The Price of Power: Recovery and a New Quest

Only after thoroughly shredding the heavily injured Ghost Corpse Bride did Bing Yingying finally make her way to Xia Yi’s side.

“Husband, are you alright?”

Supporting the tottering Xia Yi, Bing Yingying’s voice was laced with worry.

“It’s nothing major; my spiritual energy was merely drained dry.”

Having said this, Xia Yi hastily retrieved a Qi Restoration Pill and swallowed it, a touch of color returning to his pale face.

Seizing the moment his strength returned, Xia Yi hurled a ball of Extreme Yang True Flame towards the scattered fragments of the Ghost Corpse Bride, which Bing Yingying had torn apart.

It was only when even the Ghost Corpse Bride’s remnants had been incinerated to ash that he finally stopped.

With a sigh of exhaustion, Xia Yi collapsed onto the ground.

While the combined technique of the Phoenix Fire Art and the Ice Lotus Heavenly Phoenix Art was undeniably formidable, it proved rather unforgiving to the practitioner with the lesser cultivation.

Had Xia Yi not recently advanced to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, he might well have been utterly depleted by Bing Yingying in that very instant.

The fusion technique they had just employed was an unexpected discovery made during their fateful enlightenment.

By simultaneously cultivating both the Phoenix Fire Art and the Ice Lotus Heavenly Phoenix Art, and achieving a profound spiritual resonance, one could transfer their spiritual energy techniques to the other.

The true challenge of this technique lay in the absolute spiritual harmony required between the cultivators of the Phoenix Fire Art and the Ice Lotus Heavenly Phoenix Art.

Yet, for Xia Yi and Bing Yingying, this formidable obstacle seemed to vanish entirely.

They could effortlessly execute the combined ultimate technique of the Phoenix Fire Art and the Ice Lotus Heavenly Phoenix Art.

However, due to the disparity in their cultivation levels, Xia Yi found himself utterly depleted the moment he transferred the Extreme Yang True Flame to Bing Yingying.

Nonetheless, the outcome was remarkably favorable; their preliminary combined technique exhibited considerable power.

It should be capable of confronting cultivators in the mid-stage of Core Formation.

Their victory over the Ghost Corpse Bride was primarily due to the overwhelmingly potent suppressive effects of the purifying power and the Extreme Yang True Flame.

Had they faced a typical late-stage Core Formation cultivator, Xia Yi and Bing Yingying would have considered themselves fortunate merely to escape with their lives.

Any thought of a counter-attack would have been pure fantasy.

“Husband, I’ve finished checking. There’s nothing good here, let’s go.”

Some time later, Bing Yingying completed her thorough inspection of the entire manor.

Beyond the storage rings plundered from the deceased cultivators, virtually nothing of value remained.

Fortunately, the Ghost Corpse Bride’s desires lay in flesh and blood spiritual energy, not in spirit stones.

The quantity of spirit stones acquired this time was quite substantial, and coupled with Xia Yi’s accumulated wealth from Hanhai City, he was now, barring any unforeseen circumstances, a truly affluent Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Even many ordinary Core Formation experts might not possess such riches.

Having carefully stowed away the wooden tokens belonging to the missing ordinary disciples of the Azure Feather Immortal Sect, the pair finally departed from the desolate village.

****

As night descended, within a secluded mountain cave.

Xia Yi was currently undergoing Bing Yingying’s ministrations.

This, of course, was a proper, earnest treatment.

After all, Xia Yi, a cultivator in the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, had forcibly supplied spiritual energy to a Core Formation expert.

That he hadn’t been drained into a desiccated corpse was already a testament to the depth of his spiritual power. How could he possibly possess the energy to explore the hundred and eight methods of utilizing delicate, silken feet?

Once fully relaxed, Xia Yi felt a profound ache permeate his body from the neck down, akin to the soreness that follows sudden, strenuous exertion.

Even the slightest movement sent waves of agonizing discomfort through him.

Thankfully, Xia Yi had cultivated the Azure Radiance Dragon Transformation Art to its second layer, and the combined technique did not demand his mental energy. Otherwise, merely moving would have been an excruciating ordeal.

Bing Yingying, too, understood that this was no time for jesting or idle pursuits.

Over the subsequent five days, Xia Yi’s recovery hinged almost entirely on Bing Yingying’s diligent care.

