The effect of the enhancement potion was beyond doubt. In the center of the auction hall, that junior broke through on the spot, a sudden surge of spiritual energy swirling around his body as his bottleneck shattered. After stabilizing the cultivation through several deep breaths, his aptitude was tested again by the specialized tools. The result stunned everyone present. The spirit root value had actually increased. Even though it was only by five points, for that junior it was an enormous blessing—a change that would reshape his entire path of cultivation.
From that moment on, the enhancement potion's name truly spread throughout the city and the surrounding regions. The second vial was auctioned for a sky-high price, with bids flying from every corner of the room as desperation took hold of the crowd. The cultivator who had struck gold earlier was grinning from ear to ear, his face flushed with the thrill of his bargain, while those who hesitated and failed to act decisively were beating their chests in regret, cursing their own caution for having missed a once-in-a-lifetime chance.
Because the enhancement potion caused such a massive stir, the name of Yixian Gate was mentioned again among cultivators. Some sects and prominent families on good terms with Yixian Gate even came knocking at their doors, asking for medicine or seeking to commission more potions. That attention made Huo Chongshan, along with Ming Cong and Ming Yu, who had just arrived back at the sect after their travels, share the same suspicion about the source of these mysterious concoctions.
"Martial Uncle Huo, do you think this was done by Ran Xi Daoyou?" Ming Cong asked in a low voice, his brow furrowed as they gathered in the inner hall.
"There's a strong chance," he replied, nodding slowly. "Let's wait and see. When she comes knocking, we can ask her face to face."
Ming Yu sighed with emotion, a look of wonder crossing her face. "She is truly impressive. We have refined potions that improve aptitude before, but the effects were nowhere near as good as Ran Xi's."
Huo Chongshan's gaze flickered with a complicated light. "No matter how outstanding she is, she still inherited Yixian Gate's legacy. Without our inheritance, she wouldn't be able to refine potions like this."
Ming Cong and Ming Yu exchanged a glance and said nothing. Some things simply didn't matter much in front of true talent, regardless of where the foundation lay.
Meanwhile, Ran Xi, who had already entered the rugged terrain of Chong'an Mountain, sneezed. She rubbed her nose with the back of her hand, feeling as though someone was thinking about her somewhere far away.
At this time, Yunxi had already changed her face, applying a light spiritual mask to alter her features, and put on an unremarkable gray robe that swallowed her frame. She disguised herself as a thin male cultivator with a sharp, sallow face and headed quietly toward Yan Shi Village.
She wasn't afraid of being recognized by ordinary eyes, but she didn't want anyone tracing her trail back to Yan Shi Village's tribal land. After confirming there was no one following her through the dense brush, she changed her identity again to stay hidden.
Earlier, Xiao Meng had sent a voice transmission and asked, "Zūnshàng, Shopkeeper Liu had plenty of good things on him. Why didn't you take them all?"
Yunxi thought Yan Meng was a bit naïve and sweet, but remembering the secluded rules of their clan, she understood the girl's perspective. She explained calmly as she navigated the mountain paths.
"If Běnjūn had stripped Liu Botang clean, do you think Chong'an Auction House would have let it go so easily? They would bite down hard and refuse to let go; they might even join forces with other auction houses to suppress Běnjūn.
For cultivators, greed is a great taboo. Our goal was only to retrieve your sister's Rock Core, not anything else. Putting things backward would only trap us in an endless pursuit, and in the end, we would gain nothing.
Běnjūn only took the Fortune Reversal Bead and even returned the consignment voucher, making it clear that the item was withdrawn. The auction house suffered no real loss, only losing a bit of spectacle. And this Lord left behind an item that could replace the Fortune Reversal Pearl. As long as Shopkeeper Liu has enough sense, he can resolve the crisis easily. It's a win for both sides—the matter gets closed, and we can even cooperate again later."
"So that's how it is. I understand now," Xiao Meng replied, her voice soft in the girl's mind.
After that, Xiao Meng didn't ask again and simply guided Yunxi in silence through the hidden trails. They returned to Yan Shi Village in the shortest possible time.
The village chief, who had received word early through their tribal methods, was already waiting at the stone entrance. He froze for a moment when he saw an unfamiliar male cultivator approaching, only relaxing after Xiao Meng transformed into human form beside the guest.
