"I'm still alive?"
Confusion dominated Yue Ling's awakening consciousness. Her final memories involved inevitable death—secret technique backlash in hostile wilderness where any passing beast could finish her helpless form.
Yet awareness suggested survival.
"Could one of my guards have escaped somehow?"
The thought dissolved instantly upon rational consideration. Top-level fierce beasts didn't leave survivors among Great Martial Artist formations. Mathematical certainty guaranteed their annihilation.
Darkness surrounded her position, but enhanced senses detected human presence nearby.
"You're awake."
The slightly immature voice triggered immediate recognition despite visual limitations.
"Ye Tian? You rescued me?"
She attempted to rise but managed only partial sitting position—her body remained devastatingly weak from technique backlash.
"I discovered you collapsed and carried you to this cave for shelter."
His casual tone masked what represented extraordinary personal risk. Approaching someone fleeing top-level fierce beast encounters could have meant death for any rational person.
"Thank you for saving my life."
Genuine gratitude colored every syllable. Few people would risk exposure in such circumstances.
"Merely fortunate timing. Nothing more."
Ye Tian's humble response concealed the internal debate that had preceded his rescue decision. Abandoning her would have provided access to whatever treasures she carried—possibly more valuable than his planned lighthouse jellyfish hunt.
But such behavior violated his moral principles.
Moreover, Yue Ling's character had proven admirable during their brief Wu Pavilion interaction. No vindictive reaction to his membership refusal, no aristocratic arrogance typical of major base nobility.
If she'd possessed Mo Shaobei's personality, abandonment—or active harm—would have been effortless.
Technological Revelation
Soft illumination suddenly filled the cave as Yue Ling activated something in her palm. A stone that functioned like an artificial light source, banishing darkness with steady radiance.
"What is that?"
Surprise flooded his consciousness. He'd carried her unconscious form for substantial distances without detecting any such object.
"Light stone. Stores illumination energy for later release. Extremely rare—even major bases possess limited quantities."
Her explanation carried casual indifference to what seemed miraculous technology. She seemed willing to share the device if he showed interest, treating it as useful but not particularly valuable.
More shocking was her next action.
A healing potion materialized in her hand from apparent nothingness.
"Impossible. Matter cannot be created from void."
But evidence contradicted logic—she'd definitely produced the container from empty air.
"You haven't encountered storage equipment before. These bags are crafted from space kangaroo dimensional pockets, refined by space-talented martial artists into practical storage solutions."
Storage bags. Dimensional space manipulation.
"Space kangaroos?"
His curiosity demanded explanation for such impossible creatures.
"High-level fierce beasts with spatial manipulation abilities. Incredibly fast, tremendously strong, highly intelligent—among the most difficult prey for hunting expeditions. Their natural dimensional pockets can store vast quantities within compressed space."
She consumed the healing liquid in a single swallow, then settled back to await recovery effects.
The potion's quality exceeded anything he'd witnessed. His own Qingyuan Liquid—administered while she was unconscious—had merely stabilized her injuries. This substance regenerated flesh at visually observable rates.
"No wonder I lack knowledge. Small base limitations versus major settlement resources."
The technological gap was staggering.
Two Days of Education
Ye Tian remained with Yue Ling during her recovery period—partially from protective instincts, partially from educational opportunity. Abandoning her for lighthouse jellyfish hunting would be both callous and premature.
Her casual conversations revealed world-shattering information.
"Power levels beyond Great Martial Artist exist."
In Linhai Base, Great Martial Artists represented absolute pinnacle achievement. One or two existed publicly, perhaps double digits including hidden practitioners.
But major bases treated Great Martial Artists as middle-tier combatants.
"Grandmaster-level martial artists."
The tier above Great Martial Artist could annihilate multiple Great-level opponents simultaneously. More incredible still: Grandmaster lifespan reached two hundred years.
Two centuries of life.
The revelation struck him like physical impact. Transcending human limitations through martial cultivation—not merely strength, but fundamental biological constraints.
"New objective confirmed: achieve Grandmaster status."
Unfortunately, advancement probability remained devastating even for superior genetics. Advanced cultivation talents possessed less than ten percent Grandmaster breakthrough chances. Only legendary cultivation grades achieved higher success rates.
Departure Gift
"I'm returning to my major base assignment."
After her injuries stabilized, Yue Ling announced immediate departure.
"Travel safely."
Before he could offer additional assistance, she tossed him a wrapped package.
"These items should prove useful for your development."
She vanished with supernatural velocity before he could refuse or reciprocate—Elite Martial Artist speed that rendered pursuit impossible.
Opening the package revealed contents that paralyzed his nervous system.
Intermediate Yuan Force Forging Body Method. Ten high-grade fierce beast blood vials. Ten gold cards.
"Ten million yuan in currency plus resources worth exponentially more."
The Intermediate cultivation method was priceless—major Linhai Base families might not possess such techniques, and ordinary warriors couldn't acquire them regardless of wealth.
Combined with premium beast blood, the package guaranteed Elite Martial Artist advancement within three months rather than years of grinding effort.
Strategic Revision
"Return to Lake of Death postponed."
His original plan required immediate reconsideration. Yue Ling's expedition had triggered massive territorial disruption—fierce beasts would maintain heightened alertness for extended periods. Approaching now was suicidal regardless of his capabilities.
Three months should allow situation normalization. More importantly, Elite Martial Artist status would provide survival margins that his current early-stage classification couldn't guarantee.
The lighthouse jellyfish would wait.
Time to transform these gifts into permanent advancement.
Journey Home
As he prepared for base return, satisfaction warmed his chest like liquid sunlight. Moral behavior had generated extraordinary rewards through pure coincidence.
Yue Ling's gratitude had provided resources that would compress years of development into months of intensive cultivation.
And somewhere in the distant future, when his strength reached appropriate levels, the Lake of Death would yield its regenerative secrets.
Strategic patience was its own form of power.
[End of Chapter 23]