Chapter 40: Parting Ways (Please subscribe! Please vote for monthly tickets!)

Shaohing stood on high alert. With a flick of her right index and middle fingers, the vines entwined around the trees were instantly controlled by her technique, shooting forth to wrap around Li Chaoge's waist and steady her stance.

When Li Chaoge saw a figure rapidly approaching the cyan eggshell, she was instantly incensed.

"How dare you! You dare try to steal my peach!"

She had already sensed that the newcomer's cultivation was approximately at the mid-stage of the First Realm. Although there was a significant gap in magical power, at least the person was not a cultivator of the Second Realm or above.

In contrast to Li Chaoge's fury, Shaohing's expression remained much colder.

After all, to her, the effects of the Spirit Dragon Liquid were limited, serving only to nourish the physical body. But now that Shaohing had obtained the even more precious Dragon Blood, using this substance to temper a cultivator's physique would yield immense benefits.

Furthermore, the aura Shaohing was projecting was only about twenty cauldrons of magical power; in Li Chaoge's eyes, the fact that she could "wake up" before her was already conspicuous enough.

Thus, Shaohing feigned having exhausted much of her magical power after performing the previous Wood-Entwining Technique, swallowed a Recovery Pill, and stood aside to observe.

Li Chaoge immediately retrieved two brownish-yellow talismans from her storage ring. Activating them with her magical power, they instantly transformed into two pure golden chains that shot out like spiritual serpents, binding the figure tightly and preventing any further progress.

It was precisely a First-Grade Talisman: the Golden Lock Talisman.

Only then could the two women see the man's true appearance.

He was a male cultivator, appearing to be in his late forties or fifties, looking quite aged and disheveled, with a turbid aura of magical power.

"A rogue cultivator?" Shaohing pondered privately.

"But with the strength of my spiritual sense, even among those in the late stage of the First Realm, I am outstanding, with few who can rival me. This man was clearly hiding nearby without me noticing; he must possess a highly sophisticated concealment technique..."

As this thought occurred to Shaohing, her gaze toward the man held a hint of fervor.

The inheritances obtained by sect disciples are protected by rigorous anti-theft measures, but rogue cultivators are different. Even if they obtain rare techniques, they are highly likely to keep backups to exchange for other resources at the opportune moment... which meant there was a chance for her to get her hands on them!

Upon noticing that the man's magical power was quite turbid, Li Chaoge's confidence surged. The rage from nearly having her treasure stolen surged upward, further dispelling the mental fatigue caused by the previous dragon roar.

She practiced the low-grade immortal technique of the Li Clan, the *Nine Profound Treasure Fire Mirror*. The blue-skirted girl's figure blurred as she lunged forward, her hands already forming seals to strike.

Her magical power condensed into scorching red flames, weaving into threads of fire that transformed into a massive cauldron, which plummeted violently toward the man's head.

The man gritted his teeth and unleashed a technique, his body covered in a layer of brownish-yellow light as he struggled desperately to break free from the chains formed by the two talismans.

He roared indignantly, "Why must you sect disciples be so petty! Do you know how difficult it is for us rogue cultivators? Without a sect to back us, we can only struggle and fight for scraps of resources, even at the cost of our lives!"

Li Chaoge remained silent; Shaohing remained silent.

The only answer to the man was the descending cauldron of flames, which slammed into him with a dull thud. The fire climbed upward, searing his bones and flesh.

"Ah!"

The man, named Yu Song, had actually been cultivating for over fifty years and had recently condensed three hundred cauldrons of magical power to break through to the mid-stage.

Because his cultivation method was mediocre, the magical power he condensed was loose and unstable. The protective layer of magical power was easily burned through by the flames, causing his skin and flesh to quickly turn to charcoal, making him cry out in unbearable pain.

Li Chaoge's intention was not to kill him. She quickly bypassed Yu Song, formed a hand seal, and swept all the broken eggshells into an empty storage ring, finally feeling at ease.

Yu Song was, after all, at the mid-stage. Relying on his superior foundation of magical power to compensate for quality with quantity, he finally extinguished the flames and broke free from the chains, glaring at Li Chaoge with resentment.

"Hand over the treasure!"

Li Chaoge gave a cold snort, her expression fierce. She summoned a crimson longsword, which hovered by her side.

"Go!"

For a cultivator to contract a magical tool, they must refine the Dao marks and restrictions within it, and to wield it flexibly, they must consume their own spiritual sense.

