Chapter 54 - The Eldest Apprentice Brother

Chapter 54: Chapter 52: The Eldest Apprentice Brother"This is yours." Little Wood Spirit and the Silver Snake traded a total of five lotus seeds and three sections of lotus root. Ye Qiu took one lotus seed for himself, gave one to Chen Qingchi, Little Wood Spirit ate one, and the remaining two were planted in its space.

"Thank you, Senior Brother!" Chen Qingchi said excitedly. Although he had not contributed any effort, he did not refuse the gift. In his heart, his senior brother had long become one of his own. Why stand on ceremony with one’s own people? When it’s time to refine the elixirs, he would just offer them to his senior brother.

Each of them was also given a section of lotus root. A section of lotus root was only as long as a palm, plump, with a jade-white body and shimmering light flowing over it.

"The Elixir Recipe only mentions using lotus seeds for alchemy, however, it’s unknown what kind of elixir could be made from the Ice Lotus roots," said Chen Qingchi, holding a small section of the lotus root, fascinated.

"Since we don’t know what elixir can be made from it, why don’t we just eat it directly? In the future, when Little Wood Spirit’s Ice Lotus bears seeds again, you can take them for re

"I didn’t realize it, the lotus root was too delicious, and before I knew it, I had eaten half," Chen Qingchi said with a mournful expression.

Ye Qiu sighed, pulled Little Wood Spirit to his side, and stepped away from the area of the Heavenly Thunder: "Focus on advancing, I’ll protect you."

Luckily, they had chosen a secluded valley to eat the lotus root and had set up two Hidden Breath Arrays and a defensive formation, so they were not worried about other cultivators or demon beasts causing trouble.

After the forty-nine strikes of Heavenly Thunder, the Array was already in ruins. Chen Qingchi was covered in wounds, but fortunately, the Spiritual Rain soon fell, healing his body. Little Wood Spirit, while munching on the remaining lotus root, gathered the Spiritual Rain, becoming even more lively.

And Ye Qiu, after being washed by the Spiritual Rain and combining it with the surging Spiritual Energy from consuming the lotus root, successfully advanced to the Middle Stage of the Golden Core.

For two consecutive years, they had been practicing outside the periphery of Daqing Mountain, and low-level yet delicious spiritual beasts shuddered at the thought of encountering them.

"My name—Silent Annihilation." Dressed in black, Ye Qiu held a black sword with flashes of purple thunderlight. Facing him was a Nascent Soul Beginner stage Gray Bear, nearly ten meters tall. Such bears are thick-skinned and extremely resistant to damage, normally a match for Mid-level demon beasts. But at the moment, it fell thunderously under the might of the black Sword Intent.

And Ye Qiu’s sword in hand also cracked on cue, shattered into ordinary iron.

From a distance, Chen Qingchi and Little Wood Spirit huddled closely together. Although this wasn’t their first time witnessing it, the terrifying Sword Intent still sent chills down one’s spine, giving the impression that everything would be annihilated under that Sword Intent.

"Broken again." This was already the fifth sword that had broken. Whenever he used that move, these ordinary Spirit Swords simply couldn’t handle it.

"It’s time to go back and forge my Lifebound Magical Treasure. It’s been two years; Qingling should have appeared by now!" murmured Ye Qiu.

On the way back, Ye Qiu caught two Flying Cranes. These cranes were not high level and not strong in combat, but they were fast, commonly seen as a means of transportation in the Cultivation World.

Chen Qingchi had only been out for two years and had only traveled a few rounds on the outskirts of Daqing Mountain. Not wanting to return to Medicine Valley, Ye Qiu took him back to the Sword Sect instead.

"Senior Brother!"

"Senior Brother has returned from his training journey!"

"Hmm, greetings to you all!" Ye Qiu nodded lightly.

At the foot of the mountain, the patrolling disciples were very excited to see Ye Qiu. This direct disciple of the Great Elder, a prodigy who reached Foundation Establishment at eight and formed his Golden Core at twelve, has always been the one they looked up to, admired, and took pride in.

"Senior Brother’s presence has become even more profound and inscrutable."

"So formidable!"

"When can I ever be like Senior Brother!"

"You might as well stop dreaming." Another disciple teased his fellow sect mate, gazing after Ye Qiu’s retreating figure with infatuated eyes: "We just need to be the strong support for Senior Brother, we must practice cultivation diligently and never drag him down!"

After more than two years away because the Great Elder was in seclusion, the entire top of Snow Mountain seemed to submerged in silence, the summit covered in thick snow, with harsh and biting winds that hurt one’s face.

Even though he has already reached Core Formation, Chen Qingchi still felt very uncomfortable due to his Wood Spiritual Root.

At the same time, he felt an even deeper admiration for Ye Qiu; his senior brother actually lived in this kind of place all year round, no wonder he is so powerful!

"Let’s go down to the middle of the mountain!" Ye Qiu led Chen Qingchi down the mountain.

Aside from the summit, almost the entire Snow Mountain was covered with various Spirit Plants, all planted by Little Wood Spirit.

Due to the short time, the fruit trees had not yet flowered or fruited, but those colorful and brilliant flowers had blossomed all over the slopes, benefiting from Little Wood Spirit’s pure Wood Element Spiritual Power, all these Spirit Plants were growing exceedingly well.

"This place is much more comfortable." Chen Qingchi lay on the soft grass, lazily basking in the sun, while Little Wood Spirit was bustling about happily next to him.

After settling Chen Qingchi, Ye Qiu went to report his safety to the Sect Leader, then exchanged the Spirit Plants, spiritual beasts, and other items he had gathered over these two years for a good number of points at the Manager’s place.

Subsequently, to exchange for a top-quality ore, he not only spent all the points accumulated over the years but also had to pay a substantial amount of Spirit Stones, and at that moment Ye Qiu realized how truly poor he was.

However, wanting to craft his Lifebound Magical Treasure, just this ore and the Thunder Essence Stone he held were far from enough.

"Do you want to go out for a walk?" Ye Qiu asked Chen Qingchi. Since most of the Sword Pavilion disciples were Sword Cultivators, there were many shops and auction houses selling ores in Flying Sword City. Finding an ore that could withstand his Silent Annihilation Sword Intent wasn’t easy; he needed to search more extensively.

"Yes!" Chen Qingchi leapt up excitedly. Flying Sword City! That was one of the five great cities aligned with their Medicine Valley, and he had long wanted to experience it for himself.

If the colorful and enchanting Medicine King Valley were likened to a charming and graceful young lady, then Flying Sword City was a dull and boring cold-hearted man. However, it was advantageous in its size and gave a sufficient sense of security.

Relying on the strong Sword Cultivators in the Sword Pavilion behind it, no one dared to cause trouble here.