Chapter 39

If others heard these words, they would definitely turn their backs on Bai Chen.

Who knew that Mei Jiangxue suddenly turned around and said in an even colder tone, "Shut up! If you keep talking nonsense, I'll tear your mouth apart."

Although Mei Jiangxue appeared abnormally cold, Bai Chen clearly saw her trembling shoulders.

Given Mei Jiangxue's temper, his previous joke had earned him a slap.

When he said the next sentence, he already regretted it, thinking that Mei Jiangxue would definitely fly into a rage. To his surprise, she only scolded him and did not lay a hand on him.

There must be a story!

Bai Chen's curiosity was ignited.

"Ask the world, what is love, that makes life and death vows, the southern and northern flying guests, old wings through cold and heat..."

Bai Chen recited the "Yan Qiu Ci" to himself. Mei Jiangxue seemed to be moved, her steps pausing slightly as she turned her back to Bai Chen and muttered, "I told you to shut up! Can't you hear me?"

Although Mei Jiangxue's tone was strong, it carried a hint of sorrow, and her figure looked somewhat lonely.

"Joy in gathering, pain in parting, among them are the infatuated sons and daughters, you should have something to say..."

Bai Chen was not that obedient, though his voice was much lower and less noticeable in the noisy market.

But Mei Jiangxue, a先天高手 (先天 means innate, 高手 means expert, so it can be translated as "innate expert" or "natural expert"), had senses ten times sharper than ordinary people. How could she not hear Bai Chen's low chanting?

However, Mei Jiangxue seemed to be suppressing her gloom and was moved by the poem's sentiment, her mind wandering.

Unconsciously, Mei Jiangxue had already brought Bai Chen to an inn.

But the name of the inn made Bai Chen pause: "No Return."

Who would dare stay in an inn with such a name?

As they approached the inn, a female innkeeper greeted them, exuding a typical martial arts atmosphere. She first bowed to Mei Jiangxue as a senior: "Sister."

Then the innkeeper looked at Bai Chen behind Mei Jiangxue: "Who is he?"

"Throw him into the wine cellar and watch him carefully."

Bai Chen really wanted to add, before Mei Jiangxue left, "If you're unhappy, just say it, let me be happy..."

But Bai Chen ultimately swallowed these words, knowing that inviting a beating was not a good idea.

After all, he had already been slapped once, and now he needed to focus on healing his injuries. If he tried to provoke Mei Jiangxue again, she might slap him to death in a fit of rage.

In just one night, Bai Chen's cultivation had risen from the Fifth Rank of the Later Heaven stage to the Late Sixth Rank. If this rate of advancement were known, he would surely be considered a demon and eliminated for the good of the people.

After all, in the understanding of martial artists, apart from the evil methods of the demonic path, it was hard to imagine any way for someone to steadily advance a rank in a short time without external assistance.

Bai Chen was pushed into the underground wine cellar by several young women. The wine cellar was dark, with no visible light, and the air was filled with a strong aroma of wine.

Bai Chen sat down and began to practice to resolve the negative energy.

Resolving negative energy value: 1, increased true qi by 100

Resolving negative energy value: 1, increased true qi by 100

More severe internal injuries brought greater benefits. Previously, one unit of negative energy could only yield 10 points of true qi, but now one unit of negative energy could yield 100 points of true qi.

This process made Bai Chen's cultivation soar like a rocket.

In just half an hour, Bai Chen's cultivation had already broken through to the Seventh Rank.

Cultivation level: Later Heaven 7th Rank.

Internal cultivation technique: "Xuan Hu Ji Shi Gong" Lower Rank, Growth Value 1/1/2

Health: 121000/121000

Internal energy: 120000/120000

True qi: 12000/35000

Negative energy value: 54/100

Constitution: 100+12000

Strength: 100+12000+20000

Speed: 100+24000

Insight: 16+6

This momentum did not slow down even after the breakthrough, still increasing true qi by 100 points for each unit of negative energy.

However, the speed of resolving negative energy increased, which meant that his injuries were healing faster.

While this was beneficial overall, it also reduced the amount of negative energy left, thus weakening the effect of negative energy on his cultivation.

Moreover, advancing from the Seventh Rank to the Eighth Rank of the Later Heaven stage required nearly three times the amount of true qi, creating a small bottleneck for Bai Chen's cultivation.

Of course, overall, the benefits still outweighed the drawbacks.

After all, there was a fierce woman above the wine cellar. Provoking her from time to time could always bring unexpected results.

The increase in cultivation was a comprehensive improvement. A 120,000 internal energy limit was a significant boost for alchemy.

At least Bai Chen could now勉强 (勉强 means勉强, so it can be translated as "barely" or "hardly") use high-consumption alchemy techniques to improve the efficiency and success rate of alchemy.

Of course, this applied to shorter alchemy processes. For those that took half an hour or more, he would need to reach the Innate stage to supply the necessary energy.

The light filtering through the wine cellar's cracks gradually dimmed, and the sky was getting dark. However, Bai Chen, staying in the wine cellar, had no idea how much time had passed.

For several hours, he was resolving negative energy. When his true qi cultivation reached the Seventh Rank threshold, his injuries had fully healed, leaving no negative energy behind.

