The mont the pill crossed Li Yao's lips, its potent effects erupted throughout her system. Waves of healing energy cascaded through her ridians, nding torn muscles and shattered bones instantly. Her depleted spiritual reserves rapidly refilled as the dicinal essence worked its magic, washing away the exhaustion that had left her helpless monts before.
Since fifth-grade healing pills were specifically crafted for Soul Formation experts, the overwhelming surge of restorative power proved almost too much for soone at her Golden Core realm. But with her now Immortal-Grade spiritual root, the excess energy didn't go to waste, it was all absorbed into her core, strengthening her cultivation base.
As a Soul Formation level pill, it also carried potent soul-healing properties that the Empress eagerly absorbed, though even these weren't enough to fully restore the massive amounts of energy she had expended during the limit break.
[Aren't you going to ask for spirit food for ?] The Empress asked.
But Li Yao completely ignored the request. Even after the pill had worked its magic and she'd regained her strength, she showed no intention of releasing Xiang Yu's lips. Her arms remained wrapped around him, savoring the mont.
After struggling futilely for several heartbeats, Xiang Yu finally surrendered and allowed her to have her way. Only when she felt completely satisfied did Li Yao finally pull back, leaving him slightly breathless and thoroughly flustered.
When she finally released him, Xiang Yu turned away with an indignant expression. "Hmph," he muttered internally, his thoughts churning with outrage. Here he was, staying ho every single day, taking care of the kids, and whenever she returned from her adventures, she was always trying to take advantage of his body. How shaless could one person be?
"Senior brother, I'm sorry," Li Yao approached him with an apologetic tone.
But Xiang Yu stubbornly looked in the opposite direction, his pride refusing to let him give in so easily. How could he allow others to take advantage of him whenever they pleased? What kind of man would that make him?
"What should I do now? Senior brother is angry," Li Yao asked.
[Hmph! What does it have to do with ? I'm also angry,] the Empress declared before retreating deep into Li Yao's spiritual sea, refusing to respond to any further communication.
"I was wrong! If you help , I'll ask senior brother to prepare a good al for you right now," Li Yao pleaded desperately.
[Hmph, it seems you still have so conscience,] the Empress finally responded. [Do this...] she began explaining her suggestion, causing Li Yao's expression to brighten considerably.
"Senior brother, look at this technique I found after defeating the cult leader," Li Yao announced, producing a manual from her spatial ring.
"Hmph, there's no way such an obvious trick would work on ," he thought dismissively. "But since it's supposedly from the cult leader, I suppose I could just glance at it briefly..." Despite his protests, curiosity got the better of him, and he found himself stealing a look from the corner of his eye.
The mont his gaze fell upon the manual, his appraisal activated automatically:
[Na: Soul Spike]
[Type: Technique]
[Grade: Sacred]
[Info: A simple soul attack thod created by ???]
Xiang Yu's eyes widened in shock, his earlier resentnt evaporating instantly. How could the words "simple" and "sacred grade soul attack thod" possibly exist in the sa sentence? There was absolutely no way this treasure had co from the cult leader.
His mind imdiately jumped to the only logical conclusion: this had to be from the Human Empress. She was the only person he knew who would casually describe a sacred-grade technique as "simple," and definitely the only individual powerful enough to appear as "???" when his third-grade appraisal skill tried to identify her.
All thoughts of maintaining his angry facade vanished as Xiang Yu practically teleported to Li Yao's side, moving so quickly that even she seed startled by the sudden change in his attitude.
He quickly took the technique manual from her hands, his eyes shining with undisguised excitent. "Yao Yao, your senior brother really wants this," he admitted.
"I knew you would like it. I took it just for you," she replied with a sweet smile.
Xiang Yu gazed at her with sothing approaching worship. Was his junior sister actually an angel in disguise? The earlier incident where she'd taken advantage of him suddenly seed completely insignificant.
What did it matter if she stole a few kisses when she could provide treasures like this? Exchanging his body for a sacred-grade soul attack technique was definitely the deal of the century—there was no way his body was worth that much. In fact, he felt like he might be scamming her just a little bit, but who cared about such minor details?
Li Yao's smile widened as she watched his reaction. That technique was just one of countless thods the Empress possessed—she had millions of similar techniques gathering dust in her mory. Exchanging it for a simple kiss wasn't a loss at all; it was practically free. Although she felt like she might be scamming her senior brother just a tiny bit, she didn't care. How else would he learn about the harsh realities of the cultivation world?
