Liu Hong quickly held the woman in his embrace: "Junior sister, don't move around, be careful not to touch your wound."
"It hurts so much, senior brother, I hurt so much."
"It's good that it hurts, it means you're still salvageable." Xiao Man's tone was unhurried. The girl's face was pale with pain, her lips were bruised, tears welled up in her eyes, and she clutched Liu Hong's clothes tightly with both hands, unable to stop her body from trembling.
"Esteemed immortal friend, how is my junior sister?"
"She won't die." Xiao Man handed the styptic powder to Liu Hong, "Apply it to the wound once a day, and give her a detoxifying pill in three days to clear the residual poison."
"Many thanks, immortal friend."
"Ten spirit crystals."
Liu Hong was stunned for a moment, staring blankly at Xiao Man: "What?"
"Consultation fee, ten spirit crystals, no credit."
Ze Fang grinned. He had been thinking how kind-hearted she was, only to find out she was after spirit crystals.
"Oh, alright, it's deserved." Liu Hong came to his senses, nodded repeatedly, took out ten spirit crystals and handed them to Xiao Man. Xiao Man accepted them and gave one each to Zhu Qing and Xiao Bai. The two little snakes happily swallowed the spirit crystals into their bellies.
Ze Fang was no longer surprised. Even if Xiao Man wanted to feed her spirit pets with elixirs, he wouldn't be surprised. After all, what was there that she wouldn't be willing to feed her spirit pets, considering she could feed them demon crystals obtained through her own arduous battles?
Although the girl's wound was very painful, she mustered her strength and said, "Thank you, benefactor, for saving my life. May I know your esteemed name?"
"I was just doing my job for money, I'm not your benefactor." After Xiao Man finished speaking, she bid farewell to Ze Fang and swaggered out of the ruins, disappearing into the dense forest.
"Let's go too." Ze Fang called out to his men, a faint smile in his eyes. They had only just met, yet he felt as if they had known each other for a long time.
"Does young master like Young Master Xiao Qin very much?" The attendant, seeing Ze Fang in such high spirits, asked cautiously, "Why not invite Young Master Xiao Qin to our home as a guest?"
Ze Fang looked back, his eyes filled with coldness, a world apart from his gentle and harmless demeanor moments before. "Don't get any ideas about her, or you'll face my ruthlessness."
"This subordinate knows his mistake."
When Xiao Man returned to the cave where the others were hiding, Xiang Jian had not yet completed his advancement.
"Captain, you're back. The vice-captain is still in meditation."
Xiao Man walked to Xiang Jian's side and pondered for a moment, then tentatively sent spiritual power into Xiang Jian's body to probe his condition. However, she was repelled by Xiang Jian's own power. Fortunately, she withdrew her hand in time, otherwise, she would have been thrown against the wall by this force.
"Captain, are you alright?"
"I'm fine." Xiao Man said with a chuckle, "Xiang Jian is also fine. He's considered to have benefited from misfortune. It's just that I don't know how much he'll recover this time."
"Is the vice-captain also going against the heavens?" Poison Lady asked in surprise. If the vice-captain also went against the heavens and reached the ninth stage of Qi Refining, wouldn't they be left far behind?
"Against the heavens?" Xiao Man pondered thoughtfully, "It's not impossible."
"Originally, only you were abnormal. If the vice-captain also becomes abnormal, won't we have to work even harder? Otherwise, we won't even be able to catch up!"
"Whether Xiang Jian is abnormal or not, you all need to work harder. I'll stay here to guard Xiang Jian in case of any unforeseen circumstances. You go out to find food. Many powerful individuals have recently arrived in the Roland Mountains, including experts at the Foundation Establishment stage. Be careful and avoid conflicts with them."
Xiao Man exhorted with concern. In addition to the disciples sent by the Seven Great Sects, there were also some mercenary groups. Their group's strength was indeed a bit weak. If they encountered Foundation Establishment stage experts, they would be no match.
"Captain, don't worry, we won't provoke those people."
"Your cultivation has just been upgraded, and your realm is not yet stable. When you go out foraging, don't forget to practice your skills. Although the Roland Mountains are dangerous, compared to Yangming Valley, this place is quite gentle."
The group thought back to their time in Yangming Valley, when they were poisoned every day, either by poisonous herbs and flowers or by poisonous beasts and birds. In the Roland Mountains, although there were poisonous creatures, most of them were harmless, making it relatively safe.
Xiao Man guarded Xiang Jian. Xiang Jian's current cultivation was all aimed at returning to the Golden Core stage. Starting anew was a familiar process for him, but rebuilding the foundation was crucial. After all, his Golden Core had been shattered, and he might be stuck at the Foundation Establishment stage for the rest of his life, never able to condense a core again.
When Xiang Jian opened his eyes again, his entire aura had changed, becoming even more restrained. Xiao Man vaguely felt that the aura emanating from Xiang Jian was suppressing her, but soon, Xiang Jian contained his aura, becoming like an ordinary person.
"It seems you have recovered to the Foundation Establishment stage."
"Yes, middle stage of Foundation Establishment." Xiang Jian replied immediately, "But I don't know if I can ever return to the Golden Core stage in this lifetime."
"You can." Xiao Man said decisively, "You recovered your cultivation to the middle stage of Foundation Establishment in such a short time, so you can definitely return to the Golden Core stage and go even further."
Xiang Jian smiled and scratched his head, "I was quite unsure at first, but after hearing you say that, it feels like I can become a powerful being at the Transformation God stage."
"You will." Xiao Man said unhurriedly, "My goal is to become a powerful expert at the Transformation God stage and travel to other places through spatial rifts."
"Since you, as my master, have made up your mind, I naturally cannot fall behind." Xiang Jian looked at Xiao Man, "Boss, shall we have a spar?"
A glint of eagerness appeared in Xiao Man's eyes. Xiang Jian was now at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment, his cultivation far exceeding hers by more than a little. One must remember that the gap between the Qi Refining stage and the Foundation Establishment stage was like crossing thousands of mountains and rivers!
"Alright, I also want to try what it feels like to spar with a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator."
The two immediately left the cave and found a secluded spot to engage in combat. Due to the vast difference in their realms, Xiang Jian did not go all out, but suppressed his cultivation to the early stage of Foundation Establishment to spar with Xiao Man.
In his years in the Land of No Return, Xiang Jian had honed many combat skills. Coupled with the harsh environment of the Land of No Return, Xiang Jian believed that suppressing his cultivation to the early stage of Foundation Establishment would be enough to deal with Xiao Man. However, he had ultimately underestimated Xiao Man. Even though there was a thick barrier between the Qi Refining stage and the Foundation Establishment stage, an insurmountable chasm, Xiao Man, relying on her extraordinary endurance and rich combat experience, fought Xiang Jian to a draw!
Xiang Jian knew that some prodigies could challenge opponents of higher realms, but that was only within the same general realm. Yet Xiao Man could challenge opponents across realms, and she hadn't even used any weapons or poisons. If she were to use all her means... Su Dan Novel Network
Cold sweat beaded on Xiang Jian's forehead. He should have been defeated long ago!