During the days of his Meridians' recovery, Yu Qing spent most of his time alone in this simple wooden hut.
Purple Pearl rarely came to disturb him. Aside from delivering decoctions and food every day, she was always in a hurry. Her purple eyes never lingered on Yu Qing for more than three seconds, as if she were merely confirming that he was still alive.
Yu Qing was happy for the peace and quiet, devoting himself entirely to the restoration work.
The effects of the Xuanhuang Life Meridian Pill were extraordinary. Its thick and gentle medicinal power acted like a most patient craftsman, neutralizing and dispersing the Star Destruction Power entrenched at the breaks in his Meridians bit by bit. Coupled with the constant nourishment from his own powerful Power of Life, the speed of recovery was faster than expected.
By noon the next day, the originally ruined Meridians in Yu Qing's body had recovered by seventy to eighty percent. He carefully began to circulate the Star Meditation Technique, and a faint but pure trace of spirit power flowed slowly, bringing a long-lost sense of fullness.
"I can finally recover spirit power on my own..." Yu Qing felt slightly relieved, but a sense of helplessness immediately welled up. Without the overbearing efficiency of the Yin-Yang Complementary Dual Soul Cores, relying solely on himself to absorb energy was agonizingly slow! By a rough estimate, it would take at least half a month to return to his Peak state.
"I must repair the cracks in the Soul Cores as soon as possible..." Yu Qing's sense of urgency increased.
Three days passed. With the remaining power of the Medicinal Pill and his own efforts, his Meridians were finally basically repaired. He began to circulate the Star Meditation Technique with all his might, and the recovery speed of his spirit power suddenly accelerated! At this rate, it would only take seven or eight days to fully recover.
That day, Purple Pearl delivered the decoction and food as usual. When she saw Yu Qing's ruddy complexion and steady aura, a flash of surprise crossed her purple eyes.
"It looks like you've recovered quite well?" Her voice was still cool, but it carried a hint of astonishment.
Yu Qing opened his eyes and smiled. "It's alright. My vitality is quite vigorous, and my recovery ability far exceeds that of an ordinary Spirit Master." He skillfully avoided the secret of the Medicinal Pill, attributing the reason to his Physique.
Purple Pearl nodded noncommittally. After a moment of silence, she seemed to make up her mind. "Since your injuries have mostly recovered and you can move on your own... there's no need for you to stay here any longer."
Yu Qing was startled. "Can you tell me the reason?"
Purple Pearl turned her gaze toward the window. "The island's residents are very repelled by Spirit Masters from the continent. Saving you this time was already the limit of their tolerance." She added, "A merchant ship will pass by in five days; you can leave with it."
Yu Qing was silent for a moment, then said seriously, "Thank you for letting me know. I will keep this life-saving grace in my heart. Is there anything you need help with? Or anything you want? As long as it is within my power, I will certainly do my best."
Purple Pearl scrutinized him for a long time before slowly speaking, "I want to reach Rank 50 as soon as possible. Can you do that?"
A confident smile curled at the corner of Yu Qing's mouth. "That's it? Of course I can."
Purple Pearl was completely stunned, her purple eyes widening with disbelief. It took a while for her to come back to her senses. "Are you sure? Do you know what Rank 50 means?"
Yu Qing patted his chest confidently. "Rest assured, I never make such jokes. If you don't believe me, I can help you increase by one Rank right now."
Purple Pearl's gaze became serious. "Fine, then I'll see with my own eyes how you do it."
With a thought from Yu Qing, a pigeon-egg-sized, azure crystal with flowing light inside appeared in his palm. "Take this, concentrate your mind, and just silently say 'use' in your heart."
Purple Pearl took the crystal skeptically and did as he said. The moment she silently thought "use," a sudden change occurred! The crystal transformed into a warm and majestic current that surged into her body, and pure spirit power rushed forth wildly!
"!?" Purple Pearl froze all over, her purple eyes wide with extreme shock. She clearly felt her spirit power skyrocketing, the barriers easily broken through! In just two or three breaths, her aura became significantly stronger; she had actually broken through to Rank 48!
"Is it... is it real?!" Feeling the genuine growth of her spirit power, she fell into a state of immense shock. She looked up at Yu Qing as if looking at a monster. "What exactly is this?! How can it have such an effect?!"
Yu Qing smiled triumphantly. "I never lie. Do you believe me now? Not to mention Rank 50, even Rank 60 is a piece of cake for me."
