Junior Sister Chen

**

Han Li, deep in his secluded retreat, was instantly alarmed upon hearing the words of the demonic cultivator. A flurry of thoughts raced through his mind—his odds of victory were slim, and even escape seemed unlikely.

Qi Yuan, fully aware of the situation, chose not to reveal his knowledge outright. Instead, he said, "I assume you're the financial backer that Senior Brother Lu mentioned. He's dead now, so there's no need to continue your transaction."

Would the Heavenly Thunder Seed be powerful enough to eliminate the enemy in a single blow? If not, and the opponent found a chance to retaliate, the consequences would be dire.

Hu Zhen tapped his storage bag, summoning a guqin. With a delicate pluck of its strings, an enchanting melody filled the air, clouding minds and disrupting concentration.

"You are not qualified to speak to me. You will all perish tonight. Hahaha!"

"That remains to be seen."

With the conversation at an impasse, Qi Yuan decisively hurled the Heavenly Thunder Seed toward the demonic cultivator. Simultaneously, he pulled Chen Qiaoqian into his arms and retreated swiftly to avoid being caught in the explosion.

"A Heavenly Thunder Seed?" Hu Zhen recognized the incoming threat immediately. He unleashed several talismans and defensive magical artifacts, forming a protective barrier of dazzling light against the incoming attack.

With a deafening blast, the raw power of heaven erupted from the ground. Thunder and lightning tore through the battlefield, reducing trees to ash and shaking the earth itself.

Qi Yuan observed closely. If the opponent survived, he had another Heavenly Thunder Seed ready. He refused to believe anyone could withstand a second strike.

Chen Qiaoqian, stunned by the overwhelming power on display, felt a deep sense of intrigue about her mysterious savior. Unconsciously, she pressed closer to Qi Yuan.

He noticed her subtle movement but remained focused. With the Heavenly Thunder Seed in one hand and a Golden Brick Talisman in the other, he braced for any counterattack.

When the dust settled, a massive crater marked the battlefield. Qi Yuan cautiously approached, keeping an eye out for any lingering threats. In the center of the devastation, only an ancient zither remained. The enemy's body, storage bag, and all other possessions had been obliterated.

Though it was a pity to lose potential loot, the display confirmed the Heavenly Thunder Seed's devastating power—it could indeed kill a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Han Li, witnessing the destruction, clenched his teeth. The mystical rope and the terrifying Heavenly Thunder Seed made one thing clear—Qi Yuan was not an enemy to make lightly. Resolving to avoid conflict, he silently retreated.

Qi Yuan raised an eyebrow but did not stop him. Han Li was no longer relevant to this battle.

Meanwhile, Chen Qiaoqian's body trembled. The small dose of Qingling Powder she had taken was failing against the effects of the Hehuan Pill. Her consciousness teetered on the brink.

Qi Yuan noted the guqin's resilience—it had survived the Heavenly Thunder Seed unscathed, marking it as an extraordinary treasure. He decided to take it back for study.

"Brother, I feel so strange..." Chen Qiaoqian whispered, her voice sultry and intoxicating, tugging at her collar.

With the battle over, Qi Yuan collected the spoils and carried Chen Qiaoqian away. He had discovered a secluded hot spring nearby—a perfect place for what was to come.

"May I know your name, Junior Sister? My surname is Qi; my name, Yuan."

Chen Qiaoqian's eyes were hazy with emotion. Her delicate face, flushed like a peach blossom, radiated beauty. She leaned in, leaving a soft mark on Qi Yuan's cheek. "My name is Chen Qiaoqian. I am the daughter of the Chen family head. I entrust myself to you, Brother Qi. May we walk the path of cultivation together."

Having narrowly escaped death, she understood the situation clearly. Her words carried deep sincerity.

Qi Yuan met her gaze, gently stroking her cheek. "I will protect you for life. We will walk this path together."

Hearing his promise, Chen Qiaoqian let go of the last shred of her restraint.

Qi Yuan was momentarily caught off guard as she tackled him, both of them plunging into the hot spring.

---

*Half a month later…*

The white mist that had veiled the valley dissipated.

"Brother, you need to stop being so reckless," Chen Qiaoqian chided, playfully pushing Qi Yuan away.

For the past ten days, she had oscillated between ecstasy and exhaustion, and she knew exactly who was responsible.

Qi Yuan chuckled, holding her delicate hand. "Junior Sister, you are stunning. How about we return to Huangfeng Valley?"

She smiled sweetly at first, but as soon as she heard his suggestion, she firmly shook her head. "No, we've been gone too long. We must return and inform our master. He may be worried."

Qi Yuan, sensing the weight of the five Golden Brick Talismans and seven or eight remaining Heavenly Thunder Seeds in his Chaos Cauldron, relented. "Alright, as Junior Sister wishes. Let's go back."

Chen Qiaoqian, satisfied, clung to his arm as they departed.

---

**Return to Huangfeng Valley**

Upon their return, Qi Yuan and Chen Qiaoqian exchanged a few words before parting ways.

Qi Yuan set his sights on Hong Fu's cave and soon arrived. Inside, a beautiful woman and a young girl sat in the hall. He bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Grandmaster Hong Fu and Senior Sister."

Dong Xuan'er, upon seeing Qi Yuan, scoffed and turned away in irritation.

Hong Fu observed him with interest. "Your cultivation seems to have improved."

Qi Yuan, recalling the intense days of dual cultivation, concealed a knowing smile and replied, "I acquired some enhancement pills during my travels. That's why my cultivation has advanced."

Hong Fu nodded, accepting his explanation without suspicion. "The opening of the forbidden land is near. Do not venture out again—focus on your cultivation."

Qi Yuan, eager to assess his spoils, obeyed and returned to his training chamber.

Dong Xuan'er watched his retreating figure with a glint in her eye. Her own cultivation had progressed significantly. She needed an opportunity to seduce Qi Yuan, forcing him to fall for her, and then expose him publicly.

---

Back in his training room, Qi Yuan wasted no time in erasing Senior Brother Lu's mark from a storage bag. He poured its contents onto the ground.

The most eye-catching item was a massive green flag, embroidered with a fearsome dragon—a top-tier magical artifact, the **Green Dragon Flag**.

Among the other treasures were a **Wind Wall Talisman**, dozens of mid-to-low-tier talismans, and a generous pile of spirit stones.

Additionally, he found a high-quality **Green Rope** and **Silver Hook**, which would help balance out his weaknesses.

Finally, there was a single **Deep Blue Foundation-Building Pill**—an important find, but not his ultimate goal in entering the Blood Forbidden Land.

What he truly sought was **Nangong Wan**—to convince her to join forces and preemptively eliminate Lingshou Mountain. Otherwise, he'd be forced to follow in Han Li's footsteps, wandering the world as a fugitive.

As for the guqin left behind by the demonic cultivator, it remained unscratched despite the power of the Heavenly Thunder Seed.

Could it be a **Golden Core-stage treasure**?

*(End of Chapter)*