Chapter 8: Heaven-Grade Spiritual Root

“Senior, where are we going now?” Wan’er asked.

“Since I’ve decided to help you, the first thing is to heal your injuries.”

“Senior, this injury is nothing.”

Ke Li Nü shot her a glance.

The girl’s left arm moved stiffly—clearly in severe pain, yet she stubbornly insisted it was fine.

He spoke firmly.

“No. The Blood Lotus Sect might still be searching for you. If we run into pursuers on the way, I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to protect you every time.”

Ban Wan’er fell silent, her hands clenching slightly at her sides.

‘Senior is a Golden Core grandmaster. He crushed Yin Wuli, who was at the Late Foundation Building Stage, with a flick of his hand. Even if more enemies come, they’re just ants to him.’

‘So… Senior still doesn’t truly want to help me. He’s only traveling with me because he’s bound by the Oath Curse.’

A trace of dejection welled up inside her, but she dared not say another word.

She obediently followed Ke Li Nü as he searched the forest for a sheltered, hidden stone cave to rest in.

Ke Li Nü sat cross-legged on a stone stool, outwardly closing his eyes in meditation, playing the part of an unfathomable master.

Inside, however, he was cringing with embarrassment.

‘I’m only at the Late Foundation Building Stage. I don’t even know the most basic healing techniques, let alone how to break the Blood Lotus Sect’s evil curse.’

‘I have no choice but to stay quiet the whole time and rely on the “silence equals mastery” routine.’

Ban Wan’er took a low-grade healing pill she carried with her.

Within half a day, her external injuries had healed, but the corrupted spirit root inside her body remained dark and murky.

That sinister energy clung stubbornly to the root itself; no matter how much spiritual power she cycled, she couldn’t dispel it even a little.

Seeing her brow furrowed, Ke Li Nü pretended to ask casually, “How can this spirit root of yours be repaired?”

“There’s no cure for this technique. With my current cultivation, I can’t break it,” Ban Wan’er shook her head gently, her tone filled with helplessness.

“This is the Blood Lotus Sect’s exclusive Spirit Erosion Curse. Once a spirit root is tainted, it’s forcibly enslaved. Ordinary pills are useless.”

“If even Senior can do nothing about it, I’m afraid the only hope is to get the antidote from the Blood Lotus Sect or to find my master, Yunshui Shizun, for help.”

At that thought, Ban Wan’er fell silent again.

She no longer wanted to go back.

As for the antidote, that was even more hopeless.

Hearing this, Ke Li Nü’s eyes suddenly lit up.

‘That Second-grade Soul Cleansing Pill in the system warehouse—I have no spirit root, so I can’t use it. Just taking up space.’

‘But giving it to Wan’er is different.’

‘A system-produced second-grade pill should be able to counter this evil curse perfectly.’

‘It solves her problem and racks up Fantasy Value for me—a win-win.’

Without changing his expression, he raised his hand.

A perfectly round, lustrous pill materialized in his palm.

Two golden pill patterns swirled across its surface.

The moment it appeared, a crisp, refreshing medicinal fragrance filled the stone cave, and even the withered grass in the crevices instantly regained vitality.

The spiritual energy was so dense it almost condensed into liquid.

“Eat it.”

Ke Li Nü’s tone was flat, as if he were offering nothing more than a wild fruit from the roadside.

Ban Wan’er stared blankly at the pill.

An overwhelming wave of shock and gratitude surged through her, and her eyes instantly reddened.

‘Just moments ago, I secretly suspected that Senior wasn’t truly willing to help me, that he was holding back. Now I realize I was measuring his noble heart with my own petty mind!’

‘A Second-grade Soul Cleansing Pill!’

‘Senior giving me this pill—he clearly intends to eradicate my hidden trouble at its root.’

‘He wasn’t unwilling to act earlier; it was his thoughtful way of letting me tend to my own injuries first, to temper my character.’

‘And now, bestowing this Second-grade Soul Cleansing Pill so directly—this profound, concealed generosity moves me more than any grand vow.’

“S-Senior, this pill is far too precious. This junior cannot possibly accept it!”