Following this arduous battle, Xia Yi concluded that the linked techniques of the Phoenix Fire Art and the Ice Lotus Heavenly Phoenix Art were best reserved as a hidden trump card.

Alternatively, he would only consider employing them once his cultivation had truly caught up to Bing Yingying’s.

To endure five days of ‘recovery‘ for a single use was simply too impractical.

****

By the twelfth day, Xia Yi and Bing Yingying had reached the site of their second commission.

This particular commission required no bloodshed; it merely entailed verifying the proper functioning of the array formations surrounding the sect’s mining operations.

The recuperated Xia Yi and Bing Yingying completed this task in a mere three days.

The final commission awaited them within Azure Feather City, a request for Xia Yi and Bing Yingying to help stabilize the situation and guarantee that Azure Feather City would not fall to a beast tide.

In truth, this was merely a formality. Azure Feather City, serving as a subordinate city to the Azure Feather Immortal Sect and a city of cooperation with the Myriad Treasure Pavilion.

It was inconceivable that two newly initiated, unranked disciples would be needed to defend the city against a beast tide.

Typically, this commission merely involved Xia Yi and Bing Yingying clearing out any wandering demonic beasts in the vicinity of Azure Feather City.

There was no true need to actively resist the beast tide itself.

This crucial detail had been relayed to him by Li Junying prior to their departure.

Thus, the moment they arrived at Azure Feather City, Xia Yi and Bing Yingying immediately circled the city, diligently eliminating every demonic beast they encountered.

Any beasts they could not dispatch were carefully noted, their locations recorded, and subsequently reported to the city’s guardian upon entering.

With this, their commission was deemed complete.

Having resolved this pressing matter, Xia Yi and Bing Yingying now merely needed to return to the sect within the allotted timeframe and present their commission proofs to finalize everything.

By the time Xia Yi and Bing Yingying completed their final commission, more than ten days still remained until the deadline set by the sect.

Factoring out travel, they still had approximately four or five days of leisure to indulge themselves.

On this initial day of newfound freedom, Xia Yi and Bing Yingying made their way to the Myriad Treasure Pavilion within Azure Feather City.

****

“Respected Honored Guest, please allow me to escort you to our VIP chamber where you may wait briefly. A dedicated attendant will soon be with you to provide service.”

Upon Xia Yi presenting his first-class honored guest token, a maid from the Myriad Treasure Pavilion promptly guided the pair to a secluded private chamber.

Mere seconds later, the attendant assigned specifically to Xia Yi entered the private room.

“Esteemed Honored Guest, how may I be of service to you today?”

The attendant dedicated to Xia Yi was a remarkably graceful and charming young woman, possessing an exquisite temperament.

“I require the core of an Immortal Skiff. Do you have such items for sale here?”

Xia Yi, without so much as a lingering glance at the alluring young woman, directly stated the purpose of his visit.

“Indeed, we do. Might I inquire as to the grade of Immortal Skiff core the esteemed Honored Guest seeks?”

Upon hearing Xia Yi’s request for an Immortal Skiff core, the young woman harbored no doubts regarding his financial capabilities.

For who among the Honored Guests of the Myriad Treasure Pavilion was ever a simple individual, much less a first-class Honored Guest like Xia Yi?

“Immortal Skiff cores are categorized by grades?”

“Yes, the cores of Immortal Skiffs are indeed classified into four distinct grades: Mortal, Earth, Heaven, and Immortal. Each grade signifies a different level of load-bearing capacity.

A higher capacity allows for the inscription of more potent formations, thereby enhancing both flight speed and defensive capabilities.

An Immortal-grade core, for instance, can even endure a strike from a half-step Nascent Soul cultivator completely unscathed.”

“I see.”

Having listened to the explanation, Xia Yi finally began to grasp the intricacies of Immortal Skiffs.

“What are the prices for the cores of each respective grade?”

“Might I inquire if you are opting for a custom-built Immortal Skiff, or if you merely require a core?”

“You can customize?”

Xia Yi’s query did not cause the young woman to bat an eye, as it was indeed uncommon for individuals to purchase Immortal Skiffs by themselves.

Typically, grand sects placed direct orders for them, so it was perfectly understandable for Xia Yi, despite his status as an Honored Guest, to be unaware of such details.