It was precisely during Luo Yongwu's moment of distraction that Ye Lanshan reached his side. Before he could react, a thunderous bolt struck him on the head.
Although he wasn't injured, he was utterly disheveled, his entire body charred black, while Ye Lanshan remained completely unscathed.
Luo Yongwu gritted his teeth and glared at her, but dared not launch a rash attack. After all, she was undergoing a heavenly tribulation; attacking now would be seen as defying the heavens' authority. So he could only clench his teeth and flee in all directions.
This time, it was Luo Yongwu's turn to dodge, but Ye Lanshan stuck to him like glue, impossible to shake off no matter how he tried.
Using a heavenly tribulation to attack an opponent—truly unprecedented. Cangzhu gazed at Ye Lanshan with admiration. As expected of his master, truly formidable.
Chen Sen twitched at the corner of his mouth. He had initially thought Young Master Shanluo was weak, but never expected him to be this powerful. Using heavenly thunder to strike enemies was something unheard of, past or present.
The person hiding in the tree watched her with even more infatuation, even pondering whether to do the same when they next advanced.
"If you kill me, the Sikong family won't let you off," he shouted loudly as Ye Lanshan prepared to end his life.
His once gray-white hair had turned pitch black from the lightning strikes, and his clothes hung in tatters, stripping him of any dignity befitting an alchemist.
"Do you really think I'm afraid?" Ye Lanshan's light words fell into Luo Yongwu's ears like a death warrant, turning his face pale—though the lightning damage made it impossible to see clearly.
"Young Master Shanluo, you can't kill him. The exchange conference is in a few days. If our Medicine Valley loses Master Luo, we might not secure first place again," Chen Sen rushed over to stop her.
"Is that so? Then for your sake, I'll spare his life. But if you dare tell Sikong Cheng I'm here, even to the ends of the earth, I'll tear you limb from limb." Ye Lanshan's sinister tone made Luo Yongwu, sitting on the ground, nod frantically.
"Did you hear that? Better not snitch to my father, or I can't guarantee when your life might end," said the person in the tree, jumping down and crouching beside Luo Yongwu to warn him after Ye Lanshan and her group had vanished from sight.
Luo Yongwu, who had intended to immediately inform Sikong Cheng, could only grudgingly promise not to say anything after hearing the warning. But in his heart, he seethed: Shanluo, just wait. On the day of the exchange conference, you'll die. I'll make you suffer every humiliation before you go.
"Master, why are you walking so fast?" Ye Lanshan's pace quickened, forcing Cangzhu to use his utmost speed just to keep up. As for Chen Sen, he had already parted ways with them to report to the valley master.
But before reaching the Medicine Madness Courtyard, Ye Lanshan spat out a mouthful of blood. Her profound energy surged, her spiritual power unstable, and her face lost its earlier calm, turning pale. She hadn't expected such a heavy price for this forced breakthrough.
"Master, Master, what's wrong?" Cangzhu called out anxiously.
Ye Lanshan immediately sat cross-legged to regulate her breathing. After a long while, she exhaled a turbid breath and shook her head, saying, "I'm fine."
"Is it only by seizing the position of Medicine Valley Master that you'll stop hating me?" A sorrowful, indignant voice came from ahead—it was He Muxiang.
Ye Lanshan helplessly pressed her forehead. What a mess. She'd wandered around, even fought a battle, and they still hadn't resolved things. She really didn't want to get involved.
"Miss, the position of Medicine Valley Master doesn't require your help to secure. If you have nothing else, please leave. We have matters to discuss." A gentle, refined voice spoke, easing the tense atmosphere between the two.
He Muxiang cast a sorrowful glance at Ye Lanshan, then walked out with heavy, dejected steps.
"You're injured? How bad is it?" Yun Di saw her torn clothes, blood-stained chin, and pale face, and hurried over to check, but Ye Lanshan slapped his hand away.
"I'm fine. You're the one who should be worried. Don't forget our plan. The road ahead may be more dangerous than we thought. Luo Yongwu is Sikong Cheng's man; he might reveal our identities to him." Ye Lanshan suppressed her internal discomfort, showing no sign of it on her face.
"I understand. There are many alchemists in the Medicine Valley loyal to my uncle. I'll contact them quickly and get them to support you. By then, even if Sikong Cheng finds out, it'll be too late."
Yun Di knew the gravity of the situation and decided to privately reach out to those who had once been loyal to his uncle to discuss countering Sikong Cheng.
Ye Lanshan nodded and returned to her room, where she spat out another mouthful of blood. Her internal organs ached, and her profound energy raged within her, threatening to tear her meridians apart.
She tried to use her spiritual power to guide the profound energy back, but how could such rampaging energy be easily tamed?
Sweat dripped from her forehead, and beads of blood seeped from her pores. In the throes of extreme pain, she finally lost consciousness.
After she fainted, red lotus fire emerged from her body, burning continuously, while a layer of light from the space reconstructed her form. In that instant, she reverted to her original appearance.
Meanwhile, in a corner of the space, a soul identical to hers floated up, only to fade again after briefly solidifying.
Her meridians snapped and mended section by section, her skin disintegrated and reformed. This cycle lasted an entire day and night before the light dissipated, and Ye Lanshan collapsed back onto the bed.
"Master, Master, are you there?" Cangzhu called cautiously from outside the door, not daring to enter. Not that he could be blamed—earlier, when he tried to call her out, a burst of light had knocked him back before he could even knock.
"I told you he's a fake divine-grade alchemist, didn't I? See, when I challenge him, he doesn't even dare come out." A mocking voice rang out loudly, surrounded by the laughter of several young people.
"You're lying! That's not why Master won't come out. He really can refine divine pills—I've seen it myself!" Cangzhu argued angrily.
"Oh? If he's refined divine pills, why won't he show his face now? I think your master is not only a fraud but a coward. If he can't do it, just admit it. Hiding in his room like a scaredy-cat is truly laughable."
"I say, Cangzhu, why pick a fraud and a coward as your master?"
Pointed mockery surrounded him. Cangzhu's face flushed red with rage. As sharp-tongued as he was, he was outnumbered—how could he argue against so many?