Chapter 43: Jasmine Becomes a Master (Part 1)

Bang!!

Without any energy fluctuations or prior warning, the moment Jasmine raised her right hand, Xiao Jiu's face suddenly contorted in extreme terror, as if he had just witnessed the most horrific hell. Then, with a terrifying explosion, his body… burst open.

His head, limbs, torso, and internal organs… were all instantly pulverized, erupting into a huge spray of blood. Scattered blood droplets splattered far and wide, staining the ground for several meters around in crimson.

Yun Che was utterly aghast.

Xiao Ba and Xiao Jiu, two super-strong guards from the Xiao Sect who served the Xiao Sect Master's son—one instantly torn apart, the other instantly exploded—had both been annihilated by Jasmine without even the slightest struggle. Perhaps they died without ever knowing how they were killed.

Their deaths were more gruesome than the last. Yun Che, having taken countless lives across two lifetimes, was long accustomed to gore and cruelty. When dealing with those he deeply hated, his methods could be exceedingly sinister. However, he had never once been as brutal as she had been in either of these two killings… More accurately, he simply didn't have the capability to be.

Who exactly was this red-haired girl who called herself "Jasmine"...?

"Ugh…" Jasmine suddenly let out a pained groan. Her small body crumpled to the ground, trembling uncontrollably.

With Xiao Ba a pile of mangled flesh and Xiao Jiu a pool of blood, Yun Che suddenly understood why she called herself "Blood-stained Jasmine." From her methods of killing, one could imagine how many people she had already killed, and how miserably those who died by her hand must have suffered. She was clearly just an undeveloped girl, yet her actions were those of a ruthless and terrifying grim reaper.

A chilling fear involuntarily rose within Yun Che. Watching her agony, Yun Che hesitated for a moment, then took two steps forward and said, "You could have killed him with very little power just now, yet you chose to make him die without an intact body… Your soul is currently infected with a strange poison; if you use profound energy, the poison will seize the opportunity to invade and devour your soul…"

"Awooo!" A long howl suddenly echoed behind Yun Che, and it was clearly very, very close… almost right beside his ear. Yun Che spun around quickly and saw, less than twenty steps to his right, a fully grown gray wolf had appeared, glaring at him with fierce eyes.

A wild wolf!! Yun Che's heart pounded in alarm… This was the edge of town; how could a wild wolf be here?! Although it was clearly just an ordinary beast, it was still a wolf and shouldn't be in this area at all.

Wait… the wind was picking up, and Xiao Ba's brutal dismemberment earlier meant his blood's scent would be carried far by the wind… It was indeed highly possible that it attracted bloodthirsty profound beasts!

The suddenly appearing wolf didn't give Yun Che much time to react or think. With a low growl, it charged straight ahead, leaping violently when it was seven steps away, pouncing directly at Yun Che. Its sharp, gleaming claws were capable of tearing his body apart.

Yun Che's earlier words were absolutely correct. To enter the Sky Poison Pearl, Jasmine had absorbed Yun Che's blood, attaching her life to his. Therefore, Yun Che's life had become hers. If Yun Che died, she would also die; even if she survived, without the Sky Poison Pearl, the poison would erupt within her, scattering her soul in a short time.

So, seeing the wild wolf pounce on Yun Che, a murderous glint flashed in Jasmine's eyes. Violent profound energy instantly condensed in her hands… But the moment the profound energy surged, she felt as if pierced by a thousand arrows, her body stiffening. She let out an agonizing groan. The profound energy she had just gathered instantly dissipated. Her entire body convulsed in pain, and her form suddenly flickered, becoming clear then blurry, like a phantom…

Her first strike, which annihilated Xiao Ba, caused a powerful backlash from the God Slaying Absolute Soul Poison. When she used profound energy a second time to kill Xiao Jiu, the backlash intensified severalfold. Now, using profound energy once more, the virulent poison throughout her body surged in like an awakened viper, furiously devouring her soul. Not only could she not attack the wolf, but she couldn't even stand steadily. Her semi-illusory body faced the possibility of dissipating under the poison's assault.

"Don't use profound energy!!" Seeing Jasmine's body flicker in and out of sight, Yun Che frowned and roared. Meanwhile, the wolf had already pounced, its blade-like fangs drawing ever closer in his vision…

Rip!!

The clothes on his right shoulder were viciously torn, barely missing his skin. Yun Che, who had narrowly dodged by lunging to the right, didn't wait to stand up. He forcefully flung his tightly clenched right hand toward the gray wolf, and the powder he had originally prepared for Xiao Ba accurately landed on the wolf's head the moment it hit the ground.

The wolf immediately let out a piteous shriek, collapsing as it howled. Its two paws frantically clawed at its own eyes. Yun Che scrambled to his feet at top speed, swiftly picking up the short blade Jasmine had previously dropped. He gritted his teeth and counter-attacked the wolf, plunging the dagger in his hand with all his might towards the wolf's throat.

Although a wild wolf was an ordinary beast, its hide, flesh, and bones were very sturdy. A full-force stab from an ordinary person, if it hit the throat bone, would only injure the skin and bone, not take its life; instead, it would thoroughly enrage the beast. Yun Che's short blade descended with extreme speed, its target locked precisely in his focused gaze… The short blade precisely pierced through the gap in the wolf's throat bone, severing its windpipe.

The wolf's cries instantly became mournful and weak. Its entire body convulsed wildly, then collapsed to the ground, utterly silent.

