The Tree of Life

Little White, who had been lying at the entrance of the cave, leaped towards Xiao Yu when he saw him emerge. Xiao Yu caught him and began rubbing the little beast's soft fur. Suddenly, a voice echoed in his mind.

"Congratulations, host, for successfully saving Yun Yun. Reward: Tree of Life. The reward is being generated. Please check!"

"Next check-in location: Serpent Clan of the Desert. Reward: Green Lotus Core Flame!"

Xiao Yu was momentarily stunned. This was the second Heavenly Flame reward from the system. It seemed he could possess multiple Heavenly Flames without needing to cultivate the *Burning Flame Manual*. This thought made him smile in satisfaction. His current cultivation technique had already greatly enhanced his body, and by now, his physical strength was comparable to that of a powerful second-tier magical beast. His spiritual power had also surpassed the mortal level, and Xiao Yu felt it was time to aim for becoming a third-tier alchemist!

After lingering outside the cave for a bit, Xiao Yu carried Little White back inside. He scattered some scent-masking powder around, ensuring they wouldn't be detected by any magical beasts. Additionally, the medicinal powder that repelled magical beasts provided a layer of safety for the cave.

Inside, Yun Yun had already fallen into a deep sleep. Xiao Yu could sense her wounds were slowly healing, and in a few days, she would likely be fully recovered. However, the seal of the Amethyst Winged Lion King would take more time to resolve.

As night fell, Xiao Yu roasted a wild chicken. The enticing aroma roused Yun Yun from her sleep, though she couldn't move and could only look longingly at the food. Xiao Yu noticed her reluctant yet hungry expression, tore off a drumstick, and handed it to her. After an internal struggle, Yun Yun finally opened her small mouth and took a bite. Her eyes lit up, and before long, the drumstick was gone.

She glanced at the other drumstick on the grill, but Little White squeaked anxiously nearby. Xiao Yu chuckled, "You're still recovering from a serious injury. Too much meat isn't good for you. I'll pick some fruit for you later."

Yun Yun nodded slightly, without saying much. After finishing the wild chicken, Xiao Yu went outside to gather some bright red fruits for Yun Yun. Late at night, by the campfire, Xiao Yu hugged Little White as they slept, while Yun Yun continued her deep sleep to heal her wounds.

Buzz!

As Xiao Yu slept, a vibrant green light shot into the cave, directly entering his dantian, startling him awake.

Xiao Yu calmed his mind and examined his dantian. There, a lush green tree stood tall, surrounded by his Qi sea. Even the Bone-Chilling Flame within him flickered excitedly as if welcoming the new arrival.

"Is this the Tree of Life from the system? Such rich life energy!" Xiao Yu marveled at the sight, unaware that the intense life force had also stirred Yun Yun and Little White from their sleep.

Yun Yun, intrigued by the strong life energy radiating from Xiao Yu, found her wounds healing faster. Meanwhile, Little White greedily absorbed the life force, growing slightly larger as its fur became even more lustrous.

Yun Yun gazed at Xiao Yu as if he were a mysterious enigma, drawing people in. She couldn't fathom which faction this young genius hailed from, but she decided not to dwell on it. Instead, she quietly absorbed the potent life energy.

The night passed without incident. After realizing that the Tree of Life was his system reward, Xiao Yu fell back asleep. When he woke the next morning, stretching lazily, he was surprised to see Yun Yun standing up.

"You've recovered so quickly?" he asked, astonished.

Yun Yun nodded gently. "Yes, and it's thanks to your help."

"Thank me? No need to be so formal!" Xiao Yu replied, assuming she was referring to the help he provided with her injuries. However, Yun Yun gave him a curious look, causing a slight unease in Xiao Yu. Could she have discovered his secret?

Impossible! Xiao Yu quickly dismissed the thought. The system was far too mysterious for Yun Yun to detect.

At that moment, Yun Yun said, "I'll need to stay here for a while longer. The Amethyst Winged Lion King's seal is tricky to break."

Xiao Yu nodded. "Sure." He handed her a white jade bottle and added, "Don't stray too far. If you want to bathe or pick fruit, sprinkle this scent-masking powder around to hide your presence."

Yun Yun accepted the bottle and asked, "Did you make this?"

"Why is that surprising?" Xiao Yu replied nonchalantly.

"Of course it's surprising! With such incredible talent, how do you find the time to become an alchemist too?" Yun Yun asked, stunned.

While scattering the powder around himself, Xiao Yu laughed, "I'm a master of time management. Cultivating and refining pills at the same time—it's no big deal, really." With that, he grabbed a fish spear and dove into the lake beneath the waterfall, leaving Yun Yun muttering to herself, "Isn't that difficult?"

Minutes later, Xiao Yu resurfaced with two fish on his spear. Ever since discovering Little White's enormous appetite, he always caught two fish—one for him and Yun Yun, and the other for Little White. After catching the fish, Xiao Yu returned to the cave swiftly using his Purple Cloud Wings. Seeing Yun Yun trying to break the seal, he left her undisturbed and started grilling the fish.

As the fish roasted and the delicious aroma filled the air, Yun Yun opened her eyes and approached Xiao Yu. "I know an alchemist with considerable skill. I could introduce you to him."

Xiao Yu handed her the roasted fish and replied, "No need. I already have a teacher." He was referring to the *Pill Codex*, though he knew Yun Yun was talking about Gu He. However, to Xiao Yu, even a sixth-tier alchemist like Gu He was insignificant compared to the *Pill Codex*.

Yun Yun was surprised to hear that Xiao Yu had a teacher, but she didn't press the matter. She quietly took the fish and started eating, and an awkward silence settled between them.

For the next few days, Xiao Yu focused on cultivation while Yun Yun worked on breaking the seal. One day, Yun Yun approached Xiao Yu and said, "I want to go down to the lake and take a bath."

Xiao Yu nodded, "Sure, just remember to take the scent-masking powder with you."

"Mm," Yun Yun responded, her face flushing slightly as she remained standing. Xiao Yu noticed and asked, "What's wrong?"

"I want you to keep watch," Yun Yun said, quickly clarifying, "Not to watch me, but to make sure no one else does."

Xiao Yu laughed. "There's probably no one else around here." But seeing the determined look in Yun Yun's eyes, he agreed, "Alright, I'll keep an eye out."