Ban Wan’er quickly bowed, trying to decline.

Ke Li Nü frowned slightly, waving his hand in feigned impatience.

“There’s that phrase again. If I tell you to eat it, eat it. My pills are not so precious that I need to hoard them.”

“This is a Second-grade Soul Cleansing Pill. It can break the Spirit Erosion Curse, nourish your top-grade Water Spirit Root, and help you break through your bottleneck. No more nonsense.”

Inside, he was screaming frantically:

‘Eat it, eat it! It’s useless garbage to me, but a priceless treasure to you. Just eat it and give me some Fantasy Value!’

Ban Wan’er watched Ke Li Nü’s calm, indifferent demeanor.

Her respect surged even higher.

She no longer dared to refuse.

Taking the pill with trembling hands, she carefully placed it in her mouth.

Where the spiritual energy passed, the Blood Lotus Sect’s Spirit Erosion Curse melted away like snow under a scorching sun, vanishing completely.

Her dim, top-grade Water Spirit Root radiated a lustrous blue light once more, purer and clearer than before, showing faint signs of transformation.

Her cultivation surged wildly.

Early Foundation Establishment Stage… Mid Foundation Establishment Stage… Finally, it stabilized firmly at Late Foundation Building Stage before gradually calming.

She looked down at her palm.

As spiritual power circulated, a layer of glowing water-blue light appeared in her hand—purer and denser than ever.

Under the nourishing effect of the Soul Cleansing Pill, her top-grade Water Spirit Root was undergoing a transformation she had never experienced before.

The originally clear blue spirit root began to change.

Within the blue, faint golden patterns gradually appeared.

Ban Wan’er could hardly believe her senses.

She closed her eyes and carefully felt the changes in her spirit root.

The speed at which spiritual energy circulated was several times faster than before.

With every breath, the world’s spiritual energy actively flowed into her meridians, cycling on its own without needing her guidance.

Ke Li Nü casually glanced at the system panel.

[Target: Ban Wan’er]

[Spirit Root: Heavenly Grade Water Spiritual Root]

[Physique: Light Spirit Saint Body (Incomplete)]

[Cultivation: Late Foundation Building Stage]

A Heavenly Grade Spirit Root!

Ke Li Nü was startled inwardly.

‘The effect of this Soul Cleansing Pill is too insane. It directly upgraded her from top-grade to heavenly grade!’

‘What kind of logic is this?’

Ban Wan’er fell to her knees with a thud, kowtowing respectfully.

“Senior’s great kindness—Wan’er will never forget it!”

“This junior wrongly suspected Senior’s good intentions, thinking Senior was unwilling to truly help. Please forgive me, Senior!”

Ke Li Nü was slightly taken aback.

‘Wrongly suspected? What suspicion?’

He had no idea what Ban Wan’er had imagined, but from her words, it seemed she thought he was trying to temper her?

…Fine.

Whatever she imagined, in the end it just boosted his Fantasy Value.

“Get up.”

Ke Li Nü’s tone was calm.

“The path of cultivation is itself a path of self-discipline. I only gave you a push. How far you go ultimately depends on you.”

Ban Wan’er nodded emphatically, her eyes brimming with reverence.

[Ding! Target Ban Wan’er’s Fantasy Weighting toward Host has increased!]

[Congratulations, Host! Cultivation has increased to: Peak Foundation Establishment Stage]

Ke Li Nü’s breath caught slightly.

‘Another increase!’

Then he silently shifted his gaze away from the system panel, his expression unchanged.

But in Ban Wan’er’s eyes, Senior’s slightly narrowed gaze was clearly assessing her cultivation aptitude—deep and unfathomable.

“Senior!”

Ban Wan’er called out cautiously.

Ke Li Nü snapped back to reality and gave her a faint glance.

“Let’s go.”

He turned and walked toward the cave entrance, his robes gently fluttering in the mountain wind.

Ban Wan’er quickly followed, making a silent vow:

‘I will definitely become Senior’s disciple. I will never let this kindness go to waste!’

The two of them, one after the other, disappeared into the depths of the forest.