He took out a box and carefully placed it inside.
Turning his attention to Yun Xiu, who was lying on the ground watching him, he had a thought. If he couldn't take risks, there would be no profits.
He stood up and walked towards her. Sitting beside her, he gently lifted her head and placed it on his lap.
Looking down at her flawless face, he sighed. Her beauty was unparalleled, but she was beyond his reach.
She was the sect master, a powerful cultivator. He was just an assistant, merely at rank 3 of body tempering. How could he even dream...
And now, with his simple, ugly appearance and half-burned face, having these thoughts was just wishful thinking.
...
"Principal, what was that just now?"
"Did you see? The whole sky was cut in half!"
"Who was fighting just now?"
The group chattered among themselves. An old man looked towards the place where the disturbance had occurred.
"That... is the inner area of the forest," he said in a pale voice. If his guess was right, it should be the same person who killed that tier 6 prana beast.
Now, another commotion from the inner area of the forest...
The inner area was the territory of many high-tier prana beasts. Thinking of going there was simply inviting death.
"Was that commotion caused by a fight between a tier 7 prana beast and someone else?" he muttered.
"Kids, let's head back. The situation seems to be unstable. We don't know what will happen next." Just as he was about to lead the group back, a sudden roar filled with anger echoed through the forest.
The roar alone caused many low-level prana beasts to flee in fear.
The old man's face turned black. "Let's get out of here fast!" he urged, rushing out with the group following him.
The roar just now was no ordinary prana beast's roar.
If it came from the inner area of the forest, it must be a tier 7 beast that was angered. Someone must have provoked it, causing these commotions and killing the tier 6 beast. It was better to get away from here; otherwise, anything unexpected could happen.
...
In the cave, Hun Yu also heard the angry roar of the lion. He didn't care, knowing it couldn't locate them as their presence and tracks were wiped by the system.
His focus should be on helping Yun Xiu recover; without her, he didn't think he could walk out of this forest alive.
He looked at the system panel in front of him:
{Congratulations Host for completing the "So what if we steal, if you have strength then stop us" Mission. Host is rewarded with 500 energy points.}
{Life-saving is the best help, and by saving Yun Xiu, the host has completed this mission perfectly. The host is rewarded with an additional artifact - the Golden Chain of Oblivion.}
{
Golden Chain of Oblivion:
This chain is rumored to be created by an ancient powerhouse to fight against the race of prana beasts when they were dormant on the continent.
Many powerful prana beasts died under this chain, their names erased from history, which is why it is called the Golden Chain of Oblivion.
Drains Prana: The chain constantly saps the prana (life force) of any prana beast it restrains. Prolonged exposure weakens them considerably, rendering them sluggish and vulnerable.
Disrupts Prana Flow: The chain disrupts the natural flow of prana within a prana beast, causing them immense pain and hindering their ability to use their powers effectively.
Sealing Potential: In extreme cases, prolonged captivity by the chain can weaken a prana beast's connection to the source of their power, potentially leading to a permanent reduction in their abilities.
Aura of Forgetfulness: The golden glow has a secondary effect on those who witness it. It causes them to forget the scene, as if they were never there.
Final Release: If a prana beast is held by the chain for too long, their existence is entirely erased from the physical world. Their essence is absorbed by the chain, adding to its power and furthering its ability to induce oblivion.
Note: This artifact is very powerful and only affects prana beasts, not any other species. Its effectiveness depends on the user's power.
Drawbacks: The chain has its own drawbacks, which can affect the user if overused.
}
He looked at the Information, his expression excited. Finally, he got something good.
But then he heard another notification:
{Reminder: It is advised for host not to try using this because host is too weak and will be crushed under the weight of the chain.}
His smile suddenly froze as he heard this.
"..."
Sigh...
At least he got something good.
He sighed again. It seemed he just had to rely on himself to climb the ladder. The system seemed to help, but not much.
Now that this thing is useless currently, he just had to wait for the Sect Master to recover her strength.
"System, how much time will it take for her to recover her strength?" he asked.
{She seems to have exhausted all of her Qi, and there are some abnormalities in her body.
She also seems to be affected by the poison of the Poison Lion King, though it is not fatal because of her strong body.
She could probably recover in about a month. Currently, she is just a normal woman, though her strength is still far superior to host's without her Qi.}
He sighed, looking at her lying peacefully on his lap. "What a crime," he muttered.
