BTTH : From the beginning of the battle to the top

More than a month later.

In a forest outside Qingshan Town, Qinglin was sitting cross-legged on a mat under an ancient tree, forming seals with her hands as she practiced. Wisps of pale white energy flowed from the air and continuously surged into her body.

Not far away, Linyuan leaned against the ancient tree, gently flipping through an ancient book in his hands. He used his soul power to block out the surrounding noise, while also sensing the area to prevent any disturbances from interrupting Qinglin's breakthrough. The opportunity to break through the bottleneck of the late stage of Dou Qi was quite rare.

Suddenly, Linyuan turned his gaze towards the northwest direction, where a second-tier black-patterned leopard was approaching from hundreds of meters away. Linyuan's eyes narrowed, and an invisible wave of soul energy was sent out towards the northwest. Upon encountering this wave, the black-patterned leopard was startled and jumped up as if it had seen something terrifying ahead, then it turned and fled in the opposite direction at high speed.

Linyuan withdrew his gaze, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes. His research on using soul power to simulate the illusions created by the Bi Snake's Three Flower Eyes had finally yielded some results, though it was still somewhat impractical, only effective when there was a significant difference in soul power. In battles of the same realm, it was basically useless. In contrast, his research on countering illusions had been quite fruitful.

"Time, oh time, what I lack the most is time."

Sensing a change in the aura ahead, Linyuan looked at Qinglin and nodded slightly. "It seems you're about to break through."

On the mat, as Dou Qi continuously flowed in, the mysterious green energy within Qinglin was also nurturing her body. As the last wisp of Dou Qi surged into her, a radiant glow like beautiful jade emanated from her face, and her aura stabilized completely.

She had successfully reached the ninth stage of Dou Qi.

"Young Master, Young Master, I have broken through to the ninth stage of Dou Qi!" Qinglin opened her eyes and ran to Linyuan's side, excitedly exclaiming.

"Yes, our Qing'er is indeed outstanding. You'll soon become a fighter," Linyuan said, patting Qinglin's little head, feeling a greater appreciation for the Bi Snake's Three Flower Eyes.

While ordinary people needed years to break through from the eighth to the ninth stage of Dou Qi, Qinglin had done it in less than a month for each stage, and her foundation was very solid. After awakening the Bi Snake's Three Flower Eyes, the energy that continuously nourished her body had laid a very strong foundation for her.

"Hehe!"

"Today's training ends here. Young Master will take you to a beautiful place in the Beast Mountain Range. The scenery is lovely, and your little healer sister will be there too. Today, I'll cook a delicious meal for you."

"Really? That's great! I can see little healer sister again."

Qinglin was a bit happy. A month ago, when the little healer visited her home, they got to know each other. They had met a few times since, and they hit it off. The little healer was very fond of the seemingly delicate Qinglin and taught her many dressing and grooming tips. Qinglin admired the beautiful, kind, wise, and mature older sister, seeing her as the embodiment of a perfect woman.

"By the way, this is for you. It's a return gift for the robe. I really like this robe you made, Qing'er." Linyuan took out a carefully selected bracelet and handed it to Qinglin. It was exquisitely crafted, with a small bell that produced a pleasant sound when shaken.

Qinglin accepted the bracelet and looked at Linyuan's well-fitted blue robe, revealing a silly smile. She had sewn this robe for him by hand during her training.

"Thank you, Young Master." It was unclear whether she was thanking him for the bracelet or the robe.

"Let's go." With that, Linyuan stepped towards the direction of the Beast Mountain Range.

"But, Young Master, isn't it very far from here to the Beast Mountain Range? Shouldn't we fly directly there?" Qinglin asked, puzzled.

Linyuan looked into the distance and sighed lightly. "Let's take a walk first. We'll go over later, giving your little healer sister some time. She must be feeling quite anxious today!"

Deep within the basin of the Beast Mountain Range, there was a valley completely isolated from the outside world, shrouded in thick fog, making it very concealed. The only way for outsiders to enter was by flying.

Inside the valley, energy was abundant, and various rare medicinal herbs grew, filling the air with the fragrance of medicine, resembling a paradise.

At this moment, the little healer was sitting on a patch of grass in the valley, with the "Seven-Colored Poison Classic" spread across her lap. In her hand, she held a small jade bottle filled with a purplish-red liquid, gazing dreamily at it. This was a poison concocted based on the "Seven-Colored Poison Classic," and it was the key to unlocking her cursed poison body.

At this moment, her body's instincts were calling her to drink the liquid before her, yet her heart was still struggling. Drinking this liquid would be a path of no return.

The little healer recalled the events of the past few days: the mundane trivialities, Mr. Yao's flattery and schemes, the young leader of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group's covetous gaze, and so on. She had gradually lost patience with the way she used to handle things smoothly.

Ever since she learned that she possessed the cursed poison body, her mindset had unknowingly changed. Even if she forced herself to live according to her previous rhythm, her heart was constantly questioning whether she was wasting her time. Especially when she realized that the seemingly delicate Qinglin also had a special constitution and was making rapid progress on her cultivation path, this inner questioning intensified.

The events from half a month ago made her realize how fragile ordinary days without power could be. If it weren't for Linyuan's intervention, she didn't know what situation she would be in right now.

She gradually came to understand one thing: having beauty but not wanting to be a plaything for others meant she was destined to be far from an ordinary life. Deep down, she yearned for the strength that Linyuan had once shown her.

Since learning about her cursed poison body, whether it was a physical or psychological effect, the little healer now saw poisons as tempting delicacies.

"Is this what Linyuan meant by 'with a sharp blade in hand, the killing intent arises'? Since I learned about my cursed poison body, I have already embarked on a path of no return."

"Since I can't turn back, then I should face it boldly. Compared to the predecessors recorded in the Poison Classic, at least I still have a friend, right?"

"As Linyuan said, this continent is full of extraordinary people and events; there may be a solution to the cursed poison body."

Countless complex emotions ultimately transformed into determination. The little healer steeled her heart, opened the bottle, and drank the purplish-red liquid in one gulp. As the poison's effects began to take hold, she fainted and collapsed to the ground. A strange power slowly awakened within her, and the seven-colored hidden lines in her lower abdomen began to glow and grow slowly.

The cursed poison body awakened.

Thank you all for your support. Tomorrow, my book will be recommended for the first time. Please don't just let it sit; keep reading. This is crucial for the future recommendations and is a key period for the book's success. I appreciate everyone's help.

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(End of Chapter)