Chapter 106: A Good Man Doesn't Fight a Woman

"Just a sudden insight. Teacher Huyan, Teacher Feng, I need to go into seclusion for a couple of days to consolidate my realm. After I come out, I'll enter the Boundless Forest. Then I'll trouble you two to take care of Lü'er."

Ye Yuan only glossed over the matter of the Nine Heavens Path.

He had already sworn a Heavenly Dao oath; loose talk leads to trouble, so it was better to say little.

Huyan Yong and Feng Ruoqing also understood Ye Yuan's predicament, so they dropped the subject.

But Ye Yuan's proposal to go to the Boundless Forest surprised them both.

"Taking care of Lü'er is naturally no problem, but what are you going to do in the Boundless Forest?" Feng Ruoqing said.

Ye Yuan said, "To find a few medicinal herbs. Lü'er's condition isn't good. The primal energy I send can only temporarily suppress the cold poison; if it erupts later, it will be even more terrible. There is a tier-2 superior-grade pill called the Cold Expelling Pill that can temporarily control the cold poison on Lü'er. But the herbs needed for this pill are rather obscure; I think only the Boundless Forest has them."

Feng Ruoqing was astonished. "There is actually such a powerful tier-2 pill? The cold poison from the Nine Yin Absolute Meridian's eruption is incurable by any medicine, yet this pill can control it!"

Ye Yuan shook his head. "My master said that there is no true incurable disease in the world; it's just that the method hasn't been found. The Dao of alchemy is a great Dao with infinite possibilities. Cultivated to the highest realm, it can turn the rotten into the miraculous; nothing is impossible."

Feng Ruoqing's eyes lit up, as if she understood something.

Ye Yuan's words were like a sudden enlightenment, clearing Feng Ruoqing's mind.

Although she knew the alchemy Dao was profound and extensive, her vision was limited after all, and she often immersed herself only in her own small domain.

Though the alchemy Dao and the martial Dao are different systems, they share one thing: the more you comprehend, the more you realize your ignorance.

Over time, this feeling affects one's state of mind, thereby affecting cultivation.

Ye Yuan's words opened another window for Feng Ruoqing.

After pondering Ye Yuan's words, Feng Ruoqing sighed, "Your master is truly a master!"

With a mischievous intent, Ye Yuan boasted, "Yes, my master is unfathomable; I can barely grasp a ten-thousandth of his knowledge. It's a pity he likes to wander the world; I don't know when I'll see him again."

Feng Ruoqing naturally couldn't tell that Ye Yuan was boasting; she thought his words were only natural.

"But a tier-2 superior-grade pill—even if you gather the herbs, can you refine it?" Feng Ruoqing asked doubtfully.

Ye Yuan shook his head. "I can't refine it now. After returning from the Boundless Forest, I'll continue my seclusion and go all out to break through to the Liquid Realm! As long as I break through to the Liquid Realm, refining the Cold Expelling Pill should be no problem."

Refining a tier-2 superior-grade pill required the soul power of a high-level alchemist.

When Ye Yuan's soul power was insufficient, refining a tier-2 inferior-grade pill at the fourth layer of Qi Realm had exhausted him to the point of collapse.

Now, although Ye Yuan's strength had greatly improved, his soul power hadn't grown much. Trying to refine a tier-2 superior-grade pill was nothing short of a fool's dream.

But once he broke through to the Liquid Realm, his soul power would undergo a qualitative leap. Then, with his alchemy strength, refining a tier-2 superior-grade pill wouldn't be too difficult.

Huyan Yong exchanged a glance with Feng Ruoqing and said, "In that case, join the other students in the Boundless Trial. The Boundless Forest is an endless treasure, but it's also full of dangers. There are many high-level demonic beasts; even a Condensation Realm martial artist can lose their life there if careless! Going with the other students, you can look out for each other."

Ye Yuan asked curiously, "Oh? The academy has such an activity?"

"No way? You don't even know about the Boundless Trial? And you're supposed to have the strength of a Heaven-ranked student!" Feng Zhirou, who had been silent, exclaimed in surprise.

Ye Yuan rubbed his nose a little sheepishly, slightly embarrassed. "Well... I was a bit of a slacker before, heh."

For the former Ye Yuan, let alone the Boundless Trial, he wasn't even interested in attending class. How could he have the mind to inquire about such things?

Even if he heard about them, they went in one ear and out the other; he had no interest in knowing.

Feng Zhirou rolled her eyes and explained the content of the Boundless Trial to Ye Yuan.

To train students' practical combat abilities, the Danwu Academy would hold a Boundless Trial at regular intervals.

The Boundless Trial required completing certain tasks; otherwise, the academy would deduct certain benefits from the students.

The tasks were related to the students' ranks. Heaven-ranked students had to turn in ten tier-2 demonic beast inner cores and ten tier-2 medicinal herbs.

Apart from the required tasks, everything else obtained belonged to the students themselves.

Most importantly, the academy only specified the quantity of tasks, not the means by which they were obtained.

Thus, the Boundless Trial became the only venue for students to settle private grudges.

Moreover, the Boundless Forest was fraught with danger; every Boundless Trial, many students remained there forever.

Ye Yuan curled his lips. "So that's how it is. Teacher Huyan, do you mean I should participate in the Boundless Trial with Senior Sister Feng?"

Before Huyan Yong could speak, Feng Zhirou immediately bristled. "What? Are you afraid I'll hold you back? Come on, let's fight right now and see who holds whom back! Don't think that just because you luckily broke through to the ninth layer of Qi Realm, you can challenge the Martial Rankings!"

As she spoke, Feng Zhirou "swished" out her sword, waved it in front of Ye Yuan, and assumed a fighting stance.

"A good man doesn't fight a woman. I didn't say anything; that was all you said." Ye Yuan used his fingertip to push aside Feng Zhirou's sword and said helplessly.

"Then what do you mean? Go on, say it!" Feng Zhirou pointed the pushed-aside sword tip back at Ye Yuan.

"Hey! This sword is very sharp. Don't play around with it, okay? I know you Martial Rankings experts are formidable, alright? Actually, what I meant was, I can solve your problem."

Ye Yuan quickly jumped aside. This girl would act at the drop of a hat; better to be careful.

Hearing Ye Yuan's words, Feng Zhirou's face showed a complex expression, but it was quickly replaced by stubbornness.

"Hmph! Who do you think you are? You say you can solve it, and you can? I'm telling you now, I don't have any problem; don't you worry about it!" With that, Feng Zhirou sheathed her sword and went out the door.

Last time, Feng Zhirou and Ye Yuan had communicated via telepathy, so Feng Ruoqing didn't know what had happened. Seeing this, she asked doubtfully, "Ye Yuan, what problem does Zhirou have?"

Ye Yuan smiled. "It's not a big problem, but Senior Sister Feng is too stubborn. If this continues, it might really become a big problem."

Ye Yuan briefly explained Feng Zhirou's problem, causing Feng Ruoqing's brows to furrow.

"So that's it! I thought this girl had amazing talent; why has her progress slowed recently! At first, I thought she was slacking off, but I never expected it was for this reason!"