An hour passed as Yun Xiu's eyes fluttered open. She remembered falling from the sky after exhausting all her Qi in that attack and being fortunately caught by Hun Yu.
She looked up and noticed Hun Yu's smiling face. With a sudden realization, she felt her head was resting on his lap.
Shame and anger appeared on her face as she tried to sit up, but her body was not willing to move.
"Can you put my head down?" she asked in an embarrassed tone.
"No, the surface is rocky and hard. It will not be good for Miss Yun," he said.
Hearing this, she had no words. She just closed her eyes and continued to lie down, but then she remembered and spoke urgently.
"Where is that herb?" she asked. That's the only reason they came here.
He picked up the box nearby, opened it, and inside was a leaf shining with a blue light. Seeing it, she felt relieved and at peace. She closed her eyes, not saying anything more.
Hun Yu, sitting silently, looked at his bag nearby. He had some items for eating that could probably sustain them for about a week. That's good for now.
He did not disturb her as he also closed his eyes. What to do after she recovers? Should they go and hunt that Poison Lion King? Though it might be injured, killing it would be very hard for Yun Xiu.
Maybe he could give her the chain he received? No, she would ask him where he got it from, and he couldn't reveal its origin because it was his little secret.
Another three to four hours passed, and as she slowly opened her eyes, she said, "Help me sit down."
Embarrassment was obvious in her tone. She, the Sect Master of Sky Wind Sect, one of the powerhouses of the Empire, had to ask someone to help her sit? If this got out, her prestige would be ruined.
And now, she was so vulnerable. Anything could happen...
Hun Yu heard her request and did as she asked, helping her sit with the support of the wall. Just as he wanted to stand up, he felt his legs were totally numb.
He tried to stand slowly, but it looked extremely awkward.
Yun Xiu looked at his weird posture, surprised. Did he not move his legs to not disturb my sleep? She was quite touched.
As she was sitting, a growl escaped from her stomach. Her face instantly turned red. She had never suffered so much embarrassment in her entire life.
Hun Yu heard this and smiled. He stood up, took out some fruits from his bag, and handed them to her. She accepted, but there was a noticeable hint of embarrassment on her face.
Soon she finished. "Give me that box," she told Hun Yu, her gaze fixated on the box containing the herb.
He bent down, picked up the box, and handed it to her. She tried to open it, but there seemed to be no strength in her hands. In the end, she had to ask him for help.
Taking the box, he opened it and handed it back to her. She gazed at the herb, looking like a leaf, contained inside the box.
Closing the box, she said, "I will consume this herb tomorrow." Hun Yu nodded; he had no problem with her having the herb. To him, being her assistant was worth more than this. If he could gain her trust by this, it would be beneficial for the future.
Yun Xiu looked at the box of the herb. She knew it must be consumed within seven days after being harvested; the longer she waited, the worse the results would be.
Though she wanted to consume it at that moment, she couldn't even stand or sit properly. It would not be a wise choice to consume it now.
There was no wood for fire, only the shiny crystals on the walls that were the main source of light in the cave.
The crystals shone with light because of Qi; usually, in places like caves, some special kinds of crystals stored Qi inside them and emitted light using Qi as fuel.
He shook his head and slowly sat near her.
"Miss Yun, if it's not rude, can I ask you a question?" he asked.
Hearing his words, she turned her head towards him. After some movement, she nodded her head in approval.
"Why do you live in seclusion in a small house in a forest? With your strength, you could easily enjoy the best life ," he asked.
He was always curious about her mindset and her reasons for cultivating so much.
Yun Xiu heard his question and pondered whether to tell him or not, but seeing that during this whole time Hun Yu had never done anything unfavorable to her, she decided telling this much would be fine.
"Hmm, you should be aware that I am the Sect Master of Sky Wind Sect."
"You ask why I live in seclusion?" He nodded.
"To focus on cultivation with a peace of mind. You know that the Imperial Family sees Sky Wind Sect as a threat because we do not listen to the empire.
Sky Wind is a free sect; it doesn't need to listen to any empire. They fear if we collide with the neighboring empire to attack, they will be at a disadvantage.
Though the Imperial Family has three High Lord Profound Cultivators and the guardian of the Imperial Family is very strong, much stronger than me, he should be around rank 7-8 in the realm of High Lord Profound. And where I am, only rank 3."
"To protect the sect, to protect the innocent disciples of the sect, it is important for me to be strong. That is the reason," she finished her explanation with a composed expression and closed her eyes.