All of this was due to Qin Yan's machinations, or rather, it was an overt ploy; it required little actual cunning, just a single suggestion that caused them such heavy losses. If Qin Yan wasn't killed, how could their anger be vented?

Sitting cross-legged atop the mountain peak, he silently circulated the Ba Yuan Jue, rushing to recover his strength.

Little Tao Tao lay beside him, emitting soft snores, slowly absorbing the massive amount of soul energy it had consumed.

Chi Yi Xiu said little, walking over to Hu Yan Qi and briefly recounting what had transpired in the gorge. Hu Yan Qi's expression grew dim, and he offered a few low words of comfort.

As for Hu Yan Meng, the perpetually icy expression on her face shifted slightly upon learning Ye Jingyu was injured. However, seeing Ye Jingyu sitting quietly nearby recuperating, she refrained from saying anything.

Conversely, Jiang Ming and the contingent of Cloud Guards who had emerged with the group were left in a daze. Everything that occurred in the gorge had shaken them profoundly; even with their fortitude, it was difficult to believe they had made it out alive.

Xue Heng Zhi ignored the crowd outside the gorge, retreating to a quiet corner to adjust his internal energy. Although his injuries were not as severe as Ye Jingyu's, the fact that his left hand had been severed drastically reduced his combat effectiveness.

Hei Ming Shixuan, however, did not approach to disturb Ye Jingyu. Instead, she mounted Ni Bo and galloped toward the deeper parts of the forest. Ye Jingyu had no concerns about her strength, so he did not press the matter.

The three hundred people left guarding the perimeter were all elites who had returned from the Xijiang battlefield with Ye Jingyu. These were experts who had reached the Martial Master realm; such a force could easily crush an army of several thousand. Seeing their general heavily wounded, they were surprised, but they executed their defensive duties flawlessly, scattering around the perimeter to monitor their surroundings.

Ye Jingyu paid no mind to the thoughts of the others. He simply sat there quietly, activating the Ba Yuan Jue. Energies from heaven and earth surged madly toward his body. This terrifying cultivation technique startled those below, as no one could absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth as quickly as he could.

The injuries to his sternum were also steadily mending. It had to be acknowledged that after reaching the fifth level of power, his self-healing capacity had increased dramatically. The wounds on his muscles were almost completely gone; only the sternum remained.

Little Tao Tao, sleeping beside him, was also slowly transforming. Faintly, two small bulges appeared on either side of its neck, like little mounds that continuously swelled as it slept—it was unclear what they were.

Night fell once more, and Hei Ming Shixuan, who had ventured into the forest with Ni Bo, had returned, heading straight to Ye Jingyu's side.

"Big Brother, Little Black and I found lots of delicious things. Try this one..." Hei Ming Shixuan's sweet voice sounded near Ye Jingyu's ear.

Ye Jingyu opened his eyes and saw her standing before him, a milky-white fruit held in her small hands, looking up at him with an adorable expression.

"Is this... the Hundred Spirit Fruit?" Ye Jingyu took the fruit offered by Hei Ming Shixuan, speaking with a hint of uncertainty.

The Hundred Spirit Fruit possessed incredibly potent healing effects for various internal injuries.

"I don't know. I just remember that when I was very little and got hurt, Big Sister always made me eat this fruit," Hei Ming Shixuan shook her head, indicating she didn't know its name either.

"Heh heh, Little Shixuan is so good..." Ye Jingyu smiled sweetly and reached out to stroke Hei Ming Shixuan's delicate, pale cheek.

"Hee hee, then I want a kiss..."

The valley entrance was still shrouded in miasma, but Ye Jingyu, now at the Spirit Manifestation Realm, was unafraid of it. He unleashed his powerful mental energy, forming an invisible barrier before him to block the pervasive miasma…

When he returned to the cave, he saw Bing Ming standing there, iron sword on his back, still with an indifferent expression…

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