Both of them looked at each other with knowing glances, each convinced they'd gotten the better end of the bargain, laughing internally at having successfully scamd the other person completely.
Li i walked slowly through the vast hall, her footsteps echoing off the polished marble floors as she approached the enormous throne that dominated the far end of the chamber. Upon it sat a massive figure—a man whose fra still commanded respect despite the clear signs of advancing age. Though elderly, he still maintained a well toned physique and his body radiated imnse power.
This was the Patriarch of the Li Family, one of the Ten Great Families of the Central Continent. The Ten Great Families occupied a prestigious position just one rank below the mighty Holy Lands, each possessing their own immortal inheritances that had been passed down through countless generations. While these legacies hadn't yet reached the earth-shaking level of the Holy Lands, they were still formidable enough to command respect even in the competitive landscape of the Central Continent.
"Junior greets the Patriarch," Li i spoke formally as she dropped to one knee.
"Xiao i, there's no need to act like this when it's just the two of us," the imposing man replied, his stern deanor softening imdiately. He rose from his throne with visible effort, a series of harsh coughs escaping his lips as he stood.
Hearing the familiar, gentle tone, Li i's formal composure crumbled instantly. She looked up with wide eyes, her heart clenching at the sight of his obvious frailty. "Grandpa?" she shouted, abandoning all protocol as she rushed toward him.
He opened his arms to receive her, pulling her into a warm embrace. "No need to worry, this old man still has so years left in him," he spoke with a reassuring smile, his large hand gently patting her hair.
"Grandpa, I..." Li i hesitated. "The Heavenly Palace..." she began, but was imdiately cut off.
"Stop!" he commanded sharply, though his hand continued its soothing motion through her hair. When he spoke again, his voice had returned to its gentle tone. "The Li Family doesn't need their help. They're just after our family's inheritance. Don't trust them."
Li i nodded solemnly.
"Good," the Patriarch acknowledged her understanding. "I called you here today because I have a mission for you."
"A mission? What is it?" she asked curiously.
"I've just received so top-secret information," he began, his expression growing serious. "Rember Xiao Yao?"
Li i's brow furrowed in thought. "Cousin Li Yao?" she asked, the mories surfacing in her mind.
"That's right. It seems she survived the attack back then," he confird. "She has even been acknowledged by the world as an elental spirit."
"That Li Yao?" Li i asked, her voice thick with suspicion and disbelief. The cousin she rembered had been talented, certainly, but nothing that would suggest such an extraordinary transformation.
The Patriarch laughed heartily at her expression, though the sound quickly dissolved into another fit of coughing. "Are you surprised as well? I couldn't believe it either at first," he admitted between chuckles, then coughed several more tis, specks of blood staining his lips.
"Grandpa?" Li i's hands reached out instinctively to steady him.
"It's okay," he waved off her concern. "Go to the Eastern Region and find Li Yao. Tell her that the Patriarch has ordered her to return to the main family within one week."
"Yes, Patriarch," Li i bowed formally before turning to leave, though her steps carried reluctance.
When the great hall fell silent once more, the Patriarch remained standing alone, lost in contemplation. Ti certainly did pass quickly, he mused. He could still rember when the Li Family had been truly prosperous, their influence stretching across the continent. But now, they were barely a Great Family in na alone, their forr glory reduced to re reputation and fading mories.
He wondered if Li Yao resented him now for what had happened back then. Actually, he hoped that was the case—he hoped she would refuse to return. In truth, the real reason he was sending Li i wasn't to retrieve Li Yao at all, but to ensure Li i could stay there with her cousin, far from the dangers gathering around the main family.
"Return in a week?" he murmured to himself. "Will there even be a place to return to in a week?"
His gaze drifted to the ring adorning his finger, and a knowing smile spread across his weathered features. People assud he still possessed the Li Family's immortal inheritance. In reality, he had already given it away long ago, and he strongly suspected Li Yao now carried that burden.
"My Li Family is sure to rise once again," he spoke with conviction, his voice echoing in the empty hall. With that final declaration, he turned and walked away, his steps growing steadier with each stride. "I guess it's ti for this old man to join his comrades."
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