Fellow Daoist! That scoundrel has written a new book again.

Before they even reached the foot of the mountain where they could tether their mounts, they ran into Xu San'er halfway there. He was pacing anxiously in an open space.

Seeing the two of them, he finally breathed a sigh of relief and was even happier to receive the iron armor talisman from Zhu Wuyao.

"I was so worried, I almost turned back to see if I could collect your bodies!"

Hua Ying slapped him on the head, somewhat angrily saying:

"What unlucky things are you saying?"

"Oh dear! Ladies, wait a minute, let me dismantle the trap. There are two more fireballs inside!"

As he spoke, he got to work.

Watching him busy himself, the two of them felt somewhat helpless. Although Xu San'er had chosen the most life-saving method, as his friends, they knew his temperament.

Xu San'er would never risk his life for a friend; he would prioritize self-preservation in the face of danger.

When Hua Yingting decided to turn around and fight, he hadn't even considered that Zhu Wuyao and Xu San'er would be willing to stay and help.

Naturally, there was no reason to complain.

Zhu Wuyao was willing to turn back and fight alongside her, so when facing Lan Linghua, Hua Yingting was unmoved and willing to help her refine pills. Although she was not completely exempt from payment, she could charge less.

As for Xu San'er, it was already difficult for him to offer up the Thunderfire Ball to set up a trap and give away the Iron Armor Talisman to his companions, but regarding the gains from this trip into the mountains—

“This time, A-Yao found some spirit ore and spirit herbs. You ran so fast, you might get less in the end. Don’t be envious.”

Xu San'er jumped out of the cave, used his spiritual power to flatten the pit, and said with a gleam in his eyes:

"There were other finds too! I thought we'd made a wasted trip. It's good to have found something, hehe."

Killing the mountain spirit was part of the mission; this time, he simply set two more traps and used two lightning fireballs.

As long as what you ultimately receive is worth a little more than those two fireballs, you've made a profit!

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Back at the foot of the mountain.

Zhu Wuyao took out five stones imbued with spiritual energy fluctuations. Before he could even arrange the three water plants, he heard Hua Yingting exclaim in delight:

"It's actually Shuimuqing! With this, even if I don't find the White Amber Stone this time I go down the mountain, I'll still be satisfied!"

Although Shui Mu Qing is not expensive, it is extremely important for her advancement.

As he spoke, he took the piece of Waterwood Spring and the two spirit herbs for himself, and pushed the remaining three pieces of spirit ore to Xu San'er, pointing to the one he didn't recognize and explaining:

"The Water and Wood Valley is beneficial to me. You have dual metal and earth spiritual roots, so you can directly absorb this piece of satin gold stone. The other two pieces can be used for refining weapons."

Xu San'er glanced at the remaining common spiritual herbs and the stone; they weren't particularly valuable. He asked curiously:

"Then wouldn't I have more than Sister Zhu?"

Could there be other gains?

Zhu Wuyao carefully took out the Blue Ling Flower and handed it to Hua Yingting. She temporarily planted this rare flower under the tree and nurtured it with spiritual power to delay its withering, saying:

"I have already reached the seventh level of Qi Refining. I have already taken the pills that can improve my cultivation at this stage. Any more would make my realm unstable."

"The elixir made from this flower is as effective as twice that of the gold and stone, so she won't lose out."

As he spoke, he took another spiritual herb from Zhu Wuyao's share and placed it in front of him as payment for refining the pill.

Now, all Zhu Wuyao has left in front of her is a piece of spirit ore and a pill that will allow her to directly reach the fifth level of Qi Refining!

As Hua Yingting took out the alchemy furnace, her eyes were full of anticipation.

"It's a pity that I didn't see anything unusual when I went down to the river this time. I don't know if Jiguanshan has become happy. I can only come back tomorrow."

Although Xu San'er felt a dull ache in his heart, he looked at the three spirit stones in front of him and thought that there was really no need to feel bad...

Sigh! Happiness is always relative. These things are worth more than ten or so fireballs to him, but when he thinks about Zhu Wuyao's gains, he is still a little envious.

