"Why not?" Qin Xuewei countered.
"Let's discuss this after your brother wakes up," Su Hao said, lacking the energy to deal with it now.
"You!" Qin Xuewei chided with a hint of annoyance. "Your brother is on the list for this selection. I hope you can help him out."
"You don't need to interfere with this. He will strive for a good ranking with his own strength," Su Hao replied calmly.
Qin Xuewei sighed helplessly, finding Su Hao too arrogant and deeply disappointed.
She shook her head and turned to walk back into the room.
The moment she took a step, she suddenly realized Su Hao had vanished without her noticing.
Immediately, her delicate eyebrows furrowed. "Could this scoundrel truly intend to stand by and do nothing?"
Su Hao hadn't left. Instead, he went to the other side and pushed open the door to Qin Yu's room.
He stood before the bed, his eyes slightly closed, wisps of purple flame rising from his palm and slowly flowing into Qin Yu's body.
"Hmph!"
Suddenly, Qin Yu grunted and opened his eyes, fixing a cold gaze on Su Hao.
"You have quite the nerve, daring to cripple me too?" Qin Yu gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with chilling murderous intent.
"You should worry about yourself," Su Hao said with a playful smile.
With a flick of his finger, a pill shot into Qin Yu's mouth. Instantly, a peculiar stream of energy surged through Qin Yu's body.
Qin Yu shuddered and then let out a pained wail, his body twisting on the ground as he cried out mournfully.
"This is poison?" Qin Yu exclaimed in shock.
This Su Hao was even more peculiar than before.
"Poison?" Su Hao scoffed. "This is merely a Marrow Cleansing Pill."
"What?" Qin Yu's eyes widened. A Marrow Cleansing Pill? That was a precious elixir, worth a fortune and enough to incite a mad rush!
Su Hao was actually using it to cleanse his marrow?
"I saved your life, and in exchange, I get a Marrow Cleansing Pill. Not a bad deal, is it?" Su Hao said with a teasing smile.
"I... I can agree, but you must tell me what this poison is first?" Qin Yu struggled to rise, rapidly circulating his cultivation technique to suppress the toxins.
"Poison?" Su Hao shook his head indifferently. "It's a miraculous antidote. It will benefit you greatly and harm you none!"
"Who are you kidding?" Qin Yu sneered. Even with a mastery of alchemy reaching the level of a first-grade alchemist, it would be difficult to easily neutralize a Marrow Cleansing Pill.
"Believe it or not," Su Hao said, too lazy to argue. He shifted the topic. "Your injuries are severe, and you won't recover in a short time. However..."
His tone shifted, and he grinned, "As long as I wish it, you'll be fully healed in half a month!"
"Really?" Qin Yu's eyes suddenly gleamed.
"Of course. Do I look like a liar?" Su Hao asked playfully.
"Alright!"
Qin Yu agreed without hesitation. He had been severely injured during this period, which had caused his cultivation to stagnate and prevented him from breaking through.
When this news reached the elders of the Qin family, they all deemed him untalented and with a weak foundation, unsuitable for further breakthroughs. Consequently, they cut off his resource supply.
Qin Xuewei, on the other hand, believed it was her fault.
Therefore, she had been feeling immensely guilty.
If he could break through, she would even sacrifice to provide her son with the cultivation resources of the Su family once more.
"Since that's the case, you can try it now." Su Hao's lips curled into a mocking smile, making Qin Yu grit his teeth in frustration.
This guy was definitely up to something wicked.
However, under Su Hao's urging, Qin Yu spat out a mouthful of blood, sat down cross-legged, and adjusted his state according to the secret technique Su Hao had taught him.
As he absorbed the energy, a powerful aura emanated from him, and the wounds on his body healed at a visible rate.
Within mere breaths, the external wounds vanished completely, and a subtle cool energy spread, making him feel refreshed.
Especially, this cool energy flowed through his Dantian, nourishing his internal organs and gradually stabilizing the depleted vital energy.
Furthermore, as time passed, the cool energy increased, forming a vortex that continuously spun within his body.
"Thump, thump."
His heartbeat also accelerated.
He seemed to see a brand-new path laid out before him.
