Chapter Nineteen: The Demonic Cultivator

“Bang!”

A deafening crash rang out as the formation shattered like broken glass, instantly collapsing.

The eerie black mist gradually dissipated along with it.

The evil cultivators, struck by the backlash of the formation, spat blood one after another, as if their strength had been completely drained, collapsing helplessly to the ground.

Gu Liuyun stepped forward slowly, his clothes fluttering in the wind, his gaze sharp as a blade as he swept mercilessly over the defeated evil cultivators, a disdainful smirk curling at the corner of his mouth.

“With such pitiful skills, you dare to show off before me?”

The few evil cultivators exchanged glances and immediately cast spells to escape, retreating directly from the space.

Gu Liuyun felt the world blur before his eyes, and the next moment, he was back on the familiar street.

“Brother Liuyun?” Ye Manman reached out and gently waved her hand in front of Gu Liuyun.

“Manman.” Gu Liuyun’s eyes regained their clarity.

“You scared me to death. I just arrived and saw you standing there dazed by the roadside—I thought something had happened to you.” Ye Manman patted her chest, relieved.

“What are you doing here?” Gu Liuyun asked.

Pouting, Ye Manman twirled two fingers in circles. “It’s been days since we last met. I missed you.”

Seeing her like this, Gu Liuyun couldn’t help but gently tap her forehead. “Little girl, I know exactly what you’re thinking. You’re anxious to improve your strength through dual cultivation, aren’t you?”

Ye Manman stepped back a couple of paces from the tap, unabashedly wrapping her arms around Gu Liuyun’s arm. “So what if I am?”

Gu Liuyun chuckled. “Too fast a cultivation pace isn’t always good. You need a solid foundation; otherwise, no matter how powerful you become, it’s useless.”

Though somewhat reluctant after the scolding, Ye Manman nodded obediently. “Alright, I’ll listen to you, Brother Liuyun.”

Gu Liuyun raised his hand and affectionately stroked Ye Manman’s hair.

Suddenly, his sharp eyes caught a faint reddened swelling at the collar of her clothes.

“What happened here?” Gu Liuyun asked.

Ye Manman nervously clutched her collar and turned away. “It’s… nothing!”

Frowning deeply, Gu Liuyun sensed something was amiss and forcefully turned her back around. “Let me see.”

Pulling down her collar, he revealed a red, swollen handprint on her shoulder.

“You’re injured?” Gu Liuyun was shocked.

By rights, Ye Manman had already reached the first stage of Foundation Establishment. In Yun City, apart from a few old masters from immortal cultivation families, she should have no real opponents.

Ye Manman looked embarrassed, lowering her head slightly. “Sorry, Brother Liuyun, I’ve let you down.”

Gu Liuyun pressed three fingers against her wrist. After a moment, his expression grew even graver. “The injury is so severe. Who did this to you?”

Ye Manman’s internal condition was a complete mess. It was clear she was entirely outmatched. If she hadn’t protected her heart meridian in time, she might have died on the spot.

Thinking of this, Gu Liuyun’s face darkened ominously.

How dare someone lay a hand on his woman right under his nose!

“It was… Ye Qingqing…” Ye Manman hesitated but finally told Gu Liuyun.

“You’ve already reached Foundation Establishment, and Ye Manman is only at the eighth level of Qi Refining. How could she have injured you?” Gu Liuyun was incredulous.

Ye Manman shook her head. “I don’t know. Her strength suddenly surged—she seems to have reached the second stage of Foundation Establishment…”

Gu Liuyun stroked his chin thoughtfully.

Ye Manman was born with a charming body, an excellent vessel for cultivation. The effectiveness of dual cultivation also depended on the cultivators’ strength.

By rights, Ye Qingqing’s cultivation speed should never have surpassed Ye Manman’s.

“Let me examine your wound,” Gu Liuyun said.

Obediently, Ye Manman removed the clothing covering her shoulder, revealing the red, swollen handprint.

The mark was glaring against her fair skin and even emitted hints of sinister energy.

“Has Ye Qingqing shown any unusual behavior?” Gu Liuyun asked solemnly, furrowing his brow.

Ye Manman thought carefully for a moment and nodded uncertainly. “Now that you mention it, she does seem strange. Her aura feels different from usual…”

Gu Liuyun took a white jade porcelain bottle from his storage pouch and handed her the pill inside.

“Take this first. It’s the Qingyun Pill; it can help ease your injuries.”

Ye Manman’s eyes lit up.

The Qingyun Pill was a second-grade elixir, renowned for its miraculous healing effects on cultivators’ injuries.

However, in this world where spiritual energy was scarce and medicinal herbs grew slowly, not only the Qingyun Pill but all elixirs were treasures beyond price.

Thinking this over, Ye Manman lowered her gaze. “It’s too precious; better save it. I’m fine.”

Gu Liuyun thrust the pill into his mouth without hesitation, then grabbed her delicate face and kissed her possessively.

As their lips met, the fragrance of the elixir filled the air.

The Qingyun Pill slid down Ye Manman’s throat, and warmth spread throughout her body, nourishing the damaged meridians.

“Don’t practice your cultivation for the next few days. Rest well,” Gu Liuyun instructed.

Blushing, Ye Manman nodded obediently.

Ye Qingqing’s palm wind carried a strong sinister energy; otherwise, it wouldn’t have left traces on Ye Manman’s wound.

Her rapid cultivation was likely linked to that dark energy.

Just as the evil cultivators targeted the Gu Group, something abnormal was happening with Ye Qingqing as well.

Could it be a coincidence?

It seemed necessary to visit the Ye family again.

At the Ye family’s villa.

Ye Qingqing sat cross-legged on her bed. The spirit of a jade teapot floated in the empty air before her. Guided by the teapot spirit, the ambient spiritual energy gathered, forming a vast whirlpool centered on Ye Qingqing.

Bathed in the swirl of spiritual energy, she felt as if every pore of her body had opened, and her cultivation surged rapidly.

“Magical artifact truly is a wondrous thing. In just three days, my strength has increased by five levels!”

Ye Qingqing slowly opened her eyes, ending her cultivation. A faint, strange red glow flickered in her pupils before quickly vanishing.

Her entire aura shifted dramatically, becoming far more alluring and enchanting.

“Actually, Master, your current method isn’t the fastest. Absorbing the world’s spiritual energy requires circulation through the microcosmic orbit inside the body. Only after refining can it be fully utilized. But if you can directly obtain already refined spiritual power, it saves all that time,” the teapot spirit explained.

Ye Qingqing arched an eyebrow, intrigued. “Oh? It sounds like you have a method?”

The teapot spirit sneered. “Of course. Master only needs to plunder other cultivators’ strength.”

Ye Qingqing’s eyes widened in surprise. “What?”

“I will now teach Master the method of stealing others’ cultivation,” the teapot spirit said, pointing into the void.

A beam of light entered Ye Qingqing’s forehead.

Immediately, a flood of information poured into her mind!