So no one went to look at the blue jasmine flowers under the tree.

This flower is delicate, so the tree spirit dared not move when it was in full bloom, for fear that the fluctuations of spiritual energy would disturb it. Therefore, when Hua Yingting planted and cared for it, she did not set up any spiritual energy barrier, and even placed the alchemy furnace far away.

That's how Zhu Wuyao managed to seize it.

Once the fire in the alchemy furnace had stabilized and was no longer fluctuating, Hua Yingting prepared the other common spiritual herbs that Zhu Wuyao had bought on credit, and prepared to put the Blue Ling Flower in along with them.

She turned around—

"Flowers!!!"

Xu San'er exclaimed in shock, "It wasn't me!"

The three looked down at the empty tree, especially Zhu Wuyao, who felt his blood rushing to his head amidst his great joy and anger... Who was it!

They stole my opportunity at the fifth level of Qi Refining?!

She walked quickly to the tree, turned around abruptly, and stared straight at the ethereal mule.

Radish leisurely wiggled its hoof.

Suddenly sensing a murderous intent, it quickly reared away on all four hooves.

The rope binding it had been bitten open, and a glimmer of "wisdom" seemed to flicker in its eyes.

Zhu Wuyao suddenly realized—

No wonder, no wonder the medicinal herbs she planted in the courtyard of the Star-Picking Tower didn't grow well.

No wonder she felt the mule was much faster when she wanted to get a white horse.

No wonder the medicinal herbs in the yard were growing so well after I took it to Beixuan City!

She thought that it was her care that had hindered the growth of the medicinal herb.

It turned out that there was a thief in her own house who was silently hindering her cultivation of the Great Dao. She thought it was just the rain and wind, a natural phenomenon, or that she didn't have the talent and therefore wasn't taking good care of herself.

She doubted herself, but she never doubted the always honest and reliable Luo Bo.

Having a past offense, seeing that bluebell flower today, perhaps out of a craving for something new, or perhaps out of habit, I actually...

Zhu Wuyao took a slow breath.

This mule has drawn qi into its body...!

How can it be?

Even a mule is more talented than me?

Zhu Wuyao slowly drew her sword, her whole body radiating a chilling aura. Tonight, she would let Luo Bo know that stealing someone's opportunity would make him chased all over the village!

Her anger surged, and with her depleted dantian having just recovered a little spiritual energy, she was ready to hunt down this beast.

"Radish, take this sword!"

The sword without a blade was raised high, which frightened Radish into letting out a long cry and running away.

Zhu Wuyao relentlessly pursued it, and when he saw that it was tired from running, he spared no effort and swung his sword to strike the ground behind it.

She's determined to teach Radish a lesson he won't forget today!

The sword without a blade was slowly raised, and Zhu Wuyao slashed down with it, raising dust. Luo Bo was so frightened that he almost jumped up and continued to flee forward.

Zhu Wuyao was about to pursue the matter further when he suddenly stopped in his tracks.

As the sword struck, the Sky-Gazing Technique activated, beginning to plunder the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

The spiritual energy surged through the eight extraordinary meridians like a river pouring water, surging and scouring, as if it had been starving for a long time, fiercely tearing at the countless spiritual energies in the world to strengthen itself.

He reached the fifth level of Qi Refining in an instant, then the sixth and seventh levels, and this is not the end!

Zhu Wuyao immediately sat cross-legged and fully activated the Heavenly Observation Technique. This was... a contest with the heavens!

It's not just the destiny of Jiguanshan Mountain, but also the destiny of radishes!

How did they change? They actually changed them!

As soon as the spiritual energy enters the dantian, it immediately surges into the whole body and circulates outwards. The dantian is empty, but everything that passes through it can be used by oneself. The spiritual energy flows and surges, like a mighty river rushing by.

One realm after another was broken through, and the shackles were no longer an obstacle.

As spiritual energy finally began to accumulate in her dantian, Zhu Wuyao frowned slightly. She was only one step away from the eighth level of Qi Refining, how could she be willing to give up!