Chapter Twenty-Three: Scarlet Autumn Leaves in the Deep Valley

“Senior Sister, do we need to watch them while they work?” Mu Yunjin had already noticed that these two servant disciples were anything but diligent.

Qu Yiqiu stroked her chin, pondering for a moment before saying, “No need. You all go back and cultivate. I’ll stay here and keep an eye on things for a while.”

“Senior Sister, aren’t you going back to the cave to cultivate?” Mu Yunjin’s little face fell.

Zhou Chen looked confused, “Senior Sister Qu, do I not have to work anymore?” He had originally been tasked with tending to the spiritual fields.

Qu Yiqiu’s gaze swept over the two of them. “The sect’s grand competition in half a year is very important. Whether I’m in the cave or not, Brother Mu must focus on cultivation. As for Brother Zhou, you don’t need to do any work for these next three months—starting tomorrow, just come to oversee them.”

Today was the first day, and Zhao Wen and Huang Lan were sure to slack off. She would make sure to discipline them properly.

Mu Yunjin dropped his gaze, thick lashes casting shadows and concealing the disappointment in his eyes. “Alright, I’ll prepare well for the sect competition!”

Qu Yiqiu patted his head. It was said that dragons lived much longer than humans—perhaps at twelve, he was still an affectionate child among his kind?

“Yes, understood. I’ll go back with Brother Mu,” Zhou Chen said, his greatest virtue being his unconditional obedience to Qu Yiqiu’s commands.

That was why Qu Yiqiu was confident in entrusting the spiritual fields to him.

“Very well, you may go.”

After the two had left, Qu Yiqiu leisurely found a flat boulder to lie down on, took out a mundane oil-paper umbrella, and propped it above her for shade.

Zhao Wen and Huang Lan stole glances at her, seeing she had already brewed chilled tea and was humming softly, constantly cursing her under their breath for being so infuriating.

Throughout the day, Qu Yiqiu drank her tea in comfort while disciplining them.

The once uneven spiritual fields, under their sweat and toil, returned to their original soft and level state.

After completing their tasks, Zhao Wen and Huang Lan grumbled all the way back to Nine Sword Peak.

Qu Yiqiu’s first act upon returning to her cave was to enter her own space.

She spent the night cultivating inside.

When she calculated that enough time had passed, she heard Chi Yushu’s voice outside the cave.

The rewards for the evil spirit mission must have arrived.

Qu Yiqiu straightened her clothes slightly and opened the flimsy energy barrier of her cave, still at the Qi Refining stage.

“Sister, I’ve already collected the rewards for the mission, including the Foundation Pill.” Chi Yushu handed her a dusty little pouch.

Qu Yiqiu took the storage bag, checked its contents, and with surprise, pulled out a crystal-clear round pill. “Why are there two patterns on this Foundation Pill?”

The pill’s enticing fragrance wafted through the air. Chi Yushu’s expression remained calm. “It was thanks to your efforts that the mission succeeded. Sect Leader Luo specially switched the single-pattern Foundation Pill for a double-pattern one, hoping it will aid you when you seek to advance…”

He hadn’t finished speaking before Qu Yiqiu swallowed the Foundation Pill in one swift motion.

Chi Yushu stared in shock.

“Sister, why did you take the Foundation Pill right now?” The always refined Chi Yushu couldn’t help raising his voice at the sight.

“What? What did Senior Sister eat?” Mu Yunjin, who had been secretly listening inside the cave, rushed out.

Qu Yiqiu remained composed. “It’s nothing—I just took a double-pattern Foundation Pill. For the next few days, I’ll be in seclusion.”

“Are you planning to use the Foundation Pill to advance your cultivation?” Chi Yushu instantly understood her intent.

“This double-pattern Foundation Pill is potent, but a cultivator shouldn’t rush the process. Quickly breaking through could lead to hidden dangers later, like damaged or ruptured meridians…”

Chi Yushu wanted to warn her about the many future risks, but her light voice interrupted.

“Senior Brother Chi, I can barely hold on. Before I go into seclusion, please give this whip to Zhou Chen!”

Qu Yiqiu handed him a whip made from the corpse of an earth dragon worm, then turned and retreated into the cave.

With a click, the cave door closed.

Mu Yunjin cheered, “Wonderful! Senior Sister will be with me these next few days!”

Chi Yushu stood there, whip in hand, speechless.

Qu Yiqiu waited until Chi Yushu had left before daring to enter her space.

She sat cross-legged by the spiritual spring, eagerly opening all her pores to guide the blazing surge of energy within her dantian.

This tremendous energy, under her control, surged through her meridians.

Enduring pain as if her body were about to explode, she silently recited her cultivation technique, forcing the energy to circulate through every cycle.

Days and nights blurred, time passed.

Three days later, Qu Yiqiu’s cultivation had soared to the ninth level of Qi Refining.

She suddenly opened her eyes, a foul stench drifting to her nose.

“The double-pattern Foundation Pill truly is extraordinary—after taking it, I broke through four levels in succession.”

She should have reached the sixth level, but with the pill’s help, she had advanced straight to the ninth.

She cast a cleansing spell, then summoned the All-Realm Immortal Cultivation Mall.

“Now I have twelve thousand five hundred cultivation experience points. Time to buy ghost cultivator pills and find Yao Zhimei.”

Qu Yiqiu quickly opened the ghost cultivation category, clicking her tongue. “Ghost cultivation goods are so cheap—otherwise, I wouldn’t be confident I could cure Yao Zhimei.”

She swiftly scanned the descriptions of various pills and finally settled on the Soul Essence Pill with six patterns, priced at three thousand cultivation experience points.

Soul Essence Pill: Specially treats incomplete souls and spiritual injuries.

“With this, Yao Zhimei can recover her original strength at the Condensed Form stage!”

Qu Yiqiu placed the pill in a porcelain bottle and slipped out of her space.

Zhao Wen and Huang Lan had yet to gather the resources required for cultivating third-grade spiritual fields, but they had purchased a soon-to-advance earth dragon worm for the field, and the fence of green jade stone was gradually taking shape.

Qu Yiqiu had the earth dragon worm recognize Zhou Chen as its master, entrusting him with full responsibility for the spiritual field.

After speaking a few words with Mu Yunjin, she left Tianyan Sect.

On the road, she donned her bamboo hat once more.

Shuangran City was not far from Tianyan Sect, though not as close as Mingde City.

It took Qu Yiqiu a day and a night to reach Shuangran City.

She walked through secluded alleys, taking out a strand of hair and holding it in her hand.

“This thing can even point the way!”

The slender, soft strand twisted restlessly in her palm, then pointed straight to the southeast.

Qu Yiqiu tightened her grip and hurried in that direction.

Outside Shuangran City, near Qunan City.

In the Autumn Crimson Valley.

Qu Yiqiu stowed the strand into her storage bag and headed for a nearby cave.

“How did she end up here? My spiritual energy is nearly depleted!” Qu Yiqiu hid in the dark cave, spreading her spiritual sense to check for safety.

She’d almost traveled from one city to the next, barely resting along the way, her reserves of spiritual energy nearly exhausted.

“Though my cultivation is weak now, I can’t meet her with my spiritual energy completely empty!”

Qu Yiqiu sat cross-legged on the ground, inhaling and exhaling, restoring her spiritual power.