"Mr. One Hundred and Eight, what are you doing?" Yuan Lixun asked, astonishment coloring her voice, though a natural chill threaded through the sound.

One Hundred and Eight turned his head, his gaze upon Yuan Lixun holding a strange flicker, before he raised a hand and pointed to the Precious Pig before them. "It's asleep."

He Yiming marveled, looking closely. The Precious Pig had its eyes closed, and from its steady breathing, so flat it seemed motionless, it was clear the creature was indeed fast asleep.

He shook his head slightly. Such a spirit beast, possessing such low vigilance—it was truly spoiled by humans. If the Red Wolf King or the Stone King were present, there would be no possibility of them sleeping.

Yuan Lixun advanced a few steps, and around her, the frigid tiandi zhi qi seemed to follow ceaselessly, causing the temperature to drop infinitesimally wherever she passed. Yet, neither One Hundred and Eight nor the Precious Pig sleeping draped on him appeared to notice in the slightest.

He Yiming paused, his gaze settling on the Precious Pig, a peculiar sensation suddenly surging within him. This spirit beast appeared careless, yet its true power might not be simple at all.

Yuan Lixun swept her gaze over the Precious Pig twice, an unconcealed fondness shining in her eyes.

He Yiming smiled wryly in his heart. Indeed, this Precious Pig possessed a magical charm. Not only did young women find it endearing, but even men like himself viewed it with special regard.

Perhaps only One Hundred and Eight remained utterly unmoved by it.

"Mr. Bai, is this your pet?"

"It is a spirit beast," He Yiming quickly interjected. "This little thing is called Precious Pig; it rejoices upon seeing treasure. However, according to Zhu Baqi, this fellow has a playful nature but lacks staying power. Once it tires of playing, any treasure in its eyes becomes like discarded trash."

Yuan Lixun’s beautiful eyes blinked, flashing a hint of sudden realization. A faint smile reappeared on her face. "Could it be that it considers Mr. Bai as..."

He Yiming nodded with a half-smile, his look toward One Hundred and Eight carrying a touch of teasing.

However, facing He Yiming’s mockery, One Hundred and Eight displayed absolutely no reaction. After a moment, He Yiming shook his head, feeling rather like his efforts had been wasted.

He cleared his throat lightly. "Brother Bai, I came this time because I wish to seek your counsel on a matter."

One Hundred and Eight’s gaze shifted to Yuan Lixun. "Is it related to her?"

He Yiming responded softly. He wondered if it was his imagination, but it seemed that he and One Hundred and Eight were growing increasingly attuned. If he only let slip a hint, or made a subtle gesture, One Hundred and Eight could grasp the full meaning.

Just like that night they encountered the masked (Strange Person); if One Hundred and Eight hadn't followed immediately, how could he have displayed his might and secured the Five Elements Ring?

"Lixun seems to have been acting somewhat unusually during her recent cultivation," He Yiming said, his expression grave.

Since it concerned Yuan Lixun, his heart was naturally uneasy.

One Hundred and Eight glanced at them both, then suddenly asked, "This is the diffusion of cold energy. Does it have any negative effects on her?"

He Yiming was momentarily startled. Truthfully, since meeting Yuan Lixun, they had spoken at length, but they hadn't discussed the specifics of their respective training states.

Moreover, in He Yiming’s perception, Yuan Lixun's strength showed no signs of weakening; on the contrary, it had improved significantly since their first meeting.

Of course, while this rate of improvement was fast, it still couldn't compare to his own.

Yuan Lixun hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Mr. Bai, this change has no negative impact on my path of cultivation. In fact, absorbing external cold zhenqi has become faster and more abundant."

"If there are no negative side effects, then it is fine," One Hundred and Eight stated calmly.

He Yiming frowned slightly. If this had happened to anyone else, he might have let it pass. After all, in the martial path, anything could occur, and no one could maintain absolute control over everything. This was true not just for He Yiming, but for true Divine Dao experts as well.

However, because this occurred with Yuan Lixun, his perspective shifted entirely.

"Brother Bai, I must know why the cold energy surrounding Lixun has suddenly undergone such a change?" He Yiming asked, his tone firm and resolute.

One Hundred and Eight’s gaze finally turned back, his eyes slowly brightening, sparkling like daylight.

Thump...

The Precious Pig suddenly snapped open its small eyes, watching One Hundred and Eight’s demeanor. Its little claws, seemingly brimming with sticky adhesion, could no longer hold on, and it tumbled off One Hundred and Eight onto the ground.

Then, its body shivered. Instead of fleeing, it curled into a tight ball, trembling softly.

He Yiming and Yuan Lixun exchanged bewildered glances. How timid could this spirit beast be?

Just as Yuan Lixun was about to step forward, the Precious Pig suddenly leaped up, and in a flash before their eyes, it vanished from sight. Not even He Yiming could track how the little creature disappeared.