Purple Pearl took several deep breaths to suppress her shock. Her gaze had completely changed; the previous suspicion and vigilance had vanished, replaced by intense curiosity and a burning light. "Do you... have any more?!"
Yu Qing pretended to be conflicted. "This is very rare. Although I still have stock, I can't easily give it to you again." Seeing Purple Pearl's eyes dim, he changed the subject. "However, getting you to Rank 50 doesn't necessarily require this. I have other methods."
"What method?!" Purple Pearl asked urgently.
"Prepare a kitchen for me. It must be absolutely quiet, and no one can disturb me."
"A kitchen?" Although Purple Pearl was puzzled, she immediately nodded. "Alright! Wait for me!"
She rushed out impetuously and soon ran back, leading Yu Qing to a simple little shed.
Yu Qing looked at this "kitchen," which was even simpler than a rural stove room, and his mouth twitched. "Isn't there a better one?"
Purple Pearl scratched her head awkwardly. "I live alone and rarely cook... and the other people on the island won't let me into their homes at all."
Yu Qing keenly caught the abnormality in her tone. "Why? Don't you also live on the island?"
Purple Pearl's eyes dimmed. "I lost a segment of my memory. I only remember that I am not from the island; I should be from the continent, but for some reason, I ended up here. Perhaps because my Spirit is the Sea Viper, they allowed me to stay on the outskirts of the island, but I cannot enter the village, let alone step into any villager's home."
Yu Qing listened quietly, understanding clearly. As for Purple Pearl's identity, he had known it for a long time. The previous generation's Holy Maiden of the Spirit Hall, she was sent as a pawn to carry out a mission, which ultimately failed, resulting in her memory loss and her ending up here.
"Qian Xunji... any 'Holy Maiden' you take an interest in inevitably meets a tragic end..." Yu Qing suppressed his thoughts and nodded in understanding.
He walked into the simple kitchen, took out various rare medicinal herbs, and finally brought out the ten-thousand-year whale resin. A pure and scorching Purple Star Flame rose from his palm as he began to prepare the Medicinal Cuisine.
Waiting outside the shed, Purple Pearl smelled the increasingly rich and strange fragrance. Her spirit power stirred slightly, and her curiosity and anticipation reached their Peak!
An hour later, Yu Qing uncovered the clay pot, and an overbearing, exotic fragrance swept out! When Purple Pearl was hit by the scent, her spirit power couldn't help but accelerate its circulation!
"Come in."
Purple Pearl couldn't wait to rush in, only to see Yu Qing serving a Medicinal Cuisine so thick it was black into a large bowl. The Medicinal Cuisine looked unremarkable, yet it emitted an alluring fragrance.
Yu Qing placed the bowl on a crooked stone table. "Here, eat it."
Purple Pearl looked at the bowl of somewhat greasy-looking Medicinal Cuisine, then at Yu Qing. Her purple eyes were full of immense doubt, and her voice rose an octave: "You mean... if I eat this... I can increase my spirit power by one Rank?!"
Yu Qing gave a mysterious smile. "What, you don't believe me? Didn't you experience the effect of that crystal just now?"
Purple Pearl was momentarily speechless. She hesitated for a moment, but finally, unable to resist the thirst for power, she carefully picked up the bowl, closed her eyes, and put it into her mouth.
The Medicinal Cuisine melted in her mouth, and a warm, mellow current slid down, spreading to her four limbs and hundred bones. She only felt warm all over, as if soaking in a hot spring. What shocked her even more was that the spirit power in her body began to circulate on its own, faster and faster! She could clearly feel her spirit power growing at a rate visible to the naked eye!
Immediately after, she felt her whole body becoming intolerably hot, and a certain kind of desire madly assaulted her brain.
"You drugged me!" Purple Pearl looked horrified.
Yu Qing helplessly massaged his forehead and said, "Calm your mind and focus your Spirit. Fully circulate your meditation method to refine the medicinal power in your body."
Hearing this, Purple Pearl could only do as told. She circulated her meditation method, and after half an hour of refining, the heat and that desire finally faded.
Then she felt that her spirit power Rank had actually broken through again, reaching Rank 49!
Purple Pearl opened her eyes, her face full of shock. "This... what exactly is this? Why is it so miraculous?"
Yu Qing smiled. "This is my unique secret recipe, the ten complete great nourishment meal. It can not only increase spirit power but also strengthen the Physique and solidify the Foundation."
Purple Pearl nodded heavily, her gaze toward Yu Qing filled with awe and curiosity. Just how many more shocking secrets did this mysterious Spirit Master from the continent hide?
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