The young members of the Tang Family watched Yi Xiaoyao’s determined back, a strange look in each of their eyes.
Though they didn’t truly believe it was possible, deep down they all hoped Yi Xiaoyao could defeat Jin Lingfeng and vindicate them.
Yi Xiaoyao took Tang Zhong to have his wounds treated. He was relieved to learn they were not serious.
Just as he stepped out of the infirmary, Tang Feng rushed over, having heard the news.
"Xiaoyao, what happened?" Tang Feng asked.
Yi Xiaoyao gave a guilty smile and recounted the events to Tang Feng.
"Hmph! That Jin Lingfeng has gone too far!" Tang Feng cursed.
"Uncle, it’s my fault. If I were stronger, this never would have happened," Yi Xiaoyao said with a wry smile.
Tang Feng shook his head. "This isn’t your fault. Tang Zhong did the right thing. As the Fortress Master of the Tang Family Castle, your reputation must not be tarnished!"
"In three days, I will defeat Jin Lingfeng. I will get justice for Cousin Tang Zhong and for everyone!"
Yi Xiaoyao said, his gaze firm.
Tang Feng was startled. "Xiaoyao, don’t be reckless!"
"I have to do this. Otherwise, I won’t be able to face everyone, much less myself."
Yi Xiaoyao then smiled. "Uncle, just keep believing in me. Remember when I said I’d defeat Tang Ruoxue? You thought that was impossible, too, didn’t you?"
Tang Feng nodded. He had, after all, already witnessed a miracle from Yi Xiaoyao.
"However, the gap in Cultivation between you and Jin Lingfeng is simply too vast, and three days is too short a time."
As Tang Feng spoke, he frowned and hesitated for a moment before adding, "I think it’s time I took you to see someone. I’m sure he can help you!"
Yi Xiaoyao raised an eyebrow.
"See who?"
"Your maternal grandfather died because of him. As for everything else... you’ll understand when you meet him."
Yi Xiaoyao saw Tang Feng’s solemn expression when he mentioned "that person." Hearing that this individual was connected to his grandfather’s death, he gave a thoughtful nod.
...
Two hours later, Yi Xiaoyao followed Tang Feng into the depths of a quiet forest.
The two walked deeper into the dense woods for nearly two more hours as the sky began to darken.
Before long, the forest opened up to reveal a secluded, fence-enclosed courtyard with a few thatched huts inside.
"He lives here. Go on your own. Announce your name, and he will see you."
With that, Tang Feng glanced at Yi Xiaoyao and turned back the way they came.
Yi Xiaoyao stood stunned for a moment before walking to the gate of the small, fenced courtyard.
"Junior Yi Xiaoyao, forgive my intrusion, Senior."
The moment Yi Xiaoyao finished speaking, a voice called from the courtyard, "Come in!"
The voice was aged and weak, yet it resounded with inner strength.
Yi Xiaoyao’s mind was filled with questions. He was curious to see just who this mysterious person was.
He stepped into the courtyard. The door to the hut was ajar.
Yi Xiaoyao approached the hut and went inside. The first thing he saw was a great Copper Cauldron.
Suddenly, a person sat up inside the cauldron.
"Kid, you’re finally here."
The man’s head was all that was visible. Through the billowing steam from within the cauldron, Yi Xiaoyao could only tell that this was an old man with a full head of silver hair; his face was obscured.
Yi Xiaoyao gasped in surprise at the old man’s words.
"Senior, you know me?"
The silver-haired elder didn’t answer, asking instead, "Speak. Why have you come?"
Yi Xiaoyao frowned, puzzled. ’This man is so strange,’ he thought.
Still, he replied, "This junior is currently at the seventh realm of Qi Condensation and wishes to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm within three days. The problem is, Spirit Enhancing Pills no longer have any effect on me. I was wondering if you might have a solution, Senior?"
"Within three days?"
The silver-haired elder seemed to frown. "In such a short time... the most I can do is help you advance one layer of Cultivation."
