The moment Ye Jingyu awoke again, seven full days had passed… The first sight that greeted his opened eyes was a face drawn thin with worry… “Jingyu… you’re finally awake…” Seeing Ye Jingyu’s eyes flutter open, a look of sheer relief washed over Jiufeng’s expression… Ever since the Chi Yi tribe brought Ye Jingyu away and used their supreme Soul Power and countless potent elixirs to mend his almost depleted spiritual energy, Ye Jingyu had been trapped in a deep slumber, and she had remained constantly by his side, watching over him… Looking at the face before him—haggard yet still possessing an endless, captivating allure—and then surveying the simple but spacious dwelling around him, Ye Jingyu’s mind was a complete blank… “Jiufeng, where am I?

Wasn’t I dueling Chi Yixiu?

How did I end up here?

Did I lose?

Are you alright?

Have they been bullying you?” All Ye Jingyu could recall was the incessant beating he took from Chi Yixiu that day… Hearing that the first thing Ye Jingyu asked about upon waking was her welfare, a wave of profound sweetness washed over Jiufeng’s already touched heart… “Don’t you worry, I am perfectly fine.

No one here dares to bully me, because I am already your woman…” As she spoke, Jiufeng’s cheeks flushed noticeably.

Even though the maidens of the Chi Yi tribe were all spirited and possessed frank natures, she was, after all, only sixteen.

To declare such a thing so openly, it was impossible for her to feel no trace of shyness… “Uh…” The words Ye Jingyu was about to speak caught fast in his throat… My woman, while that sounded wonderful… but… “Have you forgotten that you defeated Chi Yixiu that day?” Seeing the utter confusion etched on Ye Jingyu’s face, Jiufeng continued speaking… “Huh?

I defeated Chi Yixiu?” Ye Jingyu blinked in surprise.

He had personally experienced the brute force of Chi Yixiu; it was a terrifying power that human strength alone could not counter.

Unless he trained for several more months, even years, he stood no chance of defeating him—so how could he possibly have won?

What he failed to grasp was that The Hegemon-Origin Art () was a cultivation method for both Body and Soul.

It not only strengthened his physical form but relentlessly refined his spirit.

Consequently, his Soul Power was now infinitely stronger than before; in essence, he had, without realizing it, ascended to the level of a Soul Master… That day, his strength was far inferior to Chi Yixiu’s, and he had been beaten so thoroughly he couldn’t retaliate.

Yet, within his heart burned an obstinate conviction: to defeat Chi Yixiu… It was this single-minded focus that sustained him.

By the end, his injuries were catastrophic, and his body had slipped into unconsciousness, but the fixation remained.

This obsession triggered his dormant Soul Power, ultimately causing him, for the first time ever, to manifest the 'Concentrated Thought Attack'—a technique only achievable by a Soul Master in the Condensation Realm—which struck down Chi Yixiu and secured the final victory… All this had transpired while he was unconscious.

However, because he had only been practicing The Hegemon-Origin Art for a short time, his Soul Power wasn't overwhelmingly strong.

Forcing out the Concentrated Thought Attack inflicted severe damage upon his own divine spirit.

Had the Chi Yi not reacted swiftly enough, employing their potent Soul Power and myriad elixirs to repair his soul, he would have ended up a complete idiot, even if he hadn't died… Seeing the blank look on Ye Jingyu’s face, Jiufeng didn’t press further, instead recounting every detail of that day’s events… After listening to Jiufeng’s explanation, Ye Jingyu still didn't fully comprehend what had occurred within him, but he knew that Chi Yi must understand everything, otherwise, why would they expend such great effort to save him… As he attempted to rise, intending to question Chi Yi immediately, a searing pain shot through his entire body, especially his chest, a throbbing ache that felt bone-deep… “Don’t move recklessly!

Several of your ribs are broken.

Grandpa personally set the bones.

You must stay here and recuperate properly for at least three months,” Jiufeng cautioned urgently as Ye Jingyu tried to sit up… Only then did Ye Jingyu recall the terrifying might of Chi Yixiu that day.

Had it been the pre-Hegemon-Origin Art version of himself, he wouldn't have survived a single punch… It seemed this cultivation manual was truly terrifying.

Just a few months of training yielded such immense combat prowess; he couldn't imagine what realm one would reach upon mastering it… He nodded faintly, then let his gaze drift back to Jiufeng… Although she appeared much more gaunt after several days, her smooth skin and exquisitely sculpted figure still radiated an endless, potent charm.

Ye Jingyu felt the blood surge hotly within him.

Such a marvelous woman had inexplicably become his woman.

This… This… This was simply too agonizing… To see such a seductive figure every day, with her offering herself up as if awaiting his command, yet he was hampered by injuries too severe to even move—this torment was the ultimate form of suffering… He forcefully redirected his eyes to Jiufeng’s face, genuinely fearing that if he looked any longer, he might completely collapse… Yet, Jiufeng seemed utterly unaware of the concept of wrongful temptation.

Seeing Ye Jingyu awake, she suddenly stood up, intending to fetch something for him to drink outside… But what nearly killed him was that she was draped in only a single animal hide.

Since Ye Jingyu was lying on the furs spread on the ground, standing up caused her silhouette to align perfectly, allowing Ye Jingyu’s gaze to travel upwards along her smooth, slender legs… “Pfft…” Two streams of crimson blood immediately jetted from his nostrils once more… “Jingyu… you… why are you bleeding again?

You didn’t even eat a Flame Pepper Fruit this time?” Jiufeng, who was about to fetch a drink, cried out in alarm when she saw the fresh nosebleed.

With Ye Jingyu’s severe injuries, losing more blood was a grave matter… “I… need… to… cool… down…” Ye Jingyu gasped the sentence out almost convulsively, before fainting again entirely.

He simply could not endure this endless, exquisite 'agony' any longer… And Jiufeng was left utterly aghast… After that, the subsequent days were spent with Ye Jingyu enduring endless "torment" within this beautiful paradise, a stay that stretched for a full month… In that month, Ye Jingyu’s injuries completely healed—a recovery rate so terrifying that even Chi Yi expressed astonishment.

Coupled with the aid of various spiritual medicines, Ye Jingyu managed to successfully refine his Qi Pith () during this period… After refining it, he felt his breathing and circulation become noticeably easier.

He felt as if every single one of his cells was taking in air, even sensing that he could breathe underwater… Moreover, faintly, he perceived a nearly imperceptible flow within his meridians—a subtle energy that Qin Xiao had once described as True Qi ()… In other words, without realizing it, Ye Jingyu had stepped into the Warrior Realm ()…