Upon hearing Lin Feng Qiang's accusation, Ming Yu Han scoffed, his expression filled with disdain.
"Hmph! Stop trying to make excuses," he snapped sharply. "Yes, I found a spiritual fruit that helped me break through, but that was luck—and luck is a part of talent whether you like it or not. If you didn't find anything, blame your own fate, not mine."
His words hit like arrows, mercilessly targeting the exact spot that hurt most. Lin Feng Qiang's face flushed an angry red, his ears almost steaming. He was used to speaking down to others with an air of arrogance, especially those he considered beneath him. But now, facing someone equal in talent who had reaped greater benefits through luck, his pride made it difficult to refute.
Ming Yu Han paid him no more attention. He turned to a beautiful woman standing nearby—a woman whose graceful features bore an uncanny resemblance to Lin Xinyi. A warm smile rose on his lips as he spoke in a gentler tone.
"Take Miss Liu Yi Lin, for instance. She also possesses a medium red Qi Sea, yet she managed to break through to the 12th level of Qi Condensation. If not for the opportunity she came across, she wouldn't have done so. Even her luck is better than mine." His eyes sparkled with admiration as he looked at her.
The surrounding cultivators were taken aback. Breaking through to the 12th level of Qi Condensation was an incredible feat, something that marked a person as a genius among geniuses.
Liu Yi Lin, the subject of the conversation, responded with a graceful, goddess-like smile. Her composure remained untouched by the attention.
"Mr. Ming, you overpraise me," she said modestly. "I may have reached the Innate Realm, but I'm still in the early stages. Compared to you, who is in the middle stage, I've much ground to cover."
"Oh, Miss Liu," Ming Yu Han replied with a mock sigh, "you underestimate yourself far too much. With your solid foundation, I'd say you're easily a match for someone like me. Tsk, tsk…"
He lowered his head slightly, as if in self-pity, but his eyes sneakily drifted toward her chest. Just as he was about to linger, a sudden realization struck him. His pupils shrank, and he hastily looked away, afraid someone might catch him ogling.
"Oh? Senior Brother Ming, aren't you exaggerating again?" a sultry voice chimed in.
A girl clad in a deep blue robe stepped forward with slow, deliberate steps that oozed confidence. Her beauty rivaled Liu Yi Lin's, perhaps even surpassing it in raw allure. Her eyes gleamed with charm, and her soft, teasing smile caused more than one male cultivator to stare in awe.
"With that silver tongue of yours, I'm beginning to suspect you cultivate charm techniques instead of martial arts," she added, her voice like silk laced with thorns.
Ming Yu Han quickly turned his attention toward the new arrival. The trace of fear that had momentarily danced in his eyes vanished upon seeing her. In fact, the fire in his gaze grew even more intense.
"Ying Zi Yi! I didn't expect you to arrive so soon. Weren't you on a sect mission nearby?"
Ying Zi Yi's smile deepened, her eyes twinkling. As she approached, disciples of the Dustless Sword Sect respectfully moved aside, clearly in awe of her presence.
"Of course, I was on a mission," she replied lightly. "But I completed it not long ago. After receiving your message, I came quickly to see if there were any herbs worth exchanging for contribution points when I return."
Then, her eyes shifted toward Liu Yi Lin, and her smile sharpened. "Liu Yi Lin… long time no see."
Liu Yi Lin met her gaze head-on, her expression calm but her eyes sharpened like unsheathed swords. "Indeed, it has been a while. I heard you broke through to the Innate Realm shortly after I did."
Though her voice was smooth, her words carried a pointed undertone: I broke through first—my talent is superior.
Tension rippled through the air. The two women had long been rivals—not just in cultivation, but also in beauty. Any chance to gain the upper hand over the other was never wasted.
"Of course," Ying Zi Yi said with a sweet smile that concealed steel beneath. "Given the opportunity we both found, a breakthrough was inevitable. And I think we both know why you managed to break through first."
Liu Yi Lin's smile froze ever so slightly. The implication was clear.
On the side, Lin Feng Qiang's expression grew darker. He had been completely ignored in the growing rivalry between the two stunning women, and that gnawed at his pride even more.
