After chatting with Xiao Wu about some repetitive and meaningless topics to stabilize her emotions, Yu Yan took Xiao Wu out of the library and headed toward their residence at the Exotic Beast Academy.
The gift Yu Yan brought Xiao Wu was an Immortal Herb. Giving the Immortal Herb to Xiao Wu and having her consume it in a place like the library would show a lack of respect for the library itself.
Since Yu Yan had returned and said he had important things to discuss back at their place, Xiao Wu naturally no longer wanted to stay in the library reading.
On the way back to their residence, Yu Yan briefly recounted his experiences over the past six months, and Xiao Wu likewise shared her experiences over the past seven months.
Upon hearing that Yu Yan's Spirit Power Level had increased from Rank 29 to Rank 44 during their half-year separation, Xiao Wu opened her mouth in astonishment.
Even after half a year of continuous hard Cultivation, she had only managed to Breakthrough from Rank 29 to Rank 34.
Rising 5 Ranks in over half a year had already made Vice Dean Jiang Jing beam with joy, calling her a Genius rarely seen in a century.
Before knowing Yu Yan's specific Rank increase, Xiao Wu thought that no matter how great the Opportunity Yu Yan sought was, how much could it help him improve in half a year?
After learning that Yu Yan had increased by a full 15 Ranks in over half a year, Xiao Wu's mind was full of questions. She wondered what kind of Opportunity could possibly help Yu Yan increase by 15 Ranks.
After thinking in shock for a while, Xiao Wu couldn't come up with a concrete answer.
"So, what exactly happened?"
Xiao Wu stared at Yu Yan curiously, hoping he could provide a reasonable explanation.
"Here's a small hint: What was the thing we saw in the Han Family Bamboo Slips we obtained before, and in that Imperial Tomb, that could make a person undergo a complete transformation?"
Yu Yan said he was giving a hint, but in reality, he was practically shoving the answer into Xiao Wu's mouth.
"Immortal Herb!" The moment the answer struck her, Xiao Wu focused on the most likely Immortal Herb: "Did you use the Yearning Heartbroken Red?"
Xiao Wu thought of the Yearning Heartbroken Red because she remembered this Immortal Herb was called a 'Divine Grade Supreme Treasure.' A person who consumed the Yearning Heartbroken Red could increase their spirit power by at least 10 Ranks. Thinking this way, the situation became reasonable.
"I did consume Immortal Herbs, but not the Yearning Heartbroken Red. The two Immortal Herbs I consumed are named Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and blazing apricot cactus. These two Immortal Herbs..."
After confirming Xiao Wu's answer about the Immortal Herb, Yu Yan corrected the specifics of her statement and informed Xiao Wu of the general effects of the two Immortal Herbs he had consumed.
"The extremely cold Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and the extremely hot blazing apricot cactus, when they meet, can influence and promote each other—the Ice and Fire Twin Fish. These two Immortal Herbs really were the most suitable for you. No wonder you didn't consume the Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng back then."
Hearing Yu Yan's explanation, Xiao Wu finally understood Yu Yan's intentions, especially since she had indeed urged him to consume the Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng back then.
"Since we've already mentioned the Yearning Heartbroken Red, I'll just be straightforward: the gift I brought back for you is the Yearning Heartbroken Red. If you can gain the Yearning Heartbroken Red's recognition, then consume it."
Having reached this point in the conversation, Yu Yan, who had just returned to their residence, took out the Yearning Heartbroken Red he had prepared long ago from the Wishful Hundred Treasure Purse.
In case Xiao Wu failed to gain the Yearning Heartbroken Red's recognition, Yu Yan had a second set of Immortal Herbs suitable for her.
Although Yu Yan felt there was no possibility of Xiao Wu failing, he always liked to prepare multiple contingency plans, so he had a backup plan ready.
The ordinary white flower growing on a Dark Black Stone captured all of Xiao Wu's attention. She took the Yearning Heartbroken Red from Yu Yan's hand.
Recalling the story of the Yearning Heartbroken Red and the method for picking it—which required thinking of one's beloved—Xiao Wu could only think of one person.
Xiao Wu pressed her forehead against the white flower, recalling every little detail of her time with Yu Yan in her mind. Those ordinary moments made her lips curl into a smile.
A drop of Heart Blood floated out from Xiao Wu's mouth and landed on the white flower.
The red blood landed on the white flower. As the flower swayed, the simple white bloom transformed into a magnificent, vibrant, and dripping wet large flower, emanating a golden-red luster—clearly an extraordinary item.
"Congratulations, Xiao Wu, you successfully gained the recognition of the Yearning Heartbroken Red."
After admiring the Yearning Heartbroken Red's splendor for a while, Yu Yan spoke up to congratulate Xiao Wu.
After offering congratulations, Yu Yan asked knowingly, "Xiao Wu, can you tell me who you were thinking of when you picked the Yearning Heartbroken Red?"
"You guess."
Knowing Yu Yan was asking knowingly, Xiao Wu rolled her eyes dramatically at him.
"That question is so hard. I can't guess. Can you tell me the answer?"
"Huh? Didn't you usually say you were the smartest? How could you possibly not guess such a simple question?"
"Xiao Wu, that's slander. Everyone says I'm modest."
"I know for a fact that you have two faces."
"Since you said I have two faces, I'm very stupid right now and can't guess who you were thinking of."
"You wretched Yu Yan, I'm done messing around with you. I'm going to consume the Yearning Heartbroken Red to increase my spirit power. Just watch me catch up to you within a day."
Seeing that Yu Yan was starting to be 'unreasonable,' Xiao Wu simply ended the topic. While it was true she was currently Rank 34, consuming the Yearning Heartbroken Red would allow her to immediately catch up to Yu Yan, who was at Spirit Power Level 44.
Besides the Spirit Power Level, the other effects of the Divine Grade Supreme Treasure Yearning Heartbroken Red would also allow her to return to the same starting line as Yu Yan; she didn't want to be left too far behind by him.
After consuming the Yearning Heartbroken Red, a layer of golden-red light quickly appeared on Xiao Wu's body. This was the phenomenon caused by her digesting the Yearning Heartbroken Red.
While acting as Xiao Wu's Protector, Yu Yan was also contemplating Xiao Wu's experiences over the past six months.
At Rank 30, Xiao Wu obtained a 13,000-year-old Ten-Thousand-Year third spirit ring, whose Spirit Ability was Teleportation.
The Teleportation from the Ten-Thousand-Year third spirit ring allowed for instant movement within a 20-meter radius. The expanded range would enable Xiao Wu to pursue and escape more flexibly.
As a human transformed from a Spirit Beast, Xiao Wu could condense spirit rings herself without needing to endure the Soul Shock that Yu Yan greatly feared. As long as her Physical Body strength was sufficient, Xiao Wu could condense spirit rings of the maximum age limit. This was the greatest advantage of Spirit Masters who were transformed Spirit Beasts.
Yu Yan didn't press Xiao Wu on how she managed to withstand the Soul Shock, and Xiao Wu had already decided when condensing the Ten-Thousand-Year spirit ring that she would find a suitable Opportunity to tell Yu Yan her true identity.
This decision was made after Xiao Wu repeatedly tested Yu Yan's attitude toward humans transformed from Spirit Beasts, and after careful judgment and consideration.
What if, what if Yu Yan still decided to attack her after learning her identity? Then she would...