With Bai Xiaoxi's breakthrough, the tides of battle shifted dramatically. Hong Qianye and Li Wujie moved with renewed ferocity—flames surged like crashing waves while sword light streaked across the sky like a meteor. The Nine Tribulations Thunder Vine, once a force to be reckoned with, now lay lifeless and crumpled on the ground.
"We won!" Bai Xiaoxi shouted, her voice bubbling with joy.
She skipped over to Hong Qianye, her fingers clasped together, rising on her toes with anticipation. Her face was lit with hope, clearly expecting some praise from her senior brother.
"Hmph."
Hong Qianye snorted and flicked his sleeve as he turned away, his expression frosty.
Seeing this so-called harmless little mouse unleash such power left the proud sect leader slightly uncomfortable. Naturally, when Bai Xiaoxi ran over, he assumed she just wanted to show off—he wasn't in the mood to indulge her.
Watching her senior brother walk away coldly, Bai Xiaoxi lowered her head, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Did... did the mouse mess up?"
"Ahem!"
Li Wujie gave an exaggerated cough, his expression suddenly serious. "Senior Sister Bai, you were incredible just now!"
He had honestly thought she was just some lucky charm tagging along for the ride. Clearly, there was more to her than met the eye.
No one chosen by Ye Junlin would be simple.
Blushing slightly at the compliment, Bai Xiaoxi fidgeted, shyly whispering, "Oh, it was nothing. The mouse just wanted to help."
"Uncle Fan, we should thank them!" An Miaoyi broke out of her daze and pulled the middle-aged man forward.
"Many thanks, friends. Miaoyi is truly grateful for your assistance."
"There's no need to be so formal. It was just a small gesture," Li Wujie replied with a polite cupped-fist salute.
As for Hong Qianye, he simply stood in the background, stoic and silent.
An Miaoyi's attention landed on Bai Xiaoxi. With her wide hat concealing her face, it was hard to see clearly, but An Miaoyi guessed she must be an adorable little girl.
"May I ask for your name?"
Bai Xiaoxi blinked, surprised. She pointed at herself, a bit overwhelmed. "Sister, are you... talking to the mouse?"
"Mouse?" An Miaoyi chuckled at the nickname. "Of course! You were amazing—I really admire you."
The praise made Bai Xiaoxi light up with joy. She jumped in place and turned to Ye Junlin, calling out excitedly, "Master! Master! Did you hear? This sister admires the mouse! She admires me!"
"Master?" Fan Dezhen's eyes flickered toward the silver-haired young man, a chill running down his spine.
The resemblance was uncanny. Could this really be the rumored duo? Had they been mistaken earlier?
His heart pounded as he paled with realization.
Ye Junlin strolled over with a smile and gently patted Bai Xiaoxi on the head. "Alright, alright. Don't let it get to your head."
"Hehe~" She scratched her head sheepishly.
"You're this little girl's master?" An Miaoyi asked, clearly curious. Someone capable of training such a disciple had to be extraordinary.
"Yes," Ye Junlin answered solemnly. "She's the product of painstaking effort and endless training."
Hong Qianye rolled his eyes. Painstaking effort? What training? The only thing Ye Junlin worked hard at was lounging around and eating whatever Bai Xiaoxi brought back.
Culinary training, maybe?
"Oh, never mind," she muttered under her breath.
"Yes! The master treats the mouse very well!" Bai Xiaoxi nodded emphatically, fully convinced.
"I see." An Miaoyi's gaze swept across the four of them. A vague sense of familiarity itched at the back of her mind, but with all the chaos earlier, her brain struggled to piece things together.
Watching her expression, Ye Junlin let out a silent sigh. So much wisdom leaking from this woman...
Suddenly—
A noisy commotion rose from the nearby forest.
"King, humans ahead!"
"The battle earlier—those energy waves came from them!"
"Isn't this Thunder King's territory?!"
From the trees emerged a strange procession of plant-like creatures, each giving off a strong medicinal scent.
And not just any herbs—precious ones.
Each of them, if sold, could fetch astronomical prices!
"So many rare herbs..." Fan Dezhen paled.