Yi Xiaoyao’s face lit up. He knew that the higher one’s Cultivation, the more difficult it was to advance.
An ordinary person would need at least ten days to half a month to advance from the seventh to the Eighth Realm of Qi Condensation, even if they consumed a massive amount of Spirit Enhancing Pills.
And yet this old man claimed he could help him advance one layer of Cultivation. This was far more potent than Spirit Enhancing Pills!
If he combined that with the cultivation speed granted by the Sword God’s inheritance, Yi Xiaoyao might actually be able to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm.
"Then I thank you, Senior! This junior is willing to try!" Yi Xiaoyao hurriedly bowed in gratitude.
The next moment, the silver-haired elder shot up from the Copper Cauldron. A blast of heat erupted from his body, instantly steaming his soaked clothes dry.
Before Yi Xiaoyao could react, an immense force seized him and tossed him into the Copper Cauldron.
Water splashed everywhere. A moment later, a deluge of medicinal herbs and Spiritual Items of all colors rained down on Yi Xiaoyao’s head.
The entire process was astonishingly fast. By the time Yi Xiaoyao realized what was happening, a roaring Flame had ignited beneath the cauldron!
The aura emanating from the Flame was terrifying. Yi Xiaoyao’s face paled in horror.
"Senior! What are you doing?!"
The silver-haired elder controlled the Flame to envelop the Copper Cauldron and replied with two words.
"Refining medicine!"
"What? Refining medicine!?"
Yi Xiaoyao’s face fell. The old man was using him to refine medicine!
Just as he tried to escape the Copper Cauldron, he felt a strange sensation.
The liquid he was soaking in, heated by the Flame outside the cauldron, began to erupt with an incredibly rich Spiritual Qi!
"What are you waiting for? Circulate your Cultivation Technique and start your Cultivation!" the silver-haired elder bellowed.
Yi Xiaoyao finally understood. The senior was helping him.
He immediately acknowledged the command and began to circulate the Devouring Sword God Technique, entering a state of Cultivation.
The Spiritual Qi overflowing from the Copper Cauldron surged wildly into Yi Xiaoyao’s body.
As he unleashed his Devouring Power, the rate at which his Vortex Sea of Qi condensed reached an unprecedented speed!
A moment later, the Spiritual Liquid in the Copper Cauldron could no longer release Spiritual Qi fast enough. The flow reversed: instead of the liquid infusing Yi Xiaoyao, he began to forcibly draw Spiritual Qi from it.
The silver-haired elder noticed this change, and a look of profound shock appeared on his face.
The Flame in his hand suddenly flared, and the Spiritual Liquid in the Copper Cauldron began to boil violently.
"Kid, hold on!"
the silver-haired elder said in a low voice.
Yi Xiaoyao felt an unbearable, scorching heat all over his body, but at the elder’s words, he gritted his teeth and held on.
This went on for many hours.
By now, all the medicinal herbs and Spiritual Items in the Copper Cauldron with Yi Xiaoyao had been completely refined and absorbed into the Spiritual Liquid.
With the refinement of the Spirit Medicine, the Spiritual Power within the Spiritual Liquid grew even more pure and immense.
’This senior’s control over the Flame is incredible,’ Yi Xiaoyao thought. ’He managed to refine all of this Spirit Medicine without harming me in the slightest.’
The silver-haired elder, however, had withdrawn the Flame, his face etched with fatigue.
Just then, a subtle ripple of energy emanated from the Copper Cauldron—the telltale sign of Yi Xiaoyao advancing to the Eighth Realm of Qi Condensation!
A look of stunned disbelief appeared on the silver-haired elder’s face.
"What?! The kid advanced a whole layer of Cultivation this quickly?!"
He recalled his own words: even an inheritor of a Ninth-Grade Immortal Soul would need three days to advance a single layer of Cultivation using this method.
But now, only a few hours had passed, and Yi Xiaoyao had already broken through!
......................