"I'm fine, just exhausted," Ye Fei explained.
Although Feng Ruoqin believed him, she still couldn't help but take a closer look. Only then did she confirm that Ye Fei was indeed merely exhausted. This discovery sent colossal waves through her heart. While it was true that the Skyflame Beast's cultivation would decrease after unleashing its innate divine skill, Ye Fei's decisive kill still made the situation feel unreal. Was his ability to fight opponents far beyond his own cultivation level simply too formidable? It almost made her feel jealous.
Her emotions settled, and after a moment, Feng Ruoqin's gaze returned to Ye Fei. "Ye Fei, take a pill to recover quickly!" she urged, handing him a Restoration Pill.
Ye Fei, who had been sitting cross-legged, glanced at the pill in Feng Ruoqin's hand but didn't take it.
"Ye Fei, hurry and take it!" Feng Ruoqin pressed, assuming he was too embarrassed to accept. "This is your due reward!"
Ye Fei's heart was filled with complex emotions. This Restoration Pill was merely high-grade, something he wouldn't normally bother with. His current demeanor, however, had led to this misunderstanding. After a moment's thought, he retrieved a small jade bottle from his spatial pouch and poured out an excellent-grade Restoration Pill.
Indeed, the moment the excellent-grade Restoration Pill appeared, its medicinal fragrance filled the air between them.
"What is this?"
"This is an excellent-grade Restoration Pill?" Feng Ruoqin hadn't paid much attention at first, but upon smelling the potent aroma, she couldn't help but exclaim in surprise. Especially when she saw the clear four rings of medicinal patterns on the pill itself! This was undoubtedly an excellent-grade medicine! In an instant, she recalled her earlier words and her face flushed with embarrassment. It was like bringing a knife to a gunfight, and she had completely underestimated him.
However, Ye Fei, still feeling the effects of exhaustion, didn't dwell on it and simply consumed the pill from the small jade bottle. Feng Ruoqin, after a moment of awkwardness, quickly regained her composure. Her curiosity about Ye Fei grew with each passing moment. For now, everything would have to wait until Ye Fei had refined the pill's medicinal power. Feng Ruoqin, with a sense of duty, appointed herself as Ye Fei's protector.
As the pill dissolved, Ye Fei's vital energy gradually began to recover. This process didn't take long, less than half an hour. Ye Fei stood up, his condition fully restored. He had also stored the Skyflame Beast he had slain into his spatial pouch. "I'll take this beast first. When we return, I'll give you half!" he said. The Skyflame Beast was a treasure trove, especially its fur, which was a rare and excellent material for insulation against the cold.
Feng Ruoqin, unconcerned with such matters, didn't give it much thought. Her entire focus was now on how to obtain the Thousand-Year Fire Marrow. "Young Mistress, we now only have ten Fire-Resistant Pearls left," her subordinate informed her. This meant only ten people could enter the ten-thousand-meter-deep pit together.
"Let me think!" Feng Ruoqin, despite her strong desire for the Thousand-Year Fire Marrow, had to consider the risks. After all, acquiring the Thousand-Year Fire Marrow was far more dangerous than obtaining the Hundred-Year Fire Marrow.
"Young Mistress, I request to go with you!" a young man with peach blossom eyes declared. "I swear to protect you with my life!" This man, named Xiao Yong, had placed second in an artifact refining competition several years ago and subsequently joined the Myriad Artifact Alliance. He was now considered a capable subordinate of Feng Ruoqin, and his cultivation had reached the mid-stage of the ninth level of Qi Refining. He was undoubtedly a prodigy.
"Elder Chen, you will lead your men to guard this location!" Feng Ruoqin decided. "This time, I will only take Ye Fei with me! We younger generation can use this as a chance to temper ourselves."
Elder Chen immediately objected! This was unacceptable! He was worried. "Young Mistress, please retract your order!" he pleaded. "If anything were to happen to you, none of us could bear the consequences! Let me lead the expedition instead!"
"It's decided!" Feng Ruoqin stated firmly. "Old Chen, don't worry. Don't you know my personality? I never fight battles I'm not prepared for! I have plenty of life-saving treasures with me!" She then gestured to her spatial pouch.
Elder Chen tried to persuade her further, but Feng Ruoqin remained resolute. He then turned his hopeful gaze towards Ye Fei, wishing he would persuade the Young Mistress to change her mind. "Young friend Ye, please try to persuade the Young Mistress not to take such a risk!" Elder Chen implored, his face etched with worry. "The Young Mistress is our backbone. If anything were to happen to her, I wouldn't be able to account for it to the Patriarch!"
Ye Fei understood Elder Chen's concern, but the path of cultivation was inherently a rebellion against heaven. To become stronger, one had to constantly push their limits! As the Young Mistress, she couldn't hide behind others! "Elder Chen, don't worry. I will do my utmost to protect her," Ye Fei promised.
Feng Ruoqin had expected Ye Fei to advise caution, but she never imagined he would be of the same mind as her. She understood the logic, but she couldn't help but feel anxious, fearing she might get hurt. Seeing that there was no room for further discussion, Elder Chen reluctantly agreed. "Since the Young Mistress's resolve is firm, I can only wish you both a safe return!" he said, cupping his hands. "I will wait here for your return with my men!"
Meanwhile, the peach-blossom-eyed young man, Xiao Yong, was seething with jealousy towards Ye Fei, his veins visibly bulging on his forehead. If Ye Fei hadn't appeared, he would have been the one accompanying the Young Mistress. All his anger was directed at Ye Fei! Thankfully, given the situation, he could only curse Ye Fei in his heart, wishing Ye Fei would perish within the pit.
Ye Fei's eyes flickered, and he offered an apology. "Apologies, but you'll have to wait for me for a while. The bottleneck in my body is about to break!" he announced. "Elder Chen, please act as my guardian. I am about to begin my breakthrough!" With a serious expression, Ye Fei quickly found a corner, sat down cross-legged, and prepared to break through.
"I will!" Feng Ruoqin exclaimed. "Old Chen, you wait here. I'll guard Ye Fei!" Having developed a certain understanding with Ye Fei, Feng Ruoqin once again took on the role of protector. This surprised Elder Chen, as the Young Mistress was not known for being the type to guard others. However, the thought only lasted for a moment.