"Beloved wife, when you say thick-skinned, what exactly do you mean?"
"Do I truly need to spell it out? Contemplate it yourself."
Li Banfeng pondered for a moment, a sudden understanding dawning upon him: "Wife, are you referring to the heel?"
A prolonged silence ensued from the phonograph. "Indeed, the heel is thick. However, husband, after she ascends, she must acclimate to the new territory. If her heel is injured, how can she possibly walk?"
The following morning, He Yuxiu resolved herself. "Brother Seven, this is my entire life. Regardless of the outcome, I will give it my utmost effort this time; I will bleed for it!"
"Have you truly considered this decision thoroughly?"
"I have!"
He Yuxiu proceeded to the Tiankeng, offered her blood upon the Contract Book, and thus established a Paper Contract. A Hundred Miles of Land served as verification, and He Yuxiu's name was inscribed on the Contract Book.
After interring the Contract Book and subsequently the Land Seal, He Yuxiu officially became the Local Deity of this domain.
Following the plan meticulously conceived, He Yuxiu's initial step was to familiarize herself with the territory. Her next objective was to complete her ascension, after which she would summon the Three-Headed People to commence land cultivation.
The underlying reason for this strategy was to facilitate He Yuxiu's ascension to Above the Clouds with minimal attention. A direct relocation of five thousand individuals to the New Land would undoubtedly raise alarms. Once the New Land's location was compromised, He Yuxiu's successful ascension would be jeopardized.
For the subsequent two days, He Yuxiu dedicated her time to meticulously exploring the expanse of the territory, aiming to solidify her foothold post-ascension.
Meanwhile, Li Banfeng, cradling a Begging Bowl, actively sought the most opportune location for her ascension.
Having largely familiarized herself with the terrain, He Yuxiu found herself steered by Li Banfeng's decision to ascend within a secluded Pine Forest.
"In a forest?" He Yuxiu surveyed her surroundings, her brow furrowed slightly. "A cave would perhaps be more suitable."
Li Banfeng reassured her, "Trust me, this is the most fitting locale."
Grasping the Piercing Heart Pill, He Yuxiu met Li Banfeng's gaze, drawing a deep, steadying breath. "Brother Seven, should I prove unable to endure this, you must end my life. Do not permit me to live out my days as a cripple."
"Fear not, you possess the fortitude to persevere," Li Banfeng replied, donning rubber gloves as he took his position beside her. His role was to administer the Entry Medicine himself should He Yuxiu's condition deteriorate, otherwise, she would apply it independently.
A profound fear gripped He Yuxiu, yet Li Banfeng's confidence in her remained unshaken.
Clutching the Piercing Heart Pill, He Yuxiu opened her mouth and swallowed it whole.
She settled against the trunk of a pine tree, maintaining a state of silent stillness, while Li Qi diligently prepared the Medicinal Powder nearby.
Approximately ten minutes later, the Piercing Heart Pill commenced its potent effects, causing beads of perspiration to trickle down He Yuxiu's cheeks.
"Is it time yet?" Li Banfeng inquired softly.
He Yuxiu responded with a slight shake of her head. "A little longer."
The full potency of the pill had not yet manifested, and He Yuxiu clenched her jaw, enduring the escalating discomfort.
Another ten minutes elapsed, at which point the pill's effects reached their zenith. He Yuxiu's impulse was to reach for the Medicinal Powder, but her limbs refused to obey.
Li Banfeng, dipping his fingertips into the Medicinal Powder, carefully applied it to He Yuxiu's right palm.
The skin on the palm is inherently quite resilient.
He Yuxiu trembled from the intense pain. After a delay of over two minutes, she gave a subtle shake of her head.
The applied quantity of Medicinal Powder was insufficient.
Li Banfeng procured a slightly larger amount of Medicinal Powder with his fingertips and applied it to He Yuxiu's left palm.
His wife had previously cautioned him against concentrating the entire dose in one area, as localized external injury could prove exceedingly perilous.
Despite the application of Medicinal Powder to both hands, He Yuxiu still indicated inadequacy with a shake of her head; the quantity remained insufficient.
Li Banfeng retrieved yet more Medicinal Powder, carefully opened He Yuxiu's collar, and applied it to her abdomen.
A cry of pain escaped He Yuxiu, yet the quantity was still not enough.
From this point onward, the utmost caution was paramount. As Li Banfeng dipped his right hand into the Medicinal Powder once more, the distinct sound of approaching footsteps echoed from beyond the clearing.
He Yuxiu, though weakened, remained alert and quickly grasped Li Banfeng's collar.
Should an intruder breach their sanctuary at this moment, He Yuxiu, devoid of combat capacity, would necessitate Li Banfeng's full attention, rendering them both vulnerable.
Li Banfeng met He Yuxiu's anxious gaze, his expression tranquil, signaling her to remain calm.
A voice drifted from the fringes of the forest, "Sister, is that you? Do not be afraid; I am here to assist you."
Whose voice was this?
Li Banfeng could not ascertain, as he was unfamiliar with the speaker.
He Yuxiu, however, started in surprise; the voice was intimately familiar.
It was He Haiqin.
The former Patriarch of the He Family, who had ascended from the ninth to the tenth realm, shed his mortal form, and ventured into the Inner State - He Haiqin.
Why had he appeared now?
He Yuxiu, typically impulsive and deeply valuing familial bonds, found herself uncertain of He Haiqin's intentions at this critical juncture.
"Sis, are you hiding in this forest? If you don't respond, I'm coming in!"
As He Haiqin prepared to step into the trees, a swirl of smoke appeared.
"Big Brother, please don't go any further."
He Haiqin halted, tilting his head slightly. "What do you mean?"
The smoke enveloped He Haiqin. "Big Brother, please don't disturb our sister."
He Yuxiu became even more anxious; the voice was all too familiar.
Li Qi, however, stayed calm. He dipped a fingertip into the Medicinal Powder and gently shifted He Yuxiu, applying the medicine to a new area.
PS: How did they manage to find this place?