.
It was a place of calm—too calm for what had just happened.
The carriage slowly stopped.
Fang Yiyi placed Summer Wei into a guest room.
She looked at the unconscious girl, her breathing weak.
"Should I call our sect's physician?"
"No need."
Lin Ye's answer was short and cold.
Fang Yiyi felt herself become unnecessary again.
She snorted inwardly.
So young and already this arrogant… he can't even take advantage of spending time with a beauty like me.
He'll die single.
But her face still wore a polite smile.
"I'll take my leave. If you need anything, the manor steward is always available."
She turned to go—
Lin Ye didn't even bother escorting her.
Fang Yiyi shook her head helplessly.
"This kid's future is worrying."
"Such a perfect chance… wasted."
Five Spirits Manor belonged to Bailing Medicine Sect.
One among hundreds.
But this one…
was the most luxurious.
Fang Yiyi offered it to Lin Ye intentionally.
Yes, he could buy one easily.
But she knew—
Lin Ye disliked trouble.
He accepted.
That meant…
Bailing Medicine Sect had a real chance to build deeper ties.
After Fang Yiyi left…
Lin Ye examined Summer Wei.
Internal injuries.
External injuries.
Organs damaged.
But to him?
Not a problem.
A few pills.
Then he infused qi directly.
In less than half an hour…
Summer Wei woke up.
The key was this:
Lin Ye saved her life early.
Summer Wei opened her eyes.
It felt like she'd just had the most painful nightmare.
Lin Ye spoke calmly.
"You're mostly healed."
"Your broken ribs will take time."
"Stay put. Don't run around."
Summer Wei stared.
Her injuries always happened so suddenly.
And staying with Lin Ye…
she'd experienced two near-death crises in just three days.
This time…
she almost didn't make it.
This life…
was brutal.
"Thank you… for saving me."
She lowered her head, her voice quiet.
She felt useless.
A burden.
A拖累.
But when she looked up—
Lin Ye was already gone.
She'd thanked the air.
Summer Wei clenched her teeth.
"No."
"Lin Ye doesn't need someone weak and emotional."
"He needs a real powerhouse."
She wasn't a fragile woman.
She would use this injury to cultivate harder.
All day.
The city still buzzed with shock from the morning battle.
Lin Ye's name spread like wildfire across every faction.
People who didn't know him learned his record…
and nearly fainted.
"Seven Star Sword Gate is insane—Lin Ye didn't even provoke them!"
"They think they can kill whoever they want?"
"This time they kicked iron."
"They believed they were guaranteed victory… but they never imagined Lin Ye wasn't Tianming Sect—AND wasn't someone they could crush!"
By evening, Summer Wei recovered even more.
Lin Ye's pills didn't just heal her—
they even pushed her cultivation forward.
She broke through to Earth Transformation Realm Fourth Layer.
She also counted the loot:
20 Sixth-Grade herbs.
360 Fifth-Grade herbs.
Nearly 20 billion spirit stones.
A broken map.
Half a treasure map.
But Lin Ye didn't care.
"A treasure map?"
"Don't chase shortcuts."
"Cultivation is the only real treasure."
Summer Wei nodded hard.
Many people sought shortcuts…
and ended up ruined.
They prepared for the Herb Trade Conference.
The steward arranged their carriage.
Even the Blacksteel Leopard got fed.
As they were about to leave—
A long shadow stretched across the ground under the sunset.
Summer Wei turned.
"It's Senior Luo Gui."
She hurried out to greet him.
The terrifying Evil Ghost Pill King stood there…
but his expression was full of emotion.
"Sir Lin… I have come to give thanks."
"And Xiao Huai thanks you… for saving his life!"
The boy spoke clearly, voice bright.
Luo Gui's eyes were red.
Lin Ye's pill…
was far stronger than expected.
At least three times a normal Sixth-Grade pill's effectiveness.
How could Luo Gui not be moved?
His grandson had suffered for eight years.
Now…
the clouds parted.
A new life began.
"This is the agreed payment. Herbs and spirit stones."
Summer Wei accepted the ring.
Luo Gui bowed deeply.
Then Lin Ye stepped forward.
He grabbed Xiao Huai's wrist.
Checked his pulse.
Then Lin Ye's eyes flashed brightly.
"Ancient Spirit Medicine Body."
"In the future…"
"A Ninth-Grade alchemist."
Summer Wei froze.
She'd never heard Lin Ye exaggerate.
But Ninth-Grade?
That was insane.
Was he comforting Luo Gui?
Luo Gui burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! That's too much."
"How far he goes… depends on him."
But the joy in his eyes…
could not be hidden.
Even healing himself wouldn't make him this happy.
Because Xiao Huai's future…
was his greatest comfort.
He coughed.
"Well. We came to thank you. We'll take our leave."
He turned—
Then Lin Ye spoke casually.
"Help me with one thing."
"And I'll heal every hidden injury in your body."
"Restore you… back to your peak."
Luo Gui froze.
His entire body went rigid.
Heal all injuries.
