Although after the Ancient Martial Arts Conference, Ye Kong had entered the realm of Half-Step Prenatal, he was far from satisfied at that time. He attempted to break through to the Prenatal Realm, but as expected, the result was not promising…
His attempt to ascend to the Prenatal Realm failed, and the consequence left serious aftereffects. It would likely pose a major obstacle for him to ever reach the Prenatal Realm in the future.
However, the appearance of the Tian Zang Flower gave Ye Kong a glimmer of hope. This rare treasure could not only smooth out the obstacles on his cultivation path but also completely eliminate those aftereffects. To say that he wasn’t tempted would be a lie.
Yet Ye Kong understood that Xiao Yufan had no reason to hand over even a single petal of the Tian Zang Flower to an outsider like him.
If the Tian Zang Flower could be measured in terms of value, Ye Kong might have considered asking for it. However, a petal of the Tian Zang Flower was an invaluable divine treasure in the outside world—there was absolutely no way to obtain it for any price. What could he possibly offer in exchange?
Their relationship was already somewhat awkward. If Ye Kong were to swallow his pride and ask, he knew he simply couldn’t do it. More importantly, even if he did ask, there was no guarantee he would receive it.
As a young expert from Qing Ling Palace, Ye Kong had his own pride. However, watching others’ strength continuously rise while he remained stagnant was a torment to him. Even if he managed to enter the Prenatal Realm one day, it would greatly affect his mindset.
Once his mindset changed, it could easily evolve into a heart demon, potentially trapping him in this realm for the rest of his life. For Ye Kong, this would be more agonizing than death itself.
“You… have you attempted to break through to the Prenatal Realm before, and failed!”
Just as Ye Kong was lost in thought and his heart demon began to sprout, Xiao Yufan’s voice reached his ears. That single sentence alone caused his body to tremble involuntarily.
“This should be something very few people know about. How did you figure it out?” Ye Kong turned to face Xiao Yufan’s gaze, asking with evident confusion.
“A Half-Step Prenatal expert wouldn’t walk with such unstable steps after traveling a long distance. Moreover, your aura fluctuates unpredictably, which means you’ve already encountered the bottleneck of the Prenatal Realm, yet failed to breakthrough,” Xiao Yufan explained.
When Xiao Yufan glanced back earlier, he noticed Ye Kong’s subtle gaze. Combined with his observations of Ye Kong over the past few days, he quickly reached this conclusion.
“That’s indeed the case. However, how could such a minor threshold as the Prenatal Realm possibly stop me? One day, I will surely ascend to the peak of martial cultivation!”
Xiao Yufan’s words ignited Ye Kong’s competitive spirit, causing his voice to rise instinctively. His pride would never allow him to yield on his cultivation path, and he firmly believed that he would eventually reach the pinnacle of martial arts.
“I never said this small threshold could stop you. One day, you will definitely step into the Prenatal Realm. But wouldn’t it be better if you had a little extra help along the way?”
In Xiao Yufan’s heart, he had no significant conflict with Ye Kong. Although this man could be considered his romantic rival, he was straightforward and genuine. Now that they were on the same team, enhancing Ye Kong’s strength would benefit him without any drawbacks.
Moreover, even if Ye Kong did reach the Prenatal Realm, he wouldn’t pose any threat to Xiao Yufan. After all, there was still a significant gap even among Prenatal experts.
“What do you mean?”
For a moment, Ye Kong didn’t catch on, his expression showing confusion. However, as he looked at the Tian Zang Flower, he seemed to understand somewhat, though he still felt doubtful.
“This petal of the Tian Zang Flower holds extraordinary effects for experts at the Half-Step Prenatal stage. Even if you suffered aftereffects from your previous failed attempt to break through to the Prenatal Realm, the Tian Zang Flower should be able to completely heal them and pave the way for your future cultivation!”
A faint smile appeared on Xiao Yufan’s lips. Although he was reluctant to part with the Tian Zang Flower, good things should be used where they’re most needed.
Giving Ye Kong a petal of the Tian Zang Flower would not only earn him gratitude but also enhance the overall strength of the team. It was a win-win situation, so Xiao Yufan was willing to make the sacrifice.
“You’re really giving me a petal of the Tian Zang Flower?”
Even someone as dense as Ye Kong could sense the implication in Xiao Yufan’s words. His eyes lit up with surprise and joy. He felt as if happiness had come too suddenly.
“Although the Tian Zang Flower is extremely valuable, it should be used where it’s needed most. You’ve already stepped halfway into the Prenatal Realm. Giving you the Tian Zang Flower to cultivate into a young Prenatal expert would certainly not waste its power!”
With that, Xiao Yufan casually plucked a petal from the Tian Zang Flower and handed it over. Ye Kong hesitated for a moment before finally accepting it, for the temptation was simply irresistible.
Seeing this scene, Xie Yuan and the others had their mouths wide open in shock. They had also coveted the Tian Zang Flower, but knowing how invaluable it was, none of them dared to ask. Yet Xiao Yufan actually gave it to Ye Kong, leaving them utterly astonished.
Everyone knew that there was some tension between Ye Kong and Xiao Yufan. Xiao Yufan had absolutely no reason to hand such a precious item to an outsider.
“Now we’re on the same team. You’ve seen for yourselves that even in the outer regions of this valley, there are such ferocious beasts. Once we enter the central area, there will likely be more dangers. The more people we have reaching the Prenatal Realm, the safer we will be.”
The group’s surprise was exactly what Xiao Yufan had anticipated. Indeed, giving away such a treasure caused him pain. If others weren’t affected by this, that would truly be strange.
“There’s no need to thank me for such a great favor. I will remember this today…”
Though surprised, Ye Kong accepted the petal without hesitation. It was like receiving a favor from Xiao Yufan, and he would repay it someday. Right now, he desperately needed the Tian Zang Flower.
“Being able to owe a favor from a young expert of Qing Ling Palace, this petal of the Tian Zang Flower wasn’t a total loss…”
Xiao Yufan smiled with a slight pang of regret. This one petal of the Tian Zang Flower in exchange for a favor—somehow, he felt like he had lost out badly.
On the contrary, Cheng Ying remained calm, as if she had anticipated Xiao Yufan’s actions all along. It was undeniable that this man’s heart and temperament were even better than she had imagined. At the very least, in this matter, he not only eased the tension between himself and Ye Kong but also won the hearts of the team.
Undoubtedly, Xie Yuan and the others now had even more confidence in Xiao Yufan’s role within the team. A person who could see the bigger picture was truly worthy of their respect.
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