"Huuu…" Yun Che let out a long breath, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead. Although his power was currently meager and his body frail, at least his combat awareness and eyesight remained sharp. However, for someone who once looked down on the world, to face such peril against a mere ordinary wolf now, made him let out a bitter smile.

Jasmine's body was still flickering. She was curled up on the ground like an injured kitten, her expression one of extreme agony. After catching his breath, Yun Che got up and went to her side. He placed his left hand on her shoulder, and the Sky Poison Pearl's purification ability rapidly released, suppressing the virulent poison that raged wildly in her body and soul.

The God Slaying Absolute Soul Poison… What kind of poison was this?! It almost killed this girl who possessed such terrifying strength.

The pained expression on Jasmine's small face finally eased slightly, but her body still alternated between clear and blurry, and the frequency of the alternation was increasing, clearly a sign of impending dissipation… Just then, Jasmine suddenly lifted her face, reaching out and grabbing Yun Che's right wrist. Her tender lips parted, and her pearly white teeth bit down hard on his index finger.

The sharp pain from his finger twisted Yun Che's face. He felt his finger being pierced by sharp teeth, and the seeping blood droplets were all sucked into Jasmine's mouth. Compared to the fear he felt the first time she drew his blood, Yun Che was much calmer this time and didn't struggle, letting her bite his finger. A warm, soft little tongue pressed firmly against his fingertip, giving him a peculiar, indescribable sensation amidst the sharp pain…

As droplets of blood were absorbed into Jasmine's mouth, the frequency of her body's flickering began to slow down, finally ceasing entirely after half a minute. Jasmine removed her teeth from his finger. Although her face was still pale, she was at least no longer in pain.

Yun Che took a step back, looking at the teeth marks on his right index finger, which were still oozing blood. He drew a sharp breath and said, "Are you… a puppy? You bite me every time we meet!"

Jasmine extended her small hand, lightly wiping the corner of her mouth, a lingering fear still visible on her childish face. She gritted her teeth slightly, furrowing her slender brows, and said coldly, "It's because you're useless! Otherwise, how could this princess be forced into such a state!"

"I'm useless?" Yun Che gave a self-deprecating laugh. "Heh, compared to you, I am indeed useless. A common wild wolf could easily take my life. If you hadn't saved me twice, I'd already be dead by the hands of those two men you just killed… However, no matter how useless I am, I have saved you twice. That night, if you hadn't encountered me, you would have already died from the poison. Just now, if I had abandoned you, this dangerous little sister, and left, you might have already had your soul scattered. While calling me useless, did it ever cross your mind to thank me?"

Jasmine remained silent.

"You were incredibly lucky to encounter the Sky Poison Pearl while on the verge of death. However, your luck has clearly run out here. My profound veins are crippled; if I don't repair them, I'll be stuck at the first level of the Elementary Profound Realm for life. You're poisoned and can't freely use your power. Relying solely on my own strength, any slightly greater danger could instantly kill me, and I'd drag you down with me." Yun Che said indifferently, holding his finger, which had finally stopped bleeding.

Jasmine still didn't speak, but her eyes constantly shifted, as if she were hesitating and struggling with something.

"But don't worry, I'll strive to find a way to repair my profound veins… No! I must find one! Until then, I'll make sure to preserve my life well." Yun Che said, his expression calm and resolute. In his mind, the figures of Xiao Lie and Xiao Lingxi reappeared. For their sake, no matter how arduous this path would undoubtedly be, he would walk it with all his might and at the fastest possible pace.

"Repair profound veins?" A hint of disdain appeared on the girl's face. "I've examined your profound veins. They weren't damaged by external force recently; they suffered a severe blow when you were very young, before they had even fully formed, and were ruined at their very roots. Your current profound veins are utterly worthless! There is indeed a method to forcibly repair this condition, but after restoration, opening three profound entrances will be your absolute limit! Furthermore, you missed the most crucial foundational period for elementary profound energy before the age of fourteen. In your current state, you won't even be able to break through the Elementary Profound Realm within ten years! And throughout your entire life, you'll never be able to break into the True Profound Realm… You'll still be a useless cripple!"

Jasmine's words made Yun Che's expression stiffen abruptly, and his hands clenched involuntarily. Jasmine's words had hit him hard with the cruel truth he had been deliberately avoiding… Because, as she said, his profound veins were fundamentally crippled. Even with the methods he knew, only a small portion could be repaired, leaving his profound veins still half-crippled. Furthermore, he had missed the most critical foundational period, meaning his profound energy cultivation speed would be several times slower than others', and… it would be almost impossible for him to break through to the True Profound Realm.

Yun Che's chest heaved heavily. He gritted his teeth and said, "I'll find a way for all of this!"

"Do you intend to gather various medicinal herbs and use the Sky Poison Pearl to refine pills for forced advancement? That certainly seems like a good idea. But with your laughable abilities, how will you obtain those high-grade medicinal ingredients?! Instead, you'll frequently fall into potentially irrecoverable situations, dragging this princess to die alongside you!"

Jasmine lifted her face, her gaze clear, as if she had finally made a decision. "Put away your ridiculous ideas. You saved this princess's life, and this princess certainly should repay you… You only need to agree to three conditions, and then this princess will immediately grant you a… new profound vein…"

Under Yun Che's astonished gaze, Jasmine's eyes became deep and mysterious, and her voice gradually lowered. "A profound vein, truly imbued with divine power!"