Under normal circumstances, this would've made him ecstatic. But after what he'd just been through in Medicine King Valley, even the sight of precious herbs made his skin crawl.
He might never recover from this trauma.
Ye Junlin narrowed his eyes. Among the strange entourage, one particularly powerful presence stood out.
In moments, over a hundred medicinal creatures stormed into view, their energy fierce and unyielding.
Leading them was an ancient-looking, golden ginseng glowing with spiritual light. Its cultivation was at Full Foundation Establishment—far stronger than the Nine Tribulations Thunder Vine.
"You humans… you killed Little Lei?" the ginseng growled, its spiritual pressure flaring with fury.
So "Little Lei" referred to the Thunder Vine. Clearly, this wasn't just any bunch of herbs—they had bonds and grievances.
Hong Qianye's eyes gleamed with anticipation. "What a lucky day. These herbs are even more valuable than the last. If I can take that one down, my Crossing Tribulation breakthrough might not be far."
Li Wujie frowned, serious. "That ginseng's no joke. I'm not sure we can handle it."
"Impudent humans!" the golden ginseng roared, lifting a silver axe. "You dare lay eyes on this king? You'll regret it!"
Seeing the axe, Ye Junlin's gaze sharpened. "So it's those guys again."
"Senior Sister Bai, think you've got more left in the tank?" Li Wujie asked cautiously.
Bai Xiaoxi puffed up her chest, her voice full of resolve. "Yes! The mouse is ready!"
"Take them down!" the ginseng commanded.
The herd of herbs surged forward.
"They're coming, they're actually coming!!" Fan Dezhen's face turned ghostly pale. His legs nearly gave out, and it took An Miaoyi's reassuring presence to keep him grounded.
Ye Junlin looked at the man oddly. "This guy needs therapy."
Meanwhile, Hong Qianye and Li Wujie launched themselves at the charging herbs.
The golden ginseng swung its axe, slicing through the air with astonishing force.
Clang!
A crisp metallic note rang out.
The ginseng froze mid-swing. Blocking its path was a small figure—Bai Xiaoxi. Her tiny hand, glowing golden, held the axe in place effortlessly.
"Your opponent is the mouse!" she declared with conviction.
"You?" the ginseng scoffed, its aura intensifying. A golden glow burst from its body, divine and radiant. Its power surged wildly, far beyond normal expectations.
Even Fan Dezhen and An Miaoyi were stunned.
This wasn't just Foundation Establishment. This herb could rival someone in the Golden Core, maybe even Nascent Soul.
The ginseng darted around like lightning, launching axe strikes at blinding speed.
Bai Xiaoxi blocked a few but soon staggered, dizzy and overwhelmed. "No more! The mouse feels sick! Dizzy! I think I'm gonna hurl!"
"Hah! You dared to challenge this king?" The ginseng mocked as it raised the axe for a finishing blow.
Clang!
A low hum echoed as the axe stopped mid-air.
"What...?" the ginseng froze.
Two fingers held the axe in place.
Ye Junlin stood there, nonchalantly making a peace sign. "This ginseng's getting a little too full of itself. I think it's time someone boiled it into soup."
CRACK!
The axe shattered.
Bai Xiaoxi steadied herself, looking up. "Master… did the mouse let you down?"
Ye Junlin ruffled her hair. "Nah. Go help the others. I'll handle this oversized root."
"Okay!"
She darted off to assist the others.
"Uncle Fan, Young Master Ye is stepping in!" An Miaoyi's eyes sparkled with excitement.
Fan Dezhen couldn't tear his eyes away from the black-robed figure. There was something terrifyingly deep about him.
"You think you can challenge me? You milk-drinking brat!" the ginseng raged, roots stretching and forming fists. It launched forward like a missile, slamming into the ground with force.
Golden light flared, a blinding explosion of energy tearing through the air.
Right then—
Ding!
[System Notification: Host has been attacked by a Full Foundation Establishment enemy. Triggering passive ability "Stronger When Facing Stronger Enemies." Cultivation breakthrough—Early Golden Core achieved.]
Ye Junlin blinked.
"...Wait, I can do that?!"
---
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