With a flick of her sleeve, Yunxi handed the spirit severing box to the girl. The other half of the Rock Core was already in her hands. Leaving Yunxi behind in the courtyard, they went into the stone house to begin the healing.
Yunxi sat at the weathered stone table in the courtyard and waited patiently.
Soon, a burst of golden light erupted from the stone house, shining through the cracks in the walls and accompanied by Xiao Meng's startled cry. Yunxi also heard painful groans echoing from within. After another quarter of an hour, the groans weakened into soft whimpers. Half an hour later, Xiao Meng supported a slightly sturdy young woman as they walked out into the daylight.
When the woman saw Yunxi, her eyes lit up with a mixture of relief and awe. She gestured for her sister to help her over, then bowed gracefully, her long sleeves fluttering.
"Thank you, Senior, for helping me retrieve my Rock Core. Yan Yun is endlessly grateful. Please accept my bow."
The affected manner made Yunxi's teeth ache with annoyance. Xiao Meng's lips twitched as well, seeing her sister's behavior.
Yunxi noticed the village chief's face turning a little red with embarrassment. Unfortunately, she was his own daughter, so he could only endure it while standing silently by.
Yunxi glanced at the village chief, then smiled gently, though her eyes remained sharp. "There's no need for thanks. This was a transaction. Běnjūn's payment for retrieving the Rock Core is your younger sister, Xiao Meng. I hope next time you won't bring back cultivators with ulterior motives into your tribal land."
Yan Yun clearly hadn't expected that condition. When she learned that the price for retrieving her Rock Core was her own sister, she immediately looked as if she were about to cry, her expression crumbling.
"Senior, this all started because of me. Could you please not take my sister away? I'm willing to go with you instead."
This time, not only did the village chief's expression change, Xiao Meng's face changed as well. Yunxi's smile faded slightly, replaced by a cold neutrality.
"No. You caused the trouble, yet your sister pays the price. That's exactly what will leave you with a deep lesson. Every time you lose control to your feelings, think about your sister. Then you won't make the same mistake again."
After speaking, she turned to the tall village chief, her voice dropping an octave.
"Village Chief Yan, Běnjūn has fulfilled the promise and retrieved Yan Yun's Rock Core. It's only natural that Běnjūn takes the payment. If she indulges in foolish infatuation again in the future, you should consider whether you can afford the cost.
Běnjūn will speak frankly. This place isn't safe anymore. Mo Jiu has been here, and Běnjūn has been here too. If you don't want to lose another Rock Core, you had better move elsewhere."
With a light wave of her sleeve, Yan Meng was pulled uncontrollably toward Yunxi in the next instant. She reverted to her original form and became an ornament once more, resting against Yunxi's forehead.
As Yunxi turned to leave, she returned to her original appearance, her features shifting back to their true form as she put on the flamboyant red robe again. Moments later, she disappeared from Yan Shi Village's territory, her figure a mere blur of crimson against the gray stone.
Village Chief Yan watched helplessly as she took Xiao Meng away. There was nothing he could do to stop it. He had already realized her cultivation was higher than his own. With a heavy sigh, he said to the young woman beside him.
"This is the result of your stubbornness. I hope you reflect properly. The village has lost Xiao Meng. If danger comes again, it will be just you and me standing against it."
Yan Yun's face had already gone pale as she watched the empty path. She couldn't understand how things had ended up like this. She had regained her freedom, yet her sister was gone.
As Yunxi departed, she sent a voice transmission to the stone on her forehead.
"Xiao Meng, if you don't want to follow Běnjūn, after some time, when Yan Shi Village stabilizes and your sister has learned her lesson, Běnjūn can send you back."
"Zūnshàng, there's no need. You're right. You fulfilled your promise, and paying the price is only right. More importantly, this lets my sister learn a lesson and learn self-restraint, with the villagers keeping watch over her. Just as you said, she made the mistake, but I paid the price. She will remember it deeply."
Hearing that, she curled her lips into a small, knowing smile. She had only asked the question casually, testing the spirit stone's resolve. She never truly planned to send the Dream Stone back. It was a valuable thing and would surely be a great help to her in the future.
Just as she strolled away from the winding paths of Chong'an Mountain, a flying sword message, a streak of white light humming with urgency, shot straight toward her.