"What do you mean by that?" he asked coolly, trying to rein in his fury.
"Oh? So you didn't know?" Ming Yu Han cut in with a smug expression.
"Know what?" Lin Feng Qiang's tone was impatient, almost a growl.
"Hahaha!" Ming Yu Han burst into a theatrical laugh. "When Ying Zi Yi and Liu Yi Lin went on a joint mission, they stumbled upon a rare opportunity. They challenged each other in a friendly duel, and during the fight, they discovered two medium yellow-tier spiritual fruits. Both took one each—and those fruits were what helped them ascend to the 12th level of Qi Condensation."
Lin Feng Qiang stood frozen. His heart sank. Was it really all down to luck? Was he the only one left out of fate's favor?
"It seems," Ming Yu Han added with a mocking grin, "that your talent lacks one very important component—luck."
Lin Feng Qiang clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white. He nearly coughed up blood from sheer anger.
"Alright, let's focus on the herbs inside the cave," Ying Zi Yi interrupted smoothly, sensing the brewing storm.
Lin Feng Qiang took a deep breath and nodded. He knew he couldn't monopolize the herb garden now. Cooperation was necessary.
"There are two middle-stage Innate Realm demonic beasts guarding the garden," he explained solemnly. "That means the herbs they're protecting must be of great value."
"What beasts?" Ying Zi Yi asked immediately.
"The Darkshade Panther and the Light Refractive Snake," Lin Feng Qiang answered.
Ying Zi Yi's eyes lit up. She knew what this meant. If two such beasts were cooperating, then whatever lay inside the garden was extraordinary.
"We need to move quickly," she said, her expression turning serious. "If those beasts devour the herbs out of desperation, we'll lose everything."
"The demonic beasts have likely been on high alert ever since Ling Hui snuck in to harvest herbs. The fact that they're still cooperating means the herb they're guarding hasn't matured yet. But when it does… they'll fight to the death over it."
Hearing this, the surrounding cultivators paled. A few in the crowd whispered among themselves.
"We should stay and see if we can pick up leftover herbs. Even a mosquito leg is still meat," one said hopefully.
"You fool," another snapped. "Better to leave than end up as cannon fodder. To the disciples of these major sects, our lives are no more valuable than demonic beasts."
More cultivators prepared to flee, their faces pale with fear. But before they could slip away—
"No one is allowed to leave."
The chilling voice rang out, freezing everyone in their tracks.
Lin Feng Qiang stepped forward, a wicked smile curling his lips. "Since you're already here… why leave now?"
That smile was no comfort—it was a death sentence. To the weaker cultivators, it felt like the Grim Reaper had arrived at their doorstep.
Among the crowd, Qichen watched everything unfold silently. He narrowed his eyes, calculating.
"Master, what do you plan to do?" a soft voice whispered beside him. Ya Ying had appeared, seemingly out of nowhere.
Qichen flinched in surprise. "You… you can appear outside?"
"Of course, Master," Ya Ying said with a smile. Standing beside Qichen, she towered over him by a head. After all, he was still only twelve years old.
"Can others see you?" he asked cautiously.
"They can—if I allow it."
"What about now?" He glanced around nervously, worried that her beauty might draw unwanted attention—and enemies.
"No," she replied simply, shaking her head. "Master, are you planning to play along? Like the oriole stalking the cicada, with the mantis unaware?"
Qichen thought for a moment, then nodded. He would use this situation as a training ground.
Meanwhile, the fear among the cultivators intensified.
"What do you want from us?! We already gave up on the herbs! Do you want to take our lives too?!" one of them yelled defiantly, trying to rally the others.
But before he could finish, a beam of light struck his chest. He spat out blood and collapsed, barely caught by those behind him.
"Trash," Lin Feng Qiang spat coldly. "If you want to speak, say it with strength."
No one dared to meet his gaze.
"Sister…" Liu Xinyi whispered, concern in her voice.
Liu Yi Lin shook her head slowly. She wasn't afraid of Lin Feng Qiang—but she knew his backing. And she also knew… the reason she'd broken through faster than Ying Zi Yi wasn't just because of luck. There were deeper currents at play.