“Miss Yueli, a hundred years have passed, yet your appearance hasn't changed at all.”
Zhao Yan looked at Su Yueli's young, beautiful face, deeply shocked.
Mortal martial artists had limited lifespans; no matter how high their cultivation, they could not withstand the erosion of time.
Yet the woman before him showed not a single trace of aging compared to a hundred years ago. Could she have obtained the legendary method of longevity?
“Could it be that you have achieved longevity?” Zhao Yan couldn't help but ask.
Su Yueli's expression remained calm as she laughed it off and prevaricated, “It is merely a technique to preserve one's youth. How could there be such a thing as longevity in this world?”
Longevity was her greatest secret, and she must never mention it to anyone.
Zhao Yan was a smart man. Seeing that she was prevaricating, he did not press further. After chatting for a bit along the same lines, he stopped asking.
After chatting for a while, Su Yueli rose with Han Yu to take her leave. “Thank you for your hospitality today, Fourth Prince. We still have important matters to attend to, so we shall take our leave now.”
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Su Yueli left the estate with Han Yu.
Standing at the entrance, Zhao Yan watched Su Yueli's receding back and muttered to himself, “Can a martial artist who relies solely on blood qi without spiritual energy really remain ageless for a hundred years...?”
Beside him, Gu Chen also looked thoughtful and said, “Your Highness, there are too many mysteries surrounding Miss Yueli. She was very mysterious back then, and now, her strength has likely reached an unimaginable level.”
Zhao Yan sighed. “Indeed. A figure like her is not someone we can see through.”
...
After leaving Heifeng Town, Su Yueli led Han Yu straight toward the Great Li Imperial City.
Along the way, the clever Han Yu did not ask her master about the secrets of her age and appearance.
In her eyes, it was perfectly normal for her master to have secrets. As a disciple, keeping her mouth shut was the most important thing.
The two traveled in stages, and Han Yu diligently practiced her saber techniques and blood qi every day.
Over the course of half a month, the blood qi in Han Yu's body became much more abundant, and her cultivation was on the verge of breaking through to the Third Realm mid stage.
Observing this, Su Yueli praised her, “Not bad. Your cultivation progress is quite decent, and your foundation is very solid.”
Han Yu scratched her head, feeling a bit embarrassed. “It is all because the resources Master gives me are so good. Without the high-grade pills and blood qi supplements Master provided, it would be impossible for someone of my aptitude to improve so quickly.”
Su Yueli nodded, not denying this.
Back when she was training in martial arts on the mountain with her master, Lu Chen, they were poor and lacked pill resources, relying entirely on sheer endurance.
She had trained bitterly for a full twenty years, yet had only broken through a tiny bit in realm.
It was only after she descended the mountain, gained access to vast amounts of resources, and slaughtered countless demon beasts to absorb their blood qi that the gates to a rapid leap in strength truly opened.
Resources were indeed extremely important for a martial artist.
After a few more days, the two finally returned to the vicinity of the Great Li imperial palace.
Su Yueli was preparing to take Han Yu into the palace to find Yun Tianheng, but before they had taken more than a few steps, a guard clad in brocade robes hurried forward to meet them.
The guard bowed respectfully with cupped hands and asked in a low voice, “Are you Senior Yueli?”
Su Yueli raised her eyebrows slightly and nodded. “I am.”
The guard let out a sigh of relief and hurriedly said, “Master Yun has already instructed us. There are many eyes and ears in the palace, and it is noisy and chaotic, making it inconvenient for refining pills and receiving guests. Master Yun is specifically waiting for you at a secluded residence outside the city. Senior, please come with me.”
Su Yueli understood. The imperial palace was full of factions, making it indeed inconvenient to quietly refine high-grade pills. A secluded residence outside the city was a much quieter place.
Thus, she nodded and said, “Lead the way.”
Beside her, Han Yu's heart shuddered violently when she heard the name "Yun Tianheng," her eyes widening slightly.
Yun Tianheng was recognized as the absolute top alchemist in the Great Li Dynasty, a lofty Grade Eight Alchemist.
Usually, even the Emperor of Great Li had to treat him with utmost politeness, yet this Grade Eight powerhouse had actually rented a secluded residence outside the city specifically to wait for her master...
Looking at her master's calm face, Han Yu's admiration for Su Yueli doubled once more.
Just who on earth was her master?
Meanwhile, the guard did not dare to delay, quickly leading the two to a quiet secluded residence outside the city.
Pushing the doors open and entering, the fragrance of medicinal herbs assailed their noses.
Yun Tianheng, who had been sitting cross-legged in wait within the courtyard, immediately stood up upon hearing the commotion.
Seeing Su Yueli arrive, the anxiety on Yun Tianheng's face vanished instantly. He stepped forward to greet her with great warmth. “Miss Yueli! You have finally arrived. This old man has been waiting for a long time!”
“Master Yun,” Su Yueli said, cupping her hands.
After the two exchanged a few brief pleasantries, Su Yueli did not delay any further. She lightly waved her hand in the air, and three medicinal herbs radiating extremely pure and violent energy floated above the stone table.
Among them, the Myriad Tribulations Blood-Washing Vine emitted waves of palpable pressure.
Yun Tianheng's pupils contracted violently. He hurriedly leaned in closer, and only after a long while did he suck in a cold breath.
“The Myriad Tribulations Blood-Washing Vine... and the other two main ingredients! You... you actually gathered them all?!”
A tempestuous wave rose in his heart.
Every single one of these three herbs was a top-tier natural treasure. Some were even regarded as the lifeblood of top sects or the Great Yan royal family. Even ordinary Twelfth or Thirteenth Realm experts might not be able to snatch them!
Just what kind of terrifying methods and strength did this blue-clothed woman possess to be able to gather them completely unharmed in such a short amount of time?!
After his amazement subsided, Yun Tianheng's expression grew solemn, and he said in a deep voice, “Miss Yueli, there is only one portion of these three natural treasures. Although I am a Grade Eight Alchemist, I absolutely cannot guarantee a hundred percent success rate. There is still a significant risk of failure during the refining process...”
Hearing this, Su Yueli smiled faintly and nodded in understanding. “There is no need to feel pressured, Master Yun. Refining miraculous natural medicines is inherently an act against heaven, so some risk is only natural. As long as you do your best, it will suffice. If the refinement succeeds this time, consider it a personal favor I owe you.”
A favor from a supreme peak expert who could sweep through all kinds of top-tier powerhouses!
Yun Tianheng's eyes lit up upon hearing this, his heart instantly settling. He stroked his beard and burst into laughter. “With those words from you, this old man will certainly do everything in his power!”
Standing to the side, Han Yu was already dumbfounded, her mind completely blank.
She tightly gripped the hem of her clothes, her heart surging with emotion.
When she looked at Su Yueli's profile, her beautiful eyes were filled with an unspeakable shock.
So... all the hardships her master had endured along the way, crossing provinces to sweep through powerful enemies, and even clashing with major factions and top-tier powerhouses, had actually been entirely for the sake of refining a Grade Eight Pill!
Rate on N.U.
