Hearing those words, Qin Shu's expression **immediately stiffened**.

"Even if you die, **I won't!**" she gritted her teeth and snapped back.

Xie Shiyuan **nodded slightly**, his tone casual—

"That's true. **Disasters tend to live a thousand years.**"

Qin Shu: **"???"**

Do snakes **not have any shame**?

Did he even have **a basic sense of self-awareness**?

How could he **so shamelessly** say something like that?

"Who exactly is the disaster here?!" Qin Shu glared at him. "Do you **really** not know?"

Xie Shiyuan **raised an eyebrow**, unconcerned—

"I don't. **I only know that a certain little child swallowed my core.**"

Qin Shu was **so furious she stomped her foot**.

"Then **hurry up and take your core back** and leave this place!"

Xie Shiyuan glanced at her, then responded **with an indifferent hum**.

His voice was so soft **Qin Shu almost thought she imagined it**—

Until he spoke again.

"**It is time to leave.**"

"But the core cannot be retrieved for now—**so I'll leave it with you.**"

Qin Shu **froze**.

"You're **not even taking your core**?"

Xie Shiyuan's gaze swept over her **with a hint of cold amusement**.

"Do you think **I don't want to?**"

Qin Shu didn't miss the trace of **resentment** in his voice.

After a moment of silence, she sighed—

"Fine. Just leave it there for now. But **when you recover, you'd better come back and take it.**"

"This thing has **brought me nothing but trouble.**"

With that, Qin Shu **took out two bottles of Five Elements Blood Coagulation Pills** and handed them over.

"I exchanged the core **for these two bottles of pills** from the Nirvana Pavilion."

Then, she pulled out **a jade transmission slip** and handed it to him.

"This is a **transmission jade slip**. I also bought one for you. **Drip your blood on it, and you'll be able to use it.**"

After handing him everything, Qin Shu **turned around** and headed toward the **training hall**.

"When you leave, **remember to close the door!**"

"I'm going to train!"

Xie Shiyuan **lowered his gaze** to the items in his hands, then looked toward **Qin Shu's departing figure**.

His eyes **darkened slightly**.

Among **demon beasts**, few ever practiced **alchemy**.

Even a **Third-Grade pill** like this would be **incredibly valuable among the demon clans**—yet she **just gave it to him?**

His **long, slender fingers** slowly traced the porcelain bottle as he **fell into thought**.

Humans were **selfish and cunning** by nature.

But **this little child...**

She seemed **a little different.**

His spiritual sense **lingered** on her for a moment.

Noticing the **new jade pendant around her neck**, he instantly recognized its function—

It **blocked the spiritual sense of anyone below Foundation Establishment**.

But the **spell he had placed on her** was even stronger—**it shielded her from detection by anyone below Golden Core mid-stage.**

**Completely unnecessary.**

Xie Shiyuan stood at the doorway **for a long while**.

Finally, after **one last glance** at Qin Shu, he **clutched the porcelain bottle**—

And **vanished.**

———

Qin Shu had been **paying attention** to his movements the entire time.

The moment he **completely left**, she **finally breathed a sigh of relief**.

A **snake that could avoid detection even under her master's watch**—

That meant he was **definitely someone dangerous**.

Having **such a being lurking nearby**—how could she ever **focus on training?**

**It was better this way.**

Tomorrow, she'd **go to the Scripture Pavilion** and find out more about **her physique**—

And more importantly—**how to remove his core**.

If the core **wasn't removed**, Xie Shiyuan would **come looking for her sooner or later**.

Although her cultivation had **stagnated** during her **six-month epiphany**, her **mental state** had advanced significantly.

Her future cultivation progress **would be much faster.**

———

As **moonlight bathed the courtyard**, Qin Shu **sat in deep meditation**, her mind fully focused.

Meanwhile, far from the sect's detection—

Xie Shiyuan **suddenly reappeared** in the courtyard.

He **lifted a hand**—a **single drop of crimson blood** falling onto the flower's petals.

The **already vibrant blood snake flower** deepened into an **almost purplish red.**

With a slight wave of his hand, the **trace of his aura on the flower vanished**.

He cast one **final glance** at the cave dwelling—

Then, with a flicker—

**He disappeared completely.**

From that moment on, **all traces of him vanished from Xuantian Sect.**

———

The next morning, as **the moon set**, Qin Shu finally **opened her eyes**.

Stretching lazily, she **cast a cleansing spell**, popped a **Fasting Pill** into her mouth, then **headed straight for the Scripture Pavilion**.

With her **current cultivation**, she could only **access the first floor**—

Hopefully, that would be **enough** to find what she needed.

The **Xuantian Sect Scripture Pavilion** housed an **enormous collection** of books.

The **first time she came**, she had accidentally stumbled upon a **Dual Cultivation Manual**—

And fled in **absolute horror**.

This time, she **didn't even go near that section**.

She made a **beeline** for the **general knowledge shelves**.

———

For **the next entire month**, Qin Shu followed a strict routine—

**Cultivating at night, studying during the day.**

But after **one month**, Senior Brother **Cheng Yan** noticed that Qin Shu **hadn't signed up for the sect's disciple trials**—

And **couldn't even find her**.

After **asking around**, he finally managed to get **a vague clue from He Xin**.

Tracking her down to the **Scripture Pavilion**, he was met with—

A small figure, **sitting cross-legged on the ground**, engrossed in a book—

Surrounded by **piles** of open scrolls.

A quick glance revealed the titles:

**《Annotated Human Anatomy》**

**《Thirty-One Questions About Human Dissection》**

**《How Powerful Are Innate Physiques?》**

Cheng Yan: **"......"**

"**Little Junior Sister.**"

Hearing someone **interrupt her train of thought**, Qin Shu frowned **in irritation**.

She **looked up in annoyance**—

Only to **pause for a second** when she recognized the person.

"Senior Brother?"

Cheng Yan **furrowed his brows**.

"We couldn't reach you. **The sect trials are about to start.**"

"Registration began **seven days ago**, and **today is the last day**. Are you not signing up?"

Qin Shu **had heard about it from He Xin before**.

Every year, new disciples who reached **Foundation Establishment Level 2** were allowed to **participate in the trials**.

**Trials—**

Weren't they basically **dungeons to loot?**

Every **Chosen One's journey** began **with a trial!**

She **didn't need to become a Chosen One**—

But **grabbing some rare treasures** wouldn't be too much, right?

Without hesitation, Qin Shu **snapped her book shut** and leapt to her feet.

"Sign up! **Sign me up!**"

Cheng Yan **raised his hand**—a **scroll appearing in his palm**.

He unrolled it, pulled out a brush, and **wrote Qin Shu's name on the list.**

Qin Shu **beamed at him**.

"Thank you, Senior Brother! **Sorry for making you come all this way.**"

Cheng Yan nodded.

"Hmm. **How do you plan to thank me?**"

Wen Chi had already **bragged endlessly** about how **Qin Shu had taken on his sixty-year debt.**

Now, Cheng Yan **felt unbalanced**.

Why hadn't **she taken his?**

Qin Shu **blinked**, then thought for a moment—

"How about... **I treat you to a meal?**"

"**A meal?**" Cheng Yan was stunned.

At **one hundred and thirty-seven years old**, he hadn't **eaten** since joining the sect at age seven.

Qin Shu **nodded enthusiastically**.

"Yes! **A meal!**"

"Let's go to my mountain, have **a barbecue**, drink **