Martial arts have become extinct worldwide, yet I am forced to have a large family.

Three more days passed.

"You're healing pretty quickly! Try walking around for a bit."

Yang Xian's voice came lazily.

On the stone slab, Ye Huairou was carefully trying to sit up, her movements still a little stiff.

The oversized gray T-shirt she was wearing belonged to Yang Xian; it looked loose and baggy on her, with the hem hanging down to her thighs.

The soft, white feet slowly lowered, the toes lightly touching the ground, gradually increasing pressure...

The girl, holding onto the rock wall, tentatively took two steps.

Although I can't use a lot of true energy yet, my basic bodily functions are no longer impaired.

Martial artists have physiques far superior to ordinary people, and their bodies can recover very quickly from such external injuries as long as they have sufficient nutrition and rest.

Yang Xian was unconscious for ten days because his internal energy was depleted.

The two are not the same.

After Ye Huairou steadied herself, she looked up at Yang Xian with a complicated expression.

"Don't worry."

"I promised you a generous reward, and I will definitely fulfill that promise once we return to the city."

Ye Huairou's feelings towards this smelly old man were extremely conflicted.

On the one hand, the other party pulled me back from the brink of death and has taken meticulous care of me these past few days; this kindness is as heavy as Mount Tai.

On the other hand, this uncle is really hateful!

He not only saw her naked body, but also bullied her with all sorts of words, and repeatedly trampled on her pride.

"Really? But I'm not looking forward to it."

Yang Xian leaned against the cave entrance and replied casually.

A generous reward?

It doesn't matter anymore.

Over the past three days, Yang Xian has managed to extract a considerable number of points from Ye Huairou.

The total score has steadily reached 11500 points.

In the first few days, even a casual remark could cause Ye Huairou's emotions to fluctuate wildly.

But later on, the girl seemed to have become immune to Yang Xian's words.

She wasn't even as resistant to Yang Xian as she had been at the beginning.

The girl's arrogance had been worn down considerably.

This is good for her personal growth, but not for Yang Xian's points increase.

Ye Huairou's injuries have almost healed, and Yang Xian can no longer extract points from the opponent.

It's time for the two of them to go their separate ways.

Yang Xian straightened up and patted the dust off his body.

"Your injuries are almost healed, so I should be going now."

"No, that won't do!"

"What? You don't want me to leave?"

"Pah! You're selfish and disgusting! You don't even know how to care about girls! Who wants to be with someone like you!"

"That settles it then?" Yang Xian shrugged. "From now on, everyone can go their own way and have nothing to do with each other."

"No!"

Why?

"If you leave, what will I do?" Ye Huairou asked anxiously, quickly explaining:

"My combat uniform and supplies are all gone, I don't even have a weapon!"

"Besides, I haven't given you the generous reward I promised! You're not allowed to leave me until I fulfill my promise!"

His injuries had not yet healed, and he was unarmed.

After leaving Yang Xian, Ye Huairou would need to go through a lot of trouble to return to the city on her own.

They might not even be able to get back to the city.

However, she was too proud to directly say that she wanted to stay by Yang Xian's side.

Seeing that Yang Xian remained unmoved, Ye Huairou had no choice but to continue speaking:

"To tell you the truth, a fourth-realm demon has appeared in this area!"

"You'd better not do that task either!"

"Our most important thing now is to get back to the city as soon as possible!"

Yang Xian frowned slightly. "Fourth-realm demons?"

No wonder Ye Huairou was so badly injured back then; it turns out she encountered a demon from the fourth realm.

In the path of martial arts, the transition from the third to the fourth realm is an insurmountable chasm.

That's not just an increase in strength, but a leap in the level of life.

Those at the fourth level of power have already begun to grasp a trace of the power of the laws of heaven and earth.

Martial artists at the third realm or below are utterly powerless against those at the fourth realm.

Trying to challenge someone of a higher level is almost an impossible task.

Unless... you possess a god-level cultivation technique!

Because divine-level techniques inherently possess the power of laws, they can offset some of the suppression from the laws of heaven and earth.

As luck would have it, Yang Xian happened to have it.

Why are you only telling me this now?

Yang Xian's gaze sharpened. "Are you afraid I'll abandon you and run away?"

Upon hearing this, Ye Huairou retorted confidently:

"What's the point of telling you in advance?"

"Even if I told you, could you possibly deal with a fourth-level demon?"

"But don't worry, I've already marked that fourth-realm demon."

"As long as it's within two kilometers of me, I'll definitely be able to detect it!"

The girl straightened her chest, seemingly regaining some confidence.

The Heavenly-level martial skill "Purple Star Divine Archery" allows you to mark your prey with special arrows, and the mark can last for a full half month.

"Although I don't have much combat power right now, I can act as your radar, helping you perfectly avoid that fourth-realm monster!"

"The only way for the two of us to get back to the city safely is for us to work together!"

Yang Xian fell into deep thought.

He really didn't want to face that fourth-realm demon right now.

Although he possessed a divine-level cultivation technique, he was still two whole major realms lower than his opponent.

The gap between them cannot be completely bridged by cultivation techniques alone.

Once they clash, too many variables will emerge.

Avoiding it is naturally the best option.

"I'm willing to join forces, but I have three conditions."

Yang Xian held up three fingers:

"First, from now on, you must follow my instructions at all times."

"Secondly, if you dare to lie to me about monsters or try to be clever, I will be the first to abandon you if we encounter any danger."

"Third, I must complete my mission first before returning to the city."

I must complete the three tasks assigned by the Martial Arts Association before the start of the new semester in September.

In addition, we will need to go to a secret realm to find the "Nine-Turn Life-Extending Lotus" that is over ten thousand years old.

Three months was far too short for Yang Xian.

He can't afford to waste a single second.

"Okay, I promise."

Ye Huairou nodded.

She could understand the first two conditions, since they concerned her life and fortune.

But the girl really couldn't understand why this old geezer was still so fixated on his stupid mission at a time like this.

However, she has no bargaining power now.

The next second, Ye Huairou suddenly became a little awkward again.

"Uncle, but... I also have one condition."

"Oh?" Yang Xian stared at the girl expressionlessly. "What are your conditions? Tell me."

Ye Huairou's cheeks flushed again, and her voice suddenly became very low:

"Could you... could you..."

"Could you come with me to take a shower?"

"I haven't showered for... several days..."