After a while, Bai Chen became restless, being confined in this small, dark room with no one to talk to.

As for cultivation... how could he cultivate without injuries?

Bai Chen looked around. The air was filled with the aroma of aged wine, making it unsuitable for open flames.

After some thought, he abandoned the idea of alchemy. If a fire broke out, he would be the first to suffer.

After an unknown amount of time, the wine cellar door opened, and the candlelight made Bai Chen momentarily disoriented.

A cold light came from the stairs, and a familiar figure stood at the entrance of the wine cellar.

Bai Chen had a moment of illusion, as if the graceful figure was waiting for her returning husband.

Of course, Gong Sun Chenxing's cold voice dispelled Bai Chen's last bit of fantasy.

Bai Chen felt depressed but still managed a friendly smile: "Wherever we go, we meet. Miss Gong Sun, we truly have a connection."

Seeing Bai Chen's smile, Gong Sun Chenxing became furious. She and several Seven Virtues disciples had fought bandits and robbers all night.

Although some groups had fled due to the Seven Virtues' reputation, many still lusted after the beauty of the Seven Virtues disciples.

If not for their skills, they would have suffered greatly.

Every time she thought of this, Gong Sun Chenxing felt a surge of anger.

Gong Sun Chenxing gritted her teeth and coldly said, "Yes, truly a connection! Mister Bai, shouldn't we settle our accounts now?"

"Ah... Miss Gong Sun, we became acquainted through conflict. As for you raiding my supplies, I have already forgotten it. As the saying goes, it's better to resolve enmity than to hold grudges, don't you think?"

"Hmph! You forget so easily." Gong Sun Chenxing was furious. Bai Chen had completely shirked responsibility, making it seem like the fault was entirely on her and her sisters.

"Meeting with a smile erases past grievances. Why be so fixated on them?"

"Good words, meeting with a smile erases past grievances!"

At this moment, Mei Jiangxue's voice came from behind Gong Sun Chenxing, and her graceful figure appeared beside her.

Compared to Gong Sun Chenxing, Mei Jiangxue had a mature charm, beautiful yet dignified, elegant yet alluring, with a tone that was neither childish like Nalan Ruyue nor cold like Gong Sun Chenxing.

Bai Chen wondered what kind of man could bear to abandon such a remarkable beauty.

Mei Jiangxue slowly descended the stairs, her alluring figure making Bai Chen dazed.

Mei Jiangxue gazed at Bai Chen, her eyes unreadable, examining him from head to toe.

"Your injuries are healed?"

"I had a few healing pills on me, and your restraint allowed me to recover quickly."

Mei Jiangxue believed him somewhat, having heard that Bai Chen was skilled in alchemy.

As for her previous slap, although she did not intend to kill him, she certainly did not hold back.

Even a person at the Innate stage would be bedridden for a month after receiving that slap, let alone a mere Sixth Rank Later Heaven cultivator.

Mei Jiangxue thought about this, but when her gaze fell on Bai Chen again, her expression changed.

"Seventh Rank Later Heaven!?"

Mei Jiangxue was not surprised by the mere Seventh Rank Later Heaven cultivation, but by the fact that Bai Chen had been at the Sixth Rank that morning and had advanced to the Seventh Rank in just a few hours.

Had she remembered incorrectly, or had she misjudged?

"Your cultivation..."

"Thanks to your guidance, I had an epiphany in this wine cellar and made some progress." Bai Chen smiled.

Mei Jiangxue looked around the wine cellar, filled with the aroma of wine. Could someone really have an epiphany in such an environment?

Mei Jiangxue's expression grew more serious. To have an epiphany in such an environment, one must either be a genius or have great fortune.

"Have I heard that your alchemy skills are quite high?" Mei Jiangxue's tone was skeptical.

She had heard people in the inn talk about Bai Chen's performance on the stage, often exaggerating. So Mei Jiangxue remained skeptical about these rumors.

If he truly had such alchemy skills, he would already be famous, and his abilities would rival her two disciples.

Even if he were a core disciple of a top sect, it would be impossible for him to be completely unknown.

Bai Chen looked at Mei Jiangxue's expression and knew what she was thinking. He said nonchalantly, "I have a bit of skill, but it's mostly due to others' praise. I don't have much real talent."

Mei Jiangxue coldly snorted, "You have some self-awareness. But I believe you have some intelligence. If what others say is true, then you should be able to refine three True Yang Pills, and I will set you free."

"True Yang Pills? I don't know how."

Bai Chen did not want to refine pills for Mei Jiangxue for free. They were not related, and there was no benefit for him. Besides, he had never heard of True Yang Pills and had no idea how to refine them.

"If you don't know, then refine them until you do!" Mei Jiangxue casually tossed a rough piece of paper to Bai Chen.

"Senior, aren't you being too harsh? Whether I know or not is none of your business. Refining pills is my choice."

If it were a beautiful woman asking him to refine pills on a normal day, he would have agreed without hesitation, regardless of any reward.

But Mei Jiangxue was acting in a superior manner. He was neither her subordinate nor her disciple. Why should he refine pills for her?

Bai Chen, though somewhat timid, could be stubborn.

"You bullied my disciples last night. I didn't kill you, so consider yourself lucky. Now, refine three True Yang Pills to atone for your sins. Do you have any objections?"