Chapter 20: Ayu, Come Out for Some Fresh Air

Judging by Su Xingyue’s performance, this flying sword must be quite formidable. Lin Fan silently assessed the situation; after all, it was a treasure that even Su Xingyue coveted, so it surely was no ordinary item.

Ji Qingwan smiled softly, then turned to Su Xingyue, her voice gentler. “Good disciple, what about that pill you said could break through the bottleneck?”

“Master, didn’t I tell you before? This pill is an heirloom passed down from my husband’s family, and there are only a few of them. After my mother and I took it, we both broke through immediately,” Su Xingyue said in a sweet voice, giving Lin Fan a sly glance.

Now Lin Fan finally understood why Su Xingyue had asked Bai Xiyue to deliver a pill to him early this morning.

It turned out this little girl intended to use the pill to cover up his ability to help others break through—a clever ruse indeed!

He quickly took out the exquisite jade box from his chest and offered it with both hands.

Ji Qingwan accepted the box, gently opening it. Her snow-white, slender fingers delicately pinched the pill, holding it before her eyes as she examined it carefully.

Her straight, elegant nose twitched slightly as she seemed to discern the pill’s ingredients and medicinal properties.

Her beautiful eyebrows furrowed slightly, showing a hint of doubt. “This pill is made from several common spirit plants. Can it really help one break through?”

She had been stuck in the late Foundation Establishment stage for over twenty years, having tried countless methods and several attempts to break through, all ending in failure.

Ji Qingwan had long since lost hope, nearly giving up on breaking through altogether.

Yet just two days ago, her disciple Su Xingyue, who had left the sect years ago, suddenly sent her word that the family had acquired a pill capable of helping one break through bottlenecks.

This news was like a massive stone dropped into a calm lake, stirring up a long-dormant hope in Ji Qingwan’s heart.

Therefore, without hesitation, she set out immediately.

Su Xingyue had originally thought her master would arrive in a couple of days.

But she had underestimated the urgency of someone who had failed to break through for over twenty years.

She was also unaware of just how enticing the Golden Core realm was to a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

“This pill is an heirloom from my family. After taking it, breaking through is guaranteed!” Lin Fan declared confidently.

Though Ji Qingwan was eager to break through, after so many years of cultivation, she remained cautious.

She placed the pill before her and Lin Fan could sense a powerful surge of spiritual energy radiating from Ji Qingwan, like a tide washing over the pill.

It was clear she was carefully examining the pill with her spiritual sense to confirm there were no problems.

“I hope this pill truly allows me to break through smoothly. I accept it! Yue’er, if I do break through, I will reward you exactly as you promised!” Ji Qingwan said.

Lin Fan blinked and muttered to himself, “So Su Xingyue is selling my ability to help others break through in exchange for cultivation resources.”

“No wonder that old witch gave me such a fine flying sword right off the bat. It’s all connected!”

Ji Qingwan carefully placed the pill back into the jade box, preparing to store it in her spatial pouch.

Su Xingyue knew full well that although the pill was made from premium spirit materials, it had no actual effect on breaking through bottlenecks.

“Master, taking this pill requires a medicinal catalyst; otherwise, it won’t work. It’s best to take it immediately,” Su Xingyue said with a mischievous gleam in her big eyes, blinking sweetly.

“Oh?” Ji Qingwan raised an eyebrow, a hint of doubt flashing in her eyes.

“This pill is from my husband’s family. If someone else takes it, it won’t work. To activate its effect and break through, one must also take the essence blood of a member of my husband’s clan!” Su Xingyue explained earnestly.

Lin Fan’s brow twitched as he thought, “This little girl not only wants me to expend my lifespan, but now she also wants a drop of my essence blood. I don’t mind giving essence blood, but it requires making a wound.”

However, under the current circumstances, he had no choice but to go along with it.

“I said before, I see nothing special about this pill,” Ji Qingwan murmured, doubt flickering briefly in her eyes before vanishing.

After a moment’s contemplation, she slowly said, “Very well, I shall take this pill here and now.”

Upon arriving at the Su family, she had thoroughly scanned her surroundings with her spiritual sense and found no danger. She also carefully examined the pill and found nothing suspicious.

However, the moment of breakthrough was when a cultivator was most vulnerable; she would not dare to be careless.

With graceful and practiced movements, her slender fingers lightly tapped an exquisitely embroidered cloud-patterned storage pouch.

A flash of spiritual light appeared, and in the once empty air suddenly materialized a pure white figure.

Looking closely, it was a small white fox, immaculate without a single stray hair, as if carved from the finest mutton fat jade.

Though petite, it exuded an indescribable spirit and vitality.

Its large, watery fox eyes darted about with curiosity, shining with intelligence.

Its delicate nose twitched slightly, as if catching every faint scent in the air.

“Ah Yu, come out for some fresh air,” Ji Qingwan called softly.

The little white fox named Ah Yu responded with a cheerful call, clear and melodious like wind chimes.

It leapt lightly onto Ji Qingwan’s shoulder, nuzzling her cheek affectionately.

Lin Fan glanced over and felt a chill run through him—the little fox’s strength was not to be underestimated.

Its spiritual energy fluctuations were far stronger than Su Xingyue’s, and if they fought in secret, Su Xingyue might not be a match for it.

Clearly, this little fox was Ji Qingwan’s spirit beast, released to serve as her guardian.

Lin Fan muttered inwardly, “This woman is really cautious—she even has her spirit beast guard her during a minor breakthrough.”

Ji Qingwan placed the little fox gently on her lap and softly patted its small head. The white fox obediently curled up and pretended to nap.

“Lend me a drop of your essence blood,” Ji Qingwan’s voice was cold and commanding, leaving no room for refusal.

Before Lin Fan could react, her delicate hand lifted lightly, and the air twisted as if torn by an invisible force.

A semi-transparent wind blade suddenly formed in midair, radiating a sharp, fierce aura.

The wind blade appeared so suddenly that Lin Fan had no time to dodge and could only watch helplessly as it flew toward him.

His heart leapt in alarm. Damn, this old witch isn’t trying to silence me, is she?

The wind blade moved at incredible speed—there was no way to evade.

At the last moment, however, it sliced precisely across his fingertip at a cunning angle.

A drop of bright red blood dripped from the wound, releasing a faint metallic scent.

Ji Qingwan’s eyes narrowed as she formed a hand seal, levitating the drop of essence blood before her.

She then parted her alluring red lips and gently inhaled.

The drop of blood, along with the pill she had prepared earlier, seemed drawn by an invisible force, slowly drifting into her mouth.