"Rumble."
Concurrently, a massive wave of heat swept through his body, causing Qin Yu's expression to change drastically. Sweat poured down his face.
At this moment, he felt as if he were undergoing a complete transformation, as if an ineffable power was being born within him, surging and churning.
This power even grew stronger, causing him to tremble uncontrollably and roar out.
Under this stimulus, his cultivation actually broke through again!
Seventh layer of Immortal King!
"Hahaha!" Qin Yu was overjoyed and threw his head back, laughing heartily. Although it was painful, it was exhilarating, a mixture of pain and pleasure.
Moreover, this feeling intensified. Under Su Hao's urging, it continued for a while longer. Qin Yu's body began to burn intensely, as if he were being consumed by flames.
He let out a heart-wrenching roar, struggling in agony until he could bear it no longer and passed out.
"Ah~"
Shortly after, wails emanated from his mouth, causing Qin Xuewei, who was recuperating in the distance, to twist her face in anxiety.
"Father, I beg you, release Yu'er. I'm willing to marry you, even as a slave, a maid, or a cauldon, as long as you release my brother."
Qin Xuewei wept profusely.
She knew Su Hao was not interested in her.
Yet, she was still willing.
It was because she owed Qin Yu a life, and she did not want Qin Yu to die, nor did she want to see him suffer and meet misfortune.
In her heart, her brother was more important than herself.
"Heh heh, you are quite affectionate. Unfortunately, it's too late. What I have decided will never change!" Qin Yu's father's voice was grim.
"Father!"
Qin Xuewei cried helplessly, kneeling outside the courtyard wall, pleading, "Father, I beg you. As long as you don't harm Yu'er, your daughter will obey your every command and do as you wish."
"I wouldn't dare kill you," Qin Yu's father sneered. "You are my only woman. How could I harm you? Don't worry, I only desire your body."
The hope in Qin Xuewei's eyes completely dimmed.
"However, this must remain a secret. You understand what I mean," Qin Xuewei's father added, causing immense hatred to surge in Qin Xuewei's eyes.
"Don't worry, Father. I will absolutely keep my mouth shut!" Qin Xuewei said softly.
"Very good." Qin Xuewei's father smiled with satisfaction and then waved his hand, pulling three items from his storage ring.
"These are for you, as payment for your services," Qin Xuewei's father said, dropping the three treasures before striding out of the room.
Qin Xuewei's gaze swept over them, and her expression turned to surprise. Her father's collection was truly vast. One of the items was a rare Saint artifact.
Most importantly, that Saint artifact was called the Ice Soul Needle, capable of condensing extreme cold to attack enemies with immense power.
The other two items were two Saint weapon-level swords. One was a Saint artifact named the Purple Dragon Saber, and the other was a Saint artifact-level Silver Moon Hook.
Together, these three could unleash a terrifying power comparable to a Royal weapon!
"Thank you, Father."
Qin Xuewei was so excited she almost jumped up. These items were incredibly valuable, far beyond her imagination.
Moreover, her father's grace warmed her heart. This family, apart from her mother, treated her quite well.
"Remember your promise. You will be useful to me in the future. Otherwise, I'll make Yu'er wish he were dead," leaving behind these words, the Qin family patriarch strode away.
Left alone in the room, Qin Xuewei clenched her fists tightly, her beautiful eyes blazing with hatred. She gritted her silver teeth and hissed venomously, "Father, I will do as I've promised you!"
She took a deep breath, her eyes filled with determination, and immediately rose, rushing into her own chambers and closing the door.
"Qin Yu, I'm sorry. For you, your sister must sacrifice. Perhaps this is the only way you can survive."
Qin Xuewei sighed inwardly, formed hand seals, and forcefully struck her chest. With a muffled sound, she spat out several mouthfuls of vital blood, which transformed into a black mist and swiftly burrowed beneath the bed.
Simultaneously, on the table in her chambers, a jade box appeared. When opened, it revealed a blood-red pill.
"Blood Spirit Pill. I have prepared all the necessary ingredients, but to refine it, I need the essence blood of a young person with an excellent bloodline," Qin Xuewei murmured. "And I also need an opportune moment."