On the way, Han Yu wheedled, “Master, Master, put it on quickly and let me see! These tassels match your blue dress perfectly!”
Looking at the little girl's bright eyes, which were filled with anticipation, Su Yueli sighed helplessly.
As a legendary powerhouse who had entered the Dao through martial arts and shaken both ancient and modern times, when had she ever played around with such girlish adornments?
But facing her pure and innocent little disciple, she simply could not bring herself to be cold-hearted.
“I really can't do anything with you.”
Su Yueli shook her head. With her slender, fair hands, she gently slid the hairpin adorned with blue tassels into her hair along her dark tresses.
As the hairpin settled, a gentle breeze blew, and a few strands of blue tassels swayed softly by her ears, making her originally cold and ethereal face appear a bit more lively and charming.
Her original intimidating majesty that warned others to keep their distance was instantly diluted, replaced by a breathtaking, incomparable beauty.
Han Yu was completely dazed. Her small mouth fell wide open, and she could not help but exclaim, “Wow! Master! You're so beautiful! You look just like a fairy who has descended to the mortal realm!”
Su Yueli glanced sideways at her, but the corners of her mouth curved up slightly. She reached out and lightly flicked the girl's forehead. “Cut the flattery. This trinket is quite heavy. I'll take it off once we're done looking around.”
“Don't! It looks so good on you!” Han Yu covered her forehead, giggling as she dodged to the side.
Meanwhile, Jiang Yunsheng, who was standing to the side, was completely mesmerized.
He was accustomed to being high and mighty, and had seen countless beauties of Great Qian and female cultivators from immortal sects. Yet, this blue-robed woman before him had merely casually worn an ordinary hairpin, and the elegance and peerless beauty she displayed instantly eclipsed all other women in the world.
A violent ripple surged in Jiang Yunsheng's heart, and his eyes revealed an undeniable sense of wonder and affection.
But the moment he recalled the terrifying scene in the Ice Soul Abyss where this woman had effortlessly blasted an Eleventh Realm great demon to pieces with three punches, a sudden chill ran down his spine. The improper thoughts that had just arisen were instantly doused with a bucket of ice water, ruthlessly snuffed out in their infancy.
What descending fairy? She was clearly a primordial beast wearing the skin of an exquisite beauty!
She could only be observed from a distance; she was absolutely not to be trifled with!
Jiang Yunsheng forcefully suppressed the fluttering in his heart, smiling to hide his awkwardness. “Lady Han is right. With this hairpin, Your Excellency Su is indeed a sight of unmatched beauty.”
Su Yueli merely nodded calmly without saying more, leading Han Yu to continue strolling along the bustling Xuantian Street.
The streets along the way were lined with all kinds of rare and novel items. Han Yu was like a bird newly returned to the mountains, finding everything fresh and exciting.
Su Yueli patiently accompanied her, stopping and starting, occasionally answering a question or two about the world's affairs and local customs.
As they walked, Su Yueli stopped in front of a massive building that emitted a rich medicinal aroma.
A giant gold-lettered sign of the Tongtian Merchant Guild hung high on the building, and those entering and leaving were all cultivators of impressive strength.
Su Yueli eyed the guild, then turned her head to Jiang Yunsheng and said, “Your Highness, is there any high-grade elixir in this Imperial City specifically suited for low-level mundane martial artists to forcefully expand their meridians and regulate their blood qi? I would like to purchase some to lay a foundation for my disciple.”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yunsheng's eyes immediately spun.
This was a god-given opportunity to draw closer to her!
Although elixirs for ordinary martial artists were not precious in Great Qian's cultivation world, the Bone-Cleansing Elixirs and Dragon Blood Salves treasured in the royal family's inner treasury were all top-grade items refined from superb medicinal herbs. They could not be bought at external merchant guilds at all!
Jiang Yunsheng immediately shot a look at Pang Lie, whose blood qi had recovered slightly behind them.
Having followed the Crown Prince for many years, Pang Lie understood instantly. He quietly retreated into the crowd, transforming into a streak of golden light that shot toward the Great Qian imperial palace.
Jiang Yunsheng turned back and laughed heartily. “Why should you go to a merchant guild to buy those ordinary, inferior products, Your Excellency? Our Great Qian royal treasury happens to store a batch of Bone-Tempering Marrow-Cleansing Pills and Jade Marrow Blood-Coagulating Salves refined by top alchemists of the past. They have the effect of completely transforming any martial artist below the Fifth Realm! I have already ordered Commander Pang to return to the palace to fetch them. Please wait a moment, Your Excellency.”
