C5 Divine Plant Pill Sect

Lei Yan and the girl in front of him listened intently to the conversation, but as it ended, the girl's eyes and complexion betrayed her terror and fear.

"Big brother, a few days ago in the rapeseed field, I saw you awaken your Human Soul. Could you, on behalf of our village, work with Cultivator Lu at the Divine Plant Pill Sect? If not, they'll take all our food and money."

In a state of panic, the girl lost control and ran to Lei Yan's bedside, crouching down and clutching his fist.

She had encountered Cultivator Lu before, and his repulsive appearance was the least of her concerns. He was known for bullying villagers and harassing women. The thought of marrying such a man was unbearable to her as a young woman.

"Big brother?"

The term "big brother" momentarily transported Lei Yan back to modern times, until the girl's subsequent words reminded him of his current reality.

Wait, she mentioned he had awakened his Human Soul?

This piqued Lei Yan's interest, but the girl's plight quickly sobered him. The Divine Plant Pill Sect, an alchemy faction, wasn't the largest, but it was respectable. The prospect of access to numerous Medicine Pills, possibly even one to repair the Sinew Power Orb, was enticing. Joining could be advantageous, especially since he was a fugitive from the Great Qian Dynasty. Hiding within a sect could offer a fresh start in his cultivation, making it harder for him to be found.

Seeing Lei Yan's silence, the girl pressed his fist against her chest and whispered, "If you're willing, I would gladly be yours."

Her offer wasn't just to avoid marriage to Cultivator Lu; since meeting Lei Yan the day before, she was drawn to his unique, commanding presence, which left her helplessly enamored with the mysterious man.

The touch of her softness sent shivers through Lei Yan, leaving him in a daze.

The rush of sensation was unexpectedly delightful. Despite his stupor, Lei Yan's thoughts raced. His body was riddled with toxins, concentrated at the Guan Yuan Acupuncture Point, necessitating intimate contact to purge them. The arrival of such a beautiful girl couldn't have been more timely.

When the poison took effect, it could be purged from the body.

Lei Yan snapped to attention, his resolve firm. As his focus returned, he noticed the girl before him gazing at him with hopeful eyes. He quickly reassured her, "Miss, rest assured, I will not let you marry that despicable man lurking outside."

The girl watched the stranger with a mix of worry and anticipation. His righteous indignation and his vow not to let her marry Cultivator Lu warmed her heart, and she smiled warmly in response.

Overwhelmed by emotion, she boldly leaned in and planted a kiss on Lei Yan's lips. Then, with a shy tuck of her neck, she lowered her head and nestled into his embrace like a timid kitten.

'Damn, are the women on this continent always this forward?'

"Since I've agreed to be your woman, I should be proactive. I can't just let you toil away at the Divine Plant Pill Sect for nothing," she said, glancing at Lei Yan's face with a hint of concern that he might find her too forward.

Lei Yan embraced her willingly, placing his hand on her head and gently stroking her hair.

"Don't worry. I won't always be laboring at the Divine Plant Pill Sect. I'm determined to achieve great things and free our village from their tyranny."

The thought of the Divine Plant Pill Sect filled Lei Yan with eagerness. The sect's unique method of refining medicine pills using plants and vegetation was renowned for its minimal side effects, earning it high regard within the Great Qian Dynasty as a benevolent institution.

The girl had unwavering faith in this man's potential, trusting Lei Yan's words completely. Since meeting him the day before, she sensed something special about him.

Outside, Soul Cultivator Lu was persistently sweet-talking Village Head Hao, promising that marrying off his daughter would rid him of future troubles and ensure everything was taken care of.

Village Head Hao sat silently, his head bowed, his expression one of reluctance.

"Come on, why be so obstinate? I've told you, if you give your daughter to me, I'll take care of everything. You'll be free from any hassles. Isn't that a good deal?" Soul Cultivator Lu, growing impatient, slapped Village Head Hao's shoulder, making him shudder.

Village Head Hao looked up at him, his face twisted in a pained expression as he struggled to find the words to refuse.

"Fine, if you're unwilling, then quickly find someone from the village who is a Level 1 Human Soul Cultivator. If you can't, then all the money and food in the village will be seized," Soul Cultivator Lu declared, his gesture grand as if he were a ruler of the continent.

The previously unresponsive village head suddenly sprang to life, his voice tinged with anxiety, "Please, no..."

But before he could finish, a resonant voice interrupted.

"Who says there isn't an Early Period Human Soul Cultivator in the village?" Lei Yan strode in, with Village Head Hao's daughter by his side.

Soul Cultivator Lu turned at the sound, his shock palpable upon seeing his dream lover in the embrace of another man, so close and intimate. It was as if lightning had struck his heart, leaving him in disbelief.

"You two..." Soul Cultivator Lu began, pointing at Lei Yan and the woman, but his words trailed off. He then turned to Lei Yan with a challenging tone, "An Early Period Human Soul Cultivator? Where, where, where?"

"Are you blind? It's me," Lei Yan retorted, hands on his hips and rolling his eyes with an air of arrogance.

"It's you?" Soul Cultivator Lu said, taken aback. He gave Lei Yan a thorough once-over, his confidence waning in the face of Lei Yan's commanding presence and valiant spirit.

"And he's my husband," the girl beside Lei Yan added, tilting her head defiantly as she stared down Soul Cultivator Lu.

She then approached her father, grasping Village Head Hao's wrist and shaking it as she spoke, "Father, Lei Yan and I have pledged ourselves to each other. He's agreed to work at the Divine Plant Pill Sect and has vowed to achieve great things, ensuring our village will be exempt from the taxes on money and food."

"Hahaha!" Soul Cultivator Lu burst into laughter as if he'd heard the world's greatest joke. "Achieve great things and get tax exemption? Hao Meier, do you have any idea how many levels of the Human Soul Realm are needed for that? I'll tell you, Level 9. Look at him, nearly 20 years old and only just reached the Early Period of the Human Soul Realm. To be tax-exempt, he'd need to be at least 70 years old."

Soul Cultivator Lu's eyes bulged with disbelief, and he said with a dismissive tone, "You want a tax exemption? The only way that's happening is if you, Hao Meier, agree to marry me. I've advanced to the late stage of Human Soul Level 8, and I'm just one level away from being able to grant your village a tax exemption."

Hao Meier was taken aback by his audacity, her lips pursed in frustration as she struggled to find the words to respond. It was then that Lei Yan stepped in.

"Go to hell! How dare you try to steal my girl right in front of me? Are you asking for a beating?" Lei Yan angrily jabbed his finger at Soul Cultivator Lu's forehead, his face contorted with rage.

Soul Cultivator Lu recoiled in surprise, retreating a few steps. He couldn't believe that someone at the mere Early Period of the Human Soul would dare to challenge him so brazenly.

"Insolence! Once you've joined the Divine Plant Pill Sect, you'll be my junior brother. How dare you address me with such disrespect?" Soul Cultivator Lu barked.

"I couldn't care less about being your junior brother. If you so much as bother Meier again, I swear I'll end you. You're just at Level 8 of the Late Period of the Human Soul. Give me a month, and I'll have surpassed you."

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