Therefore, even though the price of a First-Grade magical tool was not exorbitant to Li Chaoge, she had only refined a few, all carefully selected for their excellent quality and staggering power.

Such was the case with this spiritual sword named 'Crimson Crane.'

The sword shadow flashed like a streak of red rainbow. As it reached Yu Song, it split into three, each thrusting toward a vital acupoint.

Yu Song was experienced, and his movement technique was ghostly. He evaded two of the strikes, twisting his body so that only his left shoulder was slashed, before lunging toward Li Chaoge's face.

*Swish!*

When the thirty-six Jade Bee Needles shot out, they seemed to merge with the wind, making no sound at all. Even though Yu Song's reactions were sharp, seventeen needles still pierced through his body, causing him to collapse instantly.

He looked at the two women with both jealousy and hatred. Covering his face with his hands, he let out a tragic roar: "The heavens are unjust! Just two greenhorn First-Realm early-stage youngsters, relying solely on their sect backgrounds and protective magical tools, can win so easily!"

"What is the point of us rogue cultivators working so hard and cultivating so diligently!?"

Hearing this, Li Chaoge frowned, her expression complicated, momentarily lost in thought.

Beneath Yu Song's hands, through the gaps in his fingers, his sunken eyes suddenly flashed.

Just as he was about to make a final, desperate struggle, he felt a dull pain in his chest.

The thirty-six Jade Bee Needles had been soaked in venom. Now, controlled once more by Shaohing, they all pierced into Yu Song's chest. The accompanying magical power destroyed his heart vessels inch by inch, while the toxins erupted simultaneously, leaving Yu Song with no choice but to close his eyes in bitter resignation.

Shaohing used her technique to pull the storage bag from Yu Song's waist; it was worn but clean and tidy.

She turned to look at the silent Li Chaoge and said, "If it's really that hard, why don't you just steal all the spirit stone reserves of your Qinghe Li Clan and distribute them to the rogue cultivators?"

Li Chaoge's eyes widened for a moment, and she huffed, "Stop talking nonsense."

Shaohing extended her right hand, palm up, toward her.

"Hand it over. We split the Spirit Dragon Liquid fifty-fifty."

Shaohing indeed didn't strictly need this thing, but if it was meant to be hers, she wouldn't let it go.

Li Chaoge pouted and grumbled, but she quickly took out the broken eggshells and used a technique to extract the liquid clinging to them, dividing it into two equal portions that fell into separate jade vials.

Shaohing took her portion and brought it to her nose to sniff.

The pale green liquid was somewhat viscous and unappealing in appearance, but it carried a faint scent of osmanthus, which wasn't unpleasant.

Having secured the Spirit Dragon Liquid and achieved the goals of this trip, Shaohing said to Li Chaoge, "Are you heading back now?"

Li Chaoge nodded in agreement. "Let's go to the foot of Mount Danyang first, and then I'll activate the Hundred Wave Boat. I really don't know if that True Dragon will suddenly appear again; I'm still a bit shaken."

Shaohing gazed toward the horizon. Previously, the clear light had transformed into a sword to strike down the True Dragon, followed by a cyan figure fighting incessantly with the White Dragon. The position of the battle had long since shifted, moving far away from this place.

She took out two wooden plaques from her storage ring and said with a helpless expression, "I also accepted two gathering missions. It just so happens that 'Hundred-Poison Flame Grass' and 'Red Phosphorus Seven-Joint Flower' can both be found here in Mount Danyang. I plan to pick them before returning to the sect."

Li Chaoge did not force her, but she did remind her, "You should keep in mind that the efficacy of that Spirit Dragon Liquid only lasts for seven days. Take it as soon as possible; don't let such a treasure go to waste."

The two parted ways. As Shaohing watched from the forest, her magical power focused in her eyes, she faintly saw a spiritual boat flying out until it grew smaller and disappeared.

She withdrew her gaze, her expression calm.

"The True Dragon cub was born only a few days ago. No matter how strong its bloodline, it is ultimately weak. The White Dragon is clearly at a disadvantage in its fight with the cyan-shadow cultivator. From the White Dragon's perspective, would it leave the young dragon behind right now?"

"Purebred True Dragons have difficulty reproducing; this cub must be of utmost importance. How could it bear to leave it in danger? Therefore, the cub is likely still somewhere in Mount Danyang."