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Chapter 99 - Chapter 101: Returning to the Inner Academy

"Though consuming those energy-rich medicinal ingredients previously could enhance your strength, pure medicinal ingredients are difficult to digest, and their taste isn't particularly good either."

Yan Qingshan gently stroked Zi Yan's soft, lustrous purple hair on her small head. He smiled as he handed over the jade bottle and explained, "I've refined these medicinal ingredients using alchemy. They should suit your taste and be more beneficial for your growth."

"You'd be so kind!"

Zi Yan eyed Yan Qingshan suspiciously, but she still promptly poured out a pill and happily chewed it. Her eyes narrowed, and her small face was filled with contentment. She even ignored Yan Qingshan's hand on her head for a moment.

Yan Qingshan patted Zi Yan's little shoulder, encouraging her, "Alright, let's continue sweeping this mountain range to find you more delicious things."

"I think you mean finding precious spiritual herbs for yourself, right?"

Zi Yan's face showed an expression that said "I've seen through everything," but this time she swiftly ran forward. This was the difference between having a salary and not—motivation comes with benefits.

Seven days later, deep within the Endless Forest, in a mountain range, there was a valley bursting with vibrant colors and blooming flowers. In the center of the valley, on a large tree, hung a massive beehive.

Yan Qingshan carefully collected more than half of the Jade Emperor Bee honey from this hive, leaving enough for the bee colony to multiply again, before quickly departing the beehive with Zi Yan and Chi Lian.

"Jade Crystal Honey, when mixed with Core Quenching Body Milk, will have its effects doubled. I'll give a portion to the Snow Demon Sky Ape later. This Wind Chime Grass is quite beneficial for wind-attribute magical beasts; I should be able to exchange it for some good things from the Gale Demonic Wolf King..."

Yan Qingshan meticulously categorized the extremely rare and precious spiritual herbs. Those that could be used or traded were placed aside, while others were preserved using corresponding special techniques.

"Yan Qingshan, where's my lunch!"

Little Zi Yan approached Yan Qingshan, extending her fair, tender small hand. With a haughty expression, she dodged his hand reaching out to pat her head. But after receiving the jade bottle and gaining benefits, she followed him again, her dark eyes seemingly misty, even flashing with a hint of dependence.

Zi Yan had lived alone in the deep mountains since she was a child and would silently endure being bullied, which made her deeply crave familial affection.

In her childhood, she accidentally consumed a Form-Transformation Grass. Although she successfully transformed, her body remained that of a child, and her mind was similar to her outward age. Her small head was constantly thinking about food.

She yearned to grow up, so she greatly valued medicinal ingredients that could provide her with nourishment. When she took a liking to a certain ingredient, she would consider it her sole possession. For anyone attempting to steal her medicinal ingredients, regardless of their intentions, she would immediately turn hostile.

This was why she stole so many medicinal ingredients at first. Originally, she was quite displeased with Yan Qingshan, who had captured her and made her work for free, and was waiting for the chance to teach him a good lesson once she regained her freedom.

However, as Yan Qingshan refined palatable pills for her and showed concern for her growth plan, this little girl slowly developed a liking for Yan Qingshan. Now, she was quite clingy to him.

"The power of the Purple Crystal Seal will dissipate today. With the initial activation of long-sealed power, coupled with the various medicinal ingredients I've formulated for you these past few days, your strength should see some improvement."

Yan Qingshan smiled, sending a wisp of Dou Qi into Zi Yan's forehead. A faint purple glow appeared between her eyebrows; this was the sealing method Yan Qingshan had used to make her obedient, the Purple Crystal Seal learned from the Amethyst Winged Lion King.

Although what he learned and used was incomplete and almost useless in actual combat, it was still effective in sealing Zi Yan, who offered no resistance.

Zi Yan snorted, turning her head haughtily, her dark eyes darting around. "Hmph, don't think a few sweet words will make me forgive you. I remember all the bad things you did to me!"

Flashes of light purple energy surged around Zi Yan's body. Her aura suddenly changed; her originally tender small hands and feet instantly filled with a sense of power.

"My strength has increased!"

Zi Yan exclaimed joyfully. She could feel that Yan Qingshan's words were true; after the Purple Crystal Seal was lifted, her power became purer, and activating the medicinal effects within her body through circulation truly enhanced her strength.

This improvement was evident, much better than the chaotic consumption of various spiritual herbs she had done herself. This feeling was truly wonderful.

Zi Yan felt the power within her body, then raised her small fist and looked at Yan Qingshan. "Little Swallow (Xiao Yan Zi - a nickname for Yan Qingshan), I remember you're also an inner-court student, right?

"The way you treated your senior sister before, when we go back, I'm going to complain to Old Man Su. If you don't want me to, then when we get back, you'll have to refine medicine for me every day, three times a day, just like now."

She held up three fingers and said in a childish voice, then raised her small fist threateningly, "If you don't agree, not only will I complain to Old Man Su, but I'll also teach you a good lesson. I'll eat you whole, believe it or not."

"Pretty little girl, talking about eating people all day. You're not allowed to say that anymore."

Yan Qingshan walked over and playfully pinched Zi Yan's delicate little nose, which made the little girl frown in displeasure and gesture with her raised fist.

Zi Yan loudly declared in a childish tone, "You're so disrespectful to your senior sister! If you keep acting like this, believe it or not, I'll hit you!"

Yan Qingshan then stooped down and patted Zi Yan's little head. "Refining it for you three times a day is fine, but you have to bring back the medicinal ingredients yourself.

"How about this, I'll let Chi Lian go with you. The two of you together should be able to fight a Tier 6 magical beast, and it'll be safer that way."

The little girl was about to get angry, but hearing his subsequent words, her face showed satisfaction. She huffed, "Consider yourself clever."

Yan Qingshan chuckled and added, "However, don't go to the territories of magical beasts we have connections with, like the Snow Demon Sky Ape. I'll have them collect medicinal ingredients for me, which I'll exchange for pills. That way, it's more stable and a steady stream."

Zi Yan slanted a look at Gu Sheng (Gu Sheng, another name or possibly a typo/different character, given the context of Yan Qingshan) and huffed, "You're such a bad guy. Those pills barely use any spiritual herbs at all."

Yan Qingshan lowered his head and said, "Isn't this to balance my little Zi Yan's nutrition, to raise you plump and fair!"

"I'm not 'yours'!"

A faint smile appeared at the corner of Zi Yan's mouth, but she still huffed a rebuttal. Her race was too special; to grow, she needed a large quantity of precious spiritual herbs. According to Yan Qingshan's newly designed plan, it became somewhat more convenient, but the required variety of spiritual herbs was still quite complex.

Simply relying on her to search all over the mountains was not a long-term solution, but doing business with numerous magical beast overlords was different.

The magical beast overlords in the Endless Forest were at least Tier 5. Each magical beast possessed a large territory, and all magical beasts within its borders were considered their subjects, making it naturally easier to collect spiritual herbs.

"Let's go, it's time to head back."

Yan Qingshan extended his right hand to Zi Yan. Zi Yan placed her small, fair hand into his, and the two walked hand-in-hand, slowly making their way back towards the inner court.

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