Su Yueli raised her eyebrows, naturally seeing through the Crown Prince's attempt to curry favor, but she did not refuse either. “Then I must thank the Crown Prince.”
After all, these things could not be bought in ordinary merchant guilds.
A moment later, Pang Lie rushed back in a hurry and respectfully presented a red sandalwood box.
When the wooden box was opened, a refreshing fragrance instantly wafted to their noses. Inside lay three pills emitting a faint golden glow, along with a bottle of translucent salve.
Just taking a single sniff made Han Yu feel the circulation of her blood qi accelerate by thirty percent. Her small face was filled with shock.
“This is excellent.”
Su Yueli smiled and nodded. She casually pulled some spirit stones from her robe and handed them over. “Your Highness, name a price. I do not like owing favors.”
Seeing this, Jiang Yunsheng waved his hands repeatedly. “You mustn't, Your Excellency! They are merely a few pills for martial artists, nothing more than a drop in the bucket to my Great Qian royal family. If I were to accept spirit stones, it would make me look petty if word got out!”
He then cupped his hands. “Just treat it as a meeting gift from this junior to Lady Han!”
His calculations were excellent. Trading some worthless martial artist pills for a favor from a supreme powerhouse was an absolute steal.
However, Su Yueli's eyes grew imperceptibly colder.
The hardest thing to repay in the world was a favor. Throughout her long years of longevity, she had seen too many people who pestered others by using small favors.
“One thing is one thing.”
Su Yueli pressed the bag of top-grade spirit stones into Jiang Yunsheng's hand. “I will accept the items, but you must take the spirit stones. I do not like taking things from others for free.”
Seeing this, Jiang Yunsheng could no longer refuse, so he accepted them.
Having obtained the desired elixirs, the four of them settled down to rest at Linxian Restaurant, the largest restaurant in the Imperial City.
Night fell.
Inside the Heaven-grade guest room of Linxian Restaurant, the lights were brightly lit.
Han Yu sat cross-legged on the cold jade bed and consumed one-third of the Bone-Tempering Marrow-Cleansing Pill that Su Yueli had dissolved for her.
Boom!
The incredibly powerful medicinal force exploded like a torrent within her body, continuously surging through her meridians.
For an ordinary martial artist, such overbearing medicinal force would have been enough to burst their meridians. However, under the protection of Su Yueli's extremely pure martial intent, the medicinal force transformed into the gentlest clear stream, continuously cleansing the impurities within Han Yu's body.
Coupled with the insights she had gained from watching Su Yueli throw those punches over the past two days, the blood qi within Han Yu's body boiled violently!
Crack—
A sound like some sort of shackle breaking echoed within her body.
Han Yu's aura climbed rapidly, and her original peak Second Realm bottleneck was instantly shattered. Her vast blood qi formed a faint crimson glow on the surface of her body.
“Phew...”
Han Yu exhaled a mouthful of turbid air and suddenly opened her eyes, a sharp light flashing in her clear gaze.
She rolled off the bed. Feeling the strength within her body, which was several times more abundant than before, she excitedly threw herself straight into the arms of Su Yueli, who was guarding her nearby. “Master! I broke through! I've reached the Third Realm!”
Su Yueli stroked her hair, a trace of warmth appearing in her eyes. “Not bad. Your foundation is very solid, but remember not to be arrogant or impatient. The Third Realm is merely the starting point of the martial path.”
“Yes! Your disciple will keep Master's teachings firmly in mind!” Han Yu nodded.
The next morning, the sun rose in the east.
The gates of the Great Qian Imperial City slowly swung open.
Su Yueli led Han Yu out of the city gates, with Jiang Yunsheng and Pang Lie escorting them all the way to the ten-mile pavilion.
Jiang Yunsheng respectfully cupped his hands. “Your Excellency Su, heading straight east leads to the border of the Great Yan Dynasty. I shall escort you only this far. I wish you a smooth journey and hope you find the Myriad Tribulations Blood-Washing Vine soon!”
Pang Lie also bowed deeply. “Take care, Your Excellency!”
“No need to go any further.”
Su Yueli's expression was indifferent. She nodded slightly to the two of them, then took a step forward with Han Yu.
Whoosh—
Her blue figure instantly vanished into thin air, turning into a streak of light that disappeared at the horizon of the Great Qian Imperial City, heading straight in the direction of the Great Yan Dynasty!
Only Jiang Yunsheng and Pang Lie were left standing dazed in the wind, staring blankly.
Rate on N.U.