Return to peak.
Luo Gui didn't even dare believe what he heard.
Before today, he didn't care if he lived or died.
All he wanted was Xiao Huai to survive.
Now Xiao Huai's spirit meridian was awakened.
But Luo Gui…
wanted to witness his growth.
To protect him.
To stay by his side.
Yet his own body could only endure another half year.
After that…
his vitality would collapse completely.
He'd be finished.
If Lin Ye truly could restore him…
Then Luo Gui could walk beside Xiao Huai again.
He could protect him until he grew strong.
His voice trembled.
"Y-You… mean it?"
Lin Ye's answer was simple.
"I can heal you."
"After the Herb Trade Conference…"
"You take me to Thousand-Net Gorge."
Thousand-Net Gorge.
The moment Luo Gui heard that name…
his expression darkened.
Clearly, he had experienced something unforgettable there.
As expected…
Lin Ye's request was never simple.
But Lin Ye said he'd heal him before they departed.
That alone…
was terrifying.
Luo Gui, a Fifth-Grade alchemist, understood his injuries perfectly.
Even Sixth-Grade pills could only prolong his life.
Healing fully?
That sounded like a miracle.
But…
Lin Ye had already created miracles.
If it was him…
maybe it was possible.
Luo Gui laughed bitterly.
"Since you're interested…"
"Then I'll accompany you."
He agreed.
Lin Ye nodded.
"Call me Lin Ye."
Luo Gui paused, then smiled.
"Fine."
"Then… give us a ride too."
"We'll go check the Herb Trade Conference."
The carriage was spacious.
Four people fit comfortably.
Summer Wei teased the boy.
"You're so cute. What's your name?"
Xiao Huai hid shyly behind Luo Gui.
But Luo Gui didn't let him call him "Grandfather."
He called him "Master."
Summer Wei giggled.
"So adorable."
Lin Ye closed his eyes, continuing to refine his Nine Revolutions Asura Art.
Luo Gui was quiet.
But his mind kept circling one question—
How was Lin Ye able to kill Moonwheel Realm experts while still Star River Realm?
That leap was absurd.
He had seen it with his own eyes.
And the flame that destroyed Earth Net Sword Formation…
What kind of power was that?
But Luo Gui had traveled the world.
He had seen true freaks.
True monsters.
Age meant nothing.
Some people were born to stand above heaven.
Soon, the carriage arrived at the Central Square.
The place was packed.
Yet strangely orderly.
Bailing Medicine Sect had arranged everything perfectly.
Merchants raised banners, hawking special formulas and longevity remedies.
People bought them happily.
Because they were cheap.
The four of them blended into the crowd.
There were clear zones by grade—
First-grade herbs.
Second-grade herbs.
Even an "Exotic Flora" zone.
That zone sold strange plants—uncommon, sometimes unrecorded.
This was where unexpected fortunes happened.
"It's gotten lively," Luo Gui said.
Lin Ye and Summer Wei bought a massive amount of herbs.
Thousands of Fourth-grade herbs.
Hundreds of Fifth-grade herbs.
Every Sixth-grade herb they saw?
Lin Ye swept them all.
No bargaining.
Not even once.
When Summer Wei paid, it felt like getting stabbed again.
Sir… you can negotiate!
But then she remembered—
Most of this money came from robbery anyway.
She was just passing through spirit stones.
Still…
It hurt.
Total Sixth-grade herbs?
Only thirty-something.
Lin Ye was disappointed.
"I'd rather kill two more Lu Chengxuans."
Luo Gui was speechless watching Lin Ye shop like a tyrant.
This…
this was how alchemists should live.
Then they entered the Exotic Flora zone.
This place was just as crowded.
Because it was full of unknown treasure.
Lin Ye looked at Xiao Huai.
"Go look."
"If you sense anything you like…"
"Tell Summer Wei."
The others were shocked.
But Luo Gui quickly understood.
"Ancient Spirit Medicine Body…"
"Does it have enhanced herb sensing?"
Xiao Huai froze.
"M-Me?"
He looked terrified.
Lin Ye's presence made him instinctively afraid—like Lin Ye was even stricter than his master.
Lin Ye nodded calmly.
"Go try."
Xiao Huai walked forward nervously.
At each stall, he stretched out his hands, closed his eyes, and tried to "feel" the herbs.
Finally…
He stopped at one stall.
He stood still.
Hands spread.
Eyes closed.
The stall owner was a middle-aged man with a thin mustache and triangular eyes.
He frowned.
"Kid, are you casting spells at my stall?"
Xiao Huai suddenly opened his eyes.
He pointed at a wild ginseng-looking herb.
Then shouted excitedly—
"Summer Wei! This one is treasure!"
Summer Wei's face changed instantly.
This kid…
didn't know how to talk at all.
Sure enough, the stall owner's eyes flashed with greed.
"Hehehe…"
"Good eye, kid."
"This is a unique treasure."
"At least… a hundred-thousand-year herb!"
"If I hadn't dug it up in time…"
"It would've become a spirit and run away!"