However, he immediately felt the fabric of his trousers tighten around his ankle. Looking down, he saw the Precious Pig, somehow materialized, hiding behind his heel, its small eyes wide and peering with intense curiosity at One Hundred and Eight.

He Yiming sucked in a sharp breath. When this Precious Pig first appeared, its speed was fast, but it absolutely did not reach this exaggerated level just now.

This was akin to mastering the ultimate power of the wind element, achieving a transcendent skill that allowed movement across a straight line in two points simultaneously.

He had a faint feeling that the power of this Precious Pig spirit beast was immense, likely surpassing that of the Red Wolf King and the Strange Serpent Stone King by at least a degree.

The thought that he had treated this terrifying spirit beast as a mere pet sent a chill down his spine.

But looking at the Precious Pig, which seemed entirely without defenses beneath him, He Yiming, despite gathering powerful zhenqi in his palm, ultimately did not strike.

The little thing did not seem to harbor any intention of harming him.

"The cold fluid you provided was exceptionally effective," One Hundred and Eight said, the intense light in his eyes finally receding. This was his expression after calculations had been made and an answer reached.

Having spent so much time with him, He Yiming had managed to glean some experience; seeing that expression, he could deduce certain things.

He Yiming's expression shifted slightly. "The cold fluid from the dark green bottle?"

"Precisely. The cold fluid you provided is a novel energy matrix. This matrix possesses a potent life force. When Miss Yuan was using the jinyè (gene fluid) and the Innate Golden Elixir, it was the precise moment when her genes were being finely tuned. Infusing the power of the cold fluid at that stage should have stabilized the process. However, the fluid you supplied was too powerful; it completely merged with her genes, altering them. Now, this potency is slowly manifesting."

He Yiming frowned deeply. Although he couldn't grasp the full implication, he had roughly figured out the core issue.

"Why didn't you say so then?"

"The cold fluid you provided was a new variety, one not cataloged in my memory banks. Under the circumstances, it was permissible to use; it merely introduced a sliver of primal cold energy into her genes, which posed no negative consequence to her body." At this point, One Hundred and Eight suddenly paused.

He Yiming asked gravely, "Is there anything else you haven't mentioned?"

"Yes."

"Then please tell me. I wish to hear the complete truth."

One Hundred and Eight fixed his gaze on him. "Actually, after undergoing this genetic mutation, Miss Yuan has gained a significant advantage in genetic evolution compared to a normal person."

He Yiming stirred slightly. "Martial cultivation?"

"Indeed. According to your terminology, provided a suitable zhenqi cultivation method can be found for her, her progress in cultivation will be twice the result with half the effort."

"Ah..." Yuan Lixun gasped, an unusual brilliance flashing in her eyes.

He Yiming quickly inquired, "Lixun, what is it?"

A hint of embarrassment crossed Yuan Lixun’s face, but on her bloodless features, it appeared all the more peculiar.

"Yiming, that senior from the Snow Plains... it seems he also wishes to take me as a disciple."

"Hmph, if they want you as a disciple, I won't agree," He Yiming retorted sharply.

Suddenly, a long, drawn-out voice echoed from beyond the courtyard.

"Is Grand Elder Hengshan He Yiming present? Zhuo Wanlian of the Northern Frontier Seven-Colored Ice Palace requests an audience."

He Yiming snorted lightly, turned, and walked away. Yuan Lixun offered a apologetic smile to One Hundred and Eight and followed suit.

She was unaware that in the past year, many things had transpired, and the relationship between He Yiming and One Hundred and Eight had undergone an extremely subtle transformation.

Beneath He Yiming’s feet, the Precious Pig looked left and right for a long time, especially glancing at One Hundred and Eight with an odd expression. Its constantly darting eyes were virtually indistinguishable from those of a human child.

Finally, as if making a decision, it also turned and followed He Yiming as he departed.

One Hundred and Eight stood silently in place; whether the Precious Pig spirit beast left or stayed held absolutely no significance to him.

A gust of wind swept through, and the door closed again. No one knew what One Hundred and Eight was doing inside the room anymore.

He Yiming’s pace was not fast. After leaving the room, his gaze swept across the ground. Suddenly, his eyes lit up. "Lixun, this little thing also likes energy stones. If it agrees to let you hold it, give it one."

Yuan Lixun didn't overthink it. She was quite fond of the Precious Pig herself. She extended both hands and gently drew the creature off the ground into her embrace. Perhaps understanding He Yiming’s words, the Precious Pig did not struggle but behaved with surprising docility.

He Yiming secretly breathed a sigh of relief. This Precious Pig was the pet of the Ancestor of Tianchi Mountain. With this talismanic protection, at the very least, his safety was assured.